TravisM

1 hour ago, mallaig1983 said:

I have a similar problem but mine does actually move albeit very slowly but the sound revs as if it’s running faster. This is the second one that I’ve had this happen to. They asked for the first to be sent back. I will contact support.

Was yours like that from day one or did it develop the problem?  Mine has just suddenly developed it.

11 minutes ago, The Meerkat said:

 

put the loco on your programme track and its CV 8 = 8

Thank you for that but as I said, I’m a DCC newbie and unsure how to change or check CV’s.  As I use a NCE Powercab, would be grateful for a idiot guide on how to check the CV

22 minutes ago, McC said:

 

Try a decoder reset? Assuming no obvious physical damage or signs since last run?

No obvious damage and it’s been sitting in its box since it’s last run.  As I’m a DCC dummy, how do you do a decoder reset?  I just don’t want to compound the problem, even though I think it’s a simple fix.

Went to test run my DCC & sound fitted 37423, and to my surprise, the sound functions and lights worked but it wouldn’t move.  It worked perfectly a few weeks ago and now somewhat surprised that it’s decided to play dead.  Does anyone have any ideas as to why it’s decided to throw a wobbly?

Went to the NEC to attend Key Publishing's 'Model World Live 2024' show, mainly to get new ideas for the layout.  Spoke to Colin from Rainbow Railways about my next purchase from them, a Realtrack Northern Class 156 respray into the RAF 100 year anniversary livery.  Had a look at the Heljan stand and very tempted by their O Gauge Highland Class 24's, to then build a small version of the Far North Line to compete against @class26 OO scale layout.

Then over to Accurascale's stand and meet up with Richard Watson @Accurascale, to show him the Modelu 3D print that was done of him, and painted by Dan Evason  of Tunnel Lane Model Railways.  @Accurascale Fran thought it was hilarious and I now have two 'mini me's' to go on my layout (Richard and myself).  I also took pictures of my next two Accurascale purchases, 37116 in Colas and 37422 in DRS plain blue.  I would like to point out that these are decorated samples, not the real deal.

5 hours ago, MAP66 said:

I suppose the questions to ask yourself are;

Moving the baseboard: Do you want the fiddleyard to also serve as a place for extra staging and storage tracks which depends on how much stock you have. I would suggest using Anyrail to plan out the fiddle yards and sidings on the 8'6" x 30" board to see what's possible. It may also look odd to have a much wider baseboard below and a narrower curved profile scenic board above. If you opt for this choice you might need to consider a curved profile for the front of the lower board as well so think about that when planning the track work.

 

Station baseboard built on a curve: How much do you like modelling scenery? As you will lose quite a bit of the area in front of the station itself. For me, a layout is how it fits into the surrounding scenery and it would be a shame to lose a lot of the area in front of the station. 

How much operating space do you comfortably need? In the railway room you could mark out on the floor (using masking tape or similar) the area you currently have as per your plan for operating space. Then ask yourself, is there enough room to comfortably move about, reach everywhere and access all that I need to. If not, would a narrower curved baseboard  be required and solve the problem? If so, then the decision is made as there is little point in a model railway if there is not adequate space to operate it.

 

Best of luck with the planning and decision making. and hopefully further advice from others will follow.

Hi Mark,

To be honest, I'm struggling a bit with the idea as my friend also suggested that I build the layout from the bottom up, rather than start at the top and work down.  He said it would be easier to build the fiddle yard, and the helix first as it would be a level and secure starting point for the layout, then the scenic section attached to the helix and then mounted to the wall.  If I started with the scenic section and worked down, everything would be harder to make sure everything matches up.  I hope that makes sense?

I just thought about using what I have, will jumpstart the layout build as I feel I need to get the helix sorted first.

A friend of mine suggested that I move the original 8’6”x30” baseboard to the lower level (hidden sidings) as I would have more room to put in extra staging tracks, or just sidings to hold spare stock.  He also suggested that the station baseboard is built on a curve, so there’s less wasted space.

It sounds very intriguing and I’d like to hear what others think?

I was hoping there would be announcement regarding a third batch, I know @class26 and others are climbing the walls awaiting for a Accurascale announcement for Inverness based Class 37’s, especially 37114 Dunrobin Castle, with it’s unique top of the bonnet headlight.

Personally I’m hoping for DRS 37069 or 37218 and 37716 in later compass livery, plus 37401 in large logo.

Just asking 😜

1 hour ago, Mol_PMB said:

Trackplan suggestion: would it be possible for the middle road of the fiddle yard to be connected to both up and down lines? That would give more operational flexibility. For example, if there were two consecutive northbound services operated by a class 156, then the same model unit could operate both. 

I have considered that but as I’m trying to follow the KISS (Keep it simple stupid) principle and keep the two hidden sidings separate operationally, but once the baseboards are built, I can play around with the hidden sidings plan, including a middle road that can serve both sets of sidings.

Following this thread with interest and getting lots of useful information from @MAP66 regarding the use of a helix.  Looking forward to seeing how this layout progresses.

Wonderful, I’ll have to think about getting one for my Cumbrian Coast layout.  Totally out of my time period but hard to say no to.

4 hours ago, Peter749 said:

Something I noticed watching the video is the Disk Brake inserts on the wheels are quite white instead of a silver

And some of them are a bit off centre making the wheel look wobbly

 

Maybe they should be a dull silver as they are not that noticeable in real life

 

 

 

 

Nice the locos are on the way - :)

 

They should be a ‘polished steel’ rather than silver because of the friction of the brake pads, but certainly not white.

12 hours ago, JimC said:

Its amusing to use Google Lens and see in how many places round the world this image has been used. 
Here's the Getty Images source page. Its in Switzerland. The BBC has used it before.

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/simple-way-royalty-free-image/187555173

 

 

Isn't this the same picture that @steve1 posted at the start of this thread?

The D&H off loaded it's C628's, U30C's as well (I think) their PA-4's to Mexico in 1978 but happy to be proved wrong.  Fortunately the four PA's still survive, though non operational.

By looking at the way the track is secured to the sleepers, looks like European metre gauge track to me, but happy to be proved wrong.

As JRA wagons are being used on the Acton - Peterborough HS2 spoil trains, they could be cripples sent up from Peterborough as there's no real room for them there to be repaired.  As the spoil train is contracted to DB Cargo and most of Peterborough Westwood yard is operated by GBRf, there might not be any siding space.  Also, as they are leased from Touax, they might want them repaired there?

As to why one has been moved, who knows and as Network Rail stable their track machines there, they might have moved it?

1 hour ago, GWR57xx said:

Another possible issue I see with your plan is that every train that arrives in your fiddle yard will have to have the loco removed and moved to the other end of the train for the next journey. That means a lot of handling of locos. Might cassettes be an easier option?

 

edit: unless of course all your trains are top & tailed.

The Northern passenger services are either Class 156 DMU's, or mainly Class 37's either top and tailing or with a DBSO.  The Network Rail trains, again top and tailed Class 37's or with a DBSO, but the nuclear flask traffic will probably need another set of loco's which can be backed onto the arrived flask train, and the loco's that brought it in can either sit in a holding siding or run back light to the other fiddle yard.

This is the complete revised plan for the layout, and though it still needs tweaking, mainly on the lower level curves, but you get the idea of what I'm attempting to achieve.  I'm hoping to use 3rd and 4th radius curves on the helix, and from the helix to the hidden sidings because of the Mk2 coaches, but it might have to be slightly tighter because of the room size..  The track on the scenic section will be Peco code 75 flat bottomed rail, but on the helix and hidden sidings, code 100.  Any sensible suggestions will be warmly accepted.

4 hours ago, Jeremy Cumberland said:

I think so. The carriages all had door fault lights.

I think @Matt37268 reply was said ‘tongue-in-cheek’ given West Coasts ongoing problems with the DfT over fitting CDL to their Mk1 stock

4 hours ago, jim.snowdon said:

What the St Bees signaller is alleged to be doing is only possible if the section signals are not interlocked with getting a line clear for the section, and since that principle has been progressively built into signalling for many decades I am surprised that it hasn't spread to St Bees. Either way, what the signaller is doing is in conflict with the rules, even if it is a fudged form of one engine in steam working.

 

 

Without actually being there and asking the signaller, there's no definitive answer on this.  It's probably been like this for years and standard working practise, well within the sectional appendix, but as you said, it appears to be in conflict with with Network Rail rules and you can bet your bottom dollar that it will changed eventually, possibly to something similar to the operation at Maiden Newton.

I took my Bachmann Network Rail Windhoff MPV and West Coast Class 47, 47245 for a test run at Market Deeping MRC's test track, and both performed really well considering they had been stored for ages.  Both will go to GC Weathering to be 'breathed on' with suitable weathering for the MPV and gentle in service weathering and  updating to it's current condition with yellow/gold numbers and the shed code beneath the data panel for 47245. 

I'd like to thank @woodenhead for telling me how to post the video clips properly.

12 minutes ago, Jeremy Cumberland said:

St Bees, like most passing loops, is only signalled for left-hand running.

 

I can't say that I have watched the St Bees signaller particularly closely, but surely they have to put each token through the instrument, which would change the sequence of operations (notably the signaller not taking the token from the driver of the Barrow train and giving it directly to the driver of the Carlisle train).

 

Also, if the up train is expected more than a couple of minutes after the down train (down trains are usually scheduled to arrive first), then the signaller often raises the level crossing barriers after the down train has stopped in the platform, and there is a signal at the Carlisle platform end specifically for this purpose.

 

I don't know what information the St Bees signaller has to know when to expect trains. Departure times from Sellafield and Whitehaven, certainly, but they are both some distance away (Sellafield particularly), which might well mean the signaller lowers the barriers prematurely, expecting a train to arrive when it has been delayed en route.

I have to say that what I wrote are my observations from watching many, many YouTube video clips, though they probably only show the 'highlights' with sequences shortened.

I've got this Oxford Diecast Mercedes ambulance lettered for East Midlands NHS Trust and had the lights done by Kyte lights, and when it's lit up, looks great.  Ideally, I'd like one lettered for North West NHS Trust's vehicles but I can't find suitable decals to re-letter the vehicle, so I spoke to several ambulance crews about the model and they've told me that it's not unlikely that one of theirs could be up in the North West taking a patient home from a hospital stay in the East Midlands area, and on it's way home, could be called upon.

I did think of selling it but with the information told to me by the ambulance crew, I think I should keep it and maybe slightly hide it on the layout so it's not so noticeable.  Suggestion?

17 minutes ago, Titan said:

By using that logic you could also call it one of the lightest. Class 56, 58 and 60 are also heavier. I don't think the class 13 even makes the top 5, so including it as 'one of the heaviest' is misleading.

I think your just nit picking as the Class 56, 58 & 60's were built AFTER the Class 13's were converted.  I think you need to read the post in the context it was written!

14 minutes ago, kevinlms said:

You mean not counting the 400 or so Peaks/Class 40s at or over 133 Tons each?

That’s why I said ‘one of the heaviest’, not the heaviest