When I was a youngster, 00 gauge model railways ran on a 12 volts DC supply and the quality of the models was nothing to write home about. Since I retired, I've discovered that the quality of the modern models has improved by orders of magnitude and a digital control system, using pulsed AC is now available (Known as DCC).  However, a surprising number of model locomotives (mainly DMUs) are still sold without decoder sockets or/and with inaccurate running lights (some even using miniature bulbs). I've been having fun carrying out some DCC conversions and fitting new LED lighting, to remedy these shortcomings. Click on the images below to see in some detail how the conversions were carried out and how the new layout is progressing.

Class 158 Twin car DMU

In Northern Rail livery, produced by Bachmann

Class 158 with new dual rear/marker lights

(Supplement to the standard Class 158 page above)

In Northern Rail livery, produced by Bachmann

Class 170 Three car DMU

In Cross Country Rail livery, produced by Bachmann

Class 153 Single car DU

In Northern Rail livery, produced by Hornby

Class 156 Twin car DMU

In Northern Rail "Settle-Carlisle" livery, produced by Hornby

(No lights, no power in trailer car, no deflector....all now fixed!)

Class 66/9 Heavy Freight Loco

In Freightliner & DRS/Stobart livery, produced by Bachmann

(Supplement to the Class 66/9 page above)

In EWS livery, produced by Bachmann

operating in a DCC environment

(Using Dapol and Bachmann Intermodal Container Flat Cars)

Class 67 Multirole 125mph Loco

In EWS livery, produced by Hornby

Class 150/2 Twin car DMU

In Regional Railways colours, but to be fitted with Northern Rail vinyls when available, produced by Bachmann

(lights just need a night running headlight adding, but its a lot of work!)

Class 221 Voyager

In Arriva "Cross Country Trains" livery, produced by Bachmann

NEW

Class 50 preserved "Hoover"

In BR "Large Logo" blue and yellow livery, produced by Hornby

Rear lights made switchable via DCC and redundant Hornby analogue DC components removed

Which type of rail to use? Standard code 100 or Finescale code 75?

As usual, its not a straightforward decision.

Click on the Settle-Carlisle track pic on the left to find out more.

What are the best track construction techniques to minimise this problem?

Click on the pic on the left to find out more.