Spencer Junction and Whyalla layout pushing the design envelope.

We all strive for design perfection, with the design change on Alice Springs, where the stagging yard was folded in on itself, i thought that this could help with my previous Spencer Junction and Whyalla layout designs http://barcoola.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/layout-proposal-spencer-junction-sa-and.html

 So i put pen to paper, and came up with the plan below:

This is more of an opeational concept layout, learning from Alice Springs, which is limited by access.  This realy bugged me.  Modifications I have designed should solve these problems.  By having the stagging yard isolated, it also alowes the layout have plenty of space for train control and train storage.

Space between Port Augusta and the stagging yard, i needed to have at least a train length, so this gives both time between train orders, and setup time between movements.

The mainline from Spencer Junction to the stagging yard is long enough to hold a complete train.  i have reviewed the plan above, and figured i could do the same on the mainline out of Tassie street, little modifications.  This gives six good storage tracks in the stagging yard.

Plus some shot dead end stagging tracks for short trains such as 305 arvo junk train from Port Pirie, the Telford mixed, etc.  There is also room for steel wagon storage, as this has to be shunted to and from the steel works, so the AN crew can drop off and pick up steel wagons.  It would be a great little job for the stagging operator, shunting steel wagons with a DH.

Whyalla..

Whyalla would not fit into this location in it current form, so I made this a mirror image of the real Whyalla.  i find that if I get a close as possible to the prototype track plan that, modelling is just so easy because what is there is ..... Well there, so you know what you need to model.  The other thing is that shunting the yard you end up dealing with real operational problems, because you havew mimiced the real yard.

Sure the distance between Spencer Junction and Whyalla is short, but again its a train order territory thing, so lots of procedures etc that should stretch the ops session timing.

i must have spent hours and hours observing AN shunting operations, at Spencer Junction.  The key to this part of the layout, is the making and breaking up of trains.  i would envisage that we would have an incoming crew, which would bring the train into the yard.  They would be relived by the shunt crew, or the on going crew.  They would shunt, off etc then get orders and continue on to Tent Hill or Stirling North.  

Operators and People....

Asles and widths, I looked at around three feet, Lance is right on that one!

Also needs a congragation area, this worked well with Alice Springs, so it has an area that is wider than three feet.

Separating stagging operations, from normal "stage" operations, with  the stagging area having its own  well, this encourages the stagging operator to remain, at their post!  Clear delineation, between these types of opeations would be good, with Alice Springs I found that doing two jobs, operational and control can be difficult.  With alot of trains to operate, comes a change of roles, and more people required to maintain a timetable.

Train lengths.....

Previous plans were limited with train length, and then there was the distances between points.

With this plan, we can get 23ft trains on the mainline wtih ease, the siding in Spencer Junction yard are  longer than that, but I think I can use the yard access roads as a limitation to train length, crews will know they are over length there train fouls the access.

Anyway, food for thought, i will see how i go.

Enjoy scott

Modelling Goldsworthy Mining Locomotive No 10 GML-10 JT42C in HO

Hi All

Here are some shots of my current project GML-10.

Another locomotive for the Pilbara, this locomotive only spent just over four years working in the Pilbara.

Started with an Auscision V/line N class.

I kept this for a year with a point to convert it, however at the Sydney Exhibition we found On Track Models were selling bodies only of their SRA freightcorp 82 class, this was purchased on spec, to see if the body could be used for the long hood of GML-10.

This weekend I assessed both models and figured out the following:

The N class, The model, it seemed a good start, however it was about a metre and a bit too short in HO.

The 82 class long hood is good upto just forward of the engine long hood doors.

I had a spare proto2000 SD60 body that I was looking at converting into a HI SD50S.

The dynamic brake and dynovane air intake are spot on for the GML-10.

End result i needed three locomotives to get this right.

Auscision N class, for the frame cabs and mech.

On Track Models 82 class long hood.

proto2000 SD60 or SD50 long hood.

Here is a shot of the current model.

Disassemble the N class, note there are two long screws in the long hood, that will need to be removed to get the body off.

The cabs can then be removed, and stripped etc.

The Proto2000 SD50 this was also purchased for another project.

This is the section that need to be cut out of the SD50 model.

Cut the body as shown, it will also need to be thined down, again as shown.

The 82 class body will need to be cut just aft of the blower duct.

The aft end of the long hood will need the door section cut away, ensure that there is a little section of the door remains on the body so that, it can be used as a lip for mounting the B end cab.

Knock off the mounting lugs on the cabs as shown.

The Proto2000 body can be used as a mounting for the N class cab.

Still lots of little things to do, but a fun little job.

this is going to be modelled in BHP Blue 

I will update when we are close to finish this off. Finish the details etc.

Enjoy Scott

Alice Springs evil thoughts!

With an arvo to myself, i reviewed the last ops session, and the Bow Creek area limitations came to the fore.  As Bow Creek double as a semi visable staging yard, the mainline was blocked by 166 for the remaining part of the session.

I had created a plan awhile ago, which would solve this problem, however, i just didn't want to build a stack of new boards.

This plan would also reduce the asle width, something i didnt want to do.

So i did a bit of 1:1 mocking up, and after wiggling it here and there, i managed to retain the asle width to a point, 3 inches would not be the end of the world.

The board where the DL is, would be removed, and new 18 inch wide board would hold both the yard of Bow Creek and the staging tracks, with a backdrop spliting the two.

 The second board will need to be increased in width to accomodate the new Bow Creek yard.

The road that 166 is on right now will become part of the staging.

 

The three staging points shown will be removed, the main line to Darwin will remain as is and the two tracks to the left will become the crossing loop and mainline of Bow Creek.

This will enable a clear definition of the end of the Alice Springs yard.  In operation I could place a stop block on the main, just incase an operator wants to use more of the mainline than should be allowed.

Black line on the board is the new mainline.

Here is the proposed plan.

Anyway lets see how we go, enjoy Scott

Designing a Pilbara layout part two

Hi All

The arrival of the Bowser C636 has given me a stack of inspiration for designing a Pilbara layout, i had previously posted a BHP and HI dual layout.

http://barcoola.blogspot.com/2012/12/proposed-pilbara-layout-bhp-and.html

This was way back in 2012, and i have had a lot of time to figure out how to make this all happen.

The big problem i was struggling with was the empty and loaded operations, sneaking back tracks etc, which usually meant that there was always operations that were not really prototypical.  Or if i modelled one end ie a mine this would mean mid session i would have to unload all the cars from the hidden sidings, this is where they would fail.

On the flip side modelling a mine and a port would take up a lot of space.  Placing them back to back would solve this in the short term. However again the problem is the feeding the empties and loadeds through in a realistic fashion while only modelling half of the port and half of the mine and making it work.

I then came across some shots of Mt Newman Mining operations when they first started in 1969, now this is extremely gettable! Five C636s and two F7 for power and a stack of second hand cars and the dumper.  I was looking at the buildings and I swear they are straight from the walthers catalogue!

So the results of the doodling process is the plan below.

This will fit in the current layout room, and to give you and idea of the operational concept of this layout as follows:

ore cars would be manually be loaded at the mine by placing an ore 'lump' as the crew loads the train. This can be done in reverse, through the dumper, there is a prototype for this at Newman.

Having the crew load the train and dump the train, will mean that they can't cheat by doing too quickly.

Trains of about 15 ft, should be easily handled, however larger trains can be worked, just needs to be one large train.  Thus could have the mid train helpers etc.

Unloading will need to be done two cars at a time as they go though the dumper.  This could be mechanised, in the future.

There is plenty of space for ancillary trains such as fuel and supply trains to the mine.  These will have to be marshalled at the port, and then shunted at the mine, tankers decanted and returned to the port.

ballast sidings at the intermediate crossing loop, this means that ballast trains can operate over the line with meaning, place to originate from and depart to.

locomotive and ore car workshops are great operational functions.

Early operations were controlled via train order.

i would look at this layout being able to model multiple eras and locations.  Mt Newman early and late. BHP, around 1992.  Robe, early and late.  With a change of bridge board, could also HI Alcos.

anyway lots to think about and locomotives to finish off, rolling stock, i will keep it bubbling away in the background.

i will keep this plan in my head and just have to crack the 3d printing learnings so that i can get some decent ore cars.

I will post some inspirational shots later, thanks scott 

HO scale working rotary dumper, need one form my Pilbara layout

Hi All

Check out this working rotary dumper, here is the link.

Way too cool!  Thanks scott

Alice Springs operating session december 2014 sunday 28th of december

hi all

update:
I am going to have one final operating session in 2014, i have figured that Sunday the 28th of December would be easy.  So regular operators if you feel inclined, rock around about 13:00 for lunch and ops, catch up etc.
Slight change of date, due to a maranting issue (the brother), shop on saturday maranate and cook on sunday!

Cya then scott

review of Bowser Alco C636 locomotive with sound

Hi All

Well the Bowser Alco C636s have arrived!
I got a selection of sound and non sound units.
They were purchased to convert into Aussie C636s.

Mt Newman Mining purchased 17 model C636s and Hamersley Iron purchased 12.

The details:
Bowser has made the units with individual details, for example the demo models have the correct lighting arrangement.
individual wire handrails, lift rings, windscreen wipers, mirrors etc.
The walkway handrails are as per the C630 and c630M, quite fine and fairly robust, however they are not delrin, not a problem for me as I will be repainting it anyway.

These models are detail rich and Bowser should be proud of there work.

 The radiators don't match the Aussie C636s they are a little short, the core should be right to the end almost touch the B end sand hatch.

 the panels below the radiator have a see through grille, however given the arrangement, of sound equipment etc, this is backed by a piece of styrene,  Might see if this is easy to daylight!

 The air induction fan is behind a grille, this is removable, if you are careful.

 Yup the amber flashing light works, and note the firecracker Arial.

 The bogie gap can be clearly seen in these two shots.  This will be corrected in the next shipment.
there are replacement bogies and fuel tanks coming at no cost!  Which will drop this unit to the correct hight.  Well done Bowser!

 Overall of the roof.

 The A and B ends.

 The A end lighting, the lights have a slow glow, so they slow build up just like the prototype.

 the wires for the flashing amber light.

 the Sound equipped mechanism and speakers, very little difference between this and the C630 arrangement.

 Lok sound is now fitted and compared to the c630, which I though was more than acceptable, the C636 sound needs to be heard to be believed, I have added a video on my Barcoola facebook site.
You might need to be a member, but its worth the look and listen.

 Details on the mechanism.

Given that I am going to strip and repaint these locomotives, I was not too fused about the details, I selected the IC unit as I figured that it would be easier to repaint.

The white, is some light seems a little thick, but at least the white is a good coverage, one of the hardest colours to paint!  more than one coat required.

The IC unit will be repainted in Mt Newman livery and the SP&S unit into I think HI.

The operation of the locomotives are smooth, more about getting used of the settings, the sound treatment and the lighting are spot on.

Given the bogies and fuel tank are going to be changed out to lower them, the second run will be a wanted item for sure.

The verdict.

Yup, I would purchase another C636, on the basis of these models, In fact I have some of the second run on order!

Another Pilbara locomotive can now be modelled so that is a good thing, I have already broken out the pens and graph paper for a layout!  Stand by!

The C636 sound and details are an improvement over the C630.  Bowser is going the right direction, again big two thumbs up guys!

Its interesting that the USA market can produce a model of locomotive of which only 37 were made in the USA, and 29 were built in Australia!

Sub 300 USD with sound, nice.

Anyway I will be modifying and repainting these, more Pilbara locos on the way!