TGR - V Class Drewry Shunter - Part 1

My fist attempts at modelling a TGR loco have been somewhat disappointing.

The TGR V Class is primarily a British Drewry shunter. Four V Class locos were imported from Britain in 1948 with a further four to follow and in later years an additional four units manufactured in Launceston Sops.

A few models have been produced over the years all with the in correct gauge for Tasmanian modelling. Airfix produced a static model that is now owned produced by Dapol. A umber of mechanisms have been produced of the years and various scratch built version to upgrade them to a running model.

I ordered two mid last year and waited patiently for the mail to arrive (mid covid I wasn't expecting anything for a month or two).

Once they arrived I opened them with anticipation only to be bitterly disappointed by the crudeness and poor quality of the parts. Essentially the two kits I had ordered might result in enough parts to build one loco. The photo below shops what I am dealing with.

There are bent floors, two hood sides with minor bends and large twist. Loco side frames that are twisted and various other parts with poor injection. I'm not sure if it was storage of the kits or manufacturing but a large amount of it is un usable.

Loco Floor - Side and top view. 

I decided to push on and salvage what I could. I read on a resin car building blog that a low oven weights and a flat surface can be used to straighten out castings and other kits parts. Loading up two of the hood sides into a cool oven it started to work. Only to be distracted by my 3yr old and result in a pile of mush when I rememebred..... Scrap Bin...

The remaining sides how ever appear to be workable. They need new hinge detail and door handles. I'm considering casting a matched pair to replace my failed attempt.

I also made a start on the top of the hood. The model has moulded on railings and an overlapped centre section on the cab. I started to work these back to a flat hood to begin detailing again. The below shows an un touched hood and one I have started.

For now the models are sitting on my shelf in a bag again as I contemplate scratch building the underframes before I go to much further.

TGR Steel C Class Open Wagon Part 2

Researching wagon history and data can be a difficult and one of the reasons I moved away from modeling US prototypes.  I like prototypical modeling to some degree but also believe close enough is good enough. Things should fit into a scene, time frame and feel right.  

I received a comment on the Tasmanian Railway Modeling facebook page that there were very few of these in existence and somewhat rare to see on trains when you compare the number to the total pool of wagons.

Digging a little deeper turned up some additional information from Michael Dix. A total of 10 steel C wagons were built in 1939 numbered C557 to C566. Prior to 1939 all C wagons were of wood construction with the last one being constructed around 1930.

In the 1960's 4 wagons received modifications to theire sides for wheat service.Some of these wagons had a short life as loco sand wagons in 1979-1980.

C560 and C564 received tarpaulin supports. The modification comprised a steel upright on each end which supported a rope down the wagon centreline to drape the tarp over.

C558 assigned to workshops around 1980 and is stored at QVMAG in Launceston.

I haven't decided on a number for my C wagon but I have progressed to the point it is ready for the paint shop. Added buffers, couplers and vac hoses.

 

 

TGR Steel C Class Open Wagon Part 1

I mentioned in my first blog post, My journey into TGR modeling started with a generous offer from Simon Handby https://tassiemodelrailways.com.au to have a go at building a steel C class open wagon. Simon has been offering an eclectic mix of parts to Tasmanian modelers for some time now.

The kit arrived with a casting of the main body, steel side frames, etched chassis and some brake rigging. The goal with the offering was to test the side frame etches and generate some interest. I later received Buffers, vacuum hoses and the end beam castings to enable me to finish the model.

First task is to build the Chassis side frames. They are fold up nickle silver with inserted brass top hat bearings. A relatively easy process if you take your time, use some jigs or holding blocks and limit the solder you apply.

The etched frames is designed to sit flush against the cast frames how ever the journal boxes need to be drilled from the back to accept the bearing. The drill depth can be limited by filing down the back of the top hat bearing. I took about 0.5mm to 0.75mm off them before the pin point appeared.

I marked out the side frames and glued all the parts in place using the marked center lines on the etch to ensure the bearings are square to each other. I small vacuum cylinder  and some rigging detail. At this time the details were a guess at best but the general feel was achieved.

I added door guards on both sides. My understanding is the curved spring steel mounted on the under side of the wagon prevented the open door from swinging into the brake gear.

Next post will be the end beams, buffers, vacuum hoses and wheels which I hope to re gauge to 14mm.

Heart of Georgia an American Concept from the 4' x 8'

Modelers have for ever been making the 4 x 8 layout and will for ever remain as the go to for young modelers and beginners.

Some years ago I come across the Heart of Georgia (HOG) layout concept from Layout Planer Scott Perry. You can read up on the concept on his blog here http://hogrr.blogspot.com/

The was to create a better beginner layout from a 4' x 8' by cutting it up and going around the walls instead. Concept is by no means the for ever dream layout we all hope for but a better introduction to model railways that allows some form of operations to occur with a little more planing and fraction more bench work building.

The layout is derived from a sheet of 4 x 8 ply broken down into modules. Modules would need to be timber box frame from dressed pine or rip cut another sheet of ply for the boxes.

I decided this concept may work for a TGR branch line themed layout in OO scale but added a fiddle yard to simulate the main line.

 

The resulting layout is 2400 x 2900 (when including the 200mm W fiddle yard) that could be set up in a single car garage or spare room.

The operation concept is fairly simple in that trains enter the layout from the fiddle yard running past a small branch line passenger shed. The cross over here allows continuous running and could be ignored during an operating session.
Continuing on over a river crossing past a water stop into the main location of the layout. A reasonable sized passenger station provides layout impact at this location while the goods shed,  cattle race and fruit packing shed offer operational elements.

Departing this location we enter the final location on the branch. There long run around could be considered as part of this yard or ruled out as it is used for trains entering the branch. There is limited operations at this location with a standard goods shed and a timber loading siding.

The loading siding could be a pulp wood, cut lumber from a saw mill or raw log loading. Another alternative could be a clay loading siding similar to Tonganah or a fuel depot.

I think the baseboards and concept of this layout has endless possibilities for TGR style layouts and could be multiplied with an extra sheet of ply and making one of the locations a 'Y'

Achievable Layout Plan 2 - Lalla North East Line

 I often drive past Lalla with my family or out on the road for work. It was not until I saw it listed in the 1957 working timetable (more on this documented at the wealth of information it provides later) that I realized is was a stop on the north east line and began to do some research.

From google street view there is little evidence of the sidings and spurs that once was. I had always found though the building immediately adjacent the crossing was possibly rail served at one stage. 

 

Digging through Libraries Tasmania led me to this document North East Line - Stations and Yards - Final ink drawings. The Final ink drawings appear to have been produced for most lines and are available though the archive search. It appears to be from the 1930's and contains all station siding and yard details of the line an includes survey notes.

Lalla appears on image 16 and 17 and consisted of a simple run around and 2 spurs on the southern end end. Approximately 600 ft long from road crossing to the curved point Lalla could make a simple shelf layout in the corner of a spare room with staging either end or a continuous loop. The plan below in OO 4mm scale is made up of  2 x 600 x 1500mm and a 400 x 1200 module but it could suitably be compressed as desired.

The concrete apple packing shed was owned by Frank Walker built in 1922. The below photo was taken during construction from the north east corner. Rail side loading doors are on the opposite side of the structure.

A much later image 1991 image by Margaret Tassell is taken from the rail side of the structure how ever tracks long since removed. 

 

Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery - QVM:1997:P:2605

The Final Ink Drawing referenced above shows a small station shelter 13'1" x  8'9" located on an 140ft platform. How ever the image below shows a much shorter platform.

Libraries Tasmania Archive https://stors.tas.gov.au/PH30-1-9192

Its not clear from the limited information I have uncovered to date if other produce and freight was loaded onto wagons at Lalla. The short spur at the road crossing may have had limited access for loading.

If your after a small layout with only 4 points and 2 structures to model this would make a good candidate fitting into a corner. It may even be suitable for compression into an old style  4' x 8' layout with a diagonal view break.