Hi all, I haven't posted for a few weeks. Ron from Newark on Trent suggested that I have a name in mind for my layout so here goes: Unfortunately I have been on holidays up north at Port Macquarie (Aussies will know what I mean) others can picture a sunny beach, dolphins jumping out of the water, man sitting on the breakwater fishing rod dancing about etc.... But I have been going through a lot of NSW country railway track plans from various eras, just to confuse myself. Well I have somewhat arrived at a fictional NSW country town that requires a variety of goods and uses rail transport for some livestock as well. It is also on a main branch line so traffic is steady across a large time period. I like steam and diesel. I have decided to use the name Split Creek as there are many unusual country names, such as Possum Brush (also liked this), Clear Ridge, Quandary (definitely another good one for me), Moomdoolbool (drunk pollie must have named it), and Green Swamp Road. I have attached a JPG of a plan using AnyRail 6 free. let me know what you think or if you think a change would improve it. Currently it is 8' by 22" and I plan to expand both ends to run off boards and maybe future layout expansion. Regards, Graeme Attached files
Hi Graeme, My opinion would be to move the loop line point on the right back behind the loading ramp siding point and add a headshunt to the loop line. A precautionary section to stop trains in the loop from running out on to the main. Cheers, Gary.
Thanks for the story behind the layout. I like the name as well. The track plan looks exciting although I'm not the best to judge from an operational point of view. I usually enlist the help of Gary and the other for that. Certainly looks great. when is the build commencing ? Cheers Toto
Hi Graeme Looks great. Seems like we're birds of a feather with NSW branch lines. I would print that out and lay it on your baseboard or on the floor to get a feel for how long your sidings and run around are. Bogie wagons can take up quite a bit of room. Keep us updated Reidy
Thanks Gary, I like your insight and will include the suggested change. It will help local movements and add interest. Graeme
Looks a great project Greame, I like branch type layouts with lots of shunting of goods vehicles, keep us informed with progress . Cheer's, Pete.
One other noticeable issue is that there is no head shunt for the Sadliers siding. Any locomotive that needs to shunt the sadliers siding needs to use the engine workshop as a head shunt. This revised drawing may resolve that issue, which includes eliminating the right hand point to the sadliers siding and replacing with a single slip. Cheers, Gary.
Thanks for the advice Gary, I've updated my plan and it looks good to me. Thx to Reidy too, I figured out how to print it 1:1 and have laid it across my foam baseboard. I'll update with some photos later this week showing some further construction. But now I'll have to go out and buy a slip point - thx Gary Graeme Attached files
Nice revisions of the plan Graeme the slip will give you some interesting shunting options. One thing you may want to consider is having the loco shed only cover one of the two tracks and have the oil / fuel depots track fully accessible for spotting a tank car to unload. May even be worth switching the positions of the oil/Fuel with the engine facility's this will give a longer loco and a spot for a fuel tanker
This fuel and shed position was something I discover at one of the many NSW towns I looked at (can't remember which one) and it gave me the idea. Also Saddlers is at the end of the Enfield yard in Sydney so I can get photos there and model like the original, but in my scene.
Sadliers Transport, just off Punchbowl Road... One covered siding and a loop line. Not much room at the headshunt end (South end), just enough for a loco to run around the train ! I noticed on the way home from work a rake of the old green Sadliers Transport RLUY/RLSY louvered vans sitting in a siding, off Weeroona Road, Chullora... If you ever need pics, let me know. Cheers, Gary.
Hi Gary, Yes I have made progress, .... but I got sidetracked (pun) and have been making a small British shelf layout as well, after looking at all the small industrial layouts. I'll take some photos and put them up soon.