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//-->N Scale Modellerwww.nscale.org.auIssue 5 ~ August 2010• A day on the B.A.R.T at Sydney N Scale MRC• Weather or not: new ‘how to’ series• Creating cameos: adding realism to your layout• Product NewsN Scale ModellerEditorialThis issue has been timed to coincide with the public announcement of another significant new Australian Nscale product – a mass produced, ready to run 48 class. This will be a boon for any modeller with an interest inthe period from 1959 to the present in any Australian state or territory. Combined with the SAR 830 class, thediminutive Alcos have been seen as far north as Brisbane and Alice Springs, as far west as Perth, as far southas Hobart and a couple of 830s have the distinction of running on three gauges. From multiple units on longwheat and coal trains to a single loco shunting a few wagons around a small yard, this model will be an excellentdemonstration of N scale at its finest. The projected price is, coincidentally, almost the same as the limited runBerg’s brass model nearly 30 years ago, although with inflation the brass model would have tripled in price.The availability of ready to run models is a significant factor in attracting newcomers to the hobby. But howdo we help guide newcomers from the “train set” to the “model railway”? I’m sure we have all marvelled atmagnificent layouts which individuals or groups have taken years to build. A common reaction from the generalpublic on seeing grand exhibition layouts is, “I can’t do that,” and, “I don’t have the skills”. While there may benew skills to learn, none of the skills in this hobby are particularly hard. We all had to learn somewhere, didn’twe? Demonstrating simple techniques like John Miller’s weathering tips in this issue, Patrick Rayfield’s trees inissue 4 or any other techniques to the public at an exhibition can be a real eye opener for both the modeller andthe observer. The benefit of actively building something while the public watches cannot be underestimated.Try building a small diorama over the course of an exhibition. It just needs a scrap of wood for the base, an offcutof flex track and some basic scenery materials. You will be pleasantly surprised at the, “It’s that simple? Maybe Ican do that...,” reactions.As always we welcome your feedback and we are always on the lookout for articles,modelling tips, news and pictures. These also help promote the hobby.Publication TeamGraham CocksTrevor MayDavid BromagePublished by N Scale Modellers AustraliaEmail ........................................... nsm@nscale.org.au______________________________Articles may not be copied or reprinted without the permissionof the respective authors. Original articles in this publicationmay not be copied or reprinted without the permission of thepublisher. The publisher accepts no responsibility for articlessubmitted by contributors.Modellers wishing to submit articles should take note of thefollowing technical requirements. Photos must be forwarded asseparate items:1. Text may be submitted using Word or plain text by email if it’sa short item. We can do the formatting.2. Photos to be in JPG (JPEG) format. 300dpi or better. We canreduce the size if necessary.3. Text should indicate where a photo should be inserted, eg.(Fig 1 placed here)Assistance with article preparation is available from the Team ifrequired.While advertising is not accepted as such, N Scale Modellerwelcomes relevant product news from manufacturers.All correspondence and submissions is via the publication’semail address:nsm@nscale.org.auContentsA day on the B.A.R.T ........................................3New r-t-r 48 class announced ..........................7Product News ...................................................8Weather or Not .................................................12T1 T-TRAK: Single line modules ........................16Creating Cameos ..............................................17Exhibition photos ..............................................20Upcoming Exhibitions ....................................... 22Cover:3809 awaits the all clear at the platform on ‘Tarana’, the exhibition layout of the George’s River Model Railway Club(photo: Trevor May)2N Scale ModellerIssue 5 ~ August 2010A day on the B.A.R.T.at the Sydney N Scale Model Railway Clubby Stuart HopkinsA day on the B.A.R.T. (Billingham Area Regional Transport) starts early most daysand as a member of the train crewing section so do you. This is the story of onecrew and their day working the McCALL Interurban.It’s a cold morning as I drive into the car park at Meadows Station, the only othercars belong to other train crew and judging by the ice on their windscreen theseguys must be working the first train out of MEADOWSThis service leaves MEADOWS at 04.45 am and the crew has to sleep over in thelocal hotel after working the last service the night before.I park my car and quickly walk over to the sign-on room at the station. Inside the airis warm and smells of coffee, the fuel that runs the railway.Behind the desk sits Peter the area crewing manager and over by the sign-on deskis Paul the other driver for today’s interurban – B.A.R.T. Interurban always run withtwo drivers on these longer runs.Our train today is made up by two F45 diesels, three ex Amtrak AM fleet cars and aparcel van. One of the cars is a buffet/cafe with 1st class sitting.As we near the locomotives the sound of the twin EMD 645E engines idling on acold morning is a sweet sound. We reach the cab steps and climb up into the cabof our locomotive.Once inside Paul settles into the driver’s seat and I take the fireman’s side as Paullikes to drive out of town and I like to drive back. We take a little time to do thepaperwork and check the timetable.Our departure time is drawing near so I slide open the window and look down theplatform waiting for the conductor’s signal to go. One last passenger is rushingdown the platform to join the train. She climbs on board and the conductor givesthe right away. I tell Paul he’s got a green light to go.Paul slowly lets off the train brake and opens up the throttle, sounds the horn andwe slowly roll down the platform; the wheels go chick and cack as we roll over thepoint work in the station yard. Slowly the train gains speed and begins rocking androlling as we clear Meadows Station.Once on the main line our train gets up to 60kph as we flash past 12th St YARD withits track after track of multi-colour wagons from across the country, waiting for thechance to move, carrying goods to every point on the map.No sooner have we got to track speed when Paul starts braking for our station stopat BLACKFOOT where we pick up passengers transferring from the intercity SUPERCHIEF for the local run. Looking ahead I can already see a small crowd milling aboutthe platform waiting for arrival. Easing to a stop at BLACKFOOT station the waitingcrowd climbs aboard and the conductor gives the all clear again.Meadows StationAfter a quick coffee Paul and I head over to platform 2A where our train has beenshunted to by the shed crew. It’s still dark but the platforms are well lit and the fewpassengers waiting for trains are huddled around the lamp post in the slim hope ofsome warmth in the light.Issue 5 ~ August 2010N Scale Modeller3Chubbuck StationWe slowly start moving again past an inbound local and on to the main suburbanline, pick up once again we pass CHUBBUCK station then FORT HALL station. Ourspeed increases up to 70 kph as we pass RIVERSIDE and MORELAND stations andthen on to TABAR, our next stop.After our station stop at TABER we join the main line to McCALL, double track, CTCcontrolled Class 1 railway. This is railroading at its best!It’s dawn by the time we roll into ATOMIC CITY – the end of the B.A.R.T. suburbansystem and the beginning of the country network. Here we meet the DEAD RIVERlocal sitting on the other platform waiting for us to arrive.Our first site of TABAR is the auto plant rising up out of the pre-dawn gloom with itslarge workshops well lit by flood lights and constant movement of cars and trucks.TABAR station always has large numbers of passengers, mostly auto workerswaiting for trains home. It’s a good guess that a lot of our empty seats will be filledat this station.Taber StationIt’s interesting to know that TABER station is home to the network’s CTC Centrewhich controls the whole BLACKFOOT/NEW MEADOWS bridge railway. Just to theright of the station building you can see the CTC radio tower rising 60 meters highabove the station complex.4N Scale ModellerIssue 5 ~ August 2010With a cloud of brake dust we roll to a stop right on the marker post. Islide open the window and look down the train, and about half a dozenpeople get on.I check my watch and we are right on time, not too bad. Before long Isee the conductor’s signal to go once again. Paul opens up the throttleand we began moving down the platform. We speed past the B.A.R.T.running shed/out depot and the steel works behind them.LOWMAN is a crew change point and the junction with the DEAD WOODBRANCH line. Many crews can be found waiting at the station and today isno different as I spy Bob and Greg drinking coffee in the waiting room.A few passengers get off and rush away trying to keep dry, the rain ishammering down as the conductor gives us the right away. I slide thewidow shut and shank off the rain. Paul opens up the throttle again to gaintrack speed and leave LOWMAN behind us.Atomic CityWe reach our top speed of 100kph just as we pass the north end of theyard, passing an inbound wheat train behind four BN U25 locos with along string of wheat wagons, many looking very old and weathered byyears of service out in the heartland.A light rain starts falling as we pass ARCO station, home to FORT GAFFEY,the local army base and a big customer for the railway. A lot of troopershave passed through those station doors.The rain gets heavier as we climb up into the mountains. It’s cold enoughto snow up here and most winters the snow ploughs are on standby tocombat any drifts that may happen. By the time we reach LOWMANstation we are well and truly in the high country.Banks StationWe roll by the cattle docks and the cement plant and pass the yard limitsign. Soon we are back up to 100kph and racing over BOW MAKER PASSbefore we start going down the other side of the mountains. It’s a long runto our next stop a little over 60 kms away and the rain is starting to ease upas we pass the BANKS yard limits sign.Lowman StationWe round a curve and enter LOWMAN’s yard limits and it’s time to slowdown as LOWMAN is our next station stop. Paul hits the brakes as thestation comes into sight. We come to a stop out the front of the LOWMANstation building.We slow down to make a station stop at BANKS, home to the WILLIAMSbrewery. The large plant is just to the East of the station and the smell ofhops can be overpowering at times. A few people get off here and soon weare on our way to SMITHS FERRY.We blast out of a tunnel and roll past the old and now closed SMITHSFERRY loco depot now being used to store old rolling stock waiting to becut up.Issue 5 ~ August 2010N Scale Modeller5 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]