Bill Davidson

60009 Union of South Africa in Inverkeithing today.

Do you have a picture of your programming track, so as I can see how you have connected it up. It sounds like something I would like to try doing myself.

Is it possible to make a programming track from a length of track so as it can be used indoors to programme the locos? I have tried programming some of my locos on the main circuit outside with everything removed from the tracks but two of my locos will only work on 03. I'm using the hornby elite controller which should flash red 5 times when programming is complete but I get a pause after five red flashes, it then goes on to flash 5 times again and the locos will only respond on 03. Any advice

Managed to get all the link wires on the new extension soldered up yesterday. Aching all over today with crouching down so much but happy to say the trains have been running again. Only one slight problem, an oversized gap between rail sections on my return loop is causing de-railments at speed but it will be easily rectified. Have been running in my new DMU set this morning but the sky looks like rain so have called a halt for today.

Sorry about that Chris, I did originally plan to build a reverse loop but as mentioned earlier my plans seem to change with progression. The other factor was in keeping the track plan as simple as possible to avoid any pit falls in the early stages. If it's any consolation I've had many sleepless nights trying to work out how to do all this...lol

Hi Chris, Can you tell me what you are using for the stone effect on your viaduct, it looks really good? I'm planning building a tunnel section eventually and need some kind of stone effect that will be robust enough to withstand the weather up here. Bill

Once again lads all good sound advice, don't know what I would have done without this forum.

It was a single piece of ply that the lads at work put aside for me, so the middle section was cut out with my jig saw and discarded. The current plan is to put a planter in the middle with a tunnel section leading up to it. However my plans seem to evolve as I progress with the layout and often tend to change as I go on. traingeekboy is probably right about having a very slight tilt to the layout to get rid of the surface water that does seem to gather especially between the tracks after a rain shower. I am planning to ballast the tracks at some stage which I hope will help with the drainage problem, failing that, maybe I will have to put in some drain holes. As for the weed killer that's a job still to be done... My train stock has increased over the winter months and was planning on having more steam locos, but for some reason have ended up with more diesel stock, so once again have ended up scratching my head as to where I'm heading.

decided to bite the bullet today and brave the elements to get the rest of the track laid. Which just leaves the link wires to solder up now and hopefully get some trains running soon.

A picture of my attempts at soldering link wires to the points.

Thanks for the comments lads and well spotted Mick, will have to get some weed killer.. Managed to get some track laid today but even with two jumpers on was frozen stiff. So decided to come back indoors and solder up some link wires to the points I'm going to use, weather permitting.

Still quite cold up here yet, but have managed to get another extension added ready for the tracks as soon as it warms up.

At a standstill once more with this blasted weather. Snowing here again, what's hapened to the spring?

Would just like to say well done traingeekboy for a most enjoyable thread. It's a sheer pleasure to see all the images on one page. I look at them often as they help me in planning my own layout and give me much food for thought, much appreciated.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there traingeekboy, I'm itching to get started again this year, can't wait to be able to get outside for some quality time on the layout.

The sun came out again here today after all that snow yesterday, so managed to get some posts cut and have them soaking in the wood preserver ready for next stage of my layout. I can't wait to get started again after a long winter and that very wet summer last year. Spring is coming fingers crossed lol

I've had a number of train coaches of various types and colours handed to me by the staff on the sites. Nearly had a load of old locos and carriages still in their boxes from someone cleaning out his fathers loft until a member of the public who saw them told the chap he could make a fortune by placing them on e-bay, so he took them away with him again. Apart from that just bits of wood and fence posts for my layout.

Reading your posts reminds me of what I went through myself when planning my own layout. First it was going to be the front garden then the back then I considered inside, but due to lack of space and security issues I decided finally on the back garden. It was always going to be DCC with me as that was the first system I purchased as a boxed set and if you go down the road of sound locos, although expensive they really are a joy. With me it was a matter of getting something laid and expanding as I go on. So it was a double loop to start with, adding and planning the next stages as I progressed and I'm still working on the layout whenever I can get outside with this horible weather we've been having, but once you get started you'll find that things just seem to fall into place bit by bit.

Thanks for getting back to me craig, appreciate the advice. It's definitely something I'd like to try but keep getting outbid on e-bay. Will keep trying though. Merry Christmas to everyone

Mick, have tried sending a message to Craig Crane through vimeo but unfortunately it s not going through for some reason. Are you able to give him a shout? would appreciate his experience in this matter. His videos are absolutely out of this world, wish I had a garden to support such sizable layout.

Thanks Mick i'll do that

Thanks for the information, I had a look at that web site last night and it does give a lot of useful information too. Still not sure about my wiring though and would love to hear from anyone actually using live steam.

I'm contemplating using live steam on my oo gauge DCC system. Does anyone have experience of using live steam? Obviously I'm aware that it cannot be used at the same time as my DCC trains, but am I able to use the same track layout without any modifications? As far as I'm aware the tracks themselves can get quite hot due to the higher voltage passing through them. Would this be a problem with my soldered link wires? My plan is, only to use the outer loop of my layout without bringing any of the points into play. Would appreciate any advice the forum members could give me.

Sounds good to me, I'll bring the beers You'd probably wish I lived closer if you knew what I do for a living. I drive a truck that services recyling centres so have an abundant source of materials. Always handy when you are building a garden railway lol

Nice layout traingeekboy, what time does the barbecue start?