mick

I wonder what that could be....??

It's good to see the temperature rising above zero degrees today after the short sharp blast from the east. I don't ever recall two degrees centigrade feeling quite so balmy but it's such a pleasant change from that bitingly cold wind. A few days before the cold weather set in I checked up on Worsley Dale and yes, I'm pleased to announce it's still there, even if a little worse for wear. Firstly, something easily remedied, is that a few of my wooden blocks have become detached from the viaduct side wall. It's no fault of the adhesive but simply that the wood has expanded and forced each of them off. Unless they shrink back on their own then I'll have to shave a bit off the sides before reattaching them. My primary concern outside are the point motor housings which, although they stay surprisingly dry, attract a whole host of squatters. There must be a family of at least 30 woodlice in one of them. Do they still operate? Well I've yet to test them and it's probably been 12 months or so since they were last used but I 'm hopeful. I'm going to wait until it dries up a bit before powering up. Another thing I would like to mention is that just outside the shed I ballasted a short length of track over the smaller viaduct using an exterior grade varnish and it's been exposed to the elements for a year now with very little deterioration other than it turning slightly green. I might just try it again this year as I would like to see both my viaducts fully ballasted even if the remainder of the layout is left bare - and the green isn't that bad.

Yes they do operate with quite a kick so I think your optimism is in order. It all depends on the switch but there's bound to be one suitable I'm sure.

I've been looking at exactly the same thing Thomas but as you say, will need to do some tests to see if the motor has enough power to operate the switch reliably. If so then it could be the perfect answer to the problem. There are a multitude of cheap miniature slide switches available online (notably ebay) so I'm hopeful that one of them will prove suitable. Being able to utilise the switch itself for powering the frog is an additional bonus.

I'm glad it's not just me who's unable to resist a bargain - even when there's no other justification for the purchase. That little KOF pictured above is a strange one. I thought it was just a body in need of a chassis at first. What type of work would it be put to? I've learned through painful experience to be very careful when handling new models. It seems you can barely extract them from their boxes these days without some part or other breaking off and to be honest that's one of the reasons I've decided to reduce the number of items I've been purchasing. I've been watching a loco on ebay for the past week and I've no reason for doing so other than the fact that it's listed at a bargain price. I already have a similar one so why am I tempted? It can quickly get out of hand.

I have every sympathy for all those who struggle to give up smoking. I know what it was like and it was many weeks of torture for me and more especially, for those around me. I'd had several failed attempts to stop prior to that so I understand how others feel. I would never lecture anyone who chooses to smoke but if you can make the effort to stop I would advise that you do because life is so much better without cigarettes. You will feel healthier, you'll smell better, your home and belongings and your friends/family will smell better too. In addition you'll be much better off financially. When I stopped smoking I was paying between £5-£6 per packet of 20 and on average I was smoking 30 cigarettes per day - so we'll call it £9 per day. 12 x 365 x £9.00 equals £39,420!! That's enough to make anyone stop and think. And how much are cigarettes these days? Not sure about the US Griff but over here there's an awful lot of tax on tobacco products. I was trying hard to justify spending money on a new car last year but then I worked out what I'd have spent on cigarettes and it was a no-brainer.

No I don't really need any of them at all Griff, it's just the collecting bug in me. I'm just glad that I chose to do it with a class of locomotive that only numbered 35. My second favourite loco is the class 37 diesel of which in excess of 300 examples of the real loco's were actually constructed! My aim has been to collect one model of each actual A4 loco, which I know is a bit extreme when they're never going to play a major part on my layout, but should I ever have a change of heart they can simply be sold. I think back to 12 years ago when I was an habitual smoker and of all the money I used to spend each week on cigarettes, and what I've saved since then would have completed the class 37 collection several times over by now. A display shelf for the A4's would be great but they'll probably reside in their boxes, with perhaps some occasional outings until, like all the others, their fate is decided.

There's actually 25 on that shelf Griff but they form only part of my A4 collection (now you see why there's been a need to have a clear-out). I could possibly have started one Q but I'm getting back to a more sensible level now.

A stunning model but the above locomotive is now no longer part of my collection.

Like I said Tony, it's nothing to get excited about but this is a section of my shelving for locomotives... In this photo there's A4's on the top shelf, various other steam class loco's next, then two shelves of diesels which still need arranging properly. Excuse the odds and ends which have nothing to do with model railways. Larger class collections such as 37s and 47s have their own shelves as do Heljan (including Prototype Diesels) and DMU's. At least now, no matter how they are arranged, they are easily accessible, which wasn't the case previously.

Don't worry, I'm not going completely bonkers just yet, but I do have another photo to add to my Hornby A4 collection. Although 4468 MALLARD featured as part of the collection a short time ago, that particular model was actually the one from the Hornby GREAT GATHERING collection whereas the one shown below...... ...is the Hornby R2339 model which depicts the loco before the addition of the 'World Speed Record for Steam Traction' plaque. As mentioned in a previous post, the Mallard photographed here is actually sitting on my sound-fitted 4466 HERRING GULL chassis and as you may notice, is missing both its cab doors. This model is another that I could possibly renumber/rename as apart from the Great Gathering version I also have the Dapol Black Label version of Mallard. How many Mallard's does a man need?

Have you had any ideas regarding the 'locking' aspect Thomas? I understand exactly what you mean because one of the springs in my outside points has failed and the central locking motor doesn't provide the necessary force to hold the point blades fully across. It's okay when travelling in the reverse direction but slightly worrying when the points are facing. I'm sure there's a simple solution out there.

It's great to see so much progress Thomas. I hadn't realised you were at such an advanced stage but there again I've not been keeping up with things as I should have been doing so I do apologise to you and everyone else for that. It always makes me feel slightly inferior when I see layouts with multiple track layouts and there I am with just a single one! When you and Tony get fully operational there's going to be some interesting viewing in these parts.

I knew there was something amiss with my figures but I've only just discovered what it is. I've added photographs above for 30 Hornby A4 locomotives but 4496 GOLDEN SHUTTLE and 60008 DWIGHT D EISENHOWER are one and the same locomotive, Golden Shuttle being renamed Dwight D Eisenhower in September 1945. So that means I only have examples of 29 different Gresley A4 locomotives and not 30 as previously claimed......or that's what I then assumed! Say 'hello' to 60031 GOLDEN PLOVER with her double chimney and corridor tender and depicted here in late BR Green. I was sure I'd already added this one, which is particularly strange as it is one of the two loco's that I have a duplicate example of, the other being 4462 GREAT SNIPE. I need to do some more research but I believe the duplicate 60031 would be a good choice to rename as 60028 WALTER K WIGHAM which carried the same type tender from 1952 onwards.

Just taken a look on their ebay store 'geministoragesolutions' and the price of their 10 litre boxes are actually 49p cheaper than at Ryman's. I ordered 6 from Ryman's in order to take advantage of the free 'next day' postage (over £40) so it works out virtually the same in the end. In my case Tony, there's not a lot to look at. The storage system I mentioned is just a wooden shelving system on a metal framework upon which I'm now storing all my boxed loco's. It looks like a shop. Previously they were all randomly stored 15-20 at a time in various cardboard boxes. I have lots of cardboard for recycling this week. I have two proper display cases, one of them still flat-packed, that I intended displaying loco's and stock on but I'm running out of wall space and you can't really have them in the living areas can you?