Despite dropping heavy hints the CFO (SWMBO) didn't see fit to say that she had ordered me in advance the new LGB Allegra set with sound (a mere £1,500 plus), the brass LGB/Aster shay or the Sports Car. I do have a bit of cash to get a goods wagon with brakesman's hut that is raised up on steps, but the Jever versions seem to be commanding high prices on German ebay at the moment and it may well have to go to plan B for an alternative. No news on that as I haven't ordered it yet and it will not now be done until after my return from holiday.
My brother - who if he had the time and money would I guess be a live steam fan (he has had Mamod's but I get the impression that the Accurecraft/Brandbright models are just so much better and powerful) - sent me a wooden signal box to go with the tunnel he had made me for Christmas.
Together with some winter warmer for the signalman after he goes home.
Roof, floor and base are all detachable. I will probably fit some plastic "glazing' and paint it, although not sure about colours. Meanwhile, the CFO is convinced that the "tunnel" is really an engine shed, waiting for some doors....
I've not forgotten the blog - more busy with the trails of life (mum and dementia, OR me and a bad back/sciatica) and have been busy reading books/magazines (its been rather wet to get into the Garden), and forging ahead. If I regret anything at the moment it's lifting the "temporary" loop that I put down in the good weather in Feb/March as I could easily have then nipped out and run trains in the few clear spells we have had.
Iscatalbahn has moved forward on several fronts since the last post....
Digital Control - I've upgraded to LGB MTS 3. Essentially this means the purchase of a new 'central station" capable of handling the Dimax Navigator. For an LGB MTS user then the upgrade benefits seem very negligible (one extra address, possible other benefits) but the MTS 3 kit works with the Dimax Navigator. The digital starter set that I purchased came with MTS2 but with a booklet (typical LGB at the end of days) that suggested it had an MTS 3 central station and would therefore work with the Dimax Navigator. Around Christmas time I got a second hand Dimax Navigator and wireless receiver through an offer via the G scale central forum after discussions about DCC/MTS/Dimax. Seems like I'm getting lots of stuff from estate sales or (older) people giving up, although I suppose they know its going to a home to be used and I've offered running rights on visits if appropriate. For me, the big difference aside from access to 128 loco address (rather than 22) is the access to 16 sound buttons rather than 8. Dragon G scale used to offer a 5% discount to member of the G scale Central Forum AS WELL as probably the cheapest prices in the UK and a nice postage structure but a decision was taken to end the discount. With already probably the cheapest prices then I can't say I was surprised but it brought forward the purchase of the MTS 3 central station from my viewpoint. The idea had always been that I could have this as the reward for breaking the 16 stone weight loss barrier, but with current interest rates giving pence on accounts, then the decision was made (by me) that I could have it early....
And I have to say that I am very pleased with the Massoth Dimax Navigator. No pictures I'm afraid as I really need to understand the control booklet and post something meaningful. Equally so, I'm glad that I have the LGB controls for the ham fisted adults / responsible grandchildren from next door which are simple to use and with 99% of what I have deliver all that there is.
Rolling stock. Ever since the Chief Financial Officer (CFO - SWMBO) discovered that I had what purported to be a "working snowplow" then she has been waiting for the winter and snow to see it in action. Problem here was something with enough 'oomph" to push it forward, meaning a two engined locomotive. I'd been considering the 251 class (diesel), and the Saxon IV K (Meyer) with cardboard mock ups of both (The PIKO Taurus would have had the oomph but at 71.5 cm long would just have been too big for the garden): the 251 class seemed quite specialised (only 3 made) and the Saxon seemed long and I didn't relish the the thought of letting it near snow in the event of real snow, given all of its cubbyholes and intracacies. So, when someone on the G scale central forum starts pulling up a garden railway and mention is made of a digital double engine diesel then I enquire about the price.
End result is a number of further acquisitions for the Iscatalbahn line...
So, there is:
a) LGB 21950 - Austrian Diesel... built for the narrow gauge lines (sixteen at least)
b) Track cleaning loco (digital) - I asked if there was anything else digital and the reply was this at a very reasonable price. The extreme wet weather this year as caused to me see the sense of this. And it can also be run in non track cleaning mode, giving me an ordinary looking big diesel.
c) Two blue/cream short coaches. In some ways these go with the blue Stainz but are also (I believe) typical Austrian colouring from a particular era. A later post (I wont have time tonight to set up the photographs) will expand on the passenger coaches/steam locos on the Iscatalbahn line and which will reflect the inspiration of a Lake Constance/Bodensee line, with mixed Austrian/ German/Swiss traffic.
d) Blue Stainz. Very much of a "why not" purchase. I've wanted a blue loco for some time now after seeing pictures of the real life Darjeeling loco that was on loan around England...
and which had featured in Narrow Gauge World Magazine.
e) Lastly the DB Otto. I've been going down an American sideline for alternative running after getting first of all some brightly coloured reefers/box cars and cabooses for the ham fisted adults / responsible children to play with (whilst keeping the quality German stuff away from them) when I got hold a PIKO 0-6-0 dockside Switcher (small fittings broken - so bargain price - yet to digitise) and an LGB 0-4-0 Porter (second hand at a good price) on which I just liked the colour and lines. This had led to the discovery that the Porters made by LGB in the early 1990's (e.g. Casey and Rusty) were sourced out to Korea and there were quality control issues over the plastics. The chassis is shared by the Toy Train " Otto". Fred (forum member) offered me the chance of a Porter at a good price whilst I was discussing Korean Porters on the forum. Not until I get there do I discover that it is in fact a DB Toy Train rather than an "Otto" and is rather fetching in fairly dark green livery. Being DB it also fits in very well with what I already have. So, rather than go to be base of an American themed Porter, this will be chipped as is.
Domestic life has been a bit up/down with mum now in/out of hospital twice in the space of a month. Nothing especially serious - although nothing should be taken for granted given her age - but draining nevertheless as one deals with the endless round of hospital calls / meals on wheels calls / carer calls...
Rain has continued to frustrate play on Iscatalbahn...
The following should give an indication of how wet and unpleasant it has been.
We did have a brief gap of a few hours one Sunday ( I think) when I managed to fashion a curved trackbed for the R3 outer loop. A few hours work - measuring and cutting and fitting and checking -.
It may not seem like much but aside from cutting the board there is also the base of the blue brick beneath it so that the wood is not in much contact with the soil to prevent rot for a while.
As an indication of how much rain we have had though here is a bit of track - which was going blue from the weather...
Which brings me to a new good friend - the LGB Track rubber (part no 5004/50040). The abrasive pad is some sort of acrylic mix (rather than sandpaper) and cleans track quickly and with a minimum of mess - there is some degrading of the material to clean away, but it is far superior to Brasso (which I had been using - and which is smelly and messy) and appears to be nowhere near as harmful to the actual brass as sandpaper. Equally good is that replacement pads are available from Massoth too... Following results are after only a minute or so of work on the aforementioned track. Second pictures shows two of the cleaners (I discovered a "used" one in one of the second hand train sets I have bought).
