Time to build a railway...but where?

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 3:10 pm

A break from buildings, I turned my attention to completing a project which has waited far too long for various reasons, one of which was the lack of a working chassis after the original Lima motor bogie decided enough was enough.
These little units are impossible to find these days but with a generous gift from Big Jim I now have a replacement. The other issue was to change from track power (as built some 25+ years ago) to RC battery power taken from my tarpaulin covered truck.
The chassis needed no modification other than the removal of pick-ups and soldering of leads to a plug to connect to the wagon. It now works brilliantly and has added a new (old) loco to my fleet which will be run to entertain tourists and visitors to my preservation railway.....

Big Jim · Post by **Big Jim** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 3:25 pm

Glad to be of use, hopefully we can catch up soon.

markoteal · Post by **markoteal** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:12 pm

Peter - that's brilliant - great loco but I love the Mail wagon - was it a kit?

I'd love to have some mail traffic on my line - we have/will have post boxes at each station and I was planning a mod to a guards van at some point in the future to make into a mini TPO but your picture has got me thinking of something a bit more grand!

Post by **philipy** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:25 pm

Lovely, Peter. I assume all that ironmongery flies around when the loco moves, I'd love to see a video?

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:43 pm

Thanks for your replies guys....
Mark.... I don't do kits.... all my stock, as well as structures etc. are scratch-built or bashed from parts of kits. Once I had the loco, which I made from a plastic 'Rocket' kit, I decided I needed period rolling stock, so I made the TPO to go with it. You can tell from my range of rolling stock items that I have a desire to be different. It's about time I made a passenger carriage to go in the train but that will have to wait.
Philip.... yes, all of the 'grasshopper' linkage rises and falls with rotation of the driving wheels. It is made of brass rod and moves quite convincingly.

markoteal · Post by **markoteal** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:46 pm

Wow - thats a great scratch build - I can only look in admiration.

Looks like I'll have to have a go at creating a TPO using an unsuspecting guards van!

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:44 pm

It would be good to see a video of the loco in action Peter if possible?

jim@NAL · Post by **jim@NAL** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 9:14 pm

that's another fine looking model peter and I do like the royal mail van

LNR · Post by **LNR** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 10:13 pm

What absolutely fabulous pictures of a truly remarkable engine build, and superb train to go with it.
Definitely looks like something Mr. Stephenson would have sketched before coming to his final design. If at all possible to see a video of it running, with all those rods and links, as Philip and Tom have said.
Is there no end to your remarkable building and flair for design Peter.
Grant, closing, and still shaking head!!!

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 11:35 am

Grant, you're embarrassing me now, it's just a reflection of me and my impression of how I see railways. Possibly the way the French Impressionists saw their world?
As for video.... I have managed to avoid this so far (chicken-out would be the best way to describe it!) as I have only ever tried it once, even then with a friend to help me. It is one of those things I must get to grips with but at the moment seems a daunting prospect. I am a late starter when it comes to computer technology and only do what I feel comfortable with.

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 12:27 pm

Do you a deal then Peter, you film the footage and I will show you how to use YouTube

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 12:45 pm

That sounds more than a fair deal to me Tom.... I'll send a PM to see how we can make it work.

Soar Valley Light · Post by **Soar Valley Light** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 6:54 pm

What a fantastic train Peter. The loco is superb and I absolutely love the livery. I'd love to see some shots of it making its way around your wonderful line.

Andrew

Big Jim · Post by **Big Jim** » Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:16 am

I have just been in contact with Peter and his computer is out of use. If anyone needs to contact him please pm me and I will pass the message on.

jim@NAL · Post by **jim@NAL** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:18 am

if computers where made from wood id come fix it for him .hope all is ok im sure hes been busy building more models always enjoy his posts hope its fixed soon

LNR · Post by **LNR** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:47 am

Hope Peter didn't blow his computer up trying to make the recently requested video!!!

Grant.

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:05 am

Jimbo if I can help him then let me know before he goes to a well known computer retailer and get's ripped off.

Post by **philipy** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:37 pm

LNR:122743 wrote:Hope Peter didn't blow his computer up trying to make the recently requested video!!! :oops: :oops:
Grant.

That thought crossed my mind, too!

Big Jim · Post by **Big Jim** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 6:11 pm

Apparently the infernal machine in question has stopped charging and got rather hot. A local independent computer wallah has managed to get it turned on and it is booked in for a good service (oil change, plugs, filters, grease & lube and de-coke) next week.

In my ignorance I was wondering if there is a battery issue.

This may or may not be due to the need to upload vast video files.

markoteal · Post by **markoteal** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 6:24 pm

Jim - if identifying the correct issue of the laptop stopping working were a horse race and I was a bookie, the odds would be

Battery - odds on
Powerpack - 2/1
Fan 3/1 (although these odds are likely to shorten if Peter was rendering said video at the time of stoppage!)

Dog interference - 10/1 outsider but you never know!

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Time to build a railway...but where?

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