Thanks Gary I rotate my Aussie locomotives fairly regularly and the advantage with a single tracked circuit is that most stuff gets more than 3 runs round. I have had a 42 Class of theirs for several years and no problem with it. I thought Traino were doing another run of the 49s but that has gone quiet. The order forms with a delivery date of September October 2020 are still posted. Any idea what happened to them? Got to sat 4455 on their site looks nice. Ah answered my own question - the 49 order should be in after the 930 class according to their Facebook page.
I decided to let the local model railway shop attempt this (way above my abilities) and they rang me back today. I don't think he was very impressed by the model and also found the brake chains snagging the wheels and causing derailments. Anyway picking it up later this week in the hope we get some more good weather for the weekend. Dave
Hope it works out for you. Quite a good runner when you get all the bugs ironed out. Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Well the big news here is that we will be moving this time next year and that means the end of Wallace Creek although one of the criteria for the new house is a year round railway room rather than an outside garage. So expect WC2, but until then - well after a great operating year last year (Warm and locked down) looks like this year is cold and sociable. I have managed to get a few sessions out in the garage and the weather is meant to change for the better this weekend. My second jab is in June and if anyone out there wants to visit for an operating session in July and August (max one as there are two operating spaces) then message me. Please note my layout is not of a high standard, is not particularly historically accurate, but those who have operated it generally have fun. Dave
Hi Dave Any idea yet where you will be going? Any way regardless of location, you will achieve a dedicated train room all to yourself and one that can be enjoyed year round. As I found when I did the two major extensions to my Dargan layout, the new bits avoid the mistakes of the past so you will be starting with all new stuff from scratch. Use the whole room and don't forget to use some of Gormo's tricks with removable bridges crossing over doorways. Good luck with the move but keep enjoying Wallace Creek until you do. Regards and happy modelling Richard
It will be the right house in one of a number of locations - Knaresborough, Malton, Pickering, Kendal, Whitby are all front runners. Depending on the size may consider a two level layout linked by a spiral and/or a vertical fiddle yard but that's a long way off. Finally been a great weekend here and have had plenty of operations plus some creativity as well.
I had a former railway colleague of mine round for an operating session yesterday. Wallace Creek is set up so it can be operated by one or two operators and its a nice way of passing a few hours if there is an operative at each station. It was an interesting session because he had no idea how model railways work and indeed had some difficulties setting the points for the right route. But step by step he got there and by the end of the session he was running through trains, shunting freight trains and terminating passenger trains. "I've had a lot of fun" was the verdict on the session - hopefully he'll be back for another session later in the summer. My latest two locomotives have arrived and are in service - 4803 is my 6th 48 and a newer model than the other 5. 843 is an Australian National 830 class which just happens to be the same design as the 48 class. These did briefly work in NSW when there was a locomotive shortage and one of my first rakes of wagons was the Lima ELX AN National green liveried wagons so justification for a late night e-bay purchase from the USA secured this loco. There are a couple of pictures on the facebook feed. Platform1 MRC | Facebook Dave
Hi Dave It is amazing what justifications we can establish in order to effect purchase of a new loco. While I also have six 48's I am awaiting delivery of an AN 830 class from Auscision and I am using the same logic as your good self----it saw duty in Broken Hill occasionally. That suits my era for Dargan (late steam early diesel) but later on of course they became a common sight on the NSW main Western line after privatisation. Another more common justification can also be that at any particular time I had a few notes spare and just wanted the loco? Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Well another season draws to an end, and it looks like there may be some operations next year as the house hunting is proceeding at snail’s pace. Have been operating a basic timetable for change and really enjoying the discipline of ensuring the right train is ready at the right time to operate the right set if wagons or carriages. Occasional operator Nick came round yesterday, and the two of us got through 12 operational hours in 2 real hours. Not that we actually have a clock and trains allocated from the previous hour can operate into the next hour to reflect the distance between the stations. I also have designed the plan to operate over 5 operating days with more modern stock operating as the days pass. So in terms of loco liveries, Day 1 is NSW Tuscan/Vr Blue and by day 3 we are onto NW=SW Candy and V-line Orange/Grey whilst by day 5 it is Freight rail or PN blue/Freight Australia Green. I have no modern passenger stock so the Candy set operates on day 5 but wagons generally operate more or less in their date sets. Everything gets a run out bar some of the dodgier wagons. Cheers Dave
On Thursday 28th October looking ahed to the weather forecasts the termperature was going to drop off and I took the decision to close up the railway for the year (or possibly forever if we get around to moving). Two days later I am sitting here in warm bright sunshine cursing weather forecasters. Just before closure I managed to get a working camera for the first time in a while so here are a few shots from one of the last sessions. 1) Newly acquired VR explosives van (Type P) 2) 80 class at the grain silo 3) X and G Class V line trains waiting departure. The tank on the right is made out of an old cotton bud container. Will add a few pipes to that during the closed season.
Looks good Dave...are you sure that some sort of local heating could keep the shed operational for a few more weeks? Cheers and happy modelling Richard