Comtrain goes H0! H0! H0!

2019/04/09

2019_04_09 Bit of an update?

2019_04_09 I guess I have been lost lately, but I am now starting to get back to work..Yeeiii!

At first, I decided to get back to reconditioning the 30 engines in the Q awaiting reassembly after attempting sound conversions. Have a habit of putting incomplete projects in plastic bins whilst I await parts to finish them off... yeah? well 30 bins is a hell of a job!

But first here are some shots taken at Sandown last month.

First the production samples of the Auscision early series Class 44

Next we have the Powerline Victorian Railways Z cars (Waiting 20 years for these)

Unfortunately the glass gets in the way. Hope they fix the seats.

Then Auscision showed samples of their Victorian Tait's (Red Rattlers)

Lots of goodies here, including soon to be released RUB set up top. (Daylight to Melbourne folk)

The NR samples were there too.

Ok so whats happening at Hobsons Bay North?
(continued next)

Cheers
Rod

2019_04_08 Yackandandah Railway...today.

2019_04_08 Been some changes at Yackandandah ,lately!

Was fueling the truck up at Yack today and noticed these old W&W coaches in the yard.

And here is the Wodonga Gantry recovered after station was closed. (Suspect it was from loop or coal siding, as station gantry was left in place at Wodonga. Pity it has been spoiled though.

The van has a small model of Yack Railway inside. Darren will make you quiet welcome.

The building appears to be a bit of an Arts facility, and I believe a bit of glass and steel was recovered from the demolition of Spencer Street Station. See if you recognize some decals on glass panels

The old crane was restored. Even looks like it would be operable!

The original station was on the left, however it was knocked over to accomadate the Council works yard employees. Notice the water tank and the last set of buffers has also been removed.

But nestled behind a surplus Army shed is the original Yackandandah goods shed.

Platform edges are in view in several places

Cheers
Rod Young

2019/03/03

2019_03_03 Canopy corners??

2019_03_03 After some emails I needed to add some more pictures.

Some are asking how did we join the end section to the rest? Buggered if I know I said ;(

As Graeme designed it, I just helped him put it together. The wonder of it all as it fell into place :)

Hope that helps :D

Cheers
Rod

2019/03/02

2019_03_02 Continuing with the overhead canopy.

2019_03_02 The canopy comes together.

Ran out of materials.

The assembly is really strong, even on the middle peninsular, where one square tube supports both sides .
Thanks Graeme for helping me to do this. I watched it unfold, but did not understand the design till I saw it Ha Ha. Looks great!
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