Noel

What seems to matter is the length of the chassis (i.e.: distance between the front axle and the rearmost axle of the two bogies). The bogies are shorter than A class hence the larger gap between them (i.e. the three axles of each bogie are closer together). This loco chassis is centre flywheel drive to both bogies so should outperform the toy Hornby's by a country mile for smooth slow running.

Hi Brian wrap the image link with IMG tags to show photo in your posts. See sample below. Absolutely fabulous layout really capturing the atmosphere in Oz. It is just amazing.

'Sniggers' Apologies, Typo - I meant SSM

Ah it might be worth it to have a decent chassis compared to the single power bogie and limited diagonal power pickup many Hornby diesels. 141s can be bought used in mint condition for €80, so that's not an insane price for a top quality precision chassis to run an A class properly. Add SSM detailing plus weathering and lights, then you have one really nice loco.

Looks great. What sound project and decoder are you running? 11 wagons is a nice long train. Ps. Love your layout. It's alive with realism.

That is fabulous. It is as professional looking as RTR models. Hats off on a superb job.

Well there must be some other Bachmann centre drive chassis that would fit, even if a bo-bo. I'd sacrifice scale authenticity on the under frame and bogies to get a stunning and reliable runner like MM. 100% pure scale that runs poorly ends up a static junk display at some outpost on a layout. I'd rather a loco that is useable as a loco rather than just a good looker that can't run smoothly over points.

If on Mac resize photos/jpgs in 'Preview' app (Tools-Adjust Size), or if on Windows use 'Microsoft Office Picture Manager' (Picture-Resize and save), before uploading to your photo hosting website (e.g. Photobucket or flickr, etc), or before attaching directly here. Typically resizing to 1024 pixels wide is still a big enough image to look well on a web site, yet only about 200k in size compared to say a 3mb or 6mb original image straight off a camera. It will also upload 10-20 times faster. If using photobucket to host your images it has a facility for you to specify a default image size in your account settings, and this will automatically resize them during upload (i.e. you don't need to bother on your computer beforehand), but if you have a slow internet connection, its still better to resize on your computer before uploading as it will take a lot less time. Looking forward to seeing your photos and layout

Some fabulous photos in the rest of that album

Hi HB. What sound decoder is it - ESU LokSound (Murphy Models supplied) or Zimo? Check CV5 is not set at too low a value (i.e. Max Voltage values between 0 and 255). Try setting it to 255 on your DCC test track, and see if that makes any difference by testing on your main track. Also check what CV3 and CV4 are set to (Acceleration and deceleration), just in case the acceleration delay was set too high. Noel PS: Make a note of any CV values before you change them in case you need to revert back.

My favourite CIE livery, black A class, large white head band, with tan underneath.

And a rake of Lima CIE coaches behind (i.e. BR Mk1s in CIE B&T), from about 1978ish that ran with Lima's CIE class 33s pretending to be A class locos. As I said back then, this looked as close as one could get to Irish RTR model stock.

After the Hymek post of ebay thread I searched the attic and found my old Hornby CIE train set from mid 70s, Hymek + 2 x Mk2a/b's - hideous models by todays standards and that day glow fluorescent orange plastic on the coaches turns my stomach now, but in 1976 I thought these were the bees knees! How our expectations have changed - Thanks to PM While in the attic I found a box of my old figures which escaped to the Irish platforms in the hope of getting trains to the BR outline end of the layout The BR steam locos caused great confusion amongst waiting passengers!

Took these out of retirement for pic - CIE Hymek + Hornby Mk2a's

Whoops apologies.

Have one thanks (with the stick on CIE logo both ends).

Hi. What sound decoder is it - ESU LokSound (Murphy Models supplied) or Zimo? Check CV5 is not set at too low a value (i.e. Max Voltage values between 0 and 255). Try setting it to 255 on your DCC test track, and see if that makes any difference by testing on your main track. Also check what CV3 and CV4 are set to (Acceleration and deceleration), just in case the acceleration delay was set too high. PS: Make a note of any CV values before you change them in case you need to revert back. PS2: Best to post this in 'Q&A' forum to get more visibility and more replies.

Hi Alan. Track is pinned with narrow track pins into partially preformed holes created with a fine pointed screw driver. The ballast is not compressed by the track or pins. I've only a handful of point motors wired up yet and those operate ok. All of the points have a half inch hole drilled under them in the baseboard. There are some points on the upper level that won't take motors directly underneath the base board due to track underneath, so they will be operated by push rods to remote motors (ie much like control cables in RC model aircraft). The layout has three levels with track laid on upper and mid level but not yet on lowest level. See track plan on Kingsbridge thread. The gradient change between level 1 and 2 is about 1/32 (3.1%). The height difference between levels is 3inches. Noel

Anybody remember Hornby Dublo (2 rail)? Hornby Dublo taken out of storage - mixed freight wagons. The 'table top' model trains of the 60s. Diecast BR tank loco hauls mixed freight. Hornby Dublo diecast Barnstable hauling ex-GWR stock East meets west! Tin plate SR green coach In the background Bachmann GWR coaches - Dublo GRW coaches in foreground behind 'Barnstable' discast metal loco, had metal side panel with plastic roof, except for restaurant car which had metal roof also. For late 1950s early 1960s they were not bad models. I remember hauling 30 Triang Hornby coaches owned by other folk behind our 'Barnstable' loco in 1973!!!

Thanks Dave, in Bray Wheelers I presume.

Hi Walter, Where is the end of year sale and what time? Noel

All 5 of my IE/IR orange locos ones came with black horns in the detailing pack Ditto - Must have been a lapse in QC on the boxing section of the production line that day. That's what I will do. One of the ones I bought in 2008 had orange horns pre-fitted.

Interesting. All the MM 141/181s I bought new had black horns irrespective of the livery.

Thanks, that makes sense.

I contemplated it, but the chassis and drive are so poor (i.e. old style) I decided against. Superficially the main changes that seem needed were changing the cab windows to two instead of one, add a buffer beam, and change the profile of the area where the front meets the roof. They would then look a more like an A class if not scale and differences in the sides. Had the chassis been better quality it might have been something I'd have tried.