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











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.

Tis the season

Well, it's that time of the year again, a chance to catch up with relatives, sample a few beverages, eat way too much and make out like a bandit with all the packaging that 'may' find a purpose on your layout.

So with much ado, here is the 'Christmas Card' for Victoria Street for this year.

"Are you sure you have tied that down?"

Above all, have a safe and enjoyable Christmas, and we will all catch up in the new year.

From under the wires.

Glenn

A few moments in the afternoon.

Given an evening without the entertainment of a young family, I could spend hours up in the study phaffing around with the digital camera, tripod and an assortment of desk and and floor lamps setting up photo opportunities.

The staging of trams, traffic and punters in ways that narrate a moment in time, coupled with a few hours (and a few beverages) photo editing on the laptop with saturation, contrast and warmth, that in the end offer 'a few moments in the afternoon'.

Patiently waiting at the Victoria St gates

The mad dash through the gates before the next suburban service.

Beware where you step near the racecourse.

Short shunting at the gates



The reason for the short shunting, the 'Festival of Trams' in Epsom Rd.

Yours from under the wires, Glenn

One out of the ether.

Once apon a time, Victoria Street's online existence was pretty much was limited to the Micro Layout site operated by the now late Carl Arendt, since his  passing early this year, his work still lives on in an archive of a back catalog of micro and small layouts.

http://carendt.us/index.html

Just recently it has been bought to my attention that the scrapbook section has been updated and now features work from Victoria Street from earlier in the year, for those out there who believe thay have too little space for a layout, could do themselves a favour and see what other have done with 'little' space.

The latest edition does pay tribute to Carl and his work, and I feel honoured to be a part of this edition.

http://carendt.us/scrapbook/page107/index.html

so it just goes to show, your work online can still kick on.

From under the wires,
Glenn

Peak Hour - Victoria St

Not much has been happing since the exhibition in August, other increasing the shelf height in the study to keep little hands away from the rollingstck, also allows the use of a tripod for photography without having to double over. So I have for your interest included a few photos.