Yard construction with Fasttracks turnouts
Finally, after 161 blog posts, I lay some track!!
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| 4836 accompanied the Picnic Train to Junee earlier this month. Not sure I like the new livery, but the engine was looking very smart. Roof mounted A/C, and enhanced handrails were visual differences from the original Goodwin/Alco build from the 1960s |
Last bit of preparation
I completed the painting of the plywood benchtops, using surplus ceiling white paint
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| The void in the corner of the room is the location of future operating position of train control/dispatcher. It may look a bit tight, but there is enough room for a swivel chair |
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| Part of the benchwork for Junee staging |
Last year, I had drawn out the design of my staging yard on brown paper full size. Yes, it could have been done more accurately with computer software, but having an actual plan helped with the benchwork. I left the brown paper on the floor.
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| The chalk sketches of the future staging yard trackage last year, before construction of the benchwork |
Further preparation of the Fast Tracks turnouts
On recomendation from Pat, I added a strengthing tie close to the tiebar (It is wider than the fasttracks copper clad ties, as drilling this for a screw might be a future enhancement . I also added some Peco sleepers to all ends of the Fasttracks turnouts - that will enable pinning the track in the time honoured fashion.
Locating the turnouts
Using the chalk sketches, I did a test fit of the turnouts. It is important to starting with the turnouts.
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| Nothing pinned down at this point. Note the Atlas rerailer. The rerailer is there just in case of a wheel drop - this staging yard will eventually be covered by the Bomen station level, and access will become much harder. |
After some fine adjustments, the track was pinned down. Some might note that I have chosen to NOT use any underlay. My reasoning is that underlay will take away a few mm of vertical clearance, there is a cost involved (both of money and time), and I don't feel that noise of trains running on the staging yard will be a problem, as the staging yard will be covered by another layer of layout. It could be a mistake. I have just read about a technique using asphalt matting (as used in automotive repair shops) as being a sound deadening base for track. Hmmm. Something that I might use for later.
A handy tool
A few months ago, a read about a tip on working with Peco track-connectors/fishplates.
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| A bent rail, with a peco fishplate attached to the end |
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| Using the rail as handle, slipping the fishplate onto the flextrack end is a lot simpler, and far less frustrating than using pliers, or by hand. |
Track laying
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| A conventional fan-out for one side. I must make special note of the flex track. It is "GT Track" brand - something I bought for $2 a length when the Sydney October long weekend train exhibition was housed at the Sydney Showgrounds in the Eastern Suburbs (that is over 40 years ago). The track, and sleepers after 40 years were still in good condition. |
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| Both sides of the (temporary), walk-in aisle. You can see the chalk line guides on the paper underneath - the track above approximates the guide. The Peco flex track used here is brand new - purchased from All Aboard at Bowral, before that hobbyshop closed. I am using new-unused track for the staging yards, in an effort to reduce any potential problems with re-using track from former layouts. Note. The blue rag above is on the future Tumbarumba branchline deck |
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| The final group of turnouts for the Albury Yard is over 3 metres away from the other turnouts - the linking track being the "middle" track. I know this may seem strange, but I tried a more conventional arrangement with my chalk scratchings, and it reduced some of the length of some of the sidings. So I am going for functionality, over form. |
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| To connect to the first Albury staging yard turnout, the track curves around on a 72cm radius from the double crossover and rerailer. The reason for the double crossover, is to enable trains to be backed from Albury Staging, to Junee staging in preparation for the next operation session - without having to seperate the loco from the train. I covered the theory of this in a blogpost way back in August 2017. The disconnected track at the rear is the one that will climb a ramp up to Shepherds Siding, and onto Bomen, and Wagga. |
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| More track |
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| A view approaching Albury staging from the 72cm radius curve. The yard tracks visible are not yet been pinned down |
Testing
Below is not the best video, but I needed to test a train being pushed into the sidings acorss the Fasttrack turnouts. As I didn't have power, I was pushing the carriages with one hand, whilst holding the camera with another.
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| I bought these vans S/H, and I think they are On-Track brand. |
I am pleased to report that this test was carried out over all sidings successfully. The only glitch happened when the tiebar moved under the train, and this should not be a problem when point motors are fitted. I might however, make another modification to the turnouts - and fit some styrene strip under the middle tie of the turnout, to limit vertical flexing under the weight of a locomotive.
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Train Room addition
8 years ago, Tracy gave me a birthday present, which I have finally installed.
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| No doubt of who's room it is. Before I could add the sign, I needed to repaint the entrance door. The unusually warm days we are experiencing were ideal. The paint I bought was tinted/prepared by Ian Alce, at his Dulux paint store in Cootamundra. In a former life, Ian manfactured an extensive range of NSW injection moulded N scale rolling stock kits. His Dulux store in Cootamundra, also contained a small hobby section, and I tried to visit every time I passed through the town |
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| The sign was specially commissioned from Deeg MetalWork of Rushworth Victoria. It was handcut from mild steel sheet. A work of art, and great to be finally able to display. |
The perils of Auction buying
At the beginning of most months, Trains, Planes and Automobiles of Katoomba conduct a Monday evening auction. It is always worth a look, as they regularly list train items from deceased estates - and occassionly items sell for bargain prices.
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| TPA picture - copied off the internet. Very blurry |
In the auction in April 2025, lot 272 was listed as a Mansfield Brass 442, with a start price of $200. Well, even with single poor quality photo, the painting looked superb. The box was a Mansfield loco box, so with confidence, I then placed an absentee bid for this, and a number of other items.
Well, I was successful at the auction - the hammer price was $230, plus $45 in buyer commission, and another $35 shipping (I also won an NCE 05 cab handset). $230 is an extremely low price for the Brass loco - in the past, I have paid over double for a Mansfield 442
The loco arrived, and I immediately saw that it was NOT as listed.
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| A side by side comparison. My Mansfield 442 above, the "fake" mansfield 442 below. The chassis differences are obvious. And yes, one of the bogie sideframes had dislodged in the post - easy fix |
The "fake" Mansfield 442 is actually a DJH/Footplate kit, that dates from around 1990 and cost $255 new then. That kit used a K&M Engineer chassis.
I sent TPA an email expressing my disappointment, and suggesting some improvements to their operation. To TPA's credit, they offered me a refund on the model, and my postage to get it back to them. (don't know if I would get a refund on the $35 postage I originally paid) I actually declined, as the assembly and painting of the kit was superior to anything I could do myself. And I also had an unboxed Mansfield 442, which now can use the spare box.
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| It would take no longer for TPA to get a crisp image of the loco, than the blurred image they used. This was straight off my phone camera, and cropped |
It is not the first time that I have had problems with TPA, but overall in the last 6 years of participating in their auctions, I am ahead. But, one needs to really know the subject, (because TPA generally don't have much of an idea with HO trains), and the current ebay prices, because it is easy to pay too much for junk at a live auction, with little comeback if things go wrong.
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Next Steps.
The Albury staging yard will be to finish the sidings, wire around all the fishplates, and install the Cobalt SS point motors, the NCE Procab, and test with a live loco. I will also have to acquire some more fishplates - I am close to running out.
Until next time, build a model or two.
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