Model Railway updated

[Chris Harding]

Some months ago, I said I would update images on my new layout. It is nowhere near complete, but here are the work in progress pics.

 

[LordSidious66]

I am impressed man. This looks very nice. I will upload photos of my progress on my layout whenever I can.

 

[The DoggFather]

Great work sir!

BTW rode the XPT up to Casino in first class. Nothing flash but pretty comfy.

Do they use different "suspension" or something, or is it because they are just heavier and more stable?

 

[south of heaven]

Some months ago, I said I would update images on my new layout. It is nowhere near complete, but here are the work in progress pics.View attachment 4443 View attachment 4444 View attachment 4447 View attachment 4446 View attachment 4445 View attachment 4448

Awsome work 10 thumbs up

 

[Chris Harding]

Great work sir!

BTW rode the XPT up to Casino in first class. Nothing flash but pretty comfy.

Do they use different "suspension" or something, or is it because they are just heavier and more stable?

They have suspension designed for poor quality track, and to allow faster entry/exit from curves. XPTs are old technology, but have a good reputation for reliability in service. They do around 10,000k per week. Britain still uses them - they're called HSTs over there, and run at averages of 200 kmh, whereas Europe runs electric trains at up to 320 kmh, with 160-200 kmh the standard for non-high speed services.

I do a bit of tour guiding in Switzerland every year for a friend, Scott McGregor. We use the trains as our transport. We'll be expanding into Germany in 2018, so I do a bit of research for potential tours using the systems in France, Italy, Austria, Germany, UK, Switzerland. Tough job, I know.

Australia has fallen well behind the rest of the world when it comes to fast passenger transport. In Europe the trip from Sydney to Newcastle or Wollongong would be less than an hour- Casino would be 4 hours. In first class, you have airline style business class seats with full table service, charging facilities, free wifi, and complimentary coffee and biscuits. Plus, there would be a train every hour to Casino, and every 15 minutes to Newcastle and Wollongong.

 

[Chris Harding]

Awsome work 10 thumbs up

Thank you. it will look better when I have laid some ballast and ground cover. A guy in Melbourne makes the trees for me - brilliant aren't they? He even provides purple scatter to go under the Jacaranda trees. The buildings are kits from Aussie manufacturers. The loco shed is scratch built, and the station is from Bachmann Scenecraft. Animals come from Kerroby hobbies in Oz, and the trains, track and control system are from Joe at Casula Hobbies.

 

[The DoggFather]

They have suspension designed for poor quality track, and to allow faster entry/exit from curves. XPTs are old technology, but have a good reputation for reliability in service. They do around 10,000k per week. Britain still uses them - they're called HSTs over there, and run at averages of 200 kmh, whereas Europe runs electric trains at up to 320 kmh, with 160-200 kmh the standard for non-high speed services.

I do a bit of tour guiding in Switzerland every year for a friend, Scott McGregor. We use the trains as our transport. We'll be expanding into Germany in 2018, so I do a bit of research for potential tours using the systems in France, Italy, Austria, Germany, UK, Switzerland. Tough job, I know.

Australia has fallen well behind the rest of the world when it comes to fast passenger transport. In Europe the trip from Sydney to Newcastle or Wollongong would be less than an hour- Casino would be 4 hours. In first class, you have airline style business class seats with full table service, charging facilities, free wifi, and complimentary coffee and biscuits. Plus, there would be a train every hour to Casino, and every 15 minutes to Newcastle and Wollongong.

You know know your stuff sir!

Thanks for the info.

 

[The DoggFather]

PS let us know when you are on the radio again.

 

[south of heaven]

Australia has fallen well behind the rest of the world .

Japan a testing their maglevs and hitting 603kmh we have a near 40 year old service that's lucky to hit 100kmh at the best of times, for a country our size theres no reason why we should not have a top class rail system.

 

[Chris Harding]

Japan a testing their maglevs and hitting 603kmh we have a near 40 year old service that's lucky to hit 100kmh at the best of times, for a country our size theres no reason why we should not have a top class rail system.

Maglev is very, very expensive to build and operate. Only useful for high density populations where thousands are on the move. China has had one for a while, and they are thinking about abandoning it - already have slowed it down because of the huge amount of power it sucks up.

For Australia, we need conventional rail; and still need to incorporate freight. You can't run an eight thousand ton coal train on magnetic field tracks. Our solution for the interim is to set up 200 kmh electrified railways which can run passenger trains at the top speed and freighters at up to 140 kmh. The distances between our capital cities is too great to be competitive with air travel - it is the regional cities like Newcastle, Bathurst, Armidale, Wagga, Albury, Coffs that benefit from High Speed Rail because planes don't stop on the way to Brisbane or Melbourne; but the cost is tenfold compared to a 200 kmh system.

Incidentally, the French have run standard high speed trains up to 564 kmh, but they use too much power to be cost effective at that speed.

 

[Chris Harding]

PS let us know when you are on the radio again.

I lost my regular slot when Susie Elelman quit 2GB last year. I was on Channel Nine News a couple of weeks ago talking about Central's clock tower.

Have been doing a program on local radio -2 BACR, on 100.9 FM each month just talking about trains. We're about to revamp it into a current affairs and railways news show in the New Year. I'll keep you posted. I also go around to local Probus groups doing presentations about rail history.

Still involved with Scott McGregor's Railway Adventures hosting tours by rail. I've got a tour of Tasmania in March, Switzerland in April, Outback Qld - "Gulflander" and "Savannahlander", in June, Switzerland again in September, and Germany in October. So, if the Dogs make the finals and GF, I won't be here to see them.

 

[The DoggFather]

Keep up the great work Sir.