The Leawarra Nayook Railway

[LNR]

Hi Mitch,
The Hunslet is a steel body on an extended Lady Anne chassis kit. It was my first loco in this scale.
Grant.

[LNR]

First Steam Run for 2020.
It rained lightly here most of the night, which cleared the smoke from our atmosphere. Eager to boil some water I gave the Lumberjack a run between the raindrops.

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Grant.

[ge_rik]

Another great set of pictures, Grant.

Thanks for the info on loco weathering. Must admit that, apart from a couple of diesels, I've resisted weathering my steam outline locos but, as you say, the railways our layouts represent would have limped along with increasingly ageing and patched-together rolling stock. I can see the advantages of a decent airbrush for subtle weathering techniques. I think I'll have to try seeing what I can achieve with weathering powders.

Intrigued by how many levels you seem to have on your railway. I assume your yard has quite a severe slope.

Rik

[LNR]

Thanks Rik,
In answer to your query on levels of my railway, and something maybe I should have posted much earlier, below is a track plan that I hope comes out large enough to read.
When I had 5" gauge, I had track on a 1in40 down the side, but I've terraced that into two levels for 45mm gauge. So Leawarra runs from 1240mm down at the turntable/workshop end down to 650mm at the footbridge. the rest is on the upper level and extends out over the lower level on posts shown in the last two pics. of the Lumberjack above. I can't remember the grade indicated on the plans top and right hand side, it's not severe but does mean you have to drive an engine. There has been subsidence in places, but being laid in 5ft lengths of flex track they're all gentle.

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Grant.

[philipy]

Lovely pictures Grant, thanks. The trackplan is useful as well.
Like Rik, I've also been wary about weathering. My attempts in years gone by have never really satisfied me. I think its probably due to me being too impatient and wanting instant results, rather than slowly building up subtle effects. That and the fact that I really have no eye for colours and how to mix them to achieve a finished effect.

[tom_tom_go]

Glad you are safe from the fires Grant.

If you have any photos of your 5" gauge days I would be interested to see them.

[Andrew]

Glad you are safe from the fires Grant

Ditto! The grass certainly looks dry...

Thanks for the plan, I'll enjoy refering to that when you post pictures of the various operations on your line...

All the best,

Andrew.

[LNR]

If you have any photos of your 5" gauge days

That was a long time ago Tom, many photos but all taken on slides, so unable to post here. Sorry.
Grant.

[FWLR]

Great seeing your brilliant line plan Grant. Love the shot over the bridge..

Hope you're not in any danger over there. And all of your fellow countrymen and women too. It's something that is very frighting to see and hear. Last night's news here told us about the young recently married couple who have just watched there home burn down, only saving their passports and a few belongings....Very sad..

[LNR]

Those reading the LEAWARRA GAZETTE noticed an article on Grays Sawmill, stating that with land values and rates going up it was becoming harder to mill timber at Leawarra and still turn a profit. The directors backed by the Accountant, have decided at a meeting of the Board to offer the large acreage for sale by public auction at a date to be fixed. Although this may mean job losses, it is hoped that many of the men currently working at Leawarra, will continue working at a new mill to be established on a timber tramway running from the present siding at Warringine.
The mill presently being constructed along with a tramway constructed to very high standards is taking shape as we speak. The tramway will involve some steep grades but the Engineers have assured the board that the locomotive they currently own, should handle the loads required. Whilst much building is still going on timber is already being produced.
Work started with a dozer removing the log ramp from the siding and preparing the ground for the new Tramway right of way.

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Showing a typical grade the locos will face against the load.

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The points on the siding are LNR property, with anything beyond them being Tramway owned, however strict rules will apply to Tramway stock running on LNR metals.
Grant.

[Mitch stack]

Looking good Grant! where will the mill be located and will it have a run around loop and do you have a plan of where it will sit on your line?
Mitch

[LNR]

Too many questions too early I'm afraid Mitch, Ive only just finished testing steam locos on the grade to know it will work. It will basically be an off line shunt with a loco maybe pushing a load up the grade in order to be facing the right way to run to Leawarra. Sort of very loosely based on the Tyers Valley Tramway with a more usable connection at "Collins Siding" ah la "Gray's Siding" on the LNR.
Grant.

[Andrew]

Very exciting! It's always intriguing to see freshly laid track striking out into the unknown. Or just across the lawn. I look forward to seeing further progress in due course...

All the best,

Andrew.

[ge_rik]

Only just caught up with this thread. Thanks for the trackplan. It makes a lot of sense now.

I do like the way your stations are laid out with plenty of space. Adds to the rural charm

Rik

[Soar Valley Light]

I do like the way your stations are laid out with plenty of space. Adds to the rural charm

Hi Grant,

I have to agree with Rik, it's the space that produces such realism too. I think its one of the biggest elements of creating 'reality in miniature' and yet probably the most scare resource we have as modellers.

I love the new Tramway. Out of interest, do you know what the gradient actually is?

Keep up the good work, thanks for posting the pictures.

Andrew

[LNR]

do you know what the gradient actually is?

Actually no Andrew, a rough check with the spirit level off the mainline which was level originally showed a drop of 12" over 29ft. I collected more track (Brass this time) yesterday and once laid I may have a better idea. Load tests showed the lumberjack starting a load of 5 bogie wagons, including two log trucks with three real logs a piece which are quite heavy, on the grade which is more than will ever be pulled out of there I suspect, so convinced me to go ahead with the idea.
Grant.

[Soar Valley Light]

Sound, practical engineering at its best Grant. I love it!

keep up the good work

Andrew

[LNR]

A small gathering of interested parties were there to witness the first load of sawn timber to come from the new Gray's mill site. It was a wild and windy day but the press were there taking photo's as the loco sat in the Warringine siding. The tramway construction lagged behind the building of the mill and there is a small backlog of sawn timber to go to Leawarra hence the Sunday opening.

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The camera caught the loco bringing up the first load on the new trackwork, there are no run-round facilities at Warringine so the loco pushes the load up the grade into Warringine.

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Having entered Warringine yard the loco is about to proceed out onto LNR metals (watched by LNR staff)

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The first load on its way to Leawarra.

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Later in the afternoon the loco returned with empties, by which time most had gone home.

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The day seemed a success, the engine crew said they did have trouble maintaining a fire in the gale force winds.
Grant.

[philipy]

Absolutely fabulous, Grant.

[Peter Butler]

Superb Grant, I can't wait to see a copy of the write-up as printed in the local newspaper, the photographs tell a wonderful story.