greslet

Roy Jackson has been building an EM scale model of Retford in the 1950′s for some time. I first came across this amazing layout a number of years ago in Model Railway Journal. At the time trains were running but … Continue reading → Source

In the last 2 blog entries I created a portable programming track and DCC fitted a locomotive. Now we use the programming track to set up the DCC chip for use. This post will cover basic setup, and subsequent blogs will look at using Decoderpro for more advanced things. Lets assume you have Decoderpro installed and working, if not, this was covered here. Step 1 Start Decoderpro and put the locomotive on the programming track. In this case I’m programming my Bachmann WD Austerity 2-8-0 which I have already fitted with a ZTC255 decoder. I now want to assign the 4 digit DCC address “7199″ to the locomotive. (I always use the last 4 digits of the number on the cabside, which for most of my LNER engines is the whole number). On startup, Decoderpro will open at a screen showing the existing engines in the roster. Of course if you have never used Decoderpro before, this will give an empty list. Decoderpro displays the current locomotive roster on startup Step 2 Select “New Loco†option & choose the decoder type Decoderpro now presents us with a list of manufacturers and their chips to browse through and manually select the chip. Thats great if we know what it is, however DecoderPro is also able to request information from the decoder to identify the make and model automatically. Decoderpro allows us to select from a list of manufacturers or read manufacturer from the chip If we select “Read type from Decoder†DecoderPro will attempt to identify the decoder that is fitted within the loco, it is likely you will be presented a list of alternatives to choose from. DecoderPro is supported by a very active community and regular updates to the software ensure that most decoders are listed and manufacturers new products appear pretty quickly. I received a list of various possible decoders manufactured by ZTC A list of possible alternative decoders is presented I now selected the ZTC255, changed the programmer format from “Basic†to “Comprehensive†(Though at this stage it would be OK to leave “Basic†selected as we will only change the basic settings), and selected “Open Programmer†Select the correct decoder and then select “Open Programmer†Step 3 Complete the basic settings The comprehensive programmer opens up a screen with quite a number of tabs that will allow all the cvs on the decoder to be manipulated. DecoderPro allows us to enter information to the roster for now, all we want to do is use the tab “basic†The basic settings screen This will allow the address of the chip to be set. The buttons at the bottom of the screen allow us to read the information that is already on the decoder or write new information, we can do either of these tasks for just the settings shown on the current tab, or for all the tabs available. This is particularly useful as we can read in all the current settings and then change the ones we want. In the example, the decoder was brand new, so has default settings in place, but it may be the decoder has previously been programmed and we just want to tweak something. I always read all the settings currently on the decoder. Decoderpro will give a warning that this will take a while, but generally the operation should complete in a couple of minutes. You will see the progress cv by cv at the bottom of the screen. I then add the changes I want to make. Note that changes are automatically highlighted. Changes to cv settings we make are highlighted in orange until they are written to the decoder Once this is done we can return to the roster screen and add some basic information that y come in useful if we intend to use other parts of the JMRI suite of programs. You can, if you wish , write the changes to the decoder. There is no restriction on how many times you do this. Step 4 Enter Roster Information (Optional) The roster allows a name for the locomotive to be entered, and we will see later JMRI allows us to use this name to address the locomotive as an alternative to the number. Other information can be added as shown below for the WD Austerity: The Roster information is added We can save the information to JMRI’s roster file, and if we havent already done so write all the changes to the decoder. Once we close the programmer window the new engine appears in the roster list: The JMRI roster now shows the new engine Step 5 Drive the locomotive We now want to see how well our new engine runs on the basic decoder settings. This can be done through our DCC system on the layout or using a throttle in Decoderpro. A throttle can be opened by selecting “Actions†and “Open new throttle†from the main menu bar. The JMRI throttle The throttle will allow us to control speed and direction of the loco and also try out any function buttons that might be in use. The arrow keys on the PC keyboard also allow speed and direction control. The throttle will let us key in the number of the new engine, or if we added it to the roster to select it by name from the dropdown list. Before the loco will run the red power button must be clicked to the on position (it will turn green), and be aware of theposition of the emergency stop button. The JMRI throttle layout can be customised and saved, more about this in a future post. The first test is to see how well the loco runs at slow speed, if response isnt good we can change some of the more complex cv settings and alter the start voltage. Infact through the comprehensive programmer we can tweak whatever setting we wish very easily, but again thats for a future post……….. Source

I do use an iPhone as a throttle, but that isn't always possible with the portable option as the phone and the laptop both need to be on the same wifi network. If I'm programming at home this is possible, however at the club there is no wifi.

Time to DCC fit the austerity, as promised. A change of plan though, the OPTI chip is too big to fit so I’ve opted for a smaller ZTC255 that was spare in my toolbox. I dare say the mini version … Continue reading → Source

Want to test and program your DCC locomotives away from the Layout? I've built a portable programming track to do just that. It is also the ultimate plank layout! All you need is a yard of track, a sprog II to supply the DCC signal, and a laptop with a spare USB to connect it to and provide a host for the programming software. The full details are on my Rede Valley Railway site

I didn't realise just how big the DCC25 was until I got the austerity open and couldnt get it to fit. Fortunately I had an unused ZTC255 handy which slipped in where the suppression pcb used to be.

He was selling them, thet were at the left hand side of the layout

Inspired by Pete Goss' layout "Rowlands Castle" (see below), I really must get my WD Austerity 2-8-0 into traffic. This will also provide a good place to test out one of the OMNI decoders I bought at Hartlepool at the weekend. Gaugemaster BPDCC25 with 8 pin DCC plug The OMNI is a straightforward 4 function 8pin 1.2amp decoder, so fitting should be quite straightforward. Digitrains were selling two sizes of these, I went for the larger ones which measure about an inch by half an inch in old money - (0.95†x 0.65†x 0.2†for those wanting to be pedantic). Bought in a 5 pack these work out at about £11 per decoder. The smaller units were a little more expensive at about £15 each, but I don't think I've got any issues finding space inside the locos I want to chip for the larger units. On face value these look like excellent units to get basic steam locos up and running in DCC, and offer the basic essentials: 4 digit addressing; Back EMF; and silent drive. In addition the locomotive will still run on DC if required (something my ZTC equipped engines wont do) so I can run it on the club layout. There are no instructions supplied in the packet, however there is a pdf on the Gaugemaster website with full details. The small chips are coded DCC26 and the larger ones DCC25, but other than size, functionality is identical, though the mini is rated at a lower 1.1amps. Now to open up the loco.........

The highlight of my Sunday was a trip to Hartlepool and Hornby Live. The show has a new venue, in Hartlepool College of Further Education, and this provided a very pleasant bright and airy space to view the exhibits. As in previous years there were a decent number of layouts and a huge number of trade stands. I spent far too much at the digitrains stand on Gaugemaster OPTI decoders and on train detection circuits. Ive never tried OPTIs before, but they appear to offer good value for money to get an ever growing loco fleet usable in DCC. Train detection is a project for the future, but there are now lots of components in stock for when time allows some layout rewiring into block sections. Hornby and Bachmann were bot in evidence, with the former displaying some nicely finished examples of the new Thompson O1 in both LNER and BR livery, along with a number of unpainted early pressings of other 2012 items. The Bachmann cabinet had a very nice Scottish Director on display. DCC was in huge evidence, the Hornby Magazine layout "Bolsover" was running using PC contol from Hornby's Rail Master, and sported quite a number of engines with both sound and smoke. This really added atmosphere. Elsewhere was a very nice locomotive depot "Haymarket Cross" with lots and lots ECML engines both deisel and steam but all sound fitted. For Scottish fans there was also a very nice branchline with a distillery. I had an interesting conversation with the owner about how to introduce the right authentic smell from that feature. We did speculate what might happen if malt whisky was introduced to a smoke unit in a distillery chimney! A number of Hornby Magazine staffers were on hand, and I had a very enjoyable conversation with Phil Parker, later discovering his excellent blog "Phils Workbench". I'm suddenly inspired to update the Rede Valley blog more regularly, which in turn should drive me to do more modelling so I have something to blog about. And the highlight of the show.......One of my all time favourite layouts, and the one that inspires me to more wartime stuff on the Rede Valley, "Rowlands Castle" by Pete Goss. More information on Rowlands Castle can be found on Pete's Website. along with an early taster of the next project. And some photos on my own blog at rede valley railway

The last blog entry was some time ago, things have been hectic, and very little progress made on the layout.Paid employment really does get in the way of the more important things in life! New locomotives and rolling stock have … Continue reading → Source

Excellent progress, I'm jealous that my own rendition of Whitrope is nowhere near as advanced

The blog has been very quiet of late regarding layout progress. As regular readers will be aware, the 2012 project is all about creating a diorama that has the feel of the Waverley route and features a viaduct based on Shankend, a siding and signal box based on Whitrope siding, and a tunnel mouth based on Whitrope tunnel. The intention is to make the scene as timeless as possible so that anything from LNER steam to a BR blue Deltic will look right passing through. There is a good reason for slow progress, work (the paid sort!) has taken me away from home Monday to Friday recently and trips to the railway room have been scarce. Some progress has been made on Rede Head Summit and viaduct. The walls and around the diorama have now been panelled, meaning that the bare beams of the loft are no longer visible and that area looks a great deal more like a railway room. A scenic break is also in place at one end of the scene, the part that will eventually become tunnel, and the profile of the landscape has been attached to the baseboard edge. There are photos on the external website..... I’m currently studying pictures of the portal to Whitrope tunnel with a view of building a near copy in miniature. The biggest challenge is going to be capturing the wild border fells and making the scenery rise high enough from the line to make the tunnel look necessary. This is a bit of a challenge when the distance from the end of the viaduct to the tunnel will only be about 3 feet. The time away from home and some idle evenings has allowed some thought on how the diorama might work operationally. One of my favourite layouts is Stoke Summit, I’ve spent hours watching it at a number of exhibitions, and I’m always drawn to it even though I’ve seen it all before. On analysis the thing that I like is simply watching full length main line trains going past in a very authentic setting. In effect its train spotting in miniature. This is the concept behind the diorama. Ultimately I want to be the signalman in Rede Head signal box, and my role is to accept trains and despatch them onwards to the next box, just as the prototype signalman would do. As I’m usually alone in the railway room without any other layout operators this is going to be an interesting challenge but I’m sure with full DCC operation through JMRI the required automation will possible. I simply need to work out how to do it!

Finally it has arrived, the 61′ 6″ full brake from Hornby, in both LNER teak and BR Maroon. I had hoped that this would be available for Christmas, and was quite disappointed when it didn’t arrive under my tree. I … Continue reading → Source

I’m currently working for a client in Nottinghamshire, and this has me located in the Retford area most weeks. Last week I went along to the Bassetlaw Railway Society, and before the evening was out I’d paid my annual subs … Continue reading → Source

newly published through Middleton Press this should be of great interest to waverley fans The book covers the Border Counties Railway all the way from the junction with the Newcastle and carlisle Railway just west of Hexham all the way … Continue reading → Source

It’s been a while since the last post, life has just been too hctic over the last 3 weeks or so. In the absence of being able to write something meaningful I thought I’d share some Deltic footage I found … Continue reading → Source

Welcome to blogging, enjoy! I'll stay away from the boxfiles. It takes too many for a full length East Coast Express! Kevin Rede Valley Railway Blog

love it! Genuine North Eastern chaldron wagons. Dying to see the finished result Kevin Rede Valley Railway

We are a week into 2012, the festive season is well and truly over, and New Year resolutions already broken. It is time to look seriously at some objectives for 2012. On the Rede Valley, my 2011 aim was to have an operational layout that could run trains. The main obstacle to this had been completion of the Viaduct, so that the continuous main line circuit could be completed. This was achieved, and by and large the layout is operational. There is still quite a lot of track to lay in order to complete the total plan: The main freight yard and the locomotive depot haven’t been started; there is an extra set of platform roads to lay through the main station, and the branch line out of Otterburn Junction into the military camp hasn’t even been planned. With all this work to do, its difficult to know what to do next. All the work so far has been about building baseboards, laying track and connecting up the electrics. I’d rather like to have some variety, so the 2012 objective has to be about completing part of the layout scenically. The intention is that the Rede Valley is a series of dioramas, with the flexibility that the time period in which each is set, and indeed the time of year each represents, is not always the same. For instance I intend to model Otterburn Junction in LNER 1930′s while the main station Monkchester will be set in the 50′s or 60′s. The easiest of these dioramas to complete should be the Viaduct section, as that will be modelled as an open moorland landscape, loosely based around the Waverley line through the Scottish Borders. So my 2012 objective for the layout is to complete the viaduct diorama to a standard that would be good enough for publication in the UK model press. Read more on the external blog There are also updates on the Chathill page to include extra photos and the trackplan of the prototype, and I've made the ECML and Waverley working timetables downloadable after complaints that they were unreadable on some windows systems.

Nice work Frank Kevin.

Andy - No problem, in future I'll cut and paste more of the blog entry into RMWeb. I'd much rather be chatting here about the relative merits of the two engines, which was the whole point of blogging about them in the first place than discussing the merits of links to external sites. I'm not sure I quite follow why you have an issue with external links, my browser has a "back" button Which I use when I go to something I don't like.

Happy new year Frank Kevin

I’ve got to admit I’m no great fan of Edward Thompson. This mostly stems from his acts of vandalism to Gresley’s original pacific “Great Northern” and to the wonderful P2 2-8-2 express passenger engines which he rebuilt as class A2/2. He did however redeem himself with the B1......read more on my external blog