GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

[user=540]gdaysydney[/user] wrote:

John ,Great photos and great scheduling (RR&Co) as always.

I'm discovering that part of the dark art of scheduling is to return a loco ( or another loco) to the starting position of a schedule. Is there a secret to this or just a lot of well planned and timed scheduling?

Thanks Dave

Do you mean physically or on the screen……the save/restore facility is brilliant when you are testing and retesting a schedule where the composition of the train set changes…..saves all that manual entry……….but there are pitfalls dont restore an old file…..everything goes back…..how do I know this:twisted:

If you mean physically with the train set having the original orientation then that involves a number of schedules at both terminii…..either as a run around…..same train loco ……or a loco exchange. ….a train has  3 locos involved…..one on the train and one as relief at each terminii.

If you want to give a specific example I bet we will find a number of different solutions!

Cheers

John

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

Impressive range of images as usual John and I'd almost forgotten how imposing the Hawksworth coaching stock looks with their distinctive roof line.

Hope you still have plenty of 127 film in that Brownie of yours, as I never tire in seeing Granby and its environs.

Best,

Bill

(relaxing after a wonderful meal at our local village restaurant)

Thanks Bill

Hornby did a great job with those coaches

The Hawksworths are really a bit marginal for my time period :roll: particularly the brake van. But there is a dearth of RTR GWR passenger brake vans so I put twin city transfers on and weathered them (I have two…..you will shortly see the other on the parcels train ). 

We are blessed with a varied ethnic mix of good resturants but I suspect none will compare with your local……on a damp Vancouver morning I am rather envious!

Best wishes

John

Evening rush hour at Whitcombe station.it's a running session for 2 of the Prairie fleet.


 

Hi John

My good lady wife and I were in Vancouver 4 years ago and thought it was lovely - even on a damp morning!!

Just wanted to throw in a reminder to those following this thread that underneath all the whizz-bang techno-doo-dahs (of which I understand nothing) is a mighty fine layout with some good looking stock and nice operation.  Even if the trains had to moved by hand (i.e. Old School 12v DC  :lol: :lol:) it would still be a fine piece of modelling.

Barry

[user=2006]Barry Miltenburg[/user] wrote:

Hi John

My good lady wife and I were in Vancouver 4 years ago and thought it was lovely - even on a damp morning!!

Just wanted to throw in a reminder to those following this thread that underneath all the whizz-bang techno-doo-dahs (of which I understand nothing) is a mighty fine layout with some good looking stock and nice operation.  Even if the trains had to moved by hand (i.e. Old School 12v DC  :lol: :lol:) it would still be a fine piece of modelling.

Barry

Very true Barry, as every picture tells a story!

Which reminds me, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmyGa29zIqk

[user=2126]81C[/user] wrote:

Evening rush hour at Whitcombe station.it's a running session for 2 of the Prairie fleet.


 

Very nice Bob……….what couplings are you using?  I have Kadee 20 back and front but I am having a few problems with the Hornby close couplers for the intermediate couplings…….normally they are fine. It may be my track and the back to backs…..they were very tight maybe I didnt ease them enough.

The sea air at Whitcombe must be both bracing and pristine…….those roofs are positively dazzling! :lol: 

Cheers

John

[user=2006]Barry Miltenburg[/user] wrote:

Hi John

My good lady wife and I were in Vancouver 4 years ago and thought it was lovely - even on a damp morning!!

Just wanted to throw in a reminder to those following this thread that underneath all the whizz-bang techno-doo-dahs (of which I understand nothing) is a mighty fine layout with some good looking stock and nice operation.  Even if the trains had to moved by hand (i.e. Old School 12v DC  :lol: :lol:) it would still be a fine piece of modelling.

Barry

Hi Barry

Not surprised that you and your wife enjoyed Vancouver. Its a great place to live………hard to believe I have now spent almost half my life here………..still miss the rugby, pubs and countryside though.

Thank you so much for those kind words about Granby. I apologise for the techno stuff……I know its not to everyones taste and I attempt to keep it to a minimum. However it is a challenge attempting to convert the odd Luddite :lol:

Cheers

John


 

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

[user=2006]Barry Miltenburg[/user] wrote:

Hi John

My good lady wife and I were in Vancouver 4 years ago and thought it was lovely - even on a damp morning!!

Just wanted to throw in a reminder to those following this thread that underneath all the whizz-bang techno-doo-dahs (of which I understand nothing) is a mighty fine layout with some good looking stock and nice operation.  Even if the trains had to moved by hand (i.e. Old School 12v DC  :lol: :lol:) it would still be a fine piece of modelling.

Barry

Very true Barry, as every picture tells a story!

Which reminds me, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmyGa29zIqk

 :thumbs

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

…………………………………………………………I apologise for the techno stuff……I know its not to everyones taste and I attempt to keep it to a minimum. However it is a challenge attempting to convert the odd Luddite :lol:

Cheers

John

:hmm :hmm :hmm :oops: :oops: :oops:

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

…………………………………………………………I apologise for the techno stuff……I know its not to everyones taste and I attempt to keep it to a minimum. However it is a challenge attempting to convert the odd Luddite :lol:

Cheers

John

:hmm :hmm :hmm :oops: :oops: :oops:

No names ….no pack drill  

Its hard to believe that this thread has been viewed over a quarter of a million times :shock:  Another milestone ……at my age they seem to come thick and fast. Its a suitable opportunity to thank all those who clicked and looked and particular thanks to those who have contributed. :cheers

This is definitely the conclusion of the milk train saga

I left you with the fully assembled train, complete with new loco, waiting at Down Platform 5



Its waiting for a space in the storage yard!

I didnt design the storage approach roads very well. They are fine for continuous circuits but it is difficult/impossible for out and back schedules to start and finish in the same siding.

Thus the Down Milk train we have been following started in Down Siding 3 but will terminate in Up Siding 1……currently occupied by an Up Parcels/Newspaper Train. 

So another schedule has to be started with the Parcels Train clearing U1 for the Milk Train

Here we see the train on Granby Bank Up Main with a Local Goods in the Down Relief….or should it be slow?



Approaching Granby Junction as the Down Milk train finally departs for Hooton (U1)














There are a number of routines available for the Parcel train vans can be added and taken away, along with a loco exchange like the one seen previously with the the Down Milk……but thats for another day.

There is so much happening with the Milk Train that on this occasion its a simple touch and go…..or even an express. Its sole purpose is to move from U1 to D3 the siding vacated by the Milk Train.

I think that for legend purposes, at this time in the afternoon, it could be a Newspaper train with the evening editions from Manchester

Having passed through the stations the two trains continue on their separate journeys….clockwise and anti-clockwise….




4905 Barton Hall heading south past Granby Sheds and Carriage Sidings




 4918 Dartington Hall heading North on the Down Main passing Chester Road Goods Depot on its way to Hooton.

Apologies for the dodgy looking tender….. thats also another story
 
.

Once the two trains arrive in their respective sidings, both locos uncouple, get turned on the storage turntable and recouple at the other end of their respective trains……….One sentence covering a great deal of activity :roll:

Thus 4918 Dartington Hall is ready for the return journey taking the Milk Train (now Empties) back to Shrewsbury. Stopping at Granby to drop off the two tankers for MacPeters Dairy at Cynwyd  ( which they left in  :lol:Milk Train Part 1…..about a month ago )

Similarly 4905 Barton Hall is now ready to take a Down Parcels through Granby and on to Birkenhead. The Milk train activity on this routine is pretty straight forward so there is now a lot more movement with the parcels train …….but as I said that is for another day

Next week something completely different

 

'Next week something completely different'

Well I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition .  .  .  .

 :thumbs

Congratulations on the milestone John.  More super photos and a great description of the schedules.  Such patience!  Looking forward to "something completely different…..

Michael

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

[user=2126]81C[/user] wrote:

Evening rush hour at Whitcombe station.it's a running session for 2 of the Prairie fleet.


 

Very nice Bob……….what couplings are you using?  I have Kadee 20 back and front but I am having a few problems with the Hornby close couplers for the intermediate couplings…….normally they are fine. It may be my track and the back to backs…..they were very tight maybe I didnt ease them enough.

The sea air at Whitcombe must be both bracing and pristine…….those roofs are positively dazzling! :lol: 

Cheers

John

 

He appears to simply be using slimline tension-locks, at least at the train ends and on the locos.

The milk train saga has been a delight to follow
 

"Next week something completely different"


Well I suppose nothing is different :roll:   I am afraid Easter got in the way…..my apologies.

Short post today but definitely different from the Milk Saga.

A people painting factory:




This is a recent delivery of 3D printed figures from Modelu being prepared for painting……….ideal summer job.

I have mentioned them previously (usual Disclaimer). When I need more figures they are now my first port of call. I think you may lose a little fine detail definition but the overall effect is, I think, very realistic. Because they are scanned from real life the postures seem more natural……these guys are mostly Drivers and Fireman set up for GWR right hand drive. I like to use them on open cab locos like the Dean Goods but I am hoping the leaning figures will work in the large Prairies many of us are looking forward too. 




Alan has changed the resin he uses…..it used to be a very bright red!  So I am experimenting without undercoat…..its very easy to clog the detail with acrylic paint build up.

I generally spread the painting over a couple of weeks using only one or two colours per session. I started with the extremities…….hats, boots and flesh!  On reflection the footplate crew caps caps should have Navy tops and  only black (shiny) peaks. I vaguely remember a DVD about the early days of nationalisation when one of the main complaints of the two GWR drivers was being issued with LMS type caps with black shiny tops!




Ultra close up. The two figures in the foreground are not signalmen (despite being bobbies). I have found it quite difficult to get policemen for the immediate post war period. Lapelled tunics with shirt and tie were not introduced for Constables and Sergeants until the fifties. These guys have collared tunics but somehow there is a Victorian look to them……it may be the belt is a bit obvious and I am sure truncheons were not carried outside the tunic in 1947.

The right hand  PC, with a notebook, is not leaning on pointed sticks……this is how they come out of the box with the printing supports still attached.The attachment point is minute and very easy to cut with a scalpel leaving no trace.

The guy at the back is a Goods train guard all ready to lean on the rail of one of my Toads. He does demonstrate rather too well a minor downside of using figures recently scanned in real life, on a 1947 layout. I can only assume that Dai Jones was a cook sergeant during the war……how else could he acquire that much weight?
 
Regards from Vancouver

John

Those look very nice! How much do they cost?

They are not cheap….£3.50 a figure……about the same as the better whitemetal figures like Montys models

Hi John,

What a useful group of chaps you have there and in the main, not too stout as earlier Modulex figures as Dai Jones family tended to be! I haven't ordered any for a while and I must admit the new resin colour is very much easier on the eye!

I find painting the little people rather theraputic and fun and like you, drink red wine to get the corks to aid handling standing figures, while I tend to drill a 1.0mm hole in seated persons rear and insert a piece ot copper wire with the other end in the cork.

Looking forward to seeing the finished line up.

Have fun,

Bill

Great figures John, looks like your doing a fine job there.

I think to get a true to life look with the faces, once the flesh tone is put on, a very thin wash of a darker brown/black to get into the eyes and creases.

Longchap wrote:

I  find painting the little people rather theraputic and fun and like you,  drink red wine to get the corks to aid handling standing figures, while  I tend to drill a 1.0mm hole in seated persons rear and insert a piece  ot copper wire with the other end in the cork.

Thanks Bill…….I suspect know that your red wine will be somewhat superior to mine!  :lol:

Phil.c wrote:

Great figures John, looks like your doing a fine job there.

I think to get a true to life look with the faces, once the flesh tone  is put on, a very thin wash of a darker brown/black to get into the eyes  and creases.

Thanks Phil……good tip which I will try. The guy with black on his face was as a result of an over paint but even though it was a mistake it did add depth to the figure so I had resolved to try to attempt something, more precise on the others……I will try the wash idea instead…..thanks again for the tip.