Barcoola's fourth day of xmas

Hi All

Attached are some shots of the extension to triangle boards. GM30 ventured out to the new fuel distribution and cement siding, just to see how things will ultimately be placed.

The middle siding with the open wagon on it, will have the end loading platform, and goods shed - power station.

I am going to experiment with modeling dilapidated trackage, note that the apex of the triangle has been treated in an attempt to give it that rundown look.

Enjoy

Scott

Barcoola's second and third day of xmas

Hi all

please see attached the new fiddle Yard boards. Two 6ft boards have been made from the original scenery board. The original fiddle yard boards were extremely heavy. Their replacement is a step towards both lightening the lode. The latest version is narrower, 23inches wide thus will be able to accommodate 9 tracks including one possible BG and NG track for a proposed triple gauge layout. As per modern design principals, composite designs have increased strength with less weight. This version I have used 12mm ply, sides and ends. The centre is a 3mm MDF base. with a 30mm foam core and a 3mm top this version give good strength properties with less weight.

The ends have been re configured, to be transported one on top of the other, this arrangement means that each board has a total hight of 55 mm, but with the construction are settled one inside the other, by 15mm. Thus each board has maximum strength with minimum size and weight.

The ends have been constructed to fit one inside the other, in a key fashion.

Anyway, as you can see there is progress at Barcoola.....


thanks

Scott

Barcoola real estate increases by 212m2 in HO.

Hi All
The xmas present for the HO scale people of Barcoola is an extension to the township, 2 ft extensions were added to both the triangle boards.

Both boards had to have the ends disassembled, I used sections of 12mm ply cut from the old bridge board as it was the same width as the triangle boards.

The extensions will include a Goods shed and end loading, The east end of the yard already has end loading facilities but facing the opposite way. Some yards had two end platforms to dispatch equipment east or west as needs required.

Other addtions will be a siding that goes across the dirt road to Barcoola heights, and the new mining facility. The new siding will serve, the BP fuel distribution facility. The real Tarcoola has a Shell Service station, but I just don't like Shell due to their lack of a good 98 fuel.

The same siding will include a temporary cement siding, thus loadings will use the one track to deliver to the fuel facility and the Cement.

Attached are some construction shots, of the rebuilt boards.

Thanks

Scott

Barcoola seasons greetings 2010

Hi All

Just a quick note to wish everyone the compliments of the season.

The preceding year was a tough and we expect 2011 to be more of the same.

Below is some Barcoola and AN trivia, answers next year.

How many kilometres has Barcoola travelled?
A. 1494 KMs
B. 3222 KMs
C. 4642 KMs.

How many Trees are on Barcoola?
A. 0
B. 6 provided by Doug.
c. 57

How many exhibitions has Barcoola attended?


AN trivia
That is the highest number 930 class on standard gauge, during the AN era?
A. 959
B. 961
C. 966

Which class of locomotives were transfered to NRC for scrap value?
A. DL class.
B. EL class.
C. AN class.

True or false:
Did a 600 class ever operate in Alice Springs during the AN era?

The train number 199, is the most famous fast freight between Chicago and LA, on the ATSF, what train in the AN system had the number 199?

A: short lived ADL ASP priority freight.
B: loaded Port Pirie train.
C: STD gauge trip train between Port Adelaide and Dry Creek north yard.

Have a great Christmas, enjoy the break!

Thanks

Scott

Tripple Gauge Inspiration

Hi All

We are all victim to imagineering, and I am no different. A mate who was heavily into prototype Broad Gauge has decided to call it quits as a hobby. Thus he is currently selling up all his BG equipment, all of it VR. But it also included a number of pre made points including one double slip.

I had always been looking at one day creating a triple gauge layout. So I used this as an excuse to design a northern SA triple gauge layout.

As paper and pencils are relatively cheap I worked on a what if plan that could fit in the train room.

Inspiration:
Gladstone is the smallest of the three triple gauge stations in SA, thus the easiest to model off. The only sections I used was the fact that the BG came in from the South west of the station, the NG departed from the north east.

The rest takes sections of key scenes of the area.
The BG - NG head shunt bridge, think of the Hamley Bridge but smaller, Micro Engineering market a very similar type of bridge.

Sweeping reverse curve for the standard gauge, in the vogue of Huddlestone bank, but add a curved bridge and an abandoned NG bridge.

Station building facing the mainline, without a platform ie ground level.

Sections of tripple gauge trackage, see the attached plan for legend.

other features include:
overhead Ballast loadout, used to disguise the end of the backdrop.
Ginacood hotel sub-planted into the town.
Ford dealership on the corner, IE same rural version that exists in Crystal Brook.
Silo complex at the end of town, same as in Gladstone.
Transhipping shed - good shed, per Gladstone.
Caltex depot triple gauge served.
Foodland supermaket, signature in this part of the world.

for the BG equipment I already have two BG converted 930 class locomotives and 12 ADHL's.
NG only a smattering of rolling stock, but I have already scratch built a NT class body, don't ask why, I built it back in my teens.

The inspiration is the early mornings in the northern wheat belt, the sort of sleepy valley towns with low fog still hanging around, as train can be heard clearly down the valleys, to momentarily interrupt the rural serenity with a five chime of a DL, flashing through town with a late running SP5.

Anyway please feel free to pass comments.

thanks

Scott

Barcoola new legs detail pics

Hi All

Please see attached some pictures of the new Baroola legs, this arrangement is not only quicker to build but more compact. I have included a shot of the jig that is used to create each leg. As you can see the new legs are thinner and therefore more can be loaded in the same location.

Anyway

Enjoy

Scott

Barcoola 2.25 pictures

Hi All

Attached are some pictures of Barcoola MK2.25, one is of #166 gliding into Barcoola yard about to pass the semaphore signals. DL36, GM30, GM42.

Also attached is CLP11 pulling up to the small but functional station building at Barcoola, for a crew change. hauling AP6 the nocturnal Westliner, from Adelaide, in the background is the town water supply.

thanks

Scott

Barcoola MK2.25 update

Hi All

Just ot keep you updated on current progress. This weekend the following was completed:
Ran the wiring for the new bridge board and droppers.
The two signals have been dropped in to their new location at the Down end of Barcoola Yard, this is where they will be located in the shorter "home" version.
Cleaned all the track in prep for operations, it was filthy.
Resoldered some track joins as required.
Ran temporary track between new boards 4 and 5, to enable operations to comence.
laid the remaining TAR line trackage.

Additionally had a meal with Doug and his wife to be on Saturday night, I managed to rope a few more people in to operate Barcoola for a couple of pending exhibitions.

I also managed to coax some of the group to fish though their photographic colecction for more shots of Alice Springs, you can never have too much research material.

After I got home, I spent time trying to figure out the best solution for trackage on the triangle board, after a few bourbons, I started placing track here and there to see what would fit, then it just hit me. We will extend the current triangle boards from 4ft to 6 ft. Instead of making two new 4 by 2ft boards, this will make it easier to transport and will ensure that there is enough reach overall, the 8ft version was just a tad too long when I started to look at accessibility.

Anyway I will modify the current MK2.25 plans and show you the updated plan, would be interested in any comments.

Finally attached is a shot of the proposed new lighting arrangment for Barcoola, I will discuss in detail later, but I figured that the higher the lighting the better the spread (using 60deg lights). This construction was built using 25mm al box tubing pre cut from Bunnings.

Enjoy

Scott

XR555 visits Barcoola

Hi All

Jon came by tonight and we managed to get some shots of his newly purchased XR555 so we set up a quick photo shoot.

Enjoy.

Scott

AQWY model and prototype

Hi All

please see attached a couple of shots of the model and prototype AQWY.

The AQWY was issued to traffic in 1990, and was the first huski stack built AN in fact beat the USA TTX company bu]y at least 3 months.

I will give more detailed notes later.

Thanks

Scott

Barcoola blogs updated with pictures

Hi All

I have loaded the camera software back onto the laptop last night, so I have been able to down load all the shots I have been taking for the last three months.

As such I have updated a couple of blogs with new pictures.

More to come. I have resently purchased the Tyobic - Barcoola signals from their builder and will be installing them into their rightfull place at the Down end of Barcoola yard.

Enjoy

Scott

Barcoola MK2.25 is together

Hi All

Just to let you know that Barcoola MK2.25 is together. I have had to cut the track back 14 inches into the new board, to provide a gentle transition to the new bridge board.
The exposed cork was carefully sanded back to provide the correct grade profile.
While test fitting both bridges, the western end trackage had originally been built with a slight kink in the grade. Once spotted, the track was cut back and again sanded the cork to create the smoothest transition from board to board.

Once all the little transitions and track departure angles had been established. The new track was laid straight across both boards, glued with acrylic sealant, you only need a little, and kept in place with map pins.

Once fully assembled, the new shorter bridge board looks like it has always been there.

Finally the latest issue of Continental Modeller arrived in the mail this week, with the article on Barcoola rolling stock. Also of note is a layout modelled on World War I narrow gauge supply trains.

Anyway, enjoy.

Scott

AQUY the one off expreiment

Hi ALL

The AQUY was a one off, experiment recycling old OBF 4 wheel wagons, this was the same time that TTX released the forerunner a four wheel TOFC car. The OBF was produced by SAR into at least 1977, yes I know it is hard to believe but its true. The last series had roller bearings and coil springs. I guess AN were looking at a program that might be able to reuse relatively new wagons in a more efficient role.

The AQUY was re-built from an OBF, stretched to 40ft and fitted with twist locks, the wheel sets were Uni from Forrunners and modern British four wheel wagons. Basically a AQUY was a containerised version of a Roadrailer, just with more Tare weight.
According to now defunct magazine Rail Ausatralia issue September October 1988, the AQUY 1E was released to traffic by 14 September 1988.

Like all of AN's little experiments it was thrown into service on the Alice Springs line.

This is why the Alice Springs line is worth modelling.

Modelling notes:
The only way to effectively model an AQUY is to scratch built it.
The axle boxes can come from hornby modern wagons.
Attached is a photo of Glen Thomson's scratch built model.

Please see attached pics, one of the prototype on #166.
And Glen's model.

Thanbks

Scott


Thanks

Alice Springs yard research

Hi All

Attached is a plan of Alice Springs in 1981, there are a few dashed lines so not sure if these tracks were actually built. In the industrial area there has been alot of changes.
For example lot 12 is now Mobil, lot 18 is now Kleen Gas.
lot 22 & 23 is now a junk yard.
In South Australian Diesel Pictorial the 80's on page 81 there is a a shot of 863 shunting, the shell siding, but if you look closer it seem to be the mobil siding see the Mobil Sabadin petroleum road tanker in the background. Taken in 1989 show the two track in the foreground are still laid. This leads me to believe that there might have been more industrial trackage operational in 1993 than now.
By the way you might notice on the same page a shot of 863 under the gantry crane, and proceeding south to Roe Creek through Heavitree Gap with a string of cattle wagons.

Anyway compare this diagram with the ones previously published examples of the model version. I had to "distill" the design features of the yard to ensure that the key elements of the yard were retained to continue "operations" both for era 1993 and present.
To give you an example of the scale down process, the yard width in scale is 7ft 6"
this had to be designed down to 2ft 6". thus this was an extremely hard process to ensure faithfully reproduction and "flavor" for the yard while reducing the size and complexity of the trackage. As you can see by the final model plan I retained almost 100% of the intermodal sidings as these are the key feature of the yard.

I also managed to retain the crossovers, but moved them into the middle of the yard, which would be easier to operate in the ultra modern version.

Anyway, please feel free to compare this this diagram with the model.

Enjoy

Scott

TNT Automotive 51 ft boxes

Hi All

Here is some more pictures of 51ft TNT Automotive, should satisfy Micheals requirements.

Thanks

Scott

Efficiency and planning is the key

Hi All

Like all of us we seem to have less and less time, the secret is to use your wasted down time as planning time.
Be that:
In the car driving home.
On the Train, Tram or Bus on the way home.
On the plane, back from you fly in fly out job, or 8 hours for a conference.
Or even watching bad television, and lets face it your significant other is always asking what you are thinking when you are doing nothing, letting them know might stop them asking the question!
This time can all be utilised, thinking though problems with your design.
Believe me, time spent perfecting designs and planning is never wasted.

After rebuilding Barcoola, I have decided to incorporate a number of design changes in the Alice Springs project.
Limit the number of different height legs, Barcoola has seven different leg heights, I would like to have two or three tops for Alice Springs.
Barcoola corner boards were four different sizes, I would like to limit the different board shapes as much as possible thus streamline total construction.

Plan construction using jigs as much as possible as this will reduce construction time Dramatically.

Organise your work area:
Ensure that you have a dedicated work location that can be left as is, so that you don't waste time with set up and take down times.

Don't work over your own mess, I have a centre bench that can be accessed from both sides, thus is easier and quicker to construct.

use the right tools, good use of nail guns etc, are great for holding things in place quickly, while the glue dries.

Assess exactly how much material you need, and the exact measurements and quantity.

Anyway, give it some thought.

Attached are some original Barcoola constuction shots......

Thanks

Scott

RQYY 7004 picture

Hi All

to satisfy Michael & Alex's obsession with RQYY 7004 and double stacks, please see attached.

Modelling notes please see the post of AQYY's.

If any of you have a question regarding AN modeling Port Augusta and north and west please drop a comment and hopefully I can help out.


thanks

Scott

Barcoola bridge board is no more

Hi All

Just to let you know that Barcoola's bridge board has been cut up. But don't worry, I have built a new board as per the rest of the MKII boards, with a 3mm MDF base. Both the CAR and TAR Bridges have been recovered successfully.

The problem is that due to the size of the train room Barcoola had to be reduced in length by 1ft 4 inches. The only board that could be reduced in length was the bridge board.

Additionally the bridges had to be placed on a different angle. I also found that the bridge board was originally built in a slight angle as such created a grade. This had to be removed as it will play havoc in the future. Subsequently, I have to re-lay both mainlines and gently bring down the mainline to the correct height.

The new board is currently in its rightfull place and has the recovered bridge sections.

Attached are some shots of the bridge board in its previous life.

Also attached are some shots during destruction and re construction.

Also is a shot of the very first Austrains CL. The guys at Austrains allowed us to repaint the demo model a couple of days before the Sydney Exhibition, as such we got to operate it first.....

Thanks

Scott