Back from Melbourne

Had a wonderful time at Melbourne - took plenty of video of the general workings at Sunshine and also took a XPT ride to Albury and back - here are some videos:

NR Long End Leading from Somerton:



A70 on an Up Pass:



NR120 on Down Overland:



More to come later. :)

Short Video

Here is a short video of the layout showing the entry into Myrtle West (Staging)

Myrtle West

Hi All

It's been a while since I last posted anything that is relevant to my layout. This is because I have gone away and changed my layout for the umpteen time! Unfortunately I have pretty much thought about and layed out all possible layouts and schematics!
At the end of the day I think less is more. Anyway here is a hand drawn plan of the layout.
The major concept is that the 'main town' is actually staging - with a couple of industries 'just' out of town serviced by the local pilot. These 'just out of town' industries are modeled - so there is some shunting involved, but mainly this is a scenery based layout - sit back and enjoy type - BTW, all trains approach and depart Myrtle West quite slowly, so the actual run time from staging and back into staging (main town) is close to three real minutes.

I learnt that modeling a town, with three yard tracks and a main line, together with a Goods Shed and all the associated points and curves eats up too much space and not doable to my satisfaction with the space I have.

See diagram for further details (click to enlarge diagram).

Any comments much appreciated.

Cheers!

Merry Christmas

Hi All

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Remember to drive carefully throughout the year!

How to double your space

Today, Craig came over to see my layout first hand. After seeing his layout it really inspired me to get away from that flat plywood look. Pondering in the shed on what to do, I noticed my shelving which is 40cm under my layout which is where I store my wagons, I arrived to the idea of using this area as staging! This would free-up valuable space on the otherside of 'Myrtle' rather than be full of track and parked 'staged' wagons. Problem was how to get to the normal layout height from 40 cms below. This would required at least a 4% grade!

Craig suggested to take a T class and create a 4% grade. To my surprise, the T started to wheel-slip with about 10 wagons and a 'good' load on the short track we mocked up. Then it hit me - why don't I use the space under the whole layout and gradually climb the 40cms - this would reduce my gradient to about 2% and under, as well as give me extra mainline running ! So this is the current plan, to use the space under the main board to stage as well as climb to the top of the layout. Off course, this means the lawn-mover will need to have the handles put down and me bending over alot lower to enter and exit the shed. Well let's see how this turns out....

Craig's Shed - Visit

I had the previlige to visit Craig's shed on the weekend and was astounded to find a club size layout in his shed! The one thing that I was really impressed with was the amount of thought that went into the layout - and this is not the track plan, but rather how the baseboard/s were created to demonstrate gradients, curves, and overall operation. Off course the track plan was also well thought out and I became easily lost finding my way from Cassino to Acacia Ridge. Anyone's dream layout! I also was kindly allowed to video some of the layout and here is some action at 'Cassino'!



Cheers
Shelton.

Another Video of the real stuff :)