2011 February 6

2011 February 6   Sunday   (page22 of 35)

Well despite the forecasts and even talk of evacuations at Bright and Myrtleford, the rains did not arrive last night. So instead of 200mm in a few hours we had a peaceful night. We already saw 107 mm in 4 days, mostly in short heavy falls. But it seems we are blessed here in the Yackandandah valley.

 The station at Bullio is connected to the new bench work using weathered micro engineering code 70 rail.
This was a bit of a problem, especially as the Trentham Exhibition layout was hand laid track using stripped down Peco N scale flex track. The rail profile was not even close although the height was very nearly code 70.
The gradient was mainly 1.5% with a short 2% near Bullio. The curve was kept to 36" Perhaps I should have tightened it.

  
At the bottom of the grade medium radius points lead into the junction station. 

 The curves, 30" and 32"

 Tony K has been extending the broad gauge helix along the East wall, allowing for the grain loop crossover and in this shot, I am sorting out the stone quarry siding.
First the lower three way point (reminiscent of Bowser and its three arm bracket signal)
the left track feeds the branch line platform (not like Bowser) then splits into a crossing loop before heading up the hill to Bullio.
The middle track is the BG main line
The right hand track crosses the SG and enters the quarry a bit like Kilmore East Quarry. The second crossover is a single slip to help compress the scene. I intend to run a 19 wagon rock train.

 Continuing on from the last picture the branch line loop runs beside the BG main line and the SG main line. The main lines will travel around to the west wall and eventually the East Helix.
The BG line which is second from the brick wall, will temporarily run to the rear of the island back drop, allowing a continuous run, at least on the top level 

Almost linked up about 2 m of track and a 100 m of wiring
Whoever suggested DCC was easy?

 And the gap leading up to the points.

 B60 waits for the goods to shunt the main line before heading to Bowser. Its been patiently sitting there for 9 months, I think

And that brings us to the conclusion of another update!
However many thanks to Graeme and Norma Hawken , who spent a day here recently and helped lay some track on their visit.
As well as Tony Kociuba who started linking up the top level on a recent visit. I guess they want to see trains running too Thanks friends, your encouragement means a lot.

Cheers
Rod

2011 February 15  Tuesday

Gee 9 days. I should get off my fat butt and lay some more track

Although I have not been completely ignoring the railway. I guess I need about another 120 droppers soldered in and I did wire in part of the Helix, and find a short as well... slowly but surely moving forward.
Cheers
Rod 

 2011 March 17  Thursday
Well people I have not been that well lately. Thought I might have been falling into a state of depression, and tried to pull myself up by the boot straps as I usually do, but just could not manage it this time.
So I guess my Doctor was thinking the big c might have been lurking around again, so I booked myselyf in for a CT scan and a heap of tests, which all came back clear, thank goodness. Today I just came out of day hospital after having a couple of cameras (well I hope they used two anyway) shoved up inside me, and it seems they did not find anything bad, so the big c has been ruled out definitely. Thank Goodness for that! However It seems I have been bleeding a fair bit, and the Doctor is hoping the internal bleeding is the cause of my loss of energy and general lethargy. So the cause of the bleed has been cleaned up with a laser, and hopefully by this time next week I will have my old self back up in the train room. Anyway I am feeling well already.

On the model front, despite going to Sandown this year with $2000 to spend, I came home with $1700 in my wallet, an Auscision N452 City of Wodonga accounting for the damage. I did buy a couple of San Mateo signals as well...
But can I ask the organisers of Sandown...Where were the Commercial stands?
Oh yes if I was running tabletop Hornby or any other brand the big 4 importers bring into Australia, I would be extremely happy!

However I did a 700km round trip to stock up, on all the things an Australian Railway modeller wants for his AUSTRALIAN model railway, and not one shop catered for the bits and pieces. Auscision who had nothing new to sell for a Victorian modeller, and Broad Gauge Models showing their interesting brass and white metal kits.
Piano wire? whistles, gates, fences, aussie buildings...nope nothing at all.
Sandown was again a failure and should be renamed The Australian Wholesalers and Allied Overseas Exhibition (If you want Australian then wait for Hobsons Bay at Collingwood in a few weeks)

 Cheers
Rod


2011 16th April  Saturday

Not a lot happening visually. Just wiring and point motors for the time being
However we got notification from the Mansfield works, who won the contract to assemble our latest Locomotive

Construction and assembly of all parts is near complete
A picture arrived today to share

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

 I feel like an expectant Dad
What a great job Mike has done, and that means we have reached the end of our Steam Building for the time being.
I hope that this one will pull a reasonable load up the helix, and time will tell
Cheers
Rod


2011 16th April  Saturday (continues)




http://dccsound.webs.com/        turn your sound down at first

"Aaron™ wrote:

Hi Rod,

What's the big box thing on the Tender? looks like a battery pack or I could be mistaken and it's a sub woofer.

-Aaron"

its eh?? Oh a live steam generator
The control module is nearby
Cheers
Rod

2011 January 12

2011 January 12  Wednesday (Bugger! so little done in how long? :( )   (Page 21 of 35)

ad602000 wrote:

no matter what layout you look at, model railroaders are amessy bunch arent they. Maybe we could make scenery items for TRS like hammers screws pliers laying around so they feel at home

You are right!!

However you should have seen it before I cleaned up for the pictures

Their is a reason for it all of course..You turn off your computer and the mess cleans itself up. If I clean up that takes hours and then I got to waste hours looking for the tools I put away
Cheers
Rod

2011 January 13 Wet and windy Thursday.
Ha Ha yeah!!
It was a lot easier when I was younger

Today Tony and I got stuck into a couple of places. Tony laid track from the Helix to just beyond the BG points and SG crossover accessing the large Wheat silos on the upper level. This was made difficult because the SG is code 100, and the BG code 75. To help out we used a code 75 diamond crossing and soldered code 100 ends to it, which allowed easy insulation joins. Looks great. He also started installing Tortoise motors.
His method of installation is first class, probably not much different to the instructions, which I have never read

Whilst Tony was laying track, I constructed the risers on the central branch line, marked out the track, and using a string line, set the gradient into Bullio and started to fix the base board in place.

I am thinking of driving over to the coast tomorrow, but will post some pictures when I can.
Thanks for your inspiration Tony. Came at a good time!

Just a short note to our friends in sunny Queensland. Everyone I know is watching our TV's, and admiring your ability to weather this terrible storm.
So many Victorians have moved up their in the last 40 years, that all of us have good friends and relatives in you fine State.
We pray for you, we worry for you.
We are all doing what we can to help. Please stay safe and we hope your recovery is swift and easier than we can possibly imagine.
God Bless !!

Cheers
Rod

2011 January 14  Friday

Its raining and its pouring, so decided not to go over the mountain today.
According to the rain gauge we have had 30mm since last night, which is about 100mm since Sunday
So we are out of the flood belt, although I do have the Yackandandah creek diverting through the bottom paddock at the moment.
Looks like the Western area of Victoria cops it this time. Tony left for Bendigo about 0600 this morning, He had to drive through flood water near Rushworth, and found several roads closed around Huntley where he lives. Maybe if he left an hour later he would not have got through.
More disturbing pictures from Queensland, as the huge clean up begins. Poor poor people!! I hope it goes well for you all.

You will notice the pillar top right? another one is out of shot to the left. The idea is to build a foam hill around these pillars, halfway up the back drop, which should get rid of them visually.
The space in between will be a wheat silo on slightly higher ground (as Glenrowan?) A run around long enough to hold 14 hoppers and an engine with a gravity feed from empty storage to loaded storage. Up trains departing the Helix will set back into the silo and place empties. Down trains will drive in and pick up loads.
I think it will look pretty good, and of course as Auscision have supplied me so many hoppers, I just had to add several silos to the plan.

 SG on the inside parallels the BG towards the rock Quarry at the other end of the room.

The BG, although connected, is still to be fixed into place. The SG divides here into a loop. In fact this will be detailed to look like a normal 970 m crossing loop. However it will in fact be a very long (37 m long) storage and staging loop, being the actual Helix itself. I envisage stacking trains in No2 Rd and allowing trains to circulate via No 1 Rd. Here the SG rails will be moved and laid side by side with the bg (yet to be fixed down) 

 Whilst Tony was laying such nice track, I moved onto the branch line. I cut all the cross pieces and ply out, and using a string line set the fairly steep gradient. Cut and fixed risers in place, glued and nailed the cut ply in position. The cut off ply was placed to support the foam.
I did receive a new hot wire cutter from Rail'N'Thusiast. Bought a Woodlands Scenics version which he had in stock. Now you all know by now, I live three hundred km's from the smoke! I rang the shop about midday, and the Postman delivered it to me at 10.30 am the following day... WoW!!
I know the kudos belong with the Post Office, but the shop keeper must have parcelled it up and dispatched it after hanging up the phone!! Now that is Service  

The string line is not shown off to advantage here, however the idea was to set it under the ply, so that the risers levelled to the line, allowed the ply to sit exactly where it should.

 The gradient is pretty steep, so I placed a fairly tight S Bend in to make it all look a bit better.

 Code 70 track in foam will connect and follow the edge. Foam will simulate steep falling bank.

And today I started to extend the new base towards the "Bowser" connection with the main line

So that's it for now, a little more accomplished and the dream takes a half step forward
Cheers
Rod

2011 January 19 Wednesday so far a cool day

Spent a few hours setting up the baseboard linking the old exhibition layout in the middle of the room with the main layout on the end wall. Moving slowly towards a connection, however I was rudely interrupted from baseboard building today when this was delivered  

 

  
 On its delivery run from the Caroline Springs Workshops.
The Norman Car will complete the BG Passenger train.
I am extremely happy with this carriage. At first I thought the purchase rather extravagant. But to see it like this, only reinforces my original decision to purchase. Eric you are amazing! 

 A view much loved by many thousands of Victorians, back doing what it was designed for.
Please do not get carried away with the rivet detail. The camera hides the illusion the model presents when viewed on the track. I had honestly not noticed till I saw the pictures  

 Full interior and complete under body detail. Good general finish, excellent painting and decaling, perfectly matching the earlier cars I purchased. I expect the mods to the Powerline cars will height match the cars as well.

 
I guess I need a dining car?

 How is that for an Interior?

 My previous diaphragm conversion needs to be closer coupled.

 mixing a few finished cars into the train. I have the two vans already, and managed to get some Argentine bogies from Eric when he still had the shop.
http://www.railscalemodels.com.au
If the site is still not working contact Eric
Eric (VHC) (Railscale​models)
eric@railscalemodels.com.au
I highly recommend this model to you!
Cheers
Rod Young

Edit March 2013 Unfortunately Eric has been very ill, and has had to close Railscale Models down, in Jan 2013)

 

2010 October 10

2010 October 10 (to 12)  (Page 20 of 35)

Its time to finish the Helix!

Roger's Helix is on the go once again. I never had the heart to finish it. Roger had done such a great job starting it off, and I was uncertain how to finish it and so it sat waiting his return.
Not sure what he is thinking here, but perhaps that is just as well  

The first thing to do was add 6 extra supports. The ply board was sagging a little. The extra supports did the job nicely.

9 1/2 hours on and we are starting the top level.  Roger setting up and gluing the track, whilst I select track clean it up, adjust sleepers and solder droppers to each piece laid.

 

 Nearly a day later and the job is finished, Site clean up in progress.

S306 and T385 with 21 bogies equal to 42 weighs 1365 tonnes departs Wanganella with Driver Lloyd in charge forms the first train into the Helix helps to bed the new track down. Roger took the train to the top at a steady 50 KPH and the track passed testing with flying colours. The train later reversed all the way to the bottom, under the watchful eyes of the construction crew, before being commissioned as suitable for Class 1 Main line by the Company.

 Finally the level change has been completed. Roger's Helix is an excellent addition to the Railway..

 S306 at the summit crossing over the line as it enters the main line at the grain siding.

 The S bend once more.

 At 2049 hours Roger brings the first train to a stand at the baulks, for the first time.
Excellent two day session, and the Company is gratified to have his expertise and company these last few days.

Is that a happy and satisfied man or not?
 Thanks mate I really appreciate your help. Don't think I could have put that monster together without you, I know I couldn't have!  :D

Cheers All
Now I have to link the BG track to the branch, hopefully that will be the easy bit :)

Rod

 2010 November 9

notch8 wrote:

wow - that is sweet! Hey Rod when you say 21 cars = 42 cars earlier in the thread what do you actually mean?

Cheers
notch8.

The Victorian Railways system (and at least NSW too I think) way back in the old days started to use the number of carriages as a measurement.
So a road in a yard would fit 24 wagons..... (4 wheelers)
The train would depart with 55 wagons. It was limited to an engine and 65 wagons... (4 wheelers)

It was limited because a crossing station ahead it could only fit that many wagons plus an engine......

However these wagons were only 4 wheelers. When the Railways started building longer wagons, they generally put bogies under them, and the wagons were... equal to two (4 wheelers)

Much later the new rolling stock was even longer and became equal to three (4 wheelers)

So modern trains would be written up like this...
G'Day driver. we have 40 vehicles equal to 66 (4 wheelers) weight 1245 tons

And the driver knew that his engine could manage the load, and if he could fit in the loops or not, to cross another train.
Simplified but you should be able to see what it means now
Cheers
Rod

  2010 November 9 (continues)

Did a little work today. I started to re-arrange the track at the bottom of the Helix.
We could see a problem with points actually under the helix. And one Peco point lost its blade today. So I am re arranging the track to swing around the Helix. Unfortunately that has created a sharper radius than I like. Still thinking on it
Cheers
Rod

2010 December 11    Monday,

Blaady Hell!!
two weeks to Christmas
What with, my son in law borrowing the wood working tools, the compressor and the nail guns, the saw bench and using up most of my timber stored for layout construction.....

Things have almost ground to a halt here!
Anyway the extensions over the road are complete and the tools are slowly being returned, so my excuses are running out.
Purchases? Not much, however I did get some dense styrofoam delivered a month ago, and all I need is a hot wire cutter to enable me to lay out some hills, as I move the track towards Bullarto and connect up the BG. I have done some track joins, and only need to find where I hid the gas torch (Dremel) so I can repair some frogs and get the points operational. I am not buying any N Class, and so I will save my money for the 422's due end of 2011.
Hopefully I will get some track alterations completed very soon. I may have mentioned it before, but I have three points built under track in the helix. When one gave trouble I decided to remove two of them, and install them out from under the helix. So far so good! One point fitted, one to go.
This caused a 36 inch curve to be built, my smallest radius so far.
The storage road around the back of the Helix now departs two Rd in Wanganella and arrives back into three road. (Not how I wanted it, but I cannot see another way at the moment)
Anyway, enough waffle
Cheers
Rod

 

2011 January 8     Saturday

Well today is 32 C and very hot after such a cool wet start to the summer. I woke this morning feeling a lot better than I have for some time
My family is away down at Bemm River for three weeks, so my 20 month old Grand Daughter is not taking up my time, and I miss her and her brothers already
The air conditioner recently installed seems to be doing very well, and the shed is cool.
The Doctor thinks that I have a little Depression and wants me to take some pills. However I resisted his advice and instead took some vitamins and minerals for older folk, and took charge of an irritable bowl by taking a glass of Metamusil each day. Seems to be doing the trick and already I am feeling a lot better.
So maybe I can get the Helix wired in the next day or two, and get some trains running once again.
Anyway time will tell. Pretty pleased with today's work  

 

  (click on pictures to enlarge)

 

Mud map. What do I want to do? get those points out from under the Helix!
Can I gain anything else? yes longer loops on both new tracks owing to extensions outside the helix.
What do I lose? 3 Rd at Wanganella becomes less useful for storage and requires clearing for some moves on the storage siding.

 R707 arrives at Wanganella with a short goods. The middle of the train is crossing the newly installed large radius curved points and the engine is about to enter the through road. This is the first train to use the upgraded track, and is still under the authority of the Pilot man, until all electrics are completed in the near future (I hope)

 A similar view but this time showing the modified storage roads. New points were also installed here and the borrowed van is just in clear of them.
Because of serious space considerations it has been found necessary to use 3 Road to enter the two storage roads. This will cause some complications in the yard, however the Yard pilot works three shifts 6 days a week, and Management feel that the problems can be overcome. Trying to use a three way point on the loop would have been a bigger problem. Now trains can be stored away by running down the through (No2 Rd) entering one Loop or Two Loop and exiting via No3 Rd, when clear.

 Y131 with a short rake was operated through all points and crossings to ensure everything was in roadworthy condition.
A shortage of stock saw a request sent up to Wodonga for long wheelbase bogie stock. Bogie Exchange did a quick swap on the stored Etamogah box vans, however the MHG van appearing on BG bogies is certainly perplexing  

The NSW stock is sitting on the tightest Class 2 main line we envisage operating over. That is 36" for a short distance opening out to 42"
It does not look too bad in this photo.
The 4 wheelers were recently released from the re-manufacturing facility at Swan Hill. They look pretty neat as they arrive off the Helix, and track through the large radius Shinohara RH curved point. The point allows entry into a 7 m storage loop on the first level of the helix.

 Without trains you can see how we rationalised the yard. The points on the Helix and the hidden yard loop, are now out from under the helix and arranged in a far better way, hoping to prevent derailments, and over running of points.

 This view shows the hidden storage roads running out splitting into two, and returning on the other side before joining back into one line for yard entry / departure.
The curved point allows entry into either BG road on the bottom level of the helix (This will be used to hide a passenger or goods train to allow for longer runs particularly during time table sessions.
Above the curved point is the SG track which approaches from the wall of the building passes over the main line and enters the Helix at level 2. This allows the SG to stay on the wall side when it exits the Helix on the top level. 

 Not a bad looking point, modified for DCC with cuts to track, and extra wiring to frog and blades. This point is 40 years old!!

Well lets see what tomorrow brings?
Cheers and Happy New Year all

Rod Young