That must have been after I gave up running a subscription to CJF and the
Toddler :-)
I designed it all with Darlington ICs, but relays are cheaper, simpler and more
forgiving of model railway conditions.
Recently introduced classes can't have lots of variations, and those are my
largest groupings.
I'm still stumped by the fact that the numbers are too small to read on the
layout. It is a major stumbling block to DCC for me.
Regards,
Greg.P.
Atlas (USA) and Piko (ex GDR) do the cheapest DPDT latching relays.
Place two the same side by side.
The only actual 4 pole double throw latching relay I know of was made by
Trix/MiniTrix, but the price, even in Germany, was _expensive_.
You could make the DPDT latching relay using Peco point motor and add on SPDT
switches.
I've had point motors reliably drive two of the add-on switches as well as a
turnout, but I would doubt that four SPDT switches on one motor would be
reliable.
Regards,
Greg.P.
I run a "model railway", not a model train.
My pockets are particularly limited - that's why I don't want to blow my
hobby budget on consumer electronics when I could be buying model railway
stuff!
Sure, I offer a decoder fitting and trouble shooting service for Maerklin,
DCC, FMZ and Zero 1 in addition to my normal model repair services. I also
read the model railway forums on the internet. More than half the traffic
is now about digital control and it's problems rather than model railways.
Did I tell you about my clockwork mechanisim designs ? ;-)
It's a freelanced Baldwinesque engine and represents a typical larger 2-8-0.
They are excellent runners and pullers.
I think the tender is too large and have shortened two of the tenders by six
scale feet. Another 2-8-0 is paired with a spare clearvision tender from a
Life-Like P2K 0-8-0 switcher as will the next one I've just ordered. The
fifth still has its original tender, for now.
I've also made other slight changes to them, most have an air-tank on the
pilot deck, as do most GER steam locos, and I've embarked on a program of
slight alterations to a couple of the engines by replacing and repositioning
the turbo-generators, marker lights etc. to again reinforce the feeling that
these are a large class of locos that were introduced around W.W.I and
underwent a major rebuilding in the late 1930s early 1940s. Thus, there
are detail differences among locos of the class, as was quite common in
North America where roundhouse shop forces had more freedom than was usual
in the UK.
--
Cheers
Roger T.
Home of the Great Eastern Railway
Unless you run your model railway on a day when theres a strike, you
run model trains - through a model landscape, past model buildings -
and in order to make the whole thing look and act prototypically it
helps if you drive your model trains in the same way the members of
ASLEF do.
You've got it! I run model train_s_ in a model railway setting.
Sure, but if I try to run multiple trains at once I can't give more than one
or two the attention that they need to run prototypically.
The section of railway that I think I am modelling (that suspension of
disbelief again) has more than one train visible running at a time. I could
just run one train at a time, but then the reasons for double track, closely
spaced signals, route control, station layout etc etc would disappear.
Regards,
Greg.P.
"Roger T." wrote
I certainly wouldn't criticise the running qualities of any of my USA
outline HO-scale stock, which indeed one of the factors why I have them.
I don't know what it is about the 2-8-0, maybe it's just because it's not
based on a specific prototype, but the height and length look out of
proportion. Still it will be a useful loco on my planned layout, and I may
well look at other tender options too.
John.
I see what you mean!
However, my layouts are so small that if the points (the
moving blades of the
turnouts) are not correctly aligned then there is nowhere for
the loco to
drive to and from!
I accept this minor non-prototypical compromise, just as you
accept the
non-prototypical compromise of keying in a portion of the
locomotive number to
gain control.
I'm happier with sitting where I am and selecting a loco by
pointing at a
section of track and saying "that one" than I am in gathering
up my magnifying
glass and torch, clambering over assorted cartons and layout
and then reading
off "897059" err.. make that "89" ... mental gymnastics ...
"9" to gain
control.
Regards,
Greg.P.
The locomotive is closely based on the Illinois Central 900 class 2-8-0s
built for by Baldwin from 1909 to 1911. The two major departures from
the IC engines are the conventional round sandbox, and the single
cross-compound air compressor mounted on the fireman's side of the
boiler. The IC engines were rebuilt in the 1930s at Paducah, and were
fitted with large rectangular sandboxes - an IC trademark - and two
compressors on the pilot deck. At the time of the model's release its
origins were discussed extensively in the US modelling press.
The tender is of the design common to many USRA engines, and is perhaps
a bit large for most 2-8-0s.
"Mark Newton"
That's why two of mine have had six scale feet removed from the tender,
another has a kitbashed Life-Like P2K 'clear vision' tender and one is, at
the moment, still attached to the original Spectrum tender. I have another
2-8-0 still unopened in its original box and yet another in transit from
the U.S. of A.
The latter two are planned to be kitbashed to make them look like a subclass
with CPR style all weather cabs and running board skirting. The tenders
will also be kitbashed to modify them for use behind an all weather cab
loco.
--
Cheers
Roger T.
Home of the Great Eastern Railway
You obviously like these engines as much as I do! I just picked up my
fifth recently, at a very good price from a local hobby shop that was,
sadly, closing down.
I have considered shortening the tenders, and may yet do so on a couple,
but I've seen a few NKP engines that were coupled to bigger USRA-type
tenders late in their lives, so there is a precedent for keeping some
unaltered.
That should make a very interesting engine! I'll look forward to seeing
the finished product.
All the best,
Mark.
"Mark Newton" wrote
I don't dislike either, but compared with more Bachmann USA outline steam
locos the 2-8-0 looks a bit clumsy and chunky. I've checked numerous
pictures of American 2-8-0s prototypes and cannot find one which really
looks like or has had its atmosphere captured by the Bachmann model.
If either of you have prototype picture(s) to prove otherwise I'd be
grateful for a look at them.
John.
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