Thanks for your positive comments. I do remember you were on my right side. I was waiting for the HST to depart but no luck so I wondered off to another layout. I did come later but it had gone. I was my first visit to the Portsmouth area my home base being Templecombe. 👍
Thanks for a great video showing Oak Road. Unfortunately the layout decided to misbehave half hour before the show started, hence the HST stuck in platform 3! Despite the setbacks, we still managed to run some trains and you captured the look of the layout superbly. 👍
Thanks for your comments I am very pleased that you enjoyed the video. It’s a pity that I missed capturing the HST leaving the station but got plenty of the Class 37 and Caroline. 👍😊
Nice work. I guess we must have bumped into each over on Saturday? I was the one filming from a tripod, and taking forever. I have only posted one video from the day so far. It was a very nice show, not many layouts, but they were all exceptional. Well worth the journey. Say hi if we bump into one another again
Thanks for watching the video and yes I do remember seeing you several times during my visit. I agree with you about the show it was very good. I will look out for you in future. 👍
Hi Chris, I enjoyed watching your layout in operation, it looked fine to me. I think the whole idea of running a model railway seems to have been lost. Surely it is for fun and enjoyment of the operator and those who watch it. Thanks
@@ghostontheline Cheers - I work on the basis that with a layout as small as mine we are staging a snap shot which needs to look plausible and hopefully keep something moving in an interesting way. I sympathise with the experts who expect 100% accuracy but its all a compromise for me so all the different aspects can blend together as well as possible in miniature!
By this time next year, I should be running trains on my micro layout. By then, it should literally become Halfway House Station on the Volk’s Electric Railway in Brighton.
THE NUMEROUS QUESTIONS RAISED BY MY PREVIOUS COMMENT - some explanation !!! I haven't bothered with either traditional 12v DC or DCC for my own layouts, since the 1970's. Only for layouts I build for customers (which included British Railways before its demise). I developed a realistic wiring method based on real life railway practice, in conjunction with the then British Railways Chief Signalling Engineer of the Southern Region. The method used, we christened "TCC" (Track Circuit Control). It uses 12v DC in the rails, for the simple reason "DC" allows for multiple supplies from multiple Transformers to be fed through the Negative Common Return rail, without fear of short circuits ! Which means with TCC your layout wiring is reduced immediately by around 45%, over either a traditional 12v DC method or DCC. This alone saves a fortune in wiring costs !!!! TRACK CIRCUITS 1p EACH !!!! TCC allows for a very cheap and clever method of having the necessary "Track Circuits" to interface train movement with both Signals & pointwork. Which also allows a quick easy method of full "Interlocking" (preventing signals clearing if points aren't set correctly etc..) The Track Circuit is simply a piece of wire (cost about 1p each). The wire simply connects a section of the PLUS (+) rail, to one or more Relays. The relays do the interlocking between a signal & any points, and also ensure the correct aspect is shown, including any junction indication. The Relay(s) working with one track circuit & signal, are also connected to the relay(s) for the next & subsequent two signals up the line. Which allows for 3 or 4 aspect colour signalling to function exactly as per the real thing. The only other "technical" electrical equipment needed for TCC in addition to high quality Relays (RS Supplies) were cheap diodes, and a few resistors, along with 1.5mm diameter coloured LED's for the control panel signal repeaters. The design for TCC, was well planned, so that it could be used with British Colour light signals (Track Circuit Block), or typical passenger lines with Semaphore Signals (Absolute Block). Or even European & even Japanese Railways methods of "Speed Signalling" (Europe) & the Japanese 5 aspect variation of British Track Circuit Block !! BR's EUROSTAR LAYOUT AT WATERLOO Indeed British Railways requirement for a totally automated (N gauge) model layout on Waterloo Station Concourse, to show the Channel Tunnel (before it was completed) required another modification to our TCC system. To replicate the French TVM430 in cab signalling used by Eurostars. This was actually stupidly simple as there are no track side signals. We just needed the track circuits to prevent the Kato N scale model Eurostars from crashing into each other, with a three stage step down in speed. The British Railways Engineer assigned to get this layout sorted, not being a modeller, was stunned by the efficiency and longevity of these Kato models. Indeed BR had purchased 48 complete 20 car Eurostar sets for the layout, which only required 6 units to be on the layout at any one time. And after six months thrashing around the layout, day in day out. They only had three model power cars wear out. (I also provided BR with the models, and taught the person detailed to check the layout every evening, how to clean power car wheels) !!! AWS - AUTOMATIC WARNING SYSTEM. Indeed we also realised we could even include British Railways AWS (Automatic Warning System), simply by adding a wire between the train power supply to a section of track, and a spare switch on one of each signals relays. We did, this to stop sleepy "Operators" from crashing red signals, during exhibitions. This forces the operator to look at his control panel, to check he has a clear line (signals being repeated on the panel, using 1.5mm coloured LED's). COST ANALYSIS A recent large BR OO scale layout (57ft x 30ft) for a German Truck Haulage firm boss, that I completed 18 months ago. Revealed some stunning disparities in the layout wiring system used. He initially wanted DCC, but the cost of using the Gaugemaster "Prodigy" system worked out at over £12,000. Traditional 12v DC using Gaugemaster "Inertia" normal controllers, came out at only £4,500. But my TCC methods reduced this to only £3,500. All variants including British 3 aspect signals, with full interlocking as a basic need. Happy Modelling 😃
It is set somewhere between Lydford Junction and Tavistock North Station. That is on the northern edge of Dartmoor, on the route from Exeter to Plymouth.
@ It’s a glorious layout. I knew it was somewhere in the south west but thought it was just like Cornwall. I went to boarding school in Somerset but didn’t recognise the location the layout was depicting.
Odd it seems the arrival of DCC (in Britain) has resulted in even bigger confusion as to how a model layout needs to be wired, if it is to copy real life operational rules. No interlocking, no comprehension of the interface between moving trains & signalling, and far to much in the way of jerky locos. As a number of more professional modellers have noted in recent years. "Great scenery, but totally inept and unrealistic operation" !!!
Did that apply to my layout Penmaenbach and how would you improve it? I'd also be pleased to see film of your layout in operation if possible? We were just having fun....
@@chrishopper340 The problem as stated is that effectively "DCC" has led people up the Garden path. It is a commercial product originally launched by Hornby around 1986 under the title "Zero One". Taken forward by both German & American manufacturers and turned into what is now called "DCC". But the manufacturers had to agree standards, or every DCC system would be incompatible. The technical issue therefore is that it was aimed at "Mr. Average", and not being designed by Railway Engineers, paid NO heed to the real life interface between moving trains and signalling so provides NO proper interface. Only one company Fleischmann tried to fill this void, and add a comprehensive method of digitally providing that interface, between moving trains and signalling. But the American market rejected this more sophisticated version of DCC, and Fleischmann went effectively bankrupt as a result. Having spent over £2 Million developing that DCC method. (They were taken over by Roco of Austria). So currently DCC can only cope with the American CTC (Central Traffic Control) methods, which allow quite simply "radio messages" to control train movement. One of the reasons why U.S Railroads have more derailments & crashes monthly, than the whole of Europe in a year ! The whole point of DCC is that "it can" solve all the electrical complexity on a model railway, by allowing all your points, signals, & trains to have exactly what a real life modern Computer signalbox has - Full interlocking, train detection and safety protection !! As a real Railway Mechanical Engineer, and a long time professional Modeller. I'm fully aware of how real railway operation works and the signalling interface functions. So all my exhibition layouts for over 30 years, have used a wiring method known as TCC (Track Circuit Control). Indeed I've explained this method in magazine articles as long ago as the mid 1980's. It was a system I developed with a real British Railways Chief Signalling Officer of the Southern Region, back in the mid 1970's !
Lovely video, nice to see all the layouts again. Can hear myself chatting with @EmperorsPath as you filmed Oak Road 😁
Thanks for your positive comments. I do remember you were on my right side. I was waiting for the HST to depart but no luck so I wondered off to another layout. I did come later but it had gone. I was my first visit to the Portsmouth area my home base being Templecombe. 👍
Great filming of beautiful layouts. Marvellous to see "Trerice" in action after the sad passing of Iain Rice. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for watching the video and for your comments. I agree there was a really good selection of layouts all worth watching.
Thank you for posting this great video of a high quality show. I am one of the Friedrichstrasse team and it is always nice to see the layout on film.
I am so pleased that you enjoyed the video. It’s really great to get positive reviews of my uploads. Well done for your marvellous layout..
Thanks for a great video showing Oak Road. Unfortunately the layout decided to misbehave half hour before the show started, hence the HST stuck in platform 3! Despite the setbacks, we still managed to run some trains and you captured the look of the layout superbly. 👍
Thanks for your comments I am very pleased that you enjoyed the video. It’s a pity that I missed capturing the HST leaving the station but got plenty of the Class 37 and Caroline. 👍😊
Nice to see a layout set in winter time rather than summer time!!
I agree I think the theme of winter has been captured perfectly. I have seen this layout many times always good....
Nice work. I guess we must have bumped into each over on Saturday? I was the one filming from a tripod, and taking forever. I have only posted one video from the day so far.
It was a very nice show, not many layouts, but they were all exceptional. Well worth the journey.
Say hi if we bump into one another again
Thanks for watching the video and yes I do remember seeing you several times during my visit. I agree with you about the show it was very good. I will look out for you in future. 👍
Some lovely layouts, very nicely filmed 👍
Thanks for watching and commenting on the video.😊
Great video - my layout was Penmaenbach - nicely filmed - thank you.
Hi Chris, I enjoyed watching your layout in operation, it looked fine to me. I think the whole idea of running a model railway seems to have been lost. Surely it is for fun and enjoyment of the operator and those who watch it. Thanks
@@ghostontheline Cheers - I work on the basis that with a layout as small as mine we are staging a snap shot which needs to look plausible and hopefully keep something moving in an interesting way. I sympathise with the experts who expect 100% accuracy but its all a compromise for me so all the different aspects can blend together as well as possible in miniature!
@@chrishopper340 👍
By this time next year, I should be running trains on my micro layout. By then, it should literally become Halfway House Station on the Volk’s Electric Railway in Brighton.
I look forward too seeing it......
THE NUMEROUS QUESTIONS RAISED BY MY PREVIOUS COMMENT - some explanation !!!
I haven't bothered with either traditional 12v DC or DCC for my own layouts, since the 1970's. Only for layouts I build for customers (which included British Railways before its demise). I developed a realistic wiring method based on real life railway practice, in conjunction with the then British Railways Chief Signalling Engineer of the Southern Region. The method used, we christened "TCC" (Track Circuit Control). It uses 12v DC in the rails, for the simple reason "DC" allows for multiple supplies from multiple Transformers to be fed through the Negative Common Return rail, without fear of short circuits ! Which means with TCC your layout wiring is reduced immediately by around 45%, over either a traditional 12v DC method or DCC. This alone saves a fortune in wiring costs !!!!
TRACK CIRCUITS 1p EACH !!!!
TCC allows for a very cheap and clever method of having the necessary "Track Circuits" to interface train movement with both Signals & pointwork. Which also allows a quick easy method of full "Interlocking" (preventing signals clearing if points aren't set correctly etc..) The Track Circuit is simply a piece of wire (cost about 1p each). The wire simply connects a section of the PLUS (+) rail, to one or more Relays. The relays do the interlocking between a signal & any points, and also ensure the correct aspect is shown, including any junction indication. The Relay(s) working with one track circuit & signal, are also connected to the relay(s) for the next & subsequent two signals up the line. Which allows for 3 or 4 aspect colour signalling to function exactly as per the real thing.
The only other "technical" electrical equipment needed for TCC in addition to high quality Relays (RS Supplies) were cheap diodes, and a few resistors, along with 1.5mm diameter coloured LED's for the control panel signal repeaters.
The design for TCC, was well planned, so that it could be used with British Colour light signals (Track Circuit Block), or typical passenger lines with Semaphore Signals (Absolute Block). Or even European & even Japanese Railways methods of "Speed Signalling" (Europe) & the Japanese 5 aspect variation of British Track Circuit Block !!
BR's EUROSTAR LAYOUT AT WATERLOO
Indeed British Railways requirement for a totally automated (N gauge) model layout on Waterloo Station Concourse, to show the Channel Tunnel (before it was completed) required another modification to our TCC system. To replicate the French TVM430 in cab signalling used by Eurostars. This was actually stupidly simple as there are no track side signals. We just needed the track circuits to prevent the Kato N scale model Eurostars from crashing into each other, with a three stage step down in speed. The British Railways Engineer assigned to get this layout sorted, not being a modeller, was stunned by the efficiency and longevity of these Kato models. Indeed BR had purchased 48 complete 20 car Eurostar sets for the layout, which only required 6 units to be on the layout at any one time. And after six months thrashing around the layout, day in day out. They only had three model power cars wear out. (I also provided BR with the models, and taught the person detailed to check the layout every evening, how to clean power car wheels) !!!
AWS - AUTOMATIC WARNING SYSTEM.
Indeed we also realised we could even include British Railways AWS (Automatic Warning System), simply by adding a wire between the train power supply to a section of track, and a spare switch on one of each signals relays. We did, this to stop sleepy "Operators" from crashing red signals, during exhibitions. This forces the operator to look at his control panel, to check he has a clear line (signals being repeated on the panel, using 1.5mm coloured LED's).
COST ANALYSIS
A recent large BR OO scale layout (57ft x 30ft) for a German Truck Haulage firm boss, that I completed 18 months ago. Revealed some stunning disparities in the layout wiring system used. He initially wanted DCC, but the cost of using the Gaugemaster "Prodigy" system worked out at over £12,000. Traditional 12v DC using Gaugemaster "Inertia" normal controllers, came out at only £4,500. But my TCC methods reduced this to only £3,500. All variants including British 3 aspect signals, with full interlocking as a basic need.
Happy Modelling 😃
Is the first layout a Cornish one?
It is set somewhere between Lydford Junction and Tavistock North Station. That is on the northern edge of Dartmoor, on the route from Exeter to Plymouth.
@ It’s a glorious layout. I knew it was somewhere in the south west but thought it was just like Cornwall. I went to boarding school in Somerset but didn’t recognise the location the layout was depicting.
@@Madonsteamrailways 👍
Odd it seems the arrival of DCC (in Britain) has resulted in even bigger confusion as to how a model layout needs to be wired, if it is to copy real life operational rules. No interlocking, no comprehension of the interface between moving trains & signalling, and far to much in the way of jerky locos. As a number of more professional modellers have noted in recent years. "Great scenery, but totally inept and unrealistic operation" !!!
Did that apply to my layout Penmaenbach and how would you improve it? I'd also be pleased to see film of your layout in operation if possible? We were just having fun....
Thanks for your comments but surely it should be for fun not to be 100% technically correct.
Ahh the master model builder has spoken again.
It's a good job that he hasn't seem my layout...😂
@@chrishopper340 The problem as stated is that effectively "DCC" has led people up the Garden path. It is a commercial product originally launched by Hornby around 1986 under the title "Zero One". Taken forward by both German & American manufacturers and turned into what is now called "DCC". But the manufacturers had to agree standards, or every DCC system would be incompatible. The technical issue therefore is that it was aimed at "Mr. Average", and not being designed by Railway Engineers, paid NO heed to the real life interface between moving trains and signalling so provides NO proper interface. Only one company Fleischmann tried to fill this void, and add a comprehensive method of digitally providing that interface, between moving trains and signalling. But the American market rejected this more sophisticated version of DCC, and Fleischmann went effectively bankrupt as a result. Having spent over £2 Million developing that DCC method. (They were taken over by Roco of Austria). So currently DCC can only cope with the American CTC (Central Traffic Control) methods, which allow quite simply "radio messages" to control train movement. One of the reasons why U.S Railroads have more derailments & crashes monthly, than the whole of Europe in a year !
The whole point of DCC is that "it can" solve all the electrical complexity on a model railway, by allowing all your points, signals, & trains to have exactly what a real life modern Computer signalbox has - Full interlocking, train detection and safety protection !!
As a real Railway Mechanical Engineer, and a long time professional Modeller. I'm fully aware of how real railway operation works and the signalling interface functions. So all my exhibition layouts for over 30 years, have used a wiring method known as TCC (Track Circuit Control). Indeed I've explained this method in magazine articles as long ago as the mid 1980's. It was a system I developed with a real British Railways Chief Signalling Officer of the Southern Region, back in the mid 1970's !