Here's a video I took last year that I think many will find of interest. As some will be aware, I sell T gauge trains in Australia - so far the only one doing so. And one of my customers who is keenly building superdetailed Victorian N scale trains, decided to take up the challenge of building local prototype in T gauge. Since Victorian Railways were broad gauge (5' 3") he reduced the already small 1:450 of T gauge (Japanese 3' 6" gauge trains) to 1:500.

The video here shows the remarkable results. And yes, this was his first ever layout.

Avant d'accéder à YouTube

If you think this is impressive, then I might mention that he is presently working on another layout that makes this look very "ho-hum". I'll post some photos of it later.

Very nice for 3mm track.

Wow! Very cool! You only really get a sense of just how small it is when the camera pans out to the full layout.

Very impressive, more so because of it's scale. Too difficult for me I'm afraid.

when you said "Victorian broad guage" Warren, I immediately thought of Brunel but then realised it's Victoria in Oz !!!:oops::oops:

Lovely modelling - what bit I saw - takes an age to download Youtube here but, as Bob said, way too small for me ……….:shock::shock:

Looking forward to seeing what makes that appear "ho-hum". :cheers

That is impressive. The buzzing makes it seem like the loco has sound fitted.

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

when you said "Victorian broad guage" Warren, I immediately thought of Brunel but then realised it's Victoria in Oz !!!:oops::oops:

I'm actually conscious of the probable confusion when I mention "Victorian Railways" or "Victorian broad gauge" in non Australian forums.

There is actually a very small town in western Victoria called "Great Western" and if that's not enough, one of its 12 or so streets is named "Brunel Street" For balance, there's also  a "Stephenson Street". The railway there is the mainline between Melbourne and Adelaide. Originally broad gauge (albeit, only 5' 3"), it's now standard gauge.

Incredible - need something big enough I can see - so I'll stick to N Gauge.

After working with T for the last 3 years, it's funny how N scale, and even Z scale now appear large to me. So probably stranger that O scale is still my favourite.

Hi Darren

I am afraid it leaves me cold.  The movement of the train is really bad and completely spoils the nice work on the scenery for me

Sorry

Jim

Darren, most impressive. I would love to go for a drive one day and see the shop.

Cheers

Mick

Pick me up on the way through Mick and book in a visit to Hollywood Foundry as well. 

If those tiny trains are real I'll eat my hat

I thought it might be time to update this thread. The builder of that tiny layout in the video has since embarked on a much bigger project. He's now working on a scale model or Orbost, which was the terminus of a branchline that ran to the east of Victoria, Australia. The line closed in 1987 and was mostly used for timber traffic.


The layout was begun by printing out the appropriate section of google  maps at 1:500 scale and using these as templates for the 3 modules  currently under construction. The area so far modelled covers the final  3km of the line. No compression at all.


The T gauge track was cut and modified to allow the Orbost yard to be accurately modelled.


Yes, this too is T gauge - 1:500 scale on 3mm gauge track. T gauge is usually 1:450 scale, but that's for Japanese 3' 6" gauge trains. The VR used the Irish gauge of 5' 3".






This photo is many times larger than actual size.




Here's a photo of the real trestle to compare with the model.


And here's the much longer one just before it that has yet to be built on the model.


And here's the model from the opposite end. The track currently floating above where the trestle shall be soon.


T class loco crossing the final trestle into Orbost.


The T class passing a DERM (Double-Ended Rail Motor) on a siding.

Again, this isn't my layout. I only took the photos. But I think you can agree that this is something special, even if the thought of working on such small-scale models yourself does not appeal.

[user=350]jim s-w[/user] wrote:

Hi Darren

I am afraid it leaves me cold.  The movement of the train is really bad and completely spoils the nice work on the scenery for me

Sorry

Jim

Hi Jim,

Sorry, I somehow missed your comment earlier. I agree that the mechs in the models shown in that video are far from perfect. Although I'd suggest that the close-up video (larger than actual size) actually makes it appear a lot worse than it looks to the eye when the layout is in front of you. It's also worth mentioning that these models are using the first generation T gauge mechanisms. The second generation mechs are noticably better and smoother-running. A third gen mech will eventually make use of a worm drive and that should be even better.

Let us not forget that early N gauge mechs were attrocious and the novelty that such seemingly tiny trains could be powered at all was enough for most people. T gauge is really still in its infancy, but improving all the time. The other thing helping is better controllers too. And those of us working in this scale are finding ways of 'fine-tuning' the mechs as well. I'll do another video eventually and hopefully the running will leave you feeling slightly warmer. :doublethumb

Fascinating stuff, thanks Darren.

And here is Orbost

Hi all. The layout is now almost finished. It will be exhibited in working condition for the first time this weekend. Unfortunately I will not be able to go and see it there, but will organise to see it soon after and take more photos and video.
The Orbost video above only shows one of three modules. Well, four modules now if you include the balloon loop at one end.

I understand it now runs much smoother than it did when I took the video. I know what T gauge is capable of with clean rails, wheels, pick-ups and PWM control. Neither of my videos show that. So I'm keen to get another chance to show them at their best.

For the locals, the exhibition is at Stawell in western Victoria Saturday 7 and Sunday 9th July 2012.

Following this with great interest.
Marty