Y Class Movements

Here is a small video of Y164 doing some movements on the layout.

8025 Departing

A Nice Suprise.

Today I decided to venture to Acacia Ridge to do some filming.  From previous visits, I knew that there is a steel shunt that takes place towards the afternoon, usually by the resident shunter, a 81 class.

To my delight, the shunter rostered during this time was 8025!!  I couldn't believe it!  I took some video and captured the delightful five chime horn and ALCO power.  Here are some stills from the video.

Roof for a U Van

Given a tip on using aluminium cans as a possible roof for a U Van, I decided to have a go at building a roof for my U Van SEM Kits. I used a coca cola aluminium can and roughy cut out the shape of the roof using the plastic roof which came with the kit as a guide.

Although I am quite pleased with the result, I had much difficulty with two or three of my other U van kits, but I think it makes a huge difference compared to the roof supplied with the kit.

Here is a photo which shows the result.

More videos

Here are two more videos which show the yard and curves which I was writing about in my previous entry. As always, let me know what you think by commenting below.

Thanks

B60 Down Goods - Video

Here is a video of a Through Goods on the down end of "Myrtle West"

Time for another Layout / Track Plan Change

Just when I thought that my previous layout plan was the final one which met all my model railway needs, there was still something bugging me. After completing and laying out the track, I spent alot of time running trains to a timetable which I mocked up. Being a terminus, with four industries to shunt, I thought I had it all covered, however, there were two serious mistakes.

1. The direction of the branch line was the same direction as 'Melbourne', which, in most cases this is not how it is in the prototype.
2. The loco depot was again at the 'Melbourne' end. Again, usually a loco depot is at the other end of Melbourne so that an uncouple and a quick ride to the depot is achieved, rather than back tracking - again usually this is not in the VR prototype.

Given these two errors, I set out to lay out a plan which met these two concepts.

However, there was a third issue. The terminus idea was not working for me. I realised that I wanted to see trains in 'full flight' travel by as well as the idea of Shunting. The Terminus concept didn't allow me to see trains pass by non stop because of the smallish main line that I had.

To overcome all these three shortcomings, my thoughts were drawn to out visit to Darrens place last month and to his layout. His Terminus is located on a shelf whose width is about the same as my west wall - this shelf being the narrowest at 450mm, with a 4.5m length. I have always based my yards and 'main' town on the north and south walls, which have 600mm shelves and a length of about 6 metres. If Darren could achieve so much on his 450mm shelf I should also be able too, albiet track spacing being a little more cramped.

This enables me to overcome all three shortcomings mentioned as well and give me what I think is another wonderful bonus, that of extra mainline running!. With this in mind, I began on the latest track plan.

After spending the last two weeks laying out all my track, this afternoon (at 14:23!) I completed the task. I realised that now my layout looked so much more appealing because of beautiful broad curves for the yard, the main line hugging the walls so that the main line curves are the broadest and the space is used to the maximum. Yard tracks are curved as well, looking at wagons on those curves are a delight, and to top it all, there is a smallish incline, fortunately too small to have runaway wagons. I also feel that the space is being used much more efficiently and effectively now. I could still have four industries to shunt, even though the shelf space is reduced.

Since the farthest yard curves are broad, coupling my 40 foot wagons is not an issue and with four wheel stock, no problem at all. However I do not intend to shunt anything larger than 50 foot due to the possibility of coupling issues.

I still see this layout primary as one for shunting, however having this station as a 'Through' one, opens up those possibilities as I mentioed.

Let's see how long this layout last, before it becomes dust. Or I may suprise myself and finally achieve what I wanted in a HO scale layout in a room 4.6m by 6m.

Better to change the track plan now, than to live with a layout that i'm not completely satisifed.