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......

Model Railway Operations

Thoughts on Model Railways Operations

My recent experience on the D&S created a discussion around Operating Systems for Model Railroad Operations. I guess the first rule of Model Railroads applies here.

 Rule #1 Its my Railroad/way and therefore things occur as I see fit.

I think we all agree that this is the first and final rule on all things on a layout. 

Personally, on the CB&W I set up my layout so that my guests can settle in to the jobs they do as easily and painlessly as possible. I spend time between sessions ensuring cars are in the right sidings, that trains starting at the beginning of a session are correctly blocked, that cars being pulled in a session are at the front of a row of cars, not sitting at the back end. Even though I did not get to run a timetable on the CBW, which is still a goal for the GSD, switch jobs provided plenty of challenges and entertainment for visitors.

Running a sequence list means no one is waiting around for a job.

There is no doubt running a Timetable is closest to Prototypical Operations, but to iron out the issues on the layout and get a feel for how long particular trains take to run I tended to run sequences. I think Timetables are the ultimate goal of Operations.

In the past I used Train Orders, Manifests and Station Switchlists generated by JMRI, not car-cards and weigh-bills. These lists clearly show what all the work for a particular job is. Manifests show train drivers what is on their train at any time, what and where cars are to be dropped and what and from where cars are to be pulled. Switchlists show Station Masters, what and from where cars are to be pulled and what train they are heading out on and what cars are inbound to their station. Operators can plan ahead. All described at the beginning of a running session so each operator can plan ahead.

Chuck Hiscock has taken all his Car-Cards and Weigh-Bills off his Sante Fe Industrial Railroad and uses them to generate hand written Switchlists for his operators. He has a huge rack of car cards in front of his dispatchers desk. This can be replicated on a computer.

All these things go to ensuring my guests/mates have a positive experience during the two hours of operating. 

The main problem with the manifest/switchlist system is that one needs to print them for each session, where card cards are enduring. Also you need to keep JMRI up to date with train movements to ensure it knows where cars are. This is easily done during the session as each train completes its cycle, indeed even if the train finishes half way through its cycle. JMRI can be updated after each station move. There is also a fair bit of work to set up everything in JMRI, but you could also say the same for car-cards etc. 

The limitation of the car-card system, as I see it, is operators need to flick through the cards to work out their tasks as the clock is ticking. Also Station Masters don't know what is inbound until the train arrives and cards are handed over. There is no capacity to plan ahead. Car-Cards and Weigh-bills were a great way to undertake operations before computers came around. Like clockwork trains they provided a great way of enjoying model trains for as realistic operations as one could get. As clockwork morphed into DC operations things improved. Now with DCC things are improving further. It follows the 1950's era car-card system might need to be dispatched to the breaker yard. Whilst I know guys are wedded to the Car-cards system, rule #1 applies remember. I will do my best to ensure the GSD is a modern state of the art layout, running in the 1970's

Amen

 

BDR Report 4 Jan 24

BDR report Jan 4, 2024

This will be the only report for January 2024 coz due to the CEO having a holiday with the next session being February 1st.

So last night saw the following people in attendance for a special night
Geoff as CEO/ Train Control
Steve as Border Downs Master
Drivers being Ray, Tony, Craig & Adam Dazell ( Junction Models) with me being his conductor & boy - we made a good team, efficiency plus !!
Stuart was working & Reg was not himself - feeling stuffed, etc - hope you are better Reg.

Crew for the next Session Feb 1 will be Geoff, Ray, Tony, Reg, myself & Steve with Craig as back up if Steve is not available due to other commitments...

So the night went well, only a couple of minor hiccups - certainly no Johnny Award nominations ( not that that process will start until February) & of course the usual banter about steam vs diesel; SAR vs VR; personalities; "where is my train card tin box?" ; etc etc & without that banter, it would be a boring night .

To my knowledge, no-one forgot to return turnouts back to the mainline. I did make a comment ( promptly told " get new glasses" ) about trying to read OBF numbers in the Kiki siding - I needed a 20X magnifier !!! 
I mean  - when they are this size & trying to read 2 - 2.5ft / 600 - 750 mm away

at least the D&S opens have bigger numbers

Anyway, my gripe over until next time...

😉

Only one Gunzel last night

A visitor to BDR territory. 8113 from NSW

departs the Downs on 9186.

950 & 934 on 82 rattling through Coonara

busy Border Downs

empty Border Downs

Grain empties heading east through Coonara

C505 & C506 sneaking through the scrub.

At the debrief, we didn't have our usual fruit finger buns as Geoff was late getting to the shop ( tsk  tsk)  so we had  a muffin, very nice but apparently twice the price BUT when BDR employs good drivers, they have to be paid good wages. And we are all good drivers Geoff !! just ask us....

Also some chinwag about the recent tragic train accident.

I think Adam enjoyed the night & I am waiting for Stuart to do this

I'm gonna fit a 900 body over a 720 chassis....he'll never know the difference!

That is it so see youse lot Feb 1....

Sol

D&S Report. 10 Jan 24

 Thanks to Craig for the report. 

Craig has been very kind not to mention the chaos I caused by sending the wrong cards, not sending a car, and the general confusion in my performance on the night. There is no doubt I was overwhelmed by the task. Ron and I have discussed it and I have decided to retire from the D&S and focus on the build of the GSD. I am very grateful to Ron for the experience of operating on a quaint little English layout, and for the assistance he has given me personally over number of years now. I am now standing on the platform watching the flashing tail lights of the guards van head off down the tracks of the D&S.

D&S Media Report

Wednesday 10^th January 2024

 

Operators:

Dispatcher: Ron

Charde: David

Marabost: Alan

Watchit: Craig

Tawnton West: Reg

Tawnton East: Ray

 

Another summer barmy evening greeted the 1^st D&S operating session for 2024. The usual pre-operating cuppa / chat commenced the evening’s proceedings. A variety of eateries, adorned the kitchen table and as usual there they were, the old faithful, ‘Monte Carlo’ biscuits but there was no Geoff Denton present, therefore they lasted until next time. The highlight of the pre-operating dining and chinwag session was the arrival of Reg Foster, well, to be more precise, his apricots. Reg brought each of the operators a fresh homegrown bag of apricots. This gift giving was greatly appreciated. Thanks Reg.  

 

At 7.25pm all operators eagerly entered the railway domain for the 1^st 2024 session. 

 

R & R took their respective positions at Tawnton. Normally R&R stands for rest and recuperation. Not this operating session. Tawnton operators were kept on their toes all session. It has been a while since Ray was present at Tawnton and this was Reg’s 1^st time at Tawnton. 

 

Alan is enjoying the ‘operating’ component of the railways and he is enjoying opportunities to fill in at various stations. This session he was based at Marabost and he getting the hang of the the panel, industries and card system, particularly at Marabost and Charde. Alan so far holds the record for operating passenger trains on the D&S. To be noted, at this 1^st 2024 session Alan sent out a DMU an hour early (in fast time – 6 hours in real time). The dispatcher approved it, so it must have been ok. Talking about Passenger trains the main passenger operation for the session whereby all operators drive passenger trains in the form of DMUs or diesel-hauled main line express passenger trains, went to time and was certainly without fault. No dramas with the people moving, except Mrs Kafoops was pretty peeved off at missing her local branchline DMU service because it ran an hour early. 

 

I think Alan is meant to be operating at Marabost – make sure you are watching the station!

 

Charde operator David was heard to be questioning the running quality of some of the locos and then it was determined that the controller was proving a little ‘iffy’ / sporadic. 

David was pleased to be having a break from Tawnton. He quickly mastered the operational requirements of Charde, with no apparent errors in operating. 

 

The Charde DMU at Watchit. 

 

 

Craig was back operating at Watchit. It has been a while with the last time Craig operated at Watchit was in 2022. It was certainly a welcoming change and operations went smoothy throughout the session. It didn’t take long to be familiarised with the operating sequence at Watchit. Certainly one has to be on the ball at Watchit because of the through trains that go through the station. Most operators let the Watchit operator know, with ample warning but one operator……who shall remain nameless, but was operating at a station on the ‘house’ side of the layout, forgot to warn the Watchit operator of a train entering his station. Thankfully the Watchit operator had had an afternoon nap, so he was wide awake and had reflexes of a mongoose. 

A busy Watchit! Completely under control though…….

 

 

The Dispatcher. 

 

The Clock got stopped a few times during the session, for varying reasons. There were no major derailments although the D&S owner needs to look at the track entering Charde because the Charde DMU kept derailing at various times. The dispatcher continued to bark instructions and assist where possible, particularly if things were a little confusing – which occurred at least once during the session at most stations. 

 

All up though, it was a good operating session to see in 2024. Thanks to all and Sundry for participating on the night. Here are some more pics. 

 

 

 

Until next time.

 

Cheers for now

 

The D&S Media Manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSD November/ December 2023 Update

 

Track Work

It's been a busy time in the Foster household over the last two months. Helen had back surgery in early November so I had to take up the role of housefrau while she recovered. But it has been equally busy on the GSD. In my last brief post in early November I had built Dartmoor on the Heywood Branch, including the Glenelg River Tresle. 

VR J519 traverses the Glenelg River Trestle on its way to 

Dartmoor with a mixed goods destined for Heywood.

Since then I have completed the VR mainline up to the point of entering the staging yard at Heywood, completed the Millicent Branch, including the Tantanoola siding, Snuggery and the Apcel Paper network trackage. The local switching panel and  Cobalt switch machines still need to be installed.

                               

Tantanoola Siding

                                                                                                                 Snuggery Station

 

Apcel Paper

On the SAR, the trackage now extends west to Wirrega, Bridgewater is in, and trackage to Upper Sturt is laid and powered. 

   

     Wirrega Track Layout 

                                                                                                                       Bridgewater

Framing

 I have commenced the final section of framing for the centre island to support Wirrega and Murray Bridge.

Wiring

I was having difficulty installing Tortise and Cobalt switch machines from under the layout. The best laid plans to install them with the table tops upside down just didn't work for my 'evolutionary' approach to track planning.  In discussions with GT, he suggested I use M3 bolts from the top of the base board thereby avoiding the muck around of trying to install small screws upside down, with associated swearing. I quickly designed up a drilling template for each type of switch machine,  3D printed it and "viola", easy installation. Of course machines are prewired, so no soldering upside down with associated burn scars on the forehead. (How do I know this?)

It has never been so easy to install these wretched machines, particularly in awkward spots..

Control Panels are proving a problem.

Earlier in the month I set Ron Solly a Challenge. The Millicent Branch is a 'Dark Section' relying on Train Orders delivered by Staff Exchange to control train safety. I asked Ron to design a circuit where operators can take control of a section by 'holding the Staff' electronically. I am please to say within 24hr not only had he designed the circuit but both he and Ray Brownbill had built me relay modules to drive the system.

                                                        

                                                              Ray’s Relay Module 

Ron’s Solution

Rolling Stock Maintenance

Over the Reporting Period I installed a number of Decoders and replaces cracked wheel gears for mates in Auscision and Powerline SAR 830's, Trainorama VLine S Class, Trainorama CR CLP's, Austrain VR T Class and Auscision AN G Class. I really enjoy working on the these models as I can lose myself in the task. Some are bears to  get apart, but that's all part of the challenge.

I have a Trainorama 930 on the rack at the moment, one of mine, that keeps shorting out. Haven't found the issue yet, but I will get it. I also noted the rear bogie on my Trainorama S Class often picks points, a bit of work there methinks.

3D Printing

I arced up the Elegoo Saturn 2 Resin Printer over the period and continued the development of the SAR Y wagon. I am pretty happy with the detail so far. I have also printed wheat bag loads. Of course I can't be totally happy until I get the thumbs up from Bob Bevan, who chided me for putting wheat bag loads on my OBf wagons.

The SAR Stone Hopper project is ongoing. I have had some challenges in the drawing which is proving frustrating to overcome but 

The FDM printer has been flat our printing Tantanoola  and Snuggery Stations, Tunnel mouths, and DPDT switch mounts for the facsia.                                                              

Train Control

Not much to report here. I am not happy with the way I have set up the DCC command centre. Its in an inconvenient position and difficult  to get to. Need to rethink it.

It never ends......... luckily. Hehehe!

VR trains on the Heywood Branch

 My goal for October is to have the southern wall track in and operating. This includes one of the signature scenes being the VR Trestle Bridge over a swamp leading to Dartmoor. The Heywood Branch had a magnificent wooden Trestle in the Dartmoor area. So here is my 3D printed version.

Eastbound J519 hauls a rake over Dartmoor Trestle

Westbound T class 377 brings empty sheep vans back to Blue Lake before shrubbery is installed in the swamp

D&S Operations Report 11 Oct 23

 D&S Media Report 11th October 2023

Operators:

Dispatcher: Ron

Charde: Reg

Marabost: David

Watchit: Ray

Tawnton West: Geoff D.

Tawnton East: Craig (again!!!), should just call it ‘Craigville’

This media report is going to take on a slightly different format. It will be written like a short
story and the title is: ‘What’s the Point’?
‘What’s the Point’, the D&S owner wondered as each time the Flying Banana left Charde or
was on the way to Charde it would derail. ‘Oh no’, yelled the dispatcher, ‘not again’ was
heard by the crew, after about the fifth time. The guilty little Brown and Cream single railcar
was being a right royal pain the rear end. Eventually the actual spot of derailment was
identified and no doubt this meant the D&S maintenance crew were to become busy once
again.

Guilty – as Charged

The Culprit – driven by the Charde operator but on this occasion the constant derailments were not his fault.

No doubt once it was repaired the point would be tracked in case future issues arose.
The efficient D&S operators continued to raise the expectations. If they were in the Defence
Force they would have risen through the ranks to all be commissioned officers by now. No
more Privates or Corporals. The way the operators are managing their stations and
controlling their trains is to a standard a General would be proud of, or in Tawnton’s case,
the King. King Geoff, albeit, inhibited with a hand injury, was still able to be proficient as
always.
Actually, all operators in most circumstances were so efficient that trains were accurately
blocked, even by those who don’t know what term ‘blocking a train’ means. Surprisingly,
well considering the D&S crew on the night, no, it wasn’t surprising, a number of trains
could depart early (Goods only), and I’m not just talking about a few minutes early, I’m
talking over an hour early. This enabled certain operators to get some valuable shut-eye in
readiness for the next train to shunt.

A quiet Watchit.

Somehow a wagon and card got left behind by someone but unfortunately the railway
detectives couldn’t locate the initial perpetrator, however, the Dispatcher thinks it may
have been from one of the operators in the Western end of the layout. There was not
sufficient evidence to charge anyone as guilty of this very minor offence, so it was swept by
the lineside.
We all know that change is inevitable, particularly in relation to the D&S, so when you next
operate on this wonderful railway you are going to witness some growth and development
in the way of a new station. Tiverton was born a while ago and now has almost developed
into a fully fledge operational line, so be prepared men – it is going to be exciting. There
might even be a ribbon cutting ceremony to commence this new dawn on the D&S.
As one famous Bugs Bunny once said, ‘That’s all Folks’.
Pics are of various aspects of the operational funfest.

                          Busy                                                               ‘Who, me’!

Marabost

Tawnton – The King and the Knight.

Charde and Marabost in the background

A busy Tawnton.

Addendum

Even though many operators looking at this next photo would think that the
Passenger train has entered the Tawnton Goods Yard by mistake (of the Tawnton
Operators), this is not the case. It is actually a ‘Works Train’, Train Order T/O GWT.
It does not contain passengers as many would assume but contains railway
employees (mainly Engineers) who were experiencing the construction of particular
‘Goods Yards’.

Cheers for now

The DS Media Manager.

BDR Operations 12 Oct 23

 Hi All, 

In the absence of the BDR Media Manager I (Craig) was asked to complete the Report on Operations from the 12th October 2023. 

Crew 

Train Control - Geoff

BorderDowns - Ray

Mainline Operators - Steve, Tony and Craig

Report

As you can see from the list a usual operator on the BDR was not present. Ron was missed, however, and not sure if this was coincidental but everything went smoothly with no mishaps, no late running, no incidents and no derailments. All operators were extremely efficient throughout the session, with exceptionally timely departures (some trains even left early, with Train Control permission of course). Bronze stars turned to Gold stars and each operator could have received one. Mrs Kerfops even appeared satisfied with the railway operations.  Here ends the report!!

***Addendum 1 to the report. It was mutually agreed that Ron gets the 'Johnny' Award for the evening***

***Addendum 2 to the report.  Lots of shunting took place throughout the session and this was completely very effectively. 

All up, it was a great session, enjoyed by all. Everyone involved certainly deserves a pay rise, considering the absolute efficiency.  

An empty Border Downs - maybe because of the efficient station master

6000 h.p. on 276 express goods

515 hustles around BorderDowns yard

Unusually short 851 Goods

905 Blue Lake passenger

8141 ex Melbourne arrives Border Downs for a loco change

Some more photos.

The 3 Wise men......

Sitting down on the job 

                                                                              Someone might have a caption for this photo!!!

The End