Tropic Blunder1
Jake
I really should run it more but track power is such a chore, needs a good grotty up too at some point i reckon!
North East Victoria Railway
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Well its been a few years since I've posted here! I've been going on and off in the time since, the line now Hops across onto the grassed area and spirals down a continuous 1:30 to come back in underneath the viaduct from the original loops and around to the current terminus. Luckily enough Alexander (melbournesparks) was free and came over for a run to break in the new line. The yellow diesel is my first proper model of an Australian engine and im rather enamoured of it!
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Thanks Phil,
3d printed body, buffer beams and doors on a modified Bachmann little big haulers chassis. Basically i just cut anything remotely steam engine like off with a dremel and epoxied my new pieces on. Loco is radio controlled with deltang equipment with 8 cells just squeezing in.
The real locomotives were built by Malcolm Moore engineering (in Melbourne Australia where i live) for the state electricity commission of Victoria for the construction of the Kiewa Dam. Upon completion 4 were sent to other civil engineering projects in NSW and QLD, one went to forestry work in WA (and survives to this day) one was retained for use at the SECV railway in Yallourn (the subject of my model) and the remainder were sent to Tasmania to be converted into the TGR U class. two were given the U class treatment but converted to Meter gauge and ended up in Thailand as part of the colombo plan.
One of the original locos before being rebuilt in Tasmania
3d printed body, buffer beams and doors on a modified Bachmann little big haulers chassis. Basically i just cut anything remotely steam engine like off with a dremel and epoxied my new pieces on. Loco is radio controlled with deltang equipment with 8 cells just squeezing in.
The real locomotives were built by Malcolm Moore engineering (in Melbourne Australia where i live) for the state electricity commission of Victoria for the construction of the Kiewa Dam. Upon completion 4 were sent to other civil engineering projects in NSW and QLD, one went to forestry work in WA (and survives to this day) one was retained for use at the SECV railway in Yallourn (the subject of my model) and the remainder were sent to Tasmania to be converted into the TGR U class. two were given the U class treatment but converted to Meter gauge and ended up in Thailand as part of the colombo plan.
One of the original locos before being rebuilt in Tasmania
Tropic Blunder1
Jake
No worries, theyre rather more famous for the hundred or so 2ft gauge locomotives they supplied during the war to the Australian army using Ford truck parts of which a massive amount returned home and entered foresty/sugarcane/mining concerns settling down for extremely long lives. A large number have survived with the ida bay railway quickly coming to mind having an entire fleet of them!
(Photo taken from )
(Photo taken from )
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Some more photos I must confess none of these are recent apart from the photo of the dozer!
#3 has had a repaint! jury is still out as to whether it'll return back to yellow again but regardless it'll need some weathering (its since had a few more coats of green and is looking much improved!)
The Caterpillar D8H is an AMT model. It has a huge amount of parts in it and I was extremely impressed by how well designed it is. Everything functions like the real ones at work, even the functional equaliser bar!! This model will be a photographic prop and the load for a quite unusual Australian wagon, watch this space!
#3 has had a repaint! jury is still out as to whether it'll return back to yellow again but regardless it'll need some weathering (its since had a few more coats of green and is looking much improved!)
The Caterpillar D8H is an AMT model. It has a huge amount of parts in it and I was extremely impressed by how well designed it is. Everything functions like the real ones at work, even the functional equaliser bar!! This model will be a photographic prop and the load for a quite unusual Australian wagon, watch this space!
Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Melbourne Sparks came around for another visit recently... due to the forum the pics arent in order
the ESET's steeplecab and NEVR D3 take some time out in the mine interchange.
ESET's Big baldwin Crossing over bridge number 1 with a log train
The Steeplecab did run briefly before running out of power, D1 gives it a helping hand back up the hill.
'
Alexanders other baldwin running an empty "tea and sugar" back up the hill . The real tea and sugar was quite an interesting affair running 1692 kilometers each trip and delivering supplies to the little towns on the Nullarbor plain, in the desert between Kalgoolie and Port Augusta.
#14 winds its way through the rocks.
three baldwins!
Hope you all enjoy the little update!
the ESET's steeplecab and NEVR D3 take some time out in the mine interchange.
ESET's Big baldwin Crossing over bridge number 1 with a log train
The Steeplecab did run briefly before running out of power, D1 gives it a helping hand back up the hill.
'
Alexanders other baldwin running an empty "tea and sugar" back up the hill . The real tea and sugar was quite an interesting affair running 1692 kilometers each trip and delivering supplies to the little towns on the Nullarbor plain, in the desert between Kalgoolie and Port Augusta.
#14 winds its way through the rocks.
three baldwins!
Hope you all enjoy the little update!
Tropic Blunder1
Jake
You'll have to pardon me as the photos as wayyyy out of order! we've been very busy in the workshops over the Christmas break. I built my first and second set of points from scratch (finished 11:58 on new years eve) on a whim which allowed me to finish off the Mine triangle and add the interchange siding which has greatly improved operation again! Melbournesparks was free so a few friends came around to run. We had a total of 4 trains operating at once at one point which I think is fairly impressive for a single track point to point railway thats only around 15m long.
D1 Sits in the interchange sidings as A9 prepares to propel another load of empty hoppers back up the wye under the loader
#14 departs with the Evening mixed
the crew of D3 urges their W&W train along the high line as the light fades.
Running overhead powered stock on a line creates new and interesting challanges!
the site of the triangle, the leg closest to the camera with the lift out bridge sitting on it has been in place for a few months now but the rear leg was laid as the visitors were arriving! as can be expected there were some teething troubles but the 4in grinder sorted that out you can see the headshunt further up the driveway.
Homemade point MK2. I was worried about this one as being part of the mainline it really needs to be smooth and reliable luckily it is and preformed faultlessly.
Alexanders Baldwin and trailer depart, im really quite fond of this picture.
D1 and #14 depart the mine
D1 grinds up the grade with a short ore train, passing the new 3d printed signal box (from thingyverse by Badgerbreath)
D1 runs around its train
Hopefully ill update this in a more timely manner next time!
D1 Sits in the interchange sidings as A9 prepares to propel another load of empty hoppers back up the wye under the loader
#14 departs with the Evening mixed
the crew of D3 urges their W&W train along the high line as the light fades.
Running overhead powered stock on a line creates new and interesting challanges!
the site of the triangle, the leg closest to the camera with the lift out bridge sitting on it has been in place for a few months now but the rear leg was laid as the visitors were arriving! as can be expected there were some teething troubles but the 4in grinder sorted that out you can see the headshunt further up the driveway.
Homemade point MK2. I was worried about this one as being part of the mainline it really needs to be smooth and reliable luckily it is and preformed faultlessly.
Alexanders Baldwin and trailer depart, im really quite fond of this picture.
D1 and #14 depart the mine
D1 grinds up the grade with a short ore train, passing the new 3d printed signal box (from thingyverse by Badgerbreath)
D1 runs around its train
Hopefully ill update this in a more timely manner next time!
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
I finally managed to get home before sundown after work (twice!) and had a run heres a few photos
The MM still had a bit of charge left in it so it ran an Empty car transfer to Badger creek with an ore wagon
Ive recently started converting the railways fleet of Bachmann wagons to be a bit more Australian by removing handrails and moving brake wheels etc. these two are in the midst of conversion although they still need lettering and more paint
Now on the head of an Empty log train the MM prepares to depart
Rounding the curve out of the yard
On the final climb up the hill
Arriving in the Yard
Shunted out of the way
A friend gave me this Newquida Harz loco for a trial while I convert RC into one of his other engines. It really shows how small the poor rail tractor is
At Badger Creek
The next day I managed to have another day off early and fired 14 up for the first time in a long time.
The MM still had a bit of charge left in it so it ran an Empty car transfer to Badger creek with an ore wagon
Ive recently started converting the railways fleet of Bachmann wagons to be a bit more Australian by removing handrails and moving brake wheels etc. these two are in the midst of conversion although they still need lettering and more paint
Now on the head of an Empty log train the MM prepares to depart
Rounding the curve out of the yard
On the final climb up the hill
Arriving in the Yard
Shunted out of the way
A friend gave me this Newquida Harz loco for a trial while I convert RC into one of his other engines. It really shows how small the poor rail tractor is
At Badger Creek
The next day I managed to have another day off early and fired 14 up for the first time in a long time.
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
I really do update this far too infrequently. its much easier to post updates on mushbook but anyway heres a recent video of a run at home after work.
Very nice and interesting sounds as well, lots of interesting squeaky birds in your neck of the woods. Love the smoothness of running even with the odd bounce at points, a smoothness that only Battery Power can give. Those 4 wheelers inevitably would stall on trackpower on the rail somewhere either on one of those bumps or on a bit of muck somewhere. Not a critisism just a normal fact of life. I even tried an LGB based 0-4-0 on my indoor section with less than happy results without a good scrub of the rails. So far as I can see a good few of you boys in Oz are into Battery Power and good for you.
Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Thanks! I'm very lucky to live in an area with so many trees which of course fosters the local wildlife. The parrots are always lovely to see on your porch. Ive been a solid battery convert for many years now, they well and truly pay for themselves when it comes to not having to clean track let alone the much improved running as you noted. I do still have trouble fitting batteries in depending on the model but theres always work arounds
Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Ive Started extending the line towards its port terminus (more on that later though) Meanwhile the workshops have been quite busy with rollingstock projects. 
First off the bat is this model of a Norweigan tank engine. I've got a number of big hauler chassies ear marked for different projects and one was always noted down to being a suburban tank loco of some kind although I've never been able to nail down a design that i liked that would work fine. The photo on the right is the general proportions drawn onto a big hauler chassies I fleshed more details out then split the body in half and printed it on my cocoon create.
This is where we're at today. It still needs a cab interior and steps but its getting really close. Might have to wait a while until i can order more Rx61's from Micron the dollars worth nothing. On the right is the tank loco next to my other current project. Fyansford Vulcan #4.
Cad drawings and finished prints of VR 153hp Walker railmotor
VR T class. Im building a batch of these, the first one is a model of Fyansford D1 there will be one other powered and two dummies based on BHP's original DE class locos
Its not all engines and carriages heres some buildings i managed to finish, the station is a second hand model of a L&B (?) station that ive re-roofed into corrugated iron to help it gain a more Australian feel.
The new port and station of Hastings. Construction is 25x25mm tube recycled from racking from a tool store that was moving. I got as much as i could carry and cut it up and rewelded it as brackets and baseboards. Sheeted in cement sheet and edged with Aluminium to hold the ballast and cemented dock together.
Another welcome addition to the freight fleet is this bachmann boxcar converted with a round roof and all the ladders deleted. Ive got 2 more of these to go and 2 LGB Toytrain vans to give similar treatment.
Lastly here are some shots from a recent running session that was over pretty quickly after it began raining!
The railways new Climax courtesy of Trainworlds stunning deal crossing the new bridge to grasslands west on the ESET. This is fitted with Deltang RC and i managed to get 10 AA cells in the bunker (just!). Hope everyones well.
First off the bat is this model of a Norweigan tank engine. I've got a number of big hauler chassies ear marked for different projects and one was always noted down to being a suburban tank loco of some kind although I've never been able to nail down a design that i liked that would work fine. The photo on the right is the general proportions drawn onto a big hauler chassies I fleshed more details out then split the body in half and printed it on my cocoon create.
This is where we're at today. It still needs a cab interior and steps but its getting really close. Might have to wait a while until i can order more Rx61's from Micron the dollars worth nothing. On the right is the tank loco next to my other current project. Fyansford Vulcan #4.
Cad drawings and finished prints of VR 153hp Walker railmotor
VR T class. Im building a batch of these, the first one is a model of Fyansford D1 there will be one other powered and two dummies based on BHP's original DE class locos
Its not all engines and carriages heres some buildings i managed to finish, the station is a second hand model of a L&B (?) station that ive re-roofed into corrugated iron to help it gain a more Australian feel.
The new port and station of Hastings. Construction is 25x25mm tube recycled from racking from a tool store that was moving. I got as much as i could carry and cut it up and rewelded it as brackets and baseboards. Sheeted in cement sheet and edged with Aluminium to hold the ballast and cemented dock together.
Another welcome addition to the freight fleet is this bachmann boxcar converted with a round roof and all the ladders deleted. Ive got 2 more of these to go and 2 LGB Toytrain vans to give similar treatment.
Lastly here are some shots from a recent running session that was over pretty quickly after it began raining!
The railways new Climax courtesy of Trainworlds stunning deal crossing the new bridge to grasslands west on the ESET. This is fitted with Deltang RC and i managed to get 10 AA cells in the bunker (just!). Hope everyones well.
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Been a fair while since i updated this but anyway here goes. I managed to finish Hastings at the beginning of the pandemic. still needs the wharf area concreted in and buildings/platform constructed but its operational for now.
The MM shunts an empty yard on a cold winter night.
shuffling ore wagons
Dad shuffling the yard the day after showing the potential for breaking down and making up lengthy trains. two operators can now operate the lower area without any bother at all.
I ran out of track but the mainline is behind the box vans and will be hidden inside a wharf shed. it'll run around the water tank to the right and under the house into the workshop.
A friends porter is visiting for a bit of work and so it was seen on trial in the wharf with the NEVR's two residents
QR F wagon. Scaled up from an Sn3.5 design on thingiverse this is basically straight off the printer after being assembled with binnie wheels. i have five of these under construction along with some vans. Im attempting to have a fair number of actual Australian prototypes finished before summer rolls around so that i can start selling off my unconverted LGB 4 Wheel wagons
The Northeaster rolls around the viaduct nearing the end of its journey
a teaser: Melbournesparks came around before Victoria went back into lockdown a few months ago photos of that next time
The MM shunts an empty yard on a cold winter night.
shuffling ore wagons
Dad shuffling the yard the day after showing the potential for breaking down and making up lengthy trains. two operators can now operate the lower area without any bother at all.
I ran out of track but the mainline is behind the box vans and will be hidden inside a wharf shed. it'll run around the water tank to the right and under the house into the workshop.
A friends porter is visiting for a bit of work and so it was seen on trial in the wharf with the NEVR's two residents
QR F wagon. Scaled up from an Sn3.5 design on thingiverse this is basically straight off the printer after being assembled with binnie wheels. i have five of these under construction along with some vans. Im attempting to have a fair number of actual Australian prototypes finished before summer rolls around so that i can start selling off my unconverted LGB 4 Wheel wagons
The Northeaster rolls around the viaduct nearing the end of its journey
a teaser: Melbournesparks came around before Victoria went back into lockdown a few months ago photos of that next time
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
bummer! not sure whats happened but ill have a fiddle and see if i can re upload them
Tropic Blunder1
Jake
E1 has a rare outing shunting the wharf, this is a rare sight as this area will never get catenary and thus will always be a haven for steam/diesel shunters
The big barclay shunts a selection of WAGR and QR open wagons for the DH ready to depart with a Down freight
A quick shot of some of the new Australian freight wagons. the next project is to figure out what kind of passenger cars the railway will aquire or whether they'll be some regular conversions. its looking fairly likely though that they'll probably come in the form of some TGR surburban cars.
The other project thats been recently happening is this Emu Bay C wagon. these early wagons came in many guises and had extremely long lives. Hopefully ill have these available for sale as kits requiring binnie wheels and couplers for around $35 AUD, Get in touch if its something that floats your boat. To show how miniscule these things are heres it pictures with a VR T class bogie on the right!
E1 ran out of battery and so the big Barclay was called into action to marshall the final trains for storage overnight
The ON also managed to get a coat of NEVR red, stencils for letting hopefully coming soon.
Another recent project was to design this South Australian railways 1880's passenger brake. these survived at port lincoln in various roles until the 1960's and one still survives at Pichi Richi. Its designed to fit on a Bachmann caboose chassies as can be seen on this very rough mockup in the lower pic. Ive got 3 of these chassies and so that'll round out the railways brake van fleet.
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Tropic Blunder1
Jake
Its been a long time since I updated the forum. I usually post over on the Gardenrails forum but with its possible impending closure I guess ill start updating this forum more often
Heres a quick video I made the other day before work (sorry I didnt have time to get the buildings out)
Heres a quick video I made the other day before work (sorry I didnt have time to get the buildings out)
Tropic Blunder1
Jake
3 years since I last updated this thread and so much has happened! the DE has had a full rebuilt and repaint, I built 3 platforms, a new passing loop at Marysville. The mine had a triangle to connect the two sidings at the top and then I deleted that as it was on a 1:15! the wharf shed appeared and has been demolished again, Theres a new rake of Container flats and hoppers and the V car was finished by "Melbourne sparks" and became a pair!
After all that I still havent put the buildings and figures out at all the stations for a video
After all that I still havent put the buildings and figures out at all the stations for a video