X Class Shots

I put together some shots of the X Class I bought recently.  Running on DC.

Auscision X Class

Gave my X Class from Auscision a spin.

A very beautiful and detailed model, however the drivers need some clothes and I think the side handrails are plastic.  Now I need to get a DCC Decoder.

Too High, Too Wide and Too Flat

Layout had now been completely dismantled.  I had it too high, it was too flat and too wide.  I have started building some benchwork at a height of 1050mm and can take it higher if I like by using additional material.

I think I will take a break from the model railway scene for a little while as my interest has really nose-dived.  I will wander out to the shed when I feel like it and do some odd jobs every now and again.  

Multi-Level

Here is a plan that includes multiple levels.

It consist of three levels, with staging on either side.  It's not continuous run I know, however the nature of the long main-line run may be enough to see some action.  It has a station and its a through run rather than a terminus.  I can shunt and make up trains at either staging end  (active staging) - with the idea being that this will be where operators will be placed to make up and break up trains during op sessions.  The emphasis is on these areas rather than at the main station area.

Industrial Shunting or Branch Line?

Yesterday Craig gave up his Sunday morning to assist me in drawing up some ideas given my druthers.
The best idea Craig suggested was to draw up a scale grid say 2cm=1 and then use a compass to draw the curves.  I found this to be the break-through I was looking for.  In the afternoon I drew up the plan we discussed in the morning and it was plain to see that it would not work.  Un-phased and with my new knowledge to use a compass to draw accurate curves I pressed ahead making up some further plans.
Eventually I came up with these two. (Both have an oval of track only for those occasions when I like to see trains running round)
One is an industrial shunting layout with industries based in Western Melbourne such as Sunshine and Brooklyn, whilst the other is more of a branch line run, from staging.
I am not sure which one I like better although I like both of them.  The branch line run gives me some nice main line run with scenery, where-as the industrial shunting schematic probably gives me more engagement time.
The branch line probably utilises better use of the space, and I could run a variety of engines and trains, e.g. railmotor, X class, T and Y, where as the industrial shunting layout I would be left with a Y or T Class as motive power.  Hard choice!

Industrial:

BranchLine:

Some footage

Some footage of the layout.

Track Plan - Amendment

I have removed some extra track and created a siding that serves four industries.  This track is at the front of the layout as I intend to operate from that side.  It is separated from the main-line. The layout now looks alot less crowded and I have some space to build/model some non-railway related buildings, such as houses, a park, a creek, maybe a road intersection with working traffic lights.  Haven't really looked into this too much, but at least now I have some space to depict something other than a railway related structure/s.  The idea, be it an exaggerated one, is that these industries are just outside of town, hence the need for the Pilot working.

I also have space for a turntable but not sure whether I will go down that path.

Not sure whether I really need the cross-over marked X.  Initially I was going to use this to run-around locos but it looks like I can have one track spare at A.  I did this my removing alot of the rollingstock which just made things look too congested.  It has freed up quite a bit of space.  I have 11 wagons on the layout now, and may max it out to 15 so I can make up an Through or Express Goods that I can run round when I feel like.  Just like I did with the track, I culled my wagons, which was very hard to do.

For the last two weeks, I have been running basically with one loco, a VR second series T Class and I haven't really had the need to see anything else on the layout.  My Y class sits in the draw, but I am sure will get a run later when I feel like a change.


This is the current plan: