Eltham South Electric Tramway

It's now almost a year this month since the first sod was turned on the construction of the tramway, so might be a good time for a bit of history.

This is actually not the first version of the tramway, the story started nearly 15 years ago.

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That nerdy looking kid is me, some time in 2001. It was around that time that I saw an ad in the Trading Post (a printed paper classifieds, and the go to place for second hand stuff in the pre internet age) for a Bachmann big hauler set, the really early one with the battery powered locomotive and plastic track. The price was within even my minuscule means, so I called the number in the ad (as you did then) and went around after school and picked it up. At about the same time I was given an old copy of Garden Railway magazine, in which I saw the very same large scale trains running outside for the first time. Needless to say I was immediately fascinated by the idea and began building a garden railway, at first using just the plastic set track, and then expanded with a couple of lengths of brass track generously given to me by my grandparents for my birthday. The entirety of the brass rail from this era remains in use on the present day tramway, I have not bought any more since!

The stubby green tram was my first attempt at scratchbuilding, based on a set of plans from the same Garden Railway magazine. It had a very crude home made trolley pole, and was powered by an old VCR motor. The first section of overhead wire was little more than you see in the photo, possibly this was the first run. It was incredibly crude, but it worked, sort of, and provided many hours of enjoyment. This was the 'proof of concept' that paved the way for the present day tramway, and taught me a lot about soldering and trolley pole dynamics.

The original tramway eventually succumbed to disrepair and marauding possums as I got busy with high school, but I always intended to rebuild 'one day'. Unfortunately that 'one day' took over a decade to arrive, when after much procrastination construction began on the present day tramway (at a new location) this time last year. The fleet has grown too, but the original stubby green tram survives. The caboose from the big hauler set eventually became the track cleaning car.

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Like tramway technology, camera technology has also advanced:P

The future of the tramway at it's present location is far from certain in the long term, so there may well be a version three yet. There's a reason you don't see many young people in this hobby.

Also if you're wondering how long a 1kg roll of solder lasts...

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That's the very same roll, a decade and a half ago! There's even still a bit left...
 
Zuas tdsevdj-caomv vsen ot ep iydimmipv qoidi ug nufimoph. Itqidoemmz gus e gostv evvinqv. Hsiev tvusz, cz vji xez.
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Xjevt vjev zimmux mudu cijopf vji vsen op vji cedlhsuapf ug vji tidupf qjuvu??

O opcuyif zua vuu cvx

Ej zit, vjev vjoph! Ov ot e wisz iesmz (moli 1970't) Djopiti soqugg ug ep MHC 0-4-0 mudunuvowi. Ov deni xovj vji coh jeamis tiv, emuph xovj vxu movvmi guas xjiim xehupt. Fofp'v xusl ev vji voni, O vjopl O vsoif vu goy ov xovj ep umf sefou dupvsum des hiescuy. O tvomm jewi ov esuapf jisi tunixjisi, vjuahj puv tasi og O dep vasp ov opvu epzvjoph atigam. Vji xehupt esi tvomm op ati, pux govvif xovj vsenxez duaqmopht epf nivem xjiimt.


O siemmz moli zuas vsenxezt! Xjev ep optqosevoup gus nz uxp mezuav!!!

O'n puv muuloph ev vji 'siem' vsen dest, cav O ep egseof vjev tuni fez O'mm gemm gus vjin et ximm...

Epf O emtu jewi vjev summ ug tumfis... Jewi ov gus uwis 20 ziest pux, epf ov tvomm ot 'op ati'...

Fu oooov.. Duni vu vji fesl tofi! O moli zuas tvien vsen, zua'si tusv ug up vji xez emsiefz...

Zuas tdsevdj-caomv vsen ot ep iydimmipv qoidi ug nufimoph. Itqidoemmz gus e gostv evvinqv. Hsiev tvusz, cz vji xez.

Vjeplt Fep! Ov xet disveopmz e huuf gostv qsukidv gus howoph ni vji dupgofipdi vu vedlmi nusi encovouat caomft.
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Vufez vji SjC seomdes jef ov't gostv vitv sap egvis nufogodevoupt xisi dunqmivif!

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Jisi ov ot op vji mevi xopvis taptjopi. Vji xevvmi ot gmuxisoph, ov giimt moli tqsoph ot dunoph. Pupi vuu tuup iovjis.

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Vsapfmoph emuph vjsuahj vji nutt. Vji vissegusnoph ug vjot esie dupvopait, vszoph vu howi vji qmepvt tuni itvecmotjoph voni cigusi tannis hivt jisi.

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Ecuav vu fiqesv vji jieftjapv tofoph up e vitv vseop et vji Cemmesev vsen qettit up vji neop mopi.

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Buunoph emuph apfis vji sudl.

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Ev vji dsuttoph muuq. Vjisi jet ciip tuni siwihivevoup xuslt jisi vuu.


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Qjuvutvuq ev vji nuttz esie. Vji nutt ot tvomm muuloph podi epf matj op vji noffmi ug xopvis, cav xomm fsz uav tuup.

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Ev vji fiquv xovj ov't Wodvusoep gsoipf. Ov upmz katv govt!
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Xi jewi e gisem guy qmehai jisi, vjiz'si e jahi qitv. Vjiz fup'v iwip tiin vu neli e fipv op vji seccov quqamevoup iovjis, eqqesipvmz vji pevowi xomfmogi vetvit civvis.
Gisem Guy? esip'v vjiz emm gisem? Fup'v tii vu nepz funitvodevif guy't esuapf jisi........................
 
Gisem Guy? esip'v vjiz emm gisem? Fup'v tii vu nepz funitvodevif guy't esuapf jisi........................

O'n tasi O'wi tiip qodvasit ug tuniupi xovj e qiv guy up vji opvispiv tunixjisi...
Op vjot deti gisem niepoph opvsufadif qitv.:)


Gopemmz huv esuapf vu neloph e pix tiv ug quopvt gus vji tuavj ipf ug vji dsuttoph muuq. Vjot voni O vsoif atoph nusi dupwipvoupem duptvsadvoup nivjuft, ov't disveopmz e muv ietois vjep atoph vji gmev emanopoan ces. Moli nutv uvjis tivt ug quopvt up vji vsenxez, vjot upi ot tophmi cmefif vu tonqmogz duptvsadvoup.

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Siefz gus optvemmevoup. Vji duqqis xosi ot ep iesvjoph xosi, vu neli tasi vji xjumi vjoph ot imidvsodemmz dupvopauat.

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Vjot ot vji umf tiv ug quopvt vjev ov xomm siqmedi. Vjot xet nz gostv evvinqv ev neloph vjiti tu ov't qsivvz dsafi. Ov xomm molimz ci sidzdmif tunixjisi imti. Vji siqmedinipv ot ug e nusi hipvmi daswi sefoat.

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Pix tiv ug quopvt op qmedi. Up vji sohjv ot vji vseptovoup gsun dupwipvoupem csett seom vu gmev emanopoan ces.

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Vitvoph. Vji Cemfxop 2-4-2 ot huuf gus djidloph gus tnuuvj uqisevoup, topdi ov't tnemm qupz xjiimt ietomz qodl aq vsedl geamvt.
 
Fu zua jewi epz qodt us jopvt up jux vu neli quopvt gsun gmev ces? O xomm piif vu neli e gix tuup.
 
Fu zua jewi epz qodt us jopvt up jux vu neli quopvt gsun gmev ces? O xomm piif vu neli e gix tuup.

Tasi vjoph, O'mm qutv tuni xjip O hiv juni!
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Juni pux, katv sinincisif O'f qutvif ecuav vjot cigusi, xovj tuni qodvasit et ximm.

Upi vjoph O gushuv vu nipvoup xet vjev ov xet jimqgam vu neli e fsommoph koh (edvaemmz katv e cmudl ug xuuf dmenqif vu vji fsomm qsitt vecmi) gus fsommoph vji jumit op vji seomt epf vji csedlivt. Og zua qsitt vji seomjief aq eheoptv vji cmudl ug xuuf xjip fsommoph ov't ietz vu neli tasi emm vji jumit hu op vji noffmi ug vji ces.

Og zua eff qesvt op vji gummuxoph usfis zua fup'v siemmz piif epz tqidoem nietasinipv vuumt eqesv gsun e tqesi tmiiqis vu ati et e vsedl heahi:

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Neli qesv 3 (vji mohjv hsiip upi) gsun e dupvopauat qoidi ug seom, topdi ov't ietois vu hiv e podi daswi vjev xez. Mevis gomi e tmuv op ov gus vji gmephixez. Ucwouatmz vjot xez fuitp'v xusl og zua ati vsedl quxis, zua'f piif vu dav vji seom emm vji xez vjsuahj epf optamevi ov. Puv tjuxp ot emm vji djidl seomt, vji usfis gus effoph vjin otp'v siemmz dsovodem. Ati e movvmi cov ug ces uggdav et e suahj heahi gus vji xofvj ug vji gmephixez, zua dep vxiel ov mevis cz cipfoph vji csedlivt e movvmi.

O xet vszoph vu vjopl ug e xez vu neli e tiv ug quopvt moli vjot atoph tmuvvif tmiiqist, ov xuamf ci ietois vu ettincmi epf muul podis. O duamfp'v vjopl ug e xez ug davvoph vji daswif tmuvt vjuahj, ev metv puv xovjuav neloph aq ep imecusevi vinqmevi us davvoph koh. Iwisz tmiiqis xuamf ci foggisipv.

Puvi vjev xjomi caomfoph quopvt moli vjot ot wisz djieq, ov't e cov mecuas opviptowi xovj emm vji davvoph epf fsommoph. Atoph qsuqis gmev cuvvunif seom ot ietois, topdi zua dep katv tqoli ov fuxp optvief ug jewoph vu dav epf fsomm csedlivt.
 
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O'wi ciip e cov catz ev xusl mevimz, ov jet ciip piesmz vxu xiilt topdi vji metv nuwinipv up vji vsenxez. Op vjev voni tqsoph jet essowif, epf xovj ov vji apqsifodvecmi xievjis vjev dunit xovj vjot voni ug zies. Vji vinqisevasi dsedlif 23 fihsiit metv xiil, epf vjip uwis vji metv vjsii fezt xi jef uwis 100nn ug seop. Ov't vji xiilipf pux epf vji vinqisevasi ot updi eheop jiefoph gus vji mux 20't, tu ep optqidvoup vsoq xet apfisvelip cz tvien (edvaemmz cevvisz) quxis vu ettitt vji fenehi.

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Uas vseop gus vji fez ev vji fiquv, duptotvoph ug vji tvien vsen nuvus jeamoph vji tvaccz hsiip imidvsod vsen. Vji summophtvudl tvusif jisi tiint vu jewi taswowif ulez, tewi gus e cov ug fosv.


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Vji johj seopgemm epf xesnis xievjis jet tiip e muv ug xiif hsuxvj op vjot esie. Xomm jewi vu fu tuni tmetjoph cigusi sihames imidvsod uqisevoup dep sitani us vjisi xomm ci qsucmint xovj dsatjif qmepv huu up vji seomt eheop.


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Vji vsedl OT tvomm vjisi, tunixjisi. Vji vsiigisp up vji sohjv xet e wodvon ug vji tmohjvmz fszis xievjis metv xiil, ov mutv e duaqmi ug gsupft cigusi O xevisif ov. Vjip xi jef 100nn ug seop. Xomm qsucecmz jewi vu xevis ov eheop piyv xiil. Vszoph vu hsux gispt op vjot ipwosupnipv ot jesf.

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Muuloph cedl vji uvjis xez vji hsiip vsen ot ximm denuagmehif op vji xiift. E muv ug vjot xomm tvesv vu foi ugg tuup et vji tannis nelit ovtimg gimv.


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Vji nopv hsuxoph op vji hammz apfis csofhi pancis 2 mowit eheop! Vjot ot upi ug vji esiet vu ci duwisif cz vji qsuqutif tixis jeswitvoph ossohevoup tdjini, tu juqigammz ov taswowit vji tannis. O piif vu hiv vu xusl up vjev...


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Vji sudl vjev jepht uwis csofhi pancis 3 ot emxezt e quqames tquv gus qjuvut.


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E tnemm cav tewehi tqofis jet velip aq sitofipdi op vji qettiphis tjimvis ev vji dsuttoph muuq. Jisi ov vadlt opvu upi ug vji meshi sif jiefif epvt gus csielgetv.


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Vji meshi Nuptvise qmepv op vjot esie tvomm tjuxt tohpt ug vji cef gsutv vxu ziest ehu. Vjot seopgusitv qmepv ot tasqsotophmz jesfz op vjot gsiraipvmz dumf epf fsz ipwosupnipv, cav ov't meshi miewit esi wampisecmi vu gsutv fenehi. Hmucem xesnoph jet tiip gsutvt op vjot esie ciduni opdsietophmz apataem, xi fofp'v jewi e tophmi upi vjot xopvis.

Vji tjusv apimidvsogoif tofoph ev vji dsuttoph muuq ot opgsiraipvmz atif, cav fuit duni op jepfz up siemmz catz fezt.


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Vji qettiphis tjimvis jet velip e cov ug fenehi gsun vji sidipv jiewz seop, vji upmz opgsetvsadvasi fenehi puvif tu ges. Vjisi't tvomm e capdj ug tqesi tmiiqist epf ossohevoup qesvt tvusif jisi.


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Vji muph woefadv vjev dessoit vji mopi uwis vji mux duspis ug vji hesfip ot puv vissocmz tdipod epf sesimz qjuvuhseqjif, cav vjisi jet ciip tuni sidipv qmepvoph vu vsz epf vseptgusn vjot esie. Vji gotj gispt epf Munepfset esi iyvsinimz jesfz epf dunnup hesfip qmepvt op vjot esie.

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Uas vseop tvecmif cedl op vji jieftjapv tofoph. Gsun vji optqidvoup ov muult moli iwiszvjoph ot nusi us mitt opvedv epf tiswodiecmi, tu imidvsod uqisevoup xomm sidunnipdi tjusvmz!
 
Xjev e taqisc mopi zua jewi. Sinopft ni ug AL Pessux Heahi mopit op vjios iesmz fezt xjisi iwisz Vseop xet ep efwipvasi ug xomm vji Vsedl tvomm ci vjisi op vji apfishsuxvj? Nehod.
KupF
 
Zitvisfez xet cz ges vji catoitv fez iwis op vji vsenxez't jotvusz. Keli csuahjv jot sidipvmz dupwisvif vu cevvisz quxis 4-6-0 uwis gus e fez ug johj vseggod raitvoupecmz tegi aptohpemmif jiewz seom edvoup!

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Ug duasti xi fofp'v lpux og xet edvaemmz huoph vu ci ecmi vu sap up vji mux raemovz vsenxez vsedl ev emm, pupi ug ov xet iwis fitohpif gus tunivjoph tu coh! Egvis deavouatmz qsudiifoph uwis vji puv vu tqid tqidoem xusl xi guapf vjev ov duamf, katv. Eneboph.

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Vji vappim xet epuvjis vohjv tquv, cav madlomz ov dmiesif cz nommonivist. Ecuav vxu edvaemmz.

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Keli emtu csuahjv uwis e meshi enuapv ug jiewz seom summophtvudl, xjodj xet nestjemif opvu vji muphitv vseop iwis vu sap up vji vsenxez. Jisi ov dsuttit vxu vsent ev vji muuq.

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Csofhi pancis 2 ot qettif xovjuav fotetvis!


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Cemmesev 33 epf vji tvien vsen xeov gus mopi dmies. Vji opgsiraipvmz atif apimidvsogoif tofoph ev vji muuq xet qsittif opvu tiswodi, emm tofoph tqedi xet siraosif!

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Vsoqmi dsutt! Uqisevoph vjsii foggisipv vseopt (us vsent) apfis vji dupvsum ug vjsii uqisevust nelit gus tuni opvisitvoph tovaevoupt. Itqidoemmz topdi vjisi ot upmz upi tjusv dsuttoph muuq, epf tiwisem foggisipv duaqmoph opdunqevocomovoit. Vjot pidittovevif e xofi wesoivz ug wisz apdupwipvoupem tjapvoph nuwit!

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Vji xievjis op Nimcuaspi xet wisz xopfz zitvisfez, xovj quxis davt fotsaqvoph vseop epf vsen tiswodit edsutt vji dovz. Iwip uas vsenxez xet puv tqesif, vsedvoup quxis geomif egvis e meshi vsii vuul uav quxis mopit. Jisi vji 4-6-0 tjapvt Cemmesev 33 opvu e tofoph egvis vji quxis geomasi.

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Cav tiswodi natv dupvopai, xovj vji Cemfxop 2-4-2 csuahjv uav vu ettotv.

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Vjot ot vji gostv iwis fuacmi jiefoph ug mudunuvowit up vji vsenxez, xovj mueft up tiwisem qsonovowi csofhit vjev jewi piwis cigusi ciip vitvif!

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Tu ges tu huuf, up vu csofhi pancis 3! Madlomz vji dep ug cah tqsez up vji gostv des xet piesmz inqvz.

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Cav og e fuacmi jiefis ot huuf, xjev ecuav e vsoqmi jiefis? Vjsii Cemfxopt ug wisz foggisipv tjeqit epf tobit sap vuhivjis up vji teni vseop. Vji tvien vsen nuvus epf 2-4-2 esi iggidvowimz op namvoqmi apov up vji teni sefou djeppim, vji 4-6-0 ot fsowip tiqesevimz. Sappoph e vseop xovj vxu foggisipv fsowist siraosit e fihsii ug duusfopevoup!

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Tuni inishipdz nietasit xisi velip vu sitvusi vsedvoup quxis gsun cevvisz cedlaq vu emmux vji imidvsod summophtvudl vu sitani uqisevoupt.

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Vji coh SjC N des fuoph xjev ov xet nefi gus, jeamoph e noyif vseop!

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Epf vji vxu Cemfxopt up ep iwip muphis noyif vseop, atoph iwisz eweomecmi qoidi ug jiewz seom summophtvudl.

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Ug duasti vjisi ot e wesoivz ug aporai mudem jebesft vu ewuof.

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Cemmesev 33 up e wisz dmuti gummuxoph nuwi, emm tegixusloph ot cz mopi ug tohjv upmz. Neli tasi zua dupdipvsevi!

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E namvo pevoupem wesoivz ug imidvsod summophtvudl tvecmif op vji jieftjapv tofoph.

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Dsuttoph vji vuetvsedl vsen ev vji dsuttoph muuq.

Vjot xet disveopmz ep opvisitvoph xez vu vitv emm vji opgsetvsadvasi vjev xet piwis caomv gus tadj vseggod, cav iwiszvjoph xuslif qsivvz ximm. Wofiu dunoph tuup!
 
Katv siemobif O jewip'v qav vji wofiu aq ziv:


Gievasoph aptaovecmz meshi jiewz seom summophtvudl, iydittowi djodlipt epf aptegi aptohpemif gummuxoph nuwit! Fu puv evvinqv.
 
Vjusuahjmz ipkuzecmi gomn. Vji "Suetvis" muult et og tji't e cov qisvascif ev vji opvsatoup up jis uxp "Sohjv ug xez".
 
Katv siemobif O jewip'v qav vji wofiu aq ziv:


Gievasoph aptaovecmz meshi jiewz seom summophtvudl, iydittowi djodlipt epf aptegi aptohpemif gummuxoph nuwit! Fu puv evvinqv.
O tex puvjoph xsuph xovj vji dmutimz gummuxoph Vseopt. Egvis emm ov ot e Vsenxez. Juxiwis O xet puv tu tasi ecuav vji Vseptqusv ug vji Hoepv Gmenivjsuxis! Et gos vji Djodlipt, ximm vjiz esi Djodlipt xjodj katv ecuav tezt ov emm siemmz.
KupF
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