WolfofBadenoch

I think 1 powered NDM is likely to be fine. One of Hornby's latest releases - class 87 can haul a fair train. The video below (skip to about 2min 30sec) shows an 87 pulling 16 wagons (128 wheels) easily - at the start of the scene the loco is on the level but the wagons are being pulled up a 1 in 50 gradient, 900mm radius curves. It also does this easily at speed without an noticeable slowing. My only concern would be the actual top speed of the loco which seems slow compared to other locos on my layout. i'm sure that can be sorted. As for the original APT from Christmas 1980

Thanks Paul + Signal Engineer. At the moment i'll go with the essential signals - if i discover in the future i need to use the whole platform length i can add in the 'optional' signal. It has been designed to hold 5*Mk3 carriages + a loco at each end, which i think doesn't look too bad, but i sometimes feel some of my freight trains look short.

Thanks Phil. Yes the rearmost platform will have a signal, as will the loop in the foreground (i didn't bother mentioning them to try and keep it simple). It was just coming across the twin signal while researching that made me wonder.

Looking for a bit more advice on this, so thought i'd resurrect the old topic rather than start a new one. In the images below, for the two lines either side of the island platform would a twin signal (eg https://www.crsignals.com/product-page/oo-gauge-4-aspect-twin-platform-signal) be used or is it too far in front of where a train would be stopped to keep the points clear on the further away line. ie Should the signal be where the train can't go beyond, as shown by my crude drawing of a single signal, and hence use 2 separate signals? Thanks

My dad has a couple of Duchesses painted in the same Caledonian Blue as the 303s. My grandad worked on the 303s in Pressed Steel and dad got his Duchesses painted in the same paint and has never changed them. I have photos of them but it'll be at least 3 weeks before i can get access to them!

I had issues detailed here - I can't really remember much else but i think i changed the address through ECoS ok, but when i tried to use the Lokprogrammer i had to remove the decoder from the loco and plug it directly into the lokprogrammer. Then it was fine.

87035 Robert Burns at Crewe Heritage Centre was making a fine background to a feature (political debate) on BBC breakfast this morning about 8.40 .

Great looking layout. I see you mention Peco masts, but i can't see whose the portals are, or are they scratch built?

I see Rails now have the portal and extension advertised on their website (this may have been up for a while and i've just noticed it!)

I've been a clumsy oaf and damaged a loksound v4.0. The solder pad for one of the speaker wires has detached from the decoder as shown in the photos. Is this easily fixable? I've soldered wires on to the pads before but i fear getting a pad back on and making sure it has an electrical connection in the correct place is a much more difficult job! Thanks for any advice.

PMP's link above shows 86034 with alphanumeric headcode box -which is the loco i've seen advertised as weathered (and i've convinced myself it's got light weathering on the lower bodyside in the photo). I was hoping it would be plated over with marker lights.

I'm pretty sure i changed the address with the chip in the loco. I did have a problem trying to read the chip with a lokprogrammer whilst it was in the loco. I had to remove the chip and install it directly on the lokprogrammer.

Thanks Richard - That's done the trick. Removing decoder from loco and putting in decoder tester has it working as i would expect.

I got my first Loksound v5 last weekend - LMB class 90, pre installed in the loco. It works fine on my layout but when i went to look at it on the Lokprogrammer it doesn't work as my v4 loksounds have. Driver's cab is ok controlling loco. I've Read Decoder Data and it seems ok (although other decoders have had more info naming soundslots' but that maybe the way Bif has done it this time), but it took over 30mins to do this. The main issues are that it wont up grade the firmware 5.0.67 to 5.0.78. Not sure what differences this would make any. Also it won't Read Decoder info as shown in image. Normally i'd expect to see serial number and firmware version but apart from manufacturer and CV7 + 8 nothing is filling. I like to save this info in case of future problems. Is there anything obvious i'm missing, or do v5 not act the same way as v4?

Got my money back through chargeback within 2 days, with the warning I will only contact you again if I receive a response to this action from the retailer’s bank and therefore advise that you retain any documentation related to the purchase for the next 60 days. The matter cannot be considered closed until this time frame has passed.

My CC asked when the APT was due and i initially said approximately a year and got the response below. I replied with a letter from liquidators + a screenshot of current DJM website. Fingers crossed that's enough. Do you have any information that the seller has ceased trading? If you do, please can you forward this onto, this will enable me to submit a chargeback immediately. Unfortunately, Without, I will need to wait until 12 months passes, so I will proceed 29 August 2019.

I've had feedback from my CC company asking when i expected delivery of my APT. I've looked back through DJM newsletters 2 -5 (i can't find 1) but there is no mention of date although i was sure he updated delivery timescales in these. Can anyone point to any location where there was a proposed timescale? I'm looking through the APT thread on here but 60 pages might take a while...................

Hope you don't mind me asking, actual paperwork by post or an email?

I've received a reply from CG Recovery. Not sure whether i'm allowed to just copy it in here, but from my understanding Order will not be fulfiilled I will be added to Company's creditor list and provided with further information in respect of liquidation I will be provided with a proof of debt form to register claim in liquidation If i paid by CC i should request refund through them and if CC company need documentation the info soon to be sent to me should be used.

I've been out the country since before this broke. Based on a number of comments on this thread i emailed the liquidators yesterday for information about what will happen / can i expect a refund. I don't expect any refund but this is in preparation for contacting my CC company regarding Sect.75. I wont know what is on my CC bill till i get home but my DJM receipt states payment as CC. As it was APTs i was ordering it was over £400 so i wont have to worry about the less than £100 issues.

Got an email from Rails this morning containing the information, with prices for the loco but not the decoder. I plan to get an inter-city version (slightly after my layout date but rule 1........), and planned to get a sound chip from Legomanbiffo. Now i have to decide whether to wait for Biffo to get a chip up and running or just buy Bachmann's decoder. I was prepared to use 'any decoder' lying about while waiting but now it looks like i'll have to buy 2 decoders if i want immediate running and then sound. Anybody have any idea whether the decoder would then be usable on other locos after i get a sound chip?

I was about to try and describe these so thanks for putting up the photos - much better!

They were still trying at £49.99 today - it was the only place i saw Scotrail SO though!

I asked on the Bachmann stall at Glasgow today and was told April or May in the shops!!

Ok - i'd thought if it was fried it just wouldn't work at all! Learned something new today. thanks