Wirrega RIP

 Saw this on Facebook the other day. Removal of Silos at Wirrega August 2024

Melbourne Model Railway Exhibition

A little video of my visit to the AMRE VIC Train Show in Melbourne last weekend

https://youtu.be/ibPB2t1nHJA?feature=shared

 

The Acid Test

 July 17th became the day the GSD was put through her paces by the crowd from the Northern Suburbs. Ray, Ron, Dave, Geoff M and Geoff T gathered for lunch at 12 followed by their introduction to the GSD.

Once the food was digested I reminded the crew that Happiness = Expectation minus Reality, and it was in their control as to whether they would have a happy day.

After a brief introduction to the layout the task was set about to hook up phones to the Command System, I use a YaMoRC YD7001  and Traincontroller to dispatch, although today TC was rested. The crew then oriented themselves to the Operating format, which included Train Orders and Manifests. I use Manifest Creator, a back end product the runs from the Operations Pro element of JMRI. Operators don’t have to carry Car Cards and weighbills as the computer tracks rolling stock movements. It took a little while to get hooked up, but eventually with guidance from the GSD’s technical adviser, Geoff T, all operators were running trains with their phones. Oh,all except Ron, he opted for the DT602 throttle which, whilst it is the same colour as his NCE Throttles, that’s where the similarities stop. 

This was the first time the GSD had three WiFi operators and one Throttle operator working simultaneously. Four trains operating at the same time in different towns. I am pleased to say she held up pretty well. I warned operators that there were some deceased Frenchmen at some points, operators were very kind to point out certain issues that cropped up, but none were show stoppers.

The main comment was not enough Staging…….. Duh! There is never enough staging, Geoff T has 14 staging tracks at each end of his layout, and guess what, it isn’t enough. 

That aside, there were some track work issues that are easily fixed. Locomotives ran relatively smoothly, and people seemed generally happy (expectations did not outweigh the reality) with the day. I think they see more potential to expand the Operations a bit more than I have at present.

Alas I forgot to take pics to include in this report but you can’t have everything.

The session was topped off with Tea and Coffee and a Mandarin cake with Cream (provided by the delightful Helen)

It was agreed next month down south will see the crew put the Wolf Creek and Western put through it paces.

I wish to thank the boys from out north for indulging me and special thank you to Geoff T for his able advice and assistance in troubleshooting.

The Commish

Addendum 

It seems Ron took some pics so here are some from his collection

3 level staging Millicent at the bottom, Heywood in the middle and Adelaide/Mile End on top

The view down to Wirrega

The Up Mixed awaits departure in Blue Lake Yard

David’s edges his train onto the Murray River Bridge

Blue Lake Loco Yard with its Digital 👆🏻 Turntable

Dartmoor VIC with Tantanoola siding at the lower level

Blue Lake Yard looking West

EOFY Update on the GSD

 As most of you know June was a difficult month for me as I had too many balls to juggle to participate in external model railway activities. Whilst I missed the BDR and Wild Creek. It looks like a I dodged a bullet with COVID spreading its tentacles amongst the group. The biggest disappointment in my decision though, for me, was introducing the Eskimos (the northern indigenous people of Adelaide) to the GSD. That event, COVID willing, will occur now on July 17th.

Whilst I may have been AWOL from other layouts, things have progressed on the GSD. Adelaide and Mile End staging trackwork is nearly in. Both are operational with limited manoeuvrability, still some crossover tracks to put in, They both seem to function well. I have not yet put in the point motors so all are digitally operated with the right hand index digit. 

I have divided the trackage into two sections, three tracks are Adelaide Station and three tracks Mile End freight yard.

I came across a FB post on the South Australian Railways HO Scale page by Gavin Thrum on his Adelaide station scene on his layout, and thought to myself, ‘I can do better than that! God what a sloppy modeller’ (for those that don’t know Gavin’s work, its exquisite modelling, extra fine detail all scratch built, very inspirational)

Gavin’s Adelaide from his FB Post

 Then reality set in, who am I kidding, but I thought why not have a go, so based on his achievement, I have set about designing and  printing three platforms of the old Adelaide Railway Station, with a low relief building in the back and the famous Adelaide Station Signal cabin as trains depart. One of the things I love about Gavin’s work is his attention to detail and inclusion of the small things. So I am working my way through designing and printing, the small yard disc signals, power distribution boxes, signal rodding etc etc. 

Adelaide on the right, Mile End to the left.

Scenery

I have undertaken more mountain building and scenery detail, as well as painted some back scenes to add some interest to the layout. My pine forest on the Millicent Branch, whilst not up for any Art prize, seems functional. The addition of scenery material along the track side will soften its harshness. 

My Pine Forest

Motive Power

With the help of Geoff Tynon, I have fiddled with all the locomotives on Decoderpro. All those that were running intermittently are now running very smoothly by turning off BEMF. ‘ Why, you ask, when BEMF is supposed to smooth things out’, well all I can say is ‘that’s Model Railways’.

I am having trouble with the gear towers and wheels on some of my Trainorama 930’s and VR S Class rounding some curves and crossing points. All wheels are in gauge but they just pick the points. They are barstards to get apart, but I will tinker away and hopefully resolve the issue.

Rolling Stock

I received the stone hopper loads for my 3D Printed stone hoppers which are starting to look reasonable. I have not yet found the right screws to hold the bogies on, I was hoping Burfitt or Aztronics might have them at the show, but alas no. Looks like I will have try Temu or Ali Express and guess my way around. 

I had to pack up my spray booth for June so a number of paint jobs await, including my Cafeteria Car, the Green and Cream Insulation car and the remainder of the stone hoppers. Maybe July. 

Traincontroller (aka Railroad &Co)

During June I resolved to increase my knowledge of this product. Initially I thought, screw this,  I want to change as I don’t like the way it drops out during running sessions  and everyone on forums is raving about iTrain. So I down loaded iTrain, drew up the layout, put in the sensors and ran some locomotives, changed points etc, All good. That was the first nine videos of the 108 videos in the training series. I am 73 years old, I fugured I’d be 93 before I got iTrain to the point I already had Traincontroller. So screw that. 

The GSD in iTrain

Calling on the IT knowledge of Geoff Tynon again, he determined I was a Fwit, as I had Traincontroller using two connections to the same Command Station which he thinks (I don’t) were conflicting. Time will tell who is correct. 

Anyway upshot is I am sticking with TC 9 Silver until I get totally p’d off with it.

The GSD in Traincontroller

Operations

I continue to refine how I plan to run operation sessions. I installed TrainOrder boxes in locations where trains start so operators pick their train from the list on the Crew Call Board, go to the departing Depot and pick up their train order. Upon completion they place the Train Order in the box next to the Call Board. 

I plan to stick with Operations Pro in JMRI and Manifest Creator to determine car movement. I continue to develop my knowledge of these great programs to refine the specific requirements of each industry and create interesting jobs for operators. 

A Typical GSD Manifest

Well that’s about it for June. The GSD conquest to develop, and I am truly enjoying the peace this hobby brings to my life. Until next time.

The Commish

Oh one of the stresses I had this month was getting Council Approval for a verandah off the front of the GSD shed. All done and under construction, should be finished tomorrow. 

Recent 3D print Activities

Building the layout is fun and providing me with great satisfaction. But I equally enjoy designing and printing SAR associated rolling stock and infrastructure for my layout. To me it’s a whole new dimension of the hobby. I research as much as I can, measure where I can then print the model. For rolling stock I use my Elegoo Saturn 2 Resin printer and for buildings and bridges etc I use the Anycubic Kobra Plus FDM printer. 

The Stonie

For some months now I have been drawing the SAR Stone Hopper which  I finally printed this weekend last. To date I have 10 hoppers printed. Just ordered loads for them, need to print bogies and acquire wheels and decals for them. They are not perfect and would not pass muster to a rivet counter, but for now they will add a new train to the SAR roster.

SAR Rx and RXP Insulation Car

I completed drawing the detail on the SAR RX Insulation Car after consultation with running cars on the Border Downs Railway.  This weekend I printed a final version. Now to paint and decal.

Something different and substantial 

Last week I decided to start drawing the SAR Cafeteria Car . I downloaded plans from the Comrails website and with Bob Bevan’s BGB model in hand I started to draw the car. By far the biggest car I have printed. The body took 15 hours while the under frame and Interior took an additional 11 hours. 

I am pretty happy with the out come which now I have to prep for painting before assembly. 

 

My next project CD Brake Vans. 

Yep

 

Running on the GSD

 Things are progressing on the GSD. Some pics of a recent trial run,

Someone is excited to be switching Dartmoor with the Heywood to Blue Lake Goods.

J519 backs onto its load in Dartmoor

SAR 930 pulls the Up BlueLake Mixed to Wirrega Station. No switching duties this trip here so short passenger drop and next stop Blue Lake.

SAR 835 has the Up Blue LakeGoods over the mighty Murray River while 848 switches the wharf.

Trainspotting the BDR Vol 2 25 April 2024

 

Trainspotting on the BDR 14 March 2024

 

A Watershed Night on the GSD

 Tonight trains ran, for the first time from Blue Lake all the way to Upper Sturt  meaning all I have to put in now are the Staging Yards for Adelaide and Heywood then I’m finished. ……… the mainline that is. But a seminal moment when my Grandson. Maxi ran 702 from Upper Sturt all the way round, through Bridgewater, Murray Bridge, across the river and flood plain, through Wirrega and into the yard at Blue Lake. After a little tweaking after the first run 905 hauled an Up Blue Lake and 930 took the first Down Blue Lake daily Goods.

930 hauls the Down Goods across the Murray River flood plain

930 passing Bridgewater Station

905 waiting its turn on the GSD with the Up Blue Lake

BDR Operations Report 29 Feb 24

 BDR - Border Downs Railway was alive & well Thursday Feb 29th

Look what was running rampant !! A pity Stu was not present !

it appeared many times during the session but first the crew:-

Geoff the Man ( who took out the Johnny Award for being in "control" at Riverbend and not setting turnouts causing  a major derailment)

Steve BD SM who, as normal in charge of

ably assisted by Ray, Reg, Craig, the scribe & visitor for the 2nd time,  Adam from Junction Models with Tony still on holidays somewhere in the world.....

Outside of the "error" by Geoff, only a couple of false uncouplings so the night relied on the banter to keep things in some form of normality.

As I type this, today marks forty years that Ray his lived here in SA - longer than his previous "life" over the border.  But that doesn't stop the niggles he gets from the BDR SM 

And as normal, I was "instructed" to install bridges over the River Kwai ( but as I was the last driver hiding down near Easton, Ray removed them).
 I also had my once a year job of being the Poison train driver &  fortunately, Border Downs was done in my absence so I didn't have to suck upto the SM !

I didn't hear too many complaints about things on the BDR.

Crew for the next session March 14th are

Train Control Geoff

Border Downs  Steve

Main line : - Ray,  Reg,  Craig , David

and one of you lucky gents will have to do both jobs - insta

lling the bridges & the Report 

56 goods thru Coonara

390 loaded grain heading towards Riverbend

Look,,, hens

A ghost van

According to Geoff - going to the scrappers !!

Extra at Easton


 

at Coonara

Alco power at Coonara

Extra test trip

Visitors to the BDR

VR locos ( for Ray to drool over)

looks nice but doesn't work ( it's a dummy)

doesn't it look the part ?


thanks Adam for bringing the unusual rolling stock not normally seen in BDR land.









Sol