Time for an update, now that the station yard extension of the TVT is operational.
Yesterday was stinking hot with not a cloud in the sky, but this is Melbourne. Today dawned cloudy, with rain forecast.
However I managed to get in the first steam run on the new track and the Big Black Baldwin was rostered for a through goods, before the sky turned black and threatening.
The first photo shows the train assembled in No.1 road in the weak morning 'sun', while the loco crew have put the Baldwin over the pit to clean the fire and take a smoko before departure time.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 1.jpg (199.82 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
The next photo shows the train sitting in No. 1 road while the loco crew wait for the guard to show a green flag for departure.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 2.jpg (198.83 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
A little later and the train is on it's way through the wye and heading south (clockwise around the loop).
The white disc on the back of the van is the tail disc, used by the VR in daylight to indicate to signalmen and other employees that the train is complete. At night a red tail light is also shown for the same purpose. The van also has the tail light in place, but it isn't lit during daylight.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 3.jpg (151.14 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
Approaching the bridge on the first trip around the loop.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 4.jpg (152.58 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
Starting another trip around the track heading south.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 5.jpg (150.84 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
Another trip around and approaching the bridge again.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 6.jpg (152.21 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
Running south under the Pittosporums.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 7a.jpg (181.05 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
Ten trips around the loop later and the train takes the other arm of the wye to return to the station yard.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 8.jpg (176.91 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
Back in No. 1 road facing west, while the fireman uncouples the loco. so it can go back over the pit.
- Thirteenth Steam Run 9.jpg (179.42 KiB) Viewed 9568 times
The camera then decided the memory card was fun, so no further pictures. The sky also started turning black around the same time........
With a train this heavy, the Baldwin can do twelve trips around the mainline loop which gives a 22 min. run, before the gas runs out. This is also the longest train that will fit in either No. 1, or No. 2 roads without fouling the turnouts.
Today, I decide ten times around the loop would be a good time to return to the yard so there would be enough steam left to run around the train, turn the loco on the wye and leave it to cool down.
The run generally went well. I've worked out that I can't run manual steam locos anti-clockwise on this track, until I get around to designing and fitting a remote point lever to the turnout at the eastern corner of the wye.
Regards,
Graeme