Westrail Models F class

Hey hey, long time, no post. I have been busy over the last few months after leaving the AMRA WA Committee. I managed to acquire two F class locos from Westrail Models and whilst a little work was required to get them to run smoothly, they are great locomotives. I did manage to break the window on F40 (as preserved) so that is not in the limelight at the moment till that is fixed. But just before Christmas, I finally received the cab for my second F; F44 in green. I’m very happy with it and looks great hauling a train of yellow wagons around Swan View (see below). Anyway I hope you all have a safe and prosperous New Year in 2024 with lots of modeling.

East Guildford Layout

 East Guildford was the layout presented by members of the WA Sn3.5 Group and AMRA at the 2023 Model Railway Show. 

The layout represents East Guildford station which is a suburban station 12km from Perth on the Eastern mainline to Midland, Kalgoorlie and Beyond. 

Originally opened in 1896 as Woodbridge and later changed to East Guildford in 1908

The railway and station sit on the highest area of land at the neck of a peninsula of land bounded by the Swan and Helena Rivers. This area of land known as Guildford when settled was deemed to be a good location for a navigable inland port on the Swan River to serve the eastern lying farming areas and became the first terminal of the railway from Fremantle in 1881. In 1884 the railway was extended to Chidlows Well passing through the area that would become the next station on the line - East Guildford.

The layout features the station area with its sidings servicing the Peerless Flour Mill and Douglas Jones Timber mill modelled in the late 50's to early 60's.

Many members were involved in the build of this layout which was commenced in early 2019 led by the late Murray Hartzer who sadly passed away during the layout build. Many of Murrays vehicles can be seen on the layout in his memory. Amid the issues of the Covid pandemic the construction of the layout continued to culminate in its display this year when AMRA held its first show since 2019.

The layout was awarded the only two trophies to be presented in 2023, being the Jack Stanbridge Trophy, which was for the best layout as voted for by the other exhibitors, and the AMC People’s Award, as voted for by the visiting public.

Thank you to all who contributed to the build of this layout!

Here are a few pictures from the show. 

East Guildford Station

Peerless Flour Mill

East Guildford Station

Peerless Flour Mill

Douglas Jones Sawmill

In real life Peter Trinder from the UK captured Pr 536 and Pm 

hauling a train past the Peerless Flour Mill in 1962

Kieran Wrights capture on the layout.

W class shunts the sidings outside DJ's Sawmill

A video compilation can be found here 

(484) East Guildford Station Western Australia - 2023 AMRA Model Train Show - YouTube

Westrail WQL flat wagon 

Adding to my collection of S scale flat wagons is this model of a WQL flat wagon.

Westrail had a fleet of 62 WQN class wagons capable of carrying 2 x 20’ containers, the builder Goninan also proposed a lengthened version to fit 3 x 20’ boxes.

This S scale model is based on that proposal and the WQL designation is made up.

Construction is mostly from styrene strip and shapes with American Models Barber roller bearing bogies and MTH wheels. The couplers are Kadee HO #118’s with the glad hand removed and set at the correct height for S scale. Archer 3D decals were used for the weld lines and floor plate patterns.  The combined air reservoir and valve were 3D printed while the air hoses, brake wheel and gearbox came from DPH. The brake pipe unions are from Precision Scale Company.

The model was finished with Vallejo Chrome Yellow and decals printed at home, apart from the Westrail logos which were kindly printed for me by John Miller.

AQNY (formerly WQN) flats with the WQL