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This would be entirely against regulations (by which I don‘t mean to imply that you can‘t have witnessed this sometime in the past or on the occasional shunting movement). There‘s a fairly recent film about a night train to Barcelona (whose name escapes me), in which one character makes use of the above scenario. Most mainline passenger trains now have a traction blockage as long as doors are left open. This would apply to UIC 13 Pole mode, which mustn‘t be used anymore – unless doors cannot be opened due to a technical failure. The normal mode is UIC 18 Pole, in which the driver liberates the doors on the relevant side.

Hello Michael I can‘t give you an exact year for the Roco model, but it dates from when Roco (and the SBB) thought the Re 4/4 IV would be the next big thing. They don‘t have a decoder socket, but Almrose seems to offer a replacement print: https://www.starrail.ch/de/almrose_04-30121.html Best regards Christian

@Gottardo: pretty much spot on, but the signal principal d‘entrée on the left would need to have four lenses just like the signal de sortie de groupe, since they control the same points. @Flying Pig: there are several ways to give additional signaling to a group signal, the one you describe is one of the more common ones. Trouble really starts when a group signal should control more than three tracks, with some of the roads allowing for similar speeds.

The number of lights depends on the different speeds your signal should be able to indicate. That again depends on the speed which you reckon the individual points allow (excuse me if I‘m going to far towards the basics). On the left hand station exit you could have individual signals, showing Im1, Im3 and Im2 going from the outermost to the innermost of the roads. That would amount to three lights for the two innermost signals and two for the outermost. (Edit: or four on a group signal) For the right hand station exit you could have one group signal for the freight yard (if you plan to allow for starting train movements from there) and a group signal after the last turnout towards the line. That one might show Im1 for the two outermost roads and Im2 for the two others, so three lights. (Please note that I‘m paid for reading signals, not for putting the right ones in the right place…) Best regards Christian

Excellent sound and a great layout too! Thanks for the link.

Something of a daft question, but so far I‘ve only ever bought DCC Sound locos 2nd hand when analog wasn‘t available anymore. I‘m tempted to buy an Inverness Class 26 and am wondering what‘s the best way to a DCC model with sound. I see that Olivia‘s trains offer a DCC Sound option, is there also a way to get a ready-to-run model with Legoman Biffo sound (of which I read great reviews)? As I live outside of the UK, ordering an analog model and then sending it in to have DCC fitted isn‘t much of an option… Many thanks for your advice Christian

These are fantasy models inspired by the Chäs Express EW I WR, most likely done by Staiber. A quick search on google brings up a matching (cheesy) Re 4/4 IV and Re 460.

A very nice pictorial survey! In case you‘re wondering, the standard gauge clerestory coach is SBB X 91140, a former dining car that was used as a cinema car. (…and I still read the thread title as ‚Brock‘ 🙈 )

@ruggedpeak: The nearest maintenance depots for Dominos are either Geneva or Bienne. I‘m not sure how much work on the class is being done by TPF itself. @Mol_PMB: The few pictures on flickr look brilliant! Any chance that you present your models in a thread? Best regards Christian

Hello Tom Another possibility might be to use acrylic markers for the raised detail. I use Posca, mainly the 1M and 1MR series. If the surface of your model is glossy, you can always wipe or wash away any paint if you slipped off. Best regards Christian

Good point! There is a GmP-working in this (rather large) series below, and I remember seeing another of a shunting croc with a set of coaches, precisely to avoid a light engine movement. Didn‘t keep a link for that one unfortunately… http://www.polier.ch/Fotoarchiv/S/SutterP/00-CH-Normalspur/000S/SBB-20-01.htm

Hello Mark Your design already looks very Riviera… Here are a few suggestions from the top of my head, don‘t know how much of your choices are down to gradients or track constraints: - The way the branch line runs into the station looks a bit impractical, but also adds some flair. A connection from platform 2 or even 1 could make sense (operationally). - The two sidings on the right might be turned around. Shunting movements into a tunnel and onto the through lines are somewhat impractical. - The roads should perhaps cross the railway at an angle, the one on the right appears to run straight into the lake. Rather than a level crossing you could create an underpass on the left. - If you want some narrow gauge, you could run a tramway on the seaside road (eg. VMCV or CCB). That would look interesting… Best regards Christian

Hello Tony ‚Artists‘ generally avoid painting over the data panels as these will get restored by the wagon owner, thus ruining the picture (depending how you look at it). That doesn‘t seem to apply for passenger trains as these will get cleaned anyway. Regarding the mirrors on a Re 460, they work on pneumatics and fold out when the corresponding button near the deadman’s pedal is pushed. Don‘t wish to comment on the backwards movement as I wasn‘t there, etc… Edit: Usual practice regulation is to always use the forward facing cab when shunting alone, which also means you‘ll change cabs a number of times. If accompanied by a shunter, he will uncouple the locomotive and direct the movements that are towards your back. Running around a set of coaches you would buffer up at your (the driver‘s) end, so I can‘t see why one would practice doing what you apparently saw. Hope this makes sense… Best regards Christian

Both the BDt and the St are EW II, but the St (along with its D(Z)t brethren) has its rain strip higher up on the body. You would also have to remove the rather prominent louvre mid-coach. That being said, nothing that can‘t be solved (or overlooked)…

Hello Jez, I‘m looking forward to seeing a model of these! Best regards Christian