Today on the CFHC

Hi been fairly quiet on the CFHC lately, just spent time running trains and exploring the operational limits of controlling four trains simultaneously.

Have taken advantage of the last two days of wet weather though -

Made real coal loads for my hopper wagons


Made platform signs for the main station


Made new hand rails and sign for the Moulin bridge. The old wooden handrails were destroyed by falling apples (the tree has now been pruned back). The new ones soldered up from brass tube should withstand any FFRT's (further fruit related threats).


And the weather was welcomed by the occupants of the pond who grow in size daily

Realising I haven't posted any updates since beginning of September ....

Since then I've acquired a Corpet Louvet, two more Stainz, and a tram.







The Corpet is in such pristine condition and in fact the only "mint" item I have actually means I don't run it that much, but I'm sure I'll get over it!

In contrast the Stainz are cheap off German Ebay and I just love to bash them, spray them and in the case of this latest pair borrowed an idea from Paul and am running them back to back on analogue via an umbilical !

I didn't like the pantograph that came with the LGB tram (also from Germany) so have mocked up a single wire hook up and "Frenchified" it by applying some Dubbonet ad hoardings!

At this time of year a lot of time is spent clearing leaves and falling fruit from the line and generally tidying up.

The weather is getting colder (at last) so will have to get the Edrig out again soon for some more "steam" pictures.

I think my next project will be to strip the Edrig and respray it black. Since spraying the Stainzes and getting the Corpet - I think "black is the new black"

Cracking weather the last three days, so decided to start installing the Catenary - at last my pantograph equipped E loks don't look quite so silly trundling around without an overhead wire !

Tram passes E lok ...



E Lok passes under bridge ....


LGB provide bridge fixings, but it really compresses the pantograph ...


In the background my new analogue, "back to back" wired Stainz consist hauls tankers ...


Despite dire warnings to the contrary by LGB, the analogue Catenary and DCC powered track seem to work OK together, after much testing on an indoor test track I run the Elok DCC and the Tram from overhead analogue on a seperate DC controller. I prefer the single pick up arm I fabricated for the tram but it is just too unreliable for keeping contact with the overhead, whereas the pantograph works perfectly. LGB do make a LYRA bow pick up which IHMO looks more authentic. Does anyone have one kicking about they'd like to sell?

I'm getting to like these steeple cab electric things.

If you took off the pantograph and bashed them a bit (not that you're going to now with the catenary of course) they could look like a Le Crochat or Moyse diesel.

BTW the signal looks interesting...Fabrication maison...?

Carl Hibbs wrote:

BTW the signal looks interesting...Fabrication maison...?

LGB Bavarian Semaphore, like nearly all my stuff - secondhand, a set of 3 off ebay.fr in this instance! I have added lights to them myself!

GWhizz wrote:

I have added lights to them myself!

How.....?

Please don't keep these clever little scratchbuild/modification projects to yourself.

Carl Hibbs wrote:

GWhizz wrote:

I have added lights to them myself!

How.....?

Please don't keep these clever little scratchbuild/modification projects to yourself.

Now I feel a complete fraud, sounded as though I'd achieved some scratchbuilding masterpiece

LGB do not supply a lighted "manual" semaphore mast!

HOWEVER if you buy an LGB lamp holder and bulb - part 65802 this is simply a push fit into the hole behind the semaphore, tie the supply wire to the mast with mini cable ties and then connect to the 12 volt ancilliary bus circuit I have running around the whole layout - VOILA !

Not at all clever, just "plug and play"

I have however found the limitation of running MTS and Analogue Catenary concurrently......
It is not possible to run an Analogue loco on the "0" setting MTS at the same time as Anaologue from the Cat'
No problem if either one is "parked". However as you can run up to 100 Digital Loco's simultaneously it doesn't provide much of an operational constraint!

Anybody want to buy a couple of analogue Stainz's

Lost me big time with the last bit but still a good tip for the signals and one to put on record I think.

Another day of fine weather so decided to give the 030 Corpet a run.

Here reflected in the still waters of the Etang ....

now , for the first time I am envious of another persons line!! did you have to post that Corpet?

Mikey

mikeyh wrote:

now , for the first time I am envious of another persons line!! did you have to post that Corpet?

Mikey

Sorry Mike

But out of respect I did wait until after your birthday!

You'll just have to come up and have a play with it, if you can get away?

mikeyh wrote:

now , for the first time I am envious of another persons line!! did you have to post that Corpet?

Mikey

Of course you know Van's got one too - an open cab version - green I believe

All looking great Brian. Interesting re the digital and the analogue Catenary I have been looking at the Swiss Railways on the travel channel this week and thinking I must incorporate some in my garden.
Dont mention the Corpet, Mikey may be listening.

GWhizz wrote:

Another day of fine weather so decided to give the 030 Corpet a run.

Here reflected in the still waters of the Etang ....

Nice

paul stainz holt wrote:

Nice

No Paul...It's the Charente.

A visiting Corpet in Little Austria in North Wales..........

Aagh! another corpet. you are all tormenting me!!

mikey

mikeyh wrote:

Aagh! another corpet. you are all tormenting me!!

mikey

You "need" one Mikey.
Subliminal messages in your head.........."I must buy a Corpet"

you carnt have enought corpets..

Aw Mike, now that's teasing... shame on you





Actually I do miss this loco running round my line - she is relegated to the back of my stock cupboard, pending some miracle whereby I obtain (and successfully fit) a new gear.

Oh, and by way of an attempt to get back on thread - nice pic Brian!

Yes it is a nice pic! they are very photogenic! It must be a conspiracy if its got Mike to post on here!!

Mikey

they are simple pritty locos.."mavise" mts, fitted with lgb sound unit
clive, which gear do you need? i might have 1,..i can look..
micky..it is

Thanks Mike, that's most kind of you. I don't have a pic of it but will try and dismantle the beast tonight to take one. All I can say at this time is, it's an older machine with a big old motor ( certainly larger than the modern Buhler motors you get) and a big brass worm gear. The nylon drive gear on the axle has had some of the teeth stripped away.

Post a pic here Clive with some dimensions and if Mike doesn't have the correct item I'll have a look in my big box of bits.

I recently dismantled 2 cordless drills which yielded a veritable bounty of plastic, gears and pinions.

You never know...something might fit.

clive, if its the gear wheel, i m sorry, i dont have any.. but, silvergate. usa, got me some for freds, little yellow diesal, $30 , they were here in a week.. not listed on there web site, but i simply sent a email asking.. they replied quickly..took paypal, painless.. alternatively.. it is possable to remove the wheels, twist in opersite directions to each other, and find a similiar gear cog to replasce the chewed up 1..
sorry clive
mike

No probs with the thread drift, glad to see members helping each other.

I'm sure Clive you are aware of L'Octant a French model supplier listed on our links page.

If Carl doesn't have a gear, he may be able to guide you towards one from that source!

Anyway not much happening on the CFHC today, been focusing on tree felling, winterizing the pool and potager!

bon chance to all