Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Australian Model Railway Magazine

Way back in Branchline Ramblings in AMRM Issue 159 (December 1989) your scribe discussed what was then, to him, the largely unknown world of ‘Out-ofs’. To the uninitiated, ‘Out-ofs’ were basically parcel traffic. Until the 1970s, by which time road transport had started to take over, the way to send a parcel to anyone anywhere in the state was to consign it by rail as parcel traffic to be picked up at the nearest railway station. The whole issue of ‘Out-ofs’ came flooding back when the accompanying photo came into your scribe’s hands. Taken back in the ‘early 1970s’, it shows a down goods passing through Borambil Creek on its way to Werris Creek (Photo 1). The most interesting part of the photo is the composition of the train, in…

Stuart Dix has provided photos of some of the exhibits seen at the Launceston exhibition, which took place over the weekend of 22-23 October at the magnificent Albert Hall in central Launceston, Tasmania. The exhibition was organised by local modellers Eamonn Seddon and Simon Handby. The success of the venture has encouraged the organisers to continue and the 2017 exhibition will take place over the weekend of 14-15 October 2017 at the same venue.…

Signals Branch , Ray Pilgrim’s Shapeways shop, has released a number of 3D printed NSWGR building kits in HO scale, including the fettler’s cottage (below left), ‘standard’ and ‘cheap’ versions of the skillion-roofed timber signal boxes and parts for a riveted iron locomotive water tank (below right). The signal boxes and the water tank are also available for N and O (7mm) scales. The signal boxes are available with the entrance doors on either the left- or right-hand side of the front of the building. Two sizes of HO scale corrugated iron water tanks, on stands, are also available separately. Model Train Buildings have been busy releasing many new kits in HO scale, some of which, the Royal Hotel, Golden Fleece service station, in-ground swimming pool and…

Part one of this story, describing and illustrating the early development of this layout, appeared in AMRM Issue 322 (February 2017) – Editor. Scenery Landforms were a mixture of carved layers of expanded foam or flyscreen wire, both topped with plaster bandage, and for the two corner modules largely self-supporting between the structural members. These and any flat chipboard/ plywood areas were then stained with mixes of cheap artists’ acrylics before further covering. Cuttings and embankments were painted with the same paints to give an appropriate appearance. Scenery materials were locally obtained natural products (dirt, sand, yarrow for trees, plus other scenic scatters) or from the Woodlands Scenics range (ground foam for grass and shrubs, lichen, large trees). The road was constructed from MDF and fixed to the pine framing…

In AMRM Issue 314 (October 2015), the new generation of distributed power aggregate trains comprising of NR class locomotives and RHKY wagons was described (1295/2196 Aggregate Trains). Recently (November 2016), Pacific National started running an additional aggregate train for Holcim, utilising 81 class locomotives and repurposed 100t gross coal hoppers. This additional consist is operating from Holcim’s Lynwood Quarry (near Marulan NSW) to Holcim’s Rooty Hill distribution centre in western Sydney. This additional train is complementing an existing train consist of NR locomotives and RHKY wagons. The wagons are coded RHJF and are converted NHBH coal hoppers, originally constructed as NHFF hoppers in the 1980s, utilised in recent years in southern (Lithgow and Port Kembla regions) and Hunter Valley coal operations. The RHJF (and previously NHBH) wagons are permanently coupled…

Shale & Shays Four years in the making, Eveleigh Press expect to release Mark Langdon’s latest book, Shale & Shays, shortly after this issue of AMRM appears. Covering the complete history of the mining of shale oil in the Wolgan Valley using official documents, with supporting information from contemporary newspapers and journals, Mark has detailed the many attempts to make the shale oil industry financially viable in the valley. Of particular interest to modellers, the construction and operation of the railway is fully covered, including a full description, with scale drawings, of each locomotive and rolling stock type owned by the railway. For early birds, there is an advance payment offer available (see ad on p.60) until the end of March for this 300 page, 279mm x 215mm portrait format,…

I wanted a scenic feature other than a tunnel to disguise where trains emerge from the helix onto the upper level. Also, the terminus area is relatively flat, so a tunnel would be somewhat incongruous. I decided on a road over-bridge, which is a commonly used means of disguising a scenic break. The bridge crosses the branch line about halfway round the final turn of the helix which is modelled as a cutting. This provides sufficient vertical clearance between track and bridge. This article briefly outlines planning and construction of the bridge and associated scenery. I bridges,especially with timber trestles. There is a good example at Wallerawang that I have used as inspiration [Photos 1 and header]. The prototype bridge employs three trestles to support a two-lane roadway over two…

30 Years of Country Passenger Trains Victoria 1950s to 1980s a photographic profile compiled by Neville Gee. Published by Train Hobby Publications, LPO Box 5123, Pinewood 3149. Ph: 03 9499 9194. Price: $42.00. This book is a photographic collection from various photographers, collated by Neville Gee, following the pictorial format consistent with many other fine books published by Train Hobby over the years. As the title 30 Years of Country Passenger Trains Victoria 1950s to 1980s suggests, this book covers a transitional period, not only of the motive power from steam to diesel, but also the train consists from wooden carriages through to the all-steel sets of the 1980s-era N series. This type of book serves many aspects of the hobby of railways, as they capture not only…

EXHIBITIONS DIAMOND VALLEY – VIC. April 15-16, 2017. Diamond Valley Model Railway Show, Community Bank Stadium, Diamond Creek. 9.30am-5.00pm Easter Sat, 10.00am-4.00pm Easter Sun. Adults $8, Kids $5, Family $20. yarravalleymrc.com BOWEN HILLS – QLD. May 6-7, 2017. 40th Brisbane Model Train Show. The Marquee, Brisbane Show Grounds, Bowen Hills. 9.00am-5.00pm (Sat), 9.00am-4.00pm (Sun). Adults $15.00, Concession $10.00, Children under 16 free (if accompanied by an adult). www.brisbanemodeltrainshow.com.au ALBION – VIC. May 20 – 21, 2017. All American Model Railroad Show. Maltese Cultural Association Building, 27 Talmage St, Albion. Melways 27 (F10). 9.30am-5.00pm (Sat), 9.30am-4.00pm (Sun). Adults 8.00 Children under 16 free with paying adult. Martin (after 5.00pm) mobile 0432 407 502 or bigb4884@gmail.com www.facebook.com/usmrca ALBURY – NSW. May 20-21, 2017. Murray Railway Modellers Annual Model Railway Show. Mirambeena Community…