Test Run

 Testing Track on the GSD

The Great Southern Division had a little test run on the VR and the Millicent Branch last night. Thought I would share some of the action.

VR J 519 takes a spin on the interim Blue Lake Turntable after topping up up with water and coal in readiness for its return trip to Heywood.

J519 all hooked up onto its load just awaiting yard clearance to head to Dartmoor for switching tasks

SAR Brill railcar sits idling at Blue Lake Station ready for its trip to Millicent. This model was my first attempt at a kit build some 30 years ago. Painted with a 6 inch brush and colours I thought were pretty close, it took a tumble to a concrete floor shortly after its initial run. I gathered up the broken bits of resin and returned them to the BGB box from whence it came. It sat there for 29 years until last year I glued it back together, remotored it with a new Black Beetle, inserted a TCS T1 decoder and now she is in full service. One day i will decal it. The Trailer was a recent purchase from an estate.

SAR 900 class 905 runs through Snuggery on its way to Blue Lake hauling the daily Millicent local. I wanted to test the big loco running through the points. Sweet.

SAR 800 Class 809 switched an empty cattle car into the Livestock loading ramp at Blue Lake. VR B Class 60 sits on the Silo track after failing on its trip from Dartmoor. I know 800's didn't work the South East. Rule #1.

SAR 830 #835 switches Snuggery on the early morning Millicent local.

I was pretty happy the way things ran. there are still a few points with unpowered frogs, but I am working my way through them. Switching in Snuggery and Dartmoor seems to work well, as does Blue Lake. 

I am constructing the centre baseboards at present that will hold the SAR mainline from Blue Lake through Wirrega, Murray Bridge and on to Bridgewater and Adelaide. I have had to reduce the loop at the far end of the centre aisle to 680mm radius (about 27 inches) to fit it all in. I hope by the end of January I will have a line in to Murray Bridge. Today I am off to Bunnings to buy some 6mm MDF panel which will form the base of the river flood plain upon which the long viaduct will run. Getting the grades right is fun......