johnb

Are the wheels clean? I've had new locos that have some manufacturing residue on the wheels and pickups. So clean the wheels if you haven't already done so, then the track as gunge from the wheels will now be deposited on the track. I use a rolling road to run stock in initially, then they will settle down in use.

As above get a Zimo

It seems I joined in March 2007, was it really THAT long ago???? It's been a very interesting, fruitful and informative ride. I really, really appreciate the work that has been put into the organisation of the site. It's had the occasional dip but has come though remarkably well thanks to the dedication of Andy Y, his team and the supporting cast of contributors. Being a bit of a generalist in railway matters I find the range of contributions absolutely fascinating, particularly the in depth posts of current and former railway employees who are unstinting in the generosity of information. Some of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting. It would be invidious to single out anyone, but thank you guys!!! I am online most days and there is always something to interest me. Keep up the good work folks, it will help us all through the upcoming trials. All the very best everyone and keep well. John

CANCELLED - Regretfully Marlow Maidenhead & DIst MRC have cancelled their Summer Show at Knowl Hill Village Hall on 6th June 2020

If I recall correctly the yellow pointy thing does not do the knuckle springs. I've got and have had for years a maroon plastic handle which has a steel rod emerging which has the end flattened to hold a spring, I think it was called a 'spring pic', it works ... er ... most of the time!

Re derailing have you weighted the wagons? Some UK stock is pretty light. I weighted mine, but not to the NMRA standard. I did some experimenting and have settled on 25g per axle so a two axle wagon is of the order of 50g and bogie stock 100g, that gives an amount of 'heft'. I do not do that precisely but near enough is good enough. I've not had any issues with tipping, but it doesn't need much push to get the uncoupler down between the couplers. I rest the stick at the right location and twiddle gently and it slips between the faces and couplers open, it does not need much of a push.

Ah! I'd forgotten about the yellow pointy thing. The kebab stick is the same idea, but is much longer of course which I like. Also the slight roughness is an advantage as it grips better.

I got into Kadees when I started US prototype modelling and liked them. I also model UK prototype, so I did some experimental fitting to UK stock. A fair amount of that was prior to the near universal fitting of NEM pockets on UK rtr models. I used them on a small UK layout which went on to do several years on the exhibition circuit. A layout which involved a fair degree of shunting. My current layout has carried on with them and I am happy with them. I did use permanent magnets at first, but tended to prefer manual methods. Using Kadee fixed magnets is OK, but they didn't really suit me.They do enable nice propelling moves, but if the loco hesitates or the stock runs too freely, they couple up again just where you don't want that to happen. I tried out the Kadee manual uncoupler which has two magnets either side of a sort of stirrup arrangement but couldn't get on with it. I now use a pointed kebab skewer to twiddle them open. I stress that the above is what suits me but maybe not for everyone. John

Well I've got my HO US switching layout Salinas Valley out on the following two weekends. Chesham on 1 March (Sunday) and the WRG show at Lancing on 7th March. Plus further ahead the Hemel Hempstead show on 25 April. It's only small 5ft x 2ft with a sectorplate/fiddlestick, I run all sorts of slightly quirky little switchers and it's set around 1960/70 (ish). It's just shuffling freight cars around to the operators whim, so nothing special or dramatic I'll also be honest and admit that I didn't build it, Steve1 of this parish built and exhibited it as a German prototype Starcker Verkher I obtained it an USified it. Please make yourself known to me if you get to any of those. John

That's what I've done on my layout I have three sets of crossovers wired that way.

I use a slightly bigger variety it's called the '4mm banana plug'. Ideal for interboard linking of a DCC bus between boards on a portable exhibition layout. Provided one uses different colours for each cable!! They are pretty robust having been used for several years on one layout.

I have three Powercabs all set to different cab addresses, the original at 2 and the others at 4 & 5. All work quite happily.

Can mean that there is a short circuit somewhere. I have one recently when I rewired the odd little two pin plug that connects from the plug box to the track feed. I'd hastily rewired that and there was a whisker of wire between the conductors where I'd not been too careful pushing the wires into the plug. It took ages to find. I had exactly the symptom that you are describing

Have you contacted Heathcote for comment?

Running OK in West Herts on my laptop this morning,

This is proving to be a most entertaining thread. Please keep them coming!!!!!

I hope that you will be prototypical and set the OOOO's misaligned!!!!!!!!!

I was there all weekend with Salinas Valley (sometimes Salinas Bridge, bit of a story there!). Anyway the point of this is that I and my colleague had an excellent weekend. We were looked after properly and thought that the show was first class. Heartiest congratulations to all concerned, it's very hard work for the host club but all the visitors seemed well pleased

Very sorry indeed to hear the sad news. I had known Ant for quite a few years and really enjoyed meeting him at shows and so on. He will be missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends. John

Yes they will improve, but it's not a fast process as no doubt many on here will testify! Small steps and taking it day by day may seem a tentative route but those little steps do add up. Then one day you will find that you have turned onto the upward path. AS Gilbert says above, don't ask me how I know!

A good number of years ago, I recall being at Shrewsbury station waiting for a DMU to Wolverhampton when a parcels train pulled in and work commenced un/loading it. Shortly after an announcement came over to the effect that "If anyone missed the 'nn:nn' to Cardiff there is a passenger coach at the front of the train on platform 'n'. The train does go to Cardiff." This was late afternoon as I recall, so how long it took to Cardiff I cannot imagine. I may not be accurate as to the destination, but it was certainly South Wales. I was quite impressed.

Bit of a digression from Class 50s, but the old Airfix Mk2s were wonderful for this.

Van space could be needed for parcels, packages, post and people tended to have lots of big suitcases on some routes.

Try contacting DC Kits, Charlie Petty is a member on here.

128 I find it gives smoother control