Granby-Chester with RR&Co

Sorry Bill (Longchap) couldnt resist the title.  Actually there was a degree of chaos but nowhere near enough darkness.

The windows in the railway room face South West so filming was a right pain and at times it shows.

I have tried to polish the video…..it was shot with an Ipad and edited with Imovie which I have never used before …..and it shows:oops:

This is not the movie that I trailered……that is still to come. Instead it is a 5 minute sequence which hopefully demonstrates how a single operator can get a number of locos operating more or less at the same time.

The star of the show is a two carriage (B Set) train hauled by a Pannier (0-6-0T). This 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 (part of the chaos:twisted: ) 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:shock:. 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 (dont wince Max)……. 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


Avant d'accéder à YouTube


  

Despite the caveats, it was enjoyable, nonetheless.  :cool:

Only a fellow addict can know how much programming effort has gone into that, John.



I couldn't help noticing the strange buzzing sounds, though. 

Wonderful. I think the bright light streaming into the station throat over buildings works very well. To me the 3d of the low relief buildings, the way the light blurs the edges and prevents seeing further into the distance conveys the impression of the town continuing into the distance.


Well chosen camera angles, good continuity and sub titles that are short, to the point and not visible for too long.


Looking forward to the sequel.


Marty

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

Despite the caveats, it was enjoyable, nonetheless.  :cool:

Only a fellow addict can know how much programming effort has gone into that, John.



I couldn't help noticing the strange buzzing sounds, though. 

 Every time that I ran the sequence I thought of you Max…….that rat tat tat…..you kind of get used to it.

The loco exchange sequences I have been running for ages and getting more and more polished…..it was the add ons that caused the chaos!

Cheers

John

[user=19]Marty[/user] wrote:

Wonderful. I think the bright light streaming into the station throat over buildings works very well. To me the 3d of the low relief buildings, the way the light blurs the edges and prevents seeing further into the distance conveys the impression of the town continuing into the distance.


Well chosen camera angles, good continuity and sub titles that are short, to the point and not visible for too long.


Looking forward to the sequel.


Marty

You are really flattering me Marty ( but I like it) talking about camera angles and light………I was just trying to hold the IPad steady (I am quite old you know;-)

iMovie was something quite new……I used reeldirector previously but it's no longer supported…….it's a little inflexible but it became quite useful once I got the hang of it.

So glad you liked it

Cheers

Very impressed John, obviously a lot of hard work has been going on! Well done and thank you for the video, I'll also keep my eye open for the sequel!!

Cheers
Ron

Loved it John and appreciate the time it takes to do even short movies like this. I ocassionally use iMovie and it is quite easy once you get the hang of it.

Assuming you have shown the sequence in real time my observations (meant to be constructive) would be that there needs to be more time between certain operating actions. i.e.
B set arrives - passengers need time to get off before setting back to uncouple the loco.
Relief couples up - again more time for passengers to board before departing.
Your locos seem to run very well at slow speeds (as my Bachmann ones do), can you adjust the acceleration speed when departing to slow it down a touch. It looks a little quick to my eyes.

A question if I may. Do the signals work?

Other than that fantastic and it really gives a sense of scale to Granby, knowing of course that there is a lot more not in shot.:thumbs



 

Great video John, enjoyed it :thumbs


Ed

PS Time that washing's dry, it'll be filthy hung out next to the railway line

Brilliant John,thumbsthumbs

And pretty to watch.

Just a quick answer to your question re a still rather than just the link.

On the post reply page at the top, click on "Insert a YouTube video". Paste your YouTube link address into the box that opens.



Once you post your topic or even look at your posting in the preview window, you will see the small screen with an image from your video within.

Hope this helps.

:cheers  Gormo
 

Hi John,


a very well executed sequence. very smooth running and enough to keep the viewer interested in terms of traffic. Looking forward to more.


cheers


Toto

Thanks for sharing your video with us John. I was/am really impressed with the way you have things running. Well done indeed!

Well, that was certainly worth the wait John. :thumbs

I thoroughly enjoyed that and, as Max said, only other "RR & Co-ers" will understand just how clever it is.   I can't even begin to guess how long it took you to programme it all ………I know how long it took me to programme a single point via the LS150, never mind the added challenges of RR & Co  :shock::shock:

At the press of a single button, for all that to happen before your eyes is quite simply, amazing.  I'll save this "production" and store it along with Max's shunting clips then show them to Liz just before my birthday ……………………:roll::roll::roll:

I'm also mightily impressed with how well your Panniers negotiated that complex pointwork - you're obviously a better "gandy-dancer" than I am !!  (Mine arrived back here from Paul Chetter a couple of days ago but, I'm sorry to say, work pressures have kept it firmly locked up in it's parcel since then )

Incidentally, you could hide the point motor "buzzing" quite well by installing sound chips in your locos ………………….;-):cheers

[user=1775]g0ibi[/user] wrote:

Very impressed John, obviously a lot of hard work has been going on! Well done and thank you for the video, I'll also keep my eye open for the sequel!!

Cheers
Ron

Thanks Ron…….glad you liked it……….the sequel may take a while……..summer is here and I need to do some building on Granby….you are putting me to shame:roll:

Regards

John

Hi Nick

So glad you liked it and I really appreciate your comments


[user=401]pnwood[/user] wrote:

Loved it John and appreciate the time it takes to do even short movies like this. I ocassionally use iMovie and it is quite easy once you get the hang of it.

Assuming you have shown the sequence in real time my observations (meant to be constructive) would be that there needs to be more time between certain operating actions. i.e.
B set arrives - passengers need time to get off before setting back to uncouple the loco.
Relief couples up - again more time for passengers to board before departing.

The sequence all comes from one shoot……it took a little under 7 minutes I edited out most of the delays built in for coupling,passengers etc plus additional delays to give RR&Co time to think

Your locos seem to run very well at slow speeds (as my Bachmann ones do), can you adjust the acceleration speed when departing to slow it down a touch. It looks a little quick to my eyes.

The video seemed to speed it up a bit but I think you may well have a point. RR&Co calculates the acceleration based on the power of the loco and weight of the train and gears it to the speed limit set in the block……..I have 10 mph in the platform block and 15mph in the entry block……I suspect I did that to ensure it cleared my dodgy points….I will do some experimenting. The movements in the storage yard are a bit more cavalier …..I just want to ensure the coupling and uncoupling always takes place when I cant see it!

A question if I may. Do the signals work?

:oops: Sadly no! Its one of those calls I made early on which I now regret……although I find signals are even more subject to collateral damage than chimney pots.

I am toying with putting just one in when I finish the station…..it would be great with RR&Co


Other than that fantastic and it really gives a sense of scale to Granby, knowing of course that there is a lot more not in shot.:thumbs



 

Kind Regards

John

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

Great video John, enjoyed it :thumbs


Ed

PS Time that washing's dry, it'll be filthy hung out next to the railway line

Thanks Ed ……glad you liked it

I only film on washing day……used to be a Monday when I was a child ……invariably followed by cold meat left over from Sunday for dinner

[user=1224]gormo[/user] wrote:

Brilliant John,thumbsthumbs

And pretty to watch.

Just a quick answer to your question re a still rather than just the link.

On the post reply page at the top, click on "Insert a YouTube video". Paste your YouTube link address into the box that opens.



Once you post your topic or even look at your posting in the preview window, you will see the small screen with an image from your video within.

Hope this helps.

:cheers  Gormo
 

Thanks Gormo……..glad you liked it……and thanks for the tip…….all edited done and dusted now:thumbs

[user=1505]toto[/user] wrote:

Hi John,


a very well executed sequence. very smooth running and enough to keep the viewer interested in terms of traffic. Looking forward to more.


cheers


Toto

Thanks Toto

Glad you liked it…….it was kind of designed with you in mind……hope you found the little clips with the block diagram and throttles of interest.

Kind Regards

John

[user=1188]Barneybuffer[/user] wrote:

Thanks for sharing your video with us John. I was/am really impressed with the way you have things running. Well done indeed!

Thanks Barney……thats very kind of you…….I thought it was time I showed some of the attractions of computor control……although I fully appreciate that its not for everyone.

Kind Regards

John

well John you certainly can put on a show,will have to get my skates on if I want to compete with that,briliant ,
thumbs;-):cool:

Hi Peter

So glad you liked it……….and I am delighted that you think it may help you convince Liz regarding a suitable Birthday Present!



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

Well, that was certainly worth the wait John. :thumbs

I thoroughly enjoyed that and, as Max said, only other "RR & Co-ers" will understand just how clever it is.   I can't even begin to guess how long it took you to programme it all ………I know how long it took me to programme a single point via the LS150, never mind the added challenges of RR & Co  :shock::shock:

Many of the schedules involved have been developed over the years……its more a question of fine tuning everything……even with double magnets I still have separate stop markers for each of the three locos…..its only an inch apart but it makes the difference in ensuring consistency

At the press of a single button, for all that to happen before your eyes is quite simply, amazing.  I'll save this "production" and store it along with Max's shunting clips then show them to Liz just before my birthday ……………………:roll::roll::roll:


I'm also mightily impressed with how well your Panniers negotiated that complex pointwork - you're obviously a better "gandy-dancer" than I am !!  (Mine arrived back here from Paul Chetter a couple of days ago but, I'm sorry to say, work pressures have kept it firmly locked up in it's parcel since then )

As Nick said the new Bachmanns do run well…..although one of the trio was a very old split chassis which displaced a quite new 8750….now languishing "on shed" …..on reliability grounds
Incidentally, you could hide the point motor "buzzing" quite well by installing sound chips in your locos ………………….;-):cheers

Just waiting for your video to be convinced:pedal

Best Wishes to you and Liz