Wallace Creek

Discussion in 'Members Personal Layouts' started by class48nswfan, Jul 23, 2017.

  1. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Thanks Ed and Gary. Your freedom of Wallace Creek certificates along with a scale HO case of Victoria Bitter are in the post.http://www.click
     
  2. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,535
    Likes Received:
    2,071
    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2015
    Brilliant :avatar::avatar:

    Pete.
     
  3. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

    Messages:
    745
    Likes Received:
    373
    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2016
    Now listen here Dave. In my Dargan thread at least I only rewrote the geography and some of the history of the Blue Mountains but I did stop short of adjusting most of the history of NSW and Victoria. I also had the decency to leave the Victorians alone, although I cannot recall just why. The read was a nice adjunct to this heavenly red I am demolishing at the moment but I shall read it again in the cold of day to ascertain just what the impact of the red has been.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
  4. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    A new second-hand loco this week (is that an oxymoron?) - my fifth Powerline 48 Class.
     
  5. Dr Tony

    Dr Tony Full Member

    Messages:
    588
    Likes Received:
    668
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2017
    I've got a real soft spot for the Powerline 48, I'm assuming based on your photos they are the original one with the power bogie and traction tyres, not the more highly detailed one.
    They just seem to have that "look", which to me is more important than outright detail.
    I have three Powerline ones, one Trax (almost same thing), one new Powerline and a Train-o-rama.
    My candy Powerline gets the most use of all these.
    Cheers
    Tony
     
  6. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

    Messages:
    745
    Likes Received:
    373
    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2016
    I have two of the original Powerline versions with the traction tyres but as they have not been converted to DCC operation I just use them as static displays on a dead section of track. I thought about the trainorama version but then Auscision announced theirs at a far lower proce so I am patiently awaiting delivery of my trio of 48s. I opted for the DCC with sound versions. Thought they would be my Chrissy present but Auscision say early in the new year. They had production samp;es at Liverpool and they look great.

    I will post a review when they arrive.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
  7. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    9,848
    Likes Received:
    5,902
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    Congrats on Pic of the week - well done
     
  8. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

    Messages:
    15,419
    Likes Received:
    3,842
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2017
    Great image of some serious muscle
    cheers
    toto
     
  9. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    3,323
    Likes Received:
    545
    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2015
    Congrats on POTW
    Really enjoy following your Adventures with Wallace Creek
     
  10. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    7,316
    Likes Received:
    3,847
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    Congrats on PotW, well deserved. :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

    Speaking of the 48 Class, didn't Suzi Quatro write a song about the 48 Class ??

    "Watch Out!
    You know the 48 Class come like a lightning flash, 48 Class, 48 Class...
    And the 48 Class is a branch line smash 48 Class, 48 Class...
    48 Class, 48 Class...
    Come like a lightning flash, a lightning flash
    And it's a branch line smash, a branch line smash, that's the 48 Class..."

    :avatar::avatar:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  11. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Many thanks to all for the POTW congrats. Yes its another basic early Powerline version - 4807 in blue. I have some photos which I think are too big (4mb) for the site so will reduce and try and post.With regard Ms Quattro (still hot at 67) - I rather fear Gary's alternative version of her song may not catch on but we live in hope. Perhaps if we translate it into the Wallace Creek dialect?
    The early 48s are terrific little models - being clumsy of hand they are nice and solid and thus far very reliable. As well as 4807 I have 4825/4836/48s35 and 48121. What I lack is a Tuscan one at the moment...whether I go for a Traino/Auscision or an improved Powerline one remains to be seen.
    Cheers
    Dave
     
  12. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,331
    Likes Received:
    1,588
    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2015
    Wonderful :avatar::avatar::avatar:

    Ian vt
     
  13. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    So I cycled over to the gym tonight ( a great coffee and cake shop to offset any unlikely progress in the right direction) and the song under my breath????48 Class! Thank you Gary!

    :thumbs::thumbs:
    Dave

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  14. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Some new "shinies" on the way - suddenly the beginning of the new Wallace Creek operating season does not feel so far away. All trucks - no locos. where is that postman!
     
    jakesdad13 likes this.
  15. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    So a month later and not much to report on the Wallace Creek except some new wagons are on the way....oh and my inside 5 x 4 layout is under construction and will be British Rail 1970s outline (although Aussie stock will run from time to time). It started life as 6 x 4 layout but is known as Honeypot Lane Industrial Estate. I will start a thread at some point but a quick update on Wallace Creek. Firstly some new wagons - 5 x SDS models NRY 38’ Ice Chilled Boxcars have arrived as well. Now I saw these cheap on an e-bay site (not SDS models but believe it or not Toto toys:scratchchin:) and before you could say Jack Robinson I secured what I though was a deal.


    "Oh no!", I said when they arrived "they have no wheels!". An e-mail was promptly despatched overseas and the seller wrote back stating "no wheels - you could put them on a flat wagon". Clearly no help coming from that quarter. I then wrote to SDS to see if they could send me some wheels and asking if they knew someone was selling their models incomplete. Steven at SDS replied letting me know that he could dig out some bogies and explaining that "These were leftovers from an assembly contractor our guys used whilst they were between factories many years ago. We have no control over what they are selling but fortunately it was only some end of run items that they bought from the sub contractor after we left their factory". Still I had the bogies at a very decent price and thought I'd throw in an additional green chemical wagon for mixed trains and occasional HLIE use so all's well - just avoid the dodgy e bay sellers!
    Oh and I tried building a building from Balsa Wood,.......not sure I want to share a picture of that though.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2018
    jakesdad13 likes this.
  16. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    The cold weather seems to be thankfully relenting, so last weekend I tidied out the garage (a job in itself) and cleaned the Wallace Creek side of the layout. New (second hand in reality) 4807 did the honours testing all sidings and running lines with no significant problems. This weekend it was the turn of the Mowarra Creek side with my new acquisitions for my small UK shunting layout (Honeypot Lane Industrial Estate) running in (they are Bachmann locomotives) . 08705 and D2334 ran numerous circuits and with the exception of one piece of soldering (accompanied by usual cursing) the layout is ready for action. The buildings are out but not the trees and rocks, so if time allows this weekend (York model rail show and bad weather notwithstanding) some Aussie stock ill be out and running. I also built a very simple balsa wood barrier for the fiddle yard and narrow goods platform. A surprise windfall has seen new locos for both Wallace Creek and Honeypot Lane Industrial Estate purchased but they have yet to arrive.
    I have been attempting to scratch-build buildings for the first time - strictly beginners stuff but somehow very rewarding. I have downloaded some scale scenes material but they look a bit flat. A post on the Platform 1RMC Facebook page suggested a coating of clear acrylic might help so I'll give that a go.
    I have also been experimenting with weathering using a dust wash which I rather like. Some photos will follow at some point if I can remember where I left the camera.
     
  17. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    7,316
    Likes Received:
    3,847
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    That's a real b*mmer about the NRN's with no bogies. At least Steven at SDS has helped you out. Looking forward to a few pics of your balsa building and other Scalescene buildings you have been working on.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  18. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Yes - my language was somewhat choice.
     
  19. class48nswfan

    class48nswfan Full Member

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    184
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    OPERATIONS AT WALLACE CREEK

    Now for me this is the whole point of the layout and my philosophy was always something that was going to be challenging and fun to operate. Now firstly I must acknowledge that I am lucky enough to have a decent space to operate in. I was always worried that if I did build a railway I’d lose interest too quickly. Naturally some of us have different philosophies – my mate Nick for instance likes to set a train going and then crack open a bottle of something appropriate and watch his trains going round although I am opening him up to the concept of freight operations WC style!

    Not that I’m against that as one of my operating scenarios is the “and a half”. Basically my trains go from one side of the garage to the other, so rather than just a short run trains do at least one and a half circuits. More if I have something appropriate (so not Victoria Bitter). At least one time during a session I have three trains out and will run them around the layout one and a half times until all possible combinations have been looped at Mowarra Junction (2 trains can pass) and Wallace Creek (3 trains can pass).

    The start of each session consists of two moves – a freight train moves from the fiddle yard to the loop at Mowarra Junction and is held. A short time later a passenger train follows and calls in the platform and then departs for Wallace Creek. Passenger trains are normally formed of a carriage (yes really!), a second carriage or a mail van and a brake van. On arrival the loco runs round and then one of the Wallace Creek local instructions kicks in.

    The purpose of these local instructions is to make operating the locations more interesting. This particular instruction states that the brake van must always be at the back of the departing service (which departs in the opposite direction). It’s rare for a passenger service to depart straight back so the brake van is shunted to the carriage siding followed by the other vehicles. At some stage the previously recessed freight generally runs through Wallace Creek, and then the passenger locomotive works light engine to the MPD at Mowarra Junction. Another working instruction limits the number of wagons that can be shunted via each end of the station (6 SLUs with a GY wagon being 1 SLU).

    After that, in a freelance sessions, it’s a question of what stock is out and following a logical (?) sequence of events. Now when I say logical of course let’s remember it’s a model railway so a freight train that has run round the layout one way might reverse direction at Wallace Creek, change locomotive at Mowarra Junction, recess for an opposite direction or as described above a same direction pass or just stop for a crew change.

    When I started the layout I was planning to run block trains only. The lure of the mixed goods has proved too much, so sometimes its mixed goods only, other times block trains only and but generally it’s a mix of both. I don’t have enough brake vans for all trains so generally block trains have no brake vans and mixed trains do. That may change (he said eyeing the SDS models page).

    I do have a “timetable” which has been designed around freight and passenger flows. Taking each wagon set (and including two mixed sets) a sequence was worked out with a number of trains operating each hour. Its not a real time Timetable but rather an order of operations and whilst I tried to ensure all locations had enough capacity to deal with their trains. There are a couple of conflicts in the timetable which means the operator has to think on his feet which adds to the fun.

    I also have a number of scenarios that I run that makes things more interesting. These include:-

    · Surfing Festival – 2 passenger trains operating to Wallace Creek at once whilst maintaining regular freight services.
    · Grain season – all three grain trains run
    · Victorian only – Victorian locos only
    · NSW only
    · Focus on steel, oil, intermodal etc
    · Mixed train only

    Another constraint which adds to the challenge is the mix of coupling types – Kadee and Powerline/Lima types. I have experimented with supplying locos and stock with couplings at each end but it does not really work operationally. So this is an additional complexity in WC operations. WC is coming up for 10 years old now and I still find different combinations and trains to run and get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

    I’d be interested to hear of anyone else’s thoughts on operations.
     
    jakesdad13 likes this.
  20. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    7,316
    Likes Received:
    3,847
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    Interesting read about your train operations. I have yet to write out an operations schedule, then again, I need to finish my larger North American layout for that to happen !

    Cheers, Gary.
     

Share This Page