Division 1 (Queensland)

Australasian Region
National Model Railroad Association Inc

Member's Page: Garth Fraser
(garthfraser @ bigpond.com)

Layout Update

My interest is in scratchbuilding in 'O' scale (1/48). I model a generic US mining road set vaguely in the Arizona Copper Belt circa 1920 to 1940, with a touch of the long defunct Copper River & NW RR of Alaska, which took my fancy many years ago. The time setting justifies short trains and a preponderance of wood construction cars. Layout functionality and operations are of course limited by the large scale, but it's enough to get the feel of running a short line. The layout is about 85% scenicked, and I am currently working on structures to earn my seventh award under the NMRA's Achievement Program.

Layout Photos (click on the 'back' button to return to this page after viewing a photo)

View: A freight leaves the yard at Little Butte while two steamers are serviced.
View: It's dusk as the RS-1 drifts past, and the 2-8-0 collects a box car. (I've been trialling a range of constant current controls for high intensity LED headlights)
View: The RS-1 has just spotted two ore cars at the mine, and switched the loaded cars into the train ready to head back to the main yard.

New photos Sep 2003:
View: Track Layout. [Note large file, expect slow download]
View: Loco depot at Little Butte. The RS-1 drifts into the Little Butte yard with a local freight.
View: Activity at the far end of the Little Butte yard.
View: The 2-8-0 sets out ore cars at the mine while the RS-1 switches freight at San Pedro.
View: Drifting down grade over the gorge.
View: Running up the 3% grade toward San Pedro.
View: Interior of the San Pedro blacksmith/machine shop.
View: Interior of the San Pedro village stores.

Other affiliations

I'm also a member of the Caloundra Club.