Dairy ProgressSlowly but surely the dairy situated at the back of Kameruka platform is taking place. The bulk of the building is built, the roof is on and there are now actually three posts to support it.
To the casual visitor who doesn't know what the building is for, the cream colour of the building, three milk churns and a guy dressed in white overalls should help. (He would certainly not work at the oil siding next door in white clothing) All that is missing from the building are some roof vents which are on their way from Walthers in the USA. At least Hurricane Irene is blowing the plane in the right direction so it might get here quicker. As soon as the vents are placed on the roof I will do another report on the building rather than this skimmed down version.

Kameruka Happenings
Just a quick update on the layout. I have been concentrating on Kameruka lately. The last post showed the platform extensions in place and the green 'undercoat' has now dissapeared under a layer of platform limestone.
Having the platform finished the ballast has now been laid past the platform and on the loop line beside it. With the rain a week or so ago its also magic how quick the weeds will grow.
With the platform extension I also extended the fencing. It seemed to take ages to find that extra bit of fencing in the shed as I am not very organised. Then when it was in position I must of run out of the original paint colour, so then I had to repaint the new and existing again to match it up.
The next item I am planning to finish off is the dairy building. One part will be some of an old kit and the rest is slowly being made up as I go along. The siding comes in at an angle which means that the roof has also been cut similarly. The roof will cover the track and be above the edge of the platform. One of the supports will be on the edge of the platform.Its almost impossible to get shots of how the milk was loaded into the wagons. I would imagine there would be a pipe coming out of the building and then into a hose which would be placed inside the wagon to fill it. I think as long as there are pipes, valves and a few other bits and pieces then it should come out OK.
I will keep working on the dairy and then move onto the oil siding. Hopefully some of the bogie oil tankers should be available by the end of the year.

A Diversion
Last Saturday my son, knowing how I had a faint interest in trains drew my attention to a movie I was unaware of.
I will go to the movies to see features not available at home such as a way bigger screen and 3D.
This movie must have snuck past but when he said it had trains from the beginning to end I said lets go.
The movie is called "Unstoppable" starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine and a few diesels who didn't even rate a mention in the end credits. Its a non stop action typical runaway train movie with some great angle shots.Don't be to picky or critical when you watch it, just enjoy it for what it is. If you want to find out more check out the trailer for Unstoppable here.

Shed Duty
After many weeks of working on the Garbage Protection Unit (sounds like a new government department) and getting some landscaping done on Saturday morning I decided I would actually get into the shed and do some work on the layout. This was able to be done during the day when the weather wasn't so cold. The weather has been freezing lately and going down there at night comes second to a night at the computer.
I decided to concentrate on Kameruka for the time being. One of the projects is to lengthen the platform from a 2 FS to 4FS platform. Originally this platform use to grace the old layout and suited its location. The only reason it got as advanced as it did was the fact that I took it to a Branchline Modelers Convention at the Macquarie Uni when they were on many moons ago.
The original platform was formed from a piece of pineboard and has so far been ok, so I hunted around the shed for another two pieces, one for each end of the platform.
I already had cut out a styrene platform front which had a ramp down at the end. I eventually got the piece of pine filed down to match the profile. That was OK for the Candelo end. The other end was just a straight cut.
As can be seen from the photos the track through the platform is not yet ballasted, so that made getting the platforms completed the first priority.The concrete facing was made from a piece of 40 thou styrene with a few horizontal scribed lines to represent the layers. Then another piece is glued onto the front to provide the vertical support pieces.
You might note the horrible green paint I used to seal the timber with. I could tell you that this was the only can colour I could find, but a better answer would be it was my contribution to greening up Kameruka. Co-incidently it was the day young Julie - argh was going to tell us how the carbon tax is going to save us. Just a thought is she going to put a carbon tax on carbon brushes for locomotives? I might just get a few in.

Well I didn't get much more done today than what you can see as all of a sudden bang the lights and power went out. Stuff it, I'll go in and have a cup of tea - doh no power. It was getting around critical crunch time for the Sunday arvo footy as well. Half an hour later still no power and the game had already kicked off. So I did the next best thing, I went and had a soak in the bath and listened to the game on radio (battery). The game had finished, Manly had won and still no power and was I going to see the replay on telly? Eventually power returned around 5.15p so I went in an watched the second half of the footy.

Maybe next weekend I can get down and do some more work on the platforms so that ballasting can be undertaken.

Yeah for Liz
You must be someone important to give everyone in the state a day off for your birthday and thats just what Her Maj Liz has done. And what better reason would you want to hold a model railway exhibition. This was the second year the Epping Model Railway club had held their exhibition at the Thornleigh Brickpits. The venue is great, its just that its not set up for parking and the swarms of modellers that throng there first thing on a Saturday morning. I heard one guy was queued up at 7.0am obviously keen to get to the second hand stall first. I reckon he would have frozen his nuts off at that time. Me I was tucked up in a warm bed enjoying my first sleep in of the long weekend. I have decided not to attend the exhibitions on the first day due to the large crowds on Saturdays. Was told by the Bowen Creek boys (whose layout stood between the entrance and the second stall) that when the gates opened on Saturday it was like a stampede from Rawhide, yes cattle heading for that elusive bargain. While I was working in the garden on Saturday trying to finish the GPU ( garbo protection unit) in between showers I got a phone call from Mr Jim Kamilaroi saying that he was going to the exhibition on Sunday with a few friends from the Port Macquarie region and wondered if it was ok to drop in to check out the layout. OK by me so it was arranged. Sunday came around and the weather was as miserable as Saturday - raining and cold. Having left in the dark around 6.0am they reached my place around 9.40am and we headed straight to the show.
During the short journey to the show I felt the great social side of the hobby coming out. They were just a bunch of nice guys with plenty of joking and laughter going on. Arriving just after opening at 10 we headed into the show. Jim took me along to meet Andrew Campbell from Bowen Creek. Andrew comes from the Port Macquarie area as well. I was trying to match up his profile picture on his blog with what I saw in the flesh. I'm still not sure it was him as he had a beanie on. Due to the ambient temperature in the hall the beads of moisture on his forehead would not have been sweat but probably condensation from the cold.
I also met Ian Millard and if you have never met Ian and Andrew you will understand why their layout is set so high. In the hobby this setting of layout heights must reflect the standards to which they are built. Bowen Creek high set layout = high standard. The U - Drive layout set low = low standard. This is really design by accident as the little kiddies while standing in front of Bowen Creek will never be able to see the layout. They could never build to that standard so come back when you are taller. I couldn't see the back as well and are quite ready to admit I haven't reached their level either. A beautiful layout guys.
Bumped into Stephen Ottaway who must be congratulated in getting his eleventh child out into the world. The Australian Journal of Railway Modelling is a great wall to wall magazine of modelling. May there be many more.
I worked out that I had met (or spotted) throughout the day six bloggers - Ian Millard from - Liverpool Range, Andrew Campbell from Bowen Creek, Gary Laker from Lakers Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Workshops, James McInerny from Lambing Flat, Jim Harris from The Kamilaroi Railway and Brad Hinton from Armchair Modeller DownUnder. Why Brad would want to model armchairs is beyond me. Get yourself a layout and some trains Brad. I did a tour of the layouts and noticed only two new ones I hadn't seen before. Having got a ride there with the guys from Port Mac I thought I had better get around the commercial stands before we had to leave.
My first port of call was the Austrains stand as I was interested in their 4 wheel tankers. I thought with only 4 wheels per wagon they had got to be cheaper than a bogie version. Yes one dollar change out of one hundred. Then the next problem which pack to pick? He had five choices and I wasn't sure what one to get. The blue one looked odd and the one with the typo on it (Pur Pull - John its spelt Purple). I ended up with the pack with the Golden Fleece (sunnies on for viewing), the C.O.R. and the Atlantic. (odd for South Coast Rail as it shares the coast line with the Pacific!)
I then saw the carriage packs. As much as they are very nice I am going to stick with my Powerline ones and hopefully get them detailed up. To make myself feel better I also bought a Sydney Hobbies FS interior to ease the pain of not getting the Austrain ones. Hey go tell your wife you have just spent $300 on three carriages. Did a quick trip into the second hand stall to see if my Atlas 40 class with Main West cab conversion kit had gone. I couldn't see it there so hopefully it was sold. Might put the money towards a 422 class which I believe will be my wifes Christmas present to me. I find the day is a great social day as well catching up with people you only get to see at exhibitions. And there are some you also have to dodge if you don't want to meet up with them. I remember David Anderson from Mansfield Hobbies saying the everytime he went to Liverpool he would spend 90% of the time talking and the other 10% to see the layouts.
Eventually caught up with the group and after a quick sausage sandwich we set sail for home, a cuppa and a quick look at South Coast Rail.
They left around two ish and headed for Port Mac. On a confirming email later that night they had pouring rain all the way and got home around 6.0pm. I think they all enjoyed the day out.

OIL TANKERS ARRIVE SOUTH COAST RAIL

I got the tankers out of the box today and was surprised with their weight. I think they are actually full of oil and petrol. I couldn't imagine ten of these behind a 32 class on a grade. Did a start on the weathering to tone them down a bit. Think they look better.

CANNISTA:
What is it you say? Well if a barista does things to coffee, then a Cannista does things to cannisters, or more importantly ex film cannisters.
There seems to be a recent interest in the use of old film cannisters for model railway purposes.
This to me has become a sieze the moment event. I like most others have gone digital photography and the humble film cannister has gone the way of the VHS tape.
I could see the potential of these items and their size really suited them for HO scale. Too big for N scale and too small for O scale they were just right.
My next dilemma was - Did I have any?. I thought I had left my run too late, my old 35mm camera was given away a few years ago, so why would I have any cannisters?
Taking a chance I went to my wardrobe where the last known said cannisters were know to have lurked. But alas none. I then went to the next cupboard and bingo I discovered two cannisters (complete with film and no camera to take it with).
Anyhow I took them down to the layout and put one each way up between the oil siding and the to be milk factory. So this is where they remain.
I'm not sure how I am going to use them but are open to suggestions. The could either be a milk vat or for oil storage? What do you reckon??

Time Flys
I saw the news tonight and listened to the ratbags in the US of A who were dead set certain that the world was going to end on the 21st of May. I am typing this with mild panic as although it is dark the blinds are open with one eye looking out for the asteroid or what ever it is approaches. It is already the 21st here in Aus so maybe it was American time that it was to happen. And to think I replaced two light bulbs tonight. What a waste of time.
Looking at other blogs I follow, and if they follow SCR the list tells you how long since your blog has been updated. Crikey I didn't know four weeks can go that fast. Well I must admit I have'nt spent much time in the shed lately having been busy with yard projects and other computer assignments that have deadlines to be met.
After my recent 'loss of data' fortunately I found on a second computer many photos of SCR dating from early 2002 up to late 2009.
I went through some shots of August 2002 that were taken mainly of Bega, the main station that runs down the centre of the shed. This is where the main action takes place. The main platform has three platform faces and two docks. There are carriage sidings, goods yard, a few private sidings and a yet to be developed loco area.
There are two frightening things about these shots. (other than being crappy low res shots)

• It was taken nearly nine years ago when we were all much younger. How time flys.

• Not much has changed at Bega after looking at the shots.

But the good news is when I look at the layout in the background I can see how much progress has been made from chicken wire hill.

This shot shows the main platforms and goods roads
The loco area is down the far end. Taken in August 2002

This shot is taken from the opposite direction with the
passenger carriage sidings in the centre.The unfinished scenery
in the background is now completed.

A small goods yard is situated in the loop at the end
of Bega Yard. A cement plant is now where the RU's are.
Loco depot to be built to the right hand side.

The last shot looking over the platforms and goods yard.

Well if the world ends tomorrow in America, I hope I will be sound asleep in bed and know nothing about it.

Coal her up....
There is never enough time on weekends to get all things done. Since the arrival of 3827 to the south coast fleet two weeks ago I have only had time to coal up the 38.
Baseboards generally serve two purposes. One to hold a layout up from the ground and to provide a cover for all the junk that hides underneath.
I can self assess myself and admit it don't fall into the real neat freak category. I have most of the rail related books sitting on a book shelf and even have the books on locomotives arranged in numerical order, the rest fall into a fit by size category.
Then down the far end is all the scenery bits and pieces. Bags of foam, coloured plaster, dry branches hanging out for the day when they will be instructed to look like a tree. There are even paper bags full of strange looking items that needs a look in every now and then find out what it is.
One such item is some lichen that I have had from way back in 1976 when me and my then girlfriend (now mrs) went to New Zealand for a tour. I collected it from fences stuffed it into a paper bag then it came back home with me. I'm glad Border Security is a recent tv show as it has allowed me to get away a fine or gaol sentence for smuggling in plant products. The exercise actually futile as I discovered the same product was available on our own trees up in the New England area. It will eventually get used.
Another item associated with under baseboard 'cupboards' is the cloth draped down in front of the layout in an attempt to not only to hide the junk but to make it all look more attractive. It does both jobs well. To well some times when I start looking for something and can't remember where its hiding. Maybe I should put post-it notes on the cloth 'Ballast behind here'.
It was this cloth yesterday that had me looking for at least twenty minutes for a tin that held my real coal supply for filling tenders. Eventually it was found hiding behind some gyprock saved from a rainy day project for the next rainy day project.
The DJH 38 has a shallow area thankfully for the coal bunker so it was an easy job to just pile in the coal until it was heaped and looked right as regards to size. Once the profile was looking right I sprayed it with water mixed with some detergent then some diluted white glue to fix it together. I made sure there was some spilled coal towards the back of the tender forward of the water hatch.
So tonight I took a dozen shots of the coal in the tender. I must admit only one reasonable shot turned out and have included it.

So the next project now is to get the headlight put in. As they say watch this space.

We havvada gooda news and de badder news.

First off the good news.....
The 38 class locomotive must sit close to the top of peoples list of locos. I remember when the first brass 38 was brought out by the Model Dock Yard in Melbourne all those years ago. I don't think I was even earning a wage at the time to even contemplate buying one.
In the later years I succombed to the Lima effort? for a 38 class. They were on the noisy side and just didn't look as good as they should. So when it went for a run on the layout I figured once it got about four or five metres away from the panel I was driving from I could no longer see it and even better couldn't hear it. Unfortunately having a circular route layout it eventually returned and I saw and heard it again. Another good reason not to have very solid baseboards is that when the loco didn't move you could bang the layout side and off it would go. (Along not off).
Things got a lot better when eventually DJH added the 38 class to their range of models. Again I was reluctant to purchase a model as I already had a DJH 30T (which got assembled by someone else), a 36 class (which I sold when the Austrains model came out) a 32 class (which I sold when the Trainorama 32 came out) and a 50 class which I now regret selling as no replacements have come out.
Then next to arrive was the Eureka 38 class. I'm not sure why I didn't get one of these. Could have been the plastic boilers or did 38's really run down the coast as far as Bega??. What I liked though about the 38 was that sound was an option and if I had bought one this would have been the version.
I also missed out on the later brass 38's namely those built by Mansfield. These were certainly a vast improvement on the Dockyard models in every regard. Again I don't think a painted option was available, you just got the goldfinger model and had to go find someone to paint it up for you. I wasn't going to practice my first effort at spraypainting and lining on a 38 class.
Then it so happened that one of our group had decided to change scales from HO to O and had a partly completed DJH 38 class. Having no further need for it, I purchased it with having a kit builder finish it off for me in mind.
I contacted a few contacts (thanks Brad) and he suggested I contact an assembler on the Central coast. He was OK to do it and the model was dropped off in January. Not only could he finish assembly but was OK to paint and line.
Following on from 3801, 3813 and 3830 the fourth most popular 38 surely must be 3827. I'm not sure why this loco was better than all the others but legend says so. The previous owner John had this number picked out, so as I knew I wasn't supposed to use the numbers 3801 to 3805(inclusive) (That wouldn't have stopped Bob Cooke) I went with the flow and picked 3827 as well. Does this make you sad in a way for all the other numbers that don't get picked? Who out there has picked 3829 or 3816?
Anyhow, I got a call last Sunday that the loco was ready and so it was delivered as a selection of photos below will show.


So when I finally got it on the track and kicked in the throttle away she went. I felt that I was actually excited to finally have a decent 38 class added to the South Coast roster. I reckon only having one 38 class on the roster books is a great idea. All the love can now be concentrated into the one engine. Those of you readers out there with one of every number of every class of loco that comes out. How can you share the love between them all. Reminds me of people with say 15 kids. What was you name again young man?


Its not only me that appreciates the new addition but I believe the loco crews at Bega are now trying to swap rosters for a drive on her.


I am also at a dilemma at the moment as apparently the kit doesn't come with a suitable headlight insert. (dumb as eh) So at the moment it is only rostered onto daylight runs. Anyone out there got any suggestions for a suitable headlight?
Another thing I need to add is a tender full of coal. Not a problem as I have a supply of real coal at hand. The load trials have yet to be completed and I'm sure of plenty of volunteer Bega crew who will do the job. Just putting this metal boilered loco on the track deems it to be a better hauler than the Eureka model. Time and tests will tell.


And the bad news..........
Well it has been quite a few weeks since the fotopic site has gone off the air, possibly for good. I used this site (along with many hundreds of others I suspect) for many photos on South Coast Rail. How time flies when I last noticed that I first used this site from August 2006 to post photos on.
This site was also the birthplace of the "other side of the tracks" where a more risque style of cartoon was able to be presented. (including cruelty to animals -giraffes and tunnel mouths).
I think there were a few hundred varied layout shots taken. So now move onto the badder news..........
And the badder news............
So when the fotopic site had gone down, I thought I still had the shots on the hard drive or so I thought until I got home from work one day.
My IT man (son) had told me there was a burning smell coming from the computer. Not knowing much about the insides of a computer, the only thing I know about burning chips is in the kitchen when the oil is too hot and they come out crunchy. No the bad news was that the hard drive was gone to God.
So you are all saying out there "SO you have a backup right?" Yes I was going to get one next week (but never did). So I have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I have lost a lot of files I was working on.
As luck would have it though, through the constant swapping and updating of computers I found a lot of photos I have been taking of South Coast Rail back to 2002 but there seems to be a gap in some of the recent year or so.
The folder with the "Other Side of the Tracks" was nearly complete. I was hoping to bring out a CD of them in the future when I got to 100 of them. Nearly up to 50 at the moment.
So I hope this hasn't happened to you out there. The hard drive has been replaced with two one teradactyl bite drives that means an exact duplicate copy is saved to each hard drive. So hopefully I have learnt the hard way and hope this dosen't happen again.
I might start up a hard drive backup company for railway people.
How about I call it "The Three Toots - Back Up Company"?

Can Do Wonders.

Well finally it has happened. Possibly the greatest thing to happen in the model railway arena since the invention of sliced bread has arrived.

I was trolling on the Walters web site the other day looking for building products for a model loco shed and I came across this new product. One wonders why this product took so long to develop. It will be the saviour of many modellers, not only as a great time saver but also for the people who are new to the hobby.

So what is this new product? It is ‘SCENERY IN A CAN’. I could hardly believe that it was possible to achieve such a product given the well over hundred years that model railways have been around. Why wasn’t it invented years ago?

I was lucky enough to have a friend who was recently returning from the US on a holiday. He is not into model railways but was quite keen to help in the purchase of one can for me to try out.

Currently the can is only available in one type that being ‘ Mountain Stream’.

Their web site has announced that if this venture is successful then other types will follow such as “Western Plains”, “Hillside Scenery” and “ Coastal Dunes” the latter I suppose would give a sandy texture that would be good for creating beach scenes such as one of Bombo beach I had in mind.

I was a bit sceptical in this product but after receiving this can from my friend, I took it down to the shed to try it out. With such a new product I took the time to read the instructions on the can not wanting to wreck a scene in the usual fashion of ‘if all else fails read the instructions’. It recommended shaking the can for a good three minutes to ensure all the contents were thoroughly distributed within the can. The usual ball bearing was in there and after shaking for around two and a half minutes you could hear the mixture thickening up and I knew it was nearly ready to spray.

I have a corner on the layout where this can of ‘Mountain Stream” would come in handy. So with some trepidation and my finger on the trigger, I pushed down on the cap and out came a stream of stream. Strange words but true. The instructions also stated that the angle of spray and distance from the point of application would vary the result coming from the nozzle. Understandably the further away you are the more time the product has to dry before reaching its intended target. I have enclosed a shot of a portion of the stream to let you decide if “SCENERY IN A CAN” is for you.

Its fairly expensive (around $40.00 a can) but with all new products this is expected to allow companies to recoup the money spent on R & D. Maybe you want to wait a while for the price to fall. Like most electronic products they get cheaper the longer they have been around.

It will possibly be a good idea to wait till perhaps Model Railroader gets hold of the product and reviews it. They seem to be able to praise or bag a product given the resources a big organisation such as they have for testing.

In closing I must say I was privileged to be able to be among the first in Australia to try this exciting new product. I haven’t got a lot more scenery to finish off but I’m looking forward to be able to speed up this work and get on with some building of structures.

Now wouldn’t it be great if they can get “STRUCTURES IN A CAN”.

For further particulars try Walters.com

Kamilaroi Railway
I am pleased to see that my ex work collegue and still good friend Jim has re-instated his blogspot for his north west railway. Unfortunatelty it seems all his earlier posts are gone and he will have to start again.
You will find it at :http://www.thekamilaroirailway.blogspot.com/
Seems like he has bumped into another blogspotter Brad for a milkshake down the southern highlands.

Kameruka Progress
I have finally got around to spreading some dirt around the yard at Kameruka and cultivating some weeds and grass.
After attending the Forestville Exhibition and visiting the Uneek stand I purchased a weighbridge that had already been assembled for $10 more than the kit price. It came complete with weathering and was mounted on a small piece of timber. A bargain. A spot was found for it near the goods siding. I tried to removed the weighbridge hut and weighbridge from the timber to set it lower in the yard. The hut came away quite readily but the weighbridge part was etched and glued directly to the timber and it started bending when I tried to prise it away from the timber. Back to plan two = just leave it there. So it was glued down to the base board and I mounded the dirt up around it.
I have only done some ballasting around the fruit loading siding so far to see how it looked. At this stage I was scraping the bottom of the barrel and ran out of dirt for the siding. So I grabbed the empty ice cream container and a sieve and headed out into the street. Once upon a time I only had to go out the front to rake up dirt from the verge but with unexpected council progress in providing guttering I now have to walk around the corner to get a new supply.

As can be seen in the photo above the platform road hasn't been ballasted yet as I need to provide platform extensions on each end, then the ballast will be laid between the edge and track. There won't be as many weeds growing in the main line and loop as the sidings.
The word was out also that the MHG and PHG brakevans were ready down at West Ryde. A call from a friend said he was going down there on Saturday morning to collect a bulk lot for a group of modellers based around Taree, so I tagged along to get my pack of each type. The trip wasn't wasted as I was able get get the April AMRM magazine and also spotted hanging on the wall a rivetting tool that came with four different spaced wheels of rivets. I am hoping to use it in the future to provide rivets for a 75' turntable to be built one year. So watch out now I can be a true rivet counter.

Arriving back home we went to the shed to show him the progress on SCR. Although we didn't have time to run any trains the shed and layout were reasonably 'cleaner' after having our regular group over on the Friday night for a running night and catch a dvd. I will now spend the next few weeks looking for everything that I have just tidied up and put away some where.
On one of the brakevans I found out that it had a shonky wheel, so bad it would have shaken the snag of the guards plate. It must have been a 'made on Monday' model. I will have to return it for an exchange wheel.
I also gave the vans a quick weathering using Tamiya Khaki drab thinned down with isopryl alchocol, but after looking at the results in the photos it needs a bit more work on them.
So I congratulate Toms Hobbies for getting these two vans out. I can now tick off two more boxes on the "Models to Collect before I Die" list.

How time flys! I have just checked my blog listings and it is just over two years ago since I posted the first one. It seems a bit embarrasing that the track that shows up for Narooma still hasn't been ballasted. But I shouldn't worry as they say 'Its on the list!"

Kameruka - Name change?

Well I have chosen to update the blog instead of my other project allocated today which was to get the remaining section of guttering painted. It is stinking hot and humid outside so it can wait till better weather.
Kameruka - name change? I had thought for a fleeting moment to change to name the name to Coolum. Yes it would be more appropriate to call it this. Unfortunately the station location is right under a window. And stuck in the window is and air conditioner. But after the last blogs effort on trying to justify why Kameruka needed at station, it will remain so named. Anyhow Coolum is up there in Queensland.
So you get good and bad with the air conditioner. It was purchased many years ago at a garage sale for the great price of $20. For this price I didn't want to cart home some one elses scrap metal, so I asked at the time if it could be plugged in and tested. Sure can do said the man. But stupid me fell for it. As garage sales usually start early and it was a cold August morning when the unit was turned on it was a matter of cold air in through the back and the same cold air out of the front. Doh!
Another thing about the controls on the air conditioner. For temperature you get a choice from 1 to 10. So if ten is the coolest when would ever use numbers one to nine? I'm bloody hot, give me the max man. And the function control is just as stupid. Fan and Lo Cool options. Get real. I'm still hot, the knob is set on Hi Cool and probably rusted in to that spot. The only other knob is sensible one. Its the timer, and graduated in hours. Exactly thats a good measure of time down in the shed - hours.

I bought it anyway. My salvation came when a friend saw it and identified the something inside wasn't right. He took it away fixed it and bingo I then got the bargain. It wasn't until the shed had been extended until it was placed into the window and there it remains. The bad bit is it infringes over the Candelo end of Kameruka and the track passes under it. Glad there will be no double stacking going on South Coast Rail. It will be hard to get reasonable photos without it showing up. At least this model is called the G.E. Skinny. Imagine how much larger a G.E. Fatty model would be in photos. I must say this model is a try hard unit. It certainly wasn't designed for this size shed but is better than nothing. At least I can work down one end and be reasonably cooler.

The code 100 track from the Candelo end has been removed and the code 75 track and points laid in. The oil and milk sidings can be seen in the photo and the fruit loading siding in the foreground. If you thought the good shed looks familiar your'e right. It had been borrowed from Bodalla which was previously borrowed from Candelo. I have similar good sheds waiting for assembly for both locations, another job for the future.

I am going to extend the platform at either end to cater for longer passenger trains. The station was built a long time ago as part of the conditions for attending the Branchline Modellers Convention that used to be held at Macquarie University. It was a great day out and this requirement to bring along something you are working on was a good incentive to get a project up and finished. This convention operated long enough for me to have completed this station and also build a sand bin based on the ones located at Eveleigh, Taree and Cootamundra. I also managed to finish a yard lamp that is now residing in Bega loco. There was so much talent out there all on display. Sad its not around anymore.
Kameruka sits above a tunnel where two tracks crossover each other. To gain access to the tracks underneath a section of panelling has had magnetic catches installed as shown in the photo. It is a simple removal to gain access to the area underneath. And also my crook carpentry can be hidden.


Kamilaroi Railway
For those of you who have a link to the Kamilaroi Railway blog and find its no longer there, Jim has deleted the blog for the time being as his computer was infected with a virus and worm and he removed the blog in case of cross infection (can you get that off a blog?). Anyway he will be back to continue on his interesting journey of North West modelling. Will keep you informed.

The Candelo Branch
I suppose model railways can fall into two main categories: Prototype or freelance.
When we choose 'prototype' we then endeavour to model that locality or location as close to the real thing as possible. This doesn't always work out as sometimes (usually) the space available does not allow a true to scale model to be built. This goes under the heading of selective compression. To model say Goulburn, Cootamundra or Junee to their full scale length would need a very large shed.
So to get around this we can reduce the length of yards, reduce the number of sidings and even leave some features out but the model bears some resemblance of its intended location.
This can be another reason why modelling branch lines can make a better choice as they can make a 'better fit' model.
Another enjoyable part of the hobby picking a real place is the background research required to make the model as close to the original as can be. This then requires further research depending on the era you are modelling. If I was modelling Orange as it now stands, I certainly would not need as much track and points if I was modelling it back around the 1950's. Darren from Gunnedah and Beyond has touched on this issue on some of his earlier blog pages.

The second category 'freelance' is where South Coast Rail fits in. I think in my first ever blog post I may of mentioned that the Illawarra section of the line down towards Bomaderry appealed to me. I have always thought a layout based on Bombo, Kiama, Gerringong, Berry and Bomaderry would be ideal. My shed was large enough to fit it all in but I didn't want to be restricted in being chained to operating like the prototype and I also preferred the continuous style of layout.

So keeping in the South Coast region, the next best thing was to pull out a road map of New South Wales and pick out a few towns that were recognisable. This lead to me saying Bodalla, Batemans Bay, Narooma and Bega yes you'll do. It was that simple. I now had complete flexibility in station and yard design as we all know there ain't no railway there now and never will be. I now have a justification in running the Bega Mail and operating my sleeping cars. Something I would have felt guilty doing if I modelled north of Bomaderry.

Another famous ficticional line amongst bloggers is Bylong Ray has also chosen to be completely free of prototype design. (Although I believe now there is an actual Bylong crossing loop been built on the Ulan line.)

South Coast Rail is a single line layout with four crossing loop stations. A fifth crossing loop station at Kameruka can be brought into use when a lifting flap is raised to join the track at Bega with the branch.

I also wanted a branch line as I enjoy this type of operation knowing I can only go to the end and then have to come back to the junction. (Many happy returns!) This was also a good place to put a coal mine as it would mean more operation/shunting. Again the road map came out and as this branch was to come off at Bega, a quick look found the towns of Kameruka and Candelo as suitable branch stations. One thing that wasn't available when I originally developed the stations for the layout in 1999 was Google Earth. From 2005 we were able to fly over landscapes and get a first hand look at what was down there. This is also a great tool for modellers of any location.

Another great app that is provided on Google Earth is the 'street view' option. Using this I was able to tour up and down the streets of Candelo without travelling the 485 kilometres to see it in the flesh. There are many old buildings typical of country towns that would look great on the layout, but the lack of room at Candelo on my layout will prevent this from happening.

Having picked out the two stations of Candelo and Kameruka, I rather belated decided to check the internet to get some background on these places.

KAMERUKA

• Bugger all there. A fly over on Google Earth shows a few houses. Although the internet calls it a village nothing was recognisable from the air.
• The only mentionables are the Kameruka Homestead and the Holy Trinity Church. It can't be a village if it hasn't got a pub there.
• On a gallery for one web site out of 36 photos there is only one of cows that made the area famous. At least they are all looking at the camera. (Did the photographer say 'Cheese'?
• The residents should think themselves lucky as I will be providing them with a station and a yard. It will also have an oil siding, milk and fruit packing shed. (An industry introduced by me.)
• The name Kameruka in Aboriginal speak means 'wait until I return' This name probably originated when in the early days a train from Candelo heading for the Bega show was full and the guard was heard yelling out 'Kameruka, Kameruka' (Yes they were picked up later by a return special and got there for the second race)

CANDELO

• There were two theories on how Candelo got its name (1) Candelo was a staging post for wagons and many drivers would arrive at Candelo after dark. As the river crossing was dangerous they would call for a light to show them the best place to cross the river. The common call was "candle o!" and (2) It was named after a town called Candelo in Northern Italy.

• I chose Candelo as opposed to Tantawangalo as I felt it would fit on the station nameboard better and is easier to pronounce.
• It is actually a town with shops (and a hotel).
• One web site shows agriculture, forestry and fishing as local industries. Not sure about the fishing bit.

So that's a bit of background on the two stations currently on the Candelo branch. I found that I could sneek another small platform in on the line. So I went back to Google Earth and there were two contenders between Kameruka and Bega. One is a locality called Kingswood and the other Black Range. I have chosen Black Range as I don't want a phone call from Ted Bullpit saying " Your'e not modelling the Kingswood, its mine I have already taken it" So Black Range it will be.

So thats a bit of the background to the Candelo branch. Sorry for the lack of photos. I don't have any cow photos to support my modelling.

Don't you think picking Bodalla, Kameruka and Bega for station names is a bit Krafty?

Kameruka
Lately I've been hanging around Bodalla too long doing work on the cliff behind the station and goods yard. There is only so much scenery work you can do before boredom sets in.
I needed a new challenge. Where can I go next in the room? I weakened on my resolve to finish an area before moving on to another.
The next challenge was going to be an area that wouldn't take forever to finish (famous last words).
So it was that I decided to concentrate on Kameruka. It is a crossing loop station on the branch to the terminus at Candelo and also represents the highest point on the layout. I figured it would give short visitors an eyeballs view of the wheels of the trains. This height was not scientifically devised but the need to fall slightly below a window set its height. Once the track leaves here towards Candelo there is a down grade. None of my grades on the entire layout are steep due to the fact I have plenty of length to make them gradual. Even the grade down to Candelo is only slight. In fact a Trainorama 49 class can haul 16 loaded BCH hoppers + Brakevan out of Candelo to Kameruka. From Kameruka to Bega it is all down hill.
This is where operation working can rule over reality. Bank engine working can be introduced between the two stations there by making for more interesting operation.
Kameruka has been laid with code 100 track. It has been my intention to replace the code 100 with code 75 when ever I do a relay at major stations. Much of the initial track was second hand and has served well. I find the code 75 track is a close to real track I need to go without taking the next step which is hand laying track.
Back yonks ago when I was modelling N scale I was making a layout with handlaid track. It had code 55 rail imported from the US. This layout had well over 40 handlaid points including a single slip and a few diamond crossings. It was at the time when I decided to change scales from N to HO as there were improved NSW type models coming onto the market. All this track was built when I didn't have space for a layout but had plenty of time to construct the track. Now it is the opposite. I don't have the time to build the track but enough spondooly to buy the points.
The next issue was to work out the track layout for the revised Kameruka. Originally this station was the only crossing loop on the branch and the loop was of sufficient length to take branch length trains. (even to restricting the coal train lengths). Some time ago I found that I could make better use of this line by installing a lifting track between the branch and Bega which luckily were on a similar level. The only other issue with the loop was to lengthen it as longer trains from the main line were now crossing there.


The opportunity to dig up the track gave me a chance to review the current set out of sidings. I wanted enough industries there to allow shunting in both directions. The current set up had the goods shed on a dead end siding of which I cannot relate to any examples on the NSWR system. This was resolved by continuing the track on as a loop to reconnect with the branch. This means the goods siding can now be shunted in each direction. Unfortunately the sheep/cattle race has got the flick. Two good reasons. (1) I would have to build them and (2) I had a building that can be made up to represent a packing house.
With the extension of the goods siding this meant the oil siding had to go from its current location and I found I could shoehorn it in over near the milk siding. The milk and oil siding trail from Bega, that is they are a straight shunt in the Down direction, so in the reverse there is more shunting required to return them towards Bega. The beauty of oil sidings is that they only need to be a bit more than two tankers in length. I was originally going to have the oil siding come off the milk siding but the clearances were too tight. Shunting would also be complicated by needing to move the milk wagons prior to shunting in the oil tankers. Something I'm sure the milk depot would get the shits with quick (But interesting for the operator). By regigging (wow 4 G's in that word) it I was now able to fit in three oil tankers.
So after settling on the final layout and checking out the stock of track and points on hand I found out I needed another three long right hand Peco points. I tried the closest hobby shop on the phone and they did not stock them but were willing to order them in. I thanked them, said no and then remembered I had gotten some previous supplies from the Model Craftsman at Blacktown and had good service. It was Wednesday around 2pm and I rang the shop. Gary answered, had what I wanted and put it in an overnight delivery bag. And on Thursday morning I had my points ready to continue work on the layout. So for $9, much cheaper than the petrol I would have used and about three hours saved by not going there. The only real loser would have been Gary in the fact I probably would have bought other stuff there as well. Well recommended.
So at this stage the branch is out of service until the new track is laid in.
...........To be continued when more track is laid in.