Quote from: Michael Hendle on September 22, 2013, 03:32:12 PM

:
A bit I find the things that are more likely to derail are bogie coaches and trucks,they are far to light the least little bump in the track ( or tap from cats paw) and they come off the track.

Mikael H  :A1Tornado

I must be in the minority - I have unsecured Kato laid down on a tabletop with #6 points and I've never experienced a derailing of my mk1 carriages, even at full chat! Our cats however have knocked my class 47 off the layout and onto the carpet below...

After 2 weeks away from the forum (okay a quick peek every now and then) this sure is a hot topic.

It looks like any of us who are old enough to remember steam tend to lean towards that era. Unless you were unfortunate enough to live the wrong end of the Waterloo to Weymouth line (I lived at Wyke Regis), then a bunch of electric carriages may appeal to you... However in the mid 60's my family moved to Chippenham where my school was adjacent to the WR main line so I was subject to a diet of western region hydraulics. Then as I got older I became a regular at GWS Didcot so I turned back to the GWR.  Now with the release of so many great models and a desire to win the lottery I am leaning towards my steam favourites with any green diesel that I can afford.

On review of these posts it is AN AGE THING!!!

Quote from: Dorsetmike on September 22, 2013, 01:43:46 PM
I note that he forum header has mostly diesel, and that the only steam locos are American outline, no UK steam, could that not be construed as a diesel bias?? Also the additional "smileys" have only one steamer and that somewhat generic although it purports to be Tornado (a modern imitation ).

I'm not sure if you are being serious or writing in tongue in cheek....

If the former - really??? Do you really see conspiracy where none exists?

Personally I don't really care one way or the other. I'm a kettle lover but all is good

Quote from: red_death on September 22, 2013, 04:29:31 PM

Quote from: Dorsetmike on September 22, 2013, 01:43:46 PM
I note that he forum header has mostly diesel, and that the only steam locos are American outline, no UK steam, could that not be construed as a diesel bias?? Also the additional "smileys" have only one steamer and that somewhat generic although it purports to be Tornado (a modern imitation ).

I'm not sure if you are being serious or writing in tongue in cheek....

If the former - really??? Do you really see conspiracy where none exists?

or at least part way; more or less looking at it from the possible point of view of a guest looking to join - first impressions sort of thing.  I did get that impression myself when I first browsed before I joined. I might have stayed away but Yahoo groups went ultra trendy with their Neo interface and screwed things up monumentally in so doing, on one group I was getting a message saying "This group does not exist" then about 15 seconds later adding a link to it.

I'm quite happy with NGF, now wish I'd joined sooner

Quote from: EtchedPixels on September 22, 2013, 10:21:18 AM

Just need Network Rail to get on with replacing that inefficient dangerous 3rd rail for overhead as is long term planned.

Not exactly happening quickly though. And certainly no plans to get rid of electrified rails on the London Underground - not exactly much room for catenary in the tubes. Plus the cost of raising bridges and tunnels on the network will require the sort of government cash injection that is needed for HS2 and that's not exactly going down a bundle. I think it's a safe bet that they'll be around beyond all our lifetimes.

H.

The cash needed is s lot lot less than HS2 and the payback very rapid. The power losses in 3rd rail are huge and the performance limited by this. The power saving and rolling stock simplification pay for it all pretty rapidly as a result. Dunno about you but I can see myself around for the "goodbye third rail" special.

Plus catenary works in the snow

Agreed on LU.. and probably IoW staying 3rd rail although the latter might just go light rail lpg/flywheel

QuotePlus catenary works in the snow

Not so happy with high winds though!

Quote from: Dorsetmike on September 23, 2013, 01:54:29 PM

QuotePlus catenary works in the snow

Not so happy with high winds though!

Properly built it is - the East Coast has huge problems because some moronic bean counter discovered they could put it up more cheaply if they ran slowly or stopped in high winds. It's another stupid short-termist mistake to add to the collection.

I want to be a steam modeller but so far I have had nothing but bad experience's with them, WD 2-8-0 aside. Steam is well before my time (30) but I'm completely fascinated by it and I always liked hearing my grandad's stories from his time working on the railway's.

Unfortunately my experience with purchases so far has been poor. I only own one steam loco (WD) but have purchased 5 other models, going through numerous replacement's until I gave up and swapped them for Diesels.

Diesel wise (class 14 aside) I have only had to return one - a Class 24 with disco lights.

The class 14's I tried all had quartering issues, IMO the biggest issue with steam at present. If this issue could be eradicated I would still own all of the other 5 steam loco's I wanted to own.

The newest Dapol designs have square axle ends which fixes that problem. Farish don't seem to have done that yet, and I sent two badly quartered 3MTs back before I gave up bothering with that model.

Alan

The 3mt was the one I gave up on too. I'll get round to the 5mt again but st the moment I want to enjoy the hobby and diesels make this possible virtually 100% of the time.

Hi
I can remember when Graham Farish first bought out their n gauge range you had either a great eastern tank loco,or the 0-6-0 GP Tank loco which was basically a 3F tank loco.painted in different railway company colours,then there was a set of 4 wheel coaches,and a generic set of bogie coaches again painted in different railway colours,then along came castle loco with miniscule bogie wheels and a not very good chassis.

Now jump 40 years forward and what have reallly good coaching stock and freight wagons,excellent bodies on steam loco's but some of the steam chassis are still as bad as the original Graham Farrish ones,bogies still jump,chassis some good some bad.

I've had in the past a 8F couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding,bogie jumping,a 2-6-4T bought 1 sent it back after a couple of runs gears stopped meshing,sent it back,got another one,that wouldn't even move,tried a 3rd sent that back,wheel slipping on axle,gave up and asked for money back.

The first Graham Farish Diesel I bought was Lady Dianna Spencer,which is still running,never jumps The only decent
Grafar steam loco thet worked properly was a Jubilee which I bought when it first came out.

At present I have 3 Dapol steam loco's and 1 Union Mills loco,all run with out any problems,will I buy any more Grafar steam loco's doubtful,I might by a N class steam loco,as that is what I need for my branch line,but if it has problems then that's it.

Michael Hendle

Quote from: EtchedPixels on September 23, 2013, 11:22:24 AM

The cash needed is s lot lot less than HS2 and the payback very rapid.

The cost and hassle of all the civil engineering required to raise bridges and tunnels for the entire SE network has so far scared off every Government and potential investor. It's far cheaper to keep things running as they are, plus the politically will seems to be for complete new lines like HS2, Crossrail, the SW to NE London underpass and the LU extension to Battersea, plus glamour projects like Heathrow Express and the London Overground.

I can't see anyone bothering to invest in old lines simply to change the power supply. Electrifying current non-electrified lines yes, although it's new lines and new services that are required and what is more likely. But the recent/last electrifications in the SE has simply been nailing conductor rails alongside running rails - Weymouth extension, East Grinstead line, SLL connections and so on. Even the opportunity to convert the Lymington branch to OHLE was passed up with the use of diesels despite local protest.

H.

This is a post i wish had written myself stevie boy rather than starting the original post.  you can get affordable sound in diesel as well. Im a newbie are you ? I wondered whether i might be ok if i had 20 years experience as some failures may be down to bad ballasting oiling or rerailing.

Quote from: stevieboy on September 23, 2013, 10:27:46 PM
I want to be a steam modeller but so far I have had nothing but bad experience's with them, WD 2-8-0 aside. Steam is well before my time (30) but I'm completely fascinated by it and I always liked hearing my grandad's stories from his time working on the railway's.

Unfortunately my experience with purchases so far has been poor. I only own one steam loco (WD) but have purchased 5 other models, going through numerous replacement's until I gave up and swapped them for Diesels.

Diesel wise (class 14 aside) I have only had to return one - a Class 24 with disco lights.

The class 14's I tried all had quartering issues, IMO the biggest issue with steam at present. If this issue could be eradicated I would still own all of the other 5 steam loco's I wanted to own.