NSW Railways Dairy Co Op Plank Layout

As I have and will always be space-starved when it comes to creating a model railway layout I've been designing a plank layout that should keep me out of trouble and maintain my interest. This is to be my first ever layout so of course it will more than likely be rough around the edges but if I take my time and do a lot of trial runs of methods etc. I may come out of this with a quality show worthy layout.

I've always had an affliction for Milk Tankers and was an avid collector of the Hornby 6 wheel tankers until recently where I sold off about 80% of them to fund my new collection of 'NSW SDS Models BMT Milk Tankers'.

So having scoured the NSW Railway lines I came across Gerringong Dairy Siding and thus my inspiration for the dairy building will be drawn off that. I have no idea how it will turn out as this will be my first venture into scratch building a building. I've bought most of the textures I need from ScaleScenes, so now it's just a matter of buying the materials and having a go.

Taking inspiration from Gary's Casula Sidings I was able to design the following layout keeping it under 2 metres in length allowing for a 1m long sector plate. I have no clue how to build a sector plate so again that'll be another new venture.

Since I have a NSW PC2 Station Building in my unused collection, as well as, acquiring a 'Southern Rail Models TS3 Trackside Goods Shed' based on a typical 'NSW G1b Goods Shed' for $20 on gumtree. I thought I'd throw them on there for added fun.

If anyone has any tips, advice or suggestions please I'm all ears (or eyes).

Cheers,
Noirilae

 

Thanks Richard. It'll more than likely be a random dairy town location on the south coast that wasn't rail served. So as you suggested I'll be creating a fictional branch line of my own. The locality is to be pin pointed once I research that aspect. Definitely dreaming of one day where this layout can form part of a larger one!

There will definitely be a Wombat Models 30 Class with the Bogie Tender running around!

I have been eagerly awaiting SDS models reruns of the FO Passengers to get my hands on them. As eBay prices are too rich for my blood!
So far all I have is the RAAF FO Car set, so at some point they'll be doing some recruiting on my fictional branch line. I do have a few HCX carriages and a Casula Hobbies R type set that could be shortened for the branch line aesthetic in the mean time.

My current collection includes an Auscision 48 Class Diesel, Eureka 50 Class and Auscision Pay Bus that will frequent the plank. I'm looking at acquiring a Eureka Models CPH/CTH to run on the layout as well. There may also be an appearance from an ARM 38 Class that is to be renumbered 3815 and painted up in the as delivered grey livery (unrealistic but like most I love a 38 class).

Cheers,

Caleb

 

Thanks Gary. I'm currently in the process of raising funds from sales of surplus collection to get some of those amazing Dairy Farmer LV's!

I think at least for the interim i'll apply the KISS (Keep It Simple St...) principle and build a sector plate like the one used on your Kelly Bray layout.

In the future and as per my initial planning thought I wanted to have a reversing sector plate like the one used in the O scale layout Moonan Flats. But that's more of a future build involving learning the in's and outs of the electronics side so that I don't short my layout.

I forgot to mention the layout will be DCC so if the reversing sector plate idea ever occurs I assume I'll have to use a frog juicer and a slip ring potentially?...

Has anyone over in the UK or here heard anything about the ModelTech ProTrack Rail Aligner?
https://www.modeltech.uk/product-page/ho-protrack-rail-aligner-usa-code-83

I've thought about using them so I can split my 2m layout in half so i have 2 x 1m sections for ease of transport.

Cheers,
Caleb

 

I printed out the layout today so I could place the buildings to test and adjust. Unfortunately my printer only does A4 so there was 22 pages to arrange.

My aim was to fit a minimum of 3 BMT milk tankers and 2 MLV/LLV wagons. I reckon I'll be able to safely run 4 BMT milk tankers and the 2 MLV/LLV. Although not exactly prototypical, I can fit a 3 carriage R car passenger set at the station if I extend it by a little.


I'm going to give the ModelTech rail aligners a go as they seem pretty idiot proof (so surely I can't mess them up ). I'm also going to use the alignment dowels as suggested by you Gary and after contacting Dr Tony I got the name of the local supplier (hopefully still operating under the Covid lockdown there). Thanks very much gents for those suggestions.

At this stage I'm not sure how I'm going to do the scenery at all. All I know is there will be a bridge (or similar to what Gary has done on Casula Sidings) placed at the goods shed end to cover the transition from the sector plate. I'm not sure what I'll do at the Dairy Co Op end.

Cheers,
Caleb

 

So several factors have prevented me from moving to something photo worthy to show progress.

Going back to work has been busier than expected for this time of year. Pair that with University study so I can change careers for the better. There begins to be little time for work on the hobby. But I always find time once a week at minimum.

couple this with the fact that the peco code 75 medium points I want are out of stock nationally. I’ve hit a wall of you will but the dairy building is in planning and can progress in the mean time I’m just waiting on materials to arrive!

 

I read that Peco had halted production temporarily last year due to covid. I can certainly get the left hand points I want but I can't get the right hand ones!

On the topic of the dairy co-op building Gary where is best to go to figure out dimensions for heights etc. Do you have a template on what would be considered standard dimensions in HO Gauge?

I have some ideas with just testing and adjusting until to my un trained eye it looks the right measurements, but other than this, the only other hope I think I have is by counting bricks (but I'm not sure how well this will match up in 1/87)

Other updates I didn't mention earlier are the soon to be arrival of the Casula Hobbies Dairy Farmers wagons and a Z19 class with Baldwin tender later in the year. I finally called the time of death on my pre order for the Eureka C38 and asked if they'd be willing to let me use my fully paid up order elsewhere instead, thankfully they're always more than willing to accommodate.

I'll post some more photos when they arrive and of any updates that eventuate in time for those who are picture page turners like myself .

Cheers, Caleb