Behind the scenes.....

A change from the usual, a few pictures behind the scenes of Glenburn Operations:

A "Will-become-a-V-Class" on the Saturday afternoon Dn goods is held at a crossover as a D1 on the Up suburban pick-up goods crosses the Dn lines to the Up starting it's trip back to Melbourne.

The E and XYZ deputising as the breakdown train is stabled in Camberwell sidings as the crew go to work on the IA wagon nearest camera which dropped it's coupling while shunting in the yard.

Yard shunter E Class at work breaking up the weekend's goods workings, and reassembling them into new trains. I have established a sequencing pattern between the various goods services to ensure prototypical movement of wagons, continuing rotation of rollingstock, and that trains running on the layout have a reason for doing so. Low lighting is deliberate here simulating the nighttime shunting that used to take place in Melbourne yard. Passenger sets lay over between runs on 2 and 3 road.

Creating a scene at the back!

Some amateur artwork at the back of the layout looks a bit better than the plain white of before. (Nb. The above pictures can be clicked on for a larger version)

2 years difference....

(The above photo can be clicked on for a larger version)

Recent completion of the station roof allowed the second catenary line to finally be added, and completion of major tasks on this first (Glenburn) section of my Interwar Inner Melbourne Suburban layout. The early photos (as per the first post: http://vrlatestupdates.blogspot.com/2008/04/tell-him-hes-dreaming.html) show the formative stages just over two years ago, from similar angles.

Opportunity was taken to add more detailing - in this case train length indicators mounted prototypically on both the awning and lamps, in these cases showing drivers of 2 and 4 car trains where to stop.

Fiddler on the Roof.

Finally, the last major task at Glenburn station is the roofing for both the up and down platforms. These in progress shots show the completed major structure (Evergreen styrene corrugated sheet with styrene bracing) prior to detailing, and temporarily put in position to see how it looks - starting to look like a station! (nb. the girder supports have since been straightened!)

Don't fence me in.

Fencing of the Up platform (that's a big drop over the side!), some of which is billboards per prototype, and completion of the cupola with protective spear fencing.

iTrain 1.2010 (with apologies to Vegemite)

I have been looking to replicate the classic interwar jumble of I wagon types on a goods, and now have just enough to do it justice. D2 heads up a rake of IA (Tommy Bent)+IB (wood)+IB (steel)+I (steel) +IA (Shandy - wood/steel)+IB (wood)+ I (Tommy Bent) + IG (steel, drop door) + IB (wood).

........................Ltd

Behind the Up platform I had originally intended to place a couple of house frontages however a closer at Glenferrie/Auburn showed the immediate buildings to be non-residential so I put together this fascia from spare Rix parts, scrap details and corrugated iron. Being so close to the backscene there's no room for a name!

Up......Stationary!

This Christmas break I concentrated on building the Up Station building which is now (finally!) complete. Building uses Walthers styrene brickwork, Victorian Model Railway Society Marseilles tiles with styrene and wood detailing. The building will be attached to the Up platform (also completed during the break - again finally!) once the surrounding area has been finished.

Details, details..............

Not sure whether these two interwar types are chatting or disagreeing.

A "Work in Progress" view of the subway lantern on Glenburn's Up platform. When complete it will be placed over the black patch simulating the opening. The lantern has a styrene frame with clear perspex windows that have been deliberately frosted using Dullcote.

A rather modified Fiat 612 serves as a factory delivery truck.

The protective railing covering the Up platform subway ramp.

Postbox on Glenburn Rd. courtesy of a cut-down UK model.

I have'nt been able to find a decent version of this pattern of VR fencing so it's scratchbuilt from styrene, this is the Dn end of the Up platform.

The spear fencing protecting the buildings as per prototype - this from a Scalelink etch.

Some chaps backdated to interwar styling - amazingly none of the HO scale figure makers seem to cater for this period so modification to figures clothing, poses and colours is needed.

Consistency

M-D consist, common on suburban branches and on lighter patronaged lines during off-peak

M-T-D consist, as used on lighter graded lines

M-D-T-M consist, a standard 4 car set for lighter patronaged lines and off peak services

M-M consist which seems to have been used as a "locomotive" primarily for train haulage like those below

M-M consist providing an "E train" service, in this case with a short G-B-C consist for an outer suburban or country destination beyond the wires

M-M consist providing goods haulage capability