aussietmrail

Wow the arches are pure awesome, I wondered if you were going to shape the arches that way. Yeah I was going to suggest the plumbers copper piping and use those T pieces in the middle will make the pillar pretty strong and you can solder them. I just bought on British eBay a 12 wheel 68ft Hornby restaurant car to go with the your model railway village maroon coaches when they come in from my newsagent, after a brake van too and may end up with 8 of them. Also interested in buying a Hornby 60 class diesel like them, red colour scheme with the Switch on the safety logo awesome loco, saw a preview on you tube, lots of good detail grill wise., was hopping to get one in the British rail blue colour scheme. Where is the viaduct going to into your shed.

Hi Rossi, I just bought a Hornby 12 wheel 68ft restaurant car, maroon colour, going to look good when I finely get those 6 maroon coaches from my news agents, will be also after a brake or guards van, may end up with 10 all up and on the con for a British 60 class diesel loco from Hornby, heaps of very good detail on the loco, looks like I can't get one in British rail blue colour scheme. The 60 class loco can also pull the blue and gray inter city coachers, looking at a later date get those longer inter city saloon coachers and the locos to match, the Flying Scott probably wont be able to pull all the maroon coaches together, unless I get the Hornby one with the motor in the boiler, mine has the motor in the tender. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/P349-Hornby-R4131A-BR-68ft-Dining-Car-M230M-OO-Gauge-/331200625938?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4d1d187d12" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HORNBY-Loco-R3150-DB-Schenker-Co-Co-Diesel-Electric-Class-60-/380862345318?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item58ad2a3066" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is fantastic what you have done with the viaduct, what I suggest you could do with the centre pillar is build it out of the same square tubing the green bridge is sitting on real look good and some frame work in the middle of the two square tubes for show, like the real steel viaducts have. Be looking forward to seeing your first train running on the layout.

That is interesting about the ash brick also called Eco brick, recycling in a big way, India is well in the lead for producing those ash bricks, can't find any think over here in Australia, will ask around, is the ash brick expensive to buy . Came across a couple of good links. On Friday I might get a chance to make a start on working on the platform track modules, marking them out and starting to lay down the track and points, over the weekend back into finishing the Tehachapi loop .

Hi Rossi, Went through all your posts and did come across some you tube on your layout, pure awesome on what I saw. It will be a while before trains are running on my layout. doing all the work myself with out any help, I will get there in the end and fill good when the first train runs around the whole layout without any issues.

Hi Mick I love the way you are constructing the arch viaducts, what are those bricks you are using made of, must be easy to cut with a saw, the closed stuff is the white foam used for packing over here, can get different thickness sheets., is a bit messy to cut and got watch what paint to use , wrong paint will melt the foam. I have seen in pics of British passenger with ten plus coaches, that's how I got my trains set up as consists in there own storage boxes, when I go to the train I pick out four boxes to take, haven't bought any new trains for a while, looking at buying a British 50 class loco, for my Inter city coaches with the blue and gray colour scheme, waiting on those 6 red coaches to to arrive. Also want to build up my container train, after more double stack well cars and of course more containers, never ends.

Hi Griff, Yeah the layout is going to be a long project and I hope I can pull it off, the reason of the size is I like single track operation, adds all the fun when you have another friend over running trains too. Sitting at a passing loop for the on coming train to clear the single track and get the green signal to go, my layout is DC control and planning to have four controllers, two could be used for shunting, I am using those four way rotary switches with three poles. That means all that block wiring. Gliff here is that link to the NR class locos, I will get you some more links of our Aussie model locos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NR_class" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/products_page.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://www.wuiskemodels.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=348ef91ed97ba3b154c9a738c646c6d6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Hope this link takes you to the 4,000 class loco shells, not ready to run but you can get a standard gauge chassis to fit the shell. The Auscision models are in HO1/87 scale, in QLD the gauge narrow gauge and we have some of the biggest diesel locos ever build to run on 3ft-6inch narrow gauge and Tilt trains too, the models over here use 12mm track and you can get hold of duel track also .

Hi Rossie, A few more questions , if you have a mild summer what is your winter like then, you mustn't have any issues with the wind then when running your trains , one bloke told me he switched to O scale garden railway because of that problem. I didn't have an issue when I used to run my trains on my module layout which was under the pergola. What colour is those model railway village coaches maroon, I am after a diner coach and break van to match. Not going to bother with the tank steamy got my heart set on buying a Hornby or Bachmann 50 class diesel loco for my inter city coaches they are blue with gray roof. Finished the spiral yesterday ready to lay down the track and bus wiring, will leave that till I finish the top track that heads into tunnel 10, got the ply already cut up, need the cut the support legs. I decided to do redraw my station plan double the size where you can see the platforms a lot better. If you do a search on Google Earth you see how big Sydney Central really is, I have a model of the Indian Pacific with 16 coaches and two of the NR locos that pulls the train one NR has the Indian Pacific logo on the side of it. Talk about profit, in Aussie dollar by the time you have finished buying all those 120 kits and other stuff, about $3.500 one friend told me ouch a bit hard to believe that price, I am only going to buy a few kits. That signal bridge does the signals actually work, I build my own signals, haven't tackled three way signals as yet. Keep the great pics flowing, do you have any video of your trains running be pure awesome when the trains come into your station platforms the way you have the track and points.

The spiral is now ready, for the track laying, I may complete the top section first get it out the way, it took time to get the upright posts the right height, had a couple of goes on a couple of them. At least I didn't have to do much in the way as cutting the up rights the gravel did that all I had to do was dig out the gravel to get the grade right as you will see in the first couple of pics with the level how I did it making a special jig. Will have to give the ply a few good coats of paint where it is sitting in the gravel, the layout wont be set up permanent, where I have dug the gravel or will put a paver in for the ply to sit on. Have worked out how I am going to spiral deck in pic 5, since there will be ply sides for the cutting I will use the ply to screw to the tunnel portal, I use that copper coated computer circuit board for the module track joins , before I used screws this time track nails and cut the track with a saw disk. I am glad I built the tunnel module that way as it does not move at all, I have it marked where the module goes on the floor, can't go wrong that way. Does anyone know how to work out grades, I think on my spiral it is 3 percent, the height at the tunnel is 9 inches and spiral length is 23 feet dropping down 3/8 inches a foot, the jig I made is 1/5/16 inch drop in every 3 and a half feet, spiral diameter is 7feet.

Here is my track plan of Candle layout, main features is the Tehachapi loop and the station complex modelled on Sydney Central station NSW. The platforms are 15 feet long with 8 platforms, Sydney has 25 platforms, the station area has 7 modules and whole area is 27 feet long, layout length is 54 feet long by 30feet wide , stage one, stage two I will adding a 19foot road rail bridge at the side of the house, modelled on the Elizabeth River bridge Darwin line, which opened in 2004 to Darwin from Alice Springs Adelaide, the Ghan train. You can have a look on Google Earth and see how big Sydney is in size would take up my whole pergola are I modelled all the platforms, since I have the Indian Pacific train I had to model platform one of course where the IP pulls in,4 country link platforms and 4 city link platforms. I ended up before adding on two pics and couldn't get rid of one when I saw I could delete the post which I did, the pic was too big and I made it too small, this one is ok, I might redraw the station area to a bigger scale . Nice day hope to get a bit of work done on the spiral. http://www.oogardenrailway.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Thanks Mick will give that a go with adding a smiley, that didn't work, will get there.

Hi Rossi, I put an order of 6 coaches into my news agent also, they said they will ring when the coaches come in, do you know what brand the coaches are, I think the little steamy is Bachmann and do you know what issue the loco comes in, I am interested in the church also, all I will buy from the series, pretty expensive layout, by the time you get everything , 120 kits. I got my eye out on a dinner and a break van that will match with these coaches, these ones of interest are Hornby. Found out that a couple of the members in my train club modified the bogies so they can go around tighter curves and replace the couplers, I will wait till mine arrive and decide what to do if any modifying Like the way you did your station platforms, I will do the same with mine, those Peco platform sides will work out pretty dear with the size of my platforms,5 platforms all up, modelling Sydney Central station which has 25 platforms all up only 8 of the platforms on my layout. Saw on some of your pics you are using grass matting, is the same stuff you buy in the hobby shops. What is the climate like in the in the Canary Islands, going by the pic with the ship, it's quite windy. I will be moving onto the rest of the Tehachapi loop spiral tomorrow, since tunnel 9 module is ready to add the scenery grass matting. the fun begins.

Hi Rossie, yeah those Midland coaches have been going like hot cakes over here too a few of the train club (AMRA QLD Branch) members have been going mad too buying them, will be ringing one of the news agents this morning to see if the orders have come in, I am after 6 as I want to be able to get hold of a dinner and a brake guards van of the same colour. One of the club members has realigned the coaches and replaced the couplers, they could have something to do with Bachman as the loco that comes with the series could be a Bachman , as usual probably be put out by China, can't complain about the price though,$7.99 over here will have to wait to when the loco comes out, will go quick too. Trying to find out what he has done may of just replaced the wheels. Had a look on your log some real good feed back on those coaches, will have to wait ill when my orders come in.

Hi Mick, yeah quite happy with the way the tunnel module has turned out will look heaps better with scenery on it, ringing a hobby shop in Brisbane tomorrow night to check out the prices of that grass mating, if he hasn't got it, am thinking about using al foil to make the shape of the rock cutting and then paint it sprinkle fine and on it first. Now I can move onto the rest of the spiral, the tunnel module is quite solid and wont move in a hurry now, still may screw it to the pavers, till need more ply to finish the bottom track, wont be buying that ply till next week. Have made a special jig so I can check the spiral grade every 3 and a have feet as the pergola floor starts to rise up towards the car port, working on a 3 percent grade, the spiral is 24 feet in length and drops down 3/8inches a foot, 9 inches high at the tunnel. How do you add the smiley pics

Thanks Mick, I had a look on google on those peco platform strips, will cost a fair bit for my platforms being 15 feet long as the strips are 168mm lengths, can you bend them at all Is that what that stuff you are using under your track outside bitumen roofing felt, good idea looks like ballast under the track with that stone affect. Over here in our news agents they have started selling the 00 scale layout issues, I missed out in the first one with the red coach so have asked two news agents close to where I live to reorder that issue, one said to ring them tomorrow, I am after 6 of those coaches will look good behind the flying Scot. Going to look out for a new either Hornby or Bachman for a new diesel after seeing your loco's, those more modern intercity double cab diesel's look pretty good, I have 7 intercity blue and gray coaches. How do you add on attachments as I have windows 8 and can't get to my link favourites http://www.modelrailwayvillage.com/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Just discovered on how to add links from my link favourite files magic stuff.

Here is the lasts update on tunnel 9 module, finely ready for the grass matting, I need to buy some more 12mm ply to finish off the bottom track deck which will have the side cutting scenery on it, I added on the wider piece of ply for that and but into the tunnel portal, will look good, I can now move onto the rest of the spiral. Grill the NR's are modelled on the Dash 9's, has the same horse power, will check that.

Mick, that platform edging is awesome, can you buy ready made up like that, on the last layout I built the platforms which made the modules too heavy to move around, want to cut the weight down this time as the station area will have four modules. up close to the back of the house under the pergola. My layout will be having 5 platforms all up and they will be 15 feet long to handle the Indian Pacific, my IP has 16 passenger cars, I will be modelling the station based on Sydney Central, Sydney actually has all up 28 platforms would take up the whole pergola area, I will be modelling 8 platforms. Peak times the Indian Pacific pulls 26 passenger cars and the train has to be split up, all that fun in shunting and need a third loco to help get over the Blue mountain's, 4 of the platforms will be terminus platforms, Sydney has more. What is that other stuff you are using outside, I have seen quite a few blokes use those sheets under the track.

Hi Gliff, Glad you finely got those coupler boxes for your loco. I have decided to do away with the idea of modelling the Amtrak auto train, be pretty expensive train by the time I bought all the auto carriers and the other super liners, will stick with what I have got,may get the latest phase five Amtrak colour scheme of the AMD 103's in Kato, the two AMD 103's I have are Athearn. Like your curved station platforms, I have decided to stay with modelling Sydney central station they have 28 platforms all up I will be only modelling 8 of them 4 are terminus platforms and one the Indian Pacific pulls into, my platforms will be 15 feet to take 16 passenger cars. Peak times the IP pulls 26 passenger and some times needs a third loco to help get over the Blue Mountains, I will using the Walthers Union station kit is pretty close to Sydney Central building, just need a clock tower, they have to break the train and put half on another platform Now I have to redesign the station modules, there are four all up, four of the platforms will be through traffic and one will have three tracks between the platforms so a freight train can go through. You can check out Sydney Central on Google Earth What are you planning to use that rubber stuff for. Was looking through that other forum and you were going on about a cockatoo problem, they are mainly in Australia, New Guinea and Indonesian islands, they must of been pets and got out. All goes well tomorrow will finish the Tehachapi loop tunnel 9 module, I had a go at cutting out one of the tunnel portals turned out pretty good so will cut the other one out now, just need to buy that grass matting stuff, you can see the progress pics in the Candle layout.

Here is the latest on the Tehachapi loop tunnel 9 module, I have closed in one side and cut out the first tunnel portal, to my surprise turned out quite well, so will cut out the second one and no need to buy them now, since the real ones are the concrete type, painted up should look good. I will have to take off the ply closest to the floor as Iis it too steep, for the dirt road fix that tomorrow and finish the other side. Will look pretty good once the grass matting goes on too and fill the gaps. I still have to add on ply sides to the bottom track for the side cutting and be able to hide the speaker plug at the same time, more pics tomorrow. Thought I would have some problems sliding the bottom track base in under the tunnel portal , worked quite well.

Hi IanR, I will have to take some pics of my Bachman Centennial DD40AX 6936, didn't realise that you couldn't post copy right pics, will be working on the Tehachapi loop tunnel 9 module tomorrow, a blow that I can't get a pic of UP's FEF 4-8-4 steam loco 844. Was telling one of the other members at the train club on Saturday about building the TL layout and he wants to bring out his two big Boy steam locos, out has the matching wagons too, about 40 of them, better get a move on then, be pure awesome. I have the same problem with my wife too trying to con for some more trains. Actually the news agents over here are doing a run on 00 scale trains series, starting off with a red coach and piece of track plus a booklet, one of the other club members bought 6 of them , not bad for $8, going on Wednesday to have a look at them, a con to buy 6 of them will look good behind my Flying Scott

Hi IanR, Yes of course the big main plan is to get the layout built so I can run trains, going to be while, once I get over the first hurdle in finishing the Tehachapi loop tunnel nine module the rest of the layout will be straight forward. Yeah would love to buy a Garratt but the problem is will have to buy all the rolling stock of that period to match, I am more interested in diesel loco's but do have two steam locos, one being the Flying Scott other the famous NSW 3801, when the Flying Scott was out here in 88 both locos did double head, at the moment I can't do that, need couplers for the front of 3801. Would like one more Union Pacific steam loco FEF 4-8-4 844, still running today, doubles up with DD40AX centennial loco 6936 on heritage trips, I will get some pics of those locos. I have the model of a Bachman diesel loco, had it painted in the UP paint scheme and running numbers 6936 need to get the steam loco, be nice, have got the matching coaches, nice train. Found a good pic of 3801 steam loco still running in Australia I have the Lima version

Gliff, good you are on top of plumbing project and you can get back to the layout, those thorns sure are nasty alright, glad we don't get weeds like them in our garden. In some ways you should be able to fit any other brand coupler boxes to your loco, where is the hole for the screw is it on the front of the chassis, I tried doing a search on your loco kept on coming up with other Roco locos, could you take a close up pic of where the coupler box goes. Another way is email Roco they might be able to put you in the right track. Actually that loco is a nice looking loco, Swedish is it and I like the duel cab locos too, don't need a turn table to turn them around. Had a good day at my train club, took a couple of pics with the mobile phone, my club's federal body has been around for 60 years today, had a BBQ lunch and there is a dinner tonight but I wasn't going as it is on the other side of Brisbane and I live in Ipswich, would of been too late getting home finishes 10pm. Here are some pics of my Amtrak train and my trailerailer train, roadrailers in America. The trailers are 40ft, in America they use 53ft's for the roadrailers, be nearly twice as long, it's a bugger as there is length limit 10feet on the club layout , I had to end up taking off a super liner car .

Gliff what class loco did you buy then and could you take a pic of the coupler box. I have had a couple of Roco locos in the past and they had that stile coupler box. How are you going with your front yard got that plumbing sorted out now and the holes filled in. Tony

Gliff, What Roco loco did you bye going by what I checked out is on the coupler box the couplers just clip in, a real good idea, but that type are a lot dearer to buy from Kadee. You just have to make sure you buy the right ones for that loco. Going to bye some 5mm ply to finish off the sides on TL module today and tomorrow on the way to my train club buy the single track tunnel portals and hopefully the hobby shop sells that grass matting. Taking my Amtrak super liner train tomorrow and some others will take some pics. Have worked out how I am going to hide the speaker plugs on the bottom single track also

Hi IanR, I like what you have done with your garden railway around your fence line, my back yard is too steep for that and on quarter of an acre would be a big challenge. Didn't think you could run model trains in the snow thinking moisture doesn't mix with electricity, till now, pure awesome. My layout is on ground level and with the pergola floor not being level have to have a spiral to gain the height to get to the car port end, just like the real thing so I decided to model the Tehachapi loop spiral in Australia we have two loops close to the Tehachapi loop spiral. I model Australian American and some British trains as you will see in one pic. But what caught my eye is your storage boxes for your trains, mine are storage draw boxes, if I was able top get them over here I would of bought yours but petty close and can stack them on top of each other, also. You can see the progress of my layout on Camdle layout I am from Ipswich QLD Australia.

Mick, Those speaker plugs are quite easy to connect, you don't need to do any soldering, so long as the wires a firm fit. The module is ok to pick up the bottom piece the two UP locos are on is a separate piece, would of been too hard to store in the garden shed, not as heavy as a 6ftX3ft module would weigh to pick up. Now I will have figure how I am going to wire the bottom section to the rest of that module. Tony.