Installing the ramp

 The long ramp installation 

After my ramp testing, it was time to install.

Still wearing reminents of Genesee & Wyoming livery, SSR CLF2 awaits in Junee for its next assignment - probably a grain train

The ramp is to go behind the future Bomen station area

A string line was attached to the wall -  rising from the staging yard, and extending to Shepherds

The brackets were just touching the string line.

The white plank was then secured to the brackets with screws from below.  Easier said than done - very awkward to drive in the screws 

A wooden block installed at the bottom of the ramp. This block is also sloped with spacers. 

Track on the ramp is just placed prior to securing the track to the double crossover (out of sight).  

Preparing the track.

Electrical connections around track joiners is one of those tasks that is mind numbing, but to rely on just the track joiners for electrical connections is a recipe for frustrations later.  So, before the track on the ramp was installed, I soldered a wire jumper to the ends of the rail, around the joiner.  

This was on the staging track, but the process was repeated for the ramp track segments

The wire I used. Flexible, and rated at 3Amp

Wire stripper is essential.  I have owned this for over 30 years

Foam roadbed

At the bottom of the ramp, there was a need to raise the track from the double crossover to the wooden board.  I had some scrap blue foam, which I sliced into strips, and glued into position

I needed to pin the strips with nails whilst the white glue dried

Never have too many clamps

After shaping and sanding, track installed off the Atlas rerailers.

DCC Concepts Power base installed under the track starting at 2 metres up the ramp.  The 6 lengths of flex track prewired with jumper wires, placed onto the power base.  There are a few rail expansion gaps between the lengths of flex track.  The contractor engine pictured is a tribute to days of olde. 

My test train at the bottom of the ramp.  The curve ended up being over 1 metre radius, with some transititioning off the straights. The train successfully climbed the 3% grade

Close coupled looks great. Pity this scene will be later hidden by the benchwork.

 The upper end of the ramp is just shy of 17cm above the staging yard, but will continue upwards around the Shepherds loop.   Something that I hope to start before I host the NMRA Div2 meeting on July 19th

Some other activities

Whilst I had the bench saw out to reduce the width of one of the white planks, I cut a shelf from surplus timber, for one of the cupboards for the kitchenette bench. 

There were no holes in the cupboard for the shelf supports, so I made up a height jig, and drilled the 5mm holes at a consistant height

Some essential supplies stocked, ready for the meeting

Conclusion

This post should should have happened a few weeks ago, but a combination of non railway activities, and a bout of Covid has delayed things somewhat.  But progress, is progress.

Until next time, build a model or two

How steep is too steep?

 Experimentations for model trains climbing grades

I am at the stage of adding the ramp behind my staging yard to climb to the lower scenery level.  This ramp will be hidden, and hard to access, so I thought I would check that my longest train would climb the grade before installing the benchwork that will be extremely hard to fix later. 

The ACT ARHS 2413 transfer train approaches North Jindalee heading towards Cootamundra on May 24th 2002.  I found my prints whilst looking for something else, and I knew the Junee Roundhouse Museum would be interested in 2413, (one of their exhibits), so I scanned the prints for them

Track design

The ramp runs from the double crossover, up to Shepherds.  It is about 6 metres in length

I had drawn these diagrams a few years ago, and doesn't reflect the extra sidings in the staging yard.  But it is good to show the ramp location in relation to the rest of the layout

The ramp location is closer to the wall than the Albury staging tracks.  Click on an image to enlarge

Now, I had hoped to gain 20 cm clearance above the staging tracks, although a 2% grade would only give me 12cm.  I still have the option of extending the grade around Shepherds, and into Bomen, although this being on a curve would require grade compensation.  

So maybe, a 2% grade could be increased to 2.5%, or even 3%. 

This headed me down the rabbit hole of locomotive hauling capacity.

Test ramp.

I made up a 4.5 metre test ramp, and fitted it with 5 lengths of peco flex-track 

Ramp made from 2 lengths of surplus timber.  The blue metal angle was just right to ensure that the ramp would not bend at the join.  I set the ramp angle at 2%

The meaty end of the ramp.  Many decades ago, I made a transister model train controller, and fitted it into a cyclops brand train control, utilising also the cyclops transformer.  It is my go-to DC controller, as the output is smoothed DC at higher voltages. 

Testing the train up the ramp

The first non-dcc loco I located was the Auscsion VLine X class.  

My longest train that I anticipate running, is the 10 carriage Southern Aurora with one or two diesels.

The Auscision Southern Aurora, purchased in 2016.  Each carriage weighs in between 142 and 148 grams - making the whole train just under 1.5kg.  Auscision have rerun this set  

However, when I tried it out with the full train the X class stalled, with wheels spinning.  A reduction of 2 carriages allowed the train to climb the 2% grade.

This was a disappointing result.  

My immediate options then:-

    - Add weight to the locomotive

    - Double Head

    - Reduce the grade

    - Run with fewer carriages

All the above come with some disadvantages.  The double heading option though was the most likely, although that would mean increasing the length of a couple of staging tracks - one at Albury, the other at Junee.

Another suggestion from the NMRA members in Canberra was to try out the DCC Concepts Power base, which was something I knew nothing about.  A link to a video showed a huge improvement in hauling capacity of an Eureka AD60 garratt climbing a 1:30 grade.  WOW.  I ordered a starter pack from Australian Modeller store.

But the delay did allow me to check out the train length, and test some other locos

One loco - length of train is 2930mm.  Add another 210mm for the second loco.

So, a doubled headed Aurora train would need a staging yard siding length of 3.3 metres.  Fortunately, I have a siding that long.  

The next non-dcc loco I chose happened to be a Victorian G class.  This locomotive weighed in at a hefty 558 grams.   The X class by comparison was a lightweight, just 301 grams.    The G class pulled the train up the grade easily.

DCC Concepts Power Base

Australian Modeller must be recommended for excellence in customer orders, as my starter pack arrived within a few days

The DCC Concepts Power base - 2 packets of magnets (12 per packet), and one packet of metal strips, enough for 5 metres of ramp

But how to fit the magnets to the loco?  All the you-tube videos I watched showed magnets fitted under steam locos, none showed a bogie diesel.  One of the on-line forums mentioned about attaching magnets into the fuel tank, but that is not an option with Auscision, as the fuel tank is the location of the lighting effect slide switches.  But there was space just behind the pilot, and below the coupler pocket that would be suitable, if one was able to make a bracket.

Magnets loosely placed at the ends of the loco, behind the pilot of the G class

Making the bracket

I made the bracket out of styrene strip.

The bracket is made with evergreen styrene strips - 20 x 250 thou, and 60 x 250 thou.  The gap for the kadee coupler mount is 7mm, the bracket wings are 6.5mm, and the height is 11mm.  Screw holes are to match the chassis holes.  This bracket could be an ideal 3D modelling project

The X class chassis with the styrene bracket positioned over the kadee mount.  

The chassis mounting screws hold both the bracket, and the body securely

The 3.2mm thick magnet is glued to the bracket with 2 part epoxy glue.  The magnet is positioned to be at pilot height above the track

Testing with the magnets

Well, success.  There is a noticeable magnetic attraction when the locomotive is placed on the rails, and the X class happily pulled the full train - only slowing down at the end of the video when the front of the loco ran past the end of my temporary installed DCC Concept Power base track plates, and started wheel spinning

So, I increased the grade of my ramp to 3%, and again, the X class hauled the train.  So did the G class without magnets.

Of interest was the power draw.  220mA for the X class, and 300mA for the G.

Possible problems.  

The magnets will pick up all manner of ferrous stuff from your track, and cleaning the magnets may be troublesome.  Also the Auscision chassis mounting screws are magnetic, so getting them into the bracket hole might be quite a challenge.  And unsure if the magnets will affect the Kadee operation. 

Summary.  

I will fit the power base metal strips below the ramp trackage, and continue them onto the section of rail track near Shepherds.  Whilst I don't expect too many locomotives will need magnets fitted, having the strips in place will future proof the ramp.

DCC Concepts Power Base is a great product.  And I will probably install the power base under my helix tracks when the time comes to build the helix.

Another purchase

Acquired off the well known auction site, this power supply will provide power for future non DCC accessories

Formerly owned by a radio amateur, this superceded Jaycar brand switching power supply will supply a lot of power for the future layout accessories.  I am testing the voltage with my trusty ancient Tandy brand multimeter.

Until next time, construct another model or two

 

Albury Model Railway Exhibition 2025

 Murray Railway Modellers - Model Train Show 2025

Pacific National NR40 and another NR rests in Junee Yard in late April 2025

On Sunday, May 18th, Pete and myself headed 2 hrs south to attend the annual model railway exhibition at Mirambeena Community Centre at Lavington (Albury). 

Campbelltown is a N scale layout, originally constructed by the late Mick Lovell in his home garage.  Fortunately, the layout was extracted, and rebuilt for exhibition, rather than lost in a skip.  I understand this was its first outing.  The real Campbelltown is now served by electric trains from Sydney, and the country feel is now lost to history.  

The branchline to Camden branches off and heads up the 1:19 grade to Kenny Hill.  This route is now the multilane Narellan Road, and any evidence of a railway line over the hill has been lost.

Rejuvenating the layout would make a fascinating story, and I hope that this tale could be published.  

Barambogie is a freelanced layout for displaying scenery, and running trains

A new corner section displays quite a good number of structures in the town.  (Spot the Harry Potter bus)

Shame about the layout identification sign in the scene

Cockroach Valley, by Kevin and Dot Bush has been around for decades, but the layout is always changing and improving

Another busy town, with lots of structures.  

Kookaburra Park is a new layout built by Darryn Coulston.  Darryn retired his earlier Kookaburra Park.  With experience, the new Kookaburra Park has addressed some of the former layout's shortcomings, whilst reusing some of the structures to speed up the construction process.

Vintage Hornby are OO sized trains made prior to 1964.  The layout showcased, besides the trains, many of the lineside accessories that Hornby made.  These trains were built to last, and it is encouraging that they were running flawlessly whilst I was watching.

The sunshine that came through the roof window has unfortunately washed out the colour from part of the engine shed in my picture.  The layout lacks basic scenery, although this aspect of railway modelling was rare when these trains were made. 

Wimmera Plains by Silvano Marchesini is a prototype freelanced layout, loosely based on the Wimmera region of Victoria. Originally a home layout, it was converted to an exhibition layout with help from the Grampian Railroad Modellers of Stawell. Silvano has made many of the structures from scratch.

The layout is a large oval, with an operating pit in the middle.  Without any backscenes, the station in the background can be viewed.  

Bears Ears and Mosquito Hill were what I call moving dioramas.  These dioramas are good to try out new ideas in a limited space, with limited time. Both layouts were accompanied with an A4 size display booklet, that could be read to see how the layouts were made.  Nice idea.  

Ettamogah by Peter Allen and Greame Schulz is another layout that has been around for a long time, but is constantly being detailed. Modern and not so modern trains were being run.  The real Ettamogah Rail hub is visible from the Hume Highway.

Truck rollovers are unfortunately becoming quite common on the Hume Highway this year.  The detail here was worth a second look. 

Trees might hide the trains, but they have been modelled very nicely.  

Other layouts were Tomy Plarail (Tomy), and Railway in a Case (Z scale)

Retail support

Going to a railway exhibition, would not be complete without some retail therapy.  

SDS

Trackrite

Train World

Not pictured - Junction Models, Road & Rail, Ian Alce, RW Hobby, Railway Mercendise & Custom Printing, George Agapitos, Railway Coins, and S/H stands run by Murray Railway Modellers.  And of course, there was a Cafe, selling drinks, and food.  

To me, an exhibition is a way to talk with fellow modellers, and gain ideas that could be useful.  And it is also imprtant to support those retailers, who have supported the hobby.  And it is win-win, as much of what I bought is useful for my own modelling.

My purchases.  The selection of tools was $10 from the second-hand stall, and S/H but near new was the Auscision WTY Wheat hopper pack

Train room activity.

I managed to install some items in the ensuite, to get them off the floor of the train room.

NSW Carriage Mirror, kindly donated by Les from South Australia, has been through the wars

The back of the mirror shows that some of the silvering has been totally removed

I added some very shiny Aluminium foil to cover the hole in the silvering, but the damage is obvious.  And on the glass, someone has scratched "MARK" - which I didn't notice until I had polished the grime off the glass.  All part of history.  I had earlier installed the NSWGR luggage rack on the wall - this rack is a reproduction, acquired at the Cootamundra swap meet last year.  Note the reflection in the mirror are the block shelf instruments above the door leading to the garage. 

We are getting there slowly.  Installing the mirror and the luggage rack has almost completed the ensuite; just some painting to do in an awkward spot that I cannot reach as I am not tall enough, even standing on a stand that fits inside the shower. 

Conclusion.

Thank you to the Murray Railway Modellers, the exhibitors, and the retailers who made the Albury Exhibition most enjoyable.  It was a good day out.

Until next time, build a model (or two)