A quieter month activities have included Onka Valley Scenery, Centennial Mills Roof, Moto Tool, Website update, Ops Sessions, Tasks Completed in last 30 days & Scheduled Tasks for next 90 days.

Onka Valley Scenery

There has been finishing touches by planting the remaining trees and shrubs and the water has been poured over three separate pours.

Pouring water

The cloudy sections can be seen just after the pour

Now crystal clear exposing the riverbed stones

I may need to do one more "thin pour" to get the final water level I am aiming for.

Centennial Mills Roof

Peter J has said he would like to have a go at the roof. I have assembled many different vents, airconditioning plant, etc. Peter said a tar/bitumen paper finish would be the most appropriate.

Measurements have been taken ready to procure some 6mm MDF to form the structural base.

Moto Tool

During the modelling session at Barry's late last month Don was using a cordless moto tool which I thought was really good so I took some photos and search the internet and the best buy I could find was from Ali Express - here is a link.

I also found a small drill chuck on Amazon that fits - here is a link

Website Update

I have updated the Hornertown Shunts section which can be found here

My Ops Sessions on 3rd

We finally had a run after 3 months. I was kept busy and forgot to take any photos. Barry, Chris, Des, Don, John, Peter S and Ross joined me. We had some fun and with a number of people in unfamiliar roles we had some stuff ups too! A number of tasks did not get completed on the day but I had more fun completing them later. We had the obligatory afternoon tea and chat afterwards. It was good to get together again after the break and I am looking forward to the next session.

Ops Sessions at Wayne's

I was invited to and attended two sessions this month.

Wednesday 12th

Alan, Des, Hugh and I attended Wayne's for the run. I had fun working Lowood Crossing which kept me busy most of the time. Due to a late withdrawal due to sickness Wayne had to operate as well. We had a good day with few glitches and mistakes and had a great run and we even finished all movements on time!

Wayne commented that it was one of the best sessions he had had.

Wayne, Hugh, Alan & Des

Des at Forrest Gully

Wayne working Dunkleigh Towers

Alan & Hugh shunting at Edem Park

Alan shunting at Hartley Vale

Hugh and Des shunting at Stokers Siding

Wayne working Dunkleigh Towers

Des at Lowood Crossing

Hugh shunting at Stokers Siding

Alan shutning at Eden Park

Wayne looking on at Red Rock

Thursday 27th

Barry, Dennis, Des and Peter S joined me at Wayne's. I scored Lowood Crossing again and boy it was a busy shift. I got to take some photos and video near the end of the session. We got through the program and about on time too!

Dennis, Peter S, Wayne, Barry and Des

Des at Hartley Vale

Peter S shunting at Red Rock

Wayne coaching Dennis

Barry trying to understand what was written on the job card

Wayne talking about one of his jobcards

Barry having a crib break

Our Host

Des shunting at Red Rock with Peter shunting at Eden Park

Dennis shunting at Red Rock

Des shunting at Red Rock

Des shunting st Stokers Siding

Afterwards we enjoyed stories and a few laughs over afternoon tea

Here is a short video of some trains running.

EVNGR on 17th

I was invited and attended along withy Barry, Dennis, Don and Wayne. It had been sometime since Peter J had had a session and there were a number of gremlins in the system and ops despatch system.

Peter is looking to improve the "operations experience" for us all so is revisiting how the session is planned from the number of operators, trains and yardmaster roles.

Peter using JMRI Ops for taskings

Dennis & Barry

Wayne

Don

Barry at Glenbrook

Dennis & Wayne

Me at Grass Valley

Mary's afternoon tea

In Peter's advice to operators attending he said "See you all around 1 pm – if the trains don’t run all that well at least we’ll have Mary’s afternoon tea to enjoy!!"

Mary excelled herself with fresh from the oven home made scones with jam & cream coupled with home made pikelets with butter, sugar and lemon juice.

Thanks Mary we really enjoyed the spread.

Don, Barry, Mary, Peter, Dennis and Wayne

An Observation

The Facebook Group Classic Southern Pacific had a post from Gary Rose who reposted a post from Jason Lee Marcus - I reckon the "dust" on my locos matches the look of the prototype pretty closely!