Operations resume

This weekend I was invited to see Anthony's wonderful Border District layout.    He has now implemented "dependant" signalling on the main line, so if one signal displays a yellow, the following displays a red aspect.  This greatly increases the realism and enjoyment level when driving a train as one has to pay attention to the signals.  The effort to implement this would have been incredible.  We ran a few trains until the night became late.  I think Anthony has his layout to a very satisfying plan now where a profound level of operation can be achieved.
I always seem to come away despondent when seeing the Border District!

On my own layout, trains have resumed operations.  The last time any operations were carried out was just before the storm.

However, one thing still bugged me.  Most VR track layouts are designed such that they are straight and seldom the yards are curved.  Due to space restrictions, I began my yard on the curved sections and having wagons stationed there on the curves just didn't look right.   It was 4pm Sunday evening and disillusionment settled in !  I pondered the situation for several minutes, even contemplated to reconsider the track plan!  Suddenly it dawned on me about moving the make-shift gantry I had which resembles the signals for the time being.  Moving the gantry just before where the curves begin to take affect seemed to resolve my dilemma.  Adding another one on the other-side gave me appropriately 300cm of "yard" track.  I think this will do for me!  The only draw back is that the section of "no-mans land" has increased some what but I can live with that :)

Here are some photos.

 Till next time.

Disaster Struck!

Following the huge downpour and storm we experienced a few weeks ago, a check on the layout revealed moisture had gotten into some of the ply.  On one section of the layout there was a pronouced dip of about 100mm and no matter what I tried to resolve that, with numerous attempts at packing material to even the dip,  it always bugged me and looked bad, it looked even worse after the storm.  The only way to rectify the situation was to rebuild the entire benchwork on that section again, raising the benchwork to the same level as the adjacent one and then continuing the decline to 1375mm from approximately 1385mm.

Lets just say there were alot of expletives used during the process.  I had to rip up track. move the entire 6 or so metres of benchwork to get to the other-side to raise that side and basically start building that section all over again.  The following photo shows the pronounced dip which just didn't look right.

The disaster area!

Shows how much I had to raise this section

Problem Area

Solution :)

I also took the opportunity to increase the radii of my curves.  I just like those lovely broad curves.  The far track - road 5, shows the original curve, with the tracks in the foreground, the new radii curves.  Track 5 will also have the new broad radii curve. 

 One advantage of large radii curves is that you use less track!  The obvious drawback is that you lose space.

I guess the storm was a blessing in disguise.

Till next time.

Rain Rain Rain and an Op Session

For the last three days, it has been raining incessantly.  We must have received about 100mm+ over that period.  Unfortunately, a visit to the shed today revealed the ply at some sections of the layout had absorbed water and buckled.  Spent most of the day fixing those sections.  Don't know why I layed down 3mm ply. It seems to absorb the moisture like a sponge.  Good thing is I had the time to fix most of it.

Also spent the last two days decaling some wagons.  Still have a few GYs to do and the cattle and sheep stock.

Friday 18th Jan, I had my first operating session with another VR modeller.  We had approximately four hours to run to a schedule.  We didn't have time to complete all movements, but did have alot of fun!

A few enhancements and ideas came out of the session.  Some photos (in no particular order)
We did run the Dimmy pass and since we don't have a Walker Rail motor, ran a T Class loco hauled pass for the branch line service.

Thanks to Anthony for provding the extra motive power and rolling-stock.  Looking forward to the next one.

Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

Wednesday Dec 4 1974

Decided to spend the afternoon train-spotting and photographing near the station.

The first observation was the Fast Goods ex Melbourne, usually with BMX and BP vans, was seen arriving at Dimboola with VLX vans at about 13:30 hours.  This train usually conveys Newsprint.

No. 142 Goods from Dimboola to Ararat was seen departing late, headed by a B Class.  This train left from what they call "siding A"

At approximately 15:00 hrs No. 36, which is the Fast Goods ex Dimboola, was seen departing.

About a hour later, a single T Class loco was seen running No. 164 Goods, ex Serviceton to Ararat with shunting at Dimboola.  The resident Y class shunter had an engine failure and a T was seen on shunting duties.

An ad-hoc movement, but not surprising to see in December, was a wheat train with shiny new wheat wagons.  The wagons were shunted to the silo road. 16:20 hours.

At about 17:00 hours, the RoadSide Goods No. 61 ex Ararat and terminating at Dimboola, was seen arriving headed by a solo T Class loco.  This train took road 4.  A loaded cattle train was waiting patiently on road 3.

The cattle train was seen leaving, climbing the small grade out of Dimboola. at about 17:10 hours.

Had to then leave for home.

SD

The End of the year 2012

Well its the penultimate day of 2012 and I wonder whether I have finally found a suitable trackplan which I have currently deployed and borrowed heavily from Dimboola in Western Victoria.  I guess time will tell.  Here are some more photos.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2013.

My legs hurt

Spent alot of time today in the shed making some minor changes to the track work which is a continuation of the changes I began last week.  Spent alot of time standing which leads to sore legs!  Anyway, here's hoping the effort is worthwhile.

Here are some photos - hope you enjoy them.

S311 brings in a mixed goods from Melbourne whilst the yard pilot looks on from the Dock Road.

A VLX and GY are shunted to what will be the Goods Shed in "bas relief"

Some Sightings

A Grain train gets marshalled.  This will followed the 'jet' to Melbourne which is expected to arrive shortly.

A few minutes later, an Adelaide to Melbourne 'jet' arrives and stops for a crew change.  Plenty of Horsepower in the form of a C and B class locomotives.  Once the jet has cleared the section, the grain working will follow.