Barcoola lives and other things

Hi All

Well its the end of another year!  For a final fling, I have set up Barcoola, and started giving it the once over, fixing bits and pieces, make sure its fully operational etc.
Barcoola has been stored since its last exhibition, Thus Barcoola has for-filled its purpose as a test bed, however for someone like Jon, he loved just operating Barcoola.
Barcoola has been rebuilt a number of times and only two boards remain from the original configuration,
It is time Barcoola was sold on to a worthy candidate, I have a bloke that was interested in it awhile ago, mate, if you can email me, we can start from there!

So some Barcoola stats:
Short configuration.
26ft long.
32 points, 100 metres of track.

long config,
38 ft long.
35 points 140 metres of track

Featured in Continental Modeler three times.
Featured in AMRM once, (original version)

Attended Adelaide Exhibition once,
Sydney exhibition twice.
Melbourne exhibition multiple times.

Here is the full track diagram,

On other things, the Brother has finally moved into his new penthouse apartment.
Which means that I finally have my space back.
This part of the house was chocka block!  taken from the layout room.
Chewy managed a photo bomb!
The brothers Dogs will stay with me, so be it!

The library is set up, I find it really hard to do research when you cant get at things.  Thus putting the library in a spare room is the best option Roger and Shelley and Les will no doubt enjoy the new library location, at the do drop inn!

This now means that have a Study - Drawing - Working room, I think is very important, setting up a working bench in the layout room for me just does not work, adds to the clutter etc.

Finally I can finish painting the rest of the house!

So for 2016, I hope to build another layout, I have had fun creating stacks of different versions of proposed layouts, now its time to get serious, I think I have settled on a location just need to work out the details and plan it for success.
It might be a radical departure from Alice Springs, so standby!

See you all in the new year.

Scott

Alice Springs current status and what is in store for 2016

Hi All

Just to give you an update on Alice Springs and whats in store for 2016.

Doug has convinced me to extend Heavitree Gap, more to the size it should be, this will also make the entrance to the layout more impressive.  Even better Dave has offered to help me with the rock work.






the extension of Heavitree Gap should cover this area of the board.



the point in the middle of the level crossing will be moved to the north so that the crossing can be completed, and the signals installed.



New Backdrops to be constructed, and installed all around the outside of the layout for home operation.



My Westrail L class locomotives have arrived, Haskell and Southern Rail Models (its the middle unit)



I have one more proposed layout to set out, For me right now its alot of fun to set things out, I wish I had accomplished this with Alice Springs, I might have saved alot of time and work getting to the final version.

Enjoy Scott

Alice Springs impromptu operating session

Hi All

Thanks to a little bit of luck, we managed to run a impromptu operating session on Alice Springs. This was the first following exhibition at Caulfield.  Lots of track to clean!

Jim and Rick were new operators, while Bill observed.  I must say its interesting to watch Jim work the yard as the man on the ground in the ute, he worked through Alice Springs with ARG - GWA while back.

Rick and Jim discussing the next move

The L was getting a test run.

Lunch! Is up!

Elle Ally loretta Helen Bill Dave Rick Doug and Jim

Future layout concepts part 3

Hi All

Here is another version, this is an ultra modern version.
The major focus is grain, and containers.

The concept here is an out an back branchline operation.  This means a crew would sign on at the major yard and then head off to a silo location, load and return, in one shift if possible.

However its not as easy as it seems, as per prototype most of the loops are shorter than the average train, with a one silo service, this means some tricky shunting and ensure that you are not blocking the road, on ute for shunting, so more ground work, and then train order etc.

One loading point does not even have a run around loop, lots of re arranging.

finally a main line only hard stand area, so an out, run around then back to the hard stand location and strip and back load.

town silos to the left, Junction town Silos to the right.

 Major yard

Hard stand area.

 Two branches back to back, the middle would have a double sided back drop.

major yard.

High speed loader, at the end of this branch.

Well at least it interesting to play around and see that would work etc.

I was worth discovering the train length, saved me $500 in hopper purchases.

Enjoy 

Scott

Future Layout concepts part 2

Hi All

I have completed the mock up of the main yard, Locomotive Depot and major industry.

the locomotive depot, not exactly as per prototype, just not the space for it.  I have had to remove another shunting area due to not enough room, thus better now than later.

The fiddle yard is on the left the right is another major industry.

More work to be done!!!

Future layout concepts part 1

Hi All

Here are some pictures of a proposed layout mock up.
I find that even a simple plonking of track and scenery mock ups, is almost fundamental to good planning.

Here is a picture of the industrial area, I had originally designed this as a 3ft width, with a centre back drop however with positioning planning it was clear that 4ft width was much more appropriate, and would enable the industrial area to be replicated without a backdrop, a much better result.

Even though its an industrial area, I wanted to maintain high standards, 3ft radi and gentle transitions, for no other reasons than to reduce coupler lock and derailments.

The plan is a very close replication of the prototype track plan, this makes life so much easier.

 The ladder arrangement had to re jigged to ensure points were not close to proposed board joins.

 The point work on the start of the industrial branch.

I am happy I made this full size mock up, even if you might have just a pipe dream, Sometime you just have ask yourself the important questions::
Will it fit?
Does it look like you envisaged?
Will it be operationally suitable?
Is the access acceptable, are there any black spots?
Are the train lengths I am after possible?

Its always interesting to see where you could go with your modeling, and nothing like seeing it in full size!

Scott