Resuming Services

After a delay in obtaining a new computer, then the bride decided that we needed carpet throughout the house, (including the man cave), services have resumed on Victoria Street. The man cave was used for storage of household stuff for some part of the process, then it received carpet, and now under the threat of '*crippling sanctions', painting of models is now barred there.

Therefore for about a month, not much has happened, a little research for an upcoming rolling stock project, obtaining some more period cars, including a Ute (pick up truck) and horse float.

Which adds to the theatre of the race day traffic at the racecourse end of the layout

From under the wires, Glenn

'*Crippling sanctions'- most married men would be aware what this involves....

Lest We Forget - Anzac Day

The most solemn day on the national calender, Anzac Day (Remembrance/Memorial Day for those outside Australia), is a time of reflection and a to pay respect to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and to those who still perform in active service for the nation to this day.

The Anzac spirit is honoured  on Victoria Street, as a small representation of mid to late 20th century inner suburban Melbourne, it has a small local war memorial as a focal point near the railway and retail strip.

Locals pay respect at the local cenotaph, those who wished to

participate at the dawn service at the shrine in the city, would have

caught the special service trams from the outer routes into the city.

 Ex servicemen participate in the grand Anzac tradition of a quick and not so subtle 

game of "two up" behind the the Victoria Street Gates signal box,

before catching up with fellow 'diggers' at the races, football or for a

quiet beer at the Returned Services League Club.

                                      "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
                                       Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
                                        At the going down of the sun and in the morning
                                                            We will remember them."

'Lest We Forget'

Well done fellas, From under the wires,

Glenn

 

Service Disruption

Due to an incident involving premium European beverages and the good family Japanese laptop computer, (the computer lost ). I will be unable to update the blog with photos as I struggle to mash the screen of this 'smart phone' to compose this message.

I intend to rectify this problem in the near future, thanks for your understanding.

From under the wires and in the dog house. Glenn

Labour day runnings

A few highlights from the Labour Day Holiday

Sending the crowds home from the races

Traffic mayhem after the last

Not much happens elsewhere on a public holiday.

 

regards Glenn

Footscray Tramways (then and now)

This Victorian Labour Day Weekend (second weekend in March) marks fifty years since the demise of the Footscray Local Tramways, so over the last month or so I have sorted through my collection of historic photos and taken photos of the same scenes recently.

A map of the proposed, as built and as at the time of closure

As the Footscray Local Tramways ended well before I was born, it is only through reading about it, collecting photos, and having pleasant chats with elderly locals, that all this history can come alive.

The layout 'Victoria Street' has been part inspired by this local history, as the first tram model that I adapted is from a Bachmann Brill trolley into the MMTB X1 460 several years ago.

X1 460

So as a tribute to the Footscray Local Tramways I have compiled this video of 'Then and Now'

For more colourful history of the Footscray Tramways

http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/footscray.htm

From under the wires.

Glenn

On the buses

I finally obtained a 1939 Leyland Tiger TS8* single deck bus in green MMTB colours, to compliment and retro date the Victoria Street timeline a few years. I do have in my stable a 1975 Leyland National 10.3* typical of the decade in 'citrus orange' that did limited the layout to the mid 70's to 80's.

Victoria Street circa 1957

Now for a bit of theatre, then and the models

X1 464 and Leyland MMTB 126 in photo,

Footscray depot before 1962

next to

X1 460 and Leyland MMTB 117 in model form,

Footscray kitchen bench 2012

A 1975 Leyland National negotiating the gates

behind SW5 812 (archive collection)

Victoria Street circa 1984

*As I am not a 'bus nut' all information is obtained from the boxes they come in.

From under the wires

Glenn



Australia Day Running

Nothing like a public holiday, and with the bride taking the oldest one to a show, thus leaving me with the youngest to look after.

While the youngest snoozes, It gives me a chance 'to run a few services' on Victoria Street and listen to the cricket.

The operations on Victoria Street are now enhanced by a decent fast clock program, this program allows the operator to schedule sevices by destination, set the time ratio, count down for the next three departures plus stop, pause and edit.  The previous set up I had was a reworked clock face ( set 3:1 ratio) and a excel spread sheet.

You can find the program via,
http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1607216.htm
and read all the chatter on the forum or just punch in,
http://www.dotric.com.au/trains/FastClock.htm

It's all business at the racecourse,

 #83 ready to depart for the station, while #82 waits for the terminus.

It is not the regular sevice to and from town, together with the yo-yo race service that short shunt from the station thats on the time table, I have also thrown in a few enthusiest specials thoughout the day to add some spice to the running.

 Bendigo 29, Ballarat 28 and MMTB X1 460,

wait their turn for a trundle on Victoria Street in the fiddle yard off scene.

So you might think that Victoria Street is some vast metropolis, but it's not, all these fun and games takes place in my 'man cave', the study.

Victoria Street, 4' across the back, 8' along the side, 8" deep,

7 inertia controlled blocks of DC, 3:1 fast clock ratio, 4 trams on the go at once.

"Flat out like lizard drinking"

"Easy on the throttle when going into the racecourse terminus,

it's a 12' drop into the lounge room"

From under the wires

Glenn