I dare say you have to factor in the impact of the reaction of the wife regarding the insurance company's value of your hobby. Hopefully, they won't ask you. Perhaps it requires a nice cup of tea and a slice of homemade fruit and nut cake. it just shows how many factors there are to consider in these situations.
@@ianf7246 I sold most of the DCC kit I had been buying for my resurrected old layout. I raised way over £2,000 for the Digikeijs stuff; and still got a hefty computer & screen worth £2k....then theres loads of locos and running stock. Plus the points, track etc etc. I'm checking my home insurance to see what level is covered as my large shed also is home to the house boiler; gas tumble dryer; washing machine and loads of tools. I'd wager Charlie must have well in excess of £30k worth of kit, locos, DCC kit; and of course the many tools. I did take a video of the contents of my shed just as a record, and listed stuff on a spreadsheet file too.
I converted a spare room into a den and then chucked it out for an N scale layout. Room for the trains, cabinet and stools. Not 1/20th the quality of Charlie’s operation but enjoying it immensely while adding some touches inspired by the CMR.
Hi Charlie. Glad to see someone's got the bottle to list all the things that need to be done without having a nervous breakdown! (I know I haven't). Wouldn't mind seeing you build the mainline platforms?
@@ChadwickModelRailway Good point Charlie. I`m the bull in the china shop who would commit to the mainline platforms, then make a much better job of the branch platforms, then have to return to the mainline to tear it all out and start again. So if nothing else I would be executing the work in a very prototypical manner if one considers how projects are delivered in the modern world today. Don`t forget to waste local (imaginary) Chadwick Parkway tax payers money on consultation and feasibility studies. Great update Charlie, loved it.
Several years ago I sat down and created a spreadsheet of all my locos based on their purchase price at the time with a second section for carriages based on the then MRP for the coach. I did a count on freight stock according to £x per van etc etc and I hit £12,500 before I even thought of track and structures and electrics. My point however, is that I’d hazard a guess that based on my experience - Maybe a bit OCD driven I admit, as I hadn’t a clue on its value, but I’m guessing that given all of the electronics you’ve put in place under your layout you would probably be nearer £50k than £15k. An incredibly valuable share Charlie as I’m guessing many of your followers perhaps hadn’t given this too much thought and the point made about your layout not being in the residence was very well made. Brian
Hi Charlie, Blimey what an electrical nightmare! I love the branch terminus so would get my vote. As always thanks for entertaining and inspiring us. Although I don't have ant boards down yet, my accumulated locos and rolling stock already £1k estimate, so thanks for the insurance heads up. Cheers Dave 🙏
Hi Charlie. Thanks for all your UA-cam videos. You have helped me enormously in my modelling endeavours. I will be 80 this month and still have about 20 years left to get my layout of the part of the southern mainline between Sydney and Melbourne (Harden New South Wales and the Boorowa branch line) up to scratch 🤪 I trust you and your family ere safe and dry with the terrible storms - thinking of you from Australia. Cheers Ernie
Thank you for the video and it is looking great. I don't know what surge protection you have, but a warning to you and others is some surge protectors are a one time use and they don't always tell you that they have been used, for example mains surge protection multiway sockets don't tell you. Also the surge protectors only protect in-coming surges, if an item caused a surge within your system, the surge protectors won't protect, unless that network also goes through the surge protector. I love the idea of the 2 into 4 tracks at the station to give play. Thank you Charlie.
i’m just starting with modelling (definitely on a budget) and i am amazed at how expensive just a single coach is, so i’m not surprised that your railway costs that much, it’s amazing!
Hi Charlie, Glad to see you're planning ahead. With regards to your cutting down to the helix I am thinking that you already have quiet a few masonry retaining walls and that a natural rock face would look different and perhaps more believable? The Welsh portal of the Severn Tunnel, the ex midland mainline through the Derbyshire Dales and to an extent the line around Dawlish are all good examples of natural rock faces.
Hi Charlie just a word to the wise…….from a time served ex builders merchant of 40 odd years. You refer to “Blue Engineers bricks and standard red bricks”, they made Engineering bricks from both red & blue clay so you can purchase Blue Engineering bricks & Red Engineering bricks. Hope that helps.
Hi Charlie, great video, thoroughly enjoyed it, packed with information! The insurance for my attention so will be looking into my current policy as layout is in the attached garage. Will definitely be looking to use that flexible mdf board for my cover at the front of the layout! Finally a list is a great idea to focus but I still struggle and jump around all over the place and never get anything finished! Love the idea of the UA-cam course I would not qualify really as have over 1K subscribers but still don’t fully understand UA-cam 😂 Cheers Gary
Email me Gary, I’ll still accept you. You appear to be a butterfly modeller, one that flits from job to job. I suggest you only go to your railway room with a job in mind. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie yes a butterfly modeller is very apt!! Thank you got your comment about emailing you on the UA-cam course but after checking my diary I have unfortunately another commitment on that date so I would not be able to attend. Cheers Gary
15K sounds very low when one DCC sound loco sells at about £250 each nowadays, let alone the building. ( The 2nd hand double-slip cost you £21.......) Re detachable screening boards ..... I have used cupboard magnets fixed to the base boards, and the mating metal strips hot glued to the screen. NO screw driver required for removal.
Great update on your plans! I'm afraid I'm going to leave it to you to determine what to do first! Hope you and Chadwick survive this and the following storms.
Hope you survived Storm Ciaran Charlie, I know the South West was badly affected and worse than expected. Hope you get to the bottom of your electronics issue, I guess it's a process of elimination, but to hear your main ELCB tripped when you unplugged a PSU is a big concern and I know some of the cheaper low voltage PSUs have poor or no mains isolation, so I would pull out all PSUs and see if any have a low resistance between any mains pin and their outputs pins...
Re Insurance. One other tip. If the shed burnt to the ground, the insurance company would not write you a check for 15K pounds. Rather, you would have to document the exact details of what you loss. and you can't just say 6 locos, etc. You have to be as specific as possible with every little thing you lost. The best way is to document ahead of time with pictures and description of everything. remember, they are not in business to lose money.
Thanks for the update Charlie, great stuff. Coming from an electro-mechanical background I have some helpful information for you regarding your faulty Digitrax DCS240 equipment. I can tell you that from an engineer's perspective and with the associated terminology, technically speaking it's f*cked! Regards Julian
re you facia using flexible MDF. Flexible MDF can be used to make rigid curved panels by gluing two layers together with the grooves in the middle of the sandwich, this could make hinged doors around the helix.
Hi Charlie. Thanks for another excellent video. Re your Digitrax / Loconet problem, always start with the power supplies. Measure the voltages from each one separately, and whilst disconnected from a load. If one is overvoltage, it can corrupt or damage whatever it's connected to. I'm curious to know how disconnecting a 12v supply could blow the circuit breakers or RCD's. That power supply must be faulty and I wouldn't risk using it again until checked carefully. If you're using a single 12v supply for the layout, and it's gone overvoltage, you may have more than one module failure. Try another one and test each Digitrax module individually. Hope this helps. Regards, Chris
I don't know what sort of insurance cover you have but you could claim for the electrons. My wife put the vacuum cleaner nozzle though the glass front door and we claimed for that. what a win
Insurance is nothing but legalized extortion. Some of the largest skyscrapers are owned by insurance companies. They always find a way to say: Not covered, if you had this coverage..... Thanks for the video... Informative as always.
Thanks for this Charlie and I think insurance is a great topic to discuss. I’d be well happy with £89 a year too. I take the point about scrap value but £15k seems way too low - I’ve got a very basic layout I started last year (which I need to dismantle and reclaim as we will need the room back as our children get older). It’s an 8x4 loop with a siding with a station in. The cost of the wood to build it, the extra track, kits, cardboard/acetate, the train set bought to start it off, Scenics and two Bachmann EMUs is about £1000. So for your layout which is much bigger with so much more rolling stock I can see it being much more than £15k. That’s without all the DCC stuff and control/signalling. Not saying you’ve done anything wrong there Charlie but just acknowledgment of your layout and how it would be a very valuable asset. Looking forward to the next one, and take care, cheers Charlie
Thanks Charlie for the tip regarding insurance, I have never been happy that when needed my household insurance would cover my railway and needed info on a GOOD insurance company that would. I have just signed up with Magnet and will sleep easier tonight, Bill.
About insurance, Watch out! A few years back a couple of friends had their house burn down. The totted up the loss of their expensive hobby at £30K but their insurance was for £20K They went to insurance and claimed for the £20K they had. A loss adjuster came out, and stated as they were only claiming for 2/3rd of their belongings, they would only pay out 2/3 of the claim, so they got £13K and change... for £30K of loss!!! This was LEGAL (complaints, and financial ombudsman, a solicitor and even a news organisation or two all ended up agreeing) due to the terms in the small print of an attached booklet available on their website etc etc... So now I always insure for what i have, not what I think I have!
Really interesting video and it was excellent as usual, thank you. Good luck with the fault finding. I would be interested in a video covering that aspect if your are able to fit it. I hope you don't get blown away or flooded. Cheers Graham
Thanks Graham, it looks like we’ve survived the weather! I’m now slowly working through the Digitrax items, and rest assured I will sort it. Regards, Charlie
Lot of interesting work ahead .I think the branch line station would be a good starting point . Good comment re insurance .I got a real eye opener when totaling up the locos and stock i own .Came to just over £7000 , Insured layout for 20K. Hope you have survived the storm. My place of work at Fort George near Inverness was badly damaged by a storm surge and high tide that breached the walls of the dog cemetery .Take care.
Used to it after 15 years Charlie, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, about to start a new layout, last one was about 43yrs ago! Started collecting Triang, HD, South African Lima brand items, then kit-built locos, some Hornby, old time USA, brass, so prefer DC to run the older stuff. May combine UK steam in onecsection with mid 1800s US on another. Finally have some space & it'll probably be a folded dog-bone plus another return loop on the other side of the room - need to leave space for French doors onto rooftop patio & door into room which is also my office - running Tambopata Travel specialising in rainforest experiences in the Tambopata rainforest a short flight fom Lima or Cusco & have also started UrTops on Redbubble with exclusive model railway/railroading designs on t-shirts, mugs, caps etc. Looking forward to your next video & congrats again on the award - very well-deserved 😊
Another great instalment Charlie . Noticed you mentioned you have surge protection on the layout feeds , it could still be that as they are not 100% effective apparently
Another great video as I work my way through your 'back catalogue'! The discussion here about values reminds me of a saying in the motorcycle world along the lines of 'my worst nightmare being that my wife would sell my bike for what I told her I paid for it' - horribly sexist, I know, but maybe there is a parallel with a lot of people's model railways, too! On another tack, was that a Class 26 sitting in the branch line goods yard? I cannot remember having seen that before - probably my favourite locomotive following a childhood around the Highland Line from Perth to Inverness 😀
Another fine missive, thanks Charlie. Regarding "surge protectors" on cheaper models we have found that they cop a surge but only do so once? The insidious thing is they still allow electricity to flow. You may well have copped a surge and be unaware of it. Unless you spend some decent coin on devices that can reset, the only safe way is to leave your mains power leeds unplugged. Bernina Sewing Machine have tiny sticker on the rear telling their owners to do so! The other way is to have double pole double throw mains switches that turn off both neuteral and active ac. Good luck.
@@ChadwickModelRailway Charlie, I can add a bit more to the surge protector saga. When I was a computer network manager, we shunned them like the plague (surge protectors). One trick that we used was to tie 4 or 5 simple overhand knots as close together as we could near the male plug, onto the cables. The idea here being any surge energy generated from the mains is dissipated by the wires crossing over themselves. Much like twisting the dcc bus wires under our little empires! Although that analogy is not quite the same but you get the idea. Any way I never had a server failure, that might be down to good luck or good management, you choose? However, if you want a 100% safe way to protect your electronics, then price up a UPS. (Universal Power Supply for computers). I was a also a sewing machine techo' and here in West Ozzie power lines are a long way from the generating source and tended to be "erratic" in supply and voltage fluctuations! Anyway this caused all sorts of issues with my customers electronic and very expensive sewing machines et al. I rarely hear about that now, since they have been using UPS. I hope this gives you food for thought. Pete
I admire a man who’s pension allows such purchases😉 ……. As I’m just starting out on building my GWR Branch line, I just invested in a HELJAN GWR AEC Streamlined RAILCAR 😇
I've used Model Train Catalogue Software to just orangise my collection that fitted into 4 really useful boxes... ...£11k genuinely couldn't believe it!
Charlie, Cancel your accurascale order and get your money back.. The 37s can have a problem with their motors.. Stopping will running and either stopping dead or stopping and starting... The sound hunts in them as well, just like vibration on a propellor aircraft.. I just returned 2. And I have cancelled ALL pre-orders with them having $4,726.96 refunded... Don't waste your money...
Good point about insurance. I am strictly a DC chap, but I have priced up the gubbins (I believe that's the term the industry uses) you have under each board, and I think you may have underestimated a bit. But, fingers crossed, you'll not need to claim. I get the feeling there's a bit more than twelve months worth of work listed there! ;-) In the spirit of "your layout, your rules", do whatever you want and we'll still be here to watch your struggles and occasional triumphs. Cheers
Hi Charlie really useful as always and hope you survive the horrendous weather you are all suffering in the South in general, is relatively peaceful up here in Yorkshire ! Great tip re insurance and I will act on it.
Hi Charlie, really interesting autumn update, especially when it comes to the insurance side of the model railway. In relation to what I’d personally like to see next scenic wise on the layout would be the branch line station and Bishops Biscuits track laid down, I’d like to see how you are going to build the platforms as this is something I’d be keen to see done as it’s something I’d like to do in the future, is there going to be a ground frame and release for the industry at the branch line station? Or will there be a signal box? I’d also like to see how you’re going to shunt and operate the branch line station so is this something that you would consider? All the best Josh James
Hi Charlie, I'd be tempted to start at branch line station and work my way round. It will also be good practice for the main station area, but as ever rule No.1 applies. Do what works best for you. N.B. I also have an Accurascale class 37 in BR green and full yellow ends on order (D6956). They're due in the first quarter of 2024.
Hi Charlie, thank you for another great video. You certainly have a projects plan sorted, but involving quite a bit of work. Do you have a " team" you can call on for help? Having spend 52 years electronic, I found fault findimg time consuming. Unless, like your good self, you have modules to change. In my early days at Mullard Valves, 45 years ago, fault finding by some engineers was to put a 4BA screw in the fuse holder and change what components burnt out, blimey!😮 I will be investing in insurance, thanks for that info. Looking forward to seeing all the track laid and more scenery tips. How you have time for work, trains and video producing is a wonder, on top of which you seem to have an understanding wife!😊 Take care and stay safel
Thanks for the info about insurance something easily forgotten! However, with the current prices, you could probably multiply your cover by 10+ times eg loco + decoder + sound could well be £300+; coaches £40+; wagons £15+ then points, track, etc etc - soon adds up!!!! On next projects, it would be nice for the branch line terminus to be finished - it's been waiting patiently a long while. Biscuits aren't really made with milk but butter, flour and sugar - you may need to adjust your consist?
Hi Charlie. Insurance: I was surprised at your (estimated) value of £15k to replace your layout including signaling, control equipment, locos and rolling stock. I have made a list of everything I have bought for my N gauge layout (including tools, software, signaling, control equipment, locos and rolling stock and this amounts to £28k. Of course, this is mostly new items and there must be some depreciation; quite a few on-track items were used and many are now unavailable. Even so, I worry you have underinsured your layout.
Good morning Charlie, some very interesting subjects in this video. I have now added my model railway to the house insurance as it was not covered in the house contents, which is great because we dont think of these things when building our model railways. Biscuit factory i wonder what buildings you will using for that project. looking forward to seeing your railway evolve. many thanks again for sharing your time. Tony
Charlie, yet another interesting video with lots of content. Good luck with the storm approaching, does sound worrying, we are now heading into yet another bad Bush Fire season, that has started early. Climate Change!! I would love to see you do the river scene, I am about to embark on my river, so ideas and pitfalls (sorry), would be great, but I am sure I will enjoy whatever order of scenics you decide to do. Good luck with it all, and cheers, and stay safe, Michael
Hi Michael, I'm so pleased that you found the latest video interesting. Please take a look at my video No 70. where I construct the river under the viaduct. Regards Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway I looked at your River video, No 75 I think it was. Great tips, and great tips on the trees. I would love to see now how you would do the river, as you were "very nervous" doing the epoxy. Cheers, and thanks again, Michael
PS Charlie, I wish I could join you in January for your UA-cam seminar, it's just what I need with two videos languishing and not much motivation to continue. It's a long bicycle ride from Perth, WA though. Have you thought about recording your session and offering it as a pay for view video? I'd certainly be interested. Cheers again, Angus.
Pulling up Accurascale...... You're Subscribers will be leaving in droves. Don't you know, they can do know wrong? 😅 Seriously, I agree with everything you said. Parting with two and a half hundred quid, only to receive no model, or any updates whatsoever, for months, isn't great customer service in my eyes.
Hobbies can be very incremental. You spend £20, or £40, even £50 enough times and it all adds up. I, tool would snap up coverage at £90/year--but, that's due to the fact that, here in the States, water damage requires special riders, and varies from State to State based on that State's Insurance laws.
Hi, Thank you for the video. It turns out my layout is in the basement. Because of the amount of loco's, rolling stock and track plus time to build, total insurance replacement would be around $75,000 Canadian. what a surprise that was.
Do not insure for anything less than ALL the true replacement value. If you claim for a part or complete loss, the insurance assessor will come and total up what he considers the value of EVERYTHING there not specifically excluded by agreement in writing. In your case he may say it should have been £30,000, but you have chosen £15,000, then any claim will only pay a maximum of 50% ie £7,500 for a total loss. Just another way that they use to avoid payment, there are many other tricks(!) the insurance companies use to minimise their payments. Users usually only find this out when they are in the 'do do!' Do not think 'I will pluck a figure out the air, then get a more accurate one later' - that is when the gremlins attack. Also going for a far bigger figure will only get you the assessors maximum which may be far less than the value you paid a premium for. In short be careful and get 'written' advice from a solvent broker or advisor who has adequate insurance to cover their own mistakes. e&oe
Thanks Charlie - a comprehensive update! Hope you and Chadwick survived Ciaran (sp?). I'm sure you just omitted to mention this, and you're covered, but I wondered if your insurance cover also included rebuilding the railway outbuilding and the non-railway contents. I look forward to seeing how you fault find your way through your weird loconet troubles. On jobs for the future, I wondered if there would be any merit in compltely finishing the descent into the helix between the TMD and goods yard first - i.e. ballasting, associated scenics etc as well as just the retaining walls: it's not going to be the easiest bit to get too once the goods yard is installed. Finally, I trust Accurascale have now sent you half a dozen locos in recognition of your inconvenience.
Many thanks, Andrew, for such an interesting comment. My plan is to finish the cutting retaining wall, then lay the track for the freight yard, and then over to the branch line station. Regards, Charlie
When I was running IT for a chunk of a UK bank - so money was not a problem - we would replace every Surge protector every 18 months. Because, apparently, they "degrade in performance". Obviously, I don't have clue if that is your problem, but .. And another thing from those days was that we would break networks down into bite-sized pieces in order to identify the location of the problem. Are you able to, eg, isolate a quarter of your layout and try that. If no error there, then try another quarter. etc etc You have said a lot today about the retaining walls - but what will you put around the inside edge, so that you can film into the circuit, without seeing the layout on the other side of your central space. I mean something behind the TMD and the fuel tanks and the portakabins? and something behind the branch line station, so that we don't see the 'kitchenette'? And the two-tone wall - well, I think that the stretcher bricks will be two deep, so that the wall is 9" thick. No answer needed - just chipping in. And my wife thinks that you must be VERY nice to Margaret if she is prepared to look at retaining walls on the way back from a trip to Weymouth! J and A
To add to your "finished" goal, be assured that when you think that you are all done, something will pop-up that need to be changed, adjusted, modified, and so on. We also always NEED some new rolling stock, don't we! That's model-railroad for you. It looks like that you may have a major short somewhere.
Thanks Charlie, I see the poppy you are wearing for November, well done. Please ensure your insurance does cover the value, or a subsequent claim may be reduced as a result. If your insured value is set at, say £15k and the true value, following an investigation by a claims adjuster, turns out to be £30k, then the claim will be reduced prorata. I.E., if the goods are insured for half the value, the claim will be paid out at half the replacement value.
Charlie, may I mention in relation to ballasting “Underground Eric’s” comments on the vast variation in ballasting across the network. It was something I’d never given consideration to, but being a driver it’s something he’s observed, and something perhaps to consider for Chadwick going forward. All the best, Nigel
Hi Charlie, I think your estimate maybe a little light for the insurance cost. A comment below suggests £50 K. Probably near the mark given replacements always cost more than you originally paid as does the electronics and model scenery.(and you do have an extensive system) Great vid. Well done.
Another great video and the most important not the most boring…insurance cover. Even inside may be a under estimate sometimes. Good reminder. Interesting subjects to cover. Which section next; maybe the smallest to achieve the quickest positive result then one of the larger ones: something to get teeth into. Retaining wall may have to be first; as say that allows you couple of choices. Lucky that may have some heating in the room/building so thinking about drying time is a consideration. Always great to watch and listen to your videos. Thankyou Charlie, all best for next step. Marc from Leighton Buzzard
If I added up the costs I've incurred over the last 5 years of layout construction and purchases of locos and rolling stock I would have a heart attack, but if I added up how much I've spent on railway and model magazines over 50+ years I just might explode!
So many new things, Charlie! Everything looks great. I hope the electronic issue gets sorted easily. Over on this side of the pond, the two things people who know say is 1) always make a detailed estimate for insurance & then increase it by 30% to cover misses, and 2) always take copious digital pics of everything (including underneath) direct to the cloud because no one ever remembers everything they had when it's gone. I'd add take a good shot of all new purchases just out of the bag, too. I suspect you already have a decent cloud-based spreadsheet of your purchases & many layout pics, but don't under estimate its worth. That seems good advice. 👌
Insurance: eg cycling. Not just damage to or theft of bike. Third party in case you hit someone, eg pedestrian, eg if you're careless, brakes fail, etc.
I would like to see the river and branch line approaches done. I would also consider doing a grass embankment for the grading to the goods yard with cluster of trees to separate the farm scene from the grade. You would have to look at using semi relief trees and a whole bunch of rock formation. I see many years of layout building to come. The idea that you should price your own layout is flawed. Just looking at what you have 15,000 pounds seems to be on the low side. It would be a good restart from partial losses but some parts are irreplaceable (90 odd Tortoise points) and the rolling stock has been going up in price every year. An example might be a single express set replacement. One locomotive/engine and 6 to 8 coaches could easily cost 1,000 pounds. That does not include the hours you would spend sourcing the like for like replacements. Other modellers talk about spending 1,000 pounds on 10-12 wagon sets for a train. Have someone check your figures. Insurance is never enough and I hope you ever have to use it. On a positive note: Sorry to hear that your layout has a major electrical issue. Hope you can fix it or get someone else in to check its safe soon. I look forward to the next step. Hoping that it is the River scene and into the station including the back scene track to your goods yard. thanks for the uppdate.
Many thanks, George, you have made some interesting points. Yes I am going to reassess the insurance valuation next week. As for layout progress, the branch line will get attention as soon as I finish the freight yard. Regards, Charlie
I'm rather anal, so I have maintained an inventory of my model railroad, including all the infrastructure (tables, wiring, tracks, points, point motors, DCC components), rolling stock, structures, scenic materials, etc. I guarantee you that your estimate is too low by lots. I was shocked at how much it added up to. Also, my railroad was (he said, sadly) in my basement. It was not covered by my insurance, so I added a rider, at a modest premium.
At Taunton, the stone was generally for retaining ground, the brick was for a building. The type of brick depending on the buildings date and use, and some later retaining walls are made of brick. The bricks in the example you shown was related to the engine shed (the graffiti was the pedestrian entrance upto the shed!). I think your choice looks nicer, but might not necessarily be prototypical. Although, the whole fun of model railwaying is putting on what you like on your individual layout 😀
Hi Charlie! Not sure how you’d feel about it, but I would suggest that maybe just carry on with the goods yard once you have done the retaining wall? Failing that, perhaps start doing extra to the station area as it seems a good while since anything significant was done to it. Also, since it is arguably the fulcrum of the scenic section, it might help to reveal unforeseen issues in terms of operating the layout which might not be obvious right now 🤔 To be fair though Charlie, I think whatever you next choose to do, you are right to focus on one area at a time, not necessarily to a ‘finish’ as such, but just so you can say something definite like “Right, that’s the platforms done and the foundation for the station, now I’ll take a break from the station until I have decided where to out the footbridge and other buildings. In the meantime I’ll concentrate on developing the hill and Road up to the freight depot.” 😎 I find setting yourself definite tasks and stopping points helps remain focused, but also stops one from overdoing it so it becomes like a job! 🤯🤪😅 Cheers mate, all the best 🍻🍀👍
Another great video Charlie on your Autumn update sorry to hear about the power on chadwick which ever option you choose to do first it’s going to look great after chatting to you at GETS about your freight yard and goods and industry at the branch line end l took inspiration from your and have put a couple of holding sidings for a class 158 East Midlands trains DMU when not in service when one of my class 43’s are running on the main line a hornby container wagon whichl bought along with a peco point from GETS the third line I have created is a parcel train siding for my heljan class 128 parcel train which I still have to put a decoder in have you any ideas and also got a hornby skaledale goods shed which will be a great parcel depot so thanks for all your inspiration and great ideas to hopefully give us great enjoyment from our hobby Take care Kev Beighton Parkway Sheffield
Hi Charlie, Another great video. Your explanation about why retaining walls are inclined was dodgy. It has nothing to do with the retained material, it is just more efficient to incline them, typically up to 10 degrees. Where space is tight they are vertical to have a minimum footprint. You are going to end up with a wacking great retaining wall between the tracks descending to the helix and the top yard - much easier to do in 1:76 compared to 1:1. Ian
Thanks Ian, however, I didn’t realise that my explanation was flawed. I had done some research and have possession of some construction diagrams. Regards, Charlie
I would do the station area first and base it on Totnes with road access via an overbridge. Electrics is my ongoing nightmare. I lay a bit of track. Test it and it works fine. Next day i lay another piece and it will not work and cannot figure out why. My local club in Okehampton has a large D.C. layout with over 400 switches, miss one and you are screwed.
Lovely update Charlie. Hope you sort out your issue soon. 2 questions. How many people would you want to operate the layout? Lots of opportunities for several to 'play' in different sections. Secondly, have you considered reshooting your title video as it is still the old Chadwick TMD?
I feel your pain regarding the electronics. I hope you are able to test each component without having to replace EACH one! I beg the question: "Are we making our layouts over complicated?" Issues with electrical devices can take away the pleasure of trying to operate a functioning railway. Horses for courses of course! Your layout is superb and I have no wish to denigrate the wonderful sophistication od Chadwick. Just food for thought after spending 2 days to find I had reversed the polarity on one drop wire!
Hi Charlie. Nice review on this video. Feel for you - also waiting for an Accruascale Class 37 ;) Good tip on the insurance, contacted Hiscox who insure our contents and they have a set limit for non-items items, but will accept an estimate and do am incremetnal quote. Hiscox have been excellent at settling for things like collapsed out buildings, flood and also jewelry while on holiday. May try your lead for Magnet. Still a few things left to do on the layout LOL! My wife keeps asking me when I will complete my layout. Our ladies don't really undertsand the concept of always having something left to work on, do they? ;) Looking forard to tasting Bishop's Biscuits.
I’m building the main station on my layout so it’d be great to see your progress (and cock-ups) so I don’t make mistakes. But your videos are so widespread in coverage that it’s a joy to watch the layout extend.
Nice one Charlie, I only got around to viewing this one today as I was out of town when it was uploaded. Those electrickery issues can be a pain in the behind to debug. The item that is currently in a state of 'perpetual sleep' may not have been the cause of the failure but maybe something else that talks to it. As you mention it's an engineering challenge but thinking back many decades to the good times when I was an engineer I got quite good at debugging stuff using a half by half method by testing the setup for that area half way to before the fault (disconnecting bits) to check everything was as expected, if all is good I'd reconnect and then do the same again to the remaining bit checking that half way point. I'm sure you're already doing this so apologies. I've known many electronics developers though through the years that just don't do this blowing up stuff all over the place. As I've zero knowledge of model railway remote control I could well be talking out of the wrong place, again apologies. I loved the slight reference to the "Life of Brian" with the next things to do with "apart from this, that and the other what else needs to be done". Thanks again and hopefully I'll catch up on the next one.
Thanks Antony, I’m so pleased that you found it interesting. Yes I am adopting that strategy to break the layout up into testable chunks. Regards Charlie
The branch Line Station First... And I cant believe you only have 15K replacement value in your layout. I think you need to look at that again. You have to have at least 5K in engines alone. Keep up the good work.
Think I'd like to see the refueling area built up, I do actually work in the rail industry and I pass Neville Hill Depot in Leeds every week, wondering if I speak to the depot manager if I can arrange a tour to give you some inspiration? Would that be of interest?
That’s a very kind offer. However, it’s a bit early because I want to finish the TMD before the fuel area as I will have to lean across. Regards, Charlie
You could have been hit by a surge that wasn't caught. Surge protectors wear out, and have finite capacity anyway. I'm not sure how you'd check on one, though.
Blimey! Thank heavens I'm DC analogue... As for which area to tackle, I think the main station and scenic wise, the area that isn't going to take up a lot of time.
Hi Charlie. i had similar problem with something tripping the breaker first time both the main and the ring main after re-set all seamed ok .After a week it just tripped the ring main twice . asked a sparky friend to have a look to see where the problem was turns our it was a PSU for a laptop. looked ok power light was on but after some checking turns out it only putting out 50mA should be nearer 4A
Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear, why are you still using a track rubber for cleaning the track, I have modified a few carriages that can drag pieces of hardboard underneath and use these where I cannot get access. I also use NO-OX-ID compound to help prevent "arc"ing between the wheels and the track which tends to be the main cause of a lot of the black s--- that you get on the tracks and wheels. I will be interested to know and see, how you are going to build your platforms and the materials you use.
Hi, I have just heard a mention of your channel on Shedmouth Junction. They are talking about something they are going to do. I don't know what it is yet, it will be announced this week. 😊
Thanks for the update Charlie. Have you ever thought about putting a backdrop between de tmd and the brancheline station? It gives the brancheline more seperation and 'distance' from the main station. And it is not nessesary to put in a huge retainingwall next to the mainline. Cheers from the Netherlands.
Hi Charlie, tripping the house is bad... but it could indicate a power supply issue (an isolated power supply should make an earth leak issue impossible, unless it has failed, which could damage all connected devices.)
Many thanks for your concern. It was the Earth leakage circuit breaker that did the deed. I’ve now replaced one of the DC power supplies and things seem to be improving. Regards Charlie
Re insurance it’s not always covered under the house insurance, unless you tell the insurer that it’s there, and pay the extra for it. I found that out after a fire, costs for the damage was covered but not the layout even thou it was inside the home, we believed that it was covered, as it was in a bedroom ( but it was not mentioned on the policy). So I lost my railway it was never rebuilt, and I lost my interest in the hobby. But now layouts like yours and others on here, have rekindled my interest. But sadly it’s ill health and the old lack of finances prevent any progress for a rebuild. Keep up your good work inspiring others, & all the best for your you tube challenge day👍🏻
Next step, how to manage the wife not being in the room when you give the insurance company the value of your hobby.
An excellent point WHB. Cover your "tracks". Regards Charlie
I dare say you have to factor in the impact of the reaction of the wife regarding the insurance company's value of your hobby. Hopefully, they won't ask you. Perhaps it requires a nice cup of tea and a slice of homemade fruit and nut cake. it just shows how many factors there are to consider in these situations.
I would think that a £15k insurance valuation is way below the true replacement cost of such a exceptional layout (excluding labour costs)
@@ianf7246 I sold most of the DCC kit I had been buying for my resurrected old layout. I raised way over £2,000 for the Digikeijs stuff; and still got a hefty computer & screen worth £2k....then theres loads of locos and running stock. Plus the points, track etc etc. I'm checking my home insurance to see what level is covered as my large shed also is home to the house boiler; gas tumble dryer; washing machine and loads of tools. I'd wager Charlie must have well in excess of £30k worth of kit, locos, DCC kit; and of course the many tools. I did take a video of the contents of my shed just as a record, and listed stuff on a spreadsheet file too.
I converted a spare room into a den and then chucked it out for an N scale layout. Room for the trains, cabinet and stools. Not 1/20th the quality of Charlie’s operation but enjoying it immensely while adding some touches inspired by the CMR.
Hi Charlie. Glad to see someone's got the bottle to list all the things that need to be done without having a nervous breakdown! (I know I haven't). Wouldn't mind seeing you build the mainline platforms?
I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it. Peter. However, perhaps I ought to practice on the branch platforms first. Regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Good point Charlie. I`m the bull in the china shop who would commit to the mainline platforms, then make a much better job of the branch platforms, then have to return to the mainline to tear it all out and start again. So if nothing else I would be executing the work in a very prototypical manner if one considers how projects are delivered in the modern world today. Don`t forget to waste local (imaginary) Chadwick Parkway tax payers money on consultation and feasibility studies. Great update Charlie, loved it.
Several years ago I sat down and created a spreadsheet of all my locos based on their purchase price at the time with a second section for carriages based on the then MRP for the coach. I did a count on freight stock according to £x per van etc etc and I hit £12,500 before I even thought of track and structures and electrics. My point however, is that I’d hazard a guess that based on my experience - Maybe a bit OCD driven I admit, as I hadn’t a clue on its value, but I’m guessing that given all of the electronics you’ve put in place under your layout you would probably be nearer £50k than £15k. An incredibly valuable share Charlie as I’m guessing many of your followers perhaps hadn’t given this too much thought and the point made about your layout not being in the residence was very well made. Brian
Thank you Brian, for your excellent revelation. I will revisit my value on Monday! Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, Blimey what an electrical nightmare! I love the branch terminus so would get my vote. As always thanks for entertaining and inspiring us. Although I don't have ant boards down yet, my accumulated locos and rolling stock already £1k estimate, so thanks for the insurance heads up. Cheers Dave 🙏
Many thanks David, my plan is to do the retaining wall then the freight yard and then the branch line station. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie. Thanks for all your UA-cam videos. You have helped me enormously in my modelling endeavours. I will be 80 this month and still have about 20 years left to get my layout of the part of the southern mainline between Sydney and Melbourne (Harden New South Wales and the Boorowa branch line) up to scratch 🤪 I trust you and your family ere safe and dry with the terrible storms - thinking of you from Australia. Cheers Ernie
Thanks Ernie, that’s very kind of you to say so. Stay safe, regards, Charlie
Thank you for the video and it is looking great.
I don't know what surge protection you have, but a warning to you and others is some surge protectors are a one time use and they don't always tell you that they have been used, for example mains surge protection multiway sockets don't tell you. Also the surge protectors only protect in-coming surges, if an item caused a surge within your system, the surge protectors won't protect, unless that network also goes through the surge protector.
I love the idea of the 2 into 4 tracks at the station to give play.
Thank you Charlie.
Thanks Mal, I never thought about surge protectors in that way. Regards, Charlie
i’m just starting with modelling (definitely on a budget) and i am amazed at how expensive just a single coach is, so i’m not surprised that your railway costs that much, it’s amazing!
I think the other half was about double it.
Thanks mate, it’s amazing how these costs escalate. Regards, Charlie
For the helix, consider a curtain of sorts versus hardboard. A curtain will give a clean look while providing easy access for track maintenance.
Do the river scene first 👍👍👍
A great suggestion Karl. Regards Charlie
Hi Charlie, Glad to see you're planning ahead. With regards to your cutting down to the helix I am thinking that you already have quiet a few masonry retaining walls and that a natural rock face would look different and perhaps more believable? The Welsh portal of the Severn Tunnel, the ex midland mainline through the Derbyshire Dales and to an extent the line around Dawlish are all good examples of natural rock faces.
Thanks Julian, for an excellent suggestion. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie just a word to the wise…….from a time served ex builders merchant of 40 odd years. You refer to “Blue Engineers bricks and standard red bricks”, they made Engineering bricks from both red & blue clay so you can purchase Blue Engineering bricks & Red Engineering bricks. Hope that helps.
Thanks Chris, and I imagine that’s what the Yeovil wall is made from. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, great video, thoroughly enjoyed it, packed with information! The insurance for my attention so will be looking into my current policy as layout is in the attached garage. Will definitely be looking to use that flexible mdf board for my cover at the front of the layout! Finally a list is a great idea to focus but I still struggle and jump around all over the place and never get anything finished! Love the idea of the UA-cam course I would not qualify really as have over 1K subscribers but still don’t fully understand UA-cam 😂 Cheers Gary
Email me Gary, I’ll still accept you.
You appear to be a butterfly modeller, one that flits from job to job. I suggest you only go to your railway room with a job in mind. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie yes a butterfly modeller is very apt!! Thank you got your comment about emailing you on the UA-cam course but after checking my diary I have unfortunately another commitment on that date so I would not be able to attend. Cheers Gary
15K sounds very low when one DCC sound loco sells at about £250 each nowadays, let alone the building. ( The 2nd hand double-slip cost you £21.......) Re detachable screening boards ..... I have used cupboard magnets fixed to the base boards, and the mating metal strips hot glued to the screen. NO screw driver required for removal.
Thanks Rob, for an interesting solution. Regards, Charlie
Great update on your plans! I'm afraid I'm going to leave it to you to determine what to do first! Hope you and Chadwick survive this and the following storms.
Thanks Gavin, we’ve battened down the hatches! Regards, Charlie
Really great update Charlie. Especially important is the insurance aspect, which we all ignore till it's too late.
Yes SR, it certainly took me by surprise. Regards, Charlie
Hope you survived Storm Ciaran Charlie, I know the South West was badly affected and worse than expected. Hope you get to the bottom of your electronics issue, I guess it's a process of elimination, but to hear your main ELCB tripped when you unplugged a PSU is a big concern and I know some of the cheaper low voltage PSUs have poor or no mains isolation, so I would pull out all PSUs and see if any have a low resistance between any mains pin and their outputs pins...
Thanks HHH, but the hunt goes on!
Regards Charlie.
Re Insurance. One other tip. If the shed burnt to the ground, the insurance company would not write you a check for 15K pounds. Rather, you would have to document the exact details of what you loss. and you can't just say 6 locos, etc. You have to be as specific as possible with every little thing you lost. The best way is to document ahead of time with pictures and description of everything. remember, they are not in business to lose money.
Thanks Les, for an excellent comment and advice. Regards, Charlie
Thanks for the update Charlie, great stuff. Coming from an electro-mechanical background I have some helpful information for you regarding your faulty Digitrax DCS240 equipment. I can tell you that from an engineer's perspective and with the associated terminology, technically speaking it's f*cked!
Regards Julian
What a coincidence, Julian, I thought as much myself. Regards, Charlie.
re you facia using flexible MDF. Flexible MDF can be used to make rigid curved panels by gluing two layers together with the grooves in the middle of the sandwich, this could make hinged doors around the helix.
Now that’s something I’ve never considered. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie. Thanks for another excellent video.
Re your Digitrax / Loconet problem, always start with the power supplies. Measure the voltages from each one separately, and whilst disconnected from a load.
If one is overvoltage, it can corrupt or damage whatever it's connected to. I'm curious to know how disconnecting a 12v supply could blow the circuit breakers or RCD's. That power supply must be faulty and I wouldn't risk using it again until checked carefully.
If you're using a single 12v supply for the layout, and it's gone overvoltage, you may have more than one module failure. Try another one and test each Digitrax module individually.
Hope this helps. Regards, Chris
You’re bang on the money Chris. I think I’ve narrowed the defective component down to being within the TMD. Regards, Charlie
I don't know what sort of insurance cover you have but you could claim for the electrons. My wife put the vacuum cleaner nozzle though the glass front door and we claimed for that. what a win
Let’s not lose sight of the compulsory access on these policies mate. Regards, Charlie
Hello Charlie. I think the foam walls may be Noch. Another very informative episode; especially the Insurance feature.
You’re dead, right RT. Many thanks, regards, Charlie
Insurance is nothing but legalized extortion. Some of the largest skyscrapers are owned by insurance companies. They always find a way to say: Not covered, if you had this coverage..... Thanks for the video... Informative as always.
Thanks B68C, but insurance can be ignored for piece of mind.
Regards Charlie.
A row of stretchers and a row of headers is called English Bond, wheras a header and stretcher in the same row is called Flemish Bond
Interesting stuff, many thanks. Regards, Charlie
Thanks for this Charlie and I think insurance is a great topic to discuss. I’d be well happy with £89 a year too. I take the point about scrap value but £15k seems way too low - I’ve got a very basic layout I started last year (which I need to dismantle and reclaim as we will need the room back as our children get older). It’s an 8x4 loop with a siding with a station in. The cost of the wood to build it, the extra track, kits, cardboard/acetate, the train set bought to start it off, Scenics and two Bachmann EMUs is about £1000. So for your layout which is much bigger with so much more rolling stock I can see it being much more than £15k. That’s without all the DCC stuff and control/signalling.
Not saying you’ve done anything wrong there Charlie but just acknowledgment of your layout and how it would be a very valuable asset.
Looking forward to the next one, and take care, cheers Charlie
You are of course, right Captain pub watch. I’ve been onto the insurers and upped it considerably. Regards, Charlie
Thanks Charlie for the tip regarding insurance, I have never been happy that when needed my household insurance would cover my railway and needed info on a GOOD insurance company that would. I have just signed up with Magnet and will sleep easier tonight, Bill.
That’s great news, Bill, I’m so pleased that you found it useful. Regards, Charlie
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Thanks Marcel, obviously worth taking a peek. Regards, Charlie
Nice update Charlie and I must say, breaking it down into sections to complete is a great idea. Thanks for the great videos you post.
Thanks Paul , that’s very kind of you to say so. Regards, Charlie
About insurance,
Watch out!
A few years back a couple of friends had their house burn down. The totted up the loss of their expensive hobby at £30K but their insurance was for £20K
They went to insurance and claimed for the £20K they had. A loss adjuster came out, and stated as they were only claiming for 2/3rd of their belongings, they would only pay out 2/3 of the claim, so they got £13K and change... for £30K of loss!!!
This was LEGAL (complaints, and financial ombudsman, a solicitor and even a news organisation or two all ended up agreeing) due to the terms in the small print of an attached booklet available on their website etc etc...
So now I always insure for what i have, not what I think I have!
Thanks Kieran, I’ll get out the calculator!
Regards Charlie
Great tip about insurance. I think you really underestimated replacement value!
You’re right Karl, I’m onto it next week. Regards, Charlie
Really interesting video and it was excellent as usual, thank you. Good luck with the fault finding. I would be interested in a video covering that aspect if your are able to fit it. I hope you don't get blown away or flooded. Cheers Graham
Thanks Graham, it looks like we’ve survived the weather! I’m now slowly working through the Digitrax items, and rest assured I will sort it.
Regards, Charlie
Charlie Quick flash to the building packed with fifty people ,kegs of nut brown ale ,and half chickens and chips for lunch! Good luck! Cheers
All in good time, Mark, hopefully. Regards, Charlie
Lot of interesting work ahead .I think the branch line station would be a good starting point . Good comment re insurance .I got a real eye opener when totaling up the locos and stock i own .Came to just over £7000 , Insured layout for 20K. Hope you have survived the storm. My place of work at Fort George near Inverness was badly damaged by a storm surge and high tide that breached the walls of the dog cemetery .Take care.
You’re right David, the branch Lizz station is the place to start. I also need to revisit my insurance! Regards, Charlie
Another great vid Charlie! Watching from 11000ft in Cusco, Peru 😊
You can get oxygen sickness up there!
Regards, Charlie
Used to it after 15 years Charlie, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, about to start a new layout, last one was about 43yrs ago! Started collecting Triang, HD, South African Lima brand items, then kit-built locos, some Hornby, old time USA, brass, so prefer DC to run the older stuff. May combine UK steam in onecsection with mid 1800s US on another. Finally have some space & it'll probably be a folded dog-bone plus another return loop on the other side of the room - need to leave space for French doors onto rooftop patio & door into room which is also my office - running Tambopata Travel specialising in rainforest experiences in the Tambopata rainforest a short flight fom Lima or Cusco & have also started UrTops on Redbubble with exclusive model railway/railroading designs on t-shirts, mugs, caps etc. Looking forward to your next video & congrats again on the award - very well-deserved 😊
Another great instalment Charlie .
Noticed you mentioned you have surge protection on the layout feeds , it could still be that as they are not 100% effective apparently
Yes, I have heard that, but that Ship is now sailed as the damage is done. Regards, Charlie
Another great video as I work my way through your 'back catalogue'! The discussion here about values reminds me of a saying in the motorcycle world along the lines of 'my worst nightmare being that my wife would sell my bike for what I told her I paid for it' - horribly sexist, I know, but maybe there is a parallel with a lot of people's model railways, too! On another tack, was that a Class 26 sitting in the branch line goods yard? I cannot remember having seen that before - probably my favourite locomotive following a childhood around the Highland Line from Perth to Inverness 😀
Thanks Alan, I’m so pleased that you enjoy the channel. Good spot on the class 26, regards Charlie.
Another fine missive, thanks Charlie. Regarding "surge protectors" on cheaper models we have found that they cop a surge but only do so once? The insidious thing is they still allow electricity to flow. You may well have copped a surge and be unaware of it. Unless you spend some decent coin on devices that can reset, the only safe way is to leave your mains power leeds unplugged. Bernina Sewing Machine have tiny sticker on the rear telling their owners to do so! The other way is to have double pole double throw mains switches that turn off both neuteral and active ac. Good luck.
Well Peter, that’s an interesting revelation. Regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Charlie, I can add a bit more to the surge protector saga. When I was a computer network manager, we shunned them like the plague (surge protectors). One trick that we used was to tie 4 or 5 simple overhand knots as close together as we could near the male plug, onto the cables. The idea here being any surge energy generated from the mains is dissipated by the wires crossing over themselves. Much like twisting the dcc bus wires under our little empires! Although that analogy is not quite the same but you get the idea.
Any way I never had a server failure, that might be down to good luck or good management, you choose?
However, if you want a 100% safe way to protect your electronics, then price up a UPS. (Universal Power Supply for computers). I was a also a sewing machine techo' and here in West Ozzie power lines are a long way from the generating source and tended to be "erratic" in supply and voltage fluctuations! Anyway this caused all sorts of issues with my customers electronic and very expensive sewing machines et al. I rarely hear about that now, since they have been using UPS.
I hope this gives you food for thought.
Pete
Thanks Pete, certainly worth investigating. Regards Charlie.
I admire a man who’s pension allows such purchases😉 ……. As I’m just starting out on building my GWR Branch line, I just invested in a HELJAN GWR AEC Streamlined RAILCAR 😇
A good purchase David, I do fancy one myself. Regards, Charlie.
Great update, would be cool to see the main station finished and operational. Hope you are able to quickly find the faulty components.
I’m getting close to the answer now, Chris. Many thanks, regards, Charlie
I've used Model Train Catalogue Software to just orangise my collection that fitted into 4 really useful boxes... ...£11k genuinely couldn't believe it!
Thanks Ex E100, I shall check it out. Regards, Charlie
Charlie, Cancel your accurascale order and get your money back.. The 37s can have a problem with their motors.. Stopping will running and either stopping dead or stopping and starting... The sound hunts in them as well, just like vibration on a propellor aircraft.. I just returned 2. And I have cancelled ALL pre-orders with them having $4,726.96 refunded... Don't waste your money...
Sound advice Grant, thank you. However, I will get the 37 and decide from there. Stay safe mate, regards, Charlie
Good point about insurance. I am strictly a DC chap, but I have priced up the gubbins (I believe that's the term the industry uses) you have under each board, and I think you may have underestimated a bit. But, fingers crossed, you'll not need to claim.
I get the feeling there's a bit more than twelve months worth of work listed there! ;-) In the spirit of "your layout, your rules", do whatever you want and we'll still be here to watch your struggles and occasional triumphs. Cheers
You’re right Davey, I may need to reassess. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie really useful as always and hope you survive the horrendous weather you are all suffering in the South in general, is relatively peaceful up here in Yorkshire ! Great tip re insurance and I will act on it.
Thanks Mark, the insurance is a real eye-opener. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, really interesting autumn update, especially when it comes to the insurance side of the model railway. In relation to what I’d personally like to see next scenic wise on the layout would be the branch line station and Bishops Biscuits track laid down, I’d like to see how you are going to build the platforms as this is something I’d be keen to see done as it’s something I’d like to do in the future, is there going to be a ground frame and release for the industry at the branch line station? Or will there be a signal box?
I’d also like to see how you’re going to shunt and operate the branch line station so is this something that you would consider?
All the best
Josh James
Yes, Josh, the branchline station will be the first. I will video the running operations. Regards, Charlie
Charlie. PM me. I am a qualified structural engineer and building inspector. Your assessment of retaining walls is not quite right. Sorry.
It’s best if you email me Chris , at
Chadwickmodelrailway @ gmail.com
Regards Charlie
Hi Charlie, I'd be tempted to start at branch line station and work my way round. It will also be good practice for the main station area, but as ever rule No.1 applies. Do what works best for you.
N.B. I also have an Accurascale class 37 in BR green and full yellow ends on order (D6956). They're due in the first quarter of 2024.
Is your 37 from the first batch?
Hi Charlie, thank you for another great video.
You certainly have a projects plan sorted, but involving quite a bit of work.
Do you have a " team" you can call on for help?
Having spend 52 years electronic, I found fault findimg time consuming.
Unless, like your good self, you have modules to change.
In my early days at Mullard Valves, 45 years ago, fault finding by some engineers was to put a 4BA screw in the fuse holder and change what components burnt out, blimey!😮
I will be investing in insurance, thanks for that info.
Looking forward to seeing all the track laid and more scenery tips.
How you have time for work, trains and video producing is a wonder, on top of which you seem to have an understanding wife!😊
Take care and stay safel
Great comment David. Just remember a happy wife is a happy life. Regards Charlie
Thanks for the info about insurance something easily forgotten! However, with the current prices, you could probably multiply your cover by 10+ times eg loco + decoder + sound could well be £300+; coaches £40+; wagons £15+ then points, track, etc etc - soon adds up!!!!
On next projects, it would be nice for the branch line terminus to be finished - it's been waiting patiently a long while.
Biscuits aren't really made with milk but butter, flour and sugar - you may need to adjust your consist?
Perhaps it will be. Bishops Beer! Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie. Insurance: I was surprised at your (estimated) value of £15k to replace your layout including signaling, control equipment, locos and rolling stock. I have made a list of everything I have bought for my N gauge layout (including tools, software, signaling, control equipment, locos and rolling stock and this amounts to £28k. Of course, this is mostly new items and there must be some depreciation; quite a few on-track items were used and many are now unavailable. Even so, I worry you have underinsured your layout.
You have made an excellent point Paul. I shall revisit this next week. Regards, Charlie
Good morning Charlie, some very interesting subjects in this video. I have now added my model railway to the house insurance as it was not covered in the house contents, which is great because we dont think of these things when building our model railways. Biscuit factory i wonder what buildings you will using for that project. looking forward to seeing your railway evolve. many thanks again for sharing your time. Tony
You’re most welcome Tony, take care mate. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, My class 37 (6702) arrived last Thursday. Hopefully yours will be in the platform shortly. Steve
With a little luck, Steve, it will be in my video number 207. Regards Charlie
Charlie, yet another interesting video with lots of content.
Good luck with the storm approaching, does sound worrying, we are now heading into yet another bad Bush Fire season, that has started early. Climate Change!!
I would love to see you do the river scene, I am about to embark on my river, so ideas and pitfalls (sorry), would be great, but I am sure I will enjoy whatever order of scenics you decide to do.
Good luck with it all, and cheers, and stay safe, Michael
Hi Michael,
I'm so pleased that you found the latest video interesting.
Please take a look at my video No 70. where I construct the river under the viaduct.
Regards Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway I looked at your River video, No 75 I think it was. Great tips, and great tips on the trees. I would love to see now how you would do the river, as you were "very nervous" doing the epoxy.
Cheers, and thanks again, Michael
Next Video: modelling a rail replacement bus service. Joking apart, it looks like 2024 is broadly mapped out for you Charlie..
Thanks David, it does seem to be coming together. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, I would like to attend your UA-cam COURSE, I have sent you an email. Great videos.
Please email me Glen, at
chadwickmodelrailway@ gmail.com.
PS Charlie, I wish I could join you in January for your UA-cam seminar, it's just what I need with two videos languishing and not much motivation to continue. It's a long bicycle ride from Perth, WA though. Have you thought about recording your session and offering it as a pay for view video? I'd certainly be interested.
Cheers again, Angus.
This first UA-camr day will not be recorded Angus, but I shall certainly consider in the future. Regards, Charlie
Brilliant video Charlie I picked up a mag you may be interested modeling British railways just with you doing a fuelling depot cheers 🚂🚂🚂🚂
Many thanks for the offer, however, the fuel depot is probably the last thing on my list, as I have to lean across to do the TMD. Regards, Charlie
Pulling up Accurascale...... You're Subscribers will be leaving in droves. Don't you know, they can do know wrong? 😅
Seriously, I agree with everything you said. Parting with two and a half hundred quid, only to receive no model, or any updates whatsoever, for months, isn't great customer service in my eyes.
I simply tell it like it is mate.
Regards, Charlie
Hobbies can be very incremental. You spend £20, or £40, even £50 enough times and it all adds up.
I, tool would snap up coverage at £90/year--but, that's due to the fact that, here in the States, water damage requires special riders, and varies from State to State based on that State's Insurance laws.
As you say, Captain Mac, the money soon mounts up. Regards, Charlie.
Hi, Thank you for the video. It turns out my layout is in the basement. Because of the amount of loco's, rolling stock and track plus time to build, total insurance replacement would be around $75,000 Canadian. what a surprise that was.
At least it’s sorted Alan.
Regards Charlie
Do not insure for anything less than ALL the true replacement value. If you claim for a part or complete loss, the insurance assessor will come and total up what he considers the value of EVERYTHING there not specifically excluded by agreement in writing. In your case he may say it should have been £30,000, but you have chosen £15,000, then any claim will only pay a maximum of 50% ie £7,500 for a total loss.
Just another way that they use to avoid payment, there are many other tricks(!) the insurance companies use to minimise their payments. Users usually only find this out when they are in the 'do do!'
Do not think 'I will pluck a figure out the air, then get a more accurate one later' - that is when the gremlins attack.
Also going for a far bigger figure will only get you the assessors maximum which may be far less than the value you paid a premium for.
In short be careful and get 'written' advice from a solvent broker or advisor who has adequate insurance to cover their own mistakes. e&oe
Great advice, WH, and yes, I have reassessed and reinsured. Regards, Charlie
Thanks Charlie - a comprehensive update! Hope you and Chadwick survived Ciaran (sp?). I'm sure you just omitted to mention this, and you're covered, but I wondered if your insurance cover also included rebuilding the railway outbuilding and the non-railway contents.
I look forward to seeing how you fault find your way through your weird loconet troubles.
On jobs for the future, I wondered if there would be any merit in compltely finishing the descent into the helix between the TMD and goods yard first - i.e. ballasting, associated scenics etc as well as just the retaining walls: it's not going to be the easiest bit to get too once the goods yard is installed.
Finally, I trust Accurascale have now sent you half a dozen locos in recognition of your inconvenience.
Many thanks, Andrew, for such an interesting comment. My plan is to finish the cutting retaining wall, then lay the track for the freight yard, and then over to the branch line station. Regards, Charlie
When I was running IT for a chunk of a UK bank - so money was not a problem - we would replace every Surge protector every 18 months. Because, apparently, they "degrade in performance". Obviously, I don't have clue if that is your problem, but ..
And another thing from those days was that we would break networks down into bite-sized pieces in order to identify the location of the problem. Are you able to, eg, isolate a quarter of your layout and try that. If no error there, then try another quarter. etc etc
You have said a lot today about the retaining walls - but what will you put around the inside edge, so that you can film into the circuit, without seeing the layout on the other side of your central space. I mean something behind the TMD and the fuel tanks and the portakabins? and something behind the branch line station, so that we don't see the 'kitchenette'?
And the two-tone wall - well, I think that the stretcher bricks will be two deep, so that the wall is 9" thick.
No answer needed - just chipping in.
And my wife thinks that you must be VERY nice to Margaret if she is prepared to look at retaining walls on the way back from a trip to Weymouth!
J and A
Thanks for a great comment J and A. Actually when I was looking at the wall, Margaret was in a superstore. Regards, Charlie
To add to your "finished" goal, be assured that when you think that you are all done, something will pop-up that need to be changed, adjusted, modified, and so on. We also always NEED some new rolling stock, don't we! That's model-railroad for you. It looks like that you may have a major short somewhere.
I think that you’re probably right mate. Stay safe, regards, Charlie
What is the black material on top of the Woodland Scenics incline (@27.15 ish) that is under the cork underlay ?
It’s it’s just black plastic sheet, on which to lay the ballast. Regards, Charlie
Thanks Charlie, I see the poppy you are wearing for November, well done. Please ensure your insurance does cover the value, or a subsequent claim may be reduced as a result. If your insured value is set at, say £15k and the true value, following an investigation by a claims adjuster, turns out to be £30k, then the claim will be reduced prorata. I.E., if the goods are insured for half the value, the claim will be paid out at half the replacement value.
He make an excellent point Brian, and I am going to revisit the value next week. Regards, Charlie
Charlie, may I mention in relation to ballasting “Underground Eric’s” comments on the vast variation in ballasting across the network. It was something I’d never given consideration to, but being a driver it’s something he’s observed, and something perhaps to consider for Chadwick going forward. All the best, Nigel
Thanks, Nigel. Yes ballast Colour is an intriguing part of railway modelling. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, I think your estimate maybe a little light for the insurance cost. A comment below suggests £50 K. Probably near the mark given replacements always cost more than you originally paid as does the electronics and model scenery.(and you do have an extensive system) Great vid. Well done.
Rest assured, I have revisited my expenditure and adjusted the insurance accordingly. Regards, Charlie
Another great video and the most important not the most boring…insurance cover. Even inside may be a under estimate sometimes. Good reminder. Interesting subjects to cover. Which section next; maybe the smallest to achieve the quickest positive result then one of the larger ones: something to get teeth into. Retaining wall may have to be first; as say that allows you couple of choices. Lucky that may have some heating in the room/building so thinking about drying time is a consideration. Always great to watch and listen to your videos. Thankyou Charlie, all best for next step. Marc from Leighton Buzzard
Thanks Marc, i’m so pleased that you enjoyed it. The retaining wall, then the freight yard, and then the Branchline Station. Regards, Charlie
If I added up the costs I've incurred over the last 5 years of layout construction and purchases of locos and rolling stock I would have a heart attack, but if I added up how much I've spent on railway and model magazines over 50+ years I just might explode!
Yes it’s a frightening amount Mr D. Regards, Charlie
So many new things, Charlie! Everything looks great. I hope the electronic issue gets sorted easily.
Over on this side of the pond, the two things people who know say is 1) always make a detailed estimate for insurance & then increase it by 30% to cover misses, and 2) always take copious digital pics of everything (including underneath) direct to the cloud because no one ever remembers everything they had when it's gone. I'd add take a good shot of all new purchases just out of the bag, too.
I suspect you already have a decent cloud-based spreadsheet of your purchases & many layout pics, but don't under estimate its worth. That seems good advice. 👌
Thanks Frank, that is excellent advice. We mustn’t leave the insurance companies with any wiggle room. Regards, Charlie
Charlie will of course be able to provide 360 hours of UA-cam videos to prove his purchases!
Insurance: eg cycling. Not just damage to or theft of bike. Third party in case you hit someone, eg pedestrian, eg if you're careless, brakes fail, etc.
Very true, Stephen. Regards, Charlie
I would like to see the river and branch line approaches done. I would also consider doing a grass embankment for the grading to the goods yard with cluster of trees to separate the farm scene from the grade. You would have to look at using semi relief trees and a whole bunch of rock formation. I see many years of layout building to come.
The idea that you should price your own layout is flawed. Just looking at what you have 15,000 pounds seems to be on the low side. It would be a good restart from partial losses but some parts are irreplaceable (90 odd Tortoise points) and the rolling stock has been going up in price every year. An example might be a single express set replacement. One locomotive/engine and 6 to 8 coaches could easily cost 1,000 pounds. That does not include the hours you would spend sourcing the like for like replacements. Other modellers talk about spending 1,000 pounds on 10-12 wagon sets for a train. Have someone check your figures. Insurance is never enough and I hope you ever have to use it.
On a positive note: Sorry to hear that your layout has a major electrical issue. Hope you can fix it or get someone else in to check its safe soon. I look forward to the next step. Hoping that it is the River scene and into the station including the back scene track to your goods yard. thanks for the uppdate.
Many thanks, George, you have made some interesting points. Yes I am going to reassess the insurance valuation next week.
As for layout progress, the branch line will get attention as soon as I finish the freight yard.
Regards, Charlie
I'm rather anal, so I have maintained an inventory of my model railroad, including all the infrastructure (tables, wiring, tracks, points, point motors, DCC components), rolling stock, structures, scenic materials, etc. I guarantee you that your estimate is too low by lots. I was shocked at how much it added up to. Also, my railroad was (he said, sadly) in my basement. It was not covered by my insurance, so I added a rider, at a modest premium.
Yes, James, next week I will have to reconsider the cover. Regards, Charlie
So I'm a Patreon subscriber and I got UA-cam ads from the link. I thought this might happen, It will mean people will stop using Patreon.
Hi Jane, the ads are never there for the first 24 hours. If I’m wrong, please come back to me. Regards, Charlie
I’m with Aviva yes very good! Luckily mine is in the 2nd Bedroom, but you should work on the old theory Insurance is for pessimists!
I’m not too sure I can agree with you on this one Vernon. I really couldn’t afford to replace it. Regards, Charlie
Welcome to the "waiting for Accurascale club". Nice models but rubbish delivery. My order also dates back several years.
Rest assured, they’ll suffer when the video comes out. Regards, Charlie
At Taunton, the stone was generally for retaining ground, the brick was for a building. The type of brick depending on the buildings date and use, and some later retaining walls are made of brick. The bricks in the example you shown was related to the engine shed (the graffiti was the pedestrian entrance upto the shed!).
I think your choice looks nicer, but might not necessarily be prototypical. Although, the whole fun of model railwaying is putting on what you like on your individual layout 😀
Thanks JF, for an interesting comment. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie! Not sure how you’d feel about it, but I would suggest that maybe just carry on with the goods yard once you have done the retaining wall? Failing that, perhaps start doing extra to the station area as it seems a good while since anything significant was done to it. Also, since it is arguably the fulcrum of the scenic section, it might help to reveal unforeseen issues in terms of operating the layout which might not be obvious right now 🤔
To be fair though Charlie, I think whatever you next choose to do, you are right to focus on one area at a time, not necessarily to a ‘finish’ as such, but just so you can say something definite like “Right, that’s the platforms done and the foundation for the station, now I’ll take a break from the station until I have decided where to out the footbridge and other buildings. In the meantime I’ll concentrate on developing the hill and Road up to the freight depot.” 😎
I find setting yourself definite tasks and stopping points helps remain focused, but also stops one from overdoing it so it becomes like a job! 🤯🤪😅
Cheers mate, all the best 🍻🍀👍
What an excellent comment, Tim. I think you’re dead right, the retaining wall, the freight yard, and then the branch Lane station. Regards, Charlie
Another great video Charlie on your Autumn update sorry to hear about the power on chadwick which ever option you choose to do first it’s going to look great after chatting to you at GETS about your freight yard and goods and industry at the branch line end l took inspiration from your and have put a couple of holding sidings for a class 158 East Midlands trains DMU when not in service when one of my class 43’s are running on the main line a hornby container wagon whichl bought along with a peco point from GETS the third line I have created is a parcel train siding for my heljan class 128 parcel train which I still have to put a decoder in have you any ideas and also got a hornby skaledale goods shed which will be a great parcel depot so thanks for all your inspiration and great ideas to hopefully give us great enjoyment from our hobby
Take care Kev Beighton Parkway Sheffield
Thanks Kevin, I’m so pleased that you have found my videos inspirational. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, Another great video. Your explanation about why retaining walls are inclined was dodgy. It has nothing to do with the retained material, it is just more efficient to incline them, typically up to 10 degrees. Where space is tight they are vertical to have a minimum footprint. You are going to end up with a wacking great retaining wall between the tracks descending to the helix and the top yard - much easier to do in 1:76 compared to 1:1. Ian
Thanks Ian, however, I didn’t realise that my explanation was flawed. I had done some research and have possession of some construction diagrams. Regards, Charlie
I would do the station area first and base it on Totnes with road access via an overbridge. Electrics is my ongoing nightmare. I lay a bit of track. Test it and it works fine. Next day i lay another piece and it will not work and cannot figure out why. My local club in Okehampton has a large D.C. layout with over 400 switches, miss one and you are screwed.
Thanks Kelvin, but 400 switches, shocking. Regards, Charlie
Lovely update Charlie. Hope you sort out your issue soon. 2 questions. How many people would you want to operate the layout? Lots of opportunities for several to 'play' in different sections. Secondly, have you considered reshooting your title video as it is still the old Chadwick TMD?
Three people are ideal to operate.
I’ll reshoot the opener over Christmas.
Regards Charlie
I feel your pain regarding the electronics. I hope you are able to test each component without having to replace EACH one!
I beg the question: "Are we making our layouts over complicated?"
Issues with electrical devices can take away the pleasure of trying to operate a functioning railway. Horses for courses of course! Your layout is superb and I have no wish to denigrate the wonderful sophistication od Chadwick. Just food for thought after spending 2 days to find I had reversed the polarity on one drop wire!
That’s a great question, but sometimes I believe we enjoy seeking out these faults! Regards, Charlie
Thanks Charlie, just arranged by insurance with Magnet online (10 mins)
Well done mate, it’s so much more reassuring. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie. Nice review on this video. Feel for you - also waiting for an Accruascale Class 37 ;) Good tip on the insurance, contacted Hiscox who insure our contents and they have a set limit for non-items items, but will accept an estimate and do am incremetnal quote. Hiscox have been excellent at settling for things like collapsed out buildings, flood and also jewelry while on holiday. May try your lead for Magnet.
Still a few things left to do on the layout LOL! My wife keeps asking me when I will complete my layout. Our ladies don't really undertsand the concept of always having something left to work on, do they? ;)
Looking forard to tasting Bishop's Biscuits.
Thanks Alec, I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this one.
Yes the insurance dilemma is one well worth addressing. Stay safe mate.
Kind regards, Charlie
I’m building the main station on my layout so it’d be great to see your progress (and cock-ups) so I don’t make mistakes. But your videos are so widespread in coverage that it’s a joy to watch the layout extend.
Nice one Charlie, I only got around to viewing this one today as I was out of town when it was uploaded. Those electrickery issues can be a pain in the behind to debug. The item that is currently in a state of 'perpetual sleep' may not have been the cause of the failure but maybe something else that talks to it. As you mention it's an engineering challenge but thinking back many decades to the good times when I was an engineer I got quite good at debugging stuff using a half by half method by testing the setup for that area half way to before the fault (disconnecting bits) to check everything was as expected, if all is good I'd reconnect and then do the same again to the remaining bit checking that half way point. I'm sure you're already doing this so apologies. I've known many electronics developers though through the years that just don't do this blowing up stuff all over the place. As I've zero knowledge of model railway remote control I could well be talking out of the wrong place, again apologies. I loved the slight reference to the "Life of Brian" with the next things to do with "apart from this, that and the other what else needs to be done". Thanks again and hopefully I'll catch up on the next one.
Thanks Antony, I’m so pleased that you found it interesting.
Yes I am adopting that strategy to break the layout up into testable chunks. Regards Charlie
The branch Line Station First... And I cant believe you only have 15K replacement value in your layout. I think you need to look at that again. You have to have at least 5K in engines alone. Keep up the good work.
I believe that you’re dead right Steve. I really need to revisit this next week. Regards, Charlie
Think I'd like to see the refueling area built up, I do actually work in the rail industry and I pass Neville Hill Depot in Leeds every week, wondering if I speak to the depot manager if I can arrange a tour to give you some inspiration?
Would that be of interest?
That’s a very kind offer. However, it’s a bit early because I want to finish the TMD before the fuel area as I will have to lean across. Regards, Charlie
You could have been hit by a surge that wasn't caught. Surge protectors wear out, and have finite capacity anyway. I'm not sure how you'd check on one, though.
Thanks Reggie, food for thought.
Regards Charlie.
Go for the Branchline station. And it should be the Bishops broken biscuit factory.
Cheers
An excellent suggestion, Ashley. Regards, Charlie
Very good point about insurance. Glad I'm DC only 😊 cascade faults are a pain. Good luck
Thanks mate, it looks like the fault is in a TMD area. Regards, Charlie
Blimey! Thank heavens I'm DC analogue...
As for which area to tackle, I think the main station and scenic wise, the area that isn't going to take up a lot of time.
Thanks Douglas. I think that once the freight yard is laid, I’ll tackle the branch line. Regards Charlie.
Hi Charlie. i had similar problem with something tripping the breaker first time both the main and the ring main after re-set all seamed ok .After a week it just tripped the ring main twice . asked a sparky friend to have a look to see where the problem was turns our it was a PSU for a laptop. looked ok power light was on but after some checking turns out it only putting out 50mA should be nearer 4A
Thanks Colin, that is a very very interesting revelation. Regards, Charlie
Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear, why are you still using a track rubber for cleaning the track, I have modified a few carriages that can drag pieces of hardboard underneath and use these where I cannot get access.
I also use NO-OX-ID compound to help prevent "arc"ing between the wheels and the track which tends to be the main cause of a lot of the black s--- that you get on the tracks and wheels. I will be interested to know and see, how you are going to build your platforms and the materials you use.
That’s an interesting comment Sam. However, I very much doubt that your locos can pull your track cleaning devices up my helix. Regards, Charlie
Hi, I have just heard a mention of your channel on Shedmouth Junction. They are talking about something they are going to do. I don't know what it is yet, it will be announced this week. 😊
Thanks Duncan, do keep me posted. Regards, Charlie
Thanks for the update Charlie. Have you ever thought about putting a backdrop between de tmd and the brancheline station? It gives the brancheline more seperation and 'distance' from the main station. And it is not nessesary to put in a huge retainingwall next to the mainline. Cheers from the Netherlands.
An interesting point Jasper. Regards, Charlie
Wondering if one day you'll start with "welcome to Charlie Model Railway, I'm Chadwick"... April's fools maybe ?... 😁
Apparently people join in with the opening line! Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie! Why not name the branch line station Bishops Park (after the biscuit firm)…?
Sorry Richard , I’ve never heard of that company! Regards, Charlie
I imagine 'Bishop's Biscuits' would be shortbread, in the shape of bishops hats. Maybe also available dipped in chocolate.
Crumbs, I hadn’t thought of that. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, tripping the house is bad... but it could indicate a power supply issue (an isolated power supply should make an earth leak issue impossible, unless it has failed, which could damage all connected devices.)
Many thanks for your concern. It was the Earth leakage circuit breaker that did the deed. I’ve now replaced one of the DC power supplies and things seem to be improving. Regards Charlie
Re insurance it’s not always covered under the house insurance, unless you tell the insurer that it’s there, and pay the extra for it. I found that out after a fire, costs for the damage was covered but not the layout even thou it was inside the home, we believed that it was covered, as it was in a bedroom ( but it was not mentioned on the policy). So I lost my railway it was never rebuilt, and I lost my interest in the hobby. But now layouts like yours and others on here, have rekindled my interest. But sadly it’s ill health and the old lack of finances prevent any progress for a rebuild. Keep up your good work inspiring others, & all the best for your you tube challenge day👍🏻
Many thanks for your comment Geoff. It’s a valuable insight and hopefully will be of use to others. Regards, Charlie