Visiting layouts, and Train stations – Part 4
 |
| C30T 3075 plinthed in a park at Parkes. Visible from the Newell Highway. The C30T is the class of engine that was used extensively on NSW country branch lines. |
Day 11. Coffs Harbour to Dorrigo
Another short drive to Dorrigo. Bill wasn’t expecting me to around 11am, so it gave me some time to explore.
 |
| I bypassed the dual carriageway of the Pacific Highway, and travelled over the old highway. This is the roadbridge over the Belligan River. |
 |
| And I stopped at Belligan, which has some marvellous old buildings along the main street |
 |
| The Waterfall Way is a “tourist” route from the coast to Dorrigo, and Armidale. Scenery was stunning, and we haven’t yet got to the waterfalls |
 |
| I stopped at Dorrigo National Park, at the top of the escarpment. Looking back towards the coast |
 |
| I took a short bushwalk whilst at the Nat Park. If you are modelling a temperate rainforest, you will need to layer up the vegetation to get the full effect |
 |
| Dangar Falls, just outside of Dorrigo. Bielsdown River |
 |
| Dorrigo is located in the New England district. Yes, some vistas reminded me of England |
I had a bit of time to explore Dorrigo. Looks like a town that time forgot.
 |
| Commercial Hotel – Dorrigo |
 |
| Dorrigo Hotel |
The Dorrigo collection
Bill had arranged a quick 2 hr visit into the vast NSW railway collection of Keith Jones, normally off limits to anyone except members of Keith’s group. I went a bit mad with the camera. Here are just a sample
 |
| Railway recovery trailer used by Keith to recover many items of rolling stock |
 |
| The sad remains of 3813. This loco was dismantled in Sydney awaiting overhaul, when a government decision was made to stop. Boiler, cab chassis, tender etc are all now at Dorrigo |
 |
| Transformer transport vehicle ran on 7 bogies each end. Bill told me it was used just 6 times before “retirement”. I have started some research to find if the delivery of transformers to the SRCC electrical siding on the Tumbarumba branch in 1971 used this carriage |
 |
| X200 – second design. These shunting tractors’ wheelbase was made from the bogies of the AD60 garratt. Both the first, and second series X200 shunters worked Wagga |
 |
| X200-original style. Not sure why this is numbered X104 |
 |
| X100 shunting tractors were underpowered |
 |
| I have an interest in Sugar cane locos, and many mills use 2 foot gauge Clyde locos. This standard gauge Clyde was a surprise |
 |
| Most of the remaining SMR 10 class are residing at Dorrigo |
 |
| Tri-Bo unique 8650, I first saw this loco at Chullora about 45 years ago, during the Railways 125th anniversary celebrations. Auscision made a model of 4650 |
 |
| Ex BHP steel works. |
 |
| 4918 |
And from the public road
 |
| Standard goods |
 |
| C19 class 1904 |
 |
| AD60 6039 |
Bill’s layout at Dorrigo
I have known Bill since the mid 1980s, as we both lived in Queanbeyan. Bill had a flair for adding drama into his layouts, which didn’t follow any prototype. Fantastic mountains, impossible ledges, long runs, tunnels and bridges everywhere. Bill moved from Queanbeyan to a farm in the Dorrigo region, and this was the first time I was able to visit. Recently, Bill had to relocate from his farm into Dorrigo proper, and abandon the layout built at the farm (pictures of that layout can be found on the NMRA AR Website) I am pleased to report that Bill has once again started a new layout, following strongly in the tradition of imagination
 |
| No imagination required here |
 |
| Control panel shows the location of each of the buildings. |
 |
| Still in the process of being built. Will be a fascinating shunting district |
 |
| Bill was including some sections of the late Bruce Block’s UK layout. This is a fine tribute to a life long friendship. |
 |
| Bruce had built a model of the Chepstow bridge – prototype was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel around 1850 |
 |
| Christmas Village structures were arranged on a liftout section to access a hidden helix |
 |
| Oil refinery siding |
 |
| Bill used brackets to hold up the shelf benchwork |
 |
| LED lighting strips used to illuminate under the shelves. Yes, it was a bit blue |
 |
| I asked about the power requirements for the LED lighting. Bill said he found these power supplies off a well known auction site – 2 or 3 pages in. Bill bought a number, but so far, just one has been sufficient |
 |
| This is an operation card holder from his earlier layout. The waybill below is held in the card holder, and when the car reaches the destination, the waybill is turned around to display the new destination etc. |
 |
| The waybill card is doublesided – so holds 4 destinations |
 |
| Block diagram of Bill’s former farm layout |
 |
| More fantastic bridges. Bill stacks multiple tracks to increase the legth of the mainline |
 |
| A car float is a good way of including multiple industry types in a single destination |
Day 12 Dorrigo to Coonabarabran
After overnight at Bill’s, the following day started wet. Just as well I got to see Keith Jones’ train collection the day before. More waterfalls today
 |
| Ebor Falls, on the Guy Fawkes River |
 |
| Woolomombi Falls, on the Chandler River |
Armidale railway Station
 |
| Armidale Railway station. Another Whitton station (like Wagga), but with a gothic style |
 |
| SM residence at Armidale is a close relative to the SM residence at Wagga |
 |
| Footwarmer stove, and museum next to the station. The museum was not open, but I will have to try and visit in the future |
 |
| Gatekeeper cottage on Butler Street remains, despite the level crossing being abandoned |
Tamworth Railway Station
 |
| Tamworth Railway Station was constructed approximately the same time as Wagga, and shares some of the classical gable triangles |
West Tamworth
 |
| I didn’t get to West Tamworth this trip, but I did in 1992. There is a big simularity with Bomen station. I have included this for another reason – Marcus’s layout (see Part 2 of this series has a West Tamworth station) (note. The red car is my Ford escort – it got me to a lot of railway stations before they were demolished) |
Coonabaribran
I got into Coonabariban too late for pictures of what remains of the railway. Google street view shows that the station has gone, and other things have changed. So, another deep dive into the slide cabinet to locate my 1992 images.
.jpg) |
| The station has been subsequently removed, but Google shows the goods shed, and the small shed on the platform still exist |
.jpg) |
| Lock lever, and 2 home signals on the ground frame |
.jpg) |
| Freezing works had a siding. Google street view shows this building has been replaced by a brick structure, and no evidence of the siding remains. Home signal at “stop” |
 |
| Goods shed |
Day 13. Coonabarabran to Junee (home)
Back home today. Long drive. Early start was to remove frost from the car windscreen
Dubbo Railway Station
 |
| SM Residence at Dubbo, built in Sandstone, has a slightly different design to the SM residence at Wagga |
 |
| A surprise was finding a full set of levers in the platform signal box |
 |
| The signal box also had 2 miniature staff instruments, and a set of metal staffs |
 |
| Waiting room |
 |
| Who said tank cars are extinct? These cars are carrying diesel for the various private railway operators |
 |
| QUBE diesels at rest |
 |
| The bridge over the Macquarie River at Dubbo are 3 x 159′ whitton spans |
 |
| The spans are a lighter design than the Whitton 159′ spans used at Wagga Wagga over the Murrumbidgee River It is interesting that they are now around 140 years old, and still carrying trains. I wonder how much infrastructure being built today, will last 140 years? |
I was needing to get home, and whilst I stopped at Parkes for the C30T, and later at Barmedman (see part 3) , I didn’t get to the railway stations at Parkes, Forbes, West Wyalong, and Temora. I hope to get back to these later this year in November if I book and attend the Armidale model convention.
Lessons
What did I learn – in no specific order.
1) LED strip lights are a good method of lighting the layout
2) KISS – with turnout throws
3) Paint your benchwork – particularly the underside white
4) double deck layouts work
5) Too many sound locos running simulatenously create noise
6) light your structures
7) operator aisle space is more important that squeezing in another line of track
8) Recycling layouts, or parts there of, can be satisfying
9) Backscenes are a must
10) Radio throttles, or phone throttles are more convenient than corded throttles
11) Shunting districts provide a lot of operational enjoyment in a small area
12) NSW has some great, and varied scenery.
Overall, there is more than one way to enjoy your model trains.
Conclusion
I wish to thank Bill, and his fine wife Carolyn for accomodation, and great meal on Saturday night. Plus a special mention for Keith Jones for allowing Bill to give me access into Dorrigo museum.
I had a great journey, and renewed and made friends at every stop.
 |
| Another angle of the Macquarie River bridge at Dubbo. Might get this one framed too as a memory of the trip |
Until next time, build a model or two
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
