Hi all
I was browsing through an early edition of the N-Gauge Now magazine and they had a short review of the Hornby Arnold N-Gauge Brighton Belle, not seen one before but it looked quite interesting, one got one, what's your opinion, there are a few listed on eBay at over £250 Which foes compare well to a modern multiple unit set, the Farish Blue Pullman set is often listed at £399 but often can go as low as £250 ×with some sellers.
How foes the Hornby Arnold set compare,
Paul
I have the 1934 5-BEL. It's one of my most cherished models. I don't have a layout, so haven't run it since I bought it. But I don't remember finding any negatives with the model.
If I didn't own one already and could afford to buy one from ebay, I would. HTH
I have one. It's a lovely model, although The connectors are a bit tricky.
The blue versions Tend to be cheaper to buy on EBAY , I understand.
I have both the belle and the blue pullman. Both are excellent trains that look good stationary and moving. The couplings on the belle are tricky to connect but I think they are stronger than first impressions. The couplings on the pullman are standard but a mixture of short and long to get a close couple evenly throughout the train demands correct formation.
The price point for retail was chosen by Hornby at £199. Sold direct from the manufacturer so no discounts.
The 1934 versions are more desirable and represent a model from 1934 until about 1956.
After that the nameboards changed a little but the basic livery continued until 1967. That's why umber is the more popular livery. Its the classic colour.
From 1967 the blue grey livery was applied until they were withdrawn in 1973.
Hornby did two runs of the umber model, i believe, compared to one run of the blue-grey, which was a poor seller in comparison. As to numbers produced, i dont know how many were made.
1934 versions now sell for £250 and above.
1967 versions sell for about £150 - £200.
I have both, by the way. They are lovely. There are a few engineering shortcuts to allow the power bogies to rotate but no one owning one has complained massively about this.
Make sure you buy both the two car power car pack and the three car trailer coack pack, as the chances of getting the coaches separately are pretty rare.
HTH
Bob
If I remember correctly there was one issue mentioned on this Forum ,it was the fact that the coach bodies were assembled on the chassis in the wrong order ,you couldn't just change coaches you had to remove the coach bodies and put them on the other chassis .
I don't know if that was corrected on the second run ,perhaps someone with a better memory than me can give you all the full information .
As all ready mentioned the coupling system was particularly difficult and the easiest way I found was to put the coaches on their roofs and connect up being very carefull not to knock the coach headboards off.
Bob Tidbury
Quote from: Bob G on October 10, 2018, 07:22:45 AM
There are a few engineering shortcuts to allow the power bogies to rotate but no one owning one has complained massively about this.
I'm not so sure about that! Reading some of the comments on RMWeb gave me the impression that providing the extra clearance around the bogies was a deal-breaker!
Cheers, NeMo
PS, I do agree with you -- it's a lovely model. At one point the blue ones were on sale for £100, and that's when I got mine. I don't run it much, having end-to-end layouts, but when I do, it's a great model for zipping around a giant oval of Kato Unitrack.
Quote from: NeMo on October 10, 2018, 01:45:38 PM
Quote from: Bob G on October 10, 2018, 07:22:45 AM
There are a few engineering shortcuts to allow the power bogies to rotate but no one owning one has complained massively about this.
I'm not so sure about that! Reading some of the comments on RMWeb gave me the impression that providing the extra clearance around the bogies was a deal-breaker!
And we all know how reasonable and objective some users of RMWeb are :no:.
Bob
Quote from: Lindi on October 10, 2018, 01:14:03 PM
Quote from: Bob G on October 10, 2018, 07:22:45 AM
The price point for retail was chosen by Hornby at £199. Sold direct from the manufacturer so no discounts.
Hornbys original plan was to only sell them themselves online. This was changed and they were sold through the major retailers at discount prices.
And there was an early bird discounted price for NGS members buying from Hornby - with IIRC Hornby passing the discount back to the NGS. That's when I got mine.
There are 3 on eBay now, unfortunately all Blue and all over £250
Might look good running with the Farish Blue Pullman though, will keep an eye on them.
're the couplings are replacements still available if they are subject to damage as some reports suggest.
Paul
They never ran together.
The Brighton Belle was London - Brighton and was in blue/grey 1967-1973.
The Midland Pullman was St Pancras - Manchester 1962-1969 (Farish version)
The Western Pullman (due out shortly) was Paddington - Cardiff and Bristol and was 1962-69 in blue and 1969-73 in blue grey rewversed livery (Farish version).
When on the Western region they were used for specials over the e.g. Southern and Midland regions, especially when in blue/grey (reversed) livery.
HTH
Bob
Rule 1 Bob G !!! Having said that, the Belle without its 3rd rail is stretching things. When I run them together (seldom and only at the club) no one seems to notice.
Third rail? What's that?? Old Hornby??? :angel: :thumbsup:
Just in case no one noticed this
Hattons now have stock of the new batch of the Hornby Arnold Brighton Belle in Umber & Cream
Well they have the power car set in stock the triple coach pack is still waiting delivery
I didn't have these on pre order as I had something else on pre order that that now looks doubtful so expected to miss out expecting all stock to be pre order allocated but they have a number for general sale in stock
So have ordered the motor units and pre ordered the coaches.
NGM
If anyone needs to know, this version is the 1962ish - 1967 livery of Pullman brown and cream with small yellow panels on the front, and with First and Second class cars rather than First and Third class.
Previous versions were
1938 - 1956 original Pullman livery - no yellow panels in those days and third class carriages
1967 - 1972 blue grey livery full yellow ends.
Happy shopping. Mine is on its way from Sir Hatton himself (at a cheaper price than from the Hornby Website before they sold out)
Best
Bob
Mine is arriving from Hattons tomorrow, hope the carriage pack arrives soon as a 2 car Pullman EMU will look a little silly .
NGM
Hi Bob,
I already have the original umber and cream set, but TBH would prefer to have yellow ends.
Rather than selling the whole thing and purchasing the new set, would I be able to correctly run the two new outer cars with the three inners from the first batch?
Cheers
Ben A.
Quote from: Ben A on November 28, 2019, 08:34:44 AM
Hi Bob,
I already have the original umber and cream set, but TBH would prefer to have yellow ends.
Rather than selling the whole thing and purchasing the new set, would I be able to correctly run the two new outer cars with the three inners from the first batch?
Cheers
Ben A.
Ben I think the roof boards on the cars will be different. The new ones I think just say "Brighton Belle", whereas the previous version says something different ( I can't remember exactly what at the moment, but I think it was @Bob G (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=1517) who mentioned this in a previous post.
I'm guessing the livery colours will be the same (yellow ends apart) , so it may be a case of whether you're happy to have three cars with one type of roof board and two driving cars with another type.
Best
Scott
EDIT: The original issue roof boards were "Brighton Belle Victoria Brighton".
Hi Ben
Scott is correct. But it is not just the roof boards, which on the new set say "Victoria - Brighton" and on the 1938 set say "Brighton Belle Victoria Brighton" IIRC.
The carriage names on the first class coaches are different - and the 1938 set says "Car no XXX - Third Class" on the third class cars whereas on the 1962 set it says "Car No XXX" only as these were now second class. Third class was abolished in 1956.
So as I know you are a stickler for accuracy, sell the old one and get a new one. Hattons was £20 cheaper than Hornby direct, when they advertised back in January.
Best
Bob
Quote from: Bob G on November 28, 2019, 09:30:00 AM
Hi Ben
Scott is correct. But it is not just the roof boards, which on the new set say "Victoria - Brighton" and on the 1938 set say "Brighton Belle Victoria Brighton" IIRC.
The carriage names on the first class coaches are different - and the 1938 set says "Car no XXX - Third Class" on the third class cars whereas on the 1962 set it says "Car No XXX" only as these were now second class. Third class was abolished in 1956.
So as I know you are a stickler for accuracy, sell the old one and get a new one. Hattons was £20 cheaper than Hornby direct, when they advertised back in January.
Best
Bob
Bob,
On the Hattons pictures the roof boards say "Brighton Belle".
https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx (https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx)
It's entirely possible I'm missing something though.......?
Best
Scott
I see Gaugemaster are doing one of their starter sets with the Brighton Belle driving cars (but not the additional 3 centre coaches) with a controller and an oval of Unitrack - could be an additional source of units if the standalone ones sell out quickly.
Quote from: NGS-PO on November 28, 2019, 09:34:15 AM
Quote from: Bob G on November 28, 2019, 09:30:00 AM
Hi Ben
Scott is correct. But it is not just the roof boards, which on the new set say "Victoria - Brighton" and on the 1938 set say "Brighton Belle Victoria Brighton" IIRC.
The carriage names on the first class coaches are different - and the 1938 set says "Car no XXX - Third Class" on the third class cars whereas on the 1962 set it says "Car No XXX" only as these were now second class. Third class was abolished in 1956.
So as I know you are a stickler for accuracy, sell the old one and get a new one. Hattons was £20 cheaper than Hornby direct, when they advertised back in January.
Best
Bob
Bob,
On the Hattons pictures the roof boards say "Brighton Belle".
https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx (https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx)
It's entirely possible I'm missing something though.......?
Best
Scott
I was writing all from memory so some of what I wrote could be incorrect.
Whether it is material is a different matter.
Bob
Quote from: Bob G on November 28, 2019, 10:16:01 AM
Quote from: NGS-PO on November 28, 2019, 09:34:15 AM
Quote from: Bob G on November 28, 2019, 09:30:00 AM
Hi Ben
Scott is correct. But it is not just the roof boards, which on the new set say "Victoria - Brighton" and on the 1938 set say "Brighton Belle Victoria Brighton" IIRC.
The carriage names on the first class coaches are different - and the 1938 set says "Car no XXX - Third Class" on the third class cars whereas on the 1962 set it says "Car No XXX" only as these were now second class. Third class was abolished in 1956.
So as I know you are a stickler for accuracy, sell the old one and get a new one. Hattons was £20 cheaper than Hornby direct, when they advertised back in January.
Best
Bob
Bob,
On the Hattons pictures the roof boards say "Brighton Belle".
https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx (https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx)
It's entirely possible I'm missing something though.......?
Best
Scott
I was writing all from memory so some of what I wrote could be incorrect.
Whether it is material is a different matter.
Bob
Bob,
It wasn't a criticism.
Best
Scott
Quote from: Ben A on November 28, 2019, 08:34:44 AM
Hi Bob,
I already have the original umber and cream set, but TBH would prefer to have yellow ends.
Rather than selling the whole thing and purchasing the new set, would I be able to correctly run the two new outer cars with the three inners from the first batch?
Cheers
Ben A.
Hi Ben, if you do consider selling the whole set to swap it over let me know!*
*I would of course make a donation to the site too!
Mine just arrived, and a lovely little thing it is as well. The paint coverage on the roof could be better I think, but other than that it looks very nice.
For completeness, the roof boards say "Brighton Belle", and as Bob says the cars just have the car number on them.
Best
Scott
Mine just arrived as well, not got them out the boxes yet but they do look nice and as said above the roof board says Brighton Belle
Now got to patiently await the 3 coach pack.
NGM
Quote from: NGS-PO on November 28, 2019, 10:25:29 AM
Quote from: Bob G on November 28, 2019, 10:16:01 AM
Quote from: NGS-PO on November 28, 2019, 09:34:15 AM
Quote from: Bob G on November 28, 2019, 09:30:00 AM
Hi Ben
Scott is correct. But it is not just the roof boards, which on the new set say "Victoria - Brighton" and on the 1938 set say "Brighton Belle Victoria Brighton" IIRC.
The carriage names on the first class coaches are different - and the 1938 set says "Car no XXX - Third Class" on the third class cars whereas on the 1962 set it says "Car No XXX" only as these were now second class. Third class was abolished in 1956.
So as I know you are a stickler for accuracy, sell the old one and get a new one. Hattons was £20 cheaper than Hornby direct, when they advertised back in January.
Best
Bob
Bob,
On the Hattons pictures the roof boards say "Brighton Belle".
https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx (https://www.hattons.co.uk/435276/arnold_hn3006_5_bel_pullman_brighton_belle_emu_end_vehicles_in_pullman_umber_and_cream_with_sm/stockdetail.aspx)
It's entirely possible I'm missing something though.......?
Best
Scott
I was writing all from memory so some of what I wrote could be incorrect.
Whether it is material is a different matter.
Bob
Bob,
It wasn't a criticism.
Best
Scott
No offence taken Scott.
No worries.
Bob.
PS I got my 2-car set today. The cab lights seem brighter - dont know why they should be but they are.
The numbers pre-war were 2051-2053 and post war were 3051-3053, so that's another difference I noted.
The livery seemed a little more matt than the first one too. or was it the other way around. I've packed them away now so I cant remember!
TBH I prefer the 1950s no yellow panel version with the second class rather than third class adornment. That will probably be the next one to be produced :)
Just had mine on the test track, what a supper smooth little runner she is.
Fun and games getting the body off to fit the decoder, its a super tight fit, makes removing Farish DMU bodies a breeze.
Nice tough all the table lamps, cab lights are far to bright but it should be easy to tone them down if it offends anyone
This definitely show up my rake of Farish Mk1 Pullman Coaches
NGM
I see Hornby list the Coach packs as being in Stock but nothing showing on the likes of Hattons and Rails etc so hopefully they will be arriving at the stockists soon.
NGM
Not really into multiple units, but I quite fancied this when it first came out, as did my wife who rode on the real thing in her younger days. Sanity prevailed, however, as a) I couldn't afford it then and I can't afford it now and b) even stretching Rule 1 to breaking point, it would look really silly on an East Anglian branch line. No Beyer-Garratt for the same reason...
Life's just so unfair.
Cheers,
Chris
Anyone got the three coach pack yet
Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Kerno etc all show awaiting release
Hornby and Osborns show them in stock both at full list price
I wonder why the big 3 have not had their stock yet
NGM
Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on November 29, 2019, 10:08:53 PM
Anyone got the three coach pack yet
Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Kerno etc all show awaiting release
Hornby and Osborns show them in stock both at full list price
I wonder why the big 3 have not had their stock yet
NGM
Still waiting for mine from the big H
Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on November 29, 2019, 10:08:53 PM
Anyone got the three coach pack yet
Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Kerno etc all show awaiting release
Hornby and Osborns show them in stock both at full list price
I wonder why the big 3 have not had their stock yet
NGM
Yes, mine arrived on Tuesday, so now I have the full set of 5.
Quote from: Shiney Sheff on November 29, 2019, 10:25:54 PM
Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on November 29, 2019, 10:08:53 PM
Anyone got the three coach pack yet
Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Kerno etc all show awaiting release
Hornby and Osborns show them in stock both at full list price
I wonder why the big 3 have not had their stock yet
NGM
Yes, mine arrived on Tuesday, so now I have the full set of 5.
dont you dare sell it overpriced
Quote from: Shiney Sheff on November 29, 2019, 10:25:54 PM
Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on November 29, 2019, 10:08:53 PM
Anyone got the three coach pack yet
Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Kerno etc all show awaiting release
Hornby and Osborns show them in stock both at full list price
I wonder why the big 3 have not had their stock yet
NGM
Yes, mine arrived on Tuesday, so now I have the full set of 5.
Who did you get it from?
NGM
Just to rub salt into the proverbial these sets are now being sold on eBay
Starting to think I sould just order my set from Hornby and pay the £12 extra, just in case something is going amiss with the box shifters orders.
NGM
Have they done anything about the couplings?
Quote from: GrahamB on November 30, 2019, 08:11:36 AM
Have they done anything about the couplings?
No. Just as before.
NEMs at cab ends, power cables integrated with coupling block between cars.
HTH
Bob
Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on November 29, 2019, 11:29:46 PM
Just to rub salt into the proverbial these sets are now being sold on eBay
Starting to think I sould just order my set from Hornby and pay the £12 extra, just in case something is going amiss with the box shifters orders.
NGM
Dont assume that the ebay seller has stock yet. I pretty much guarantee you that there will be a delay in sending your order as they wait for stock
Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on November 29, 2019, 10:08:53 PM
Anyone got the three coach pack yet
Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Kerno etc all show awaiting release
Hornby and Osborns show them in stock both at full list price
I wonder why the big 3 have not had their stock yet
NGM
I tend to find this is the case quite often. Osborns always seem to be the first to show stock. I assume because they are slightly smaller and the biggest box shifters have to catalogue and shelve a lot more stock/get more deliveries so it takes them a couple of days to go through their inventories.
Quote from: Bob G on November 30, 2019, 08:30:48 AM
Quote from: GrahamB on November 30, 2019, 08:11:36 AM
Have they done anything about the couplings?
No. Just as before.
NEMs at cab ends, power cables integrated with coupling block between cars.
HTH
Bob
That's a pity; it's the between-cars gap that needs reducing; no real need for any couplers on the cab ends.
Hi
A quick question
The Arnold Hornby Brighton Belle, is it supposed to have running lights ie white at the front and red at the back
On mine F0 only turns on the extra bright cab light at the driven end, with no actual running lights.
Is this normal or should it have running lights as well, I forgot to check when I had the body off to fit the decoder and its such a tight fit I don't want to risk pulling it off again.
Thanks
NGM
I only have the forward cab lights and the number panel lit when running forward with just the number panel lit at the back, change direction and it's exactly the opposite.
Bob
Just got it up and running, which straight out of the box is very smooth.
To add a cautionary note, one of the coach destination boards fell off when first taking it out of the box, so beware of similar things happening as I'm sure it's probably not a one off.
Bob
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/84/42-011219141420.jpeg)
Quote from: Shiney Sheff on December 01, 2019, 01:22:21 PM
I only have the forward cab lights and the number panel lit when running forward with just the number panel lit at the back, change direction and it's exactly the opposite.
Bob
That's what I have - with the table lamps on of course - and that's on DC in case there is any confusion.
There are no red lights. In this era, the prototype would have had an illuminated stencil route number, rather than roller blind numbers and would have carried an oil lamp on the back end - and this practice continued even into the BR(S) EMU stock like the 4-CEPs, although they did have red rear destination blinds too.
Farish modelled a numeric destination blind on one end of their 4-CEPs and red blinds on the tail end, and then got told people couldn't run their EMUs in reverse as they were showing the red blinds leading. I'm sure whichever way the manufacturer's model destination blinds, someone will think it was the wrong approach.
Bob
Sorry forgot to say, I too am running DC with all the table lamps illuminated.
Bob
Bob
[/quote]
Farish modelled a numeric destination blind on one end of their 4-CEPs and red blinds on the tail end, and then got told people couldn't run their EMUs in reverse as they were showing the red blinds leading. I'm sure whichever way the manufacturer's model destination blinds, someone will think it was the wrong approach.
Bob
[/quote]
the all green version has destination numbers at each end the yellow panel version has the red blind
Nick
Quote from: nick_bastable on December 01, 2019, 03:19:13 PM
Bob
Farish modelled a numeric destination blind on one end of their 4-CEPs and red blinds on the tail end, and then got told people couldn't run their EMUs in reverse as they were showing the red blinds leading. I'm sure whichever way the manufacturer's model destination blinds, someone will think it was the wrong approach.
Bob
[/quote]
the all green version has destination numbers at each end the yellow panel version has the red blind
Nick
[/quote]
In 4mm Bachmann have corrected the error using LEDs and plain blinds.
As time allows I intend to investigate changing my Blue/Grey first edition Belle so the headcode illumination depends on it's direction of travel.
I then want to modify my CEPs so the headcode colour changes and use plain blinds.
Quote from: Shiney Sheff on December 01, 2019, 01:22:21 PM
I only have the forward cab lights and the number panel lit when running forward with just the number panel lit at the back, change direction and it's exactly the opposite.
Bob
Thanks, that's what mine is doing as well, wasn't sure if it had running lights or not, too used to Farish models which all did and was expecting Arnold to do the same.
No problem though, just checking it wasn't faulty
NGM
Quote from: Bob G on December 01, 2019, 02:35:30 PM
Farish modelled a numeric destination blind on one end of their 4-CEPs and red blinds on the tail end, and then got told people couldn't run their EMUs in reverse as they were showing the red blinds leading. I'm sure whichever way the manufacturer's model destination blinds, someone will think it was the wrong approach.
I bought a Farish 4-CEP on eBay - the red blinds don't bother me too much, I just run the unit in one direction :) headcode-forward.
This is an automatically generated email to tell you that Arnold HN3502 Pack of three centre coaches for 5-BEL Brighton Belle in Pullman umber and cream is now in stock and ready to purchase at
http://www.hattons.co.uk/StockDetail.aspx?SID=435277 (http://www.hattons.co.uk/StockDetail.aspx?SID=435277)
for £107.50.
Just had my email saying its in stock and order is being processed, so hopefully it will be here in a few days.
NGM
Hattons have notified me today that my 5-car set has been shipped! :)
A little late to the party but Kernow has these on sale cheaper than anywhere else I've seen them - £101 for the 3 car (only a couple of sets left in stock) and £169 for the motor units - that's £15 saving if you bought both with free postage.
I have just bought the Arnold SR 5-BEL Brighton Belle Pullman. I am reluctant to try and force the connections and see below that someone said these are 'tricky'. Any advice as to how to proceed to connect the coaches together would be most welcome.
Alan
Just get the pins in the holes.
I didn't even think about them.
Bob
They are stronger than they look but are fiddly to assemble !
Hornby posted this video showing their recommended method
https://youtu.be/W4EuVYKa-2A
NGM
BB with sound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O4fgUaqJBE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O4fgUaqJBE)
Hi :help:
Can anyone offer tips as to how best to set up the 5 car set. I've looked for a video but nothing found.
It may be just my ageing eyes and twitchy fingers but I can't seem to get the micro 'plugs and sockets' to line up.
The plan is that the set would stay pretty much permanently on the layout in a storage siding.
Thanks in advance.
Dave G
Is this the one you need, Dave?
Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on December 07, 2019, 01:27:55 PM
Hornby posted this video showing their recommended method
https://youtu.be/W4EuVYKa-2A
NGM
@daveg (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=1087)
I found it easier to actually lay the coaches upside down on the track to couple them ,BUT be carefull or you might knock the roof boards off Don't ask me how I know .
Bob Tidbury
I'm a tad concerned that with a 5 car set, turning them over to put them on the track is going to be a real challenge.
I've thought about making up a cassette of sorts but then it's how to I get them onto the layout without some sort of disaster.
The layout doesn't give itself to an easy option. Old track plan version shown here but in the main pretty much the same. The long straights at the back are not accessible for this purpose.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/42/main_14992.jpg)
Bet there's an answer somewhere so suggestions welcomed.
Dave G
I like the track plan Dave.
Can you reach the back of the layout OK ?
I'm 5' 6" by the way.
Best regards,
Joe
Quote from: daveg on December 09, 2019, 11:01:59 AM
I'm a tad concerned that with a 5 car set, turning them over to put them on the track is going to be a real challenge.
I've thought about making up a cassette of sorts but then it's how to I get them onto the layout without some sort of disaster.
The layout doesn't give itself to an easy option. Old track plan version shown here but in the main pretty much the same. The long straights at the back are not accessible for this purpose.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/42/main_14992.jpg)
Bet there's an answer somewhere so suggestions welcomed.
Dave G
may be a silly suggestion, but would it be feasible to point a point just as the far right track enters the tunnel, with a track to the edge of the board ?
this could become a link to your cassette ?
Thanks guys.
Joe, I'm about the same height and use a step-up thingy to reach the back of the layout. As mentioned, where the straightest track is, it's against the wall so not suiting a cassette operation. The grey area on the plan is the operating space.
Nice thought re adding an extra point and this has given the brain cell a nudge. Not near the tunnel due to scenic stuff there but perhaps at the front where there just may be space to add a level crossing to nowhere. Just behind the camera in this shot.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/67/1087-250718083828.jpeg)
It needs to be where I could set up the quite long cassette without any interference. I shall think on that a bit more.
Please keep suggestions coming!
Dave G
Nice layout! :thumbsup:
Cheers,
Chris
glad to be able to help.