Planning a new train room ........ 7th year and still "under construction"

Next working bee is >Wednesday 21st October 2009, 7.45pm start - Status: On !
Layout Design
Updates 17 June 2009
In context: Aussie History
My railway's setting
Visiting the railway
Riding the railway (fiction)
Input from readers
Links
Plans
DCC system
To see what is New
Demos, hints, tips & Tutorials
Who Helped me build this Railway - Thanks !





First train runs on the layout 2nd May 2006.

Introduction:

My layout Wiki entry on the Layout Design SIG

I finally have the space for a model railway. Is it now time to stop dreaming of having a big model railway to dreaming what to do. But what do I want, what is possible, will it last, will it pass the test of time in operations ?

I'd suggest for the reader who has some time, and hasn't visited this site, to read the Layout Design, then read the updates, oldest to the most recent. Have a look at the other topics, then take a look at the plans...

Because this layout is slowly under construction, you are seeing all the blow by blow photos, so a train running shots are still in the future, and all you get is construction photos at the moment. And my comments as I go.

This is a lifetime project, so don't book into an operating session yet!

I live in the Northeastern Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.



Visiting the Layout:

Visitors are welcome given enough warning beforehand. Come and see progress. Eventually visiting locos /rollingstock will be welcome when I have a railway at a stage to safely run a loco ! (and remember you will need a DCC equipped loco). My email link is at the bottom of the page.

The third Wednesday of any month is a desinated workbee night, check the top of this page for the date and if it on or cancelled....

Next Working bee dates:
  • Wednesday 21st October 2009, 7.45pm
  • Wednesday 18th November 2009, 7.45pm
  • (no session December 2009)
  • Wednesday 20th January 2010, 7.45pm



The layout at a glance (as proposed)
  • Name of Railroad: Not decided yet.
  • Scale: HO (1:87)
  • Size of Layout: 32 x 21 Feet.
  • Prototype: South Eastern Australian - standard gauge.
  • Period/era: Modern back untill 1950's.
  • Layout Style:Double deck, Around the Walls.
  • Layout Height: Not decided yet.
  • Benchwork: Open Grid.
  • Roadbed: 12mm Ply track base, cork etc.
  • Track: Handlayed code 80, some commercial code 100. And might have some concrete code 83.
  • Length of mainline run: Not determined yet.
  • Turnout(Point) minimum: no 6., though most points will be no.7
  • Minimum curve radii: 30 inches. Preferred radius 36 inches.
  • Maximum grade: 1:45
  • Scenery construction: All forms but lean towards Styrofoam, as little plaster as possible.
  • Control: DCC control (NCE radio based) with Decoder Pro for loco configuration, and some form of computer control for signal & points.
  • Starting Date: 2001
  • Completion Date: TBA (2012 !)


Links
There is alot of useful information out on the Internet. Here are a few sites that I identify as being useful, for planning and inspiration.



What's New ?

  • 2 May 2006 First Train runs...
  • 1 Apr 2005 - The first update for 2005!
  • 26 Apr 2004 - Two updates over the last week - see the update pages on the right!
  • 15 Mar 2004 - Two updates for the whole year - see the update pages above!
  • 28 Nov 2003 - Three updates for the whole year - I'm lazy, too busy, or both busy & lazy!
  • Plan 6 27 Feb 2002 - some extra thoughts, and a side view
  • Update 15/2/02 15 Feb 2002
  • Plan 6 4 Feb 2002
  • Update 4/2/02 4 Feb 2002
Updates :



Update occur when I remember, and when I have done some work ! I'd suggest comming back once a month - I am not a fast worker !

Updates are shown from the most recent update down to the first entry. The newest update will always at the top

  1. Update 17th Jun 2009 NEW
  2. Update 4th Jun 2009 Recent
  3. Update 25th Mar 2009
  4. Update 19th Nov 2008
  5. Update 18th Sep 2008
  6. Update 6th Sep 2008
  7. Update 16th Jul 2008
  8. Update 18th Jun 2008
  9. Update 19th May 2008
  10. Update 16th May 2008
  11. Update 8th May 2008
  12. Update 29th Apr 2008
  13. Update 28th Apr 2008
  14. Update 16th Apr 2008
  15. Update 13th Apr 2008
  16. Update 4th Apr 2008
  17. Update 26th Mar 2008
  18. Update 12th Nov 2007
  19. Update 18th Oct 2007
  20. Update 22nd Sep 2007
  21. Update 7th May 2007
  22. Update 23rd Apr 2007
  23. Update 2nd Feb 2007

  24. Update 13th Dec 2006
  25. Update 1st Dec 2006
  26. Update 16th Nov 2006
  27. Update 19th Oct 2006
  28. Update 6th Oct 2006
  29. Update 29th Sep 2006
  30. Update 21st Sep 2006
  31. Update 13th Sep 2006
  32. Update 1st Sep 2006
  33. Update 29th Aug 2006
  34. Update 14th May 2006
  35. Update 8th May 2006
  36. Update 4th May 2006
  37. Update 2nd May 2006
  38. Update 30th Apr 2006
  39. Update 25th Apr 2006
  40. Update 11th Apr 2006

  41. Update 31st Dec 2005
  42. Update 5th Oct 2005
  43. Update 3rd May 2005
  44. Update 19th Apr 2005
  45. Update 17th Apr 2005
  46. Update 15th Apr 2005
  47. Update 1st Apr 2005

  48. Update 25th Aug 2004
  49. Update 31st Jul 2004
  50. Update 26th Apr 2004
  51. Update 23rd Apr 2004
  52. Update 29th Mar 2004
  53. Update 17th Mar 2004
  54. Update 14th Mar 2004
  55. Update 12th Mar 2004
  56. Update 15th Feb 2004

  57. Update 25th Nov 2003
  58. Update 1st Apr 2003
  59. Update January 2003

  60. Update 24th Jun 2002
  61. Update 6th Jun 2002
  62. Update 26th Apr 2002
  63. Update 18th Apr 2002
  64. Update 15th Feb 2002
  65. Update 4th Feb 2002
  66. Update 29th Jan 2002
  67. Update 9th Jan 2002

  68. Update 28th Sep 2001
  69. Update 17th Sep 2001
  70. Update 14th Sep 2001
  71. Update 28th May 2001
  72. Update 9th May 2001
  73. Update 18th Apr 2001
  74. Update 6th Apr 2001
  75. Update 2nd Apr 2001
  76. Update 30th Mar 2001
  77. Update 23th Mar 2001

  78. Update 26th Nov 2000
  79. Update 23rd Nov 2000
HOME



Page written & maintained by David Head.david@nmit.vic.edu.au