This photo is by John Eagles(used with permission)of my Midget bash.
Other notes on my new layout plan
I welcome all comments, particularly critical comments on operation and design.
All images, text and plans on this page are my own and are copyright Mark Kendrick 2004 unless otherwise noted
On the previous page I have given a written and visual description of my planned layout. This page is devoted to the locomotives and rollingstock I have.
Locomotives
I admit now that I have far too many locos already, and many more planned. The layout can only support one loco at a time. My shelf can support dozens.
Due to the sharp curves and
limited space, All locos will be small. This also means small
rollingstock and short train lengths.
I am a steam-a-holic, if its steam powered, I want it. So the
final goal is to have only steam locos, and all in 7mm to the
foot scale. But for the moment, I will list what I have.
1. Branchlines Manning Wardle 'Busy Bee'. This is a kit for a very small steam saddle tank loco, perfect for my plan. It isn't yet completed, I have stalled at the stage where I need to start painting it. I'm scared I'll hurt it. I had Berg's Hobbies order this one for me.
2. Boulder Valley Models 'Mighty Midget'. This is a very non-stock model, with an Ian Lindsay Radiator/Bonnet unit, and an open cab. It is also very small, I would suggest about 20 Horsepower. Ideal for a small layout such as this, but I have painted it green and weathered it as befits a logging or mining loco. It will only be used until more suitable locos are aquired.
This photo is by John Eagles(used with permission)of my Midget bash.
3. Bachmann On30 Class A Shay. Its big. Too big for this layout, while some people have reported being able to squeeze their's around 12" radius curves, I don't plan on using it on this layout. I just had to have a shay. Also, I don't like class A shays, if I want a shay, I want one with balls. 3 cylinders. And get rid of the ugly T boiler. So I have plans, and some materials, to rebuild the shay using a Backshop or PSC 3 cylinder shay engine, and a scratchbuilt boiler. Possibly a new frame and footplate too. In fact, by the end only the bogies, bolsters, gearbox, bunker and a few details will be original.
4. Bachmann 0-4-2ST Porter. One word: UGLY. I don't like the shape of the saddletank, its wrong to my eyes, which are more used to Australian and British loco building practise. One day this loco will be rebuilt into something less American.
5. 55HP Krauss. I have a Berg's Hobbies Burrinjuck Krauss kit waiting to be built, this will be the largest peice of equipment to be used on the railway.
Planned Locomotives:
6. Wrightlines Peckett 0-4-0ST. This will be built up similar to the Puffing Billy's Peckett Sir John Grice.
7. Wrightlines Bagnall 0-4-0ST. I just like this loco.
8. Burra, an R&W Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST of
1923 as preserved and running at my railway museum, the ILRMS. I
give this loco a hug when no one is watching. Did I just admit
that?
9. Ruston and Hornsby 20DLU, two of which are preserved at the ILRMS also. I had my first shunting experience with the Brown Ruston, it would be the ideal backyard railway loco. Even if it isn't steam. Maybe even another batch building excercise?
10. An 0-4-0 tram motor styled after the one offered by the Avalon Line, but using a Bachmann 44 tonner mech and a bunch of styrene. This one is partially complete, with the bunker, footplate and upper surround built, and a piece of pipe for a boiler selected. It probably won't be finished for a long time, i'm one of those who don't finish projects till long after they're started.
11. Beyer Garratt G-42. Since I work for the company producing this loco in 1/4" scale, I may as well have one. Even if it is waaay too big for my layout, my shelf sure is big enough for it. And the company layout will give it a place to stretch it's legs. Garratts are awesome!
I know, that is far too many locos for such a
layout, particularly as only one loco can be used at a time. But
we all like variety, don't we?
And I don't know anyone who prefers waggons to locomotives,
although I'm sure someone out there is.
Also, I know I have locos in two different scales, 1:43.5 is the
intended scale, and I won't be aquiring anymore locos or
rollingstock in 1:48, unless they are absolute must-have items (Like
the shay and Garratt)
To start with, operation will be with the Mighty Midget, and probably the Bachmann 0-4-2ST, and, when its finished, the Manning Wardle. I am in far greater need of rollingstock than locomotives at the moment.
Goods Rollingstock
All goods rollingstock must be small on account of the sharp curves and short siding length. So the majority will be 4 wheelers. The styles of which are mostly based on Black Dog Mining waggons. All will have inside frames and curly spoke wheels, because they look different to the norm, and to my eye are more pleasing than exposed bearings and hidden wheels.
Flat cars
1, 2 and 3 plank open waggons
Bulkhead flats
bolster waggons
closed van
guards van
I consider the Black Dog Mining waggons to be too short, being 5 or 6 feet in length, I think 8' is about my minimum desired length. So I will make masters and have them reproduced by my company. Then you all can buy them too!
I will have a few bogie wagons, and also use the bolster flats for long loads. The bogie wagons will be based on RANAD Newington flats.
Mine will have curly spoke wheels though, and won't be loaded with bombs!
Passenger Rollingstock
I haven't decided on whether or not passengers will be catered for. In the event that the layout is expanded, I can see reason, even if the layout is an industrial district, workers need to get to work and home again. In this case, I will provide a small bogie coach modelled on the ILRMS Car 1. This car has a sheet metal body with tumblehome sides, and a canvas or similar covered timber slat roof. Seating for a dozen or so workers at a time.
Couplers
I have yet to decide on method of coupling. I dislike knuckles as they are too modern, un-Australian, and don't suit the flavour of my ideas. Newington used 3 loop chains in link and pin pockets (thats right, an armaments railway where loose shunting is the order of the day!). I think chains will be way too fiddly, as will link and pins. I like chopper couplers, as used on many Aussie narrow gauge railways (including government mainline systems), so will have to investigate the options here. I do not like tension lock (Hornby) couplers, too big and clunky, even if they do work excellently. And definately not X2F couplers.
What would be really nice is a chopper that fits in a kadee box so swing is increased, I believe one problem with scale choppers is sharp corners. Maybe I could build a master and get them reproduced in diecast metal or brass. And with a steel hook, a magnet on a stick would uncouple them without having to touch the stock. Still have the hand of god at work unfortunately.
Crates, boxes, sacks, casks, barrels, pallets, drums, chests, a lot of packaging is going to be needed. I will buy some sculpy and start making sacks, I figure get a dozen or two different shapes and then get someone like Ian Lindsay to reproduce them. Barrels and casks all look the same within their type, so only one or two masters would be needed of each type. Drums are already available from Ian Lindsay. Chests, boxes and crates come in a variety of sizes, so I would need to build a good quantity of masters and get them reproduced
Layout Overview Tech Details Latest Thoughts
any comments?
Email me: trainbrain @ optusnet . com . au
(remove spaces from address before sending)
Mark Kendrick 20/4/04