PORT ELIZABETH MODEL RAILROAD CLUB Newsletter
June 2021 #06/2021
Every gauge welcome!
In this issue: PEMRC Digital Library
PEMRC Calendar
Committee
Market Place
Cry the Beloved Railway
Mailbox
Riddles
Expanding a 4×8
How electric locomotives work
The Magic of Scale Railroading
Howard Zane’s Piermont Div. video
Return of the Railway Children
Electronics – finding faults
Trick the eye in your layout scene
Layout design: Best use of space
Shelfie
Hornby’s 100mm challenge
From the footplate
Snippets from abroad Baseboard basics
IN OUR DIGITAL LIBRARY The first virtual model train show to replicate the in-person train show experience, an event dubbed World’s Greatest Hobby Online, took place on April 17th. The event is sponsored by the World’s Greatest Hobby, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. It featured digital exhibits and keynote addresses from some of the best-known model train companies including Atlas, Bachmann, Kalmbach, Kato, and Walthers. More information can be found at www.wgh.events including exhibiting information etc. For those who missed the show: A selection of the video presentations from the show including a number of featured layouts, new product launches, key note talks, how to’s, etc. have been collected and can be accessed here but only till the end of June 2021 since we are running out of digital space.
PEMRC CALENDAR
PEMRC is not organising any group activities during the pandemic
9-11
29-30
14-21
July 2021
National Train Show Santa Clara California,
Oct 2021
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
USA Eurospoor 2021 Event & Exhibition Centre Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Netherlands NMRA National Convention 2022
Aug
Birmingham, UK
2022
https://www.nmra2022uk.org/
COMMITTEE 2021: Chairman:
Roel van Oudheusden
roelvanoza@gmail.com
Treasurer:
Attie Terblanche
terblalc@telkomsa.net
Clubhouse: JP Kruger
juanpierrekruger@gmail.com
Editor:
Roel van Oudheusden
pemrailroadclub@gmail.com
‘Shop’:
Graham Chapman
chapman22@telkomsa.net
Workshops: Mike van Zyl
carpencab@gmail.com
Subscriptions for 2021 remain at R300 for the year. EFT is preferred, but the Treasurer may be persuaded to accept cash. Bank account:
Port Elizabeth Model Railroad Club
FNB Walmer Park, branch code 211417, Account no. 62386122057
Tell us about your PEMRC Newsletter experience
What was your favourite article? Which type of article should be stopped or published more of? How do you access the newsletter? Do you find it easy or difficult to access and read the newsletter? Did you explore most of the hyperlinks for more detail and/or video? Any other comment or suggestion. Write to:
pemrailroadclub@gmail.com
Or via SMS or WhatsApp to +27 82 739 7679
MARKET PLACE
Members can advertise their model rail related items here for free; All others pay a 10% donation of the proceeds to PEMRC.
Neil Viljoen from Willowmore invites your bid on the following 21x HO, 11x N scale as well as 5 inch scale items. Please contact him directly on 081 484 9616 with your offer.
HO scale 1:87 new in original box; freight cars have been fitted with Atlas steel wheels by Neil. Railway Company
Brand
Part #
Description
number
Central valley
1903
72ft single track plate girder bridge
Merten
2268
Locomotive personnel
Athearn
2403
GN Empire Builder
Great Northern
Athearn
7833
Passenger diner
Great Northern
Athearn
7834
Round roof passenger coach
Great Northern
Shinohara
141-E
200 code 100 joiners
Walthers
931101
GP9M Locomotive with brass flywheel
BurlingtonNorthern
1709
Walthers
931201
Alco FA-1 Locomotive
Great Northern
310A
Walthers
931601
50ft flat car
Burlington Northern
621857
Walthers
931613
40ft tank car
Amoco
1330
Walthers
931707
Locomotive & Caboose pack
BNSF
Loco 1600 Caboose 12620
Walthers
9322122
40ft Wood Box car with grain doors
Great Northern
31338
Walthers
9322571
40ft meat reefer
Swift
SRLX 14952
6 figurines
30
two packets of 100 ea.
HO scale 1:87 new in original box; freight cars have been fitted with Atlas steel wheels by Neil. Walthers
9323463
Walthers
9323601
Walthers
9323608
Walthers
9327451
Walthers
931372
Atlas
North American 50ft smooth side box car North American 50ft exterior post box car North American 50ft exterior post box car 46ft USRA Gondola GP-15 Locomotive with dual brass fly wheel various straight and curved track pieces incl. diamond crossing
Atlas
one pair manual points
Atlas
3 ft. lengths flexible track
The Hubinger Co
NIRX 14004
Chicago & Northwestern
33045
Johnson Wax
JWAX
Baltimore & Ohio
256506
Chicago & Northwestern
x 15
N scale Atlas
2548
single track plate girder bridge
Atlas
curved track pieces
Atlas
rail joiners
4 packets
Walthers
7842
GP 38 Locomotive
CSX
6638
Walthers
7351
E6A Locomotive
CNW
5006A
Conductor's choice
40ft reefer box car
Bangoor and Aroostook
9125
Conductor's choice
40ft reefer box car
Rasking Packing Co.
URTX 60708
Conductor's choice
hopper
Frisco
SL-SF 90491
N scale Conductor's choice
40 ft. cattle car (stock car)
CNW
Conductor's choice
Chemical tank car
Union Carbide
Conductor's choice
box car
CN A Rail Box
15040
553093
5 Inch scale:
Simplex frame with wheels. Axles and axleboxes. Crankpins on wheels.
5 inch Gauge Simplex left side Cylinder complete with rods and motion. Right side cylinder for Simplex complete with rods and motion. Motion brackets included both left and right side. Feedpumps for 5 inch Gauge Simplex. One driven from eccentric on axle,other operated by hand. 5 inch gauge Simplex smokebox with Chimney and smokebox door
5 inch Gauge Simplex Boiler with Steam dome.
5 inch Gauge Simplex Steam Turret with Valves.
Cry the Beloved Railway – from the 13 May 2021 Mountain passes Newsletter Trygve Roberts Editor - Mountain Passes South Africa https://mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za/ INTRODUCTION: Along the mountainous border of Lesotho, between Aliwal North and Barkly East, ran what was arguably the most scenic branch railway line in South Africa. Railway enthusiasts also know the line for the famous set of eight reverses (or switchbacks) that negotiate the difficult terrain of the Witteberge in the southern foothills of the Drakensberg. Although relatively short in length, its overall construction period was unduly long (28 years), spanning from March 1903 to December 1930, and included the puzzling abandonment of an essentially completed and particularly striking section. What circumstances interfered? Because of conflicting explanations, and other questions, a group of five civil engineers visited the disused line during October 2012, seeking answers to their questions. Comprising what came to be known as the 2012 Barkly East Railway Reverses Tour (BERRT), the participants offer these findings, hoping other engineers and enthusiasts will visit this remarkable branch line in a magnificent part of South Africa. LENGTHY CONSTRUCTION TIME Although only 157 km in length, the line was constructed in four separate sections: 1. Aliwal North to Lady Grey, 64 km, constructed from March 1903 to November 1905. This was a relatively easy section, the only significant obstacle being the first crossing of the Kraai River near Aliwal North. 2. Lady Grey to Motkop, 33 km, April 1910 to December 1913. This section was the most difficult, as the line had to cross the Karringmelkspruit, a deeply incised valley. It is here where six of the eight reverses were eventually built. Motkop comprised an insignificant temporary siding, a terminus necessitated by budget constraints. 3. Motkop to New England, 32 km, August 1914 to December 1915. New England was a more substantial terminus, better accessible by road from Barkly East and the surrounding farming country. This section was easy going without difficult obstacles. 4. New England to Barkly East, 28 km, after a 13 year delay, constructed from November 1928 to December 1930. This section crossed the Kraai River for a second time, and required two more reverses. To the question why construction took so long, a short answer is that each section had to follow a similar, protracted procedure of lobbying, parliamentary authorisation of a desirable “new line”, and then awaiting parliamentary appropriation of the necessary funds (against fierce competition from many rival construction demands and requests). On each occasion insufficient funds were voted to complete the entire branch line – so, to complete the line, a new cycle had to be started. Economic and political conditions in the country also played a role: Section 1 was built at a time of national reconstruction following the end of the South African War, when almost every district was clamouring for rail access. Funds were stretched widely. Cape rail construction tapered off dramatically after 1905, as shown in Figure 1, and the line was implicated. From about 1906, large capital investment by government, which included new rail construction, was inhibited by the pending unification of South Africa in 1910, holding to the well-established principle that projects could only be approved if “those that have to pay have a voice in the expenditure incurred”.
Map by Boonzaaier Section 2 of the branch line was the exception to the rule, as it was started only one month before unification after aggressive lobbying by the Barkly East community, based on the fear that their line would never be approved under a new government covering a much larger area of jurisdiction. Of course, the line was absorbed into the South African Railways (SAR) upon unification. World War 1 (1914 – 1918) put an automatic stop to rail construction; the SAR had to divert its resources to, amongst other activities, connecting the South African and South West African railways in record time, and transporting troops and war supplies. Section 4 was authorised in 1925, when serious doubts were raised about the economic viability of branch lines in general. Critical examination of branch line proposals, coupled with difficult economic conditions, obliged a wait of three more years before construction started. CROSSING THE KARRINGMELKSPRUIT Between Aliwal North and Barkly East the most severe obstacle is presented
by
the
Karringmelkspruit, east of Lady Grey.
Tributary to
the
Kraai
River, Karringmelkspruit cuts a deep gorge with steep, boulderstrewn slopes – designing and constructing a railway bridge here would be challenging View of the Rail Bridge over the Karringmelkspruit
Upriver the gorge is less daunting, but the rugged Little Berg of the Drakensberg limits viable crossings to one short reach, a spot used in the 19th century for the old wagon trail, and today by the R58 main road between Lady Grey and Barkly East. Rail alignment incurs severe geometrical constraints, forcing engineers to consider all possible options. Following a “flying survey” in 1899, probably performed on horseback with primitive surveying instruments (if any), George Schele, reporting his findings to none other than John Brown (soon thereafter the first president of SAICE in 1903), first suggested a route. His proposal was based on a rail gauge of 2 feet (mensuration at the time, 610 mm today) and would have crossed the Karringmelkspruit on a low bridge at exactly the same point where the rail crosses today. His proposal did not include any reverses, but he admitted that the route “could hardly be selected if the gauge was of standard width” (the standard Cape gauge of 3 feet 6 inches, or 1 067 mm). Soon thereafter, following a more detailed survey in 1903, resident engineer Allan McDonald Campbell boldly proposed a route that would cross the Karringmelkspruit about 1 000 m further downriver in the gorge, requiring a high bridge 93 m above the river bed. Moreover, at the eastern end of the bridge, the line would immediately enter a tunnel only 70 m long, exiting on a small plateau and continuing in regular fashion. When crews moved onto site in 1910, this proposal, which accommodated the wider gauge, was approved and tunnel construction started forthwith, in parallel with the bridge design. Understandably, the bridge design team (who had to be paid for many hours of overtime) finally came up with a cost estimate significantly higher than that budgeted for. Stringent budget controls imposed by parliament could not be exceeded, so Campbell’s grand design was scrapped and an alternative system of six reverses was hastily constructed. Three reverses allow the line to descend steeply to cross the Karringmelkspruit at the same low level that Schele had suggested, and via three more reverses to rise again to the plateau immediately east of the tunnel. Substitution of the six reverses to replace the bridge was approved only in November 1911, three months after the tunnel and the approach earthworks for the high-level bridge had been completed in August 1911. Naturally this led to an embarrassing situation: an expensive, complete, lined railway tunnel, worthless and unusable to this day. Additionally, the rail formation constructed on side-long ground on the western approach to the proposed high-level bridge has left a hillside scar visible to the present. For the first decades following the tunnel construction, it was commonly reported and generally accepted that abandonment of the tunnel and its approach formation ending in a short but deep curved cutting, was caused by an unavoidable shortage of money. Abandoned fully lined tunnel
Latterly, however, a number of myths have arisen to explain why the tunnel and formation were abandoned and the bridge design aborted; some are listed below, all easy to disprove by simply considering the timeline: “During World War 1 a ship loaded with bridge material en route to South Africa was sunk by a German Uboat.” (1978 The Great Steam Trek) “The ship with the bridge parts sank in a storm on its way from the United Kingdom to South Africa. The reverses were planned all along as a provisional arrangement for the transport of material for track and tunnel construction. As no second bridge could be ordered due to the impending war, the provisional arrangement became permanent.” (From a 1979 report on www.drehscheibe.com) “The reverses were designed in 1923 by a German woman living in the area.” (1980, Volksblad) “The steel girders for the bridge were manufactured in England but the ship Mexico, carrying the girders, was sunk during World War 1.” (2011, Heritage Management Strategy and Implementation Plan for Barkly East) “Two bridges were sent from England and both failed to reach their destination – one was sent back for ammunition during World War 1 and the second sank with the ship that was transporting it.” (From www.zuluportal.com) “The steelwork for the bridge was lost at sea en route from the UK.” (1980, South African Steam Today) Next month we will publish Part 2 of this fascinating story. The full story and photos originate from the May 2013 edition of the "Civil Engineering" magazine and was submitted by Allison Sykes
Expanding a 4×8 By Steven Otte associate editor If nothing limits your layout to a sheet of plywood, a little more space goes a long way Sketching with Steve A pencil sketch of a 5-by-9-foot twice-around HO scale track plan
Associate editor Steven Otte found the inspiration for this 5 x 9-foot HO scale track plan in an assortment of 4 x 8-foot plans from 101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders (Kalmbach Books). The good old 4 x 8 train table is a tradition – if not a cliché – for a reason: plywood comes in 4 x 8-foot sheets. When our dads or grandpas bought us our first train sets for Christmas, they often nailed that simple oval or figure-8 onto a table made of one sheet of plywood. It’s simple to build and fits your basic HO scale oval with room to spare. But there’s only so much you can do with a 4 x 8. Take a look at some of the plans Kalmbach compiled in one of its best-selling books, 101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders (which is still available in the Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com). Most of the plans maximize the main line with a twice-around approach, sending one loop climbing up and over the other. But even those that use very tight curves (15” radius) have room for only a handful of spur tracks and sidings. Some don’t even have passing tracks. Here’s a question: If you’re already cutting up the plywood sheet to lift the grade up and over, why are you still limiting yourself to the size that plywood used to be? Let’s see what we can do with a twice-around plan if we add just one foot to dimension of the table, making it a 5 x 9. I began by plotting out the two nested curves on the right and the grade-separated curves on the left, then connected them with straightaways and 18” radius curve sections. The elevations are based on a rise of 1/2”
per foot of track, which is just a hair over a 4 percent grade – a little steep, but doable by a single locomotive pulling a train of length appropriate for this size railroad, four to eight cars. To maximize realism – something that twice-around plans often lack – I decided to hide one end of both loops in tunnels. The mountainous terrain this would require suggests setting the layout in coal country, so I added a switchback coal branch in the middle of the layout, with a simple truck dump on one end and a sizable mine tipple on the other. On the other side of the main loop I placed a coal-marshalling yard where empties and loads can be exchanged and coal trains assembled. I’ve positioned the turnouts to these two destinations so a train moving clockwise around the loops can switch both as trailing-point turnouts. Now, where could those coal trains go? I’ve already put a passing track inside the lower-level tunnel; that could be used to stage an empty hopper train and receive a loaded one when the session is through. If we can assume we’ll control turnouts on the layout with remote-control switch motors, we can add another turnout just inside a tunnel portal to add a stub-ended track. This can either be used as a single muzzleloaded staging track or lead to a separate staging yard attached at top left. Either way, be sure to build your mountain for easy access in case of derailments. Speaking of switch motors, there’s one place where that will be a problem: the turnout leading to the coal marshalling yard. Falling as it does directly on top of the hidden trackage, it will require either manual control or a switch motor positioned under a structure off to the side of the track. There’s a nice large area at bottom right that seems perfect for a town scene with a couple industries. By employing a switchback we can also include a small engine servicing area. Since there isn’t space for a coal tower, water tank, or particularly large turntable, we’ll have to set our layout in the early diesel era and work the layout with a Geep or Alco road switcher. A depot and a couple of industries at the top of the plan, and we have a destination for a local freight or mixed train in addition to the coal traffic. This train should also run clockwise, or else four of its five industrial spurs will be facing-points. The one thing I’m not happy with about this plan: with a 5-foot wide table, the reach-in distance to the coal marshalling yard is an issue. At 6’-4” tall, I can reach in 2-1/2 feet easily, but not everyone can. The approach to the yard could be curved more to bring it closer to the main line, reducing the reach, but that would also necessitate reducing the length or number of tracks. I could have put the yard where the town is – there’s plenty of width – but the length is again an issue. Or you could eliminate the town and engine servicing area, reducing that end of the layout to 4 feet wide, but that sacrifices a lot of interesting operation. Perhaps another solution will present itself later. After all, this is just a sketch. Source: Trains.com Newsletter
Mini World Models Shop online and use this special coupon to claim your unique discount
PEMRC
member
Dream trains No shipping costs for combined orders of R2000 or more. Shop online and fill your cart, even if less than R2000, then contact PEMRC Graham Chapman, to combine your order with fellow club members and all will save.
A members only look at the new exhibit showcasing the history of scale model railroading at the California State Railroad Museum. The exhibit is presented in partnership with the National Model Railroad Association. View the video here Also on the same YouTube channel you will find further videos of interest such as ”Horses to Horsepower” to experience what it was like to build the nation’s first Transcontinental Railroad! Your conductor will escort you to five different stations located in the California State
If you’re asking model railroaders and railway enthusiasts in the United States, where to find one of the most outstanding model railroad layouts, they will probably answer, this is the “Piermont Division” made by Howard Zane. In fact, the “Piermont Division” is a superb HO scale permanent display layout, constructed to museum quality. Howard Zane’s 2,850 square foot model railroad layout, showcasing his artistry in model railroad building and rail modelling, is acclaimed as one of the finest and largest private layouts. There are over 22 scale miles of track, historically accurate architecture, overwhelming landscapes and of course America’s greatest steam locomotives. Although fictional, the “Piermont Division” is filled with scenes and structures you would swear you have seen before. For decades, rail modeller Howard Zane has produced scratch built, custom structures of all kinds in HO scale and O scale for model railroads. Apart from Howard Zane’s Piermont Division, there are many other beautiful layouts in our little world of model trains. Pilentum Television would like to visit every single layout and record on video, but a trip from Germany, where Pilentum Television is based, to the US is far too expensive. Therefore, Forrest Nace, a videographer from the US, provided Pilentum Television with some exquisite video footage. Forrest made a documentary about the “Piermont Division”, which is available on https://nacesvideography.com. In this movie we see some short video sequences from his documentary. https://youtu.be/kRLbS226dqA
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN – Sequel announced By Howard Smith Jenny Agutter set to resume her role from the original 1970 film, in this follow-up to the ever-popular classic British film.
Image Credit: STUDIOCANAL / THE RAILWAY CHILDREN (1970) ORIGINAL FILM Studiocanal has announced the start of principal photography on The Railway Children Return, revealing that BAFTA & Emmy Award-winning Jenny Agutter will resume her role from the original The Railway Children. Expected to reach UK cinemas on April 1, 2022, BAFTA-winning Sheridan Smith, Academy Award nominee and BAFTA-winning Tom Courtenay and a new generation of Railway Children will star. Shooting began on location in the UK on May 10. BAFTA-winning Director, Morgan Matthews (X+Y) is shooting in key locations from the original film to include Oakworth Station, Haworth, and The Bronte Parsonage. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway from the original film will also feature. Written by BAFTA-winning Danny Brocklehurst and produced by BAFTA and award-winning Jemma Rodgers for Studiocanal, the film is inspired by one of the most iconic British family films of all time. Expected to be an enchanting adventure for a new generation, the film hopes to bring a contemporary sensibility to a classic story, combining a British cast with stunning locations. The Railway Children Return hopes to take audiences on an exciting and heart-warming journey, in which a group of children are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during World War II, where they encounter a young soldier, who like them, is far away from home.
MODEL RAILROAD ELECTRONICS
http://www.circuitous.ca/CircuitIndex.html#117
Welcome to a page of electronic circuits that are mostly for model railroads. Shown are circuits that were developed to solve certain problems or achieve a desired control function. There are throttle, train detection, animation, control and general purpose circuits on this page. Following this section is a list of the circuits that appear on these pages. Select one of the internal page links or scroll down the page until you find something of interest. The link under the paragraphs in each section will take you to the document from which the text is taken. These documents will provide more detailed explanations and schematics for the circuits. The circuits listed in the index sections appear in no particular order but have been loosely grouped by the type of function they perform. The Numbers to the left of the index listings are arbitrary. There is also a "Miscellaneous Items Index" that features circuits that may not be model railroad related and non-electronics related pages. About The Circuits on This Site The circuits on this site are purposely designed to be as simple and efficient as possible. In most cases, they perform only one function, but do it well. While the circuits are easy to connect, good wire management should be used. A neat looking circuit is likely to work better than a messy one. Most of the circuits require a DC supply. An incorrect power supply polarity will damage these circuits. The circuits use parts that are widely available and easy use. Some of the circuits use devices such as Hall Effect sensors but even these are used in a simple manner. Some circuits and pages don't have a particular use and are only meant to be educational or informative. Some of the circuits are of general interest, generally mine, and may be of little use. They are functional however and at the very least, a useful waste of my time. Some of the circuits on this site, in their original form, are or were in use by the London Model Railroad Group. This large, 'O' Scale club layout is located at 4474 Blakie Rd. Unit 127, London, Ontario, Canada. If you see any problems with the circuits or have any questions or suggestions please let me know. Email to: rpaisley4@cogeco.ca
Please give the email a proper title.
Crafty Arts 10% discount via their discount card scheme. Collaborate with Aubrey de Chalain on building dioramas and exhibits in their newly extended premises.
http://www.circuitous.ca/xCoolCrawler.htmlhttp://www.circuitous.ca/xCoolCrawler.html
TRICK THE EYE IN YOUR LAYOUT SCENES
Disguise the entrance to your staging
Enlarge an industry with a mirror Fun with view blocks and background photos. For the last week I have been working on a "disguise" for one of two entrance into my staging area. One is a highway overpass which is still developing. The other turned out to be with help from a Walthers Pellet Transfer a scratch built plastics plant. After constructing these I also added background phots of trees/ foliage and a city scene from the actual town I model. Here are a few photos illustrating my progress. Enjoy, Barry
Designed to sit at a shelf height of about 1200 mm off the ground, this cameo layout is 1250mm
long,
390mm wide and 500mm high, excl. the storage yard;
There's no definition as to how many points a micro layout should have, or indeed a size criteria, the size of a micro being intrinsically linked to the scale you're working in. Shelfie has four points to make it interesting to operate, and look realistic. Micro layouts often have only two points and follow a very formulaic. It is easy to get stuck in a linear rut using just left and right hand points, so to make best use of the restricted footprint, I chose a curved left hand point, two ‘Y’ points, with one medium
radius
left
hand
point.
These
automatically introduced curves into the design. Standard left- and right hand points will often lead to a very linear design, but with Shelfie there is only one piece of track parallel to the baseboard edge. The overall effect is of a concave alignment as you look at it from the viewing side. The track plan allows a small 0-6-0T or diesel shunter enough space to run around a train of four 10 ft. wagons. The visual appeal of this for me is that you can see what the train is doing. The two sidings are of a reasonable length to store and shunt wagons in - this keeps the interest up whilst operating it. The gentle curves mean that longer wagons such as VRAs or bogie bolster wagons don’t look out of place. This in turn makes the layout usable for diesel operation allowing a locomotive up to the length of a Class 47 to operate without problems.
LAYOUT DESIGN: BEST USE OF SPACE Planning a 18’ x 14’ shed layout, starting with this:
And ending with this:
Video link here
As part of HORNBY’s big 100th anniversary celebrations, they invited members of their Collector’s Club to enter the 100mm Anniversary Challenge. The rules were:
No limit to the size of the layout or diorama entered Maximum amount of track allowed is 100mm. Each entry must include 2 additional Hornby products.
There were two age categories, below or over 16 years of age with prizes in both categories.
< 16 years:
> 16 years:
Watch Signal box video here