Division 1 (Queensland)

Australasian Region
National Model Railroad Association Inc

2001 News

Sep 01 News

Our trip on the Mary Valley Line, travelling on the ex-QR Railmotor (RR powered) was a definite success, and well reported by all who travelled. Being a railmotor, the driver and the front of t he train was very accessible and the kids (of all ages) could not be kept out of the cab, and because the railmotor left ahead of the C-17 powered regular excursion train both from Gympie and Imbil, it enabled all of us to get good photo shots, particularly as it was turned on the turntable at Imbil. A very good day was held by all, and at half the price of the regular steam powered train, good value for money. Thanks to the UP Club and the NMRA members who organised groups to help make the day a success, and to the Mary Valley staff who were excellent hosts and looked after us all day

SP Layout Visit

Ken Leitch, that well known SP modeller was our host for our third meeting in 2001. In addition to being a Life member of the NMRA, Ken is a sustaining member of the Darling Downs Club, and the Gold Coast and Caloundra Model Railway clubs, and is a regular exhibitor at SE QLD exhibitions with his "Colorado Crossing" layout.
    It was a first time visit for most of us, travelling to the wilds of Landsborough for the afternoon. Ken's layout is single track mainline with passing sidings, in an E shape, and running NCE DCC, with DC available on request. He has nearly all of his track laid and wired, with scenery to start at a time in the future. As with most of us, if you look closely, Ken has recycled parts of his old layout. He doesn't model any particular era but diesels are his motive power of choice, from "Black Widow" F's to the most modern GM's and GE's that sported SP gray. I have yet to see him run steam.
    Ken has his layout in a double 'Titan' type garage, and with both doors open on a good Qld winters day, his layout room is bright and airy and a nice place to 'play'.
    For 'show-and-tell' Tony Reidpath bought along two more of his super-detailed kits, setting an example to the rest of us about just what can be done. I will have to talk Tony into submitting for an award under the AP program. In line with the super-detail theme, and by complete accident, the writer displayed his part complete Seaboard SD50, from an undecorated P2K SD60. There are enough detail parts supplied with this kit for to detail up at least three diesels.
    Eleven members and two visitors enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon, with apologies from Graeme Young, Nick Negerevich, John Lebsanft, and many thanks to Ken & Renee for their hospitality.

West Ridge Railway

On I September, our meeting was hosted by Denis Lane on the site of his HO Scale West Ridge Railway (WRR). The WRR is a classic folded dog-bone shape, with the return (or up) lines at approximately 12 inches above the down lines. Denis has taken over 90% of his garage for his railway, with the construction of the WRR proceeding at breakneck speed (definitely breakneck when compared to the efforts of the writer), mainly because he is recycling the main layout structure from his old NSWGR layout.
    The West Ridge is a bridge line somewhere in the Pennsylvania / Maryland area of the eastern US and has as its motive power an eclectic collection of early era diesels, with coal hauling as its prime purpose. You will also see diesels belonging to the Pennsy, the B&O and the WM, so it seems the WRR gets its funding from all soughts of ways.
    The visit to Denis' layout has confirmed to all who attended the value of rotating our meetings, because we get different things from different people. Denis' backdrops have already been painted, and according to him it was simple and easy. They look excellent and were specifically commented on by members attending. I think that early in the new year, Denis will have to be down for a clinic on backdrops.

Emery Layout Revisit

Graham Emery, who was happy to show the expansion that has taken place since our last visit, two years ago, hosted the second Division 1 meeting for 2001. Graham's layout is a classic dog-bone doubled over a couple of times, with a single track mainline and three passing sidings. The layout will eventually be expanded to cover all of his back shed, with some of his old t emporary layout still remaining to enable trains to run.
    Graham has set up the layout for DCC, using NCE equipment, and he has DC available for visitors if needed. The writer, as a first time DCC user on the day, fell into the DCC beginners trap when he discovered that two trains running under DCC can collide, when he almost rear ended two mainline trains.

B&O First 2001 Meeting

The first meeting for Division 1 in 2001 was hosted by Glenn Stevens, and he was finally able to 'show-off' his new train space, and the projected plan for his Marysville Sub-Division of the B&O.