Just got my "L" plates today

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GAP
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Just got my "L" plates today

Post by GAP » Mon Dec 20, 2021 7:15 am

Today I got my "L" plates to learn how to drive this;
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50 hours of log book time with a mentor started today with a logging of 2 hours pushing the leaf blowing machine around the railway circuit, learning the gearing and throttle settings for track gradients and when to sound the horn at road and pedestrian crossings.

Ultimate goal is for me to join the drivers roster drive a train of fare paying passengers.

Baby steps at the moment, after this my next ambition will be to move onto being a fireman then eventually a driver on the steam locos (already on the roster to light up the steam locos).

A lifelong desire/ambition may finally come to pass.
Last edited by GAP on Wed Dec 29, 2021 11:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Graeme
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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by ge_rik » Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:41 am

Well done, Graeme.
Leaf blower .... now there's an idea..... :roll: :)

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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by GAP » Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:53 pm

ge_rik wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:41 am Well done, Graeme.
Leaf blower .... now there's an idea..... :roll: :)

Rik
Rik the "leaf Blower" is a diesel powered air compressor with an output to a pipe that has smaller pipes coming off it these direct a jet of air down onto either side of the rail as well as down the centre.
The railway runs through a botanical garden and the leaf drop is huge.
Pictures will be forth coming when I go back again, on the loco as assistant on 29 Dec.
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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by ge_rik » Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:25 pm

GAP wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:53 pm
Rik the "leaf Blower" is a diesel powered air compressor with an output to a pipe that has smaller pipes coming off it these direct a jet of air down onto either side of the rail as well as down the centre.
The railway runs through a botanical garden and the leaf drop is huge.
Pictures will be forth coming when I go back again, on the loco as assistant on 29 Dec.
:thumbup:

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Navvies Equipment on Australian Sugar Cane Railway

Post by GAP » Wed Dec 29, 2021 3:53 pm

A few shots of the Navvies equipment used on the Australian Sugar cane Railway as promised.

The Leaf Blower outlet
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Compressor
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The Tamper used to pack soil under the sleepers it is self propelled and requires 2 operators. When the tynes are lowered it locks onto the rail.
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Last edited by GAP on Wed Dec 29, 2021 11:31 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Navvies Equipment on Australian Sugar Cane Railway

Post by GAP » Wed Dec 29, 2021 3:56 pm

The navvies trolley with trailer, hand tools (picks, shovels, and the all important "smoko" chairs etc) are in the metal boxes.
Ballast hopper in background, the sleepers are laid straight onto the ground and "CrackerDust" (a type of blue metal rock fine crushed) is used to fill around and between them.
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Last edited by GAP on Wed Dec 29, 2021 11:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by Andrew » Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:50 pm

That's a very characterful loco you're learning to drive, I like it a lot - and the PW kit too, especially the hopper...

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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by GAP » Wed Dec 29, 2021 9:47 pm

Andrew wrote: Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:50 pm That's a very characterful loco you're learning to drive, I like it a lot - and the PW kit too, especially the hopper...
I spent 6 hours driving the loco towing trains of paying passengers (542) yesterday, bit of a learning curve after only having pushed the leaf blower around.
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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by ge_rik » Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:21 am

GAP wrote: Wed Dec 29, 2021 9:47 pm I spent 6 hours driving the loco towing trains of paying passengers (542) yesterday, bit of a learning curve after only having pushed the leaf blower around.
Sounds like you're now a few more steps up the ladder.
Must be very satisfying.

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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by GAP » Thu Dec 30, 2021 7:47 pm

ge_rik wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:21 am
GAP wrote: Wed Dec 29, 2021 9:47 pm I spent 6 hours driving the loco towing trains of paying passengers (542) yesterday, bit of a learning curve after only having pushed the leaf blower around.
Sounds like you're now a few more steps up the ladder.
Must be very satisfying.

Rik
I need to have 50 hours of operating the loco before I can sit for my exam, so all time in the drivers cab either as the driver or assistant is logged as tuition time.

Yes it was satisfying except when I hit the throttle instead of the brake while unloading passengers at the station, which as Murphy dictates was packed with people waiting to embark. How embarrassing.
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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by gregh » Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:07 am

You made a good move up north. Full size trains to drive and garden trains to build run, all in good weather.
Greg from downunder.
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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by Old Man Aaron » Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:12 am

Congratulations, Graeme! You'll be sitting the exam before you know it.
Must say you have some really nice equipment up there at Bundy.
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works

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Re: Just got my "L" plates today

Post by GAP » Fri Dec 31, 2021 7:26 pm

gregh wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:07 am You made a good move up north. Full size trains to drive and garden trains to build run, all in good weather.
And I unpacked my live steamer so having heaps of train time.
Graeme
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