I am also considering writing some sort of very simple random traffic generator in Excel which will tell me how many wagon loads of each product have to get from location to location e.g. 12 wagonloads of grain from fiddle yard to Wallace Creek etc and then having to respond as a freight operator and get the wagons into the right position etc. But that's for another day as I'm just back from the York show and busy painting new scenery bits and bobs.
The first two running sessions of the year have taken place at Wallace Creek. Star of the show was new Bendigo models T class T326 but new (well second hand) loco 4807 was also out and about. L-R T326 at Mowarra Junction/G53 shunting the silo at Wallace Creek, 4807 passes T326 at the end of the day/4807 and 48121 in the gorge section
yes - a few more to come and then that will be it for a while due to one of my children going to college and having to pay for it. Here is another picture of T326 this time at the Mowarra Junction fuelling point (note to self - sort out edging).
Not really part of this thread but I was rummaging around on the internet and found this link to a trackplan of Bombaderry. This location is where I have imagined the line continues southwards to Mowarra Junction and Wallace Creek but I always thought it would make a good modelling project in its own right. Not sure what the layout of the siding us (a run round loop within the industrial site perhaps?). file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/Illawarra%20(South%20Coast)%20Intercity%20%20Line%20-%20Waterfall%20to%20Bomaderry.PDF
Very cold session out in the garage today. Hope things warm up soon. Still it was a good session with those old Lima locos - 42213, 4483 and 4464 - still doing sterling service. Working on two pipe bridges to break up the long Mowarra Juction side a bit.
From Railway Digest May 198? A 24 hour traffic survey was undertaken in that little known railway outpost that runs south of Bombaderry through Jervis Creek, Mowarra and Wallace Creek and eventually across the border to Orbost. Traffic was observed at Wallace Creek over a 24 hour period and a good mixture of NSW and Victorian stock was observed throughout the day. The policy of the depot at Mowarra Junction to re-paint some locos into original NSW and VR liveries is a nod to the successful cooperation between the two organisations in the area where rail traffic just 10 years ago looked likely to finish. Access to the area is still difficult by road and air so the two passenger services per day to Wallace Creek (where they terminate)which connect at Bombaderry for Sydney trains are reasonably well used and there is pressure for an additional service to run. It is hoped V-line can be persuaded to provide a passenger service Freight traffic is buoyant with steel and oil traffic dominating although the new container terminal at Mowarra Junction is getting busier. A few Per Way movements were noted towards the end of the day in preparation for weekend engineering works with 8181 working a Crane through Wallace Creek late in the day. Silverton Rail also operate in the area with two of their locos 48s35 and 442s5 (both in appalling external condition) operating grain services to the Silo at Wallace Creek. Newly repainted T Class T326 put these interlopers in their place hauling a short tanker train of loco fuel for Mowarra Junction. Loop length along the route remains short which, with one exception, limits train lengths. The exception is the 0625 Enfield Yard (Sydney) to Mowarra Junction and 2123 return working known locally as the “Enfield Vans”. On the day in question this arrived behind 4205 and returned in the evening behind 4825 and 4836 (the latter still wearing its 125 of NSW railways livery). Unusually two trains visited the cement terminal at Wallace Creek – X38 arrived (and departed) early in the day and then 48121 turned up on some NPRYs around 1900. Other traffic saw members of 44, 48, B, T and Y all operating in the area. A call in at Mowarra Junction the following day noted F208 on shunting duties. All in all an interesting 24 hours and an area well worth a visit for the discerning enthusiast. Just avoid the local pies.
Found this for you in regards to Bomaderry... The industrial siding off to the right goes to the Manildra sidings on Bolong Road (manufacturing of gluten, starch & ethanol), the paper factory and the dairy, which are all along the shore line of the Shoalhaven River. The whole Illawarra line can be found here : https://railsafe.org.au/diagrams/drivers-route-knowledge-diagrams Cheers, Gary.
Thanks Gary - I used google earth to work out the Manildra sidings layout - can't remember where I left the sketch though..........
After soldering my least favourite task is trying to repair rolling stock. Not helped by failing eyesight and complete cack-handedness the occupation of the study by a completely ravenous carpet monster (if only I could get a photo - that would win me the latest competition!) is also a frustration. Still in 90 minutes I have managed to repair seven wagons (although one is a botch) and although there are a few more to do the last one took 25 minutes just trying to get a small screw into a small hole. Oh to have the gift of dexterity! Still the proof of the pudding will be in a test run tomorrow.
After a few tweaks 5 of the 7 did. The botch didn't work and a very old container wagon would just not stay on the rails.
Not sure if this qualifies for the current Platform competition but Joey and Skippy trainspotting from Kangaroo Hill (in reality and old snake cave converted into a hill!)
After my last foray on e-bay ended in near disaster I had vowed not to buy anything else for a good while. However an imminent household financial embargo is due so barring some UK stuff which is still on order (grrr seethe etc) I spotted a couple of tank wagons that would go well with other recent purchases as part of my mixed thank set. Well purchase successful and the seller then having sorted out the post for the UK kindly added a rather attractive gondola to the package. It all arrived today and had its first run out on a very brief evening session (early start away on business tomorrow). So many thanks to e-bayer redluom.123 - you sir are a true gent and rail enthusiast and I hope you enjoy these pictures of your wagons in their new home.
I have just finished a quick evening session at Wallace Creek where the Wallace Creek Surfing festival started today and unusually a four carriage passenger train consisting of a KB parcel van, a BS and FS carriages and an MHO brake van. I should add my knowledge of Aussie coaching stock could be written on the back of a postage stamp in felt tip! The parcels van and brake are used to store the boards whilst the surfers enjoy an unofficial refreshment bar set up in one of the carriages by local rail staff. Four carriages is too long for the platform at Mowarra Junction so the working instruction is that the parcels van and two carriages must call at the station whilst the MHO hangs off the back. This means some space for Mowarra surfers surf boards has to be left in the KB although having picked up passengers down the coast seats are in short supply. On arrival at Wallace Creek where the platform is also too short the train arrives and boards from the KB and all the passengers are detrained before the locomotive draws forward so the remaining boards can be unloaded from the MHO. Once the throng has departed for the beach the crew needs to remarshal the train for the return journey which involves switching the MHO and KB for the return trip to ensure it complies with the Wallace Street local instruction (and to add to the operational interest). I only used three locos in this session – all candy liveried to match the passenger rolling stock – with 4464 on that whilst 8175 and 48121 worked freights.
A new arrival for my UK mini layout which is a Port of London Authority Janus 0-6-0 diesel shunter made by the Yorkshire Engine Co. Its a Golden Valley model and also purchased three PLA mineral wagons. Gave it all a run on Wallace Creek with my UK goods stock.
If you move a little closer I may just consider that! Alternatively next time I visit Aus I'll put it in the suitcase.