Dixie Dean

Fabio AKA Calandamountain on YouTube and Twitter has in the past 6 months published a number of RhB cab rides.  Today he published the first driving video with a camera behind him in the cab and positioned to show how the throttle and brakes are used, etc. in a Ge 4/4 II locomotive, driving from Landquart to Kublis on the line to Klosters.  It doesn't give a particularly good view ahead, but there is a regular cab ride video on his channel of a trip from Landquart to St Moritz.  3 more of these "tutorial" videos are to follow. It can be seen here: 
 

Good job Hornby don't have to replicate the innards of an APT power car!  Indeed, rhnrhn your hypothesis may well be correct.  

4 minutes ago, rhnrhn said:

I thought the voids' main purpose was to act as inlets for the hydrokinetic braking system's cooling fans, which  is is why there were two, one over each bogey, with one of them also providing a covenient location for the pant and it's anti tilt apparatus.

That could well be correct - is that verifiable information?

2 hours ago, boxbrownie said:

What is interesting from that cutaway drawing is the power car was obviously originally designed for two pantographs as you can definitely see the voids in the roof at both ends were the pantographs levelling system would be.

Yes, and those were modelled on the original as well as black voids.  I've been trying to work out some way of modelling the original pantograph holding frame, but due to the difficult in obtaining a decent BWHS pantograph I haven't yet got around to doing that.  I did get a spare new class 87 pantograph from Hornby but decided to use it on my Pendolino instead.  Both the Pendolino and the APT required different mounting frames, but I found it easier to adapt the Pendolino one to take the class 87 arms rather than trying to make a new frame for the APT on to which to fit the arms.  It may be that Hornby will sell the new APT pantograph and frame as parts, in which case I will try to get one of them to fit my old APT.  I will probably get a new APT as well.

And this:

Should give you something to go on.

Also found this, but poor resolution:

Both appear to indicate little other than insulators and wiring on the roof.

7 hours ago, boxbrownie said:

I know not strictly relevant to the Hornby model but I am presently upgrading my old APT set, already remotored but was hoping for some detail photos of the roof of the power car to show the high voltage equipment in more detail and more importantly the switching bits that Hornby didn't model the first time around.

 

Searches on the interweb has proved fruitless so far.

 

Is this useful?

3 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said:

 

It's a fair point, Dixie, so here's a teaser, just for you! (And, well everyone else on RMWeb!)

 

 

Due to leave China shortly, destined for Germany for pan wizardry with ESU, then sound installation, then to us for testing and a full preview video and pics. No more sneak peeks till the big reveal. It will be well worth waiting for! 

 

Cheers! 

 

Fran

 

Time to get back in my garage and do another stretch of my track I guess.  Need a complete circuit ready for when these gems arrive!

On 12/05/2020 at 19:54, Dixie Dean said:

Any news on the Class 92 front guys?

Keep peeking, but nothing seen so far, not even the glimpse of a headlight or an arc of a pantograph in the distance!

Ever hopeful

Perhaps it's finally time to press the Delete key on this whole unsavoury episode (including deleting this entire section of the forum).  I personally hope I don't accidentally bump into him on my travels as I might be tempted to give him a "Kirkby" kiss! (don't ask).

On 22/05/2020 at 16:05, PaulCheffus said:

Hi

 

Not everything on the internet is true and that is especially true of Wikipedia as anyone can edit it. I would want to see the original source material for that statement before taking any notice.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

I refer you back to my post on Monday at 13:25 which superseded that post.

1 x LNER Gold selected by me!  Do need some similar MK4s/DVT now.

Paul from APT-E says re: APT-P 

"Yes, the powercars tilted, they did right to the very end, although they had worked out that they really didnt need to do this to keep the dynamics of the train stable.

Nothing was sold to Fiat, but BR had a program so shared data, so APT tech was handed to others. Also when BR required the design of the class 91, they have over all the technical data to whoever to help with the new design, as BR did not design the class 91 themselves.  GEC won the contract for the powercars."

1 minute ago, Pete the Elaner said:

 

Fiat developed their original Pendolino at the same time BR developed the APT. The modern Pendolino may have traces of both but Fiat did not simply buy the patents & develop it from there.

 

The class 221 Super Voyager traces it origins back to the APT but the class 390 Pendolino uses the Fiat system, leaving the WCML with 2 different tilting systems in use.

I must admit not to having the knowledge personally, but a number of websites including Wikipedia state that: ... the patents for the APT's tilt system were sold to Fiat Ferroviaria ...  

This is a diagram of a Fiat tilting train which was based on the APT after Fiat bought the patents from BR Engineering: 

24 minutes ago, johny retro said:

I wonder if every coach will tilt, as the NDM's didn't in real life and that will solve the issue of Hornby coming up with some way of keeping the pantographs upright on corners.

I'm not sure you are correct.  The pantograph was mounted on a contraption that effectively made it stay correctly positioned in relation to the catenary whilst the body tilted around it.  You can see in this photo that the whole of the visible train appears to be tilting:

Any news on the Class 92 front guys?

I recently got hold of a spare class 87 pantograph, which isn't the best, but was better than the one fitted by Hornby to my Pendolino.  After a bit of bashing I've managed to fit the arms to the Pendolino and it looks a whole lot better.  Hoping eventually I may be able to replace the arms with the new Hornby Class 91 one, or maybe the one from the Accurascale 92 if they make some spares.

Thanks guys, your input is very much appreciated.

Hi everyone.  I am building a multi level layout in my domestic garage.  I have finished 3 modules which are the highest part of the layout.  These are all plain double track, Code 75 (except for the curved ROCO line points which are Code 83).  I am now building the next section where the double track becomes single track using a curved ROCOline point 42471.  I've not yet had to install or wire any points.  This is my first.  I suspect I also need to install a (catch) point off to the left away from the main direction of travel from the track leading into the junction from the double track main line.  What should I use prototypicallly?  Should I use a PECO left hand catch point or a small radius SL-E196 point?

The installation is made more awkward by the fact that the point's tie bar will be situated just on or right next to a single track modern concrete bridge and so the motor may have to be a short distance remote from the tie bar.  Is this possible? 

Also, I have no idea yet as to how to wire up these points for DCC.  Ultimately I will be using route setting.  I would be grateful for any comments about choice of point motor, but am leaning towards servos or SEEP type motors, but will to hear any particular points of view. 

This particular stretch of track is on an embankment, about 7 to 8 inches above the lowest level and immediately after the point will cross a modern concrete bridge over a double track main line.

Mine's arriving in the morning apparently

3 minutes ago, Markwj said:

Went to Preston show today and saw the apt (old Hornby version) on Alderford certainly wetted the appetite for this one!

I've got a 7 car as well, but with the power car modified with Heljan 26/27/33 chassis elements and motor, with 2 additional cars that Shane (Wolf) was making with brass bodies, and with 3 sound chips (ESU v. 3.5 from Legomanbiffo), 1 for the power car and 1 at each end for the compressor, horns and lights, all done before either DJM or Hornby said they were going to make one.  It does look OK, but might not look so good alongside the new Hornby one.  Still wondering whether to get one of those.  

Can't image why it wouldn't have possible to have allowed those pre-ordering to have ordered sets with specific coloured fronts and whichever numbering scheme they wished.  There is only 7 sets of numbers that can be chosen and 2 different fronts.  Seems like a doddle compared to Hatton's class 66 liveries and numbers! 

46 minutes ago, darrel said:

They may want to change the name. Grand union is not going to go down well in Scotland.

Oh dear!

30 minutes ago, 7APT7 said:

I stopped coming on the RMWeb a few years ago due to the constant negativity and unwanted comments by the few, or I came on very rarely. 

Glad you're still here and making a very positive contribution!