Changing Of The Guard

A quick note to let the followers of this blog know that it has moved URL's to the following:

http://my.opera.com/metalhead0889/blog/

The blog will be removed from this site in two weeks which should give enough time for people to bookmark the new one.

That is all for now.

Timetable Needed

Hi guys long time no speaky. I need some help, if anyone has a copy of a working timetable for the west anytime between 1973 and 1982 and would be kind enough to give me a copy I would love to hear from you.

Second Draft Of Givens & Druthers

Givens

Aisle Width

Preferred: 36”
Okay: 30”
Minimum: 24”

Benchwork Width

Preferred: 24”
Okay: 18”
Minimum: 6”

Deck Height From Floor

Minimum: 50”
Maximum: 70”

Minimum Radius

Mainline: 36”
Branch Line: 30”
Sidings: 24”

Gradients

Mainline: 1 in 60
Branch Line: 1 in 40

Turnout Frogs

Main Line: No. 8
Branch Line: No. 6
Sidings: No. 6

Multi-Track Spacing

Standard: 2”
Curves: 2¼”

Track Over Track Spacing

Railhead To Railhead: 3½”

Track Distance From Edge

Front Edge: 1¼”
Back Edge (Back-Drop): 2”

Train Length

Measured In S Trucks: 60 S Trucks (18 Feet)

General

Operate Using A Timetable.
Staging Sufficient To Operate An Entire 24-Hour Day.
Walk-Around, Point To Point Track Plan.
Long Main Line Run.
Realistic Operation Using Signal & Telegraph, Staff & Ticket.
Digital Command Control Wireless Throttles.
Reverse-Loop Staging For Main Staging Yards, Stub Yards For Elsewhere.
A Continuous Run For Testing Locomotives.
Minimum Deck Seperations Of 12”.
Layout To Be Able To Be Operated By One Person.

Druthers

Room Esthetics

Carpeted Floors
Air-Conditioning
Painted Walls
No Exposed Wires
Bright And Even Lighting (Shadow Box)
Curtain, Fascia & Valance

Design Philosophy

At Least 25 Feet Between Towns
Minimum Hidden Trackage
Minimum Number Of Turnback Blobs
No Duck-Unders, Nod-Unders Are Okay
Exceed 30” Minimum Radius Wherever Possible

Merry Christmas

Hi All, 

I Thought I Would Wish You All A Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year. Catch Everyone In 2009.

Cheers John

Designing & Building Multi-Deck Model Railroads

The Above Is A Book By Tony Koester Of MR Fame. The Book Is An Interesting Read, I Recommend It To Those About To Take On The Challenge Of Building Their First Multi-Deck Railway. I Was Reading It The Other Night And In Chapter Two Tony Is Talking To A Friend About His RR Design And The Friend Makes A Suggestion About Having Drivers Complete A Shift From Loco Depot To Loco Depot. Tony Really Liked The Idea And So Do I, I Think It Would Give Operators A Great Sense Of Operating A Real Railway If They Sign On At A Depot And Have Roster Of Trains To Run, Rather Than Picking Up A Train In Staging And Running It To Staging. The Great Thing About The Gwabegar Line Is That On The Section From Wallerawang To Mudgee There Were A Lot Of Trains Which Sole Purpose Was To Go To A Particular Station Or Mine Etc. Terminate And Return To Sydney. A Feature I Would Love To Include On My Railway. For Those Looking At Building A Multi Deck Railway Or Any Railway For That Fact Another Great Source Is Joe Fugate's DVD's.

Layout At A Glance

The Layout As Proposed So Far. This Post Will Be Added To As More Is Known.

Layout At A Glance:

Scale: HO (1.87.1).
Size: Not Determined Yet.
Prototype: State Rail Authority Of NSW.
Era: 1979-1983.
Height: 1350mm-1625mm.

Track:

Mainline & Loops: Micro-Engineering Code 70 Flex-Track.
Sidings & Branches: Micro-Engineering Code 55 Flex-Track.
Turnouts: 1:6, Scratch-Built To Proto:87 Standards.
Minimum Radius: 900mm.
Maximum Gradient: 1 in 40.

Control System:

DCC Wireless Throttles.
Track Power Electrically Interlocked With Signals & Points. 
Points Contolled By Tortoise Slow-Motion Points Motors.

Scenery:

Hard-Shell Using Cardboard Strips Covered In PVA Soaked Paper Towels.
Trees Supplied By Track-Side Trees.

General Notes:

Typical Trains That Will Be Modelled Are Block Coal, Cement, Ore & Wheat As Well As Passenger And General Freight.

Addendum:

As You Can See My Design Preferences Have Changed, After Reading A Few Books With Eye-Catching Photos I Decided To Move The Era Forward Almost 20 Years To The Late 1970's, Early 1980's. I Have Also Decided To Build This Layout And The Rollingstock To Proto:87 Track & Wheel Standards

Givens & Druthers

This Is The First Draft Of My Givens & Druthers.

Givens:

• Minimum Radius: 750mm.
• Maximum Gradient: 1 in 40.
• Minimum Turnout Radius: No.6.
• Minimum Height From Floor: 1225mm.

Fleet Numbers Are Limited To The Following:

• 20 Locomotives.
• 200 Pieces Of Freight Rollingstock & Departmental Vehicles.
• 10 Piece Of Passenger Rollingstock Including Railmotors.

Druthers:

• An Accurate Representation Of The Gwabegar Line Between 1967-1973.
• Accomodation For Prototypical Length Trains In Crossing Loops And Staging.
• Shadowbox Design To Showcase The Scenery And Trains.
• Interlocked Signals & Points.
• Prototypical Safeworking Procedures.
• Track & Rollingstock Built Using Proto:87 Standards.
• Timetable To Be As Close To Prototype As Possible.
• Double Deck To Maximise Space.
• No Climb-Unders, Nod-Unders Are Fine.
• Use Available Space Efficently.
• Room Must Be Fully Finished Before Layout Can Commence (Painted Walls, Carpet & Lighting).
• Room Must Be Climate Controlled To Reduce The Effects Of Expansion & Contraction.
• At Least One Branch.
• 4-5 Stations On The 'Mainline'.
• Staging Will Be In The Form Of 5 Track Reverse Loops.
• Must Be Of Linear Design.