Comtrain goes H0! H0! H0!: 10/23/20

2020/10/23

2020_10_23 New Helix track work starts and more signals!

2020_10_23 Al starts on laying out the helix track

Double standard gauge track from Indonesian points creates storage roads and an escape to other half of room which will simulate trains arriving from Junee, North of Albury.

Te first couple of meters is laid in at about 46 and 48 inches radius. (Using Tam Valley wooden track gauges)

About half the first level in.

And almost a full level in place. free rolling rolling stock moves slowly down the 1.5% grade at a constant speed. A testimony to the fine work of Ron and Steve (from Hobsons Bay MRC) who built this helix.

It took about 12 hours to get this far, however we modified our methods slightly and expect things to pick up a bit now.

And of course whilst Al slaved away on the helix, I continued with the rewire and connecting up the servo point motors and Tan Valley DCC switches. (singlets)

Signalling

During the week McKenzie and HOLland also attended to test fit the Down home gantry signal (post 10 and 10b) and start preparations for the new Honeysuckle down end lever frame.

Will need to adjust the track to make this work

Damn next job is to cut away all that unused wiring and attach the led dimmers!

The points for the runaround road should not be off the main line at this point Instead they will be moved to connect with the yard access near the pass cars

In the meantime, I have continued to upgrade wiring, repair rolling stock and fit sound etc slowly catching up with a lot of unfinished business.

Cheers

Rod

About my Railway

The Australian National Railways was established by the Whitlam Federal Government following a commitment made in the 1972 election to invite the states to hand over their railway systems to the federal government. In July 1975 Australian National Railways was formed taking over the operations of the federal government owned Commonwealth Railways.

The state governments of South Australia and Tasmania whose railway systems were deeply in debt, accepted. During the next two years discussions between these two states and the federal government resulted in a number of staffing and operating agreements being made that resulted in all South Australian Railways services (except for the Adelaide metropolitan passenger network) and all Tasmanian Government Railways services transferring to Australian National Railway in March 1978, the latter being re-branded AN Tasrail.

At first Victoria declined to hand over its Railways, however a change of Government after Bolte retired meant Victoria could be absorbed into AN as well.
Despite doing everything they could to tarnish ALP leader Clyde Holding, The ALP were able to defeat Hamer who was seen to be just another Bolte, doing more of the same into the future.

Clyde Holding handed over Victorian Railways to the Commonwealth where it prospered as a division of AN retaining its VR colours until later when AN decided to re-brand it as V/Line.

My Railway thus reflects what could have been ;)
And of course National Rail (Pacific National) has no place in my little scenario. Australian National was never privatised and has continually taken East Coast loads off the Highways. As well many branch lines were upgraded and Whitlam's policy of decentralisation actually moved employment to towns with a ready pool of workers, which of course took the pressure of Melbourne which was starting to expand as bush kids moved away from the Country in search of education and employment ( just as Gough Whitlam envisaged it would do)
Rod Young

Comtrain goes H0! H0! H0!

2020/10/23

2020_10_23 New Helix track work starts and more signals!

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