Crossing Paths

Crossing Paths
Model Melbourne trams

Thursday 26 January 2012

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












Tuesday 10 January 2012

The Railway Apartments - Unreal Estate

The current real estate fad around Footscray for the past few years is the "Urban Renewal" of some of the few local watering holes (pubs), some these were never going to be the Savoy in London or the Waldorf Astoria in New York, they were honest working class establishments.

So Vale to....
The Pioneer Hotel - Ballarat Rd, Footscray.
The Royal Hotel  - corner of  Droop and Barkly St, Footscray.
The Barkly Hotel - oddly enough in Barkly St, Footscray.
The Albert Hotel - Essex St, West Footscray.
The Rising Sun Hotel - Geelong Rd, West Footscray.

These proud pubs did not sell their soul to the demon poker machine, they fell due to the combination of changing demographics, the doggies playing home games first at Princes' Park then Docklands, crippling council rates and  liquor licencing fees, they ended up being passed around from developer to developer with their cash grab ideas.

So as a protest/send up of the whole process, I have cobbled together a  collection of stills as a 'marketing promo'.

Enjoy


(offload the popup ads, so not to miss the text)

From under the wires.
Glenn.