Another interest

I have started to do what I use to do days gone by - trainspotting! With the advancement in camera/video technology, this has given me huge motivation to video trains. So, being spring/summer I thought best to use these seasons for some photography and today I happen to capture my first train.

The below video shows two LDPs on an Interail service to Melbourne I think. These two locos were hooked up and idling at Acacia Ridge since at least 1500 local time. They were supposed to depart yesterday Sat 30 Oct at 1520 Local, but a visit to Acacia Ridge (AR) today saw them ready for departure. I quickly setup my camera and took this footage. LDPs only unfortuately - no CLPs or CLFs - but who knows maybe one day I may get lucky and 'catch' something out of the ordinary :)

Cheers!

Another Video and Some Photos

Here is another video of the layout and some photos. Hope you like them.

Small Video from my new Video Cam

Here is a small video from my new video camera, including post production.  Hope you like it.

Issues with plans

Hi

I put together some of the plans that I created and actually built and are now dust!  It was hard work removing and relaying track, thinking that this new plan is the layout for me only to realise some sort of frustration and rip track out and start again.  Here are the layouts (Click on image to expand):

Round and Round

Given that my layout is round the shed shelf type, with one town on one side and the staging yard on the other, I was thinking about how to add little more engagement rather than 'set and forget'.

One idea that I came up with is to divide the layout into certain sections and have certain speed restrictions throughout.  For example, over the bridge, all locos must reduce to 30 (on the NCE LCD readout), on the curves locos are allowed a maximum speed of 35, and on a straight section, 40.  Going into loops - 15, going into staging 25, within staging 15 ( These equate to mph I think - will need to double check).  I tried this concept and it surely added another dimension, partaking as a loco driver.  The drawback is that since I have a wired NCE throttle, moving round the layout is a hassle.  Anyway, I think this concept should work...will give it a few more tries.  Maybe you could also try it on your layout.

Cheers

Track Plan and Progress

Well, little tentative to post my latest Track Plan since I have changed it so many times, I'm not sure it will be the latest one, although I *think* this one will be it. Not based on any prototype, tried that a few times and it left me with an unsatisfactory result. Maybe due to our space limitations compared to the space in real life.  However, the industries include a small cattle yard, goods shed and maybe a silo.  Quite difficult to make an operational track plan given its a shelf layout because an 'intermediate' station so to speak requires about five tracks, with Road #4 leading to the cattle yard / Silo.

Anyway, when I feel more confident that this is *the* track plan I will post it - basically a five track station, with double slips and a couple of stub ended sidings, with the VR Goods Shed opposite the station.

In the mean time, I have some videos for your enjoyment :)

Building Some Trees

I decided to make a tree or two after reading about how to do this from the author of the book Electronics for Model Railways Book 2 by Ken Stone. Basically using copper wire, solder and a soldering iron to make very realistic looking trees. A very good idea and full credit to Ken. Here is what I created....offcourse I still need to paint it and add leaves.