Work on the new main HO layout is progressing nicely with the main line fully electrified and point motors installed on all main line points. It’s at a stage where running trains is possible and, now the weather is a bit cooler, we’ve started up the semi-regular running nights and club BBQs again. Some space has been cleared in the middle of the new HO layout allowing work on several smaller layouts simultaneously.
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The Perth Model Railway Exhibition is back this year at Claremont for the first time since 2019!
Held over the long weekend at the beginning of June, the last three exhibitions have been missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a change from previous years, there are apparently no door sales and all tickets must be booked online. See https://expo.amrawa.asn.au/ for more details.
Note: The WAMRC is not involved in organising or running this exhibition in any way. If you wish to make an enquiry with the event organisers, please follow the link above and use the “Contact Event Organiser” button.
The old Realistic mono PA amplifier we were using for radio in the club died in spectacular fashion (bang!) several weeks ago. We still had the original manual for it (complete with detailed schematics), but upon investigation it was well beyond being economic to consider repairing. Being 45 years old though we reckon we got pretty good use out of it!
Garry stumbled across an ancient stereo amplifier when cleaning out some of his old junk and was about to send it to the tip when he suddenly wondered if it was worth trying. It needed a new plug, but after doing that and testing it at home it turned on and didn’t go bang. Last night we tried it at the club and low and behold it works — well one channel does anyway. We’ve simply wired both speakers in series on that one working channel — good enough for club use — job done! That stereo has to be around 50 years old now — so even older than the PA amplifier it replaced.
Talk about recycling! 🙂
The Railway Museum in conjunction with the WAMRC is holding an open day on Sunday 2nd April to celebrate model railways and preserved working machines.
Come on down for what is sure to be a great day!
Mads Phikamphon has been working hard building a global model train price comparison web site and contacted us for a list of local model railway shops (available on our Links page).
He has added all the Perth shops to his web site and now has 37 shops across Australia (and 700+ globally)! Check out his useful web site here: https://www.modeltrainprices.com/ https://www.modelprices.com/
We have received the 2023 Railway Calendar from our sister club the Edmonton Model Railroad Association in Canada.
Once again it is a superb example of railway photography by their members and it now hangs in our club rooms. Thanks very much to EMRA!
The latest batch of photo courtesy of John Kinson of full sized locos seen on the UGL access siding that runs adjacent to the club.
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One of our longest serving members Tony Gray (a life member of the club and past president) paid a visit recently to see all the recent progress that’s been made. Tony joined the club in 1983 and has been a very active member ever since until his deteriorating health has forced him to ease back on the regulator!
It was great to see him back in the club-rooms that he helped build!
A snazzy looking fence has been erected around the new G Scale layout outside the club using recycled pool fencing. Our thanks to past president Mark Butler for not only sourcing the materials but also building it all nearly single-handedly!
The first of several industry access sidings/branches is now being installed on the HO layout. This one leads to the steel rolling mill module that was salvaged from the old layout.
All photos courtesy of John Kinson.
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