More Layout repairs.

The trouble with building a layout in a garage is that, unfortunately you have share the space with cars. At the moment, in the double space, there is only room for one car, as a table tennis table takes the remaining space. It also means that I have to removable sections.
One corner has a drop in section, the other corner has been hinged. It is this one that required to be repaired. At this time, I decided to rebuild the section, away from the L girder construction to a more traditional baseboard frame.

My first attempt was to use 5mm ply separated by 19mm blocks, to reduce weight, but this turned out to no rigid enough, and the tracks would not line up once the clamps were released that were holding the section in place while I was adding the upper level.
I returned to the 70x19mm pine lengths, but drilled holes to reduce the weight. This time, it all lined up, and actually provided a more stable base than it was before. I still have to change over the hinges to probably a piano hinge, for more strength.

The non track area at the end of the lower level is to be filled with some Fleishmann Profi track, as it is probably the strongest set track on the market, and should with stand the odd knock when the modules are all assembled and disassembled. (This has been a problem in the past, with even track soldered to circuit board, been ripped out on one occasion).
Next stage is to undertake some adjustments to the top level and place some MDF as a back screen on the lower level. From then on, it is to build a spiral crossover, as the two levels have to join, to provide the continuous run. This also has to be removable, and to be stored somewhere, when not in use.
The other corner section, also needs attention, as it is too heavy when been lifted in and out of position.

One week later, and I have installed the piano, or continuous hinge. Re-wired again and tested once more.

Railmotor/Trainworld SCT Locomotive

After years of talking about producing SCT Logistics GT46C-Ace, SCT locomotive, photos have finally been posted to prove that it is on the way.

Photo: Trainworld-Australian Facebook.

And complete engineering samples.

Photos: Trainworld-Australian Facebook.

Still a way to go. The etchs are still a bit course, the running board is not straight, the hand rail is a bit flimsy, and the bogie sideframes are a bit rough!

Adelaide exhibition 2014

It's that time of the year again, with the Adelaide model rail exhibition on. The big news for South Australian modellers was the release of Orient Express's M vans, with liveries from early dark grey to AN green. The dark grey vans also come with buffers (as all new Webb stock had buffers), and these will match perfectly if buffers are added to the original OB opens, as care has been taken to make sure the buffer beams are all the same height.
A few new layouts this year, plus some old ones. SARMA had their first outing of Strathburn, based on Strathalbyn (which was also represented in N gauge).

Bridgewater was back, more complete that last year. The only problem with this layout, is that the top cover construction is too low and us taller people have to bend to see to the back scene. (Also, my CFS son says that the CFS Dennis RS237 pumper at the road crossing needs to be re-assigned to the Mt Barker brigade, as it went to Morphett Vale in 2010. In fact it was imported in 2005).

Some of their weathered AHGX grain hoppers, with some interesting artwork on their sides.

Eskbank, a NSW HO scale layout set around 1899.

 

The station yard of Lower Downe, a OO scale UK based layout.

N gauge England, at Kirbyvale. I hope I have the right one, as there were two UK based N gauge layouts side by side.

And something different, Fort Apache; a US themed, old American 'wild west' N gauge layout. The only thing missing from the small township was the saloon!

Tailem Bend visit

Joined a look around the remains of the Tailem Bend depot organised for members of SAMRA on Saturday. Many items of passenger rolling stock in a state of decay, around the old turntable. Of remaining buildings, there is the electric generating plant building, the workshops (now used by Transfield), the 'new' loco mess room and new loco office (used by G&W Australia). Unfortunatley, the little loco and district foreman's office, that was near the round house has gone.
In the historic photo of the depot, the foremans office is hidden in the tree on the left, and the loco mess, is the long building ion the right.

http://www.johnnyspages.com/classic_pictures_menu_files/classic_jack%27s_pictures_files/stations_signals_others/stations_12_tailem_bend_loco.jpg

Electric generating plant building

Loco sanding tower

Turntable

Viterra's grain complex.

More historic photos:

http://www.westonlangford.com/media/photos/105272.jpg
http://www.westonlangford.com/media/photos/105271.jpg

And Webb Street. These railway cottages were built in 1926. Each is prefabricated concrete panels, and has two bedrooms. They are of the same floor plan, but there are three different roof plans. Each cottage is mirrored on the other side of the road, and then the roof plan is repeated in groups of three.

http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/03500/B3422.jpg

XR's at Dimboola

With Auscision Models revealing a model of the first series X class, I thought I would post some photos of XR's at Dimboola; as most of the first series X class have been rebuilt into the XRs.

The XR based at Dimboola is used on Pacific National grain services. All the photos show XR599, taken a year apart. That's XR599 behind G528.

Photo;Auscision. Engineering sample.

Now may Auscision undertake the XR class.

Auscision RMX samples

Auscision have released photographs of engineering samples for their up and coming Commonwealth Railways built RMX flat wagons. Shown are samples for the oval and rectangular holed versions. The first batch were built in 1968 by Mechanical Handling, at Woodville (these had rectangular holes in the main frame). The second batch: 1969, were the units with the oval holes. These were built by Commonwealth Engineering. Then came two orders from Perry Engineering: 1970 - 74, and two orders from Carmor Engineering: 1975 - 77.

QRNational QQJY2073A (Commonwealth Eng Build. Oval Holes).

QRNational QQJY2734D (Perry Eng Build).

Pacific National RQKY 2381P (Perry Eng Build).

PQMY2782K (Perry Eng Build) on SCT/WCL Horsham Melbourne service.

 Apparently, the Carmor units, are the ones that the Auscision Models is based upon; for the rectangular holes. There are minor differences between builds.

Photo: Auscision Models.

Photo: Auscision Models.

The photos indicate that they are mainly diecast, for the weight, probably with plastic detail parts.

These wagons were recoded to AQMX/AQSY, and now run under many other different codes, with all rail operators. A must for any intermodal service right across Australia.

 Included, the Western Australian railways built their own version, the WQCY/WQTY. These are run by ASR/G&W and QRNational/Aurizon. (It is these wagons that Aurizon have cut out the decks to reduce wagon tare weight).

These wagons ran on ASF AS Ride Control bogie, except for high speed freight and passenger requirement.
www.flickr.com/photos/60901191@N08/6885575182/in/set-72157626795030328
www.flickr.com/photos/60901191@N08/7095780175/in/set-7215762679503032

Update: I have heard that these wagons will be available in packs of three. Liveries so far are, Commonwealth Railways, Australian National and National Rail/Pacific National R codes.

Anzac weekend running

It has been a while since all the door modules have been connected to allow not stop running on the layout. All the track in the station area has been relaid, and tested to make sure that there is power. The reason for all this, is that, my mate Tony wanted to run his newly acquired, preloved, Powerline 830 class diesels, in Mustand Pot livery. Unfortunately, his old Trax 830 model is wired in reverse to the two Powerline units.
A bit of encouragement, and the 830's were on their way. Then it was on with his Austrains, (first run) 700 class in AN livery: no trouble with that one. The DC running was all over, when son Craig wanted to run his Auscision AN 3 in Ghan livery. Disconnected the DC power, connect up the DCC to the command station, and within minutes there was about eight locos on the track. (Not all working, as you must write down the correct numbers for them to run). The difference, from running one train, to several.

The above photo shows a grain passing over my river crossing. (The sheep in their unfenced paddock know to keep away from the track). The hoppers furthest from the camera are all green, and the loco that is actually pulling all these wagons is an Mehano HO scale EWS class 66; which is not bad, as usually these are hauled by an X/A class double head: there are more, out of shot to the left.