Tim Mercer (j69buckjumper on Youtube) has uploaded some video clips of Widnes Road taken at the recent Croydon Model Rail Society exhibition:





Thanks for the heads up...

European Layout - Update

I had originally planned to spend this weekend adding DCC turnout decoders to Widnes Road, which would have meant dragging it all upstairs from the dungeon and setting up in the dining room in order to wire the boards up to test the installation.  

I tested the first decoder before committing to rewiring the whole layout, and lo and behold, a DCC 'funny' occurred. It worked OK on my old ZTC system, but the much newer ECoS would not recognise the decoder (an NCE Switch-it). 

Much head-scratching and consultation the internet later and I was not much further forward, so abandoned that idea while I waited on the font of much of this black art, Kevin from Coastal DCC to get back to me. So instead, I roped Alice, my better half, into helping (well, more accurately, do-ing) the emerging scenery on my permanent HO European layout.

It turned out that the decoder issue is a clash with Railcom on an earlier firmware installed on the ECoS, and it all works fine now, but by then it was too late to put Widnes Road up and it can wait until another weekend. As it is, really good progress has been made with the base layer of scenery; namely the river bed, and hills which form a scenic break between the layout and fiddle yard.

The grey area next to the river wall is where the large pub will go, with beer garden on both sides of the railway line. On the other side of the river will be a camp site, running up the hillside.

Guest Traction - MERC Traction Invasion...

Last weekend saw Widnes Road invited to the Croydon Model Railway Society exhibition, and for the first time also saw a new operating team; formed of the Mid Essex Model Railway Club crack modern image squad; Andy, Tim, Jake and Bill. Another notable first was an influx of guest traction and rolling stock; from 'cartics' to early 'freightliner' rakes through to a Plasmor block train and an electrification works train.

The third and final '1st' was that Widnes Road is now 'Wi-fi' enabled and through the use of the excellent Touch Cab can be operated via iPhone from the front which was an interesting experience, and enabled more interaction with the viewing visitors.

Thanks to all the guys from MERC for helping out and making it a great weekend. Looking forward to Shoeburyness, hope to have all the points, and maybe the signals DCC controlled by then.