Model Railways On-Line - Kingsvale
KINGSVALE An exhibition layout built by the Illawarra N Gauge Model Railway Club Described by John Baker, photographs by Paul Plowman Above: LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No.5596 ‘Bahamas’ approaches Kingsvale around a sweeping large radius curve. Construction of Kingsvale commenced in June 1997 in the workshop of Ancol, a firm of chemical water tower cleaners in Wollongong where one of our members, Mark was employed. After each club session the baseboards were fork lifted onto a high shelf close to a high roller door, which was open to the seasonal weather. The layout was built in three sections plus three fiddle yard boards. Open frame construction was adopted commencing with the track base, roads and canal beds, which were cut out and secured at the correct height. All timber was then painted chalkboard green to weatherproof it, which turned out to be in vain as we had warping problems all through the assembly stages. Track laying started in November 1998. At the board joints the rails were soldered to circuit board screwed to the track bed and cut through with the Dremel disc, but as mentioned we had trouble with warping. The tedious job of painting the rails a rust colour took a few evenings to complete. A new Bachmann GWR 61xx Class 2-6-2T departing from Kingsvale. ‘Bahamas’ races along through open countryside with a light four-coach train. On the home front members started building houses and other structures required from a large list. A new trailer was purchased in September 1999 and our treasurer designed and built a body to accommodate the three main sections plus the three fiddle yard pieces and all the other odds and ends required. Wiring of the layout was started in February 2000. At the beginning of May we had a change of venue when all material was taken to a site shed rented at a very reasonable price from Go Hire in Dapto (Treasurer John's place of work) where work continued on the layout. Life member Greg took the sections away and painted the back scenes at his Bomaderry home. Our electrical genius John (snr) made the control units and hand held's. At this stage building up the foam for the scenery commenced and the wiring was finally completed and tested. GWR meets LMS! A GWR 61xx 2-6-2T passes LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No.5596 in the rolling countryside. A passenger train hauled by Jubilee Class 4-6-0 ‘Bahamas’ has just arrived at Kingsvale Station as a goods train headed by a Hughes - Fowler Crab trundles past on the slow line. This view, taken looking along the railway demonstrates the benefits of using N Gauge for a large layout. Trains of prototypical length can be run and the railway fits into the scenery with large sweeping curves disappearing into the far distance. A local train hauled by a GWR 61xx Class Praire Tank pauses at Kingsvale. Time was pressing with our first booking coming up in November at the Macarthur District "Fishers Ghost" exhibition. In an incredible two weeks Greg completed all the scenery, buildings, ground cover etc., with just the final touches to be finished. New shirts were designed and made up with our "Kingsvale" logo and we were ready to exhibit. The concept of the layout is a fictitious Central Midlands LMSR and LNER (later BR) four track mainline with a busy station serving the town of Kingsvale and the popular Kingsvale Canal summer holidaand boating area. Other places of interest are the Manor House, on Manor Peak, open to visitors in the summer months. The ruined castle also attracts visitors all year round for sightseeing. Kingsvale secondary school uses the railway for their boarders and luggage with students from all over the country. Hikers are attracted to the area with interesting walks by the canal and woods, as does the Kings Head public house close to the station. Kingsvale won the "Dane Parker" trophy at the Thornleigh Great Little Train Show in May 2001 presented by the Sydney N Gauge MRC. The lane is blocked by a flock of sheep being moved to new grazing. KINGSVALE LAYOUT DIAGRAM The overall size of the visible area is 18ft-3in by 4ft-7in. A passenger train hauled by Jubilee Class 4-6-0 ‘Bahamas’ has just arrived at Kingsvale Station as a goods train headed by a Hughes - Fowler Crab trundles past on the slow line. A local train hauled by a GWR 61xx Class Praire Tank arrives at Kingsvale. Again this picture shows the realism, which can be achieved by using N Gauge and open frame baseboards as Jubilee Class 4-6-0 ‘Bahamas’ sweeps around the curve approaching Kingsvale Station. ‘Bahamas’ is about to cross the road bridge as it departs from Kingsvale.
Construction of Kingsvale commenced in June 1997 in the workshop of Ancol, a firm of chemical water tower cleaners in Wollongong where one of our members, Mark was employed. After each club session the baseboards were fork lifted onto a high shelf close to a high roller door, which was open to the seasonal weather.
The layout was built in three sections plus three fiddle yard boards. Open frame construction was adopted commencing with the track base, roads and canal beds, which were cut out and secured at the correct height. All timber was then painted chalkboard green to weatherproof it, which turned out to be in vain as we had warping problems all through the assembly stages.
Track laying started in November 1998. At the board joints the rails were soldered to circuit board screwed to the track bed and cut through with the Dremel disc, but as mentioned we had trouble with warping. The tedious job of painting the rails a rust colour took a few evenings to complete.
On the home front members started building houses and other structures required from a large list.
A new trailer was purchased in September 1999 and our treasurer designed and built a body to accommodate the three main sections plus the three fiddle yard pieces and all the other odds and ends required.
Wiring of the layout was started in February 2000.
At the beginning of May we had a change of venue when all material was taken to a site shed rented at a very reasonable price from Go Hire in Dapto (Treasurer John's place of work) where work continued on the layout. Life member Greg took the sections away and painted the back scenes at his Bomaderry home. Our electrical genius John (snr) made the control units and hand held's. At this stage building up the foam for the scenery commenced and the wiring was finally completed and tested.
A passenger train hauled by Jubilee Class 4-6-0 ‘Bahamas’ has just arrived at Kingsvale Station as a goods train headed by a Hughes - Fowler Crab trundles past on the slow line.
This view, taken looking along the railway demonstrates the benefits of using N Gauge for a large layout. Trains of prototypical length can be run and the railway fits into the scenery with large sweeping curves disappearing into the far distance.
Time was pressing with our first booking coming up in November at the Macarthur District "Fishers Ghost" exhibition. In an incredible two weeks Greg completed all the scenery, buildings, ground cover etc., with just the final touches to be finished. New shirts were designed and made up with our "Kingsvale" logo and we were ready to exhibit.
The concept of the layout is a fictitious Central Midlands LMSR and LNER (later BR) four track mainline with a busy station serving the town of Kingsvale and the popular Kingsvale Canal summer holidaand boating area. Other places of interest are the Manor House, on Manor Peak, open to visitors in the summer months. The ruined castle also attracts visitors all year round for sightseeing. Kingsvale secondary school uses the railway for their boarders and luggage with students from all over the country. Hikers are attracted to the area with interesting walks by the canal and woods, as does the Kings Head public house close to the station.
Kingsvale won the "Dane Parker" trophy at the Thornleigh Great Little Train Show in May 2001 presented by the Sydney N Gauge MRC.
Again this picture shows the realism, which can be achieved by using N Gauge and open frame baseboards as Jubilee Class 4-6-0 ‘Bahamas’ sweeps around the curve approaching Kingsvale Station.