Fast Tracks - A dozen turnouts

 How a 2 week project has taken 2 months

Fast-Tracks turnouts are promoted as being quick to make, using their assembly jigs, PCB strips, and filing tools.  Don't believe the sales broucher.

Providing Train orders to the engineer.  I captured this image in May 1989 at Squamish, British Columbia.  It shows a southbound pair of BC Rail M636 (Alco) engines receiving printed train orders attached to a hoop held by the signalman.  Little did I know that the engines would be retired within the year.  The passenger train behind was part of the "Narrow Margin" movie being filmed.  What has all this got to do with Wagga Wagga? There is a connection, but you will have to get to the end of my post to see a tentative link.

As I mentioned way back in January, I ran into a rail issue problem, basically because I was not using the recommended Micro-engineering code 100 rail.  Filing the PECO code 100 rail flange to fit the Code 100 #6 turnout assembly fixture was a chore.

https://buildingwagga.blogspot.com/2025/01/fasttracks-turnout-construction.html

However, filing could be done if I had a spare 30 minutes or so "free".   The first step was to cut all the rail needed to length, as the full 3 feet of rail was too unwieldy.  The next step was to file the flange to size.  Once sized and filed, the rail was then placed in the filing jig, and shaped. 

Rail cut and filed down.  At the top, the rail has been prebent - and the eight pieces of rail placed roughtly in the shape of a turnout.   The stock, and point blades just grouped in a bundle - the frog and check rails fitted in small plastic tubs so they would not be lost

The process of filing the rail took over a month - which is an indication of the tedious nature of the task.

4 turnouts - prepared for the Show-n-tell at the March 15th NMRA meeting.  

12 turnouts, as "completed" by March 24th.  Yes, I did get more enthusiastic towards the end.

The turnouts are still not ready - I have yet to isolate the frog, and might have to add some wider PCB "ties" for screwing to the plywood baseboard.

My chalk drawings of the Albury staging yard has 5 x RH Turnouts, and 7 x LH turnouts.  Once I isolate the frog, and clear the baseboard of clutter, I can start laying the track. 

More distractions.

I get side tracked easily. (pun intended)

One of the reasons for my rushed trip to Melbourne in December last year, was to acquire a number of scratchbuilt On3 shay locos, from a craftsman modeller, who was retiring due to illness.  I plan to write an article in Narrow Gauge Downunder magazine, highlighting Ron's skill at fabricating unique models.  Ron had a party trick - being able to recreate the extremely rare prototype LH shays in miniature.

I am trying out model photography for the magazine article, and I am happy with the above, but will need to confirm with NGDU.  

Shay #6 on Ron's layout.  Ron's picture

More trinkets for the train room

Out of the blue, Les sent me a staff hoop.  It has allowed me to now properly display my only miniature staff

The staff hoop has 2 leather straps to hold the staff - in my case, the Walkerston to Paget #33 staff from Queensland railways.

Staff working is something I am planning to use on my Wagga layout - between Bomen, and Wagga.

Staff platform at Bomen in 1982.  This was abolished in 1983 with the introduction of CTC. My picture

Bomen earlier had an automatic staff exchange apparatus

It could be folded away.  Both pictures Pete Neve

The only picture I could find (and use)  in colour of a signalman holding a staff hoop - this image "stolen" from 100 mile House Project, facebook page, shows temporary working during construction work on Bethungra loop.  The hoop is held in such a way that the driver can put his hand and arm into the hoop, capturing it on his elbow.

 

On Feb 27th, 1972, the staff was being exchanged at Wagga Wagga. The train was #452 express goods.  The Signalman holding the staff hoop containing the staff to Bomen with one hand, the other ready to receive the staff from Kapooka.  This is another excellent picture from Pete Neve.  Another photographer, Graham Ball took an almost identical photograph of this event - that colour photo graced the front cover of AMRM issue 132.  I cannot use it here due to copyright limitations, but well worth checking if you have access to AMRM. 

And to celebrate the staff hoop acquistion, I thought I would install a block shelf in my train room

Lots of space for additions.  Although I might have to install some beading around the edges of the  shelf.

NMRA meeting.

I travelled to Stephe's at Murrumbateman for the NMRA meeting on March 15th.  It is always good to catch up with fellow modellers, as well as see some of the changes Stephe has made to his Kangaroo Valley layout.  (See April 2025 AMRM for a full article on the layout).  Stephe was installing a lighting valence above Voilet, to Osport, and it was great to acquire ideas.  

Lighting valence on Kangaroo Valley layout being installed

Next steps

Lay the Albury staging tracks, and attach all the Cobalt SS point motors.  Test electronics, and train running, and program the macros.

 (And the link - yes, it was the staff hoop exchange, but also as a bonus,  Fast Tracks is a Canadian company )

Until next time.