SMR CHRIS

Hi Bob Looks like you had a nice New England spring day yesterday, for running trains We also had a nice day down here and ran on a friends outdoor “G”arden Gauge layout on the coast near Newcastle. Your 19 looks really good out in the sun how does it perform The 18 looks like it’s got a good train load too the new tank train is a nice addition. Re 59’s I’ve got my Fox 59 reassemble at a nice height however I have noticed that the front buffer beam has a slight angle from the flat plane of the chassis that makes the buffers angle up hadn’t noticed when looking at the original height issue with the chassis however as it is now at a correct height the buffer beam is now noticeable may just live with it. Next is to sort out the tender height to match the loco. Couple of photos 59 at the correct height and a Friends Schools out in the spring sunshine

There’s no mistaking it’s a 19 Looks really good Bob. I had not heard anything about the AMRA 3Rail O layout being under threat I know a few people that pushed for a long time for 7mm fine scale layout or at least joint running with 2 Rail on the big track but were told in no uncertain terms that would never happen.

The back head looks the part Bob Some links to the 19 class group on FB with some great photos of cab details esp the second link https://www.facebook.com/glenreagh.railway/photos/a.672276006149476/1016573678386372/?type=3 https://www.facebook.com/634221633288247/posts/712268452150231/

Marty that’s great news that your inspired and ready to get back into it, if you also get a small inglenook/ shelf layout/ test track up and running you will have that bit more motivation to see something running. I alway find if I haven’t got a running layout of some sort the motivation isn’t as high. What plans are you going to get???

Yes Cheap kit I saw that mid $600’s but some question if it was a complete kit if going by the description, someone from Tamworth selling, I met a Modeller from Tamworth 3 year ago at an exhibition who was a NSW O scale Modeller but not a Aus7 member but can’t remember his name. Great news that the 19 Chassis is a runner

Bob it’s a version 3 TCS WOW it’s been in several locos I have used it as a test decoder for a few years. I’ll get a Current version WOW decoder eventually. I’ll certainly never ware out any of my models on Moonan Flats. Hopefully I’ll get a big shed one day soon that will give room for the dream Big Layout that will have a long run for the locos to stretch there legs

Marty your thinking of the 55 class they did a couple specialty for a couple of tours near the end of steam the photos I’ve seen they looked quite smartly prepared with the striking Red foot plate. 30T 32 50 & 53 also had examples. A couple of link to Flickr of some photos by friend Tim Arnot of the 55’s https://flic.kr/p/queSbZ https://flic.kr/p/abKgLL https://flic.kr/p/queT6z

A few years ago Trevor H mooted the idea however, I think I was the only one that offered to go, in on the build project with him.So with no other offers of help or interest and with both of us already having plenty of projects (layouts in the build) nothing more came of it. It would be good to have something like that, an all gauge test track, in the UK these do get lots of interest when at shows.

Hi Bob Yes unfortunately we did loose another 7mm NSW Modeller I was advised this week by his Daughter that “Ian McLean” form Cowra had passed. I passed on our Condolences on behalf of all Aus7 Modellers.

Video of 5917 with sound now installed quick test up and down Moonan Flats

Hi Martin Re the Red footplate and lining all the photos of 59’s being delivered off the boats seem to display what looks like red lining albeit the photos are BlackNwhite, it dose look like Red running boards red under the cab and lined cab sides also lined tender as well. One of the oil burners at Goulburn has remnant original paint and the US style number have been uncovered as the bottom layer of colours, this also confirms the Red running boards as delivered and that’s No16 so a late delivery. Several photos of 59’s in service on the north coast also show red as well. Certainly a lot were all over black after overhaul but this probably also largely depended on the location and time of the overhaul. Some had white in place of the red as well possibly Port Waratah locos as photos suggest

New arrivals at Moonan Flats this is 1 of 2 NSWGR 59 Class Baldwin 2-8-2 by DJH kits UK this loco will be Finished as class member #5917, Coal burner. I haven’t decided what the second locos number will be yet or if it will be a Coal or oil burner the kit comes with parts so you can build either versions may do as an Oil burner there are 5 of the class that made it into preservation 3 coal burners #10-17-20 plus two statically preserved Oli burners #8 & 16 however only 5917 has remained serviceable and is currently getting new wheel tyres and a bit of an overhaul. I needed somewhere to test 5917 and so this afternoon I finally got to set Moonan Flats up again it’s been stored away since the RVR exhibition so with the finishing touches to the DJH loco of fitting numbers about to happen, the Next thing to do was put a Decoder in it, I had a old spare TCS WOW V3 it’s been in a few locos for testing etc I fitted a AS3030 speaker in the Die cast boiler Barrel and it makes a super loud sound enclosure. The loco now needs a good run in the Slaters Gear Box is quite tight I will have to do on the rolling road as the 8ft of Moonan Flats scenic section will never were it in. All shiny in black with Red lining 5917 at the end of the line at Moonan Flats

They look the part Bob been trying to decide what to do on my 19 tender I had some whitemetal ones but can’t find where they have been safely put, so some Slaters plastic ones look to be the go. Much easier to glue in place as well

Wow Bob great progress going on up North, a fleet of more wagons and a new loco taking shape. I’ve not see a model train until yesterday, since the Epping clubs exhibition as straight after we left on a trip around this Great land of ours again the layouts are all stacked up as it was home from show unpack trains pack for trip leave. Did have a trip out of Forsyth on the Savannalander this time. Time to get back out to the trains, set the layout up and have a Running session Your 19 looks nice I’ve always liked the porthole cab on the 19 Will follow the build as inspiration as I should get back and finish my one.

Hi Bob yes the majority of the SA models were built to 1/4inch scale but the newer models are in 7mm ie 930 and 830 Class Diesels and some rolling stock. Yes I Had a good time exhibiting at RVR.

Some scenes on Moonan Flats at the Richmond Vale Model Railway and steam train weekend.

Hi Marty I’m trying to keep the model as close to a Fox model as can be but have it close to the correct height within the restraints of the original cast parts I could get another 0.5mm at a pintch. It’s sitting nice now I have a got it within 1.4 mm of the correct height so will live with that rather than risk having the chassis become too thin and potentially break I think only 5 or 6 of these chassis where cast Plus After all this I also have a too scale DJH 59 Class In O scale so keeping the Fox model as is is more important Have been busy exhibiting Moonan Flats and building a new layout for Rosehill exhibition so will get back to the 59 when everything else is completed.

Hi Bob Yes Brian did a talk on it at the last Aus7 forum a lot of the models were scratch built by Frans Grand father ?? I think, Brian and Fran have made a extension to their house to house the layout, as Fran said it’s a train room with a cosy house attached. The railway just keeps growing and runs over several levels. DCC with signaling going in as they progress.

It’s been a while since I did anything with the 59 the hight issue was a real problem 7mm too high at he buffer line made it impossible to use coupled to anything on the front of the loco hopefully I have take enough out of the frame I can get about 0.5mm more in the brass bearing block but the chassis is just about maxed out due the the V Ron cut in the top is too deep on one side if I machine much more risk the chassis breaking as it’s quite thin.

Been a little while since an update So what’s going on down under Firstly my O scale Layout “Moonan Flats“ will be on display at the Richmond Vale Steam railways Annual Steam trains and model railway show 19/20th May Several G scale models have been converted to Radio control using the Revolution system http://www.revoelectronics.com Some models running in friends Garden the Mallet and Rio Grande C19’s are my locos And today I was at the machine shop machining the cast alloy Chassis and Brass bearing block for a Fox Models O scale NSWGR 59 Class the models sit too high so need several mm removing in the photo below Chassis in the Mill

Nice rendering of the RM car body dose sketch-up, make it easy to reproduce the tumble home for the lower car sides ?? Will be interesting to see these done Are you going to 3D print this one or build in Styrene, with the Sketch up rendering you could possibly get Laser cut in styrene done.

Wow you must have had a bit of time on your hands the list went off the end of the screen No problems re the number, hope you had a good read and any question just quote the post so I know what’s what.

It was the perfect site to run a railway preservation out of, it just needed the site cleaning up and the rehabilitation as required by the mining co’s after they close down. Yes as it was when the trains were there it was a rabbit holed yard and it was still a coal yard as the mine had finished, but when the site was “site rehabilitated” as it is now, it’s like a great big Green field I go past it regularly and you wouldn’t know it was ever a Coal mine. Area ringed in red line is the site, the rail line marks in Blue came in across the road at the top and finished on a curve at the back of the colliery.

Yes the big under cover Shed was part of the deal, State Heritage, I think it was called at the time when agreeing to Dorrigo being able to buy the SMR 10 Class locos from Rothbury Riot that was a few years ago and there is still no evidence of the Shed And a just recently they purchased the 49 Class from 3801 Ltd and had it transported north by rail with SSR possibly to Tamworth where they have other items stored. Really why do they need another diesel that they can’t run anyway, the money could have built a very good size shed. They should have never moved from the Rhonda Site it had easy access to the main line, a large population close by and could have run tour trains based out of there.

I thought there would be a Good reason for the decision and understand not wanting to look through a Perspex edge Looking forward to seeing it all complete