This blog like all things new is a work in progress so please forgive the amateurish attempt.
BYLONG is the name of my HO scale model railway, it is based on a once proposed railway line in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. I say 'once proposed' as it was finally built in the early 1980's as a means of extracting coal. The original proposal began life in about 1911 and the railway proceeded in fits and starts until abandoned after the Second World War with almost all but the track in place. There were several tunnels and bridges constructed by the time it was abandoned.
My interpretation has the line being built about the time of the first proposal, this was so I could model timber station buildings, brick tunnel mouths and bridge piers. The infrastructure used in the actual construction of the original abandoned line was built of concrete.... boring.
My warped history of the line has it being used as an alternative crossing of the Great Dividing Range, part of which are the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney. As such it was upgraded to major cross country line status allowing the larger locomotive classes to use the line.
The layout is point to point and it is in a 20' x 20' garage, around the walls with a peninsular and central staging/fiddle yards. It appears to be two levels but is simply one level that ends up on top of itself with an almost continuus grade, stations being level. The following two photos show the layout, the BYLONG station is to the left of the panorama, I couldn't stitch it together without too much distortion. As you can see by the mess under and around the layout, it's a work in progress as well. There's nothing like modelling on a few square inches of space and you will notice two work benches, when one fills up, well just move to the other until you can't work there either then clean one up ... ;-)
BYLONG is the name of my HO scale model railway, it is based on a once proposed railway line in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. I say 'once proposed' as it was finally built in the early 1980's as a means of extracting coal. The original proposal began life in about 1911 and the railway proceeded in fits and starts until abandoned after the Second World War with almost all but the track in place. There were several tunnels and bridges constructed by the time it was abandoned.
My interpretation has the line being built about the time of the first proposal, this was so I could model timber station buildings, brick tunnel mouths and bridge piers. The infrastructure used in the actual construction of the original abandoned line was built of concrete.... boring.
My warped history of the line has it being used as an alternative crossing of the Great Dividing Range, part of which are the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney. As such it was upgraded to major cross country line status allowing the larger locomotive classes to use the line.
The layout is point to point and it is in a 20' x 20' garage, around the walls with a peninsular and central staging/fiddle yards. It appears to be two levels but is simply one level that ends up on top of itself with an almost continuus grade, stations being level. The following two photos show the layout, the BYLONG station is to the left of the panorama, I couldn't stitch it together without too much distortion. As you can see by the mess under and around the layout, it's a work in progress as well. There's nothing like modelling on a few square inches of space and you will notice two work benches, when one fills up, well just move to the other until you can't work there either then clean one up ... ;-)
Layout panorama
BYLONG from above
Diesel railcar 622/722 idles at BYLONG platform as AD60 class Beyer Garratt 6037 drifts by on a wheat train
The ruling grade is 1 in 40 and the Cox's Gap crossing loop is on a 1 in 80 grade.
5085 crosses 6037 at COX'S GAP loop
The long grades mean, that like a number of places on the NSWR, the trains must be assisted. Since I use DCC (NCE) and I like the operating interest and challenge, the longer trains are banked (pushed from the rear). Double heading and consisting is too easy.
Bank locomotive 5085 drops away from a goods train
3142 passes a level crossing approaching WOLLAR
Although the layout is named after BYLONG the largest station is WOLLAR which has a small locomotive depot from which the bank locomotives operate.
I will post a plan once I draw one, until then this description will have to suffice.
Well, that's it for now.
I will post a plan once I draw one, until then this description will have to suffice.
Well, that's it for now.
5 comments:
Ray
Very inspirational, I can see how Blair's Blog inspired you, No to see if your Blog inspires others, If only I had the time!!!!. Great effort, look forward to seeing any updates.
Regards Keiran Ryan
Glad to see my efforts were inspiring, Ray! You've certainly moved me along on my modeling efforts as well!
Great start with the blog. I look forward to following along!
blair
Hi Ray,
Nice start to the blog, good photos, some I have not seen before.
Like your modelling philosophy - two workbenches and move from one to another as one fills up.
Cheers Alex...
Hi Ray,
many years ago my girlfriend at the time persuaded me to move from the not politically correct models of the SS and its tanks to modelling railways. The first issue of AMRM I bought was July/August 1981 and it featured Bylong!
I thought the article was very interesting and I have enjoyed the photos of the revised Bylong since. However it does make me wonder whether layouts are ever finished!
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