Mike 84C

Exhibition Envy, Envy, Envy! looks like you had a good time David.

Hidden in full sight! a very nice piece of engineering. My Hornby chassis now looks a bit naff!

Top notch Nelson the paint jobs are first class. I also would like a work bench as tidy as yours. Keep posting!

That is very very wow! soooo cool looking controller. Could be so much more intuitive to use than almost anything I have seen.

I should have said the exhauster runs at a constant speed even when braking and to speed up the exhauster the brake handle has to be returned to the release/running position and then pressed down thus speeding up the exhauster. The loco brakes are applied by air via a proportional valve when using the vacuum brake. I can only offer advice on locos I had experience of Sulzer type 2&4 and English Electric type 1&4. But see no reason why a 141 should be any different in the way the foundation brake system works. be interesting to find out! So many ways to get the final result!

Garfield, that is true but for that you need a perfect world! Experience tells me that the driver will be making small adjustments of the brake valve. The ejector is normally set to maintain 21"of vac; using a minimum amount of steam. Ejectors are very good at what they do but will consume a lot of water if not properly adjusted by the driver. Please don't ask how much per hour! I have forgotten.

I have also driven vacuum and air over here in GB. Juctionmad if you are asking, I apply the brake and leave the handle at one position what will happen? with either system you will stop. The vacuum will continue to increasingly leak on and apply the brake harder on the train. The things to remember with vacuum are, the brakes on the front of the train apply first but release first so the rear will still be braking when the front is released. So a gentle initial application then quite heavy to get the train under control and then a gentle, apply release technique to slow to a stop. The plan is always to stop on a rising brake e.g. heading towards release and a 15" application at maybe just rolling to come to a stand. Hold the train on the air/steam brake and blow the train brakes to release ready to go. On BR 21" of vac was the norm and brakes really start to bite at 15" of vac. Slowness of release is mainly due to the vac; cylinder relies mainly on its own weight to fall and release but they are bloody heavy! and all the levers, fulcrums and rods used in the system. Of course all this depends on the quality of the braking on the carriage set you are pulling, no two will be the same so lots of variables for your driver to suss! When I was on BR steam I fired regularly to a driver who on stopping passenger trains had two brake positions when running into a station; full application and release with the large ejector wide open. Very rapid stops! I would have the blower on,a white hot fire and the injector going filling the boiler. The departure would be just as rapid. Western 6100 tanks could really take a lot of abuse! Hope that lot helps your questions and sorry for the wave of nostalgia.

Sounds like its true was in Hornby Magazine

received a copy of the Pieta House calendar for 2017. All Irish railway photos many in full colour, recommended.

Cambrian models have just announced a new C115 LSWR 4whl van kit. looks like a candidate for a large NCC van.? At £7.70 not so expensive. I shall try and get one at Peterborough this Sunday.

That's looking good. Eoin

USRA light 2-10-2? that looks really good. My critic Mrs 84C also thinks its a wowser! Where are you going to display it? 'cos thats what it needs.

That looks rather good and very different.

Superb,top job!

Wow!!

Excellent work! hope mine look as good.

I look forward to this build, what mech; are you going to use? Subtle differences to the CIE AEC's.

A really good looking conversion which runs very well.

Richard, you have just lifted the bar! I admire the use of two single lining strips and the rivet transfers. Both can be very tedious jobs.

Excellent modelling definately inspiring.

Where do the days go? Shopping, cleaning,doing the tates, now I'm a kept man! Just keep in mind that theres no time off for good behaviour when you retire.

I like the way you have melded American layout operation and construction with Irish railway scenes. Please keep posting

How about a browse on Shapeways? and I have a feeling Plaststruct do something like that to augment their architectural shapes.

I love the picture of the full crew they look very happy or just relieved the day is over!

Welcome Colin, the guys on here are first class I have asked many questions and always recieved answers, some so quickly it was staggering. No regrets about joining this community.