[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (dwb @ 15 Oct 2007, 17:06) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Paul's layout is well worth seeing if you ever get the chance.

David

One layout on my "have to see in the flesh" list - most definatly.

 

[PaulRhB]

second one,

 

[dwb]

The video clip of the Glacier Express has reminded me that the BBC's Ski Sunday will feature said train in a section of next Sunday's show (that's Feb 10th). One of the presenters did a trek in the alps last summer and last Sunday he had arrived in Zermatt as we all know there's only one way to leave that place in style!

David

 

[Doug]

Good pictures and video.

If I may suggest: some cows with bells. You could have some gentle background sound under the layout - bells, running water, some train sounds...

 

[PaulRhB]

QUOTE (Doug @ 25 Feb 2008, 18:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If I may suggest: some cows with bells. You could have some gentle background sound under the layout - bells, running water, some train sounds...
Water sounds are done although some of my operators swear it makes them need the toilet more often, there's a minidisc player underneath.

Loco sounds will be confined to the different whistles as I can't afford to cut out weight to fit speakers inside on my gradients and you wouldn't hear the loco sounds at the distance you view the layout just the train wheels sounds. Whistles and possibly flange squeal will be done by hiding speakers in the scenery connected to push button sound modules.
Cow bells I hadn't considered . . yet

 

[john woodall]

Hi Paul,

What sort of sound modules are you going to use?

Cheers

John

 

[PaulRhB]

QUOTE (john woodall @ 27 Feb 2008, 08:33) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>What sort of sound modules are you going to use?
Well DCC supplies do one for about £6 that I'm going to try first to see if the volume is high enough, failing that I might just buy cheap mp3 players and use them. I will let you know how it goes.
Paul

 

[Dave R]

With regard to the locos that you use, do you find much if any different between the Ge 6/6 II locos with their 3-pole motors and the other locos with 5-pole motors. I am particularly interested in the slow running capabilities.
Thanks

 

[PaulRhB]

QUOTE (Dave R @ 29 Feb 2008, 21:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>With regard to the locos that you use, do you find much if any different between the Ge 6/6 II locos with their 3-pole motors and the other locos with 5-pole motors. I am particularly interested in the slow running capabilities.
Thanks
I don't tend to shunt on this layout as the couplings a pain for shunting but I do like engines to start and stop smoothly so I only really look for that rather than slow running a lot.
The main difference I find is the 3 pole ones are slightly more noisy. At realistic, and relatively slow speed, there is no discernable difference. I find the main issues to look out for are changes in gradient especially on curves. The spiral section has a lot of thin card shims under the outside of the track to add some cant to prevent derailment on the longer wheelbase locos, like the Ge4/6 and also the Ge6/6 II as its articulation isn't that flexible.
Other problems are:-
A tendency for the drive shaft to come loose in the universal coupling on the Ge 4/4 III.
Locos running fine and then suddenly stopping dead and if left for a day or so working again which is some sort of contact problem but can be elusive.
Hope this helps.
Paul

 

[Dave R]

Thanks for that information Paul. Your layout certainly looks impressive in the pictures. I hope I can get a change to see it in the flesh some time. I love the RhB and often go to their area of Switzerland and stay at the Hotel Gruschuna at the end of the plaforms in Filisur. It's the one holiday where my car tends to stay parked outside the hotel for most of the holiday!

 

[dwb]

QUOTE Hotel Gruschuna at the end of the plaforms in Filisur. It's the one holiday where my car tends to stay parked outside the hotel for most of the holiday!

I guess you've hiked up to the view point overlooking the Landwasser viaduct more than once or twice then?

David

 

[Dave R]

QUOTE (dwb @ 1 Mar 2008, 18:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I guess you've hiked up to the view point overlooking the Landwasser viaduct more than once or twice then?

David

Yes many times. If anyone is interested in some of my photos of the Filisur Station in particular have a look at the Yahoo BEMO group site at http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/BEMO/photos and look at the gallery Filisur 2006 by h5djr.

Many years ago I also hiked along the 'path' between Preda and Bergun. Quite hard work but very enjoyable with super views of the RhB and a lot of the Albula bridges.

 

[dwb]

QUOTE Many years ago I also hiked along the 'path' between Preda and Bergun. Quite hard work but very enjoyable with super views of the RhB and a lot of the Albula bridges.

We did that last summer. I plan to write a blog entry once I get a new computer to upload my photos to. I think they must have made the path easier since you last did it. There's only one bit of scree that's a bit dodgy now.

David

 

[PaulRhB]

QUOTE (Dave R @ 1 Mar 2008, 20:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>along the 'path' between Preda and Bergun. Quite hard work but very enjoyable with super views of the RhB and a lot of the Albula bridges.
How long is this hike?, I'm just wondering if I would have time to do it this summer as I'll hopefully be staying in Chur.

I'll post future exhibitions for the layout, potentially one around London in November and some bookings for 2009 and 2010 already! I'm only able to do 2 or 3 shows a year due to working most weekends and I don't want the layout being an issue with the domestic authorities!

 

[Dave R]

QUOTE (PaulRhB @ 2 Mar 2008, 07:42) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>How long is this hike?, I'm just wondering if I would have time to do it this summer as I'll hopefully be staying in Chur.

I'll post future exhibitions for the layout, potentially one around London in November and some bookings for 2009 and 2010 already! I'm only able to do 2 or 3 shows a year due to working most weekends and I don't want the layout being an issue with the domestic authorities!

Here is a link to more details about the path. http://www.myswissalps.com/hikes/showhiked...N&HikeID=23
It's about 6km - 3.7 miles, mostly downhill from Preda.

Dave R

 

[PaulRhB]

QUOTE (Dave R @ 2 Mar 2008, 09:09) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It's about 6km - 3.7 miles, mostly downhill from Preda.
Thanks Dave that sounds perfect.

 

[dwb]

QUOTE It's about 6km - 3.7 miles, mostly downhill from Preda.

We went uphill from Bergun to Preda. I think we took about 2 hours to do it. If you're game, there's a company that hires two wheel scooters for the return journey! No idea how much it costs because we're not brave enough for that.

One thing to consider about the direction of the walk is the default view. Going up the valley you are looking into the head of the valley; going down it's how it opens out. For us this makes the outward and inward legs of any walk quite different.

David

 

[Dave R]

QUOTE (dwb @ 2 Mar 2008, 13:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>We went uphill from Bergun to Preda. I think we took about 2 hours to do it. If you're game, there's a company that hires two wheel scooters for the return journey! No idea how much it costs because we're not brave enough for that.

One thing to consider about the direction of the walk is the default view. Going up the valley you are looking into the head of the valley; going down it's how it opens out. For us this makes the outward and inward legs of any walk quite different.

David

You can actually hire both normal bikes and the scooters from the RhB at most stations. The scooters are called Trottinetts and they cost around CHF18.00 to hire.

Dave

 

[PaulRhB]

Well I'll be on the real RhB later this year so all the ideas are filed and I have a nice pile of 1:25000 maps for the walks. Thanks Chaps

Next show is Tolworth on 8th& 9th November.

I found some early photos from about 7 years ago when the original plan was for the layout to be double sided.

 

[xaniel]

Hi.

Could you please tell me the size o fthe layout?

Thanks.