TomJ

I've never had the courage to try uncouplng in N gauge but I look forward to seeing your results. The new modern image stuff runs so well that shunting layouts finally work properly for me but I really like the concept of hands off operation. I know what you mean about saving up the swear box contents, if I put in a pound for every time I swore over a wiring error I could fund enough CDA's for St Blazey! The Peco ones are nice wagons but not cheap. How come even wiring up two sidings seems to go wrong for me! On another note I've been meaning to ask for a while how you built the hoods for your clayhoods? I've build a few of the kits for the steam era but I'm stumped as to the hoods for the BR Blue era. Any advice gratefully recieved!

I'd agree with that. It's also definitely NOT worth looking at the pics of Bodmin in diesel days with clay hoods being run round. No inspiration there at all!

Sorry have had a good scout around for the book and can't find it! I'm 99% certain it was in the Middleton Press book 'Wenford Bridge to Fowey', if I find it I'll send it on. As an aside I found the Branch Lines around Bodmin book recently. This says that the maximum load for an 08 on the line was 8 clay hoods (due to gradients around Bodmin). So even in O gauge and minimum space you are almost running full length trains. The book also has a lovely photo of an 08, brake van and a few hoods at Wenfordbridge towards the end of the lines life - I've always thought thats a good starting point for a model! If you want I'll send you a copy - but it'll have to wait till I;m back at work during the week - printer/scanner issues! Tom

I have a photo of the dries towards the very end of the rail served era which shows a tractor with railway buffers and couplings. Apparently this was used for shunting around the yard. No doubt it was done to make life easier and I'm sure the same would apply in model form! It would certainally enhance the operating potential of many small layouts but I haven't a clue how one would make a model version work. Not even in DCC and definitely not on my N gauge! However I think your idea will make for a great fun little shunting plank, especially if you do add a cassette to the far end