[berth44]

An important little thing for the 'safe' operation of a railway and I've been looking at aquiring 'a few'. (for the future)my 'sidings' are in my head at the moment, but there are a couple in operation)
As we know 'sidings' usually have dead ends, these must have a buffer stop,(of some sort)otherwise, your wee train of wagons (or coaches) may come to greif by 'running off' at the end as you shunt them into the siding (I've demolished a buffer stop in real life by 'fly shunting' a ballast wagon at a speed that was a little..'er'..too fast!!..'consequence?'...severe repremand by yardsman,and a bit of a laugh from my train crew...'ach' those were the days!!)
Anyhoo, I've looked at packs from Hornby and kits from 'Peco' (LMS Scotland) do them as well) and then there are the 'new (ish) ones from 'DCC Concepts' where you get a pair of 'rail' buffer stops with tiny working scale lamps(LEDs)..
I've decided to get these ones, (as a 'trial') the're not what you'd say 'cheap' at 23 quid for the two, (and that's from 'Hatton's as well, and then we add the postage), so here's hoping they live up to their reviews......Dave

[SkyFire]

Seen some wagons off the end of sidings in Goulburn a few times. Also been there when they have been fly shunting. Seen a wagon rolling by then BAAAAAAANG it goes into another wagon. Almost need earmuffs.

It will be interesting to see how these ones go on the layout. No fly shunting ballast wagons into them.

[berth44]

I've been reading up re buffer stops with 'lights', some say yes,others think it's just a sales gimmick, it's no gimmick, lamps were a safety thing to depict the 'end' of the shunt and a 'red' light was shown, but lamps on buffer stops in my day were 'seldom' lit in sidings, (especially if they 'the sidings' were well lit)one would usually find the 'buffers' lamp lying beside it amongst the usual stuff that you would find lying around in yards, piles of ballast, long grass and weeds etc etc...
Laymen would then ask,'How does the driver know when he reaches the end of the sidings in the 'dark' if there is no light?"..the 'thud of course!!!'..
Well, that's not entirely true,being a 'freight guard' (back in my Scottish Railway days), at night time, me, as 'the guard',(person in charge) would go up to the driver and inform him that I was ready to 'show him the way', (also that the road was clear to the buffer stop , in this case) so, having my trusty ' Bardic lamp' at hand (showing me the way as well) I would walk back the length of the train on his side to the furthest part that I could be seen and at a point where I could observe the end of the siding.
I would then give the driver the 'signal' (with my lamp) to 'come on' by waving a 'white light' from 'side to side' , once the train moved I would turn and walk aside the wagons and keep on waving my lamp
When 'almost' upon the buffer stop, my 'lamp' was turned to "red" (by the 'can't miss' this switch!!) and held atop my head at full arms stretch (in daylight the stop signal was made by raising both arms in the air) to halt the train, thankfully due to careful and professional drivers, this operation was usually done smoothly and safely...without the 'bang' ,a wee gentle 'thud' being the usual as the last wagon just touched and 'buffered up'....., that's playing trains for real!!, loved that job!!...Dave

P/s, 23 UK pounds all up for the pair delivered

[SkyFire]

They have a blue light at the end of sidings in Australia btw.

Yep I know the hand signals for shunting trains, done it a few times at the rail museum here in Canberra.

[SkyFire]

www.ehattons.com/59710/DCC_Concepts_DML_MBS_Buffer_Stop_with_Lamps_2_/StockDetail.aspx

[berth44]

I suppose the only real difference Anthony between you and me, you worked museums, I did it for a living, but I admire you for giving your time to learn and do it for a good cause,my cause was money, but it was a great job,one that I wished I had never left, but I did it to come over here, and as the parrot says.."Who's a silly boy then?".......Dave

[berth44]

Buffers packed and posted!!...Dave

[berth44]

The 'DCC Concept's' illuminated buffers came today, and as I was off work, I decided to do a bit of clearing up of the area where I intended to fit these buffers.
This I did (after some housework!!) and put two 'permanent' sidings in place, (probably a 'fuel' road as this area will be the diesel depot)
The buffers are already constructed and require to be wired to their respective PCB's and fitted to the track ends.
The very (very) thin wire is already fixed to the equally very fine scale lamp and the wires (X2) from this are fixed in place to the buffers frames by 'DCC' ....(thank god!!)
So, out with the soldering iron, and while that was heating up, I fixed the buffers to the rail ends with a spot of 'superglue', I then soldered the two tiny wires (nearly invisible!!) to the 'PCB' and once the 'polarity' was determined for the 'power' and the lamps brightness was 'fixed' , the wires were soldered in place and that was it, two in place side by side and working fine....these are truly brilliant!!

[SkyFire]

I might get some, (if they still have them), once I have some money again.