Newcastle the second city in NSW it was once a major business centre a City founded on the coal industry then later steal and still continues to be a major exporting hub of NSW resource's with a very active industrial Harbour the railway plays a big part in all these and as such the railway terminated in the past on the edge of the Harbour the Station moved and grew a few time as the port grew and Industry change ending with a Grand (for NSW) station building with muitpul long platforms sweeping way at the Sydney end. Lots of history in between and now it's a Ghost station with no rails and a rundown town waiting for a mythical Light rail system to arrive. This photo from FB by Greg Davis of how it is now bit like the model. The Crack Sydney-Newcastle Express service plied the rails of the Short North between Sydney Central - Newcastle and the other way Newcastle - Sydney Central several times each day famed by record time runs behind the NSWGR C38 class Pacific. Then local services originated and terminated for all stations north and south So a real variety of locomotive could be seen within the Station environment it would make a nice location to model. So to the Model Railway I have always been interested in the location who wouldn't be, with the variety of motive power seen and trains ranging from the rail workers humble single car train to the crack Newcastle Express. Part of my Grand plan for the dream O scale Model Railway has always included having some form of large terminus based on Newcastle and second a small seaside terminus called Toronto also real location on Lakemaquarie plus some other northern line scenes as part of the railway. Many years ago a friend did build a Model Railway of Newcastle in Oscale it was big and I talked to him about the layout as Ron is the type of modeller that builds a layout plus rolling stock for it, then moves on to the next model layout project. At the time this happened a group approached him saying the railway would go on display at the Newcastle show grounds for all to see as a museum type piece, So the layout went to this club/group, I believe it was displayed once at the regional Show, in between this time I was offered most of the rolling stock items built for the layout, so it could be run on the layout at show times, I took up this offer from Ron, contacted the club that had the show ground pavilion venue, only to be told that the layout had gone due to a fire risk ?? B/S was my thoughts at the time, I had asked around and had a basic idea who had the layout and eventually was told it was broken up as had water damage from storage in a leaky shed and the buildings where on another layout, the story changed several times over the last couple of years. Then 2 days days ago talking to Ron, the original layout builder he said he had word that the boards where in a garage and no longer wanted and I should look up the person and see what parts he had and a couple of phone calls later and the majority of the layouts parts were located at a couple of places within steets of each other the current owners were prepared to part with them if the plan was to reunite the parts and turn it back into a exhibition layout. Asking a few questions I was told the boards were in tact track all ok and water damage was to the platform only, It was a no brainer then get the parts together quickly then form a plan so, I made the hour trip north and retuned with most of the buildings and some of the detail parts and a set of base boards, When I saw the boards piled up in a shed with sections of track hacked out and missing altogether on one board, I knew that this will be a much bigger project than just piecing a layout back together and fixing the scenic's. Originally the layout was know at exhibitions as Ron Fox's Newcastle and had been a front cover layout of the Australian model railway mag, however by the time its resurrection is finished about all that will be Ron Fox original will be the main structures and they need lots of repairs where rats have eaten parts, removal or water damage etc etc. The up side is it's all doable I seem to have the knack for resurrecting Models, so let "The Challenge begin. O did I say it's a big layout. As it was with some big station building, structures Last photo as it was when Exhibited by Ron Fox Attached files
This is a link to a YouTube video of the layout when it was exhibited and as a promo for the mag it appeared in. https://youtu.be/IXsbSVVQ5gQ
Strange how Much in common Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle NSW have - coal, iron traffic, harbour and streamlined trains Great thread Chris, looking forward to more...... Paul
paul_l wrote: .... and having been to both many years ago, the weather depending on the time of year. Dark, damp, cold and miserable I find it really sad when a layout that has obviously had so much effort made to build initially and then exhibit, has been basically left to rot. Very best of luck with the restoration Chris, and exactly how big is big? Ed
I'm glad to see this in your hands Chris - you're probably the only person I know who could pull this all together and resurrect something like this. Ian
class48nswfan wrote: Thanks a Dave I'm going to need it when you read the next instalment Dr Tony wrote: It's quite a unique location for NSW isn't it I'm looking forward to the rebuild even if it involves some some hard decision. ed wrote: Thanks Paul & Ed Ed the scenic section is currently 6.8m plus the fiddle yard needs to be minimum 5m long however I only got 1/2 of the fiddle boards so have 2m at the moment but going to have to do something a little different I think anyway as they had ripped all the track off Sizes for the platforms from end to Buffer stops. Platform 1 length is 4.5m long Platform 2-3 are 3.7m long Platform 4 is 2m long leadie69 wrote: Thanks Ian for the vote of confidence, going to need some help when it's ready to exhibit Will need several people I think one on the express's another on the Locals and a shunter
Well it's is going to be a big project An accessment of the boards found that they weren't all in very good condition, visually at first it looked like may be able to get away with replacing the track but it looks like it's not to be Some photos Platform board No1, the current plan after accessment is to remove the platforms and build a new base board with new track etc start fresh. Ron Foxs former Newcastle layout parts not in good shape may be able to saving the crossing board but the others will need replacing due to damage and rot by CHRIS, on Flickr Platform board No2 will also get replaced platforms removed and installed on the new base board. url=https://flic.kr/p/WWyurQ][/url]Ron Foxs former Newcastle layout parts not in good shape may be able to saving the crossing board but the others will need replacing due to damage and rot by CHRIS, on Flickr Fiddle yard board all the track ripped off Ron Foxs former Newcastle layout parts not in good shape may be able to saving the crossing board but the others will need replacing due to damage and rot by CHRIS, on Flickr This is the signal box / level crossing board the only one in good condition I do plan on adding the another line in here so it will have 4 tracks crossing as per the prototype. Ron Foxs former Newcastle layout parts not in good shape may be able to saving the crossing board but the others will need replacing due to damage and rot by CHRIS, on Flickr The prototype Looking across the crossing. 2 Tracks on the right up and down main lines 2 tracks on the left, far left track rail motor/carriage siding /head shunt Inner left is head shunt / Yard arrival. Attached files
I also spent some time cleaning up the buildings Part of Platform1's building its just on 3m long one section at 2.3m long and a short section that 70cm long these are 3/4 relief buildings so don't have the non platform side modelled also has lights inside incandescent globes that will be replaced with some warm white LED's Newcastle Station buildings by CHRIS, on Flickr There is some damage to repair url=https://flic.kr/p/XtHoPu][/url]Newcastle Station buildings by CHRIS, on Flickr Newcastle Station buildings by CHRIS, on Flickr Newcastle Station buildings by CHRIS, on Flickr
This is what all the scenic boards look like set out the legs weren't with the layout boards so can't really set it up so a quick set out on the driveway over 6m worth dosnt look that big like this
OMG! that is going to be one heck of a project . I really hope that you will be able to get it up and running again, I reckon there are going to be more than a few hours spent on the restoration, I wish I could get involved as it looks to be a really worth while project. If anyone is going to do it its you mate . Good luck, cheer's, Pete.
jakesdad13 wrote: Thanks Pete I spent an hour and a half on the phone with the orignal builder tonight He is happy that I have rescued the layout, he has copy's of the back scene art work etc he is sending down, thankfully he has found some spare sheets of the orignal brick paper so that's a bonus and it will make the building repairs a lot easier We were up at Newcastle late this afternoon and I grabbed a few photos of the station platforms and signal box as they are now with no tracks in sight, just grass. Newcastle Signal Box and Station Area 2017 by CHRIS, on Flickr Newcastle Signal Box and Station Area 2017 by CHRIS, on Flickr
