john dew

You sure put me to shame.........I am afraid that I just shy away from the idea off cutting and shutting and then painting the new sides properly........net result .....I run totally unrealistic Hawksworth brakes.......do we have an embarrassed emoticon? Regards from Vancouver

I received one this week.....it's not been run in yet but on the DC test track it did seem stiffer than the Railroad Hall. Will run it in next week on the rolling road and let you know how I get on Regards

I have been running a lot of trains on Granby since April but, for whatever reason, I seem to have difficulty writing about it. As many of you know, I run Granby with RR&Co computor control. Over the years I have developed a whole series of routines but have still to link them all together in a timetable. I have attached a video showing one of the extended routines.It is a 5 minute sequence which hopefully demonstrates how a single operator can have a number of locos operating more or less at the same time. I have tried to polish the video.....it was shot with an Ipad and edited with Imovie which I have never used before .....and I am afraid that it shows It features a B Set train hauled by an assortment of Panniers. The train shuttles between two terminii.....Granby and "Chester" (Storage). At each station the incoming loco uncouples and a relief loco couples and hauls the train back whence it came. Immediately the outgoing train has cleared the road, then the released loco exits to a spur ready for the next trip. From time to time an Autotrain departs when the B Set arrives. In the background, two goods trains do a gentle roundy roundy. There are 6 locos involved......and always at least 3 running. I have edited out some delays....otherwise the loco movements all come from a single shoot. I dont do sound......but there are some rather obvious sound effects. One of the Panniers is particularly growly and the Dukedog on one of the goods trains has a quite distinctive sound. However, the pre-dominant sound comes from Peco solenoid point motors slamming accross...... or attempting to slam whenever a route is set. Its one of the few irritating features of RR&Co and yet another reason to use stall motors like Tortoise or Cobalt. I guess I could have muted them. They were left in deliberately to give a sense of all the activity taking place. The sequence was started by a mouse click. Thereafter I held the camera (Ipad) and RR&Co did the rest......look out for some of the loco speed changes.....some are quite subtle......said he modestly Finally.....to improve sight lines the Overall Roof and Terraced Houses (that shield the storage yards) were removed. The producers would like to make it clear that, despite the row of dead chimney pots, no scenery was harmed in the making of this movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8yGlLt_qxE

Could be New World licence........they were not particularly memorable!

Here in Vancouver we have a British Butchers Shop (not the Shoppe we often get over here) who bake Melton Mowbray Pie (I guess we are not in the EEC so the distance from Leicester doesnt matter?) and import delicacies like Branston Pickle..........and sticking to the topic......a huge range of Sausages....Dublin, Dorking, Epping, Manchester, English Breakfast......the list goes on and on .....but my favourite is also Pork and Leek.

Oh well it's not just me......I guess they will have to be assigned to a semi permanent rake. I run Granby with RR&Co so automatic coupling is must......I spend a lot of time destroying the resale value of my stock by hacking and shimming .......I tried cut down Kadees on the body of the prairies but to no avail Regards from Vancouver

Darn.....this time difference is a killer.....you got there before me!

Gorgeous shots Rob. For the longest time, they were also my favourite class, as a model. I have been meaning to ask this for a while......what coupling system do you use on Brent?...........I use Kadees and I find that automatic coupling is not very reliable because of the way the NEM pocket is mounted on the pony truck .........it doesn't centre properly because of the side play.........do you have this problem? Kind regards from Vancouver

Morning Rob I am still here to keep you company!

Good Morning Anthony I am afraid I am a poor correspondent.......I had the wrong update on my "follow topic" set up.......and the time difference doesnt help They look fine provided the centre profiling block is straight and subject to the caveat about visibility and accessibility. Juergen Freiwald has simplified the process but it still takes about 30 minutes per loco and is mind numbingly boring.......I find the best antidote is a glass of red wine and some cool jazz! At the completion of the profile you have to carry out a series of brake tests which is another reason for visibility and accessibility.. Regards.

I dont think the Warwickshires (6th Foot by the way) were involved......the action was fought by a company of the South Wales Borderers.......who were the 24th Foot......... plus some support troops.

Hi Anthony CG37 will be fine for the DCC Programming Track but not for the RR&Co Profiling Track. For that you will need 3 contiguous (ie no intervening gaps or turnouts) detected blocks. The track must be level and ideally straight. The start and finish blocks should be about 2' long......the centre profiling block at least 4' long and ideally longer (mine is 6')..........edited: Just realised these distances are for an 00 layout.......I guess you could halve them for N gauge It can either be part of the layout or a separate run but it does need to be both accessible and visible. To ensure accurate stopping each loco must be profiled......you can read about it in the manual 3.5 Page 118 I mention it now because its far easier to set up now in the planning stage than retro fit.......as I did Kind Regards John

Hi Anthony I hadnt realised that you had a much fuller description of your project on this forum........I am looking forward to catching up by reading all the back pages. Nor had I realised how far you had advanced with your RR&Co switchboard........it looks very impressive. It makes sense not to actually buy the software until you are back from Sydney but could I suggest that it is a perfect time to start the learning curve by setting up a schedule and testing it using the simulator..........something you can do in the evening when you want a break from making the buildings! The more you can learn about TC before the wiring is finalised then the easier life will be. With a layout that size I imagine finding space for a profiling track will not be too difficult.......have you given any thought to this? Kind Regards from Vancouver John

I remember them......they were used like modern day label makers Dymo/P Touch. I have a vague memory of them being used in the army but exactly where escapes me. And yes Rob, you did need platform tickets at major stations in 1947

Why can't I like. agree. and be amused. Frustrated in Vancouver

Hi Rob Great shots of the Milk Train .......I could almost do a snap with the rolling stock except its Bradley Manor and a fictional Hawksworth ........is that a kit built Brake........I am very envious Regards

I agree.......I had exactly the same problem

I believe GWR Boards were 17' x 8" ( Scale 68mm x 3mm). LMS were 11' I think and SR were the same or even shorter? I want to make my own.......I have been googling trying to find the appropriate Font and guess what:. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=36168 Featuring Rob and I .......6 years ago! The quote from the GWR forum says they were black lettering on white boards.........for some reason I thought they were Dark Brown on Pale Yellow.......am I guilty of the old Chocolate and Cream syndrome?.............although I guess a white painted board would weather to pale yellow pretty quickly........but should the lettering be Black? I wasnt able to download the font mentioned and settled for Deja vu Serif Condensed.................Font Size 7 in Open Office Edited to remove example which wouldnt translate.....I guess I should take a photo

Hi Brian I do agree this is a great (and often hilarious) thread......now my first call every morning! I guess you are my nearest neighbour ......about 180 miles south......I used to think it was John Flann of Hintock but his little bit of Dorset is in Utah a few thousand miles east of here! ps I will post an answer to your Coach board post shortly Kind Regards from a very sunny Vancouver

With an 8 hour time difference its difficult to keep on topic here Cold Remedy .......Scotch or Spiced Rum......Lemon Slices.....Hot Water....maybe some cloves............usually sorts it Rob was talking about a milk train.....yesterday.....that would be 5 pages back........a sort of related question: 2 milk tankers arrive from the branch at a through station at the tail of a BSet The main Milk train arrives hauled by a Hall or Grange and there is a loco exchange for the last leg to Birkenhead (1) Can the relief Loco (another Grange) pick up the 2 tankers from the Bay and back on to the train (They have to be attached at the front of the train) or (2) should this be done by a lesser loco...station pilot.......and only then does the relief loco back on? I do this stuff automatically with RR&Co and there is a fair amount of schedule writing.....I favour option (1) but I thought I should ask before getting in too deep Rob.....my apologies for inserting queries into your thread.......but virtually all the guys (including you of course!) whose opinion I value are regulars......if I post a simple query it runs the risk of being buried. As penance I could provide a recipe for Italian Sausage and Beans Regards from Vancouver

I am afraid that I cheat and print them out using Open office ......you get a smaller font size than Word. The layout looks superb Jules.....the iconic GWR BLT where the sun never sets! Glad the retrofit wiring worked......not something I look forward too.. Regards from a sunny Vancouver

Good Morning Gentlemen! Thank you so much for the discussion about double heading. I run with DCC and RR&Co and it works brilliantly....its fascinating to see the different locos working together yet separately....if you follow me. Like Rob I remove the front couplings from 4-6-0s..........I guess the ones I re-installed in Alderley Hall, the designated pilot on the Up Birkenhead-Granby-Paddington, will have to be transferred to Wellington and Broughton Castle. It will however make the coupling routine far simpler Again many thanks Regards from Vancouver.......The best known Canadian duck type is a Loon .....or stretching a point the Goose.....but I dont think I will go there

Brilliant shots Rob.......love the doubleheader. Its something I was just about to set up on Granby. What were the GWR rules regarding doubleheading........was there some limited distance before the assisting loco had to be coupled behind the train engine? Second question if I may......I have been admiring your coach boards for some time......if home made, what font should one use? Kind Regards from Vancouver John

Thanks Mikkel that's very kind of you . I suspect I should add plates now as standard.......so that's coal,crew,lights,irons,plates and of course the chip......I don't think I should add that lot to the cost of the loco though....book it under miscellaneous instead Like many of us I tend to skip around like a butterfly but amongst all the little jobs I try and have one major project on the go. I have been putting off doing the sidings for far too long Cheers

Hi CoY The sidings aren't supposed to be scenic! In truth they are a bit too tight. Adjustments to one rake can have unexpected knock on effects on others. You do have sharp eyes.......I was very happy with the Wellington and was able to pre order a second at the original price. It's renamed "Broughton Castle"........Rob very kindly sorted that for me......right tender,shedded at Chester and it has some local Connections for me....perfect. The only downside is the name plates are just a tad undersize........I keep meaning to post a photo......should I have removed the original plates? I will take a photo later