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Latest News
Keep checking back to this page from time to time.
New photos and events, new locomotives, rollingstock, buildings etc etc. will be added progressively.
Reports on visits to other G scale layouts, club meetings and running days will be included.
To see our local club website, click on
http://www.trainweb.org/grass/
GRASS to learn more.
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Latest Update; 3rd October, 2023
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3rd October 2023
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Several new variants of Quarry Skips and Loads plus an Observation Coach and tiny Brake Van have been added to the Quarry rollingstock roster.
These add interest for train consists.
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27th February 2023
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A rake of 4 Skips have been added to the Quarrie operations on the Barron Tableland Railway.
While these skips are new to the BTR they are quite old and were recently purchased second hand.
They will compliment the capacity of the output from the Quarrie.
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23rd August 2022
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On the Locomotives page, see my Servo operated DIRECTION and SOUNDS selection CAMS and Micro Switches BUILD.
The device is an Elecro-Mechanical combination of;
RC Servo, DPDT Ctr Off toggle switch, two micro swithes and two Brass CAMS.
This unit was scratch built from bits and pieces from my scrap box.
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23rd January 2022
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The Locomotive Servicing Precinct has been changed.
The initial configuration that was installed when the Heritage Listed Engine Shed was relocated
from Tabletop Station down to Shenangian's Wharf included an entire covering of new railway ballast.
As with all servicing facilities, the ballast becomes contaminated over time with brake dust, sand, grease, dirt etc etc.
The area has now been made to look more used and aged.
The addition of sheets of fibre cement boards to raise the ground surface to near that of the top of the rails, achieves that look.
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10th May 2021
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The BTR now has a Track Inspectors Rail Car, 1926 Ford Sedan adapted to Railway use.
The model was scratch built from bits and pieces from my scrap box.
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17th April 2021
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The 1920's model Red Fred Rail Motor has undergone a re-build.
The Receiver, sound system and direction/speed control has been misbehalving in recent times so a refresh was needed.
A new Trigger style Transmitter intended for use with model cars has been adapted for use here.
The new components are depicted in several locations within the vehicle.
The installation uses readily available parts that are easy to service/replace, was low cost, and simple to build.
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11th January 2021
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A purpose built Carry Box ( Open Frame) for 4 coaches has been completed.
To make carrying multiple passenger coaches easier, I have developed an 'open frame' Carry Box that enables me to walk with these close to my leg even when using stairs.
The design allows me to quickly unload the coaches onto fellow club members track for a running session.
Then later reload the coaches securely ready for the transit back home.
The construction was low cost, simple to build, light weight and strong.
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17th August 2020
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Alterations to the track layout at Shenanigan's Wharf have been completed.
Relocation of the Engine Shed from Tabletop Station to Shenanigan's Wharf is now finished.
This means that Locomotive servicing can be undertaken where services are more readily available.
The raw set out of the water tank and the engine shed, more detail items will be added as they are made available.
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12th August 2020
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Second "drop-On" steam loco body shell under construction for the Mack base box.
Recent News introduced a concept of having several loco bodies available to "drop onto" a single base unit.
This was a way to save on mechanisms and give some flexibility to loco choices on any given running day.
The first body was a Class A Climax 0-4-0, this second body is an 0-4-0 Steam Loco with SKIRTS.
This Loco will have skirts to hide the side rods and avoid scaring horses and children when running as a Tram on street railways.
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27th May 2020
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Tabletop Station precinct is about to farewell the Heritage Listed Engine Shed.
Changes to train timetable mean that locomotives and rail motors will no longer be stored overnight at Tabletop Station.
The Heritage Listed Engine Shed is to be relocated to Shenanigan's Station precinct where locomotive servicing will be enhanced.
This news has been accepted happily by local residents who have long complained about noises at night or early morning.
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15th May 2020
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HLW Mack kitbash - "Drop-On" body options for the BTR Mack.
A major rebuild based on a HLW Mack gives flexibility to selecting several Body options.
The first "Drop-On" body is a wood construction 0-4-0 Climax/Dunkirk Locomotive.
This Loco is now in traffic on the BTR.
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26th May 2019
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New Rail Motor for the BTR.
There has been a need for a additional local passenger service on the BTR.
Soon an 1800 Class Rail Motor (Blue Lagoon) will join the fleet of Locomotives.
Construction is underway, keep an eye on this page for progress.
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22nd April 2019
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Rebuilt Sundial Station precinct.
My wife was gardening close by, tripped & fell taking trackwork with her.
Bruised and sore, Christine was quickly back up & on her feet laughing it off.
The bent & twisted scene gave me an opportunity to do some improvement works.
Tracks were removed, cleaned, curved 3/4" plywood base boards were oil/stained.
A new four board base assembly for the station tracks was built.
Supporting brick pavers were checked for alignment and level.
Tracks were reinstated ready for the next train running event.
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5th November 2018
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Yellow Bo Diesel for the BTR.
Modifications were made to an LGB 0-4-0 diesel.
This little Loco has proved to be quite useful on the BTR.
Completed Loco has the BTR 'family look'.
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24th September 2018
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New Guards Van for the BTR.
There has been a need for a new Guards van for the BTR.
Modifications were made to one of the fleet of my plain B Class coaches.
The BTR now has two such BLV Guards Vans.
Completed Van has the 'look' we were hoping for.
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24th July 2018
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Maintenance works undertaken in recent times.
The BTR still has a few Locomotives that have NiMh battery cells.
While still ongoing, several more have laterly been fitted with LiPo 3S batteries.
The photo attached shows one such LiPo battery being pushed up inside the BTR Shay firebox/boiler.
After it slides all the way into the firebox it is not too noticable behind firebox door.
Another task is the ungoing conversion of couplers to Kadee type as funds permit.
Several rakes of wagons have been treated in recent times.
All my Kadee couplers have been modified by adding copper hooks.
A hole is drilled through the back of the Kadee, then a bent copper wire hook is inserted.
This allows for coupling to some remaining 4 wheel wagons that have hook & loop couplings.
It also allows for running with other "GRASS" members rolling stock on visiting days.
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22nd February 2018
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Coal Loading facility ready for coal trains.
The completed Coal Load Out facility on the BTR is a 1/24th scale model.
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22nd February 2018
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Coastal Steamer at the Shenanigan's Wharf.
The latest addition to the facilities on the BTR is a 1/24th scale model of a Coastal Steam Ship.
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03rd November 2017
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Rebuilding of the Tabletop now completed.
The Track work and Ballasting is now done and trains are running again.
Test train includes longest wheel base wagons to check side to side clearances
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17th October 2017
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Rebuild in progress of the Tabletop track plan.
The fibre cement sheets on which tracks and ballast were laid were 4mm thick.
Over the years since 2005, wet & dry deterioration of the fibre cement and
wet & dry rot in the underlying timbers had caused undulations in "Top" of rails.
Decided to improve the track plan by adding a fourth run through road
Also wished to do away with the Hang-over of the station platform.
So the replacement sheets are now 8mm thick x 900mm wide in lieu of the former 600mm wide sheets.
The Blue Board sheets are painted on the underside, ballast side and edges with a Charcoal colour sealer / primer.
The ballast is 5mm crushed Basalt (Blue Metal).
The Blue Boards in place after mitre cutting and trial fitting.
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2nd October 2017
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More loads for the Standard Quarry Flat Wagons.
The Cylinders/Tanks adapted from the small Coke Cola cans.
These are obtained in 8 packs at supermarkerts.
They are mounted on craddles and sit loose on standard Flat Wagons as and when required.
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5th August 2017
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A few hours free to make a variant to the Standard Quarry Flat Wagons.
The Chord Wood Wagon includes a demountable CRADDLE,
that can be fitted to a standard Flat Wagon as and when required.
Chord Wood is used to fire the Vertical Boiler for the Quarry Crane.
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1st April 2017
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A few weeks of rainy weather has provided an opportunity to build a KA Wagon.
The painted KA Class Wagon ready for traffic.
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14th March 2017
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Another rainy day saw me modeling 44 gallon drums.
The completed drums.
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05th March 2017
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A rainy weekend allowed me to do some modeling.
The Boiler for the slowly evolving Coal Wharf Crane has been delivered to the BTR.
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11th February 2017
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More Wagon loads have become available as a result of some DIY handyman tools reaching the end of the service life.
These are heavy enough to merely be placed on a wagon (loose) and stay put for regular train running vibration.
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27th November 2016
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More F5 Class 5 plank wagons enter service on the BTR.
The F5 Class 5 plank Wagon is modeled in wood.
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28th November 2016
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New Water Tank under construction for the BTR.
The completed model is ready to be 'weathered'.
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6th November 2016
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New coal load out Bunker for Hells Gate colliery on the BTR.
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6th November 2016
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New Coal Wharf Crane begins construction for Shenanigan's Wharf on the BTR.
This model has been commenced and is at the early stages of work,
so it is merely an incomplete collection of parts awaiting assembly soon.
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2nd September 2016
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New string of coal hopper wagons enters service on the BTR.
These models feature realistic hoppers that are a free fit and not attached to the under carriage.
Just like the real coal hopper wagons, the hoppers can be crane lifted off the frames to be
slewed over ship holds for unloading coal. The crane then returns the hopper to the corresponding under carriage.
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To see a Video of a Coal pick up train from Hells Gate Colliery, 'click' on this small photo;
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5th August 2016
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Recommencement of activity on the BTR.
After a long absence, there is renewed activity on wagon construction on the BTR.
The Garden had become quite overgrown and some track maintenance was required.
Four more VR Coal Hopper Wagons are under construction, soon to join the fleet.
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30th August 2015
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Engine Shed at Tabletop Station precinct.
The somewhat neglected and forgotten Engine Shed at Tabletop.
It is used to house the Railmotor overnight ready for the morning run down to the Coast.
Here, 0-4-0 ROBIN, is at the Shed for a minor repair after a shunting incident.
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31st July 2015
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Video Camera MOUNTING with "Oversteering" into curves.
Self Oversteering Video Camera mounting and linkages have been tested on the BTR.
several options enable video footage on curved track to 'see around curves'
so that the video viewer can see what is coming up next down the track.
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14th July, 2015
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New CROSSOVER installed on Spiral Bridge.
There has been a need to allow 'Balloon Loop to Balloon Loop' running of trains 'on-the-level'or upper part of the BTR.
This new crossover allows trains to run around the top level in several track configuration options;
Dog Bone (overlapped), inner circuit, outer circuit and a circular track around Hammock Hill.
Before the CROSSOVER was installed.
The new CROSSOVER in place.
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