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15 Articles

Small run publications Recently, I had time to browse the bookshelves at Train World in suburban Melbourne and I was pleasantly surprised by several publications dealing with a very specific prototype subject matter, in this case historical coverage of Hamilton and its branch lines in Victoria (by Norman Houghton OAM). This publication was well-illustrated and lavished with track diagrams and important historical detail, when and where things were built, right through to traffic patterns. This level of detailed research and historical background is perfect for ‘small run’ print publications. All a modeller needs to do is thumb through it to discover a hidden gem of a line or location that is screaming out to be modelled. All the hard work has been done for you, and it's all laid out…

As a six-year-old my father took me to the Lower Melbourne Town Hall in 1954 to see a display put on by the Victorian Model Railway Society (VMRS) to mark the centenary of the Victorian Railways (VR). The room was dimly lit, and the display must have been surrounded with black curtains with the diorama brilliantly lit. This produced a very theatrical effect, which focused all my attention on the trains (modelled in O scale) which entered from the side and travelled through the scene to disappear on the other side. That occasion had a profound effect, as it has been firmly fixed in my memory ever since. About ten years later, every time I attended the Royal Melbourne Show, the Victorian Railways Pavilion was the first stop. The TT…

Automating Casino

Signal Automation Automation of model railways has always been a bit of a ‘holy grail’ of operations. We have all seen those layouts, mostly at exhibitions, that have trains slowing, stopping, changing routes. At the same time, you would see signals operating automatically, and the trains obeying the directions of those signals. Some of us look at this in awe and wish we could achieve the same outcome. I know I did. The aim of this article is to inform and educate, such that some modellers may be inspired to give it a go and achieve some level of automation. The main aspects of this article are signal automation, and train automation. Two things, you can do one or the other, or both. My layout ‘Casino’ featured in AMRM issue…

Automating Casino

Bundaberg Model Railway Club 50th Anniversary

On the 10th of August 1974 the Bundaberg Model Railway Club Inc. was established after an advertisement in the local newspaper was answered by five model railway enthusiasts. On the 10th of August 2024 our club celebrates its 50th anniversary, a big achievement for a social club in a regional town! The original five members built a cane tramway layout that was displayed at the 1974 Harvest Festival. It was a great success, and the club was formed. Over the years the club meetings were held at various locations – Bundaberg Development Board, residential garages, even an old butcher shop! In November 1985 the club moved to an old bar area in the main pavilion of the Bundaberg showgrounds, and this location remained the club's home for the next 19…

Bundaberg Model Railway Club 50th Anniversary

Putting the O in Casterton Part Eleven: Trestle Construction

Crossing the Glenelg When I started this project, the first item constructed was the Glenelg river bridge, a timber trestle of 50, 15ft (4.5m) openings. When the line closed, the structure (since demolished) had 87 15ft openings, or around 8.4m in 1:48 O-scale. The original contract drawings called for 12 30ft (9m) and 63 15ft openings, a fact that was faithfully reported by the press when the line opened in 1884. However, it is unclear when the bridge was modified. The earliest photograph I have of the bridge, from 1902, shows at least two 30-foot spans on the eastern bank of the river. A later photograph, from 1920, shows the bridge with 15-ft spacing throughout. Perhaps this was done after flood damage or to strengthen the structure to allow for…

Putting the O in Casterton Part Eleven: Trestle Construction

The 52nd Model Train Show Exhibition report

Australian Model Railway Association (AMRA) of Victoria conducted their 52nd Annual Model Train Show Exhibition at the Town Square Pavilion at the Melbourne Showgrounds on the 3rd and 4th of August 2024. A total of 59 exhibits and trade stands were in attendance, representing several scales including: T 1:480, N scale, HOe, HO scale, OO, OO9, O scale, On18, On30 and Gn15. On Sunday, ‘Tait’ heritage special trains operated from Flinders Street station to the Showgrounds, this service proved to be very popular and it's a great way to get to the exhibition. It is also refreshing to see a number of interstate-based layouts in attendance including Alex Maljevac's ‘Carlingford’ and Epping Model Railway Club's ‘Darling Harbour’. We also witnessed the return of models being released at exhibitions. Both Auscision…

The 52nd Model Train Show Exhibition report

Narrabri and beyond

A LOCATION TO MODEL In recent times, most of the ‘locations to model’ presented in the AMRM are of a single location. ‘Narrabri and beyond’ is a ‘route’ to model, or in this case a route focusing on five locations with operating potential for ultra-modern era modellers. The Region Narrabri is located at the northern edge of the ‘Hunter Valley’ coal region. The main yard is Narrabri West, from Narrabri West the line continues to Burren Junction and Walgett as well as a branch line from Burren Junction to Merrywinebone. All of this trackage is controlled by UGL Regional Linx utilising Train Orders as the method of safe working. Due to axle load limitations, the branch to Merrywinebone is the sole domain of light locomotives such as 48, 49 and…

Narrabri and beyond

Build a Turntable

Introduction My son's transition from a Thomas wooden railway to electric layout was facilitated one Christmas by a Hornby ‘Thomas and Bill’ set from Santa. Soon after, he expressed a desire for a turntable. After all, the turntable and roundhouse are fairly central to most of the ‘Thomas’ stories. In any case, Gordon clearly stated in one episode “Tender engines don't shunt” and my son was saving up very determinedly for Gordon. Some investigation revealed that a manual turntable can be had for around $40.00. However, these don't look all that realistic and my son has a no pushing policy when it comes to his layout. By contrast several very realistic electric turntables can be had for over $500.00 this is a bit beyond the budget for a small layout.…

Build a Turntable

Readers Gallery: Two Mile Creek

Reader's Gallery No. 6 Shay has just arrived at the sawmill with the weekly fuel delivery for the local fuel merchant. The buildings are a mix of scratchbuilt and modified American kits.…

Readers Gallery: Two Mile Creek

Wagon Profile: National Rail's RKKY billet wagons

Traditionally, almost all Australian railways convert their redundant open wagons and flat wagons for steel traffic. National Rail took a different approach and invested in new steel wagons, as at the time around 950,000 tonnes of steel billet - feedstock per annum was transported from Whyalla to Newcastle. These new billet – feedstock wagons were designed by Williams - Worley as three semi-permanently coupled platforms connected with drawbars of the slackless type, with the resulting design having low tare mass (51t) and a high gross to tare ratio. During the design phase there was a concern regarding the brittleness of the billets and if they might fracture in transit. A detailed study was commissioned to estimate billet failure conditions, and the result confirmed the best locations of the billet supports.…

The NR Story NR Publishing, email TheNRstory@outlook.com Price $55 AUD Complied by Frank Hussey Edited by Mark Carter The NR story is a detailed look at the design, development (mainly from a Drivers committee members’ point of view) and the introduction of National Rail's ubiquitous NR class locomotive. Frank Hussey was the then National Rail's Crew Operations Manager, and provides an intimate insight into the development of certain parts of the design. For example, The NR development team requested to have certain parameters shown on the operational screen, with two members of the team having a face-to-face discussion with the General Electric design team to get what they wanted. There are ten main chapters starting with a brief history of National Rail Corporation (NRC), how the need for the NR class…

Recent Releases

Dogspike Nscale Trains - N Scale Has released several South Australian Railways (SAR) or State Transport Authority (STA) railcar kits in N scale. Including: • Brill 55 railcar with and without long nose. • Brill 75 railcar with or without rooftop radiator or ‘Milkbar’ window configuration. • Brill 75 trailers as built, horse box conversion and ESV conversion. • Redhen 300 class with (unpowered) or without open doors (powered). • Redhen 400 class and 860 class trailer. • 2000 class ‘Jumbo’ two car set. All kits contain a 3D-printed main body with detailed pilots attached for Redhens or 2000 ‘Jumbo’ set. The cowcatchers on Brills kits are a separate fret. Floor assembly, 3D printed bogies, decal sheet and Micro-Trains 1015 couplers and wheel sets. These kits are designed to be…

Recent Releases

Badger Models and Hobbies Australia- N Scale The New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) r-t-r C38 class 4-6-2 steam locomotive is due for delivery in September 2024. The following road numbers will be produced in two configurations: Streamlined – 3801, 3802, 3803, 3804 and 3805 Standard – 3806, 3810, 3813, 3815, 3827 and 3830 These models can be pre-ordered directly from participating hobby shops ahead of the release date. IDR Models - HO Scale Are expecting imminent arrival of their r-t-r Queensland Railways SX coaches in HO and HOn3½. Ixion Model Railways - HO scale Has approved the CAD drawings for their r-t-r VR A2 class 4-6-0 steam locomotive and tooling commenced in July 2024. The model production run and delivery are expected to be around the first half of…

Exhibitions & Expos GOULBURN – NSW. September 7–8, 2024. The Georges River Model Railway Club Model Railway Exhibition, Veolia Arena, 45 Braidwood Rd, Goulburn. 9am-5pm (Sat), 9am-3pm (Sun). Adults $10, Families $20. Contact: Greg Young 0404 495 349. MELBOURNE – VIC. October 3–6, 2024. British Railway Modellers of Australia. Guest Speaker Gavin Thrum. None members most welcome. Itinerary and Registration forms are available on the BRMA website: http://www.brma.org.au/ For further information email: BRMA-VIC@brma.org.au SUNBURY – VIC. October19–20, 2024. Sunbury Model Railway Club 39th Annual Model Railway Exhibition, St Anne's Church Hall, 101 Riddell Rd, Sunbury. 10am-5pm (Sat), 10am-4pm (Sun). Adults $10, Kids $5, Family $25. BRISBANE – QLD. December 7–8, 2024. The Railway Modellers Club of Qld (Men's Shed) presents the Pine Rivers Model Railway and Hobby Expo, South Pine…

The cost of going big Scott raises a few good points concerning the ongoing management of model railway events. While never actually being on the committee myself, I always volunteered my services to help plan, setup and take down the annual exhibition held by Australian Model Railway Association – Western Australia in Perth. These were annual three-day events that drew crowds of up to 10,000 people and Scott is right; the committee is always blamed for what goes wrong and never rewarded for putting themselves out there planning and executing the exhibition. While I agree that there is a hesitancy for club members to stand up and take the lead because it is a daunting task, I fear the reason for exhibition success or failure rest on the following: Venue:…

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