Absent

I had to curtail my activities in order to finish off my graduate certificate. I now have some free time to start looking at things again.

Oscillosope

Due to the limitations of the Arduino based Oscilloscope & Logic Analyzer projects I have been looking at, I have decided to purchase a BitScope Micro Oscilloscope & Analyzer, which provides the functionality I require.

Railway Research

I have been collecting books about semaphore signalling (prototypical and modelling) and coaching stock (BR Mk1&2). As well as researching the Pull & Push services run by LMS and then BR, unfortunately there appears to be no ready to run (RTR) coaches available. 

Luckily Dapol currently supplies a RTR N Gauge steam locomotive (2S-015-002) that is Push-Pull fitted, the Ivatt 2-6-2T number 41273 in BR early crest, which unfortunately is not DCC ready. 

According to Wikipedia, RailUK & Gloucestershire Transport History, the Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T number 41273 was push-pull fitted. Gloucestershire Transport History and Goods & Not So Goods provide suggestions on how to model a generic driving van trailer for push-pull operation using the Graham Farish BR Mk1 57ft Suburban Brake End (374-312B).

Alternately Etched Pixels offers LMS suburban coach kits:

UMCL1022:    LMS 57ft non corridor third, pre-printed LMS sides

UMCL1023:    LMS 57ft non corridor brake third, pre-printed LMS sides

UMCL1023B: LMS 57ft non corridor brake third driving trailer, pre-printed LMS sides

UMCL1024:    LMS 57ft non corridor composite, pre-printed LMS sides

UM616:           LMS suburban trailer end (driver) (pack of two)

Looks like I could do it to the BR Livery for suburban passenger as well:

UMCC1023:    LMS 57ft non corridor brake third in BR crimson livery

UMCC1024:    LMS 57ft non corridor composite in BR crimson livery

I would need to use UM616 to convert UMCC1023 into a driving trailer of a push-pull set, but it is doable.