Dhu Varren

If you are serious about going DCC, then unless price is a major concern, from a long term point of view, don't even consider the Hornby Select or Elite systems. The Select is so basic, it is a train set controller. The Elite is marginally better, but a Lenz or NCE system is preferable. I have found the Lenz system works best for European railways, whereas the NCE and Digitrax systems are more suited to American railways. I have no experience with Gaugemaster so I cannot comment on that system. Nigel Burkin, who has written many articles and books on DCC control systems, recommends the Lenz LH100 controller and system. Do not rush into buying a system until you have tried some of them. It is an expensive mistake if the system you buy does not suit you.

I think BTB was enquiring about fitting a sound decoder specifically to a Jinty, and not about steam sound generally. I would agree about more pickups and bigger speaker with a tender engine, but a Jinty would look kind of strange with a tender, even though the UTA did experiment with a Jeep fitted with a Fowler type tender for working Belfast-Dublin services. South West Digital also do a sound decoder for the Jinty, a little cheaper than Howes. ESU sound decoders do come complete with a speaker, although it would be a generic speaker and may not fit into the loco the decoder was purchased for.

Ten out of ten for taking the bull by the horns and having a go Alan. It has turned out well, but those coupling rods really need toning down. By the way, don't try prising off the coupling rods, they are held on by small hex headed screws which are easy enough to unscrew, if you have the right tool.

In all fairness, the bidders probably did not know of the Sale at Marks Models. After all, many folk on this forum only became aware of the Sale when someone mentioned it here!

Howes of Oxford do a sound decoder for the LMS/BR Jinty 3F 0-6-0T locomotive, which of course is exactly what the Bachmann NCC loco is. https://www.howesmodels.co.uk/product/LMS/BR%20Jinty%200-6-0T%20MICRO%20sound%20decoder%20(8M)

Have to agree with Kevin, if it is the Tippex livery, then transfer lining is the only option to get a decent consistent line. The earlier single white line above the windows is doable by painting.

You have hit the nail squarely on the head Noel. The Hornby, and to a lesser extent the Lima Irish liveried locos and coaches were aimed at the toy market, and not the serious modeller. Jouef also, but less successfully, produced Irish liveried locos and coaches aimed at the toy market. http://www.freewebs.com/jouefhdi/ As is the way of the world, collectors will pay what we modellers would consider ridiculous amounts for such low production run toys.

Another good starting price. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251967156337?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Good starting price. Will be interesting to see how much it sells for. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Murphys-Model-Irish-Inter-City-Class-201-Loco-/181750336106?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

If you have an issue with a new locomotive, the retailer should resolve the problem. However, the leaflet that comes with the 141/181s produced by Bachmann, states that for service or parts you should contact MM direct.

The dual gauge track in Derry was the dock lines of the Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners and which connected the NCC and CDR on the South side of the river with the GNR(I) and L&LSR on the North side. The Craigavon Bridge, which was double decked had mixed gauge track on the lower deck, with access via a mixed gauge wagon turntable at each end. The LP&HC had two steam locomotives, which were fitted with drawgear and buffing gear for both 3ft and 5ft 3in gauge stock, so it would have been possible to see a train of mixed gauge stock, albeit with the loco in the middle. Incidently, both locos are still extant, one at Cultra, and No 3 R H Smyth at Whitehead. In the early days of the L&LSR, narrow gauge passenger trains used the dock lines to reach a terminus behind the Guildhall in the city centre, until the Board of Trade stepped in and stopped the practice.

I have to agree. I have had almost instant responses, and problems resolved with no reference to retailers.

Peco also produce a range of Code 75 track components called ‘Individulay’. This range includes plain wooden and concrete sleepers, lengths of point sleepering, and rail fasteners, all in polystyrene. These components are particularly useful if you wished to build a small Irish layout to the correct 21mm gauge. They are also useful if you are building a layout using Code 75 track, where you have a requirement for a special point arrangement and there is no ready made point available to fit the location. My most recent addition to my layout is a branch line terminus built using Code 75 track. The station throat proved to be a bit awkward due to the space available, so the only option was to build a scissors crossover from scratch, using Individulay components, to fit the location. The end result is shown below. I cheated slightly by using half of a R/H and half of a L/H large radius point to get started, but the rest is built with Individulay components.

I would agree with josefstadt, the third last vehicle is Dining Car 547, second last vehicle is driving brake open 1st 917, the third vehicle is most likely a generator brake open standard class, as there is no sign of any yellow band below the cantrail, unlike the second last vehicle which does show traces. The second last vehicle would have to be 917, as there were only three driving trailers, and two of them were standard class. By the time of this video one of the standard class driving trailers (811) had been converted into 80 Class driving trailer 754.

There is no mention of Derry in the itinerary for the NI tour, and the time required to do everything else would not leave any time to go there anyway. Space for stabling the train at Coleraine would be very limited, with only a short bay platform available, as the main platforms would be in use all day for service trains. Portrush, on the other hand, has three platforms, only one of which is in regular use, and one which has a run round loop which is used for the Portrush Flyer. Seems to me that Portrush would be the only logical place to stable overnight. Mk3s in Portrush should not be a problem, as they have visited there in the past.

http://www.belmond.c...ibernian-train/

Strange then, that common return wiring has been used successfully on model railways for donkeys years. http://rail.felgall.com/crw.htm

As long as both controllers are fed from separate transformers, and are not feeding the same track section at the same time, there is not a problem. However, if both controllers are fed from the same transformer, then a short circuit will occur with a common rail setup when one controller is reversed.

Very interesting suggestion about producing a chassis kit in brass. Having given some thought to the matter, I have come to the conclusion that a ‘one fits all’ chassis is a real possibility, albeit one for the A Class and one for the C Class. In both cases, the only difference requirement would be in the pivot bar, which would have to be different for different power bogies. It could be produced to fold into a flat topped upside down U shape, with marks to indicate where to cut for different power bogie heights, and then soldered into position.

Not my cup of tea, but at least it was a genuine loco, in a genuine livery.

I totally agree Noel. I have spent hours myself listening to A Class locos, but still can't describe the sound. It is a much more mellow and deeper sound than the other GM engines.

I agree that the sound is not right for the A Class, but it is better than nothing for the time being. I certainly would not buy a decoder with that sound on it. I am experimenting with copying each individual sound file and running it through a Graphic Equaliser to change the sound of it, then rebuilding the sound programme. Have had limited success so far, but it is a time consuming task, and not high on my list of priorities at the moment.

I checked up on those sound files, and although the sounds were reasonable, the sound programme was pants, with only 2 notches, and very little else. As I said earlier, file 74460 is much more comprehensive with 8 notches, even though the sound is not quite right, but I am working on that. As you say, the A class just don't sound like the other GMs.

Thanks for the suggestion about file 74443. As it happens I had already tried that one, but did not like the overall sound, and how it was put together, so I dumped it. I found that file 74460 sounds much better, and is put together much better, even though it is a 12-567. It will have to do for now anyway. I checked up on the SD9 bogies and found them to be 46mm wheelbase, with the centre axle 23mm from each of the outer axles. The SD40 bogies are 47.5mm wheelbase with the centre axle 23mm from the leading axle, and 24.5mm from the rear axle. Just a shame the sideframes supplied with the kit have the centre axle exactly mid way, and not offset.

Yes, I will be at the Perth show with the Moray MRG and 'Craigellachie'. Will bring along the 001, and maybe give it a whirl on a Scottish layout. That should raise some eyebrows.