Skipton Station - Victorian Railways in HO Scale

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

(First part of post copied from my British layout thread Dunoon and Bonshaw, P4 in the 1950s)

 

"I have been keeping this quite for a while now, as I am aware that I have planned a number of projects and never started many of them. As I have now built the first of the baseboards, I feel it is now at a stage where I can put it online.

 

I have been planning a new Victorian Railways layout for a while now, based on Skipton Railway Station, which was a terminus railway station south-west of Ballarat. The station closed in 1986. My model is of the station from 1955 to 1965, to enable the use of VR Branchline diesel locomotives [end quote], namely the T class (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th series), and Y class (1st and 2nd series). I also hope to obtain some brass steam locomotives to run on the layout at a later stage (as other than a mainline passenger locomotive, there are no R-T-R plastic steam locos available of VR prototypes.) 

 

This layout will be 5.4x0.6m, with 3 baseboards, each 1.8x0.6m. The first of these has been constructed today, and I hope to have the remaining two completed in the next couple of weeks. Track will be Peco code 83 with #6 electrofrog turnouts for the scenic baseboards, and Peco code 100 insulfrog for the fiddle yard. 

 

The trackplan is fairly simple, and is taken off an official Victorian Railways drawing, obtained from victorianrailways.net . The diagram I used is available here: http://www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/skipton.pdf 

I drew up the plan in Anyrail, and then included the basic buildings (platform, turnable and goods shed). The engine shed had (I believe) been removed by 1955.

 

**EDIT 2: 23/04/2017** After a visit for research to Skipton (see Post #31), I realised some of the alignments were wrong. The new (Scenic section) plan is shown below. Fiddle yard remains unchanged. The thinner part off to the right of the main platform is a mound (the original platform was 200' long, as of 1950 it was 88' long). The area on the dead end siding is the stock races. The two big boxes are the grain sheds, and the smaller box is the goods shed.

 

**EDIT 07/04/2017** The actual track layout had not been finalised until today. The current (As Built) plan is below. The original plan is shown below that. 

 

Here is the **original** Anyrail plan:

 

 

**Text Removed as no longer relevant**

 

Today, I purchased the materials for the three baseboards, and managed to complete the first of these. The board I completed is the baseboard to the far right of the trackplan. Below are some images of the construction - 

 

First, all the frame and legwork materials. From left to right are the legs, the leg bracing, and the main framework. The legs are 1200x70x45mm, the leg bracing is 1200x70x35mm (to be cut into 600x70x35), and the main framework parts are 1800x64x19mm (with 6 pieces to be left as 1800mm long, and the remainder to be cut into 564mm lengths)

 

Next, the baseboard and backscene materials. The backscenes (seen to the back) are 1800x305x6mm, and the baseboards are 1800x600x9mm.

 

 

I then built the basic framework. A cross-member will be added in the middle after track and point motors have been fitted. One of the legs can be seen getting the holes drilled in it.

 

Then, I completed the first set of legs and bolted them to the layout. 

 

The second set of legs was then done and bolted on as well. Now that I have seen the total height, I have decided that (when I get the time) I will cut the height down to 1.1m or 1m. 

 

After that, I screwed the backscene on. Of note is the section I cut out to enable it to sit around the barrel bolt used for baseboard alignment.

 

I then put some rolling stock on the board. In these three images, T333 is located roughly where the end of the platform will be (although it may be a little shorter). The consist of the train is - 

T333 - HD56 - P22 - M?? - UB18 - VKOX??? - RY?? - B?? - U??.
The P van is the only completed model, as all the others either require couplers (U, B, RY, VKOX), paint (UB, M), brass details (U, B, RY, M, HD), or a roof (M). T333 is a Bendigo Rail Models example, and the rolling stock other than the VKOX open wagon are Steam Era Models kits, and the VKOX is a Powerline model.

 

Later on, T333 comes in with a mixed train, consisting of a B van, RY wagon, UB van, and AW passenger car. The B van, UB van, and RY wagon are the same as the ones seen in the earlier 3 images. The W car is finished as 29AW.

 

That's all for now, but I plan to spend the next two weeks finishing off the other baseboards, and then to order the cork and track.

 

Peter

 

**EDIT** I have also started a blog for the layout, which is available at: http://skiptonstationhoscale.blogspot.com.au/

**Edits to existing sentences shown by **insert change here** - 23/04/2017

Edited July 19, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Some progress to report from the weekend, and last week.

 

A second baseboard has been constructed, this time for the fiddle yard. It still however requires the legs to be drilled and fitted, as well as the backscene fitted.

 

I have also purchased a new locomotive for the layout, Victorian Railways T320. T320 is the same class and series (Victorian Railways T class, First Order, colloquially known as "Flat Top Ts") as T333, which can be seen in the photos in my last post.

 

T320 was the class leader, and is modelled in as-delivered condition, so has a couple of differences to T333, which I will show in some images when the model arrives. T320 is also made by Bendigo Rail Models. I am very lucky in having 320 and 333, as of the ones made by BRM in original (1955-1957) condition, T320 and T333 are the two that are sold out. My long-term aim is to have all 6 produced in original condition by BRM (T320, T321, T325, T333, T338 and T346), however I hope to get a selection of steam locomotives and railmotors (see next paragraph) before I get more, as I am also keeping an eye on a model of T357, which was the first of the 3rd order of T class, and has a lot of visual differences when compared to the first order (among them being a cab raised above the hood).

 

I am also planning to order a Trainbuilder 153HP Walker, number 29RM in Victorian Railways blue and gold, with gold roof, and VR winged logos. The 153HP Walkers were built by the Walker Railcar Company, in Wigan, UK, and were delivered to the VR between July 1948 and September 1953. 29RM entered traffic on the 6th of October 1952. The Walker is made by Trainbuilder, who produce high-quality brass models of Victorian prototypes. The Walker is not cheap, $1225, or 756GBP, however as they were used on most passenger services on the Skipton line from 1950 to 1972 (when the passenger services ceased), and no other model of the 153HP variant is available, it will be a very worthwhile investment.

 

 

Here are the images of the new baseboard, in it's nearly completed state - 

 

I am planning to have this baseboard completed (legs and backscene fitted) by the end of the week, and  have set aside time to do so. Sadly I will be away over the weekend, so will not be able to finish the final baseboard, but if I am lucky this week may see it completed too. This depends on the amount of time it takes to complete this baseboard.

 

T320 is due to arrive sometime before Thursday, and I will post some photos when she arrives. Photos of progress on the baseboard will also be put up when it is complete (as I don't want to get too distracted!)

 

Peter

 

**Edited for my 11pm spelling!**

Edited March 5, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

A lot of updates in a short amount of time! Progress will likely slow down for the next week or two, at least until the track is ordered.

 

Today, I completed (with some help from a mate, who also helped me with the second one) the final baseboard. This is the centre board, having completed the fiddle yard on Friday afternoon. I have also made the leg assemblies for the fiddle yard (these aren't in the photos as I made them after I took them.)

The following photos show all 3 baseboards lined up. Sadly, the first board I built was too wide (the MDF boards were cut at the local hardware store, and apparently two (i have one spare) were wider than the other two, and having used 3, two are the same width and the third is different). This will will be cut down and fixed up so it is the same width as the other boards. 

 

The baseboard I completed first (the wide one) is at the top of the second image, and can just be seen to the far right of the first image. The fiddle yard board is the one to the left of the first image, and at the bottom of the second image, and finally, the centre board, completed today, is to the right of the first image and in the centre of the second image. 

 

 

My mate will probably be coming over tomorrow afternoon after school again to help with assembling the legs, and cutting them down to size (They are all around 1.2m, with a few mm of variation between them. They will all be cut down to 1.1m), and hopefully we will have the fiddle yard board and centre board completed by the end of the evening (including backscene and joining them together).

 

Peter

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Done a lot in the last 19 days, however haven't had the time to post an update. So, here is a proper update, with photos! 

Work done includes adjusting the height of the legs, purchasing some of the track, new rolling stock, and the inspection pit being built.

 

Firstly, I managed to cut down the first set of legs to the right height. Sadly the others weren't cut straight, but I have a mate coming with an electric sander on Sunday to help straighten them out. Here is the baseboard with the legs at the right height, shown next to an original height leg for comparison

 

 

 

Next, I modified the first set of points for the layout. The problem is shown below - 

 

 

I need the extended sleepers for mounting fake point levers, so need to switch them around to the other side. I did this by cutting them off, sanding them down, and regluing them on the other side.

The fixed version is here - 

 

 

I then cut the holes off the ends of the tiebar to make it look better. The finished turnout is shown here, next to an original one.

 

 

 

I also built a Steam Era Models I/IA wagon kit, of a "Tommy Bent" style wagon. These were built for the Victorian Railways from 1901 to 1907, with 640 being built. This model will be fitted with brass buffers from Steam Era.

This image shows the base parts (side + end x2 and chassis)

 

 

These show the main model completed, minus the brake detail

 

 

This shows the brass handbrake after being fitted

 

 

 

Finally, I built the inspection pit. This was modified from a Peco pit, using brick styrene sheeting. The following show the steps I took to modify it.

The start, with one side and one end completed

 

 

Then, with both sides and ends completed

 

 

Next, I had to make an insert for the base. The VR pits had angled sides, leading in towards a drain in the centre. This was made by scoring 4 bricks in from either side, and folding it up

 

 

Next, it was fitted and glued in place

 

 

Finally, a drainage hole was cut out at one end of the pit

 

 

I also laid some of the track (the stuff I have, I still need 4 turnouts and some flex, turnouts for the station and flex for the fiddle yard) 

The side-mounted point motors were also test-fitted, and I have made a wiring assembly and switch-assembly for the two I have. The motors are shown mounted, but without the assembly. 

This is the end of the station, looking back towards where the fiddle yard will be.

 

 

This is the fiddle yard. It's 7 tracks wide, and utilises a 3-way, 2 left hand, and 2 right hand turnouts, all medium radius code 100.

 

 

This shows the point motors having been fitted

 

 

Finally, this shows the storage capacity of the shortest siding. The consist shown is T class - GY (Grain wagon) - M van - P van - HD van - B van - GY - Z guards van. This is the equivelant of 5 4-wheel grain wagons (GY), a Z type guards van, and a T class. 

 

Overall it's a very long update, but shows a lot of the work I have been doing on Skipton in the last 2 and a half weeks. 

 

Peter

 

**Edited for format**

Edited March 24, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Spent the last couple of days with a couple of mates working on Skipton.
Yesterday (02/04/17), the plan was to finish the baseboards, ready for a parcel from Hattons today. Luckily, at about 1:15, a well-awaited parcel arrived, containing the last 4 turnouts for the scenic section, 6 rolls of 3mm (1/8") cork, measuring 914x610mm (3'x2') (2 sheets per baseboard), 6 SEEP point motors for the scenic sections, and 2 Peco side-mounted motors for the fiddle yard. The contents of the parcel are shown below.

 

By the end of the day (we worked from about midday to 11pm), we had more or less finished the baseboards, and had cork down on two of the boards. This shows the cork being weighed down to allow the glue to dry with the cork flat.

 

Today was spent levelling out the baseboards, and loosely laying out the track. The first train was run at about 3.40pm. This shows some of the track being laid out loosely. A selection of rolling stock has also been placed on the track. The stock is a mix of mine and one of my mates.

 

I have a video of the first 2 trains, but can't figure out how to transfer them to my laptop (old Nokia phone), so when I can figure out how to transfer them over, I will upload a video of the first train.

 

I will get some more photos of the current track set up tomorrow and upload them in the evening. 

 

Peter I.

[St Enodoc]

Spent the last couple of days with a couple of mates working on Skipton.

Yesterday (02/04/17), the plan was to finish the baseboards, ready for a parcel from Hattons today. Luckily, at about 1:15, a well-awaited parcel arrived, containing the last 4 turnouts for the scenic section, 6 rolls of 3mm (1/8") cork, measuring 914x610mm (3'x2') (2 sheets per baseboard), 6 SEEP point motors for the scenic sections, and 2 Peco side-mounted motors for the fiddle yard. The contents of the parcel are shown below.

WP_20170402_001.jpg

 

By the end of the day (we worked from about midday to 11pm), we had more or less finished the baseboards, and had cork down on two of the boards. This shows the cork being weighed down to allow the glue to dry with the cork flat.

WP_20170402_002.jpg

 

Today was spent levelling out the baseboards, and loosely laying out the track. The first train was run at about 3.40pm. This shows some of the track being laid out loosely. A selection of rolling stock has also been placed on the track. The stock is a mix of mine and one of my mates.

WP_20170403_001.jpg

 

I have a video of the first 2 trains, but can't figure out how to transfer them to my laptop (old Nokia phone), so when I can figure out how to transfer them over, I will upload a video of the first train.

 

I will get some more photos of the current track set up tomorrow and upload them in the evening. 

 

Peter I.

Just found this Peter and I like what I see. Just one suggestion before you get too far - try to include at least one diagonal brace on each baseboard frame to stop twist. In fact, given the sizes of your boards, a single brace from corner to corner would do more good than a transverse brace halfway along.

 

Other than that, why aren't you using EM gauge track?????

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Just found this Peter and I like what I see. Just one suggestion before you get too far - try to include at least one diagonal brace on each baseboard frame to stop twist. In fact, given the sizes of your boards, a single brace from corner to corner would do more good than a transverse brace halfway along.

 

Other than that, why aren't you using EM gauge track?????

I'm planning to put in two braces per board, but I am waiting to install the point motors first (as the track positioning still hasn't been finalised due to the turntable) before I put them in.

 

The reason for not using EM gauge is I have two other people assisting me in this project, both of whom have Victorian Railways stock which is on HO wheels which is going to be used on the layout, and it's very difficult to obtain EM wheels in the right sizes for Victorian rolling stock.

 

The other reason for not building it to EM/18.37mm (as 18.37mm would be more realistic for 5'3" in HO scale) is that it's currently being built to a deadline (a submission for exhibiting it in August has been placed, and we will find out if we are successful then), and the extra time needed to handlay the track would put whether we would be able to finish it in time in doubt. Indeed that's the reason I'm not continuing on with Bonshaw (the BR layout) right now to exhibit - as the extra time and cost of building to P4, and converting the locos and rolling stock I have - would mean it would not be in a decent enough state to exhibit, if we are successful in our application. 

 

Peter

Edited April 3, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[St Enodoc]

I'm planning to put in two braces per board, but I am waiting to install the point motors first (as the track positioning still hasn't been finalised due to the turntable) before I put them in.

 

The reason for not using EM gauge is I have two other people assisting me in this project, both of whom have Victorian Railways stock which is on HO wheels which is going to be used on the layout, and it's very difficult to obtain EM wheels in the right sizes for Victorian rolling stock.

 

The other reason for not building it to EM/18.37mm (as 18.37mm would be more realistic for 5'3" in HO scale) is that it's currently being built to a deadline (a submission for exhibiting it in August has been placed, and we will find out if we are successful then), and the extra time needed to handlay the track would put whether we would be able to finish it in time in doubt. Indeed that's the reason I'm not continuing on with Bonshaw (the BR layout) right now to exhibit - as the extra time and cost of building to P4, and converting the locos and rolling stock I have - would mean it would not be in a decent enough state to exhibit, if we are successful in our application. 

 

Peter

That sounds good.

 

I was only joking about EM by the way!

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Some new rolling stock for Skipton was collected on Tuesday evening. This is my first (hopefully of many) brass model.

It is of a Victorian Railways 153HP Walker, with the power unit being built by the Walker Brothers in the UK, and the passenger car unit being built by the Victorian Railways at Newport Workshops. More information on the 153HP Walkers is available here: victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/walk153/walk153.html (**EDIT** Not sure why link isn't working. Go to victorianrailways.net then to "Motive Power" then to "153 Walker" under "Railmotors")

 

The model is built by Trainbuilder (http://trainbuilder.com/), and this specific example is of 31RM in the Victorian Railways Blue and Gold livery, with gold roof and winged logos on the side. This represents 31RM as running from about 1955 to 1960-1961, the period in which Skipton is set. This is a brilliant model. As stated earlier, it is made entirely out of brass. Some of the features included are:

Working directional headlights and marker lights

Fully detailed interior, including the toilet cubicle, drivers compartment, and a detailed engine in the main power unit

Working interior lighting, including a capacitor so the lights stay on for about 15 seconds after the power is turned off

DCC Ready (8-pin) 

Scale-sized chains on the baggage compartment doors

 

Without further ado, here are some photos. Apologies for the poor quality, they were taken on an old Nokia. I need to find my camera to do this model justice!

 

This is also a very small prototype, measuring only 10' 8" in reality. I have taken some photos of the model next to a model of a Victorian Railways Y class, Y150 (This belongs to a friend), which help to show the size comparison. The Y class is a shunter/branchline locomotive. 

 

That's all for now. I have another work-day today (Thursday, it's 1:17AM as I type), and I am hoping to have some of the track down by the end of the day. 

Peter

Edited April 5, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Today only one of the two people helping me came around, but the day was still spent nailing the fiddle yard track down on Skipton. The first of 6 point motors for the scenic section was also fitted while he was here.

Here are some photos of the completed fiddle yard. It is a 7 track yard, with 1 track for the Walker, and/or a DERM when we get one accurate for the 1955-1965 era. The tracks (from Right to Left (Operator Side to Viewing Side)) are:

Walker/DERM; Spare/Railmotor 2; Railmotor Replacement; Mixed Goods 1; Grain Train 1; Grain Train 2; Mixed Goods 2.

The fiddle yard board is 1.8m long, and the longest siding is 1.45m long.

 

I am currently modifying and fitting the turnouts in the yard throat of Skipton. The first 2 have had motors fitted, and just need to have the frog wires connected, and dropper wires fitted. I am currently fitting the third turnout, and will then modify and fit the fourth. I am hoping to have the turnouts fitted, and maybe the platform road as well, by the end of tonight. At this rate, with any luck we will be running trains on Thursday. 

 

Peter

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Spent some more time on Skipton this evening. Just came inside then due to an injury (I dropped a drill and the drill bit hit my hand, cutting it). I managed to lay most of the track on the first scenic board, and fitted 3 of the 4 point motors. The photos below show what it looks like now (I took them just before I came inside). The only things left to do on this board are fit the fourth point motor (for the stock-siding turnout), and fit the loco road, ashpit, and cut out the hole for the turntable.

 

2 updates in a day is a lot, but once school holidays are over on the 18th progress will slow down again. 

The next planned work-day is on Monday, but I may well crack on and finish this baseboard either tomorrow or on Sunday. I'm also going to try and get the fiddle yard wired up then. 

 

Peter

[Glover]

I'm fascinated by Australian railways, although my only experience was a few days on the Sydney suburban network.

One of the finest model railways I've seen ( on the 'net) is James McInerneys' Lambing Flat, set in rural New South Wales.

 

As an Irish person, I'm interested in the railways of Victoria; they are of course built to the Irish gauge of 5'3".

 

Also, Walker railcars ran in Ireland: on the narrow gauge (3') County Donegal and the West Clare plus a single example on the Sligo Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway (5'3" gauge).

 

Best of luck with your project.

 

Glover

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

I'm fascinated by Australian railways, although my only experience was a few days on the Sydney suburban network.

One of the finest model railways I've seen ( on the 'net) is James McInerneys' Lambing Flat, set in rural New South Wales.

 

As an Irish person, I'm interested in the railways of Victoria; they are of course built to the Irish gauge of 5'3".

 

Also, Walker railcars ran in Ireland: on the narrow gauge (3') County Donegal and the West Clare plus a single example on the Sligo Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway (5'3" gauge).

 

Best of luck with your project.

 

Glover

Thanks! Interesting to hear about the Walker's in Ireland. I had heard about another example, very similar to the VR 280HP Walker, with a center power unit and coach units on either side, but not sure if it's one of the Irish ones or another one somewhere else. 

 

Peter

[D6775]

Always interested in Aussie prototype models, especially Victorian Railways. One day i will actually build my Aussie project, I have about three boxes of various loco's & stock form around 2000, pretty much all EM'd . They get a run out on Broadford in the UK every now and again! Iain actually has one of my N sets of semi permanent loan!

[St Enodoc]

Thanks! Interesting to hear about the Walker's in Ireland. I had heard about another example, very similar to the VR 280HP Walker, with a center power unit and coach units on either side, but not sure if it's one of the Irish ones or another one somewhere else. 

 

Peter

Isn't there one like that at Daylesford?

Always interested in Aussie prototype models, especially Victorian Railways. One day i will actually build my Aussie project, I have about three boxes of various loco's & stock form around 2000, pretty much all EM'd . They get a run out on Broadford in the UK every now and again! Iain actually has one of my N sets of semi permanent loan!

 

Broadford is a great layout.

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Isn't there one like that at Daylesford?

Daylesford have a few Walkers, including 3 of the 280HP Walkers referred to above. They have the following: 

 

7RM, a 102HP Walker acquired from Maldon a few years ago

32RM, a 153HP Walker which they have just finished the main restoration of

82RM, a 280HP Walker used for spares

85RM, a 280HP recently acquired from Mornington, yet to be transferred to Daylesford, but for restoration.

91RM, a 280HP Walker used in regular service. 

They also have a Walker trailer, 56MT. 

 

They also have an example of a DERM (63RM), a DERM Trailer (26MT), a Leyland (53RM), a DRC (40DRC) and a Dodge (74RM) as well. The largest collection of privately owned Railmotors in Australia (I believe). They are also an accredited museum. 

 

Peter

**EDIT** A 280HP Walker, in the same livery as 31RM, is also on the cards for future acquisition. Auscision Models do one numbered as 84RM.

Edited April 7, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

I woke up this morning, and went out to the shed to do some more work on Skipton. However, before I started working, I couldn't resist the temptation to put some rolling stock out on the completed track. All the wagons shown are built from Steam Era Models kits. T320 is a BRM model, and the Walker, 31RM, is from Trainbuilder.

 

I'm planning to fit the final point motor to the middle board, and then go out to Jaycar later to purchase some wiring supplies. 

 

Peter

[Brian D]

Great stuff Peter and really good progress considering your other (educational?) commitments.  Now following.

Regards,

Brian.

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Great stuff Peter and really good progress considering your other (educational?) commitments.  Now following.

Regards,

Brian.

Thanks Brian.

It's very difficult during school term to get work done, so I'm making the most of the holidays to get as much done as possible. I have at least one person (hopefully two) coming over today to help, and we're planning to get the track laid on the third baseboard, and possibly start wiring (or at least wiring preparations).

 

Peter

Edited April 10, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

No proper work on Skipton today, however there will be a new rolling stock addition tomorrow. I have organised to trade my V/Line N type passenger carriage set (suitable for the time period 1995 to 2004), for a Victorian Railways E car set, suitable for the time period 1954 to 1963, containing an AE first class carriage, an ABE composite coach, a BE second class coach, and a CE guards van. Along with another BE car obtained today, this will make up the tour train on Skipton when another guards van is obtained. These will also make up the railmotor replacement services, which will be: Loco (T) - BE - BE - ABE (with the first class end of the ABE at the Melbourne end). The tour train will be CE - BE - BE - ABE - AE - BCE/CW (depends on whether we get a BCE or a CW. BCE is preferred however hard to get.)

Photos of the full train (19CE - 3BE - 18BE - 6ABE - 18AE) will be posted tomorrow. 

We also started another wagon (yet another GY for the grain train). 

 

This evening however, I took a photo of my complete locomotive and railmotor fleet on the Skipton fiddle yard. 

From left to right:

V/Line P18; V/Line Freight X33; VR 31RM; VR T333; VR T320

 

P18 and X33 will be sold/traded off, as they are both too late for the model - X33 is in a late 1990s livery, and was built in 1966, whereas P18 is in a 1980s-1990s livery and was built in 1985, both built too late, and in the wrong liveries.

 

Peter

 

**EDIT** Since writing this, I have arranged to trade X33 and P18 on Wednesday, for a VR Y class as Y145, to be converted to Y102 as-built, along with 2 U vans, 2 T insulated vans, an HD van, and a ZP guards van. 

Edited April 10, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

More rolling stock! This time it's 5 Auscision E type passenger carriages. 1 was acquired as part-payment for another item, and the remaining 4 were obtained in a swap with a mate, so I now have 4 E cars suitable for 1954 to 1963, and he now has 4 N cars, suitable for 1995 to 2004.

The number of the single car is 18BE, and the set of 4 is 18AE, 6ABE, 3BE, 19CE. AE is First Class, ABE is First/Second, BE is Second Class, and CE is a guards/parcels van. The equivelant British designations would be FK (AE), CK (ABE), SK (BE) and BG (CE). The E denotes the type of carriage (stands for Express), A is First Class, B is Second Class, C is guards van, and D is bulk mail (although there is no DE, the only bulk mail coaches on the VR were DS and D, used on the Spirit of Progress and Adelaide Express respectively.)

These will be arranged in a consist 18BE - 3BE - 6ABE - 18AE, with the CE guards van on either end. 

Photos below of the consist as stated above:

 

These were taken very quickly, as I had to leave for something else as soon as I got home. I'll take some better ones later in the day. Still need to see if the whole set fits in the fiddle yard though!

 

Peter

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Here are some more photos of the new E cars. 

If put in the center fiddle yard road, all 5 E cars and a T class will fit (with the not-yet-fitted buffers removed), with no room to spare. 

 

These first photos are replicating the E set being used as a tour train, with the consist T320 - T333 - 18BE - 3BE - 6ABE - 18AE - 19CE. 

The double header T class will not fit in the fiddle yard, and the second T fouls the 3-way at the entrance to the yard. 

 

These last couple of photos are of three of the carriages being used as a railmotor replacement service, comprising of 6ABE for the first class accomodation, 3BE for the main passenger accomodation, and 19CE for the guard and baggage part. Normally it would be ABE - BE - BCE or BE - ABE - BCE, as usually a full guards/baggage van wasn't warranted. 

 

More rolling stock (Y class, 3 louvre vans, 2 insulated vans, and a guards van) are being collected tomorrow and photos will come when they have been collected.

 

Peter

[Brian D]

Peter,

I know absolutely nothing about Aussie Railways but these trains look very impressive.  All the track laying and baseboard construction all look very tidy - keep up the good work.

Regards,

Brian.

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Peter,

I know absolutely nothing about Aussie Railways but these trains look very impressive.  All the track laying and baseboard construction all look very tidy - keep up the good work.

Regards,

Brian.

Thanks. It's my first time modelling Australian railways, previous layouts have been either freelanced with a mix of British, European and Australian, and then after that they were British, but I wanted a layout that I could finish quickly, which is difficult for P4, and the extra track costs (my old P4 layout plan would have cost me at least twice as much as this one has so far). The baseboards are the best ones I've built so far, and I'm very pleased with them, however I can still improve. 

 

I collected a new locomotive and wagons this morning in a swap. I wanted to get rid of my V/LINE locomotives, which are too late (1980s and 1990s livery) for Skipton. I made a deal to trade them with someone on Facebook for a VR Y class, 2 T insulated vans, 2 U louvre vans, an HD van, and a ZP guards van.

When I went to do the trade, the guy very kindly gave me 5! extra ones for free! I got 3 UB bogie louvre vans (one without bogies/couplers), and 2 B vans. These were built from kits, and need brake detailing, but I'm not complaining! With the addition of these wagons, I can now focus on grain wagons and open wagons (I only have 2 open wagons, but over 15 vans). Photos of the new stock below:

 **EDIT **The UB van missing the bogies had a set of spare bogies fitted. It's the more orange van at the end of the train and will be repainted into VR pre-1956 brown.**

 

I also took a photo of all my stock in the fiddle yard. There's another loco and 10 wagons for Skipton (belonging to a mate) which will be used at running sessions and exhibitions; these aren't shown in the below image. 

 

There are still 2 empty tracks. One will be filled up by another railmotor, either a DERM or a 280HP Walker, and the other by my mates Y class and grain train. 

 

I'm planning to get the last of the track laid this afternoon/evening. 

 

Peter

Edited April 12, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Warning - this will be a long post!             

**Edit** Not quite as long as I'd thought!

 

**This bit removed due to duplicate posting)**

 

In the afternoon, I started laying the track over the third baseboard. Once I'd finished laying the track, I cleared everything off the baseboard, and had a play around. I went through a full sequence, which is basically: Passenger train arrives. Goods train arrives and starts shunting. Passenger train departs. Goods train continues shunting. Passenger train arrives. Goods train departs. Passenger train departs. Goods train arrives. Goods train shunts. Goods train departs. This sequence overall took about 55 movements (all being pushed by hand as there's no power to the rails). I got photos of 51 of the movements, however as there are so many I won't post them here. When the layout is powered and running, I will make a video and upload it to youtube of the full sequence.

 

At the end of the day, once I'd removed the locos to their boxes, and put all the stock back in their sidings, I took a couple of photos of the layout with nothing but track on it. 

 

I'm very happy with how it has turned out, and I'm really looking forward to getting some wires in and running some trains properly!

 

Finally, I had a couple of modifications to do. My new Y class is by Austrains, and while it is a very nice model, it has a couple of flaws. My version is of Y145, as running in the 1960s and 1970s with full blue handrails. This version should have a single airbrake hose at each end, as shown in these pictures below of Y112 and Y125, both in 1978 (Photos taken from http://victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/ydie/ydie.html )

 

However, the Austrains model features 4 airbrake hoses, suitable for the period 1983-ish onwards (I haven't found a specific date for the changeover), as shown in the pictures below of my model of Y145 prior to modification. 

 

Now. While I could leave it as-is, with the 4 airbrake hoses, and not many people would know that it was wrong, it would bug me to no end. So, I decided to remove the 3 hoses that shouldn't be there. The two on the left hand side, and the one on the far right hand side. This was achieved by pulling the hoses out with tweezers - they simply slotted into a small hole in the pilot.

This left me with 6 spare airbrake hoses. 

 

It also left me with a much more accurate model of Y145 as running in the early 1960s. Luckily, as shown (or rather not shown), the holes from the extra brake hoses are very difficult to see, even in photographs. 

 

In order to keep the extra hoses, in case I (or someone else) ever need them, I stuck them into the polystyrene surrounds of the box. 

 

That's all for this update, as I said, it was quite a long one, but now that the track and baseboards are done there won't be much visual stuff happening on the layout until the wiring is complete, and after that it will be time for rigorous testing prior to scenic work. 

 

Peter

Edited April 12, 2017 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia