Sharky

Time for an update on our venture in Aus. As stated in my previous post we exhibted at the Diamond Creek Exhibition over Easter, and it was a great success! A few issues were come across while setting up and getting the modules the right height (as some people had their leg measurements a bit loose compared to the 1000mm from the floor. No matter as we were able to work it all out, with no modules on the floor! An overview of our setup. Feed back was overwhelming positive! With a lot of people impressed with the concept and quite a few interested to join us! We like our eggs. And a group photo of all of us who either build a (or multiple modules) or held run the layout over the weekend. We had about 20 pairs of end plates there for sale and all of them were sold! We are having a our next meeting in late June which we are hoping to have some new modules attend as well as scenery on others finished! Our next exhibition we are attending is the AMRA Model Train Show held at the Melbourne Showgrounds in August. In the interim we may create our own thread for module build updates etc. So as to not over crowd this one.

The location you saw the XR & G was Gheringhap Loop. The Junction for the Broad gauge line to Ballarat & the Standard Gauge line to Arrart line across the Pyrenees Plains. There's a BRMA Member who lives in one of the former Departmental Residence Houses. Here's a picture from our meeting in January this year at his place. Trip looks fantastic though! Haven't been to Apollo Bay in 15 years!

Time to bring this topic up from the depths of RMWeb! A few of us in Melbourne, Australia, decided in November 2023, that we would start up our own 'FreemOO9' group. We've all had an interest in starting a 'FreeMo' group for HO but nothing ever got off the ground as there were too many people arguing over what standards to follow. It also being a bigger scale means that you need more room to build and store your module/s. But with OO9 it does take anyway near as much room (would you believe). We also have gone and followed the standards (and end pieces) posted at the top of this thread so that made arguments about standards a non starter. So after much talk, planning & building of modules, 7 of us got together at one the Member's house and set up a dry run. The only issue being most of us didn't have legs sorted for our modules. So we brought as many locos boxes as we could as set up our modules on top of them, on the floor. (Sam's Trains eat your heart out!) With only a few minor adjustments needed with re-soldering rails, adjusting the modules to line the rails up and making sure we plugged in the Jumper cables the correct way... The first running session was very successful! Here are a few pictures from our first running session. We've got two weeks till we first exhibit at the Diamond Creek Model Railway Exhibition over the Easter Weekend. Most of us won't be able to 'enhance' the scereny side of our modules before then, but that's part of the draw card to get other interested and involved. To show you don't need a finished module to exhibit! If you're in Melbourne over Easter drop by the exhibition and say G'day!

My "Inspired by" wagon pack arrived in Australia this afternoon. Very happy with them. The quality of the prints on the models is incredibly high quality & they are very free rolling. Titfield - Mallingford Mixed? I just have one nit pick. In the package was some flyers which is understandable to promote new & existing models. But I think I got a one of every single one. 20 in total. Most printed on fairly thick paper/card. My nit pick is that all together they weigh quite a bit (almost as much as the wagon pack) and I hope it wasn't included in the postage cost (which was £35) & they were just included to make they most of the international postage costs. Other than that I'm very happy with the wagons and I'm looking forward to customising them with some loads and weathering... 🫢

The mock platforms certainly help give the illusion of a station! Looking forward to seeing the final once in place. (In good time)

Just on this point, if it wasn't token block, what was the 'method of working' over the single line between Crianlarich & Rannoch?

I received my Titfield Pack in Australia a few weeks ago. Very happy with it especially the sound files! My only criticisms are you can't add the Rev & Bishop to the footplate of 'Thunderbolt' if you wish to store it in the box. (Atleast not without modifying the plastic clamshell.) And the water filling sound should have ended with the quarrel between Dan & Rev on their first day of operations. Overall a fantastic model! Can't wait to receive my Tramway Coach

Agreed. The running lines should be protected from potential runaway wagons or driver's over shooting signals. It will certainly add to the realism of the location. Trains need to be protected from other trains. Signals don't stop trains, the brakes do. And when they don't, then they should be diverted away from potential collisions.

After many years of putting off buying a 37 (mainly because they're outside my chosen era) I bit the bullet and got myself a Bachmann 37012, to start venturing into 80s Scotrail. I am in love with this loco to say the least. The cold start feature still makes me smile like a child when I use it. The sound is very 37 and while the Accurascale speakers give more bass the Bachmann ones do a damn good job too! My biggest gripe so far is the inability to have the snowplows fitted as well as a coupler such as with the Accurascale ones. Does anyone know if there's a way to have a kadee and and snowplows fitted? Or whether someone produces something 3D printed? Outside of that I just need to fit the front details and give it some weathering to make it more fitting for the Scottish Region.

Exciting times ahead! Just an operational query, What happens to all the Locos off the seaside specials once they shunt the coaches out at Pentowan? Is there going to be an MPD at Pentowan?

Very nice! Just missing a block shelf, a duster & an armchair with the box cat curled up on it by the fire.

That means more buses! It's the rules.

How'd them buses pass each other on such a narrow bridge??? 🤔

Agreed. It wouldn't be difficult to fit a contact switch into the lift out section that turns on once the section is sunken home. Or connect it to a brass pin that can be used to not only align the lift out section with the rest of the layout but also provide the connection for the dead sections either side Having a break in the rails a good metre (or Yard in old money) from the cliff, would prevent anything over shooting off into the abis. Needs to be 'Fail Safe', just like the real railways!

The old box is looking a little worse for wear these days, but it will be celebrating it's 100th Birthday later this year. Not many places can hold testament to that and still be in daily operational use. It's probably also a blessing that it hasn't been repainted. As in true railway tradition, when a building gets a coat of paint it's due to be knocked down in 6 months.