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Borderton: Victorian and South Australian Railways in HO


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Having made it out to Caulfield for a couple of hours, I got to buy some items I've been waiting for for quite a while. First, the Pheonix Reproductions Victorian Railways E and S wagons, and South Australian Railways O wagons. I got one 3-pack of E wagons and a pack of E and S wagons (2 E and one S) in Victorian Railways "dark red" (wagon brown, only not quite brown), and a 3-pack of O wagons in SAR medium grey. I also purchased 12 pairs of VR buffers to add to my freight stock, 3 SAR dark grey DWF vans, two SAR D vans for conversion to VR V vans (the VR having purchased two in 1926? then decided to build a further 51), a VR QN ballast wagon kit, an early wooden M van kit, a 6 ton VR yard crane kit, and a VR water column kit. 

465953416_Caulfield1-min.jpg.e5488d51ab1a5d80b9a7453ce862c8fb.jpg

 

The wagons were quickly placed onto the layout to see how they all looked, and I have to say the E, O and S wagons are incredible. They have fully detailed interiors, replicating the pressed panelling on the sides and ends, and have diecast chassis so are heavy enough to not require extra weighting. My only regret is I wasn't able to get more, as the two wagon red packs of E and S wagons (one with 3 E wagons, one with 2 E and one S) have sold out, hopefully some shops will have them though.

 

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Later in the evening, after my brothers birthday celebration, I painted the first of the D vans into VR early wagon brown. The other one will be sprayed into the later wagon red.

1045493808_VVan1-min.jpg.b24e751667513af5cef26154460fccc4.jpg

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Now for some more layout work, as a result of a late night on Saturday.

One of my brass steam locos, N425, was derailing on the double slip. I suspected this was a result of the somewhat short, plastic, over-gauge guard rails, so these were shaved off and replaced with metal replacements, and voila problem solved.

Guard_Rails_1.jpg.68cfea125478a5949233bf9fccf0ae8f.jpg

Before

 

1786607085_GuardRails2-min.jpg.6e70cd043f038ab38a9bf5b66d01ea49.jpg

Metal guard rails cut and shaped.

 

226994281_GuardRails3-min.jpg.b81bbef14c419be796e1c7f263e823fb.jpg

And done.

 

I also added the second turntable approach road, and assembled and loosely fitted the water column kit.

1100278537_TurntableApproachRoads-min.jpg.742204779ae02c8c1c237fb4c411300d.jpg

 

 

Finally, after an extended period of time out of service, K192 and D3 639, both Trainbuilder brass locos, were returned to service. The K had running problems as a result of one set of axleboxes not sitting square to the chassis, due to too much lateral slop, and the valve gear (being cast brass, not etched) not being straight. A bit of superglue around the edges while holding the wheels square fixed the axle problem, and disassembling the valve gear, straightening the bent components, and reassembling it fixed the valve gear problem.

The issue with the D3, was that 5 of the 6 wires to the plug connecting the tender (with the DCC socket) to the loco had fallen out, due to poor solder. The wires were, after a lot of anger at the tiny wires and plug, re-soldered, and the loco put back into service. Below is a photo of both locos having run their inaugural trains on Borderton.

768182596_K192andD3639-min.jpg.7abd756bfe422f20485db14e9744a445.jpg

They join C26, X36 and N425 on the operational steam fleet, and in combination with X36, S313, 700 and 835 bring the operational loco fleet for Borderton up to 9. My TrainORama 930s, 934 and 959, are due for delivery in September (having been pushed back from May to August to September), and my Auscision Bs B60 and B71 are due for delivery in December,  bringing the total up to 13. In addition, CL17, F201 (Trainbuilder brass in VR red) and J549 (also Trainbuilder) are awaiting new DCC chips and DA1 is awaiting couplers and paint. 

 

Peter

 

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1 hour ago, 60012 Commonwealth of Australia said:

The turntable is a Peco one, and will be modified to represent an SAR 85' table (it comes in at 86.75' long so close enough).

 

Peter

Nice! Have you/are you intending on motorising and operating it by DCC?

Connor

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2 hours ago, CCGWR said:

Nice! Have you/are you intending on motorising and operating it by DCC?

Connor

I haven't motorised it yet, but definitely plan to. I want to do some more research on different motorising kits before I buy anything, just to be sure I make the right choice. I'm not sure whether I will control it via DCC, or whether I use a DPDT switch, or control box, being determined by the motorising kit I buy. For ease of operation I would go for a switch or control box over DCC control, simply as all other aspects of the yard will be controlled by a lever frame and I prefer the physical feeling of a switch or lever to pressing buttons, I find there's just something more satisfying about it than pressing buttons on a controller.

28 minutes ago, D6775 said:

This is all looking very good Peter. One day I will get round to building my Victorian layout, I have most of the stock just not the time/inclination!

 

Al.

Thanks. I look forward to seeing photos of it (and hopefully a thread) when you eventually do get around to it!

 

Peter

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10 hours ago, 60012 Commonwealth of Australia said:

I haven't motorised it yet, but definitely plan to. I want to do some more research on different motorising kits before I buy anything, just to be sure I make the right choice. I'm not sure whether I will control it via DCC, or whether I use a DPDT switch, or control box, being determined by the motorising kit I buy. For ease of operation I would go for a switch or control box over DCC control, simply as all other aspects of the yard will be controlled by a lever frame and I prefer the physical feeling of a switch or lever to pressing buttons, I find there's just something more satisfying about it than pressing buttons on a controller.

Thanks. I look forward to seeing photos of it (and hopefully a thread) when you eventually do get around to it!

 

Peter

 

I agree, we have the Heljan one and it is ready motorised and can be controlled by a control box or by DCC. We have it set up to be controlled by the control box and it is much better than it would be controlled by DCC.

Regards Connor

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1 hour ago, CCGWR said:

 

I agree, we have the Heljan one and it is ready motorised and can be controlled by a control box or by DCC. We have it set up to be controlled by the control box and it is much better than it would be controlled by DCC.

Regards Connor

Alright.

I looked at the Heljan 90' one, but decided the girders and pit of the Peco one was a closer representation of the SAR tables (being flat along the base, rather than angled like the Heljan one). 

 

Peter

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2 hours ago, 60012 Commonwealth of Australia said:

Alright.

I looked at the Heljan 90' one, but decided the girders and pit of the Peco one was a closer representation of the SAR tables (being flat along the base, rather than angled like the Heljan one). 

 

Peter

True

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On 19/08/2019 at 01:47, 60012 Commonwealth of Australia said:

Some minor photoshopping of the last photo to get rid of the drinks in the background and give it some scenery. The background is a generic photo from Dimboola (near Serviceton) and can be found here: https://hiveminer.com/Tags/dimboola%2Cpink (3rd image top row)

 

1003847328_BordertonFirstTrainPhotoshop.png.684e56654026657bad80e35715bc08df.png

 

And a B&W version, which I quite like as it gets rid of the sheen of the unweathered plastic locos, in particular 835.

1928742553_BordertonFirstTrainPhotoshop(2).png.3b93c4b6542e7eba214358a458fcf43c.png

 

Yes, it certainly is! Needs a lot more track cleaning to properly get rid of all the PVA residue on the top of the rails to allow smoother running (well, as smoothly as is possible with no frog power), but was a great feeling to have the S class running into the platform, then connecting to the X and running around the train. I must admit I hadn't expected to have it running this quickly! A trip to Bunnings over the next couple of days is required, as I used up all the dropper wire I got (all 21m of it) and then I'll be able to do more than just push some wagons around the yard.

 

Peter

here are a couple of shots of 849, i think your colour shot is pretty close.

Rgds

Keith96603652_73-140SAR849Ucolta.JPG.0f93f679ae7762987b4ab972d0833d8c.JPG203937925_73-139SARUcolta600849.JPG.587866a6bfd704f77d4e37be4e1ee680.JPG

 

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13 hours ago, Grovenor said:

here are a couple of shots of 849, i think your colour shot is pretty close.

Rgds

Keith96603652_73-140SAR849Ucolta.JPG.0f93f679ae7762987b4ab972d0833d8c.JPG203937925_73-139SARUcolta600849.JPG.587866a6bfd704f77d4e37be4e1ee680.JPG

 

True, looking at those the sheen on the paintwork doesn't look too bad. Once I get it weathered it should end up looking more like that than just all over shine.

 

3 hours ago, manna said:

G'day Folks

 

But you 'Really need' one of these......or....

 

manna

Rx 207 at Strathalbyn 1969.jpg

Tom Barr Smith, Mile End 1969.jpg

Yup. Got a 500B kit that I'm slowly building, will become 509 in black. And, I've heard a rumour that a manufacturer will be bringing out R-T-R Rx class locos at some point in the future, so will definitely be getting one or two if/when that happens. Would be nice to see more SAR steam R-T-R, especially now more companies seem to be doing R-T-R Australian steam (Phoenix Reproductions VR D3, Ixion Models VR J, Eureka Models VR K and NSW stuff, Orient Express Models SAR F). A Q or S would be nice (gotta love the old 4-4-0s) but I suspect we're more likely to see a 520 or 620 next after an Rx, courtesy of the preserved ones (or a 750 if someone decides to do a VR N class).

 

Peter

 

Peter

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Only just found this thread... looking good. 

 

I'm modelling the SAR in the UK - I wish I could "just go shopping" for all those essential bits n pieces...

 

I was lucky that my dad was in Adelaide a few years ago and bought a number of Orient Express models OBf / DWF wagon - which (as I'm sure you know) are superb products.

 

My current "want" is a 900 & an 8300 brake van.... I might be waiting a while!

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Having had some input from an expert on Victorian Railways signalling and yard practices, there have been some revisions to the track plan. I will be going out after school to get the turnouts and underlay required to complete the changes. The changes are primarily to increase it's level of prototypical accuracy - the changes to the access to the roundhouse to demonstrate it's use as a loco-changeover station, as with the dead-end extension at the SA end of 1 road, and to improve it's operational ability, through the extension of 3 road at the SA end to allow shunting to be undertaken without always using the main line. I'm particularly looking forward to the building of the super scissors crossover, it's a project I've wanted to undertake for a while now but haven't had a valid excuse to spend the money on pointwork to do so. Borderton_Updated.jpg.34cdbcee45d2832c1458a8d59ebea4bf.jpg

 

There will be photos of work on the changes, and no doubt of the construction of the super scissors, later tonight and over the weekend.

 

Peter

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  • 2 weeks later...

Not much progress on the layout unfortunately. The super scissors crossover was almost completed last weekend, just needs some minor tweaking and new sleepers around the crossing in the centre. Unfortunately an oversight by me meant that I may have to replace one of the turnouts with a medium radius turnout, unless I can get the bodge I've done to work well. On their large radius turnouts, Peco, in order to maintain a constant 12 degree diverging angle on all turnouts (excluding large radius Ys), maintained a constant curve throughout the turnout, continuing after the frog. Because of the way the super scissors was designed, in order to keep the right distance between tracks, I realistically needed the turnout to reach the 12 degree diverging angle by immediately after the frog - something which doesn't happen on the large radius points. Some careful bending of the turnout and part of the crossing have enabled them to be fitted together, but it's very messy, and I'm uncertain as to how well brass steam locos will go over it. The safest option will be for me to go out to a hobby shop tomorrow after school to buy a left-hand medium radius turnout, which I suspect will be what I do. But for now here are some photos of it as it stands. 

148807194_Borderton59Compressed.jpg.c000187dc2d37a2ee6c6185ba3466f1b.jpg

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312050886_Borderton62Compressed.jpg.a49c9716ad303b3994e8d35acefea3ce.jpg

 

 

The main reason for there having been no other progress, along with me having been sick this weekend, is due to a school project. Part of my Year 12 Product Design project was a small (1200x360mm) N scale layout, which I had built the baseboard for, and laid the track on some months ago, however due to other distractions and a certain amount of procrastination had not gone any further, until last Monday, when I discovered that the due date was in fact the Friday that has just passed, whereas I had thought it was this coming friday, meaning I had 3 days to complete it and bring it in to school. An all-nighter on Tuesday, and a very late night on Wednesday meant that I was able to complete it and return it to school on Thursday when the teacher needed the physical projects to be finished. Due to the ability to get buildings for it I chose a British setting, in late winter, and some photos of it are below for those who are interested.

1195545381_NScale1.jpg.4d7cd022530ea0632c2772006d7ccab8.jpg

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666594351_NScale5.jpg.6191a22b380512cad743fcdd8454be4a.jpg

 

Once I have the new turnout for the super scissors there should be some more progress. At some point soon I'll start buying point motors and levers for the layout, especially given the super scissors will require the motors to be fitted and wired up in order to be used, due to the frog wiring. 

 

Peter

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One thing I forgot to add to the previous post. Upon consultation regarding the updates to the track plan, a friend kindly drew up this signalling diagram for the layout. Lever numbers will be slightly different on the diagram for the lever frame, as the hand-operated points will also be included. The fully signalled yard should make operating somewhat more interesting, especially making sure the operators use all the correct levers! Depending on how I choose to wire crossovers and catch points, the frame will be between 40 and 48 levers, but likely closer to the 48 lever end. The distants are fixed as all trains are required to stop at the station due to through-running not being introduced until after my era. The only error in the plan is that the table is an 85' table, not a 70' table as noted.

597320422_SignallingDiagram.jpg.b2490c33e4eadc9159f0f488b5553e0c.jpg

 

Peter

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Last night saw the start of the construction of the trestle bridge for the South Australian end of the layout. At almost 80cm long, and constructed out of balsa wood, matchsticks and dowel, it will be a rather long build - the deck alone requiring over 400 individually cut and glued matchsticks. So far 4 of the 11 spans (each a scale 20', or 7cm long) have been assembled and decking added, the photo below having been taken after the first 3 were done.

Trestle_Bridge_1.jpg.ed325575a2b677ce0f95723f6e173296.jpg

The base for which the deck is being glued are 5mm square balsa wood sections, being slightly smaller but wider than the prototype - the prototype being two 21"x9" beams each side, with a gap 6" wide between the two, giving a total size 21" x 24", whereas the balsa wood comes out at approximately 17" square. However, it is close enough for my purposes.  The bridge is on a nice, shallow, continuous curve of 1066mm radius (3'6").

The plan for VR trestle bridge decks at 20' spans is here: (Having put in the URL, from victorianrailways.net, it automatically loaded the image)f263.jpg

And the plan for the 4-pile piers which will be used is here: f270.jpg

 

The height is yet to be determined, but will probably be about 5cm tall (a scale 14.25'). 

This afternoon will probably be spent on the super scissors crossing, as mentioned yesterday I will be going into the city after school to buy an SL-E196 medium radius left hand turnout to replace my bodged large radius one. Fingers crossed it turns out better this time!

 

Peter

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On 08/09/2019 at 13:13, 60012 Commonwealth of Australia said:

Not much progress on the layout unfortunately. The super scissors crossover was almost completed last weekend, just needs some minor tweaking and new sleepers around the crossing in the centre. Unfortunately an oversight by me meant that I may have to replace one of the turnouts with a medium radius turnout, unless I can get the bodge I've done to work well. On their large radius turnouts, Peco, in order to maintain a constant 12 degree diverging angle on all turnouts (excluding large radius Ys), maintained a constant curve throughout the turnout, continuing after the frog. Because of the way the super scissors was designed, in order to keep the right distance between tracks, I realistically needed the turnout to reach the 12 degree diverging angle by immediately after the frog - something which doesn't happen on the large radius points. Some careful bending of the turnout and part of the crossing have enabled them to be fitted together, but it's very messy, and I'm uncertain as to how well brass steam locos will go over it. The safest option will be for me to go out to a hobby shop tomorrow after school to buy a left-hand medium radius turnout, which I suspect will be what I do. But for now here are some photos of it as it stands. 

148807194_Borderton59Compressed.jpg.c000187dc2d37a2ee6c6185ba3466f1b.jpg

1248096927_Borderton60Compressed.jpg.62a636f4af2670e4c94044a6c327538b.jpg

1266887552_Borderton61Compressed.jpg.9ac81a8e8034410dc0d52944997221f3.jpg

312050886_Borderton62Compressed.jpg.a49c9716ad303b3994e8d35acefea3ce.jpg

 

 

The main reason for there having been no other progress, along with me having been sick this weekend, is due to a school project. Part of my Year 12 Product Design project was a small (1200x360mm) N scale layout, which I had built the baseboard for, and laid the track on some months ago, however due to other distractions and a certain amount of procrastination had not gone any further, until last Monday, when I discovered that the due date was in fact the Friday that has just passed, whereas I had thought it was this coming friday, meaning I had 3 days to complete it and bring it in to school. An all-nighter on Tuesday, and a very late night on Wednesday meant that I was able to complete it and return it to school on Thursday when the teacher needed the physical projects to be finished. Due to the ability to get buildings for it I chose a British setting, in late winter, and some photos of it are below for those who are interested.

1195545381_NScale1.jpg.4d7cd022530ea0632c2772006d7ccab8.jpg

781322597_NScale2.jpg.7310a5a42a3ab7dff1ed2da9267df59d.jpg

1040701561_NScale3.jpg.ec6157ae6915e9cea9da4e729bf66f12.jpg

253892766_NScale4.jpg.14279503416211f0865e966a3998bde5.jpg

666594351_NScale5.jpg.6191a22b380512cad743fcdd8454be4a.jpg

 

Once I have the new turnout for the super scissors there should be some more progress. At some point soon I'll start buying point motors and levers for the layout, especially given the super scissors will require the motors to be fitted and wired up in order to be used, due to the frog wiring. 

 

Peter

One of my biggest regrets for year 12 (1.5 years ago) was not doing an exhibition layout for Research Project (a subject in South Australia). Good thinking combining trains with school Peter!

 

Regards Connor

 

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5 minutes ago, CCGWR said:

One of my biggest regrets for year 12 (1.5 years ago) was not doing an exhibition layout for Research Project (a subject in South Australia). Good thinking combining trains with school Peter!

 

Regards Connor

 

Didn't you build a Japanese layout for a school project a few years ago?

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2 hours ago, CCGWR said:

One of my biggest regrets for year 12 (1.5 years ago) was not doing an exhibition layout for Research Project (a subject in South Australia). Good thinking combining trains with school Peter!

 

Regards Connor

 

Thanks! 

 

Some more progress on the layout this afternoon. The new medium-radius left-hand turnout was purchased, and partially cut up and added into the super scissors. The unit still needs some minor tweaking, mainly on the turnout that comes directly off the mainline, but no new items need to be purchased as that can be done by adding some small sections of straight rail.

196641241_Borderton63Compressed.jpg.7c18516640293920a50f66947cc7de00.jpg

 

Some more progress also happened with the trestle bridge, with the entire deck being finished over the course of a few hours. All that remains now to complete it is to build the 10 piers, then paint/stain it before constructing the landscape that it will go in. Whilst a very time consuming process, I really enjoy constructing things out of matchsticks, so this was very enjoyable and somewhat theraputic, giving a much needed break from the rush and hassle of Year 12. The final photo shows the E wagon which I put the matchstick off-cuts into sitting on the deck, showing just how long it is. 

1358565859_TrestleBridge1Compressed.jpg.0f72086546a7b7a552885a2afcbe6735.jpg

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1134805256_TrestleBridge3Compressed.jpg.0db3de04a6f6eb0a1c7cf47e62222ca4.jpg

1697108542_TrestleBridge4Compressed.jpg.c9e344a07169719854aa3761a266ebef.jpg

 

There may be some progress on either the super scissors or the bridge tomorrow night, however as I have my final Maths assessments (prior to the exams in 9 weeks time) on Wednesday and Thursday there may well not be any new progress until Thursday night.

 

Peter

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12 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Didn't you build a Japanese layout for a school project a few years ago?

True, I did build a Japanese Layout showcasing the different public transport systems in Japan, that is now broken up and I did focus on the Great Western for my research project in Year 12 so I guess I was pretty involved.

 

Regards Connor

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Between last night and this afternoon and evening, the trestle bridge has been completed.

Last night saw the completion of the deck

1014956903_TrestleBridge5Compressed.jpg.96270cd37bb8592ea8a91015a68feae6.jpg

939336680_TrestleBridge6Compressed.jpg.7c53d343f029cb4dffebe700a004943f.jpg

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1936837222_TrestleBridge8Compressed.jpg.97a6f718cff63ad392e129d2496db66e.jpg

 

Tonight saw the completion of the 10 piers, each coming in at 43mm tall, giving the bridge a total height of 50mm from base to deck.

1850120689_TrestleBridge9Compressed.jpg.f8ffdd4cf778bc8abfdad6686a6024ab.jpg

994928178_TrestleBridge10Compressed.jpg.33c1944ff3742e08718cef798d46d228.jpg

1057994798_TrestleBridge11Compressed.jpg.c5b621581c00bc20226c5c516fa5d211.jpg

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113280280_TrestleBridge13Compressed.jpg.1ef7c5502f3f3da4babdeafefc040c34.jpg

 

I also got a photo in slightly more natural light, positioned where it will go once painted. The foam will need gluing down once I've replaced the standard bolts with cuphead bolts (so I can cover them up without being unable to tighten them)

805316353_TrestleBridge14Compressed.jpg.e0eec86064b482a1b1cffc38b09895a3.jpg

 

Peter

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The amazing thing about these bridges is they were still being built and repaired around 1920 to 1940 I heard from my grandmother about 6 years ago her father was the shop detailer, drafting joiner who designed and worked on these style of bridges during that time. I have never found the company name and my grandmother couldn't remember the company name. They were located in the cbd and I believe in flinders lane. But this has never been confirmed. 

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23 hours ago, DougN said:

The amazing thing about these bridges is they were still being built and repaired around 1920 to 1940 I heard from my grandmother about 6 years ago her father was the shop detailer, drafting joiner who designed and worked on these style of bridges during that time. I have never found the company name and my grandmother couldn't remember the company name. They were located in the cbd and I believe in flinders lane. But this has never been confirmed. 

It certainly is incredible. Especially given they were still updating the designs that late - the diagrams I used for this one are dated as being adopted in 1935 and 1936, presumably to replace older designs. It would be fascinating to find more details about the company you mention, I'm sure there will be a reference to it somewhere, albeit probably very well hidden.

 

Peter

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