OssieB

Dodge, you may be able to find one here:- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001304536364.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.21.33853966c07GuQ&algo_pvid=11e37288-db40-4a68-9e05-2e7fafeab295&algo_exp_id=11e37288-db40-4a68-9e05-2e7fafeab295-10&pdp_npi=4%40dis!GBP!0.32!0.28!!!0.39!0.34!%40210384b917109519761344589e9fdf!12000015639785819!sea!UK!754451072!&curPageLogUid=GUOsz463KrtV&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch|query_from%3A

My experience over the last two weeks may have some bearing on not being able to communicate with HRMS. I have been trying to change my operating Railmaster over to a newer laptop, and have not been able to de-activate it on the current laptop. I then noticed that the internet icon was blurred out and not bright as it should be. I then checked on the newer laptop and on two other devices I have de-activated copies of RM on and had the same failure to connect to RM server. Now this happened to coincided with a problem I had with my ISP router, so I suspected that the connection problem was something to do do with the router. Yesterday, I took one of my laptops to my daughters house and connected to their internet, logged on to RM and straightaway it connected to the RM server, suggesting that there may be problem going through my router. So today, before contacting my ISP tech help line, I decided to check if there was still a problem connecting to RM server. To my relief, all four devices connected as they should do. This would indicate to me that the RM server has been down for about two weeks, perhaps in readiness for the promised update?

I have a old Lima Western Class 52, which I have fitted a CD motor in place of the ringfield. I have loaded the Class 66 sound profile, which I have found to be the best of those profiles currently available.

@Duck1 Yes, I have just started up RM and my iPad and had the same message. The update appears to have worked correctly and the iPad connected straight away to my laptop. BarryO

I am another Railmaster user who will be very disappointed if there is no further updates or support. Like a lot of other user, I have been waiting for the promised loco detection since it was first announced. I have been using RM for about 14 years now and have encountered very few problems. I started on Windows XP, upgraded to 7 and now onto 10. The forum has helped me on several occasions when I have had minor problems. On the time I had to consult HRMS support regarding emergency stopping not happening on Hornby decoders, they tried to replicate the problem, but in the end were unable to resolve the issue. It is still happening on Hornby decoders, but not on other makes of decoders, even though I have changed computers and my eLink. My solution was to put and emergency stop button alongside my mouse. I have over the last two years been trying Rocrail on my 6' x 9' layout and as it cannot be used with the eLink, I have been using my standby Elite. It took a little time to master the basics of Rocrail but I now have a fully working layout for points and signals and 17 locos. I have yet to learn how to read and write CV's. I have also been playing with an Ardunio, with motor shield and wifi shield, as a command station, loaded with DCC++EX program. However, I don't think I will be going down the route of splitting my layout into block sections to achieve loco control.

@Brew Man & Going Spare Thank you both for your valued comments. However, BM I still have not identified a Peco streamline point at 175mm long and even then as GS points out the radius will be greater than 2nd radius and would need some form of alteration to the track geometry. So for just one loco I do not think I will go down the route of replacing points, motors etc. If in the future I decide to re do my layout, I will seriously consider changing to electrofrog points. BarryO

@Brew Man Most of my points are standard length Hornby or Peco at 167.5mm long. As far as I am aware the shortest length electrogrog are 185.5mm long. As you can see from the part layout below, using electrofrog points would not fit in to the available length of my baseboard. I know that I could possibly use a single slip diamond crossing on the top area of the layout, which could help there. At the moment all of my point motors are surface mounted as all the under board motors with switching were too deep to accommodate within the depth of my demountable baseboard construction when I set out the layout. I believe that there is now one that is less than the 40mm available. There is also another consideration for me is the cost of replacing 23 points and associated point motors. BarryO

I run DCC and have experienced the same problem and have not been able to resolve it. I bought R3721 to potentially replace my earlier large prairie R2098D, which also was a poor runner especially over points. even though I had fitted a stay alive capacitor. i have very little trouble with any other of my locos, even my two old class Dapol/Airfix14xx 0-4-2's are better. My layout does not allow me to fit electrofrog points, due to the extra length needed. All my insulfrog points are as flat as I can get them with screws near the frog. I have striped down the under frame of the loco, given extra tension to the pick-up wipers and made certain they are in good contact with the wheel backs and this has not improved the running. The main problem that I consider is the cause, is that there is no vertical movement allowance on the main driving wheel bearings. Having nearly thrown £130 worth of prairie out of the window on several occasions, I decided to buy Dapol's new large prairie. After overcoming the well known fault on the rear pony truck, which was causing the rear driving wheels to not be in full contact with the rails, it runs well over the whole layout. My only disappointment with this loco is the quality of the sound on the factory fitted sound decoder. The chuffs in my opinion are nowhere prototypical and cannot be increased in volume and the background sound can hardly be heard. My other locos fitted with Hornby TTS are far better for both of these aspects.

From a quick research, I think the laptop adapter is a Toshiba and here is a link to a suitable one with the correct size plug. It is suitable for up to 5 amps, but this is perfectly OK. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133937233159?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item1f2f47fd07:g:xlgAAOSwXmNhlMv~&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA8HVuLg%2F18eib7LHL5C1N3g4e6ETLkJUH6QTUDSDbYNbt85DObuI0%2FG%2F1Wzn2oENMvrQGJ0hidkyZGOSIXNx8B0kqIhfqx7Vdx85Ulje%2BGeyxPhpOsmAEOL%2FBVFaf%2Bw08CaxhTmTYDiAqR%2BEX9lJR0rCzxvuX2VXcRvfcoOuY8Xq7WQx4p%2FYuCWYkrlCzE38W4VIk%2BkGAdm0II5gONVEBZfnHpavKmlrJureO6IJ2or%2B00v3r8MhWEMGcOz2uXnYhS9Nqqp%2Bcmuz6V8pOSjw5%2FDDv%2Br8R%2FLo6tHJk6IX%2BpzKPJ%2FPHCH3uxeHca48SrgtZSw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM9JW_vf1f OssieB

@Chris-K If you are going to upgrade to 4 amp adapter, you can buy Hornby's one or there is a suitable one for a laptop with the correct connection plug to suit Hornby Select, Elite and eLink. I cannot remember which laptop it is, but if you do a search of the forum you may find the correct reference. The pin size required is 6.3mm outer diam and 3.0mm inside diam. Alternatively, another member may have the details and will reply to this post. OssieB

@ Chris-K I have a standard Lais 21 pin decoder, without a stay alive, fitted in a Dapol Western class 52. I normally use Railmaster and eLink, with a 4 amp power adapter, for my normal control. However, I still have two Selects which have recently been upgraded to version 1.6. and I have just connected one up to my layout, in place of the eLink. I have tested the class 52 with the Select and it responds correctly to the controls in both directions. I appreciate that it is not quite the same set up as your loco, but I have not had any problems with this Lais decoder. Just out of interest, are you using a 1 amp or 4 amp power adapter? If you are using a 1amp adapter, then this may possibly be the problem, considering the current draw from the old style motor. OssieB

As GS has indicated, 4th radius are available from Hornby. Here is a picture of the method and parts required to achieve the passing loop. I hope this helps. OssieB

Yes, you can use TTS R7294 for Hall Class/Harry Potter decoder. This for a similar two cylinder GWR loco, with similar with sounds, including whistle. Hope this helps, but you may find that most suppliers are currently out of stock. Regards, BarryO

After originally using track pins, not fully knock in, to temporarily hold my layout as I developed it, I then finally fix it in required locations using track screws. I found that these were much easier to use and it eliminated the danger of damaging the rails with hammer and punch. Track screws are also much better for using to hold down (and adjusting) the frog on insulfrog points where these cause problems with short wheelbase locos. The pins I use are 10mm long x 1.37mm dia. If necessary to drill a hole in a sleeper, I use a 1.5mm drill and then a 1.0mm pilot hole in the baseboard. I do not remember where I bought my last screws from, but if you search for "model railway track screws" on eBay, you will find plenty of suppliers with a large range of sizes. BarryO

@Rochford Castle I have fitted a TTS decoder to my Caerphilly Castle with the small 3500gal tender. I found it necessary to cut away the inside of the body below the coal load to accomodate the decoder as there was not enough clearance above the weight housing the standard speaker. In my case I had already decided that I was going to use a sugar cube speaker for better sound quality, and this cutaway aloud me to fit the speaker below the coal load. In the photo, when enlarged, you can just see the extent of the cutaway. You can see that I have sealed around the edges of the coal load with blue tak, and this considerably enhances the sound quality. The sugar cube speaker size is 20mmx15mmx10mm. I insulated the decoder with a loose sleeve of heat shrink. /media/tinymce_upload/ac6d0c271009f8376757cf3daa1f3bf1.JPG . I hope this of some help for you in fitting your TTS. BarryO