Layout

The layout is an around the walls design with a duck under for entry and exit from the room. Dimensions are 3.1 x 6.1m with baseboards varying in width from 500mm to 820mm (1300mm f0r Ballarat yard). Baseboard height is approximately 1040mm with a slight grade from Doveton Street Sidings to Ballarat North Workshops (the building is on a slight lean!). Baseboards are  either chipboard or 5 ply on a pine frame bolted together that rest on freestanding cabinets.  The layout is designed to be easily dismantled if required.

S312 hauling a Down Dimboola pass over MacArthur Street level crossing and past Ballarat C Box. The pass is a scratch set of BWL-BS-AS-BCE substituting for a usual N set. The mix and match of red, blue and orange cars were common from 1982 to 1984 as the refurbishment program of steel cars progressed and older wooden cars were withdrawn. Refurbished cars weren't placed in sets with other refurbished cars, they generally replaced other steel cars (releasing them for refurbishment) or allowing older wooden cars (usually cars in the poorest condition) to be withdrawn. The S is a modified Lima model with the train consisting of kitbashed Steam Era Model AW kit (BWL), Powerline S cars (BS and AS) and scratchbuilt BCE (made back in 1983!) 

Statistics – at a glance

Scale: HO (1:87)

Prototype and period: Victorian Railways 1982-1983

Layout Type: Around the walls with entry via a duck under
Length and width: 6100mm x 3100mm
Baseboard: Pine frame, plywood or chipboard base, mounted on freestanding cabinets
Rail height above floor: 1040mm
Scenery: Extruded polystyrene foam covered with papier-mâché and thin layer of plaster, painted and covered with dyed sawdust, ground foam and natural materials collected from the garden.
Control: Analogue
Track: Mostly Peco code 100 flexible track, points Peco large and medium radius (mainline), Peco medium and small radius for yards.
Minimum radius: 24 inch for inner mainline, 18 inch in workshops and yards.
Locomotives: RTR from Lima, Austrains and Trainorama, kit and scratch-built bodies on propriety mechanisms (mostly Athearn or Proto2000).
Rollingstock: RTR from Lima, Powerline and Trainorama, kits from BGB, Steam Era Models, AR kits, scratchbuilt (and kit bashed)



T363 and T347 on a empty grain special to Skipton pass X48 and S305 on the Up Overland. The T class are scratchbuilt bodies on Athearn SW1500 mechanisms. The X class is a northern models body with a mashima can motor, while the S class, Overland cars and GY wagons are from Lima.