Modelling Australian Light and Narrow Gauge with Ready To Run and simple Kit Rollingstock
How to model Australian narrow gauge railways and tramways using ready to run rollingstock, and simple kitbashes/modifications.
1. The Hume Weir construction site: The NSW PWD used two 0-4-0ST Vulcan locomotives, which are very similar to the Bachmann 1:20.3 large scale porter. The wagons used on the Hume Weir construction site included wooden side dump cars very similar to the Western Wheel and Scraper side dumps also by bachmann in Large Scale. Another loco, a Perry 0-4-0T is quite similar to the side tank porter available from one of the large scale manufacturers. Thus you have 2 types of loco and some wagons to start your garden railway.
2. Tyers Tramway: The Victorian Forests Commission once operated a 30" gauge timber tramway to harvest timber and take it to the mill, and then to the Government railhead. They used a 25 ton Climax and timber bogies, the 1:20.3 Large Scale Climax available from Bachmann is suitable, and with slight modification is quite accurate. Timber bogies are available from another Large Scale manufacturer, possibly Hartford, or are very simple to make at home with basic tools (timber, wheels/axles, bearings, and couplers; a saw, a knife and glue should be about all you need).
3. The Sandfly Colliery: This was a short 2' gauge coal line in Tasmania. Locos to operate on the line were Krauss's, but these are quite similar (though smaller) to the Fleishmann Oe (On30) O&K 0-4-0T. The rollingstock was mainly V-tips, a little smaller than the Bachmann On30 V-tips, but these will suffice. Another option is modifying Gnomy V-tips, a simple job, or the beaut Roy C Link kits. And the Berg's Burrinjuck Krauss would also work okay too, particularly with shortened side tanks.
4. The Wolgan Valley Railway: This spectacular standard gauge mining line used 4 shay locomotives, the HO scale Roundhouse 3 truck shays could be used, the Roundhouse product being the basis of an article published in 1990 in Australian Model Railway Magazine for a conversion to represent shay number 2 (or 3, which was very similar). Some English 4 wheeled Open wagons to represent the D wagons, some English 4 wheel flats with bolsters added to represent the E wagons, a NSWGR HG brake van (unsure if available) and some timber bogie open wagons for Dreadnought wagons. Tank cars were both 4 wheel and bogie, simplified domes on cheap single dome tank cars should suffice.
5. The Bachmann On30 shay is Very similar to Lahey's ex-North Mount Lyell Railway shay, so that is another two railways easily represented. For Lahey's Rollingstock, use Ian Lindsay Model's 'Hardware-Only' Log Car Kits, HO scale Tichy 100ton Old Time Ore Hopper trucks, HO 36" wheels and some basswood for frame members. A good representation of a Climax type 1 car is the result (Thanks to the Professor Klyzlr for that gem)
This photo is the Professor's shay conversion, (thanks for the photo Prof) click on photo for larger image
6. For Kit constructors: The Goondah - Burrinjuck Railway. This line had 4 small Krauss locomotives, available from Berg's Hobbies as O scale kits. Rollingstock included 10 ton open wagons, also from Berg's as kits. Some Bachmann V tips could be used for track maintenance or on the sand quarry line, while flats could be the Roundhouse Old Time flat cars, till better models are built or bought. When skills are improved, the Sand Quarry Fowler 0-6-0T loco Kate would be a great entry into scratchbuilding. And if you have built a Whitemetal, Nickel Silver and Brass loco kit, you know exactly what is involved in loco scratchbuilding.
7. Freelanced Mine Railway: Boulder Valley's On30 Mighty Midget and some Silvermaz LCH or CCH coal wagons (all very simple kits) would make a nice little mine tram setup. Turn one or two underframes into flatcars with a balsa deck (I have already done this modification, it is EXTREMELY simple, yet gratifying). Maybe another underframe can have a box built on it for supplies or explosives. Or get adventurous and replace the hood of the Mighty Midget with an Ian Lindsay Radiator/Hood casting, I did, all it needs a spacer (I used plastic membership card for mine, 3 layers) because the hood doesn't quite reach the cab. Oh, and mine has an open cab, I simply left the sides off. Very Australian looking. Link to picture Here
8. Puffing Billy/Victorian Government Narrow Gauge Railways. Puffing Billy's 2-6-0+0-6-2 Beyer Garratt G-42 will be available ready to run in On30 hopefully by the end of the year, and there have been kits and brass models of the NA class 2-6-2T Baldwin designed locomotives available for years in both O scale and HO scale. Rollingstock is currently available in O scale from Ian Lindsay Models as simple and well detailed kits.
9. Powelltown: The Powelltown Tramway had two three foot gauge 32 ton shay locos, quite similar to the HOn3 MDC/Roundhouse shays, available ready-to-run. Simple log bogies from a variety of sources, and the larger bolster wagons could be converted from TT or HO English 4 wheel flat wagons. The other 4 locos are a little harder to get, Powellite could be bashed from a Maine HOn30 boiler and cab with a widened 0-6-0 chassis or an N scale long boilered 0-6-0 tender engine (unsure if available), while Little Yarra may work with a cut down MDC/Roundhouse 2-6-0 kit. (MDC/Roundhouse kits are quite simple, and with care and thought actually can be made to run well)
10. Many Australian logging tramways, in both the Eastern States and Western Australia, used outside frame wood deck log bogies. For On30, use Steam Era Models' NSWGR 2AA type HO bogies, cut away the centre bolster springpack, add wood frame, and basswood plank deck. This style were used on Langley Vale, Longworths (both NSW) and some Wesern Australian logging operations. (this one also from Prof K)
11. MDC/Roundhouse 3-in-1 Battle Mountain Climax kit + LifeLike N scale SW1200 or GP20 mech, makes up into a nice HOn30 version of Langley Vale's Class A Climax in HOn30. (thanks again to Prof Klyzlr)
12. Bachmann Porter mech + Backwoods Minatures Bachmann On30 0-6-0 saddletank body kit = "sort of" Kiama Quarry loco (use Bachmann 0-4-2ST Porter, it runs better than the 0-4-0. Also, Not sure how well this conversion works out, as neither the good Professor Klyzlr or I have tried it yet) (Prof K suggestion)
13. Steam Era Models "Black Beetle"/Bachmann "Phase 1 or 2" power truck/Bachmann Trolley power truck under a styrene box = On30 battery operated mine motor. Use with MDC HO 34' shorty flatcars or simple styrene flat decks, and MDC HO 3-in-1 ore car kits. (Another great Professor Klyzlr suggestion)
This is a BEV from the Newington Armaments Depot 2' gauge rail system. My own photo
14. ? Do you have any suggestions that I could put up here? Please Email me, see below
any comments?
Email me: trainbrain @ optusnet . com . au
(remove spaces from address before sending)
Mark Kendrick 27/07/04
