From the vaults-3: Lambing Flat under construction 1985

I have gone even further back with this shot!

This photo (scanned from a print) was taken in early 1985 and shows the second module under construction. The first module (the mill section) was completed in time to be shown at the 1984 Modelling the Railways of NSW convention at the old Rockdale clubrooms of the Australian Model Railway Association (the last one to be held there). I am pleased to remember that the mill module caused quite a stir when it was shown for the first time!

By the time this photo was taken construction of the second module was well under way and I set this scene up for a bit of fun. The module itself was constructed from plywood and the scenery was pretty much finished before I started tracklaying. The handlaid code 55 points were constructed 'on the workbench' as a unit and then transferred to the layout. When the position of the points was finalised the plain track was constructed to link them. I hadn't finalised the trackplan when this photo was taken and the station arrangement subsequently constructed was slightly different to this original idea. The layout was originally located in the sunroom of my tiny two-bedroom semi in inner-suburban Burwood (Sydney). When my first child came along in 1991 it was moved upstairs into the newly converted loft space, where it resided untill we moved in 1999. Both my children could climb the loft ladder before they learnt to walk!

The train in the background was modelled on full-size construction trains seen in old photos. The MLE flat wagon conveyed rail, the S and K trucks carried sleepers and other stores, while the construction engine, Trax brass 1248, has a water gin attached, to allow it more time in the section. The van also conveyed the workers to the worksite.

Locomotive 1248 is another that has not yet been fitted with a DCC chip and so is not currently in use.