ON THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TO KIDDY FANTASY LAND ???? Not impressed, the standard of layouts today is becoming appalling. And this is the major London show !!!! Jerky jittery locomotives, inaccurate signalling, inaccurate train formations due to ignorance of the many rules covering railways. Forbidden train movements, childish and unrealistic gimmicks in all directions. Indeed no real comprehension in many cases of how to operate exhibition layouts. This is made far worse by idiots who are unaware that "DCC" electrically pays absolutely no heed to any European Railway Block Signalling systems, because it is wired for the American Market & U.S. CTC (Radio instructions to move), a system banned in Europe on Safety grounds ! One of the biggest DCC operational issues is the fact you can have head on crashes, which is of course not possible when you have traditional 12v DC in the rails. So another clear indication you cannot interface DCC with any type of European Block Signalling system including British, Absolute Block; Track Circuit Block; Permissive Block; Single Track Token Block or even Electric Token Block. A couple of examples of "Operational rules" in BR days:- ex GWR & LMS designed corridor coaching stock cannot be coupled to ex SR/LNER/Pullman or BR corridor stock as they have different couplings, buffers & Gangway connections. Unless specialised "Adaptor Plates" were fitted to the BSS gangway ends, which meant this was rare, being an operational nuisance. Many ex GWR coaches also banned from other Regions because of their "Loading Gauge". And GWR four cylinder locos also banned from virtually the whole SR, parts of the Midland & much of the Eastern & Scottish Regions again due to "Loading Gauge" issues. BR wagon rules: "Unfitted" wagons must be coupled behind any "fitted" wagons to ensure the biggest "fitted head" possible. Purely "unfitted" freights (class 9) limited to 30mph. Further wagons fitted with Air brakes couldn't run in vacuum braked trains, or with steam locos !!! So most of today's "Model Railway" shows have degenerated to the level of childish Fantasy World toy train set shows. About the only decent shows left seem to be the specialist shows such as "Scaleforum". The P4 Society 18.83mm gauge, show !!! As I'm an ex BR Senior Mechanical Engineer who's worked on various railways around the World, I obviously have a very good idea of the very complex manner of everything a Railway requires in order to operate safely. All of which I apply to my hobby of "Model Railways" and the many exhibition layouts I've built down the years, and had published in magazines from Britain to Japan !
hello rob enjoyed your video looked a great day out and some very nice layouts good to see thanks for sharing 👌👌😁😁🚂🚂👍👍
great video! I was hoping to go but in the end didnt make it so this makes up for it a bit!
ON THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TO KIDDY FANTASY LAND ????
Not impressed, the standard of layouts today is becoming appalling. And this is the major London show !!!! Jerky jittery locomotives, inaccurate signalling, inaccurate train formations due to ignorance of the many rules covering railways. Forbidden train movements, childish and unrealistic gimmicks in all directions. Indeed no real comprehension in many cases of how to operate exhibition layouts.
This is made far worse by idiots who are unaware that "DCC" electrically pays absolutely no heed to any European Railway Block Signalling systems, because it is wired for the American Market & U.S. CTC (Radio instructions to move), a system banned in Europe on Safety grounds ! One of the biggest DCC operational issues is the fact you can have head on crashes, which is of course not possible when you have traditional 12v DC in the rails. So another clear indication you cannot interface DCC with any type of European Block Signalling system including British, Absolute Block; Track Circuit Block; Permissive Block; Single Track Token Block or even Electric Token Block.
A couple of examples of "Operational rules" in BR days:- ex GWR & LMS designed corridor coaching stock cannot be coupled to ex SR/LNER/Pullman or BR corridor stock as they have different couplings, buffers & Gangway connections. Unless specialised "Adaptor Plates" were fitted to the BSS gangway ends, which meant this was rare, being an operational nuisance.
Many ex GWR coaches also banned from other Regions because of their "Loading Gauge". And GWR four cylinder locos also banned from virtually the whole SR, parts of the Midland & much of the Eastern & Scottish Regions again due to "Loading Gauge" issues.
BR wagon rules: "Unfitted" wagons must be coupled behind any "fitted" wagons to ensure the biggest "fitted head" possible. Purely "unfitted" freights (class 9) limited to 30mph. Further wagons fitted with Air brakes couldn't run in vacuum braked trains, or with steam locos !!!
So most of today's "Model Railway" shows have degenerated to the level of childish Fantasy World toy train set shows. About the only decent shows left seem to be the specialist shows such as "Scaleforum". The P4 Society 18.83mm gauge, show !!!
As I'm an ex BR Senior Mechanical Engineer who's worked on various railways around the World, I obviously have a very good idea of the very complex manner of everything a Railway requires in order to operate safely. All of which I apply to my hobby of "Model Railways" and the many exhibition layouts I've built down the years, and had published in magazines from Britain to Japan !