The Short North

Official publication of the Central Coast Steam Model Co Operative Limited

September 04

Edited by Kelly Maybury

In this issue


All Aboard

Hi friends and welcome to the September issue of The Short North .  The past two months has seen great advances in ground work, repairing of the club carriages and a site clean up.   Many thanks to all of those members who have contributed in any way over the past two months.  Your help is certainly appreciated by yours truly.  So thanks guys and keep on coming.

As most of you will be aware this month sees the holding of the Annual General Meeting of our society and with the retirement of our incumbent President Ted Williams this position becomes available for any person who feels they can lead by example and demonstrate the ideal club member.  That is someone who is always on site and prepared to take on the extra duties of President without negating their hours on site on work days.  Does it sound like you?  If so please make sure you get your nominations in by the closing date.

By the way in our Co-Operative all board positions are vacated at every Annual General Meeting so you can stand for President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer or Members Board Member.  Best wishes to all who stand for election and thankyou for your dedication to your society at the exclusion of all other interests.

Birthday Run

Our Birthday run was a great success which was built upon last years party.  Over 20 locos were in attendance on Saturday with another 10 on the Sunday.  Several people camped overnight on the Friday and Saturday. We had 16 5” locos and 4 7 ¼” loco on Saturday.  The running started early in the morning with a large crowd waiting to buy tickets at 10:30 am. At 10:50am Rob Lougher asked me about selling some tickets and Norm Browne and Rob commenced selling tickets to the ever swelling crowd while waiting for our normal ticket seller who was held up with birthday party preparations.

The Lions Club of Narara Valley took the opportunity to set up their stalls for the visitors and the public.  Peter and Lois King from the Mudgee Miniature Railway were down promoting their vintage Railmotor trips to be held on the weekend of 20th and 21st of November this year.

Over 800 rides were given during the day and many of our visitors helped move the large crowd.  Visitors came from SSME, WDLS, HMECL, LMLSLS, MELSA Bribie Island and ILS.  Many of our own members were busy in helping to ensure that everything flowed smoothly throughout the day.

At the conclusion of the public run a staff and ticket system was introduced for the trestle bridge section.  The 5” trains departed Narara Junction to the South while the 7 ¼” trains left heading up the short north.  At Narara we are lucky to have two parallel circuits which are exclusively 5” or 7 ¼” with the exception of the trestle bridge.  This allows us to run bi-directional with the use of a staff and ticket system for the trestle bridge section only.  This proved to be very effective and without incident.  It was also a change from the usual public running day procedures.  It sure is fun to just play trains.

During the night run the cab lights in 24 failed and as I am always at the ready, an Eveready torch was used instead.  I still had the High/Low headlight.  It sure is dark down the back on low beam.  Having spent a freezing night on the Friday night in my tent despite two sleeping bags and two blankets I left to go home around 8:30pm.

Sunday dawned bright and more visitors arrived.  After a quick breakfast I was on the track and all gauges left the station to the North.  Henry Lawrence’s family arrived and Henry asked me to run his Sweet Pea for him for his family to see it running.  This was great fun to drive and what a difference between the Sweet Pea and No. 24!  Thanks Henry.  Peter from Wollongong arrived with Woody and was seen being assisted by a teddy bear on a Gandy Dancer.  The Gandy Dancer was called ‘Wood Chip’.  This was the highlight of the weekend for me.  Although I thought that I saw teddy raise a sweat when he saw No.24 bearing down on him. (excuse the pun).

All in all a great weekend of fire fun and friendship for all who helped us celebrate our birthday this year.  Can’t wait to see you all again next year.

Contributors

Allan Fogarty and Trevor Crowhurst

News in Brief

The middle of July saw some major work undertaken on the 7 ¼” club passenger cars.  This work was undertaken by John Mills and Peter Holt.  The passenger cars have now been marshalled in correct order for running and they are also permanently coupled in two sets of two.  I understand that when hauling the public around behind the clubs loco it just a matter of hooking up the two green and white and the Indian Red/ Yellow ones behind the loco and everything should be ok.  If you wish to only pull three cars, please use the spare blue one.  I think that I got this correct.

Concrete has been scarce through June and July except at 3 am one morning but Allan Fogarty was not at the site to receive the concrete!

Mowing has recommenced and it looks like it will be a constant job until next April

Allan Fogarty has been busy building 7 ¼” points for the new sidings, the triangle and the station modifications.  Allan can now build a point from scratch in just two days.  All of the 7 ¼” points have been installed and Allan had started on the 5” points needed for the station and storage roads.

The old toilet block and shed complex area has had a clean up with thanks to John Crowhurst, Ken Howells, Peter Holt. Peter Le-May, Ted Williams and yours truly.  All of the steel has been sent away for scrap and this area should provide parking for six trailers on a running day.

The last 3 Thursdays have seen a BBQ lunch provided by the club for the workers with the left over meat and sausages from the birthday run.  Sure in nice to have a BBQ lunch while working at the club.  Perhaps this could be a regular thing held once a fortnight for the workers.  What say you?

Contact Details for your club and yours truly.  The Secretary, Central Coast Steam Model Co-Operative Limited. P.O. Box 692 Gosford, NSW 2250. Ph Arthur Minter, Secretary on  (02) 4344 2791.  Yours truly can be contacted at PO Box 209 Kurri Kurri NSW 2327 or Ph: (02) 4937 4740.  Our Web Address is http://www.narara.cjb.net .  The web page is provided and maintained by Tom Fink.  Yours truly has no association with its contents other than what is provided in the newsletter.

Are you a big sucker?  A question of vacuum Part 2

Now before we can make use of this information we need to understand another type of pressure that is less than this atmospheric pressure, i.e. Vacuum.

Vacuum is a measurement of an air pressure that is less or below standard atmospheric pressure; once again I will use the Imperial system of measurement.  If you look at a Vacuum gauge, (Imperial type) it is graduated from "0" which is no vacuum to a maximum of 30" Hg, (30 inches of mercury) which is absolute vacuum. Remember a vacuum can only exist inside a sealed container. (And in outer space)

If the container is not strong enough the atmospheric air pressure pushing on the outside will cause the container to crush inwards.  Now remember that 15 psi of air pressure around us, if we relate this to 'the vacuum of 30" Hg it works out that for each 1" Hg we get a force of  1/2 psi.  Now we will put all this theory stuff to practical use.

If we pump out some of the air in the cylinder to say a vacuum of 15" Hg, the atmospheric air pressure will now act or push on the outside of the piston with a force of 7   pounds on every square inch of area of that piston. If the piston has an area of 12 square inches (approximately 4" or 100 mm in diameter) the piston rod will exert a pull of 90 pounds. Force = Pressure x Area F = 7 x 12 therefore F = 90  If we increase the vacuum to say 20" Hg, atmospheric air pressure is now 10 psi and the piston rod will exert a pull of 120 pounds..

While the cylinder/piston combination is very efficient it can suffer from binding and leakage, a better practical solution for our train application is to use a sealed chamber with a flexible diaphragm.

When the diaphragm system is used the resulting force will be reduced due to inefficiencies and losses within the diaphragm, a figure of 70% is usually quoted So with a 4" diameter chamber a force of about 65 pounds can be obtained by using a vacuum of 15" Hg.

Different Units of Vacuum Measurement that are in common use.

                 Inches of Mercury     Millimetres of Mercury    Negative kiloPascals
No Vacuum         0”Hg              =    0mmHg                 =   -0 kPa
                 15”Hg              =  380mmHg                 =  -50kPa
Absolute Vacuum  30”Hg              =  760mmHg                 = -100kPa
                (29.92”Hg)                                      (-101.3kPa)

What is all this confusion?

In the early 1970's the system of measurement in this country started to change with the introduction of the Systeme Internationale or SI units of measurements. We now tend to use the term "metric", but remember that many countries of the world at that time also had their own "metric" system of measurement.

While many years have now passed some people are still having difficulty trying to get the hang of this new system. Depending upon which generation or age group you belong to will probably determine which system of measurement you are more familiar with. The older folk will most likely still use some of the old Imperial system of measurement while the younger generation will be totally "metric".

In the field of Model Engineering we have to do battle with both these systems of measurements, you will still find construction drawings and articles in the old Imperial system. Did you go out and buy new drills, taps, rules, tape measures etc. when the change occurred? Some bolts are still the same size, and the USA is still using the inch, mile, pound, and gallon system, but some of their quantities vary from the Imperial system.

Take our club track as an example is it 71/4” and 5" gauge or 184.15 mm and 127 mm gauge?

So I think for quite some time to come we will be referring to the old Imperial system of measurement now and again.

An article by Allan Fogarty

May I take this opportunity to thank Allan Fogarty for all of his articles over the past few months.  It certainly makes my life easier and must add interest to the newsletter rather than me rambling on every other month.  So thanks Allan and how about some more articles everyone?  Kelly

The funny Side

The following purports to be the new Australian/Germanic guide to help Australian pilots now flying into Frankfurt.  It could well be useful.  If any lawyers are reading this, it has nothing to do with any national carries at all, OK?

Dumpkoff’s guide to landing a plane.

Aircraft        Der Fliegenvagon.
Propeller        Der airfloggen fann.
Rudder pedals        Der tailschvingen verks.
Pilot        Der tailschvingen pushen-puller verker.
Student Pilot        Der dumbkoff lernen fliegen.
Instructor        Der dumbkoff schtuk mit der dumbkoff lernen        fliegen
Chief Flying Instructor        Der fliegen fuehrer
Air traffic controller        Der schweinhund ubben detauer vatchen aller        die poor dumbkoffs fliegen
Forced landing        Trienen gebackonner graund mittaut kraschen
First solo flight        Trienen gebackonner graund mittaut kraschen        alone

Moving right along.

Recently two friends one an American and one an Australian were walking down Elizabeth Street in Sydney.  For the purpose of the story lets call the American George and the Australian John.  Whilst walking the dynamic duo had to wait at a pedestrian crossing.  George asked John what the clicking sound was coming out of the box in the pole.  John replied that this noise was to let the blind people know when the lights change.  George replied that in Texas they don’t let blind people drive!  God bless America!!!!  They need all the help they can get.

When did it all start?  A history lesson part 2

By the end of the second year the Co-Op had grown is size to 49 members.

In November 1984 the Co-Op purchased from the SRA an MHO Brake Van which is now on the site and is used for storage of equipment, tools, etc and is also a Club room.

During 1985 the Dept. of Works constructed a main sewer line through the centre of the track, which unfortunately curtailed all running for at least 2 months, the track had to be cut at both ends to allow for the sewer line to go through and long delays were experienced due to the sandy base of the area and the high water table.

By this time special runs were being held for pre-schoolers and play groups as a regular event mid-week attracting many happy children to the grounds.

Throughout the first four years that the Co-Op had been in operation many hours had been spent by members clearing rubbish, planting and mowing of grass and extensive planting of trees, with some 90 trees being planted in that first 4 years.  Mowing is a never ending project on this land, especially in the summertime when it becomes a weekly task. This is all carried out by the members.

During the past few years many local business houses have given generously of their support to the Co-Op. Items such as picnic tables, shrubs, garden tools and mower repairs are among some of the generous assistance that has been given to the Co-Op and of course the fantastic support of Pioneer Concrete who have donated nearly every section of concrete that can be seen on the entire grounds absolutely free to the Co-Op, certainly a sterling effort from the boys at Pioneer.

Perhaps one of the highlights of 1986 was the first of a number of regular major floods on the grounds. Some 300 cubic metres of sand covered the tracks and after the water subsided it took a mammoth effort from the members to completely clear off the block. The water level had completely covered the Clubs tractor during the night and was found to as been as high as the top of the station sign and lapping the floorboards of the carriage.

1988 was the Bi-Centennial year and the Co-Op was fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Bi-Centennial Committee to build the present station roof which has proven to be a very worthwhile addition benefiting both the visiting public and the members with shade in the hot days and shelter on the rainy days.

February 1990 again saw the return of floods and this one was the biggest we've ever had with 1.7 metres of water above the ground on the Co-Op site, with it came the largest amount of sand ever and the clean up job was far too big for the Co-Op members, so a backhoe was hired to move the sand to the southern end of the block, where a fleet of trucks took it away for various council projects.

Mid 1990 saw the new track taking shape with virtually all the concreting done and about 80% of the 5" track actually laid with bridges being designed and culverts being installed.

The last length of 5" track was put in place on Saturday, 17th August, 1991 and a final length of 7 ¼” track was put in place this week ( Prior to the 10th Birthday run…ed) much to the delight of the many members of the club, seeing an end at this stage to a job that at the very start seemed nearly impossible.

Many thanks to John Gordon for the above notes from and address given by Mr Tony Doyle  MP Member for Peats at the clubs 10th birthday run in 1991.

Gallery
 
 

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Tom Walker’s magnificent 5” A10 A great Garrett from Casino

this locomotive is gas fired.

A freight train at our birthday run Norm rubs his hands as he counts

last year the bods on the back

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Ted Williams driving his 2705 in 7 ¼”  You’ve heard of Camp David how  about Camp Cowell
 
 

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Leon Bracks No. 2 and train A Builders shot of Baldwin No. 985

  built and owned by Mick Farrell
 
 

Rail Motor Trips

The Mudgee Miniature Railway in conjunction with the Railmotor Society from Paterson (near Newcastle) are running a series of train trips using two 1920’s vintage CPH railmotors and they invite you to join them and experience rail travel from another era.  There are several trips on offer.

Trip A Sat 20th and Sun 21st of November 2004
Depart Broadmeadow at 7am and travel to Gulgong via the scenic Sandy Hollow line.  At Gulgong join coaches for transfer to lunch & tour of local wineries.  Sat evening meal and accommodation in Mudgee.  Sunday visit Honey haven then lunch before rejoining train at Gulgong for the return trip. You can also join the train at Maitland, Singleton or Muswellbrook.

Cost includes train travel, bus transfers, winery tours, all meals & accommodation. $300 from Broadmeadow or Maitland or $280 from Singleton or Muswellbrook. (single room supplement $40)

Trip B Sat 20th November 2004
Travel from Mudgee to Rylstone.  At Rylstone you leave the train for the short bus ride (5 minutes) to the Rylstone Club for a 3 course meal.  After the meal, the bus will transfer you back to the station where you rejoin the train for an evening run back to  Mudgee. Depart Mudgee at 4:30pm

Cost includes travel and 3 course meal $55 per person

Trip C  Sat 20th November 2004
Rylstone to Clandulla & return. Departs Rylstone 6pm. Cost $10 per person

Trip D  Sun 21st November 2004
Mudgee to Kandos & return.  Departs Mudgee  9am,  Cost $20 per person.

Trip E Sat 20th November 2004
Travel by bus from Mudgee to Muswellbrook and return to Mudgee by train via Denman, Sandy Hollow, Bylong, Ulan & Gulgong.  Depart Mudgee 5:30am.  Cost $70 per person.

Trip F Sun 21st November 2004
Travel by train from Mudgee to Muswellbrook via Gulgong, Ulan, Bylong, Sand Hollow & Denman and return to Mudgee by bus.  Depart Mudgee 12:15pm.  Cost $70 per person.

Trip G Sunday 21st November 2004
Travel from Gulgong to Mudgee by bus and return from Mudgee to Gulgong by train.  Depart Gulgong 11:15am  Cost $15 per person

So are you interested?   If so further information is available for trips A,C,E,F&G by contacting Mudgee Miniature Railway PO Box 373, Mudgee NSW 2850.  Or contact The Secretary, Mr Peter King, Mudgee Miniature Railway Ph (02) 6373 3626.

For trips B and D contact the Mudgee Visitors Centre, 84 Market Street, Mudgee 2850 or Phone (02) 6372 1020.

General enquires should be directed in the first instance to Peter and Lois King on (02) 6373 3626.

What’s happening

Here is a list of invitations runs.

4-5,11-12,18-19 September Mudgee Wine Festival Run.  Located on the Ulan/Cassilis Road, 6km’s north of Mudgee a great weekend for all.  More info phone Peter King, Secretary on (02) 6373 3626.

17-19 September Invitation run and Floriade and Canberra.  Meal on Saturday night and railway type accommodation available.  No public this weekend. For more info phone Bob Hesse on (02) 6288 2025 or e-mail to bnjhesse@webone.com.au

8-10 October Galston Valley Railway.  Lunch Morning and Afternoon teas available over the three days with night running til 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Sunday is their regular running day so if you want to haul passenger you are most welcome.  They are located at 29 Mid Dural Road Galston.  For more info phone the Secretary on (02) 9484 7583.

5-7 November  Wagga Wagga invitation days. Ride in great surrounds in Wagga’s botanical gardens with spectacular views over Wagga Wagga. Heaps of things to see. Traction engines, Stationary models, Full-size historic engines HO scale layout. Loads of tourist attractions.  Enquires David Font on (02) 6921 4762 e-mail dfont@tpg.com.au

Don’t forget Boiler certificates and covered in shoes for all venues.

In the next issue

Nut screws washers and bolts!  A pictorial guide

Annual General Meeting  A report

How do you keep your friends in suspense?  As always

May your pressure be high, your glass half-full, and your fire bright.  Alternatively, for the electrics may your extension cord be just that little bit longer.  Kelly

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Stan Smith on his Diesel with a party group.  Helen Smith runs the party station. Thanks to you both for all of your hard work over the years.  Hope you like the seats

Official Publication of the Central Coast Steam Model Co-Operative Ltd Page #

The Short North  September 2004

ions runs.
 
 

4-5,11-12,18


The printed copy had some great images. When we learn how to extract them from a mac .wps file we shall also show them here.
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