Hi Tim
It's Allan here, glad to see you are coming around to doing a bit more. I am beginning to get a bit more done as well, after a very difficult period last year when I caught covid for the second time and most of my long covid symptoms came back to haunt me - I was working towards getting Scott's Road phase one completed for Newcastle when it happened and I ended up working myself to a standstill and having to withdraw from the show - first time I have had to do this in my 55 years of exhibiting. I have been told complete rest by the doctor and am doing this at least until the end of February, (so no Glasgow show for me this year) - but it seems to be working. even after then I will not be putting myself under pressure, much better to be in a better place physically and mentally. I know I will be coming back refreshed and already looking forward to what might be possible this year. So glad to hear of some progress from you on your own project - which I think is going to be one of the best recorded and a thread really worth following- I will get back to posting again probably in a few months as we progress into the summer.
I have a friend Jim, in the East of Scotland Group who has battery controlled locomotives which work very well, but it is true all the gear takes up a fair amount of space, but a more compact system with radio control will be very useful - I did consider it for my own new engines on Scott's Road. Most of the engines were tanks of differing sizes, but I have decided to go for digital control, with sound and smoke if I can mange it. The engines all have coal wagons attached as did the real thing so that would have allowed for battery power and radio control as an alternative option. Everything runs on DC at the moment, but I hope to alter that as the year progresses.
All the best, hopefully we may meet up this year again sometime. In the meantime I know I am not the only one glad to see you back.
Allan