Horsham times past

Every now and again, a search brings up something new. Came across a blog called Wimmera... way back when, which has a series of photographs of railway stations from Great Western to Serviceton. Included were a couple of shots of Horsham, one dated in 1957, and another 1971. The following two are originally from John Sargent's 'Country Railway Stations Victoria' series of photo books.

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Not a great deal had changed over the years, except the loco dock platform had gone by 1971, and loco power had changed. Also, a gum tree has been planted (in the second photo), which is still growing today.  In another ten years, the Freightgate had been built,  and the signal box, plus refreshment service rooms behind had gone.

Out at the Junction

A day off. Decided to head to Mount Barker Junction for some train spotting. Have not been for some time, and after checking the schedules on the ARTC website; there was a PN/Patrick Intermodal due around 12.30. Half and hour later, 5MA3 rolled through. NR 22, XRB 562 and NR 59.

Mount Barker Junction is now a 1500m crossing loop. Unfortunately, you can not see both sets of signals, as from the disused station building, the other set is around a set of curves, but normally you can hear them approach. The dual gauge line, to the right of the first photo, is the old line to Victor Harbor  and Milang. SteamRanger used to operate the occasional train to here during Steam-Up, at the beginning of their operating season, but the line is now unused.

Bringing up the rear, a whole load of Hamburg Sud boxes, and reefers.

Hamburg Sud on NQKY 34619G

Edit: Returned Sunday evening. The ARTC schedule indicated that a Interail intermodal would pass through a 6.56pm.

Certainly not an Interail/QRNational intermodal, but a Pacific National Trailerail, which should have past through at 4.25pm.
Many of these new 48' high-cube boxes, plus a few new 48' curtain sided containers. Unfortunately no photos of these.

PS. It is my understanding that the turnout to the Victor Harbor line was connected when the loop was built, but at some time has been dis-connected, as seen in the photo.

Auscision's GT46C-ACE

To begin the new year, Auscision Models announced the pending release of their GT46C-ACE (or SCT type) locomotive. No surprise to this bogger, as I was informed a number of years ago, that this model was in development, at about the time Railmotor Models announced they were going to produce the SCT class.
On checking out the web page at Auscision for this models, all liveries are going to be produced, except for the SCT. Suppose we will have to wait to see if Railmotor continues with their model development.
The two liveries of importance for the Adelaide to Melbourne corridor, are of course the QRNational hired LPD units, both in Downer EDI blue, black and white, and QRNational, maroon, black and gold; with all 9 units were introduced in 2009. These locos took over from G class units, and then were replaced/supplemented with the introduction of the 6000 class locomotives.

LPD in EDI/Downer Livery, marked QRNational

LPD in QRNational livery (Auscision Models)

Both these QRNational liveries have run on QRNational intermodal services from Melbourne through to Perth, via Adelaide.

LPD003 LPD001 & CLP13 run through Mt Barker Junction.

LPD004 having arrived at Mawson Lakes from Melbourne, behind a 6000 class

Victorian Grain Board silos

The most common feature of Victorian rail yards, throughout the grain growing regions of the state are the tall concrete verticals. There are tow styles; the 'Geelong' type with a corrugated peaked roof, and the 'Williamstown' with flat roof (like the Norske silos at Horsham). These can be modeled quiet simply. To start, one needs two 55mm PVC pipes, and two 110mm pipes, at scale 97 feet (340mm), square cut if possible.
These are joined together by strips of thick plastic card, 12mm wide: these join the sections together (refer to diagram below. I obtained drawings from Vicgrain many years ago).

Concrete vertical under construction. Still to be painted and detailed, plus roof to be fitted.

An enlarged copy of this diagram can be downloaded from http://www2.nmit.vic.edu.au/~david/emrc2/resources/silos/Silo_Geelong_300dpi.gif. Beware, this is a very large file.

The roof was then constructed from plastic card. I used Evergreen Metal siding 4526, as this is close in appearance to corrugated iron.

C-Rail Intermodal HO scale containers

C-Rail Intermodal is a small UK manufacturer, that produces the most accurate model containers available. Up till recently, they have been only available in OO scale 1/76. Now announced, due to be released in early 2013 are; HO scale 20 and 40 foot reefer containers.

End view of HO scale 20' reefer and the detail of the reefer unit.

The only other reefer containers that have been available are from Athearn, but the 20' box has not been released by themselves, for many years.
During the 24 hour visit to Murray bridge in September, a PN/ Patrick train passed through, with over half the loading being Hamburg-Sud reefer units in 20' and 40' lengths.

First to be released is the Maersk Sealand box, but Arran Aird has indicated that the Hamburg-Sud livery is possible as he has the artwork, that only needs to be re-scaled to HO.

OO scale version of 40' Hamburg-Sud

Two addition containers now have been produced:.20'  Hanjin and  40' MOL.

SDS Models new container wagon and others

SDS Models have formally announced they will produce a RQBY container flat. That is, a OCY with holes cut in the deck to reduce weight.

These wagons were converted during 1989 to 1992, when most of the remaining 370 NQOY wagons of the series 15000, 34000, and 35000 series were converted for the transport of 20 and 40 foot ISO containers. These modifications were carried out at the Cooks River rail yard. bt the end of 1992, the 15000 series had been recoded to NQBY. Most of the NQBY/RQBY wagons had been originally coded NQSY. The deck patterns on these wagons were different to the standard NQSY pattern. Under NRC these have been recoded to RQBY.

RQBY art work: SDS Models

Edit Note: Many of the 63ft container flats in service have their origins in the OCY/X and FQX flats. 


The FQX class was VR's primary container wagon for many years, almost identical to NSW OCX/NQOX wagon ( a kit is available from AR Kits), and SAR FQX /AQCX version, which had differences, the most notable being only having two chain boxes rather than four.  Steam Era models produce a FQX kit
 Recently, many have had their tare weight decreased, with hole cut in the decks and other weight removed. The other main class are the Commonwealth Railways RMX flats, used by all operators today. So far, only QRNational have weight reduced some of these wagons, by removing deck plating, coded QQEY.
Later built skeletal container flats in NSW and Victoria (QMX) are based on the OCY/X/FQX design, except for the NQKY,  which is converted CDY open wagon, with sides and floor removed.

NQKY Skeletal

RRTY ex RQTY ex AQTY ex FQX (With Polar Pack cut out)

Two version of the RQSY (OCY modified) modeled from old Callipari Kits, obtained from Casula Hobbies. (Powerline use the same unit for their RTR wagon).

RQSY with more extensive deck cut outs

QUBE back in Horsham

Rail freight has returned to the Horsham station yard, with QUBE beginning containerized grain traffic, between the rural city and Melbourne.  The first service out, was on 31 October,  hauled by GL105 with 23 wagons.. This Viterria traffic has been gained from WCL



From the Wimmera Mail Times.

HORSHAM Rural City Council will meet Melbourne-based container logistics company Qube to discuss operations at the Horsham rail freight terminal.
Qube has confirmed it intends to operate from the Horsham terminal.
The meeting comes after Horsham residents voiced their concern at the prospect of rail freight returning to the city when crews started work at the site.
Workers from rail contractors McLeod Rail have been working on the rail track this week in readiness for Qube to move in.
Horsham Rural City Mayor David Grimble said company representatives and council would meet mid next week to find out what the company intended to do.
"They have a commitment to provide a rail service under contract," he said.
"We need to find out why they can't provide that service under contract at the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal at Dooen.
"We also want to reassure people that we don't want a freight handling facility in the city it is not part of our long-term vision for Horsham.
"We understand the angst from the community. Council is united and we will exercise our political influence.
"This came as a surprise to us as well."
A spokesman for Qube said the arrangement in Horsham was temporary.
He said the company had been trying to gain access to the new terminal at Dooen, which officially opened in September.
"It is not our intention to remain at the Horsham terminal indefinitely but we cannot use Dooen until an agreement is reached with Wimmera Container Line," he said.
Wimmera Container Line operates the Dooen terminal.
The spokesman said Qube made alternative arrangements to access the Horsham terminal so that its customers were protected and to ensure freight remained on rail.
"Qube is continuing its discussions with Wimmera Container Line on a potential access agreement to the Dooen terminal, but is unable to say when that agreement will be reached," he said.
"However the community can be assured that we are working in good faith to enable us to commence operations at Dooen as soon as commercially possible."
Carly Werner