Sharky

It was first penned by the legendary Bush Poet 'Banjo Paterson' and was lost to time. Passed on only through verbal tellings of the 'Tale of the Bunnings Carpark' by the local people of the Western Suburbs.

I sometimes wish I'd picked the late 50s as a modelling era, purely for the fact of having Flithy Steam Locos! I love the look of a very used engine.

That's just Un-Australian! Mind you the smell of vinegar does the same to me so who am I to judge.

Pretty sure he's behind the signal post. He's pretty skinny.

Agreed! Will definitely look better in photos and be closer to the actual operation of the box.

Perhaps a last minute stand in for a failed Black 5 or Patriot on a Parcels train?

The Rodding looks amazing! As you were saying it doesn't look out of place next to the Code 100. Definitely fills the space in nicely. Always love the inclusion of signalling infrastructure.

It would have yes. But the costs from 'work safe' caused by work place injuries and the union on managements back about preventing injuries would've been more expensive.

Future Donal' & Dougie in the background???

We tried to do this at Frankston a few years ago. Unfortunately the pay rise was knocked back (partially because the reliever running the frame during the assessment couldn't keep their mouth shut about how easy they found it to run). But we ended up getting a second person on Day and Afternoon shift so that's something...

What?! No routes set?! Not even a lock bar left out! I'm guessing the local Signals & Block Inspector (Or 'Blocko' down here) likes to see a tidy frame.

Grinning or gnashing teeth?

We used to do the same at a friend's railway with the 24 hour timetable we run. But after a number of operators complained about not being able to see well with the lights off (this also coincided with the eye sight of the more "experienced" operators failing) we stopped 'Night Time Running' and just run with the all the lights on. It is definitely easier to see what's going on, but not so great when trying to figure out which part of the day the timetable is in... This also saved the owner the time of maintaining the lighting on the platforms which could be a pain to fix.

How many weeks/months has it taken to get through the sequence? Also, will there be any extras floating around now the sequence is finished? or will the poor 'over worked and underpaid' signalman get a chance to enjoy a cuppa and read the news and views of the world?

Generally I prefer longer shots as it creates a greater depth to the image, but this is difficult to recreate in 4mm without taken multiple images at different focal points. But this one (the 3rd shot) gets my vote. It's a great setting with the signal box on the right, loco in the centre and the train curving away to the left. It just looks 'sharper' than the other two. But that's my 2 cents. or bob, depending on where you come from...

Maybe on the night shift...

Perhaps the command station just doesn't approve of the new extension to the branchline?? On a serious note the signal box is looking very nice! Will look great with a row of levers and a Signalman reading the paper by the pot belly stove in a big comfy armchair.

G'day Andy, Thanks for checking my thread out. Not much progress in the past few months as I moved out of home into my own place. Working on a new layout design but need to sort out baseboard design and storage underneath. This was the last picture I took of the layout. It was a popular resting place in summer. Thankfully I've managed to avoid an encounter with covid. Fully vaccinated so hopefully that will remain the case.

I'm liking the plan. Looking forward to seeing what you create.

Loving the re-design. The Dairy will add a nice amount of operational interest. Looking forward to the following updates.

Just want to tell you both 'Good Luck', we're all counting on you.

Also known as a 'Lockdown' a bit further south where the party in charge is not approved of my Murdoch's press. A certain Midnight Oil song comes to mind... Anyways back to more important matters, you're really motoring along now. The track/curve alignment subject is fascinating to me. Trying take it all in, but maths was never my strong suit (English was less so, guess that's why I work for the railways). Looking forward to the build of the lever frame. Would've loved one myself for the future layout in my new residence, but looks like I won't be able to get a Modratec one. Hopefully we'll be able to make it up to Sydney one day for a running session, when restrictions and shifts allow.

Geez! You don't muck around. Would've taken me a lot longer to do the same...

Yes unfortunately I haven't made it to the British Isles yet. I had planned to get there this year during my leave just gone, but that dream died last year... (Thank Rona) I myself also try and shunt whenever I'm operating on an exhibition layout. Especially our club's large model of Maryborough Station, as St. Enodoc can verify from the two Sydney Exhibitions we have been too.

Looking good so far Jesse! I love the fact you're not going for a typical station with goods yard. We see far too many of them at exhibitions and nobody ever shunts them either! It's been a dream of mine to create an exhibition layout of just a railway line running through country, with maybe passing loops / layby sidings like you're doing. One Day... I agree with most the statements about transitional curves. I also think that moving the tunnel mouth to use as the scenic break will be much better on the eye than a hole in the backscene. But that's just my 2 cents. Looking forward to seeing how you progress.