A 5" gauge private railroad -- currently under construction

The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad existed for a short time in Maine on the upper east coast of the United States. It was dismantled in 1935. As many of my current modelling projects centre around this railroad it is fitting to name the railroad the SR&RL, the Southern Division came about because this version is in the land down under! The layout of the mainline loosely follows that of the Kingfield area of Maine.

The mainline construction is in two, possibly three stages. Current trackage on the ground is just over 500 metres and thirteen switches. Stage 1 is a circular route of 206 metres with the remaining 300 metres in sidings. Stage 2 has been modified to take an easier route through another paddock and will increase the stage 1 mainline route to 500m. Perhaps I might one day extend the line from the western end of stage 1 to a dam about 10 meters below with a line, yet to be surveyed, of between 300 and 400 metres distant with a loop around the dam wall and return via the same line giving a complete run of about 1500 metres.

The first steam up and trail run of the track took place on 27 January 2007, a great way to celebrate on the Australia day weekend. A few friends and family came along to share the moment.

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NEWS - September 2009

The steaming bays are complete and operational! We had a special run on 20 September to "Christen" the steaming bays and just have an enjoyable day running on the track. We had two first time visit locomotives Ross Bishop's Fowler, Shane Mallitts Blowfly and George King's 9F with Garry Nelson's Cliff and Bunting traction engine. The unloader worked well, although I was a bit worried how it would handle Ross Bishop's BIG Fowler loco. No problem! We had many visitors enjoying the fresh country air and good company. See six new photos of the day below...

August 2009

June, July and August have been busy completing the locomotive service bays in the large turntable area.

Seven bays have been added, three bays are 3.3m long, two bays are 3.6m long and one bay is 5m long, the centre bay is the departure road to the mainline. Because the turntable is a balancing type there had to be a way to keep vertical alignment of the track as well as horizontal alignment to prevent derailment while equipment was crossing the join between the turntable and service bay. Photos below show how this was achieved.

A staircase has been added to allow the driver to easily climb to track level to mount the locomotive.

Progress is well advanced for the traverser unloading trolley it was assembled on the traverser rails on 22 August, see photos below. Still need to attach the rails to the deck.

Once the unloader trolley is complete the basic infrastucture of the railroad will be operational and I can look towards the new 300m mainline track extension to complete the railroad construction for the time being.

The last job to do in turntable area is to spread roadbase material around the pit to level it off and put the vehicle access road through the traverser back into use.

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TRACK PLAN: you can see the revised track plan (pdf file - 80k) by clicking here. This was updated on 21/09/09 and supercedes previous versions.

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September-09: Ross Bishop unloading the Fowler. The support posts quickly extend to the ground to support the load until ready to lift. The roadbase has been spread around the whole turntable pit and on the road. My wife Sue with Garry helping shovelled all 12 tonnes into the barrow while I spread it around.	September-09: A view of the steaming bays. Ross brought along a string of scale narrow gauge wagons that looked well running around filled with ballast.
September-09: George King and Alan Dickson with George's 9F arriving from the mainline.	September-09: Shane Mallitt steaming up, he had a good run during the day..
September-09: At least Garry can raise steam anywhere! (Tom Pall photo)	September-09: Ross trying his hand at the 9f. (Tom Pall photo)
August-09: Looking over the completed service bays.	August-09: A bearing was added to the end of the turntable for vertical alignment with the mating track.
August-09: All the bays have this arrangement at the end to guide the turntable end to the correct height.	August-09: This view shows how it works with the bearing in the track guide.
August-09: Horizontal alignment uses this simple flap arrangement.	August-09: The departure road and the stairs to get out of the pit. All the service bay tracks are 50x12mm steel on 100x100mm posts.
August-09: A view down the arrival/departure road towards the turntable pit. Unfortunately the best grade I could get was 1 in 30 up to the mainline. Most locomotives running light engine should have no trouble running on this grade. The normal operation will have the locomotive entering the departure road tender first.	August-09: Early progress on the unloader traverser trollley. The parts are bolted together because it will be too heavy to lift into position when complete. The 7"x3"x5/16" channel is a remnant part of a scrapped NSWGR Signal post. The 100x50x3mm RHS will carry the Vee wheels. The lifting section is sitting underneath in this view, eventually it will sit on top of the channel and a 10ft length of track bolted to the deck of the lifter.
August-09: Traverser frame being assembled.	August-09: The scissor lift in place on the frame and running on the inverted angle iron rails. The long piece of RHS on top is one of the 10ft track rails to be secured to the deck of the lifter.
August-09: The scissor lift partially extended. The hydraulic ram is pumped manually but it is not too difficult. The lifter is rated for 500kg so it should handle just about any visiting equipment.	August-09: A general view of the loco service area. Next step is to complete and fit the running rail to the lifter deck.
9 May-09: John Oliver from Canberra brought his 12 class along for a run.	9 May-09: John is trying out the new turntable access road and he made it back up the grade!
9 May-09: Garry Nelson trying out the Cliff and Bunting on a specially prepared track. The sun is setting in this view and he kept going until dark! Our first visit of road steam.	9 May-09: The 9F made a return visit and it is seen here posing on the new viaduct. The viaduct has received a coat of liquid sandstone.
An easterly view of the proposed station area.	A "golden spike" moment as the last section of track completes the loop.
The trestle bridge will be located between the mounds of dirt. The bridge will be 5 metres long and 500mm high on a 40ft radius curve. An embankment will be built up at each end of the bridge abutments to level the track.	A south-easterly view of the completed bridge section.
The track on the left is the new branch line extension from the mainline to the shed. This is so I can steam up at the house and simply drive the train down to the main. Visitors with locos up to 6ft long can use this arrangement until the turntable and steamup bays are completed.	The new branch line to the shed with a secondary branch that will take the firewood trains around the shed to the wood pile on the other side of the house. Thanks to the Wandong club for the inspiration!
The first passenger train prepares to leave the shed loco on the new branch line.	The train continues along the new line towards the main line
The train finally got to try out the line.	Caboose 556 looks at home on the line!
The turntable under restoration. The side frames and bulkheads were all that remained of the original.	The turntable pit cut-out with its 100 tonne of spoil in the background.
The turntable in place in the pit. It is a 10.5" scale NSW 75ft turntable originally built by Steve Cilia. The deck is 4m long! A traverser is being built to roll out onto the road to unload cars/trailers etc.	No, they aren't wombat holes! Getting ready for the service bays. The ring under the turntable is to be concreted for a running rail to support the turntable ends as it is an authentic balancing turntable.
The mainline can just be seen above the turntable. The handrails are modelled after the Moss Vale turntable.	The temporary loading facilities until the turntable is ready. It works fine but suited to the smaller models only.
All the switches have been fitted with an American style switch stand modelled after a type found on the SR&RL. The red disc means you are taking the branch line.	When you switch to the straightaway, a white diamond is shown. The beauty of these is that you can clearly see from a distance which way the road is set.
The turntable area showing the completed retaining wall.	The new branch line crosses the driveway to the quarry (ballast pile). It is also the beginning of the 300m extension.
The triangle as viewed from the quarry line.	The triangle as viewed from the station end.
The triangle as viewed from the bridge. Compare this view with the second photo above.	The station area is complete. Compare this view with the first photo above. The line off to the lower left will be the other end of the 300m extension.
Early work on the roadbed for the 300m extension.	Some action on completing the service bays.
The outriggers fitted to the turntable still allow a small amount of "balancing" to the deck just like the original version.	The concreting is finished now it just needs tidying up.
BEFORE: Cut along the dotted lines... The turntable departure/arrival road cutting ready for the mini digger. 08-03-09.	AFTER: The departure/arrival road is ready for track laying. 13-03-09
The turntable departure/arrival road cutting ready for track. 13-03-09	The turntable departure/arrival road cutting ready for track. It is a 1 in 30 grade. 13-03-09
The track work to/from the turntable is laid on 21-03-09 and...	ballasted on 22-03-09. It won't look so bad once the bridging road to the turntable is installed.
BEFORE: The long loop track lining up for the ground levelling. 08-03-09.	AFTER: The long loop ready for track. 13-03-09
BEFORE: The loop will rejoin the main at the S-bend and include a turnout to the centre of the main line loop for storage roads. 08-03-09.	AFTER: The long loop ready for track. 13-03-09
The new loop completed. 04-04-09.	The long loop track. 04-04-09
A view looking east. 05-04-09.	A view showing the branch to the station and the ground level turntable. 05-04-09
I decided that the layout should follow the Kingfield branch a little closer. This means that the station is a terminus off the main line. Here the track is just sitting for placement. 05-04-09.	Station siding complete. Temporary bump post in place until an authentic SR&RL version is made. 02-05-09
Another view of the station siding with the branch to the storage siding taking shape. 02-04-09	The traverser track taking shape. 05-04-09
Here's a different kind of sleeper under the track! Our new pup liked the soft earth for a bed as we were digging out the foundation for the new viaduct. 05-04-09.	The concrete foundation for the viaduct. 05-04-09
The viaduct is constructed of 16 Hebel blocks 600mm x 200mm x 200mm. I cut an arch in 8 of them. I know Hebel blocks are easy to work, but holding on to these full blocks in the bandsaw to cut them out, my arms were aching for a week after!! After the bandsawing I cleaned them up with wood carving disk in the angle grinder and then an orbital sander..12-04-09	A long shot of the bridge finally in place. This was the first fine weekend day since Easter! It has 2 rows of 8 blocks. Further to the left of the bridge the embankment was built up with stone edging and earth fill. 26-04-09
The ends of the blocks were cut to a 1.5 degree angle to eliminate any end gap on the 40ft radius curve.26-04-09	A closer view of the completed arch section to allow any water runoff to flow under the bridge. Once the Hebel Mortar had set the bridge was sealed with a diluted Bondcrete solution. I'll see if I can find a way to colour it as a sandstone structure. 26-04-09
The viaduct is coated with liquid sandstone.16-05-09	The roadbed for the new extension is taking shape and now extends for half the length of the extension.16-05-09
A 76m long trench 600mm deep to run power and water to the turntable pit from the garage.13-03-09	The trench continues past the turntable to supply water for the mainline. 13-03-09
Scott Murray driving his Father's "Tinkerbelle" with its narrowgauge rolling stock. (Feb. 08)	David Lee and his Commonwealth Railways shunter making sure he cleared the turnout. (Feb. 08)
Garry Nelson thoroughly enjoying an outing on the track with his "Blowfly". (Dec. 08)	This 9F is owned by George King but rebuilt by Keith Mears. Keith brought it along for a shakedown run after the rebuild and it performed faultlessly. The locomotive (with a full load) had no idea that there are inclines on this railroad! (Dec. 08)