Monday, August 12, 2013

Coolamine yard

Wet wintry weekends do have some advantages. It has been a miserable winter here and I have tried to take advantage of the ordinary weather by working on the layout.  Since making the video tour of the layout in early June, my focus has been on building Coolamine.

 Coolamine is were the narrow gauge meets the broad gauge and is the first thing you see of the layout when you enter the shed.  It is also the largest yard on the railway so getting it built was important for a number of reasons. I would like to get some of Coolamine looking finished asap to give a good first impression as guests come into the shed. I also wanted to get the track laid so I can start running trains. Through experience I have found if I have trains running I am more motivated to work on the layout. On Sunday I finished laying the yard. There are a couple of sidings still to lay but they need some scenery work done first

 
 
I wanted the track to have a look common to many of the yards on the VR narrow gauge with the ties sunken into the ground . I had a chat to John at J&K hobbies who make Trackrite underlay. He custom milled some underlay to match the Micro Engineering On30 track I use and the 11 foot track spacing's the VR used. Thanks John you have saved me a lot of work and when I put my soil down the ties should just peak above ground level. I have tried to follow the track plan of the narrow gauge yard at Colac as close as I can. I am hoping that by being as prototypical as possible shunting the yard should be also prototypical and trouble free. 
 
 A feature of the yard will be the transfer shed and crane. When time allows I hope to add some broad gauge wagons to give comparison to the different in size. I had a week away with the family during school holidays and I managed to build a couple of Ian Storrie's beautiful NM cattle wagon kits. The layout currently swallows up rolling stock and I badly need to get some more kits together.

I still have lots to do like get the soil down, paint the track and install some lighting so I can get some decent photos! I have also been contemplating how I will control all the switches. I have decided to try a singlet servo built by Tam Valley Depot and sold here in Australia by Model Railroad Craftsmen . I have yet to install it but it looks like it could be a good option.

5 comments:

  1. Nice work once again Murry.
    Will you be doing any shunting on the standard gauge? The idea of offering viewers the gauge/size comparison will help put everything in the correct prospective.

    Looks like your decision to go to VR is well timed with Brunel Hobbies releasing the very well priced Na. How many do you have on reserve?
    I have held back and only ordered 3.

    Keep up the good work, I look forward to following your progress.

    Tony Reidpath
    Narrow minded between the rails not the ears

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    1. Thanks for the kind words Tony,

      At this stage the standard gauge will be static with no engine.

      It's an exciting time to modelling the VR with the Haskell Na coming. I had a very good look at the pilot at Caulfield and it looks excellent. I have two on order and will probably get at least another one...

      Cheers

      Murray

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    2. LOL snap on the Na's I have Three order, they will go nicely with my 3 NGG16's.
      I wonder what the next offering will be?
      I would imagine that these Na's will be a good seller, something that many of us have been waiting for.
      May even have them in time for Christmas.
      Keep up the great work

      Cheers
      Tony Reidpath
      Currently on the Steps in Kazakhstan

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  2. Hi Murray,

    Love your blog! I live in northern New York and am considering building a shed layout. I'm interested in any problems you may have experienced with temperature or humidity problems? Is your shed heated or air conditioned and what are the outside temperature extremes in your area. I'm worried about tracks kinking and scenery cracking etc.

    thanks
    Joe

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    Replies
    1. Hi Joe,

      glad you are finding the blog interesting. The shed is metal and I have lined and insulated the walls and ceiling. Temperatures here range from minus 5 to 45 degrees Celsius. I don't cool or heat the shed and it is comfortable most of the time, except when the temps are at the extreme. I haven't had many issues with either track or scenery moving from temperature change. I did have some track kink from a very hot day but it was only in one spot where I hadn't left a gap at all.

      You probably have a bigger temperature range than here, so if I was you I would maybe build a module and see what happens.

      Cheers

      Murray

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