Model Railway Forum

Absolutely Ian. If somebody doesn’t like what you run then they don’t have to look.

Welcome to the forum Ninemil.

Well, my main layout, (i.e. project No. 2) is a way off yet so I'll cross that bridge when I've burnt it behind me, so to speak.

I am still thinking about it though, as I will want the layout to look completely different depending upon whether I use my existing (German) locos and coaches, or buy lots of new British Railways ones.

Already discovering that there's so much to read on here. Looks like the rest of January just got booked solid!

Thanks again to all who have welcomed me and already given advice.

Not sure where else to post this question so I'll put it here for now!

I've recently fetched all my track, engines, coaches etc. out of storage, where they've sadly been for too many years.
Keen to get things moving (literally), I think it would be a good idea to 'run in' the locos again, but wonder if it would be sensible to do any preliminary 'service' on them first? (I admit, I used to be a 'brand new, out of the box' railway modeller, not used to taking things apart)
If so, any advice on what specifically I should do? Lubrication etc. (And if so, tips on how would be useful)
Any advice will be gratefully received. Thanks.

IanS wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:06 pm I justify an eclectic mix from all eras by saying that it is a 'heritage' layout. That way I can go from the Rocket to the latest diesel HST or EuroStar. (A mainline runs near to the 'heritage' line )

If that isn't satisfying enough, 'it's my layout I'll do what I want' works too

As well as the normal 'heritage' layout there are oddities in the real world too, such as on Alderney in the Channel Islands, where they have a short railway line (the only one in the Channel Islands). On this line there is a little diesel shunter that pulls a couple of ex-London Underground carriages up and down. An odd sight to say the least. Does that even count as a 'heritage line'?

That justifies the 'anything goes' approach! (If we need justification, which we don't of course).

Ninemil wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:24 am That justifies the 'anything goes' approach! (If we need justification, which we don't of course).

I think if you can justify it to yourself then that is enough. I actually envy people who just run anything they want. My layout is mid 40s LMS, I have a few GWR waggons that I run on it, but I could never bring myself to run a GWR loco!

Ninemil, I think you will find that Jersey had a railway also.

The Sligo Rover wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:46 pm Ninemil, I think you will find that Jersey had a railway also.

I didn't know that. Is it a recent development?
I just had the phrase "only railway in the Channel Islands" when referring to Alderley but maybe I got it wrong. It was a rather unusual sight though to see London underground coaches there.

Ninemil wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:04 pm

The Sligo Rover wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:46 pm Ninemil, I think you will find that Jersey had a railway also.

I didn't know that. Is it a recent development?
I just had the phrase "only railway in the Channel Islands" when referring to Alderley but maybe I got it wrong. It was a rather unusual sight though to see London underground coaches there.

I heard that there used to be far more stations on the London Underground network years ago....

darkscot wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 1:33 pm

Ninemil wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:24 am That justifies the 'anything goes' approach! (If we need justification, which we don't of course).

I think if you can justify it to yourself then that is enough. I actually envy people who just run anything they want. My layout is mid 40s LMS, I have a few GWR waggons that I run on it, but I could never bring myself to run a GWR loco!

If one really wants diversity in what one runs, take a look at some narrow gauge lines. It is surprizing what a mixed variety of different types of locos and stock can be seen on some lines. Diesel and petrol locos from the earliest days (Diesels from the early 1930's onwards were used on NG as a cost cutting exercise, and petrol locos from before that date). Some steam locos converted to overhead electric operation, wind power, gravity power, horse power, human power, cable power... Even in one place gas driven trams which worked with unusual external combustion engines. (I am trying to remember so I will need to look it up again how the things worked).

Both the UK and the USA not to mention some other countries were mixing diesel with steam (And horse shunting of wagons) on the main lines as far back as the 1930's and in a few cases before that. USA had some impressive gas turbine and diesel locos. Of corse, electric trains and trams have been around certainly since the 1890's onwards with a few before then.
One interesting American tramway had their electric overhead tramcars geared for 80mph running for lines inbetween towns. Once in the towns they would run at more sedate speeds.

As far as your railway is concerned, just pick things you like and run them! No doubt you can find a situation somewhere where it really happened like that but who cares! You're having fun!