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Bob Farquhar's Prototype Bush Tramway Miniature ReplicaThis page is about a Bush Tramway under construction by Mr Bob Farquar of Repton. His project is probably one of the ultimate goals of most of us nuts who are into miniature steam railways - preserving a prototype railway in miniature in our own backyard. I have known quite a few people who have built an outdoor railway, but never to the scale so far produced by Bob. He deserves to be applauded for this amazing effort which obviously gives him and his friends great pleasure. Even though his project is in the early stages it is already in a state which a lot of clubs dream of achieving - amazing effort!
The rest of this page is edited from a message posted to the COALS mailing list (see COALS page) by Bob. It includes a number of photos taken by Darin O'Brien
and used here with his permission. The photos are Copyright Darin. The article after this point is an edited work Copyright Bob.
What is Bob building?Is anyone out there interested in building and operating a railway in a prototypical manner? I am building a 5inch narrow gauge tramway at Repton approximately 21km south of Coffs Harbour.The Layout - now and tomorrowIt has sharp curves 1in30 grades tight smoky tunnels and large trestles. At present i have approximately 700 meters of track running. The earth works have been started for a further 900 metres and the total plan is to have about 2km of run.The idea is to operate a scaled down bush tramway. The tramway is point to return loop and return with crossing loops for passing. The next extension will have a cross over facility to provide for continuous running instead of returning to the terminus all the time. My mate Ross Mainwarring has bought the block next door and a branch to a coal mine is planned and has been surveyed. This will add interest which will be another destination and terminus. OperationA signalling system similar to that used on single line mine tram-ways/railways is being tried to stop cornfield meets. A two way radio system has been used using a controller to organize meets at the crossing loops where the driver or guard works themselves through the loops. The accent is on train working rather than passenger hauling. A friend is building nearby a scale NSWGR mainline with the accent on train working with scale buildings signals etc. We to are starting to build some scale structures 2.5 inches to the foot a lot of fun to build rather than those long locomotive building projects. Quite a bit of n.g. rolling stock has been built including loads of logs gravel, etc. We do take the odd passenger but accent is on hard working bush locomotives.Have a ton waiting for Darin O'Brien's new fowler after easter to work up the hill pity about the shiny paint work Darin it may get a bit sooty. Want to know more? Perhaps join Bob?I would appreciate hearing from any one interested in this type of steam modeling.
Bob Farquhar (not to be confused with the Sydney Bob Farquhar)
Included below are some photos taken by Darin of Bob's Tramway...
Out of the smoky tunnel...
Coming out of the tunnel and onto the bridge
Into the cutting
Showing the different levels of the tramway
Middle Cutting Passing Loop
The steel bridge
The timber trestle
Sweet Pea on the timber trestle
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Last modified Sunday, 20-Jul-2003 15:28:00 BST |
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