Broithe

There is still quite a community devoted to Morse Code.

One issue the more enthusiastic adherents can have is 'wander', where the key can drift across the desk surface.

This is more prevalent in the 'paddle' style of key, as seen here, with a bit of additional weight, to reduce the problem.

Most bridges on the Premier Line are original - any new ones are unlikely to be under-gauge, I imagine. They are more beams than arches.

Platforms might be more of a problem for carriages than locos? So, not a problem.

It would only need a turning arrangement at the ends, for any runs that are likely to happen. 

It seems unlikely that track weight capacity would be less now than it was back then.

Is there any chance of electrifying it and shoving a big speaker in?

And maybe one of those ultrasonic humidifier things for the steam effect.

Fantasy layouts can be as bizarre as you like and still have a level of credibility.

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch would be well beyond ridiculous, if it wasn't real...

Intensive pilgrimage travels to the Holy Stone of Clonrichert would have kept the line open.

Knock managed to get an airport from a similar set-up.

39 minutes ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

I give in, tell me more?

We may not know, we cannot tell.

What pains he had to bear,

But we believe it was for us,

That he laid the track right there.

There are earlier versions of the lyrics...

Two brown hills,

Far away, without a city wall,

Where the track was ballasted,

And bridged up to the wall...

2 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

Needs a 'chew chew' sound.

1 hour ago, Galteemore said:

Your modelling bench is quite the hive of activity, it has to be said. 

 

He can definitely be termed a "worker".

It looks like there may be a damp/mould issue there. Often the case with these old buildings.

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

That pebble-dashing looks amazing!

My thoughts too, or a Presbyterian! But, like railway architecture, ecclesiastical architecture can take many forms.........

The premises will occasionally change hands, like pubs.

Whatever the denomination involved, I am impressed that someone is devout enough to ballast vertical surfaces.

I wonder if that is the result of a penance from a particularly interesting confession or an attempt at getting a very worthwhile indulgence?

1 hour ago, David Holman said:

Turntables are tricky beasts, but by far the cheapest is the old Airfix, now Dapol plastic kit which is still less than a tenner. Frizinghall Models in Leeds do a Meccano based hand cranked kit for about twenty quid, but there is still the problem of getting power to the track on the deck.

 The Peco turntable does this for you for about thirty quid or so and may be worth investing in because of that. Next up comes South Eastern Finecast, whose TT is a development of the Airfix one, while the best I've come across are Kitwood Hill Models who do laser cut ply kits for around £75. These need little extra effort and are pretty much complete, whereas all the others require some ingenuity to work properly.

 Another option for mounting a TT is to use a standard stereo jackplug and socket as the spindle - you can get the wiring to the track through this. Well worth doing an internet search for other ideas, while my Workshop and layout threads (Arigna Town, Belmullet and Fintonagh) contain posts of my various turntables over the last few years.

 As for point motors, the cheapest way is to use servos at less than two quid each, though again, they need a mounting and some way to control them. MERG, the Model Railway Electronic Group have lots of cheap ideas on this. Alternatively, use wire in tube for simplicity.

The hardest thing is getting the squeak right, I hear.

50 minutes ago, David Holman said:

 When the lady of the house [She Who Must Be Obeyed], comes in from carol singing in the village square and you excitedly announce you have spent the afternoon making a bogie, it is a tad disappointing to find she is not impressed. Or maybe not...

 

You can redeem yourself.

As a seasoned caroller, she'll soon find a tune to fit these lyrics.

Old toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

Close your eyes
Listen to the skies
All is calm, all is well
Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells

Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

Close your eyes
Listen to the skies
All is calm, all is well
Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells

Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

1 hour ago, minister_for_hardship said:

It can be both.

There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secularizing tendency to de-emphasize the religious tradition from Christmas, by "taking the Christ out of Christmas"; nevertheless, the term's usage dates back to the 16th century, and corresponds to Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Church of England, and Episcopalian liturgical use of various forms of chi-rho monogram. In English, "X" was first used as a scribal abbreviation for "Christ" in 1100; "X'temmas" is attested in 1551, and "Xmas" in 1721.

Back in the old days, writing ink was not cheap and abbreviations were common - rather like printer ink is now.

The 'Xmas' form may have evolved from the Greek abbreviation for Christ - Chi Rho - looking rather like X and P combined. The X signifying a hard 'Ch' sound, as in Chiropractor, and the Rho an 'R' sound..

Also, it was often used in carvings.

Put the spare quoins in the collection plate.

You might get away with it.

For those modelling the US scene.

https://www.syracuse.com/state/2023/12/bull-on-tracks-disrupts-trains-between-newark-and-new-york.html?utm_campaign=syracusedotcom_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3hxa-Ye-PNuXSAgUSGy71okFjUORHy8SGbyj9S83QX2_NL-NVLSnPIQOA

Newark Penn Station.

Mmm, I've just got a small metal splinter out of a finger.

It wasn't causing much distress, but I decided to get it out as my tea was cooking.

It was a good bit smaller, probably 1.5 to 2mm long and possibly a bit finer than the 'big one' described above. 

The Dremel may not be responsible for this, as I don't remember using it in that manner since about August.

This one may be a result of sharpening some edge-tools a few days ago, with a bit of a resulting burr ending up embedded in me.

This one took an inordinate amount of digging out. Even my super-pointy tweezers were unable to draw it and I had to default to a more open-cast approach with a pin.

I expect to survive the resultant wound.

I do remember the change happening but not when it was - I couldn't find the means to edit a post, which seemed less hidden in the past version.

Here.

3 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

Ok, this might sound slightly odd coming from a teenager, but I'm not doing too great navigating the forum as a new user. Decided I probably wasn't the only one, so if anyone needs practical help with the forum, put your queries in here. I'll go first: how do I add a signature? It seems like a neat little feature, and with plenty of scope for humour, but I can't find the setting anywhere. Do I have to reach a certain rank? I'd appreciate some help, thanks.

Click on 'yourself' in the top right corner, then 'account settings' - then down to 'signature' on the left-hand side.

2 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

That looks great, doesn't it? Thanks, @Broithe.

Great!

The little lines under Co and Ltd would be nice, if they could do them.

Some pictures.

23 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

Re-reading that post I realise it sounds like i was saying i was glad you removed my dremel tool. i need to start proofreading.

Well, if it had been necessary,,,

... but, I probably wouldn't have needed the torch to find it.

5 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

As if getting the flange gap right wasn't hard enough already...

If this happens, it'll also be 'not hard enough' or 'too hard'...

20 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Carriages with doors in the middle would be better…..

Unless the platform is on the outside of the bend.

"Ideally", you would have doors at the ends and in the middle, but only have the doors near to the platform edge in use - that would be fun...

Just to make modelling level crossings that little bit more difficult...

https://www.phoenix-ag.com.au/index.php/velostrail-2/

It's intended to fill the flange gap with a substance 'hard' enough for cycles, wheelchairs, pushchairs, etc., to pass over safely, but able to deform away when a railway vehicle flange needs the space.

I understand Network Rail have been evaluating it, but I know no more than that.