Chalkhill

[Lofty]

That’s a great video Geoff. Good old fashioned engineering.

[Dad-1]

Lofty, that's a bit Historic !!

I thought you would like that.
Easy to see why I want a Hornby 'Gower Princess'
At 6 tons I wonder what it could be expected to haul.
Probably not far from what the Ruston's can pull on my shunting layouts.
Kadees with brakes means between 4 & 6 wagons then I get wheel slip.

Geoff T.

[Phred]

Excellent video. I just managed to watch it this morning. I was surprised to see that motive power is supplied by what looks like a big bicycle chain!

[Dad-1]

Hi Phred,

Yes chain driven, cute ehh.
What I liked was using the Sentinel to bump start it. Don't see that every day !!

Glencairn pointed out that Rails have the best current offer, dare I wait for
last clearance prices ?

Geoff T.

[Phred]

Dad-1 wrote:
Glencairn pointed out that Rails have the best current offer, dare I wait for
last clearance prices ?

Buy now and see it cheaper later.
Wait and the price goes up.
It's the eternal conundrum.

[Dad-1]

I made it to the shed.
Time to have a little play time.
I need to raid the loft soon to get more stock down for Kadee conversion.
The odd new wagon build and some updating being checked.



All sorts, Triang, Cambrian, Dapol, Ratio, Mainline, Lima, Parkside, even a corner of a Hornby.
You have this as I'm now cold and bored. Access to the loft still banned while the lady of the house
is around.

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

Indecision strikes home !

Today there are 43 wagons on Chalkhill.
I had planned to use Kadees, but on this layout it's awkward to know where to place magnets.
While the locations work well enough they do limit what shunting movements I can make. One
of the difficulties is that the lead into each siding is on a gentle curve and Kadees don't like
curves.
Now 43 wagons would cost in excess of £210 to fully convert, without any being added to various
locomotives. I've already spent that much on my BR period stock that had occupied Chalkhill.
Now the weather has improved enough for me to venture down the garden to my shed I thought
I'd use GWR stock - Another £200 + of couplers ??



I decided to revert to my original big layout coupling system of magnetic hooks worked by my magic
wand, which is a magnet sunk into the end of a stick !!

I'm gradually regaining my steady hand and find it refreshing to shunt, dropping wagons in a curve,
splitting a train into several sections on one outward movement because I can split anywhere I want,
no magnet required. As the above photo confirms a man with a shunting pole had to do it, so why
not me ?

I will still keep to Kadees on small shunting puzzles, but not pressing ahead to convert loads of my
stock of over 500 wagone. No need to add axle brakes to make Kadees work 100% reliably. Another
example of finding the right thing for a specific layout.

A need to convert some diesels back, thank heavens for NEM pockets !!



Geoff T.

[Phred]

Dad-1 wrote
Indecision strikes home !

Those two blokes in the photos do look as if they're trying to decide what to do next.

[Dad-1]

Hi phred,

That's exactly as I've been recently !!

Just a short video of movement on Chalkhill.

https://youtu.be/5_dqyQ1viis

Back to the garden while the sun's out !!

Geoff T.

[Phred]

Thanks for the video, Geoff. Lovely smooth running.
I can agree with your comment about points. At times I will take a loco from the cabinet and place it on the track, where it will baulk or even derail two or three times at a certain set of points, then start running through smoothly as if nothing was ever wrong. Beats me.

[Dad-1]

Indecision is often overcome by having a good discussion.
I still think the ref was wrong !!



Not making, just playing, as I found a few people without their stand bases
I added and then put 'on site'

Geoff T.