uax6

Glad to see that you have got the platform level low, its something that is quite noticeable in early times, although they are still low in a lot of places (but not quite <that> low). That big hole worries me, I bet its quite deep.... Andy G

It's not that insane, every telephone exchange has the 50V dc supply earthed on the positive leg, so you have a -50v dc supply and earth.... And lots of cars used to have positive earth as well. Andy G

Usually what happens is that the tyres blow out, but the lorry is capable of still moving. In the box you usually end up with failed track circuits, and a head ache for the rest of the shift... Andy G

Hi Kevin, Interesting you say that, I have been thinking of a bit of an update, but as I'm a bit of a butterfly I haven't finished any of the above yte, but have something that I have been working on, and has been a hard challenge. Do you want to see it? Andy G Also looks like I migh have to re-load the photos as well, grrr....

Loving the grounded full brake on the platform. Just the name board required and you have a perfect GE station! Andy G

And at no point do they mention just how much is going to the RBF, it could be 1p or £100... And why send the message to your previous customers? Once you have a GT3 why would you want to buy yet another one? Having just seen the LMS liveried (if you can call putting LMS on the tender a livery!) and wonder why they have not used the last style LMS, which it would undoubtedly have had if it had been built before 1948.... Andy G

The Kerr-Stuart diesels were built with no hornguides for the driving wheels, so that any gauge could be accommodated, and as Nearholmer says, the bar across the axleboxes is a radius arm to allow adjustment of the chains and to take the reactionary forces of the drive. They were available in three sizes iirc, 30hp, 60hp and 90hp. I think that the standard gauge ones were only available in the 90hp size, the narrow gauge ones being the smaller two sizes. Andy G

Not so, look at the inwards opening guards doors on all mk1/2/3 stock, these all match the body profile. Andy G

Over the tyre, not the flange. Andy G

Why not use their humpshunter gearbox? It will give low speeds (using the 120:1 ratio). Heres its download sheet: https://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/_files/ugd/27e471_10a4ceff75c143c4bb4b4c4debc11bcc.pdf Andy G

Looking at the download section there is a drawing of the lorider: https://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/_files/ugd/27e471_357a992251d64918a23655169bec1eee.pdf But you might be better off with a normal gearbox to take the drive up into the van so the motor can be out of sight. A double ended can motor could drive both axles (with another gearbox) if you require it. Andy G

40mm w/base bogie motorising bits are available from Highlevel Kits: https://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/product-page/longrider 34mm w/base is covered by them too: https://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/product-page/lorider Andy G

I use Jayes fluid on the patio, a bit of a brush in, and with a watering can it washes off and is back to clean. No hosepipe needed. Andy G

I can't see why it isn't compulsory on all new builds to have at least 4Kw on the roof. This would have benefits for all, the cost of the panels would go down, and would help to boost generation for the new houses. But sadly we have a Government (whichever colour) that is led by big business, who of course don't want to put their hand into their pocket and loose money, so would campaign <against> making them compulsory. There was once a small period of time where existing building regs made it cheaper to put Solar PV on the roof to increase the efficiency of the house, a friend bought one of these, it has a single 200 watt PV panel on it, which is fairly pointless.... Andy G

It seemed that even the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was struggling with the crown... it seemed that the first time he put it on Charles head he couldn't get the thread to start, but luckily on the second try it did and screwed down properly.... Would have been better to have a proper crown-top Crown? Andy G

I'm not quite sure why you are using point motors on this... It would be much cheaper and simpler to have a rod in the frame under the board with an attached pin to the tie bar of the point. The rods can be wire coat hangers cut up (or bicycle spokes) with paper clips for the operating pin.. Andy G

I don't foresee central door locks being require just yet, but I do wonder if the hi-vis yellow that was fitted to the DMU's and 3CEP's door edges that were still on the national network will be required on preserved stock. These strips make it easier to see any doors 'on the catch'. I wouldn't object on Mk1's and 2's, but on earlier stock it would be a bit wrong, but again, it would be better than not being able to ride in them. I don't think having volunteers to act as door agents would be viable, how would that work in compartment stock? And locking the doors on a carriage key shouldn't be suggested either, as what happens in that accident when the stock is damaged (fire/overturned) that we haven't had yet? Central door locks could be fitted to any door, and concealed completely, but the cost of doing so would put most preserved lines out of business. The answer is to have longer dwell times at each station, and have someone walk the length of the train making sure each handle is level and the door shut. Andy G

Yes, on a normal line from BT they make you sound tinny and quiet. The other end is also quite quiet too. Certainly not as good as a 700 on the same line. It appears that the line current (and possibly voltage) isn't as much as it used to be, which certainly doesn't help, as I say, on my Strowger UAX12 at home they aren't as bad, still a bit tinny, but at least at a better volume. Andy G

Not Searchlights at all, these are Single Aperture Heads. Searchlights have very sophisticated internal optical arrangements, with an electromagnetic operated vane, that carries the aspect roundal. Heres some videos of the 'normal' three aspect DC Westinghouse mech from my signal. The operation of which just needed a voltage of 6v to make the vane move. I wired it to a normal controller and swung it by changing the direction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQiL-mcvQtk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_Qf424IiGU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jEvnfGelG0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_89clrWEZuw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tie-TPqEEk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aVlLdDbBIY Then of course you got AC operated mechanisms (these were provided in DC electrified areas to prevent interference). These had a permanent 110v AC on the mechanism (I used a normal 110v site transformer to provide this) and then you swing the vane with another low voltage AC supply, in this case I used the aux supply off a Hornby controller. Again reversing this lower voltage supply swung the vane over the other direction (you can see me changing the wires over in the reflection from the lens): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZP4UNGvrjM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMrCkOG8cLw Notice how you will get a flash of red as the signal steps up, perfectly normal with these beasts! These modern single aperture things have none of that, just an array of LED's. Andy G

Ah the old 'don't squish your doughnuts' poster, which is only accurate for the Midland/LMS raised frames, not for the frames in the rest of the railways boxes.... Why? Pristine Condition were only taken to the Midland box at Melton Mowbray and presumed they were looking at the only type of frame there was.... Looks like ours here has finally been binned... Andy G

And have you used them on a real call these days? Its like the user has their head in a bucket , while standing outside the room the phone is in. Interestingly, when on short lines with a proper 50V feed on them (from a real Strowger exchange) they aren't too bad. I have junction working to the outside line, which gets around this issue*. (And fitting modern transmitters and receivers into the handset doesn't help either, the induction coils aren't set up for them). * well sort of, they are still not like the later 700's for sound quality. Interestingly modern engineers don't seem to think much of the 700 series, but I find them just as usable as the modern ones.. Andy G

The wire in tube could be run to a small section that doesn't fall away, sort of like a signalbox area, or looped down from track level to the lower level.. Would a wind pump be suitable for the tank, a bit Col Stephens, but I wouldn't have though out of place. Even a small oil engine could be used, the good Col had one a Kinnerly Junc for such a used. How about something like the set up of Lion for pumping the water? As Norfolk water is hard as nails, I would guess it would be softened, but when did the use of softening agents come into use for locomotives? The LMS were installing softening plants in the late 20's, so is it too early for the WNR? Questions, why are there so many questions? Andy G

You can't beat a nice weathered diesel... But might be worth putting a bit of dark paint (green or black) on the edge of the headcode discs to reduce their chunkiness. Andy G

This is the best available as it doesn't need fitting inside the phone with re-wiring of the dial like the others, this can just go in the master socket and do all of your phones... Andy G

No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAxkcPoLYcQ Andy G