Wallace Creek

Rumbled on the VB front - yes please!

 

Wallace Creek is now closed for the year - this year has seen the gradual conversion of wagons and locos to kadee operation and the winter should see this complete. I am considering a change at Mowarra Junction so I can pass longer trains. Not quite settled on what exactly yet but watch this space as they say.
I thought I would add a few pictures during the winter of the various freight rolling stock types that run at WC. The two pictures below are of NOFF wagons - a New South wales design primarily used for Zinc Sulphate traffic. After this traffic ceased some found use as PW wagons whilst others were converted into shunters floats.

On Wallace Creek there are 12 of these vehicles - 9 are used for ballast traffic whilst 3 are used for general goods (non prototypical but it adds interest to NSW mixed goods trains).

 

Its winter time at Wallace Creek and the layout is hibernating beneath the junk the family have been putting on it awaiting the new year dump trips. Mrs Wells (to you lot....and err me) spent November in Australia and I was privileged to see Richard and Gary's layouts whilst there. I did of course indulge in a little rail activity and attached are a few photos reflecting activity in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania. I managed to visit the splendid Casula Hobbies in Liverpool (Sydney) and came away with some new shinies which I will get round to photographing and posting. Basically one second-hand loco (NSW 42105), a very handsome parcels van and a couple of odd wagons to add to the mixed freight pool. I also attempted a Saturday afternoon (I was flying in the evening and still had some dollars to spend) visit to Aurora models in Yerrongpilly (Brisbane) only to find the shop closed. Should have checked the website rather than just assuming "its Saturday it will be open". Still got my eye on the Victorian S and E wagons although I suspect the former is sold out. Cannot find these at any other retailers. Oh I did pop into the big hobby shop in Sydney CBD but that had little of Australian interest and I won't bother next time I am over.

In other news I have just bid for an Austrains Class 80 in Pacific National Blue to supplement the more modern day operations at Wallace Creek.
I have also started working on a budget plank layout for the winter and to operate my UK stock on. My old small layout bit the dust last year (not helped by the fact its storage space was demolished) so using scrap materials from the afore mentioned garage, work on that is under way.



The photos are l-r TT class at Glenfield, national Park station Tasmania, New Norfolk Tasmania (Derwent Valley Railway), Class Y shunters at Southern Cross, a VL and B class at Dynon, Class G at Marrickville, QR Tilt train at Brisbane Roma Street

 

It was closed! Bad planning on my part so I had to admire the gems inside from afar. Still I saw an X class (in fact two) which partly made up for it. I think I travelled behind a V class 10 years back on the Queenstown Railway from Strahan but very similar (if not identical) to the Uk Class 04.

 

Well that's Xmas done with and now with some time to myself a little time to review things. First of all I have a second 80 Class this time in rather vivid Pacific National livery blue livery. I have applied some white wash to it to make it look a little careworn and picked out the cables in the front. Some grubbying of the various engine grills will follow and then the below body work will start. For the new UK plank I got the peco platform kit which I put together this afternoon and my quest for a Derby Lightweight may have been answered by another model railway chum (not on this site) who has recently gone over to O gauge and is getting rid of all his old 1960s stock. Spent a couple of hours operating his new O gauge layout which was very pleasant (SR branch terminus). Also on the Xmas stash were some telegraph poles and a static grass starter kit.
Keeping my eye on a hugely overpriced 48 Class on UK e-bay. Hoping the price will come down but turning my thoughts to the Bobs Hobbies (Trainorama) 47 and 49 class which were due to hit the streets last month. Anyone knows whether they are on their way?

 

Thanks Tony and Gary - I am always reluctant to purchase up front and if the 44s are not there yet then I can't see the 47/49s being there any time soon. Tracking a very overpriced Powerline Mark 1 Austrac 48 in the UK ($320) on E Bay - no offers yet (unsurprisingly).
On the modelling front the UK plank is coming along nicely - the theme is a derelict outpost somewhere in East London with a little bit of remaining freight traffic and an occasional works passenger train. The 80 class has been roughed up and is waiting a spray of grime to finish it off. The platforms have been assembled and I have dropped some grass scatter ion to make it look overgrown and underused. I have a Great Eastern style signal box on order and then reusing some of the buildings that live on Wallace Creek during the summer only the back drops remain.
The main backdrop is a Victorian factory which is a digital download (from https://www.modelrailwayscenery.com/1930s-factory-backscene-element--bx006--oo4mm176-84-p.asp) which will actually stand independently from the main layout (but hard up against it). I downloaded this and glued it to a piece of scrap wood and it looks OK.
The family camera has sadly stopped working but the kids (now grown up) tell me I can use a mobile phone to take pictures. Whatever next - radio with pictures?
Have a happy new year you all.


Dave

 

Scenic work under way on the new plank.

 

A little more progress today.....

 

The plank has taken a back seat and a return to kadeeing the Aussie fleet has been progressed. Majority of the wagons are done now (although a good few to do) and 8175 has now had the pilots fitted - generally once fitted I leave then for a day or two before I fit the couplings. May do it after this post thinking about it.
The big news today was the arrival of a Trainorama 47 Class from A UK modeller in Derby to boost the 80s fleet. Its in the NSW Candy livery which I used to hate but have grown to love.
Cheers Dave

 

No half measures there then! The Class 48 mentioned above on e-bay has dropped in price to around $300.

 

Thanks mate - part of the problem is when importing a loco I get stung for handling and customs charges (up to $70 AUD) so a UK purchase for a sensible price works for me. Still no takers for this 48 (4836 in Austrains) at $300. To be honest I have been thinking about next locos and a 48 in Tuscan and a T in FA or V-line are up there. However the next actual arrival is going to be a Budd railcar courtesy of my mate Nick. You may remember Joe at Casula looking me out some decals when we visited in November? Well he especially acquired a Budd railcar from his uncle and in this terrific gesture. it will be on long-term loan to WC. Thanks Nick.
4712 has turned up - roll on the operating season.

 

Its been the first Sunday for a while that the rain has not been horizontal and the wind has died down, so the first event of the Wallace Creek operational year is the ritual clearing out of the garage and putting all the stuff the family have dumped on the railway under the line (and chucking a fair bit away). It feels like tis been a long winter and with a new loco (421 class) and some new rolling stock I'm keen to get going.
However a partial rebuild of Mowarra Junction is planned, firstly to remove a bit of track that is very slightly out of gauge and secondly to provide the ability to pass longer freight trains. This involves the loss of a siding and the platform will move closer to the tunnel (Fiddle Yard). With the Covid 18 virus likely to trigger a national shutdown in the next few weeks (if not sooner), a visit to the excellent Monkbar Models to acquire some track and points for this work is imminent and work may start next weekend.
Most trains on Wallace Creek are around 5 long wagons or 10 short wagons long but being able to run longer trains is going tot be more satisfying especially with a mug of tea or something appropriate to hand. Speaking of washing hands, I have been using Victoria Bitter which seems to kill all known germs and several unknown ones as well. Much better than drinking the wretched stuff.
Yours in isolation

Dave