jivebunny

Well considering it's likely to be mainly photos of old metre-gauge trams from the first half of the last century and photos of the new line before and after its inauguration (book's from 2011), then I'd be tempted to say... not very. Alan

Just ordered myself a nice book about the trams in my city at 75% off, thanks very much for the heads-up! Alan

The "hook" on the digital coupler is only about a millimeter tall, so if the loops of the stock you're trying to couple up to aren't at exactly the right height then it simply won't catch them.... They should really have made the hook longer and given it more downward swing when uncoupling (to ensure it was clear of the loop before moving away) but I'm guessing the space constraints are why it's so unforgiving. I had trouble with some 1990s Jouef stock, especially where over time the loops had been bashed upwards or downwards (in the latter case, it generally stays coupled when uncoupling). Things will improve by adjusting / bending the loops upwards or downwards goldilocks-style (until they're juuuuust right), but with a system allowing so little leeway in terms of coupler height I think we're bound to encounter problems. It may be a case of noting which wagons and coaches uncouple the most reliably and ensuring you have them at the end of the rake... Alan

As promised, a short clip of my Y8000 in action on the club layout. I didn't have much of a chance to film as 1) there was a lot of drilling and sawing going on for the new layout, and 2) like 46 million other people in France, I had to be home before the curfew started... Alan

Didn't get a chance to make a video yesterday in the end, but tonight on my local club layout seems like a good opportunity. The NEM sockets are already available from Roco (ref 143790) but paying £10 postage for a £1 item is a bit annoying... The sounds are truly excellent. The motor is very convincing and a variety of horn sounds are provided. There are even two functions allowing a number of different radio messages (press once, first message plays, press again, second message plays, etc). The lights have a number of configurations available. Quite a few owners are reporting reliability issues with the digital couplers: random uncoupling, wagons not always uncoupling depending on coupler brand / type, track layout etc. It seems the hook is too short (causing uncoupling) and doesn't move down enough (causing... non-uncoupling). Hopefully in the future Roco will improve these as the current configuration isn't really satisfactory. I tested the stay alive capacitor by lifting the loco off the track though and was astounded, considering the space constraints in the model. With sound and motion in progress you get a couple of seconds of power, more than enough to negociate a bad section of track. With only the lights on it lasts a good 30 seconds! Alan

Received mine, so if I find the time I'll put a little video together this evening. First bit of good news: it's very, very nice, and the digital couplings can be easily removed by taking apart the chassis, no unsoldering required (the functions activate an electromagnet which attracts the circular magnet seen below, causing the hook to drop) First bit of bad news: the replacement NEM pocket that was expected to be included isn't included, so you have to source one, or 3D print one (Roco reference 143790) - but I think I'll be leaving the digital couplings on it anyway, since I paid for them Alan

I think you'll find the correct term is supercaleyfragilisticexpialidocious Alan

Great stuff! These have already more or less sold out, but I'm sure we'll be seeing additional batches and more modern liveries later on. DC fans are a bit disappointed for the moment though, since it's only available in DCC or 3-rail AC. Apparently some have encountered problems with the autocoupler uncoupling a bit too eagerly... Not really that surprising since it's essentially just a hook with a bracked to push up the opposing coupler, but I'm confident it can be extended by a millimetre or two without affecting the uncoupling ability. More news when I receive mine Alan

Hi, I have one that's due to arrive in the next few days. The railings are fine plastic but it's an entirely new model (and if you haven't yet seen, the Y8000 page on Roco's site has recently been updated with photos of the sample model). The digital coupling looks excellent and is compatible with traditional european "loop" couplings. I'll no doubt post a video and some photos once I have mine. It's also fitted to Roco's Köf locomotives. Alan

According to this colorised postcard (which is far from being definitive proof, I grant you), it would seem the base of the firebox was in fact black in the CR days. Going by what we've seen in this thread, it sounds like Rails have been talking to the right people in terms of getting this model right so I'd be inclined to trust them on this, but I must say I find it does look better with the blue going all the way down. Think I might just have to place a pre-order for the "as-built but in 1915" version... Edit: Well, that's me 200 quid lighter. Alan

Whilst searching Google for a specific item recently I stumbled across an e-tailer called "Baron du Rail" with a physical store in Caen which I'd never heard of before. I've since placed three different orders with them (about 500€ in total) and the service and delivery has been quick and efficient each time. Prices are very reasonable and additionally, each order seems to come with a nice little discount card for 5-10% off your next purchase (the 5% one has no minimum price IIRC). They can also split payments into 3/4 instalments which can be handy when you want to spread the strain on the old wallet, although that goes through a third-party payment provider so is presumably only available to customers with a French address, or at least a French debit card. Link to their railway section : https://www.barondurail.com/3-ferroviaire Alan

Argy has been the terminus for the www.traintouristiquedubasberry.com for the past 15 years, and it is indeed separated from the national network by a very short piece of track with nothing more than a metal shed in the way. Haven't been there myself but it certainly looks like a nice place to visit Alan

Thanks Nigel, it seems you hit the proverbial pointed metallic fastener on the noggin there and it is indeed nothing to do with Zimo kit

Hi all, I'm currently reconfiguring a couple of Zimo decoders in my loco arsenal but I've hit a bit of an obstacle. Throwing caution and DCC conventions to the wind, using the handy "Swiss Mapping" feature I've set up my decoders as follows: F0 for direction-dependent light-engine lights (white at front, red at rear. Nothing adventurous there) F1 for direction-dependent front / white lights only F2 for direction-dependent rear / red lights only (useful for push-pull operations) F3 for direction-dependent cab lights which switch off when on the move F4 high-intensity headlights F5 parking lights (red at both ends) F6 shunting lights (white at both ends) The problem I've encountered is that on Zimo decoders (sound decoders, at least), F2 is initially assigned to the horn and seems to be hard-coded as a momentary function. DecoderPro's "lock" feature does nothing to keep this particular function locked "on" when you select it, as it does with other functions. Does anyone know if there's a CV I can change to alter this behaviour? Thanks, Alan P.S if the lighting configuration looks odd to your British eyes, this is why:

I always thought the X996 looked a bit like something you'd expect to see in Mad Max

I'd never noticed that (hard to see both sides at once!) but yes, it would seem that on the second and third series the shortened grilles are up against one cab on one side of the locomotive, and the other cab on the opposite side. The "blank" bit is always on the left when looking side-on.

Only the first series (6501 to 6538) received the symmetrical horizontal grilles. The second and third series (6539 to 6559), including the green "Maurienne" units, received the vertical grilles that cut off halfway along the bodyside. I find the first series much more pleasing to the eye though Alan

That's nothing, check out the "livraison" cost to France for this 142 that Gaugemaster are selling on Amazon... A mere £750 to send it across the Channel. It's been there for months, surprisingly

At that price I think they'll be dining on the sofa for the foreseeable future...

Yes, I think the advent of low-cost air travel will have had something to do with increasing the popularity of planes vs trains, even though these flights tend to be operated by state / national airlines rather than EasyJet and the likes. Certainly in the early / mid 90s it was considered a bit daft to take the plane on a route where the train was an option, with internal flights setting you back 2000 francs one-way (about £200 back then, which is about £400 in 2020 terms...) Alan

Not sure about that... Even despite the current drop in demand due to Covid-19 there are still 28 flights a day between Marseille and Paris, 12 between Bordeaux and Paris, 8 between Nantes and Paris, and that's before you look at flights between cities that are both on the TGV network but require a change of trains. It's particularly irritating from an ecological point of view when you consider that Charles de Gaulle airport has its own TGV station that can be served by trains from all four corners of the country to get you straight to your international flight... Alan

This can only be a good thing for the French railfreight sector, which has been subject to 20-30 years of absolute sabotage by successive governments. A lot of local lines and services have also disappeared or been severely reduced since the spread of the TGV network in the 90s which has impacted and almost killed off some rural / semi-rural communities (our very own Beeching cuts). A few lines have been rebuilt in the past couple of years such as Nantes - Châteaubriant which was completely dismantled in the 80s, but there needs to be more progress to reconnect towns and allow people to do away with city living, particularly in the current climate. Regarding the lack of activity here, could it be that a number, although by no means all of us, are active on French sites and therefore don't necessarily see RMWeb as the first port of call for French modelling? This would reduce the already limited number of people who frequent these parts. It's certainly my case, I don't know about others. I'm sure we can come up with some new content though. I might do a little thread on the 35-year old Jouef "biquette" ("billy goat", or in technical terms a BB 1-80) that used to belong to my grandfather and that I resurrected and converted to DCC last week.

I think the blue on the grille may just be a protective covering for the Chrome, it looks like you can see the badge underneath, and there are other bits on the doors etc. At least I hope that's what it is... Can't decide if I like the two-tone colour scheme though, it's a feature that seems to be making a bit of a comeback. Alan

I still haven't got round to converting that one to DCC but I had my full-length TGV Atlantique running on the (rural steam-era) club layout a few months back. It was indeed quite a sight with its two additional trailers over other TGV types...

Didn't realise Spectrum operated Channel crossings in their twilight years Think we're definitely off-topic now though...