drmditch

Which surely makes William Henry O'Shea, with the timing of his divorce (the affair between Kitty and Parnell hardly being a new thing or unknown by those who cared to know) on of the great ***** of Irish history. (Sorry, couldn't decide on a suitable noun. Wouldn't want to offend anyone of that name and/or descendants of that man. There is too much condemnation in history anyway.)

Please may I ask the source for your 3500 gallon tender? (I think I did see a post somewhere by the estimable Mr King on shortening one of the larger ones.)

Re : The Building of the British Empire Most important factors: The four truck shipboard gun carriage Salt Beef, Salt Pork, Hard Tack, and the industrialisation of food production and storage. Rum and Lime Juice When the Empire had been built (whether in a fit of absence of mind or not) It was sustained by IPA. (Captains of sailing ships liked bottled bear as cargo.) Not to mention quite a lot of people, both those doing the colonialisation, and those being colonialised. One other factor which can be observed to this day is members of the legal professions wearing black robes and white wigs, even in tropical heat. They do look smart though! That must be why the Empire lasted as long as it did.

Thank to everybody who has contributed. Yes - the diagram is slightly obsolete. E and F were originally laid as a three way point. But I have had difficulty with remote operation of one of these in the past, so replaced it with two simple turnouts. My conclusion is that if I wish to use the matrix to switch all four roads on 'one button', then it will have to be more equidistant between the two ends of the loop. (Current cable lengths as run are about 8' for D E and F.) This gives rise to a whole issue. This railway (see my construction post .... here ...., is intended as my great work in retirement, and is quite large - the room is about 22' x 11'. I had intended to have two control positions, but now realise I need to plan and execute these much better. The traction power (12vDC) uses three ring-mains constructed of heavy duty cable with 'layout-wire' droppers. This (and the necessary switching) all seems to work correctly. Does anybody have any experience of large layouts and how far the 'multi-strand 'layout wire' (7x0.2mm), can be expected to transmit sufficient power? Also - I have a Maplin's Multi-meter (shown in the first picture above) can I use this to measure voltage drop? I'm happy with the logic of the matrix (after all) but I clearly need to work out power levels and distances! (I may start a new thread for this, as it goes rather beyond the original problem.) So - again with thanks - have some (virtual) cake!

I have not posted on this thread for a while, and when I can to search for it just now - the 'Content I Started' Activity search wouldn't find it. I have been making some progress, but my have recently taken a backward step with the turnout control wiring. (See ... here...) I will probably create another small thread to ask for further advice on controlling large layouts!.

Thank you. Do you mean in series or in parallel ?

Also Mr Gladstone's reducing the tax on Paper in his 1860 budget. (Just re-reading Roy Chadwick's biography of Gladstone.)

Re: Locomotive Naming. 1. Why were none of the A4s named 'Eider Duck'? These magnificent birds are, I believe, the fastest-flying duck resident around the British Isles. Such a locomotive could have been very suitable for sleeper trains, especially in the northbound direction. (No groans please!) 2. At present my railway activities are still a bit entangled in wiring, and I feel a bit like Laocoon (which was I think used as a locomotive name by the LNWR.) If I understand correctly the LNWR had a very comprehensive and sometimes unfortunate naming policy. Perhaps that's why other more reserved companies in addition to painting their locomotives green, did not go to such 'experiments'. (You may groan at that one!) Also, was any locomotive ever named for Pallas Athene (she of the flashing eyes!), ? (I may have seen some reference to a (slightly downmarket Roman version) locomotive named 'Minerva'.)

Thank you RobjUK, I will take note. Since this is a permanent layout, but installed and tested the wiring doesn't get moved much. But, as you point out solder can flow over time. Doubling the wire didn't work! (or at least not on first testing.) I shall have a light lunch, and then do some work on my 'parallel project' of rolling stock construction/improvement. (I always find it best to have an interesting task in hand as well as boring ones!) Apologies to anyone who finds wiring intrinsically interesting. If nothing else, I've discovered that my logic for the matrix was not wrong, and that I've probably been over-optimistic in my cable-run length. Some re-design is probably indicated!

Thank you both. I never use single strand wire. I do use multi-strand 'layout wire' (7x0.2mm) , with thicker (core thickness 1mm - approx!) cable for some elements. I have identified the problem as being mechanical force needed to move the spring on the turnout. The turnout when removed from the turnout functions correctly. Th resistance on the original motor is the same as a new straight from the box motor. Since it does work the point when 'fired' from either the 'output side' of the matrix, or the 'local terminal block', (the difference being some seven feet of wire, I shall try 'steve W's suggestion of doubling the wire on the 'coil' links. The return link is already using the thicker wire.

Thank you to all who have replied. Over the weekend I have made progress. I did take all the measures suggested to eliminate shorts. Situation as of 'before first coffee' this morning: . With everything connected the problem remains for the 'D' turnout only. . However, if a PL10 motor is directly connected to the output block of the matrix, everything 'fires' when it should. The same is true using a PL 11 motor. . since the two ends of the track loops are some 7' apart (as the cable runs go) there is another terminal block close to the D,E, and F motors. Removing all the connections to D, and substituting the same PL10 test motor as above, then firing from the input side of the matrix works all the motors as designed. I should point out that I test all motors before installation; strip and solder all wire ends before inserting them into terminal blocks ; where wire joins are needed (very few) they are soldered, hooked together, and re-soldered. But somehow, somewhere...…. Time for 'second coffee' !

Re: Muffin the Mule. Please don't be rude about this animal. I had a 'walk-along' toy of him which was a great comfort when I had to go into hospital at the age of four to have my tonsils out. Re: LNER Engineer's Blue A short time ago (and now a long way 'up-thread') Tony mentioned that he had a picture from the early 1970s of a coach still displaying this livery, although much faded. I suppose we could always wait for this to fade, but being modern paint it might take a while. (Many thanks to the clever and hardworking people of the LNERCA at Pickering.) I forgot I had this picture on my 'phone from my last visit!

A 'cracking good job'...…………. Was going to suggest simulating colliery waste. (There used to be a lot of it visible in County Durham.) Not the nicest parts to remember.

Re: Kipling (Rudyard) Can recommend most of the short stories. An entry to a different and sometimes surprising world. At the current time, 'The Village that Voted the Earth was Flat'. For the railway (LSWR) interest, 'My Sunday at Home'. As for the cakes, I prefer to make my own. (Except on Fridays.)

This film has been discussed on this thread before. Inspired by: Lord Louis Mountbatten Original 'inspiring speech' material: Lord Louis Mountbatten The naval officer most likely to place his ship(s) in the wrong place at the wrong time: Lord Louis Mountbatten (Probably excepting the sinking of the Kelly - on which the film is based.) Only contributor to the film with an ego greater than that of Noel Coward: Lord Louis Mountbatten. Comment by a later colleague of Lord Louis : "Dickie, you are so twisted that if you swallowed a nail you would s**t a corkscrew' Nonetheless, for a morale booting 1942 patriotic epic it's rather fun. Also noted in the credits , along with the galaxy of contemporary and future British icons, including her father a very young Juliet Mills.

Re: LNER Locomotive Classifications Not to mention both Gresley and Thompson O1s

Re: Television programming There seem to be quite a lot of 1940/50s British 'we can get through' this films being broadcast at the moment. 'In which we Serve' appeared this afternoon while I was having tea (in a break from wiring). Is this an attempt to inspire us all with our heroic past? Re: Television advertisements As of yesterday, there still seem to be quite a number of Cruise lines being advertised. One does realise that contracts are placed a long time in advance, but surely there must be a mechanism for revisions to schedules at time of broadcast. Perhaps we could raise a list of 'inappropriate adverts' for present circumstances ? Also - progress on my railway! (More to be posted soon!)

Indeed - as I said in my original post. It's just that it is harder and more time-consuming on my Tablet than it is on this desktop keyboard. Are there are any short cuts? (Such as an 'anchor point' which one can identify and remove?)

In this Editor it does seem quite difficult to avoid re-posting all the contents of a previous post, including any pictures. I find it particularly difficult (although possible) on my W10 tablet, but much easier on my conventional keyboard (even if I am still using an old but trustworthy W7 laptop). It is certainly annoying when a complete post is repeated for the sake of a line or two of comment. One looses track as regards what is new content in a thread. Perhaps some computer-skilled person can advise us? (I do have a project to commission a new W10 desktop machine, but am reluctant to spend time on it when there is so much railway activity to be done.

Thank you. I have tested the two diodes involved (and all the others!) and they appear to function normally. I also (using the terminal blocks) removed both connections and bypassed them by using two new diodes. This provided a direct link between the LH terminal block 3 and 4 and the block for DL and DR. The same problem seemed to exist. This suggests to me that there is a short rather than a loose connection - but I will try re-making the joints anyway! (The metal and coating on the Chinese manufactured diodes needs to be cleaned thoroughly to get a good solder joint!)

Thank you. I have tidied up the part you mention, and unfortunately it had no effect. I am going to make sure that are no other trace connections though, by using a wider drill bit to ensure tracks are appropriately isolated.

Re: An appeal for help. My railway building has been much delayed by a logic/electrical/electronic problem, described ..... here.... If any of the clever people who post on this thread can help me I promise that when I have finished the LNER York-built CCTs I am working on I will post pictures here. (Apologies to Tony for using his thread for this purpose - at least I am a modeller who makes (most) elements of my railway myself!)

Re; Stone I think most building stone around here (Durham - City of) is Carboniferous Sandstone. I spend some time - and will again this afternoon trying to emulate this on my railway. Re: Help This is nothing to do with Pre-Grouping or Norfolk railways, but I did mention a while ago that I have been much delayed by an electrical problem. It is described .... here.... Should any clever people from this thread be able to help, I promise that the next vehicle or building I will construct will definitely be pre-grouping! (Although I should say that I am currently working on refining some LNER built CCTs - but they will be finished soon!)

This is an appeal for help. I have been struggling with an electrical/electronic problem for two months now, and within the limitations of my skills I seem incapable of finding a resolution. I would be very grateful if some of the nice, knowledgeable, and highly skilled members of RMWeb could help me. My railway is being built/re-built on three levels. The lower level storage sidings have been constructed and are switched using a diode-matrix which although not the most elegant of devices appears to work well. (I had a problem with the specification of diodes which several people on here which people on RMWeb were able to advise me about.) It is the simple four road mid-level sidings that I am having the problem with. Here is the logic diagram for the diode-matrix. Post_01 As designed it should allow one contact to be made for each of the four roads. (For the purposes of this post I have left of the switching for turnouts G, H and J since they are not currently a problem.) Turnouts A,B,C E, and F all operate as designed. The problem I have is Turnout D. It does not operate at all when ‘fired’ through the ‘input’ side of the matrix. The system is intended to work on a probe/stud contact basis from the control panel (not shown because that does not seem to be a [resent problem. It uses AC power from a Gaugemaster CDU providing 1.6v AC. I have used this system for many years without significant problems. A,B and C are operated by (quite elderly) Peco PL-10 (and other variants) solenoid point motors surface mounted as seen here: Post_02 D, E and F are operated by the ‘new’ Peco PL-11 Side Mounted motor Post_03 The matrix was constructed as seen below, using IN5401 1844 diodes (which are nice and ‘fat’). Please excuse my primitive soldering and wiring skills. In mitigation I would say that my railways have usually worked and if problems occur I can trace and correct faults. The wiring will be tidied up when it all works! Post_04 Post_05 Traction DC Power wiring is all red and black, Turnout Control AC wiring is all white (return) and yellow and green.) I can test the matrix function using a probe at various points. As stated above, it is only D that does not operate as designed with power from the input side (LH terminal block with blue wires). All the others work correctly. So:- It does work when :- 1. fired directly from the output side (RH terminal block) 2. fired from the output side of the diodes. 3. When (as a test) I cut the input side of the diodes (to remove the connection to the input block) it also fired from the input side. (you can see the soldered repair in Post_04 It does not work when:- 4. One of the other motors is disconnected (in case six motors at once were too ‘power hungry’.) 5. Fired directly from the input side of the diodes connected as normal. I have checked for all the obvious conditions I think of. My only conclusion is that somehow the motor is receiving current from both directions at once. I have checked for any obvious short-circuits on the board especially in positions marked X and Y. Any shorts on the ‘input’ side of the matrix would appear to be contra-indicated by all the other five motors firing correctly. This is true whatever sequence is chosen (ie 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 2 to 4 etc) This mid-level problem needs to be overcome so I can lower down the top level baseboards (seen propped up in Post_02) and get on with the functional railway. (The top level is/will be all mechanical turnout control – I know where I am with that!.) I would be grateful for help. Caroline

Best wishes to your admirable aged mother. I should point out however that references to 'a bucket of fleas' (and I was not aware that such animals whether Pulex Irritans or Xynopsella Cheopsis could be contained in a bucket) may be not be the best analogy to use when humankind faces another worldwide pandemic. (And yes I am aware of the differences between the viral Covid-19 and the bacterial Yersinia Pestis.) It's the problem of being such a large, complex, and very populous social animal.