tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50513349846357327342024-03-05T04:27:18.317-06:00Northwest to Southern CrossLancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-59618692389099525702013-07-16T02:18:00.001-05:002013-07-16T02:18:23.649-05:00July already???<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm Back....for my seemingly semi-annual update.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Non- layout wise....I'm 10 months in to my return as a union Train Dispatcher and have enjoyed every minute of it (as much as one can enjoy working). I am handling 3rd trick (nights) on the Centralia North desk of the Northwest Division. This job basically handles 40 miles either side of Tacoma Washington and can vary in traffic from 8-10 trains up to 20+ during my 8 hour shift. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwhjHOD8AUyM5LcmWcenD1tl0dhv8tnEtr33x_vDLLZmRVExF5v0tOii0e2CVdPN18hjH5h3DIXBQY8OygQoCtJgjbWhhbH757FuxG5mJAFq7NKyKWrRMn3V20Z4vcKAhPeD5xB8cWHY/s1600/CN+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwhjHOD8AUyM5LcmWcenD1tl0dhv8tnEtr33x_vDLLZmRVExF5v0tOii0e2CVdPN18hjH5h3DIXBQY8OygQoCtJgjbWhhbH757FuxG5mJAFq7NKyKWrRMn3V20Z4vcKAhPeD5xB8cWHY/s200/CN+desk.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMVh2LthuH8QhMhMoEy9FTQrI863ENgeXy_SJxtypfEw0Lc21Db9NTvAK74RE6DDaPz0KQfLhYXERMsm-wiHgpXakCJv842Qdag7viq4COTAgSTFYy3ZF_css4zhrNkao7xGQUWs-JE4/s1600/CN+screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMVh2LthuH8QhMhMoEy9FTQrI863ENgeXy_SJxtypfEw0Lc21Db9NTvAK74RE6DDaPz0KQfLhYXERMsm-wiHgpXakCJv842Qdag7viq4COTAgSTFYy3ZF_css4zhrNkao7xGQUWs-JE4/s200/CN+screen.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My job happens to be one that's live streamed online...anyone interested in listening can go to: </span><a href="http://www.railroadradio.net/content/view/5/117/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> http://www.railroadradio.net/content/view/5/117/ </a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I work Tuesdays thru Saturdays 2230 - 0630 U.S. Central time</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4WcjLhkp44Q8oyd2gz1i5KC_SLdxJrF_CpRe4Xinnb6-O6PyVVxEogFJRFhnTGu_vH8Zs50KA-2xZizizySbug4ioyJkHU1hl8McHbodbvpUKE21d2qtyhpWJ4DCnIvQe5YWf7mqnLk/s1600/L&E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4WcjLhkp44Q8oyd2gz1i5KC_SLdxJrF_CpRe4Xinnb6-O6PyVVxEogFJRFhnTGu_vH8Zs50KA-2xZizizySbug4ioyJkHU1hl8McHbodbvpUKE21d2qtyhpWJ4DCnIvQe5YWf7mqnLk/s200/L&E.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally!! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two other personal items so far in 2013 </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">were my June wedding to my long time (over 20 years) partner Emily: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Think it might last!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and on a less happier note, the removal of a low grade bladder tumor in April that had me off my feet for far too long!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but I'm back to normal and have actually accomplished a good bit on the railroad in the past couple of months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd been stalled due to being intimidated by building TWO helixes, but I finally broke down and tackled the first one, which will connect the 2 levels representing the NSW standard gauge line from Narrandera to Tocumwal. I found a "how to" video on YouTube and here is the result:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wcpR3eMe42ZGJX-kFxpxfEYuqfkz4hCkWMajarwUYB2Vbye06gqmMQUmsZsiyFt6nwjV_FfjNeOP-VHWj1I1I-JYj0zKaPzxWsfHZ1iOO15kOfkn755Yjd9M6xcHNJ_NVtmF3ylozNQ/s1600/Helix-1+07162013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wcpR3eMe42ZGJX-kFxpxfEYuqfkz4hCkWMajarwUYB2Vbye06gqmMQUmsZsiyFt6nwjV_FfjNeOP-VHWj1I1I-JYj0zKaPzxWsfHZ1iOO15kOfkn755Yjd9M6xcHNJ_NVtmF3ylozNQ/s400/Helix-1+07162013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It raises the track 16 3/4 inches in 5 turns of 27" radius. The VR T class peeking out at center right is where the main line will enter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's how it fits in with the different levels:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoAEwXDByl9i9yfEB0kELSib2uzfbHgKG1LfuXe-TrjE-mUjdEcTZuyW48Hqhx62R0s8O1dmezc39PqRzMMvgUN7x6KI50sCRvHuKt-E3Nhxra4YtXkRhZbS7s9AYvDJzx-x7Lj7TwE0/s1600/Layout+progress-1+07162013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoAEwXDByl9i9yfEB0kELSib2uzfbHgKG1LfuXe-TrjE-mUjdEcTZuyW48Hqhx62R0s8O1dmezc39PqRzMMvgUN7x6KI50sCRvHuKt-E3Nhxra4YtXkRhZbS7s9AYvDJzx-x7Lj7TwE0/s400/Layout+progress-1+07162013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The lower level comes from Narrandera around the peninsula to the right and the standard gauge will exit on the middle level around the peninsula to the right to end up at Tocumwal. The VR broad gauge will be on the upper level and will cross the back wall above the helix to staging to the left of the photo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the other side of the peninsula, I got the urge to lay some track and put down the southern New South Wales station of Jerilderie:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGm2Ks_m_a8XYm5URJPkKZy8IhW8drlpEMpx4MEs-3xnEPdZnNMefEpGkztk6bi0hCV4hWT3CCbxXihnbwvcSRj4idXVwWju8TsYI1s5ubmg-dvVbQnv8cc8CudPQK5EQvlBkj_y5a7s/s1600/Jeralderie+model+07162013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGm2Ks_m_a8XYm5URJPkKZy8IhW8drlpEMpx4MEs-3xnEPdZnNMefEpGkztk6bi0hCV4hWT3CCbxXihnbwvcSRj4idXVwWju8TsYI1s5ubmg-dvVbQnv8cc8CudPQK5EQvlBkj_y5a7s/s400/Jeralderie+model+07162013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a fair representation of the actual location (Tocumwal is to the left, above):</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IHmtmTevKMq28OF3vipUrMDDpCalnxfqgn0z1jzm2IFnoJ9Rjq7Ti7YbnlJETtSRIcO6qI-pQnm5FOXoq-eYxHhpTBdtiQhdDBK-4ULgD1jMnv0Yoin0QbCirs63cUguPN9S1FFaTNQ/s1600/Jerilderie1987.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IHmtmTevKMq28OF3vipUrMDDpCalnxfqgn0z1jzm2IFnoJ9Rjq7Ti7YbnlJETtSRIcO6qI-pQnm5FOXoq-eYxHhpTBdtiQhdDBK-4ULgD1jMnv0Yoin0QbCirs63cUguPN9S1FFaTNQ/s320/Jerilderie1987.tiff" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's an overview of Jerilderie's location in the grand scheme of things:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOU_8BGDQAtxNR3ysekROBXk9b2SjkAbaknaya4gYZ_lYi-GbfZSRKTuXeLTcsZA7OzwnKgYi3hjKV61AETSYUsKWXFO941tlv841AU51BoQyJD_ubmJG9ljssq4vOtSGZq948T9lacs/s1600/Layout+progress-2+07162013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOU_8BGDQAtxNR3ysekROBXk9b2SjkAbaknaya4gYZ_lYi-GbfZSRKTuXeLTcsZA7OzwnKgYi3hjKV61AETSYUsKWXFO941tlv841AU51BoQyJD_ubmJG9ljssq4vOtSGZq948T9lacs/s400/Layout+progress-2+07162013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jerilderie is on the lower left...with Narrandera and the NSW staging area on the lower level at the right. Above Jerilderie is a cross country section of the NSW Standard Gauge line that leads to Standard gauge/broad gauge interchange at Tocumwal, which will be on the middle level at the right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Behind the camera to the right will be the 2nd Helix which will take the VR broad gauge line from Tocumwal up to Shepparton on the upper level right and Maroopna on the upper level left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been an interesting and somewhat busy year so far, but I'm fairly pleased with the progress the railroad is making. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm thinking I will lay the Standard gauge line next and get it operating before I tackle the 2nd helix and the VR line. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Subject to Change.......stay tuned!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-18971916026802476072012-10-10T20:39:00.000-05:002012-10-10T20:39:52.949-05:00Progress<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes.....I am still here and there has been progress on the new layout!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am currently in the middle of a job change from management back to a union job. The downside of which will be fewer days off, but the upside is that I will have more time every day to get things accomplished. And the under construction layout has benefited lately.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOafQgN6eWzBKuSoTCGRFQeH5Wc7HP3KeapmENXlLBs4Zd76g6_wLebA0Tc9IOL1fbuCU8drdcoWWfUnt5LXJloQCHGoGccbC_GCfnzojc_f2MUlXW5rsmGOeRPAvUVuNPuDotcorQis/s1600/Model+RR+100712-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOafQgN6eWzBKuSoTCGRFQeH5Wc7HP3KeapmENXlLBs4Zd76g6_wLebA0Tc9IOL1fbuCU8drdcoWWfUnt5LXJloQCHGoGccbC_GCfnzojc_f2MUlXW5rsmGOeRPAvUVuNPuDotcorQis/s400/Model+RR+100712-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Above is the framing and lower level of the 3 level peninsula. The lower and middle levels will represent the standard gauge line from Tocumwal to Narrandera, while the upper will be the Victorian broad gauge line from Tocumwal towards Seymour.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_7UUIKVNqQ-efXUNKN7nawpNvJ03c5NEGG0KLTr2x10FwIApda1yo1BgMOREknn0fC_42U8TqwGnUYY-7lDjLvF-jo3bZal37TUvi_5ayAMLUv_sDzia3s0lv3ly4uEAoes3yd7lEQ/s1600/Model+RR+100712-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_7UUIKVNqQ-efXUNKN7nawpNvJ03c5NEGG0KLTr2x10FwIApda1yo1BgMOREknn0fC_42U8TqwGnUYY-7lDjLvF-jo3bZal37TUvi_5ayAMLUv_sDzia3s0lv3ly4uEAoes3yd7lEQ/s400/Model+RR+100712-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is the peninsula from the end where you enter the room. The end and the 2 wings attached to it will be model display cases which will hide the turn-back loops at the end, eliminating difficult areas to scenic on what is supposedly a "flat land" railroad. To the right can be seen the 3 levels, which from top to bottom will be Shepparton, VIC; Tocumwal and Narrandera. To the left of the photo will be a helix connecting the middle and lower levels...and further to the left (opposite the wall with the window), will be Victoria Railways staging.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIopcKWG0loGZ-PWcoYZ3AR87p_UnAzj8RgfCxTnuYeETVDSMZ7hn1CFxR0E4HVhdlO6abFU7FC-6FYgihHrlRgc63WzyM9LLxFwFr-lCzdxw5jwp0DNxMfCwYxZIWF3YK36pPKOSNitM/s1600/Model+RR+100712-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIopcKWG0loGZ-PWcoYZ3AR87p_UnAzj8RgfCxTnuYeETVDSMZ7hn1CFxR0E4HVhdlO6abFU7FC-6FYgihHrlRgc63WzyM9LLxFwFr-lCzdxw5jwp0DNxMfCwYxZIWF3YK36pPKOSNitM/s400/Model+RR+100712-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In this view, Victorian staging will be behind me, the middle to lower level helix to the left and the middle to upper level helix will be in the alcove to the right rear, along with a lower level turn-back loop below it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aisles are approx. 6 - 7 feet narrowing to around 3 feet where the peninsula joins the rest of the Railroad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks to Bob Stack for shaming me into an update...more soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-22987629805120704242012-05-12T02:03:00.000-05:002012-05-12T02:03:40.502-05:00Layout Plan & Construction Begins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1EYpP8K63MyGFdG9PspKHFDOtNEDeYtx5lgGdLPym_Qy-dmxQ_F2bA6XTDKrWxUhFemoSQ8_AMLqNvBVtzWiUT6fnqAkfZSNixAB8M7exuIoZCqdFsiqUDNdnUL7_P1vtXPaYVcoFJc/s1600/Tocumwal+w-+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1EYpP8K63MyGFdG9PspKHFDOtNEDeYtx5lgGdLPym_Qy-dmxQ_F2bA6XTDKrWxUhFemoSQ8_AMLqNvBVtzWiUT6fnqAkfZSNixAB8M7exuIoZCqdFsiqUDNdnUL7_P1vtXPaYVcoFJc/s400/Tocumwal+w-+hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My backdating has begun! A box from Auscision arrived this week with my first four wheel wagons, a 6-pack of the ubiquitous GY wagons, they're kind of cool looking, and a little larger than I expected. The problem is...I will need to purchase a couple dozen at least, might have to Ebay a few packs of NSW coal or container wagons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My Victoria Railways fleet now includes 2 Bendigo models flat-top T's, 1 Powerline high hood T, 6 GY wagons and 4 TrainO (or is it now Bob's?) Brake vans. A modest, but solid beginning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But where are they going to run?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To satisfy my newly grown fondness for Victorian equipment, I've come up with a plan that pretty much divides my railroad between NSWGR and VR. Unfortunately, it will be a 3 level layout, and require 2 Helixes... thus a little more problematic in construction, but I believe it will offer a good variety of operations with the branchline action of the 2 state systems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since I can't (won't) actually model the 2 different gauges, my plan is for the 2 systems to be physically unconnected. In Tocumwal, I'm debating whether to use 2 different sizes of track (i.e. Code 100 for VR & Code 83 for NSWGR), or to just ballast the tracks a little different to make them stand apart from each other. There is one Flour mill siding that is served by both systems which was dual gauge in reality. I'm planning on using a gantlet track arrangement to keep the systems seperate. It will be 4 rails instead of 3, but will be a decent representation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This level represents the Broad Gauge system north from Seymour. Murchison East will have silos and Mooroopna and Shepparton will have yet to be determined industries. The last modeled feature on the top level will be the Tocumwal Road / Rail lift bridge over the Murray River, just before entering the Helix down to Tocumwal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tocumwal will be the operating focal point of the railroad, being the terminus of state run railways. The station sits between yards of the 2 railways and there are several industries served by both either on their on sidings or a dual gauge siding. The actual yards at Tocumwal were rather lengthy with several exchange sidings where freight was transfered between the systems. I believe I've compressed it, but have kept the flavor of this country terminal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lower Level:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The lower level represents the removed in the 1980's NSWGR branch from Narrandera to Tocumwal. Silos are present in each of the 3 modeled towns and staging will represent Junee (may change it to Narrandera and model a little of it...haven't decided yet)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This weekend I actually started construction...starting (from top to bottom) on the Shepparton, Tocumwal and Junee shelves along the one wall of the room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the below photo, the alcove on the right of the photo, is the area I had designed into the room for the Helix:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That's all for now, I would certainly be open for any information or photos that anyone might have on the modeled areas, especially the last years of operation of the NSW Narrandera to Tocumwal line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-78858770521949807372012-04-22T03:04:00.000-05:002012-04-22T03:04:30.654-05:00A New Direction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLejjwKfWkIhbttoMKk8N7itniSv-Tfsm8oZ4tOBE1rv-Lelf8rUb9BW2rBXHcxiXRrahLcN3OKiJBjRAsCgkZ1vfnpOz7UWqfGYEkddC37RSbkxXpZvpZSH7vtdYE7lNcN3JFql5KBbM/s1600/Tocumwal+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLejjwKfWkIhbttoMKk8N7itniSv-Tfsm8oZ4tOBE1rv-Lelf8rUb9BW2rBXHcxiXRrahLcN3OKiJBjRAsCgkZ1vfnpOz7UWqfGYEkddC37RSbkxXpZvpZSH7vtdYE7lNcN3JFql5KBbM/s400/Tocumwal+station.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One month back from our rain soaked 3 week visit to Australia...and it doesn't even feel like we went. I made MANY new friends and reconnected with old friends....and I already can't wait to revisit. Thanks to all who made the trip a success. I hope I can return the favor at some point in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Big news from the trip is that I have finally decided to back date, and have changed my modeling focus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time spent in Victoria has given me a much greater respect for the Victoria Railway, especially in it's pre-V-Line blue and yellow glory. Time spent chasing 1950's era EMD products has taken it's toll. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The photo above shows the new focal point of my soon to be started railway. Tocumwal was served until the 1980's by both the Victoria broad gauge and the New South Wales standard gauge rail systems. The compact yard precinct had silos and stock pens served by both systems and also had facilities to transfer goods between wagons from each railway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Also, how cool is a river lift bridge that used to be a combination Rail / Road set up complete with a gate keepers shack.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The announcement during our trip and subsequent purchase of the beautiful Bendigo Rail Models T-Class, set the design wheels in motion. Between the T's and the "Soon to be released" (maybe, hopefully) NSW 48-class Alcos, made Tocumwal seem like a perfect way to feed my interests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In my next posts I will reveal my plan and outline my hopes for this new direction I've taken. Anyone need some modern era container and coal wagons!!</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-35612072299138641752011-12-23T06:59:00.000-06:002011-12-23T06:59:04.075-06:00Another year passes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR7EHAdXznexXsfdB0V8boFQsNS9T4nZQhrnREmfXAwJqJXP5CuOh8s9OIIUczvq1Nk2AvGZEMc9QMkmSuZt68svajzlT0jaChBD14t6esEWA06hrbhU7wXsyCC5G6dk8Gj-5RthjHVo/s1600/Grain+mty+at+Essex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR7EHAdXznexXsfdB0V8boFQsNS9T4nZQhrnREmfXAwJqJXP5CuOh8s9OIIUczvq1Nk2AvGZEMc9QMkmSuZt68svajzlT0jaChBD14t6esEWA06hrbhU7wXsyCC5G6dk8Gj-5RthjHVo/s640/Grain+mty+at+Essex.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Holidays to all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">New Layout construction begins in 2012</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watch this space!</div>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-78689536825762647552011-10-12T00:03:00.000-05:002011-10-12T00:03:33.382-05:00Plans....Part 2Here are the other 2 plans I've come up with...both OK, but not great in their own ways.<br />
Once again, the plans are not to exact scale....the squares are 1 foot and the mainline curve radius is nominally 30"<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dubbo</span><br />
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Dubbo seems to be an interesting place....haven't been yet, but it's on the list for February. I know it is now a shell of it's former self in terms of importance in the NSW rail operations. Blair had been suggesting it for a model RR for some time, and co-worker, and fellow modeler Matt Sugerman came up with the basic design of this plan after spending some time with track diagrams and Google Earth.<br />
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In order to get as much space as possible for the yard at Dubbo, this is the only layout plan that is not a walk-in....there is a duckunder at the west end of the yard. In spite of the space given, by the time the yard tracks and ladders are laid out, I don't believe the yard will be big enough to really be operationally useful.<br />
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This plan is mostly yard oriented, with the lines from Merrygoen, Coonamble, Cobar and Parkes all represented by staging that will feed traffic into Dubbo. The one line segment that is modeled on the lower level is a portion of the line to Orange, and it terminates in staging representing Orange/Sydney. <br />
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While I'm not that familiar with operations at Dubbo, I believe grain, fuel and ore traffic predominate with Pac National, Silverton and Patrick (& LVRC?). But a yard with a road crossing through it that has gates that swing across the tracks....kinda cool!<br />
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I would need to sell off my coal equipment, and stock up on 48's....And probably have to drop 800+ bills for an Auscision XPT.<br />
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...or back date to the time when Dubbo was a happening place.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ardglen 2.0</span><br />
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When the plans for the new house were finalized and I saw the size and shape of the new layout room, my mind went to work on how I could scale down my dismantled Muswellbrook to Werris Creek railway. I decided that the most interesting part of the line to me was Ardglen Bank itself, and with a little thought, found that it seems to fit rather nicely in my new space.<br />
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The major downside to this plan is that, with the exception of the Silo at Willow Tree, and the ballast pit at Ardglen, this railroad would just be running trains back and forth, and thus, would probably get boring rather quickly. <br />
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This plan would require less turns on the helix, because a good bit of the climb would be modeled, but trying to operate the bankers on the helix would present another problem.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The least interesting of them all. And one that would require mountain building....yuck!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, that's all I've come up with....I did download the signal diagrams for the Sydney Metro Goods line...thought about coming up with something really off the wall....but haven't yet. Hopefully I can settle on something and get started soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-26432904289240825722011-10-11T01:57:00.000-05:002011-10-11T01:57:39.794-05:00I Have Plans....Part 1For the last couple of weeks now, I've been sketching up some layout plans based on a couple of preferences:<br />
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1. New South Wales in approximately 2005. This will allow me to use all the equipment I have collected over the last 5 years. (as increasingly appealing as back dating is, I believe I'm a little too far along, especially locomotive-wise, to change now)<br />
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2. preferably a good mix between main line running, yard shunting and online industry work<br />
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3. Someplace I have already visited and/or can visit during my next visit down under in 4 months.<br />
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4. Flat, or relatively flat terrain would be NICE (Mountainous scenery building "killed" my last 2 RR's)<br />
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Based on these wants, and after scrutinizing track charts and signal diagrams...I came up with 4 plans:<br />
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One that I am strongly leaning toward: Gunnedah<br />
One that I like quite a bit: Parkes<br />
One that is good, but don't think space will do it justice: Dubbo<br />
One that I have visualized since my space was known: Ardglen<br />
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Tonights entry will cover the first 2....I'll try and post the others tomorrow.<br />
The plans are only roughly to scale....with the squares being 1 foot and the mainline radius nominally 30".<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Gunnedah</span><br />
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Fits well with my requirements. In 2005 (as it appears today) , seemingly every operator in the state operated into or through Gunnedah. ARG held the Manildra Flour contract and ran these services with a great variety of Orange former GWA power. Pac Nat handled grain into Gunnedah and also from the Northwest of the state to the grain export terminals in the Newcastle area. Pac National also ran the former Freight Australia fuel services to Dubbo and coal loaded in the Gunnedah area to Kooragang Island. Add to this the Lachlan Valley cotton services to the Narrabri area and the Southern Short Haul infrastructure workings and you have all the variety my equipment roster can support.<br />
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This plan focuses one level on Gunnedah itself...which in reality has a very linear arrangement which seems to work well in the space available. It allows me to have all the basic features in their proper order, including the coal loading loop, with Narrabri staging beyond:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7TpAxrwD_7lG1NoQSBBmvfbWlA0fxa4gODBd7L8Ektrt961hwlQ1Suihu2gZx7wDuCD9In12seEtObAc0rzI2hHQDgZ2ENaWEXm0aYs4Ht_CAFbXiszsItycVoelsqJQAgcBOybIK3w/s1600/Gunnedahupper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7TpAxrwD_7lG1NoQSBBmvfbWlA0fxa4gODBd7L8Ektrt961hwlQ1Suihu2gZx7wDuCD9In12seEtObAc0rzI2hHQDgZ2ENaWEXm0aYs4Ht_CAFbXiszsItycVoelsqJQAgcBOybIK3w/s320/Gunnedahupper.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Heading southeast by using the helix to the lower level, you pass the only 3 "towns" between Gunnedah and Werris Creek which are Curlewis, Nea and Breeza...each of which has at least 1 grain silo to provide some rail activity. Then travel into staging which will be at a yet to be determined location...probably along the wall under Curlewis.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiMCauwGTxBb9O73J_eRiScbXbjx3ISRxVLGsLI1T6FRk3Y6kcoy91rW7yTabicwFLTIqrtHocZ6Be__FcPYt3Q5pOKre96Bk4MnyPIUA30DgPsSuosGww6qppqYO9MpygBbcIldtRVE/s1600/Gunnedahlower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiMCauwGTxBb9O73J_eRiScbXbjx3ISRxVLGsLI1T6FRk3Y6kcoy91rW7yTabicwFLTIqrtHocZ6Be__FcPYt3Q5pOKre96Bk4MnyPIUA30DgPsSuosGww6qppqYO9MpygBbcIldtRVE/s320/Gunnedahlower.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Additions to my equipment roster for this plan will need to be acquired as they are released by the manufacturers: Auscision AGHX grain cars for the Manildra services, and NGTY grain wagons. The long awaited 48 class locos from Train-O (or Powerline...whoever comes out with the Freight Corp blue first), 81 class locos from Austrains, and a set of Explorer passenger DMU cars that reportedly may show up some day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, I am probably best equipped to operate this plan over all others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Parkes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had thought about Parkes when I started thinking about a new railroad, but didn't think it would lend itself to my space, due to the fact that there are lines radiating out in all directions from this western depot. But after the suggestion from Brad Hinton that I look at it, I decided that it could be done, IF I just focused on a single line. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What I ended up with was a railroad that runs from Orange/Sydney staging to Parkes and then on Northwest to Narromine with staging for Dubbo and Cobar. The lines to Broken Hill and Cootamundra will be dummies diverging from the modeled route.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like Gunndedah, Parkes has a fairly linear layout stretching from the Grain sub-terminal on the east, through the yard and station, and loco depot before coming to Goobang Jct. on the west side. Like the Gunnedah plan, The Parkes area takes in the entire upper level with the Orange staging on the far left side of the room over my desk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtNp0bYhrsTSqfXrnGY2ZkfFtojSFz6bfwBnmS4I6ixO3raTbHV45o3GUsUMSNMMK8P36Cqj1AFC9b5Jw5OR0iw7sv6eSAJ8iki4Md5ksleWZWk_Ei3Z9WXvVu24Od6Oh8u0zcSJQPHY/s1600/Parkesupper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtNp0bYhrsTSqfXrnGY2ZkfFtojSFz6bfwBnmS4I6ixO3raTbHV45o3GUsUMSNMMK8P36Cqj1AFC9b5Jw5OR0iw7sv6eSAJ8iki4Md5ksleWZWk_Ei3Z9WXvVu24Od6Oh8u0zcSJQPHY/s320/Parkesupper.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After traversing the helix, you pass through Goonumbla (Silo and container loading), Mickibri (Silos) and Peak Hill (Silos) before coming into Narromine where the line to Cobar branches off (staging) and the trip ends at staging representing Dubbo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pkSHcGBeBHpOAZwy0RqjfDgdhlsQCbKf9J3JAB3TpP6IlMBUQbKxLOyi9gRYCaf9ArQR_OBx8eR1fxvipqFRIFpIb1l5qAWsBWRRkPXu4BT8qpaURRjlgpl1T3bwcn1lqYNo9d0JhPw/s1600/Parkeslower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pkSHcGBeBHpOAZwy0RqjfDgdhlsQCbKf9J3JAB3TpP6IlMBUQbKxLOyi9gRYCaf9ArQR_OBx8eR1fxvipqFRIFpIb1l5qAWsBWRRkPXu4BT8qpaURRjlgpl1T3bwcn1lqYNo9d0JhPw/s320/Parkeslower.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This plan will be basically a grain operation with branch trains coming from the Dubbo and the lower level towns and from the Cootamundra and Orange lines to the Parkes sub terminal, for reloading into trains going to export. An additional operating element will be the ore trains to/from Cobar, which will require a run-around move at Narromine to access Parkes from Cobar (as the prototype does). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Equipment wise, by not modeling the Main west to Broken Hill, or the line to Cootamundra...I don't have to by up a bunch of NR's or build myself a steel train or an Indian Pacific. But I will need more 48-class locos than I would for the Gunnedah plan..both Freight Corp/Pac Nat and Silverton versions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If anyone is still reading after all this......As these are the 2 front runners...I would appreciate any suggestions or critiques. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next time: 2 more plans</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</div>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-75532863756219272272011-09-28T02:09:00.000-05:002011-09-28T02:09:02.528-05:00Oh My God.....It's an Update!!!!Hi All,<br />
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It's been FAR too long since my last update...a lot has happened in that time. <br />
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It all started with a visit to our financial adviser late last summer. During the course of our yearly update meeting he advised us that we were in the position where we could retire at age 58 if we so desired, especially if we could make some minor changes to our expenses. <br />
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I had already resigned myself to the fact that I would need to go to 60, so this revelation, along with my total hatred of my job in the last year, moved us to action. The "For Sale" sign was in the ground outside the house within a week or two. We found a home plan we liked and signed a contract with a builder to construct us a new, smaller home...on a small lot. <br />
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To make a long, stressful story short....9 months and 4 cancelled sales later, we finally sold our 3300 square foot house on 1.5 acres and moved across town to our 2500 sq.ft house on a 50 x 100 ft lot. Biggest thing was the cutting of our monthly house payment nearly in half!! Retirement in 3 years and 10 months......here I come!<br />
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Of course the downside of the move was the dismantling of my Ardglen Bank model Railroad....once again, the starting of the scenery was the kiss of death.<br />
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But, the new house has an upstairs bonus room that will be the home to my office and a new railroad. The main space will be about half of what I had in the old house, but I had the builder add on a 5 x 5 attached area to house a helix out of the main layout area.<br />
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below is a plan of my new space:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCRB2-DO1JgjfmElZpQvtM9p9AT77NaWecb2-FZMZmg9dvpnv4wPKca_oTXbO3DPHCjeR0shRTlzrln8SOGmN9bjNoPYOSMS8Dqe97r50rOHJAAJnCxTNFKhfmrOW0WP43JK-g_Jx4hI/s1600/img051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCRB2-DO1JgjfmElZpQvtM9p9AT77NaWecb2-FZMZmg9dvpnv4wPKca_oTXbO3DPHCjeR0shRTlzrln8SOGmN9bjNoPYOSMS8Dqe97r50rOHJAAJnCxTNFKhfmrOW0WP43JK-g_Jx4hI/s320/img051.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been debating with myself since the layout room plan was formalized, as to what part of New South Wales I was going to model this time. I want to keep the same early 2000's era as before, due to the volume of equipment already purchased. I keep thinking about backdating, but think that it wouldn't be a good financial move!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As of now, there are 4 choices in the running (in current order of preference):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>1. Dubbo -</b> including part of the Dubbo to Orange line, and lines to Merrygoen, Conamble, Cobar and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Parkes all separate staging. This is the favorite of friends Blair and Matt. Will have yard shunting and traffic flowing to all different lines along with grain train work on line to Orange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2. Gunnedah -</b> basically modeling Main north / Northwest from Boggibri to Curlewis, with the Mill town of Gunnedah as the focal point. This plan would best utilize all the equipment I already own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>3. Ardglen Bank -</b> a shrunk down version of my previous railroad, basically modeling only Willow Tree to Murrurundi. This was my front runner for some time as I was able to visualize the entire layout in my head as to how it would fit in the room. Main problem with this plan is the fact that it would only be running trains and bankers....would probably get boring pretty fast</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>4. Total Freelance -</b> use bits and pieces from all over the state to allow me to utilize my current Equiment Roster. Ray Pilgrim's Bylong being the inspiration for this option.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the weeks ahead, I'll post some sketches on possible track plans for some of these options with the hopes that my mates down under will critique and suggest changes or other options</div>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-65046293669850507202010-07-14T03:35:00.062-05:002010-07-14T04:11:22.257-05:00Finally - Some Progress!!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'San Serif'; font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Hot" src="http://forecast.weather.gov/images/wtf/hot.jpg" title="Hot" /></span></span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'San Serif';"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well....it's July in Texas.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Time to get motivated for anything that keeps you in air conditioned </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">comfort.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, that means time to stop procrastinating on starting the scenery.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A couple of months ago, in an unusual spurt of energy, I tried out </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the hydrocal soaked paper towels over screen on a curve leaving </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Willow Tree. I was very displeased with the result. So this time </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm trying Sculptamold (a cellulose based modeling compound similar </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">to papier mache)</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I spent an hour in the big box home improvement store trying to </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">choose a brown latex paint color that i thought would be a good base </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for the soil in the area I'm modeling. You can mix watered down paint </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">with the Scuptamold to avoid white areas, should the top layer get </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chipped.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is the test area before sculptamold (the white area on the curve </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">is the plaster-soaked towel experiment):</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TowAAfFxtsGxlRsHx8AaVB6QCij5FsskEUoxWC3vvudCVQuWsJjyff-FyRh1SXGmLuOxQo3pJl8pmxApDzlJ7cT727G6xKSYEvlH710eTE5-cs1CSKnHMoUMGMAQ_u_IP4YPpC0Is1g/s1600/Before+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TowAAfFxtsGxlRsHx8AaVB6QCij5FsskEUoxWC3vvudCVQuWsJjyff-FyRh1SXGmLuOxQo3pJl8pmxApDzlJ7cT727G6xKSYEvlH710eTE5-cs1CSKnHMoUMGMAQ_u_IP4YPpC0Is1g/s400/Before+1.jpg" width="290" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xkmh9HA0COnXXdc3ctRr6v_iV9QjA0xuU6sv_xxU-AowpOQOcvdHbijAo_plrHwlFMoq9QmKCqJnbNmcG3z6jwvUkizKwECwRxSrUQq1EknJcE9BRjANJWV4G1LdXYkpJIp21okIz_Y/s1600/Before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xkmh9HA0COnXXdc3ctRr6v_iV9QjA0xuU6sv_xxU-AowpOQOcvdHbijAo_plrHwlFMoq9QmKCqJnbNmcG3z6jwvUkizKwECwRxSrUQq1EknJcE9BRjANJWV4G1LdXYkpJIp21okIz_Y/s400/Before+2.jpg" width="295" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I added very little support under the screen, so it took 4 separate </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">applications over a 1 week period, letting each one set for a couple </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of days to build up strength. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The results were much more acceptable. A little on the coarse side, </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but a little sanding should smooth everything out. My choice of </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">brown for earth color ended up being a little lighter than I was </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hoping....but I guess it's better to be too light than too dark. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Painting during later scenery stages can darken it up.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The brown doesn't really photograph too well....</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but here are the results:</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcfGTxy_1p67bROuTqbJnv651JXKgriRgg3UoXJGMaNjNp2oBuIu0MjdEcu-qWzO_eds0h7hcUrCCiBsuutbf3mUwiDoRaI-NZYJAuBydWkybY8v8OrxN7y71MyMPgVXbimihCtPwBzE/s1600/After+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcfGTxy_1p67bROuTqbJnv651JXKgriRgg3UoXJGMaNjNp2oBuIu0MjdEcu-qWzO_eds0h7hcUrCCiBsuutbf3mUwiDoRaI-NZYJAuBydWkybY8v8OrxN7y71MyMPgVXbimihCtPwBzE/s320/After+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_m-r5eEYgFZJnTtVYoIv5ssH3D2JJZE3ymD3nX9TtcouykzzK6LeXqfNCpMQlnmpRSxHPSLBE6q2gtZxX9ymOD0EQZRCuEFSRqB4zuZ3yM56c4zwDX-riFdQkHGuBTb3Mu7HCEbDjjI/s1600/After+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_m-r5eEYgFZJnTtVYoIv5ssH3D2JJZE3ymD3nX9TtcouykzzK6LeXqfNCpMQlnmpRSxHPSLBE6q2gtZxX9ymOD0EQZRCuEFSRqB4zuZ3yM56c4zwDX-riFdQkHGuBTb3Mu7HCEbDjjI/s400/After+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F5YY5tzABE2jZj7Yw-ujojbEZK8_22W4TMKt_f_Xld3rLhD7Du-hgs8BpkvKBHl_JMkqStLmaPM5vUKgQ6Iobm0EF4tlEczZkpOtENvKVKQDl3GAPKDAd_VB1lDb7D6KDJUI8xpktP8/s1600/after+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F5YY5tzABE2jZj7Yw-ujojbEZK8_22W4TMKt_f_Xld3rLhD7Du-hgs8BpkvKBHl_JMkqStLmaPM5vUKgQ6Iobm0EF4tlEczZkpOtENvKVKQDl3GAPKDAd_VB1lDb7D6KDJUI8xpktP8/s400/after+3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Guess I better stock up on the Sculptamold...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">summer has a long way to go!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-53913182054449697402010-03-13T04:27:00.001-06:002010-03-13T04:30:43.459-06:00New Arrivals<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was roused from a cold medicine induced daze this afternoon by the doorbell (and the dogs). It was mail delivery lady with a parcel bearing an Australian postal label. A long ago ordered and greatly anticipated wagon order from Auscision had finally come.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12xNDFF ballast wagons and 4xCQBY container wagons. Once again....they are outstanding models.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I spent a few hours this evening installing 60 feet more fascia to the upper level, and when I finished around 0300....decided to unpack the new arrivals for some pics:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIFqeR8KrwfCStwA-NOJXAAMvtbIwas6gakkbG9rzr-nkWAZgMSahf3FViGju-USVtDlAZIOJPTO0C4EtahBnEU68GO5dosJK_wepJPq2MExA4M9rUwtIluyhigD9hIJ-H9Dl7X1KiLg/s1600-h/Ardglen+ballast+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIFqeR8KrwfCStwA-NOJXAAMvtbIwas6gakkbG9rzr-nkWAZgMSahf3FViGju-USVtDlAZIOJPTO0C4EtahBnEU68GO5dosJK_wepJPq2MExA4M9rUwtIluyhigD9hIJ-H9Dl7X1KiLg/s400/Ardglen+ballast+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Southern Short Haul B61 exits Ardglen Tunnel</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw0bfT-wo6lcs048G7mN5BRgV0zooK8-TxLe0JfXMjsmpKoAWJjwV8dogys4XWb1UJYYRMOU16mZd1WYZjtdhVDhTMOIwUjUjVyZ0PG9iKhWSun68c4hlEpoElVJGJc1HLAUhi2hWb6g/s1600-h/Ardglen+ballast+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw0bfT-wo6lcs048G7mN5BRgV0zooK8-TxLe0JfXMjsmpKoAWJjwV8dogys4XWb1UJYYRMOU16mZd1WYZjtdhVDhTMOIwUjUjVyZ0PG9iKhWSun68c4hlEpoElVJGJc1HLAUhi2hWb6g/s400/Ardglen+ballast+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Brake van substituting for needed ballast plow passing Ardglen crossing loop</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFO8ODjNMlt4cvGVnwm5gr3ov1C0kEnvIUwrsSOvT-Y-nUz5pMQ_RnJoInvNQpVDpg9u3244d1DoL-trOit7yC-O4nKzEFfiEOM8TXnLklAbYKaWz0qUnYM8n876iHvqmljIQ-uYUqCk/s1600-h/Ardglen+ballast+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFO8ODjNMlt4cvGVnwm5gr3ov1C0kEnvIUwrsSOvT-Y-nUz5pMQ_RnJoInvNQpVDpg9u3244d1DoL-trOit7yC-O4nKzEFfiEOM8TXnLklAbYKaWz0qUnYM8n876iHvqmljIQ-uYUqCk/s400/Ardglen+ballast+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12xNDFF placed on Ardglen quarry sidings</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Someday I'll learn how to photoshop in a background like Blair...for now, we'll all just have to imagine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With these arrivals, all the Aussie rolling stock I ordered 2 years ago, has arrived...with the exception of the Trainorama Southern Shorthaul GM22 which is apparently still a year away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time to start shopping again!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-88643679683354922952010-02-14T04:24:00.001-06:002010-02-15T07:44:16.100-06:00It's a Winter Wonderland!.....in Texas???!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The TV weather forecasters had been predicting our second "winter weather event" of the year for a couple of days. One to three inches of snow or mixed snow and rain. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It started snowing around 0400 on Thursday. By the time Emily was ready to go to work around 7, it was still coming down, and we decided I since I was on days off, that we could go out for breakfast and I could drop her off and pick her up in the evening when she finished. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the time we were done eating, it was looking a bit worse so she decided just to stop by work, get her laptop and work from home. Good decision.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the main street of our subdivision about 5 hours after the snow started:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kSBRYAnX97XsyX-bJyJGtpuRJQuxLnT5KOHVE4dkkUxdij5Y3BsD4qBhQnQtpQvHoQcj7ToU25nsCu1JtDnrXM34qSeEL0VkjZiwebqKsOAtorWpLECsiQp-8NauHdRwqJM-p_0CAws/s1600-h/snow8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kSBRYAnX97XsyX-bJyJGtpuRJQuxLnT5KOHVE4dkkUxdij5Y3BsD4qBhQnQtpQvHoQcj7ToU25nsCu1JtDnrXM34qSeEL0VkjZiwebqKsOAtorWpLECsiQp-8NauHdRwqJM-p_0CAws/s400/snow8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By afternoon, there was so much snow that Emily got the car stuck in our driveway trying to leave. 45 minutes later, the car was safely tucked back into the garage, where it would remain for another 24 hours.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It snowed for 18 hours and dropped around 14" at our house, and set all time snowfall records for the area. I spent 3 hours shoveling the sidewalks and driveway Thursday afternoon, only to have 4 more inches fall overnight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8E0Iqhk0c_I3YqLwgk9qWMwmGAGdD4W-O1UWiVtz894AUF7n6f-k6UVSsmuRm3Fkg9N9oRkAGHyv8OpV03CNzO37l5Sybd3Ds-5AqS9UKkR5ObXVqZI_BfAUInj41YN8gb8hn7CzMxo/s1600-h/snow11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8E0Iqhk0c_I3YqLwgk9qWMwmGAGdD4W-O1UWiVtz894AUF7n6f-k6UVSsmuRm3Fkg9N9oRkAGHyv8OpV03CNzO37l5Sybd3Ds-5AqS9UKkR5ObXVqZI_BfAUInj41YN8gb8hn7CzMxo/s400/snow11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, in spite of the "quality" of Texas home construction....the roof stayed up and didn't leak. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the Texas Live Oak trees. We lost some good portions of many of the trees around the property. Something for me to work on when the snow melts away. The trees on the right in this photo suffered pretty significant damage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0lthlSlu0BsrWUfBk1TSWA1zFjeL6Tt3kyoJfvAf_x10WB8TwqxzlStKC1StodI4TkqgGNriKMLTPCDj-xu6Ekzf3TgC_VQHXXQ0gHVVKCkGqfjzlXs6X8Ib_AM4EoXc-9DioJ6FPI0/s1600-h/snow14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0lthlSlu0BsrWUfBk1TSWA1zFjeL6Tt3kyoJfvAf_x10WB8TwqxzlStKC1StodI4TkqgGNriKMLTPCDj-xu6Ekzf3TgC_VQHXXQ0gHVVKCkGqfjzlXs6X8Ib_AM4EoXc-9DioJ6FPI0/s400/snow14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blog required Model Railway content: I installed 13 more Blue Point turnout throws this past week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh.....and we're sick of being in the "frozen North"...next week we're heading south to Mexico (the real one) and spend a few days on the beach!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-22598576502816723772010-01-30T00:02:00.001-06:002010-01-30T00:05:04.457-06:00A Photo Overview of the Railway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Procrastination. Unfortunately one of my strong traits. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I finally got a little clean up done in the layout room, not perfect as the photos will show...but good enough to allow me to present the current state of affairs in my little corner of New South Wales. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The main locations are labeled. Hopefully, that will aid in locating the scenes on the track plans in the last post. The last time I attempted...trains would run the entire length of the railway....I'm sure a bit of track cleaning would be in order to duplicate that feat.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First up, a little prototype comparison:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Willow Tree as viewed from Merriwaw Road. Willow Tree will be a main focal point on the Rwy, as it is the first thing viewed when entering the room. Also will be a main operational point as this is where I will be adding bankers to all the Pacific National bulk commodity trains.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehAwj4LU00BU5JvMUvCBuaTXp_zR5qjUFVxBYjTj3fnWABVtzOI_y2LGBTgElxIxJZ9kohL78Rhj6IPrCaGOJWS2Xu0mQqpjWm_nNlj0WZiIAP_K3s-BVFkaN1r70RAWSsObv3y8V-i4/s1600-h/Willow-Tree-Merriwaw-Rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehAwj4LU00BU5JvMUvCBuaTXp_zR5qjUFVxBYjTj3fnWABVtzOI_y2LGBTgElxIxJZ9kohL78Rhj6IPrCaGOJWS2Xu0mQqpjWm_nNlj0WZiIAP_K3s-BVFkaN1r70RAWSsObv3y8V-i4/s320/Willow-Tree-Merriwaw-Rd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJKtJFnPnA63CnTUQ1qNAyTYsu4vYNJkzt6oar6ftPHnYkCgYfKupahv61O5ZUTnJ-vTvrBkqXHu2E-4YbO-RZAnohBHR7HwjgA9m-MzOzp1jyj1G-6a9Ae5E_JOhuzQBJqjqN5cvc2c/s1600-h/Willow-Tree---Merriwa-Rd-model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJKtJFnPnA63CnTUQ1qNAyTYsu4vYNJkzt6oar6ftPHnYkCgYfKupahv61O5ZUTnJ-vTvrBkqXHu2E-4YbO-RZAnohBHR7HwjgA9m-MzOzp1jyj1G-6a9Ae5E_JOhuzQBJqjqN5cvc2c/s320/Willow-Tree---Merriwa-Rd-model.jpg" width="282" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The remainder of the shots will show most areas of the room. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r_-Kj1GkoJHr1S4dHq4HKsv7EIMF-2OG5ZNpTHDtuGrbufdc3OG1F1EJ_cRTPh1wi-aDRHBjYrEmETV_5eEwgcE1Z5unHt83orux93H1xx5tJo5-yVHwWse49vBk52xd2JbiMRW68RY/s1600-h/Overview-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r_-Kj1GkoJHr1S4dHq4HKsv7EIMF-2OG5ZNpTHDtuGrbufdc3OG1F1EJ_cRTPh1wi-aDRHBjYrEmETV_5eEwgcE1Z5unHt83orux93H1xx5tJo5-yVHwWse49vBk52xd2JbiMRW68RY/s400/Overview-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYn_l6boKCt1zPbLNe4gAVtvjbEG89u59snfjLfPa914qejVNZDh0vhs8HEVCTBa8WxjJntva8E7WXM9jmytHNvci1GJOQl_hLybojfsVecRSake8UoM7Z_fHccEYuLWxLG4vIfcEKJgQ/s1600-h/Overview-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYn_l6boKCt1zPbLNe4gAVtvjbEG89u59snfjLfPa914qejVNZDh0vhs8HEVCTBa8WxjJntva8E7WXM9jmytHNvci1GJOQl_hLybojfsVecRSake8UoM7Z_fHccEYuLWxLG4vIfcEKJgQ/s400/Overview-2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Notice the grade leaving Willow Tree in the background curving up to Kankool (behind the camera to the right). I didn't want to give up the space for a helix, so the grade to the upper level will require bankers. A non-prototypical issue that had to be overlooked when this was modeling Southern California.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRhiA-kjeZDAsoDE_Ilc4jbJnE0vhrlOySUvLukUZZ1i_tQ2fTs1QLOb3N7FTUuWYHVYOGzEdfQHJhb4X4v_u4Mmka6jxY0qEz14Bq6w530qyA8z6ahh8hyd1wIUXTbQqzwZF1HKie0M/s1600-h/Overview-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRhiA-kjeZDAsoDE_Ilc4jbJnE0vhrlOySUvLukUZZ1i_tQ2fTs1QLOb3N7FTUuWYHVYOGzEdfQHJhb4X4v_u4Mmka6jxY0qEz14Bq6w530qyA8z6ahh8hyd1wIUXTbQqzwZF1HKie0M/s400/Overview-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpnm4hKt9JJcL6bZDqKlYqa_78CZPjS_1JtnqQ0wtjzxZ7-eVrX4Q3rfoORHRUEmCpKcBGKXmy6c3L9ZQ7S9JbjSidUJQtKPDUJ277qzCzNr2snPviGLBDo1_vJjPWnYvgkCG5BKxuQs/s1600-h/Overview-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpnm4hKt9JJcL6bZDqKlYqa_78CZPjS_1JtnqQ0wtjzxZ7-eVrX4Q3rfoORHRUEmCpKcBGKXmy6c3L9ZQ7S9JbjSidUJQtKPDUJ277qzCzNr2snPviGLBDo1_vJjPWnYvgkCG5BKxuQs/s400/Overview-4.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHytDklcc-knEB26obX1xtmh0tq5dkK2efzP3v89pWxXpXJPy9SoZZ59smouI4g3jzZfuVxqEjyeMtppIuuEabGQD1Q4LnN95SOvNy0QkhLWIYUH5vbIRP0nxZ46DU5Moeu1hLchfM_A/s1600-h/Overview-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHytDklcc-knEB26obX1xtmh0tq5dkK2efzP3v89pWxXpXJPy9SoZZ59smouI4g3jzZfuVxqEjyeMtppIuuEabGQD1Q4LnN95SOvNy0QkhLWIYUH5vbIRP0nxZ46DU5Moeu1hLchfM_A/s400/Overview-5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYSW9CtBdE_Yv065dvGdBBFceWa9zuR93mJG1folI83OHZBmb_5otLuvNvdY52Irmm1GN8seGGXiW1vEn9NIs8aQxa4oquMrpdX03Qr3F0gwwCnfXcoJeG9jj6HsSSqnR0dRENlsEDxg/s1600-h/Overview-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYSW9CtBdE_Yv065dvGdBBFceWa9zuR93mJG1folI83OHZBmb_5otLuvNvdY52Irmm1GN8seGGXiW1vEn9NIs8aQxa4oquMrpdX03Qr3F0gwwCnfXcoJeG9jj6HsSSqnR0dRENlsEDxg/s400/Overview-6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHaD5YXC7LSbRsPKwZN2BOmO9zLdyaadGIpfo7_y6-6qdCDd2bHdc65gjIL4TyA2g1HasjW7nn9NE3kzblZ8N4GT1uTGplh3U_2IpIYRXB7qkmyKA-fOl9Bv13VT_sJsRl2Ma_RNixk8/s1600-h/Overview-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHaD5YXC7LSbRsPKwZN2BOmO9zLdyaadGIpfo7_y6-6qdCDd2bHdc65gjIL4TyA2g1HasjW7nn9NE3kzblZ8N4GT1uTGplh3U_2IpIYRXB7qkmyKA-fOl9Bv13VT_sJsRl2Ma_RNixk8/s400/Overview-7.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This photo of the Maitland staging yard shows how the tracks run into the cabinets over Emily's desk in the office portion of the room. The remodeling of the office was a good trade-off to secure air rights over the desk that allowed for the "Million Dollar Staging yard" </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KVvoWet8u7Mw8jRJw_NaUoOeTE7cLmXPi90UD5rG_vK-nInm7kT0Erfe1nHLfkERKdR5nkUy6AF8JxRjRkB_9bC4x80FMDWuZ4iKXkYK1JNf7cDDzcxjIK632vvpH3SChmoZi1T7YME/s1600-h/Maitland-staging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KVvoWet8u7Mw8jRJw_NaUoOeTE7cLmXPi90UD5rG_vK-nInm7kT0Erfe1nHLfkERKdR5nkUy6AF8JxRjRkB_9bC4x80FMDWuZ4iKXkYK1JNf7cDDzcxjIK632vvpH3SChmoZi1T7YME/s400/Maitland-staging.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last night's premier operating night at Blair's railroad has once again inspired me to get busy. I have 20 more Blue Point point throws to install, and finish laying track and installing the turntable at Werris Creek loco depot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then,time to think about scenery....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh No...I feel more procrastination in my future!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll need to keep looking at the photos of Ray's Bylong layout for inspiration</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-25280391980113621282009-12-20T03:42:00.003-06:002009-12-20T04:03:14.850-06:00My Modeling History - Part 4 - Goodbye So. Cal...Hello NSW!<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My 2007 trip to Australia completely hooked me on attempting to model the railways down under. I returned to the states with a few models picked up during my travels: a CFCLA 44 class, a Freight Australia X class, a couple of 4 packs of Train-o-rama freight wagons and a Train-O brake van. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now what to do with them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made the decision at that point to model fairly current operations in New South Wales (probably because I spent most of my gunzeling time in NSW), but where to focus? I spent my time there on the Main West to Parkes and the Main South to Junee...both provided enough traffic and variety to make modeling interesting....but both had significant sections of double main line, which would complicate the modeling and reduce the amount of line I could model in the space available. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the books & magazines I acquired, I started reading about the Main North from Maitland to the Northwest of the state. Mostly single line working with Grain, coal, goods...multiple operators, AND ..... Bankers! (helpers or pushers to the yanks among us) A quick mail order purchase of 2 Ardglen Banker DVD's pretty much made up my mind, but the below video found on YouTube sealed the deal:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;">It just can't get any better than that!! Alcos front and rear and mountain scenery...everything that I've always loved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;">I started pouring over the ARTC website for track charts, maps and schedules and made an AMAZING discovery. The layout I had build for my Santa Paula Branch of the SP, would convert with virtually no changes to the line between Muswellbrook and Werris Creek!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;">I just had to lengthen a couple of passing loops and remove 17 goods sidings and 1965 Southern California became 2006 Northwest New South Wales.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;">In the track plan below, Maitland Staging was Los Angeles, Willow Tree was Fillmore (the town I grew up in, Werris Creek was Oxnard, and Tamworth / Narrabri Staging was Northern California staging.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;">In the drawings, not all sidings are show.</span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original railroad had a significant grade to transition from the main level to the upper level. On The SP model, the grade had to be ignored since it wasn't there on the prototype...trains had to be powered up enough to climb it unassisted:</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it fell in the perfect position for Ardglen Bank, and, since I'm modeling current times and there isn't any loose goods business, the grade and use of bank engines will become the focal point of the new railroad:</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up....I'll do a little cleaning and share a few photos of the current state of the railway.</span><br />
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</span></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-4496288480157422902009-12-09T04:10:00.015-06:002009-12-11T22:10:07.188-06:00My Modeling History - Part 3 - The SP of My Childhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4mf9dBzaKzQzUaabqZiPJ173flgEw29ZSwR4AWtzKL5310armxwixyZ_TOodQkPJPbs8i_Oy8_5IrgwzTT9Zyf2dBaSzBBxxtcOLtrGwsZVgb1SkttC9AwF0iH4G1WMbyEm7EGk9N88/s1600-h/img008a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4mf9dBzaKzQzUaabqZiPJ173flgEw29ZSwR4AWtzKL5310armxwixyZ_TOodQkPJPbs8i_Oy8_5IrgwzTT9Zyf2dBaSzBBxxtcOLtrGwsZVgb1SkttC9AwF0iH4G1WMbyEm7EGk9N88/s400/img008a.jpg" /></a><br />
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The year is 1965, the location is Fillmore, California...about 45 miles north of Los Angeles on Southern Pacific's Santa Paula Branch. The train is the San Francisco to LA Coast Mail, detouring due to a derailment on the Main Line. The boy on the right at the crossing is me, along with my younger brother. This painting, a composite of several actual events was commissioned from noted U.S. rail artist John Winfield ( <a href="http://www.winfieldart.com/wpg2"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.winfieldart.com/wpg2</span></a> ), and pretty well represents my next model railroad attempt.<br />
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From 1964 thru graduation from high school in 1975, I grew up in this small, 4500 resident town...a mountain range away in distance, but a world away in culture, from America's 3rd largest city. The Southern Pacific line came to town in 1886 as their main line between LA and San Francisco. By 1904 the line was bypassed by a lower grade, more direct route and became a 50 mile parallel branch line for the rest of it's existance. The route is the upper of the 2 in the map below (Fillmore is pretty much right in the middle of the branch):<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Fillmore station sometime near the turn of the century</b></span><br />
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The eastern 3rd of the line (east of Piru) washed out during floods in the late 1980's and was never rebuilt. The Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) sold most of the line by the early 1990's and what remains is operated by a short line, and used mostly in tourist train, and Movie/TV work.<br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My modeling premise, was that the cut off had never been built and Fillmore was still on the main line in 1965. </span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The job change and move to Fort Worth brought with it the chance to start a new railroad. We bought 1.5 acres on the edge of the city and had our home designed to our wants by an architect niece of Emily's. I ended up with an "L" shaped train room, roughly 20' x 33'. After a year or so of inactivity, I finally came up with the idea for the railroad and construction began.</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I ended up with was a point to point railroad, varying from 1 to 3 levels circling the room twice. Los Angeles staging was on the upper level, the railroad traveled through Saugus, Piru, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Montalvo and into the yard at Oxnard, before leaving for the lower level staging which represented Northern California. The main traffic generated on line was from the citrus industry, with about 9 modeled fruit packing houses. The yard at Oxnard originated several locals daily to service these locations. Through freight traffic consisted of several trains each way per day, and there were 2 passenger and a mail train daily, following the actual Southern Pacific operations of 1965.</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used the new RR as my opportunity to switch to DCC, and used several trips to So. Cal to photograph the remaining infrastructure and disappearing fruit packing houses. Track work was completed around 2005 and one half-assed operating session was run in 2006.</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credit for much of the motivation and help in construction go to all the members of the "Thursday Night Jazz and Pie Club", a group of modelers in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, that would meet every few weeks to work on each others' railroads. Also credit to Donovan Furin for the beautiful Southern California backdrop (which is currently being reborn in the Southern hemisphere!)</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately for the Santa Paula branch, I started receiving forwarded email photos taken in far away New South Wales by soon-to-be friend Charlie Harris that were capturing my interest and the sight of Alcos and bulldog locos still operating in everyday service proved to be too much. </span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A vacation trip down under in 2007, and the purchase of some Australian models drove the last nail in the coffin of the Southern Pacific. The boxes of SP equipment have been slowly disappearing on Ebay, and the proceeds from those sales will be used to buy up necessary equipment for the next phase of my modeling life.....but what will that be?</span><br />
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</div>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-55403067202186847342009-11-24T23:54:00.001-06:002009-11-27T05:43:39.156-06:00My Modeling History - Part 2 - Cascade Railway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8mf2nNHlK0PVnoY8qwti6H1Fnvb_ybJ4hHQrJ_1BbJJvL0UhLS5A4-8JGA-6979cdTa3qoPzmmdcAbMn2anzXMQTsXEvwf5Gf0yxnkpom9QQvJihKMktZJl-qNgcyWWzQSavF5j58Xg/s1600/Cascade2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8mf2nNHlK0PVnoY8qwti6H1Fnvb_ybJ4hHQrJ_1BbJJvL0UhLS5A4-8JGA-6979cdTa3qoPzmmdcAbMn2anzXMQTsXEvwf5Gf0yxnkpom9QQvJihKMktZJl-qNgcyWWzQSavF5j58Xg/s400/Cascade2a.jpg" /></a><br />
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My first year working for Burlington Northern just happened to coincide with the final 8 months of operations of their Alco locomotive fleet. Being around the smokey, chortling, four-cycle engined, beasts day and night had me hooked from then on. Once you've heard a single C-636 start a heavy transfer drag on a cold, clear night....you'll never be satisfied with the products of EMD.<br />
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Around late 1980, I moved into a rental house with a 2 car garage that immediately became the home of my new model railroad. I eventually decided to free-lance this one, a bridge road in the Pacific Northwest, connecting Western Washington with South Central Oregon. In the manner of the yet to be created Montana Rail Link, The Cascade Railway would operate it's own freight trains and locals, but would also host long distance trains of the Burlington Northern.<br />
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The modeled Cascade was an E shaped point to point railroad representing 1 subdivision of the ficticious system. Home road power was an assortment of mostly 4 axle Alco roadswitchers with a couple of end cab switch engines for yard duties. There were 2 paint schemes used, a slightly simplified version of the Canadian Pacific gray & maroon represented the original scheme and the modern paint a bright red and black ( a la Washington Central). The modern logo represented a volcanic mountain in front of a full moon (actually a CP Rail loco on its' side)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Cascade wasn't a portable railroad, but it was built strong enough to make a move across town in 1989, when the home I had built was completed. I had a 3 car garage built with only a single car garage door...so 1 stall for the vehicle and, after the railroad was hauled over on a trailer and moved in, a 24' x 24' walled off room for the Cascade system.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The railroad was completed to a stage where operating sessions were held every month or two, using up to 6 operators. It reached a point where scenery was just getting started...and the management decided to go out and sample locomotives from EMD:<br />
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</div>Finally in late 1997, I decided I needed to upgrade the railroad room by adding carpet. Sooooo, being a normal modeler...I chose to tear down the entire railroad to make it easier....and to come up with "something even better!" Alas, it never happened. After 20 years in the rain of Washington , and the depressing prospect of spending another 20 as an engineer on the same piece of track in the rain...the opportunity came up for Emily (wife & also a BN/BNSF employee) and I to make career changes....and a move to Texas of all places! <br />
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Next: Part 3....Fort Worth and the SP Santa Paula BranchLancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-52324217006133399772009-11-16T05:45:00.002-06:002009-11-17T03:27:02.564-06:00My Modeling History - Part 1 - The BN YearsLike most people my age, I was initiated into model trains when I received a Lionel trainset for Christmas when I was about 5 years old. It came as an oval of track mounted on a green painted plywood board that would slide under the bed. Pulled by a steam engine, I eventually had a bunch of the "cool" freight cars like the giraffe car, and the car that launched a helicopter. <br />
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My first piece of HO equipment was an Athearn 40 ft. flat car with with the small jib crane. I didn't even own track at the time, but I thought it was pretty neat, and if I remember correctly, cost around $1.95 worth of saved up allowance.<br />
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Through my teen years I had a layout of sorts in our garage and/or enclosed porch, but had no real modeling focus until my first visit to the Pacific Northwest in 1974. A family trip to the World's Fair in Spokane Washington brought my first exposure to the Burlington Northern. I had read about it in magazines since it was created in 1970, but seeing the "Glacier" green and black freshly painted on everything, plus a healthy assortment of pre-merger colors on everything from switch engines to F-units to Alcos, was enough to hook me.<br />
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</div>My modeling was pretty well stagnant for the last year of High School and year and 1/2 of Junior College. It finally blossomed again in late 1978 when I moved to San Diego to attend college. When I arrived I found a LARGE Model Railroad club that was on display every weekend in Balboa Park and joined up. My brother David was attending college in Denver at the time, and frequent visits were spent photographing the BN and its' unit coal trains running south on the Joint Line towards Texas.<br />
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I decided BN in general and a BN unit coal train would be my weekly displays at the club operating sessions. It was GREAT!...because no one in San Diego had a clue about the BN, so I was pretty much free of the rivet counters criticizing my modeling.<br />
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</div>I continued collecting BN & pre merger BN equipment for the next couple of years. After 2 years in the club, we were going to have to tear down the layout (which was over 20 years old) and were starting the planning process to move to a newer, bigger location within the park. At this time my current distaste for clubs was formed...politics and cronyism started replacing common sense. Luckily for me, a major change in my life was soon to come. <br />
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For several years I had been corresponding with all the major (and many of the non-major) railroads in the US trying to get a job. At the end of July 1979, I made a follow-up call to the BN in Portland, Oregon. The personnel manager said he might have something for me...if I could get up there. 48 hours later I was in his office and by the next evening....I started my career with BN, not so glamorous as I expected....my first night was spent sweeping floors and cleaning toilets in the division office building in Portland.....but it was a start.<br />
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</div>I worked for the next 2 weeks, living in a motel, before I got time off to race back to San Diego to pack my belongings and head back north to start a 20 year residence in Washington. The models shown here are still with me to this day...don't know that anyone would want this old Athearn junk now. But they were seed for my next modeling chapter....The Cascade RailwayLancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-85306692185624222142009-11-09T04:41:00.000-06:002009-11-09T05:50:29.964-06:00My profile photo is pretty small, so here's a larger version....taken by well known Australian railway photographer Graham Cotterall of me behind the controls of Southern Shorthaul Railway locomotive GM-22 on the coal branch north of Wallerawang NSW. My 20 years of running locomotives came right back to me.....but the controls were on the wrong side!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J_sE0mk3MrUuXGr5yMzr6xtQm8gh_coj33SE8bR3iQagjAjwG7zMCsQKdHZU1-wZ_NJi0x6b1JQNVur9ipgk280WY51Orhumqt3CWwtUBXlPQtxhuVFn94Fa-RT67Q4UerJfkyBKbOE/s1600-h/Lance+driving+GM22+-+02_2b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J_sE0mk3MrUuXGr5yMzr6xtQm8gh_coj33SE8bR3iQagjAjwG7zMCsQKdHZU1-wZ_NJi0x6b1JQNVur9ipgk280WY51Orhumqt3CWwtUBXlPQtxhuVFn94Fa-RT67Q4UerJfkyBKbOE/s320/Lance+driving+GM22+-+02_2b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402052394375124386" /></a>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051334984635732734.post-61412920088202156942009-11-09T04:27:00.000-06:002009-11-09T04:41:32.847-06:00Hello all,<div><br /></div><div>Decided I would give this blogging thing a try. I really enjoy keeping up with everyone else's progress and news, so I hope this will be a good way to keep in touch my friends in Australia (and those here in the old US of A). </div><div><br /></div><div>Once I get it figured out, I'll try to use it to chronicle my currently under construction model railroad...but other things are likely to show up including travels, photos, and items from my other interests.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599893908388954916noreply@blogger.com0