UTP Panels Deployed

Installation of two UTP Panels on the layout. One is at the Locomotive Depot, and the other new installation is at one end of the yard. This gives me the required flexibility to walk round as needed. The picture shows the new UTP panel installed at the yard.

The below photo shows a B Class heading to the "pit", after dropping her load at the yard, however in this case, the clear signal is yet to be established.

Two locos at the "pit"

Shunting continues

One of the side benefits of a shunting layout is the interesting consists that can randomly occur during shunting. Here is a photo of Y164 with three ZLP Guards Vans which will be shunted back onto the departure tracks. Something like this is not seen often on layouts. The other photo displays the three departure tracks where loading is set back on to.

Layout Operation Changes

Made a major operational change to the layout. Layout is now purely a shunting one, hence the layout does not have a station and goods shed. This has enabled two arrival and two departure tracks with the body of the yard used for classification and marshaling of wagons into new trains. The departure stub-ended tracks are situated at the left "wing", with the arrival tracks in the body of the yard. The right wing is used for staging.

A major Engine Depot resides on the opposite side of the yard where locos are sent after uncoupling from the train. The engine depot is used for refueling and servicing.

Wagons on incoming freight trains are picked up by the local Y Class shunter and are marshalled into three classification roads. One road is for North Bound destinations (e.g. Bendigo and Swan Hill), another for North East (Seymour and beyond), and finally one for Western Destinations (Ballarat, Mildura and beyond).

All wagon destinations are pre-defined according to an "arrival sheet". These have been made up randomly and this randomness adds immensely to the interest of shunting, e.g on one Arrival, Arrival #1, VLX wagons are to be shunted onto the road for western traffic, I wagons, for the North eastern road. Arrival #2 may have I wagons for northern destinations. Not all wagons will be on any particular arrival. Examples below. Once a train has been made up of enough wagons, the train is shunted back into one of the departure sidings after a guards van is coupled on. A loco is called from the depot, hooks up, and then does the brakes. After a while, when the road is clear and made, the train is ready to leave. The major attraction to this is its simplicity and its enduring interest shunting.

This concept follows that of the huge yard in Melbourne which was Tottenham Yard, with the engine depot being Dynon.

Intention is to build some factory style buildings to place near the main road and to achieve a city like atmosphere.

No passenger trains are going to be modeled, saving further space given their general longer profiles.

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.