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25.01.2022 A very rare N.W.S.L. HO 3' gauge 16 ton Class B DUNKIRK has just arrived from the US. One of only 300 models built in Japan for NWSL during 1979. This pretty brass logging loco features all wheel drive and a 'can' motor which was rare for the era when open frame motors were the norm.

25.01.2022 Always fun to spool through World-Kraft's extensive range of Japanese HOe kits to see what gems may be lurking among their high quality but generally too expensive offerings. My latest find is an American Whitcomb DL kit recently re-released at a very reasonable US$45.00 + shipping. I suspect at that price it may be un-powered but with Kenji Toma's latest SWB coreless double reduction TM-TR02 replacement chassis, anything is possible. "It is a gasoline internal combustion locomotive manufactured by Whitcom, Inc. in the United States that was active in the Otaki and Matsumoto Forestry Stations from 1915 to 1958. This is a model modeled on Unit 7, which is dynamically preserved at Gunma Prefecture Neri Forest Railway." There are more too like the classic Porter 0-4-0 SL so check them out at https://world-kougei.com/SHOP/84123/list.html

24.01.2022 Who said narrow gauge railways were all about slate quarries, stone walls and 'chocolate box' cottages?

23.01.2022 remarkably efficient!

23.01.2022 Having recently bought a batch of New/Old Stock Minitrains HOe/HOn30 narrow gauge sets, I decided to strip down and service the Diesel Locomotive first as none of the included locos would run staight out of the box. As I have a bunch of different PWM DC controllers here in the shop, I wanted to see how various PWM circuits might work with a high quality, 5 pole, skew wound DC motor. As you can see from the video demonstration, the difference between 10KHz PWM and 300Hz PWM is... quite dramatic. Good Low Frequency PWM controllers are very hard to find and some do may a bit of a noise on the low speed start. A typical example is the 'Li'l Pulser' PWM controller I used for the second test run. It was designed in AU by John Clarke and Published by Silicon Chip magazine in 2013: http://www.siliconchip.com.au//Li%27l+Pulser+Model+Train+C Colin Mitchell has a great circuit out now (available wired & tested for about US$30 from his Talking Electronics site) which I used to drive the log winch drive on my recent 'Cableway' Micro layout. The advantage here is that Colin's design does not need a reverse switch and instead, uses a much more intuative continuously variable potentiometer with a Center Zero control. (see this video: https://www.facebook.com/536347446536356/videos/925662344584729)

22.01.2022 Narrow gauge enthusiasts of the short wheel base HOe/HOn30 locomotive can rejoice because Japan's Narrow Garage is re-tooling the classic but discontinued Tomytec TM-HM01 and TM-TR02 power units and release date is very near. Designed as a snap in replacement for the old chassis, the new power unit features double reduction gearing and a high torque coreless DC motor with easy DCC integration. "Basically new power unit is common but adopters for TM-TR02 and TM-HM01 are diffe...rent. New power unit has a powerful and low speed coreless 7 motor and double stage reduction gears with spur gears and worm gears which results very smooth and powerful with low speed." Takashi Tsukuno Availability is expected within a month for around Y5K to Y6K. www.narrow-garage.com

19.01.2022 When it comes to Micro Layouts, IMO the Japanese remain the true Masters of the Craft. This Micro from appears to be modelled in both HOe and HOf.

17.01.2022 Micro inspirstion! Some remarkably clear footage of a narrow gauge 'pushcart' railway in Taiwan.

16.01.2022 Further to last month's popular video showing our working narrow gauge 'kick' point, we decided to see if we could motorise it using a readily available, low cost geared DC motor. For this experiment, I've used a shorth length of heat shrink tubing as the coupling but I plan to replace this with some silicon tubing which will act as a suitable clutch. The 6v DC geared motor (only US $1.00 each) is activated in this case using a simple DPDT toggle switch to change the polarity. The toggle switch is a three position, 'center off' type. (see the original loco test video here: https://www.facebook.com/536347446536356/videos/596301287921023 plus motor photos and source information in the comments section below the original post)

16.01.2022 Operational video: https://www.facebook.com/OzSteam-536347446536356/videos/925662344584729

16.01.2022 It has arrived!

16.01.2022 A-class Climax Aleda (1297 of 1913) was the first of Allen Taylor & Companys steam engines. It was a 14-ton wooden-framed type purchased new in 1915 and named after Sir Allen Taylors wife. Here the loco crew and a brakeman pose for the photographer on a small trestle bridge near Wootton. Photo: Vic Newell

15.01.2022 All the parts have now arrived to power our latest HOe/OO9 4 ton Kato 'Bong Bong' DL with Narrow-Japan's new coreless, double reduction motor unit. The latter is a direct replacement to Tomytec's venerable TM-TR02 chassis and retains the same 16mm wheelbase but offers far better gearing for ultra low speed running. (see my separate video of this unit hauling a coupe of our new die-cast logging disconnects) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=650468012285637

15.01.2022 Our latest BeeBox DeLuxe Micro Layout is #3 - 'The Cableway'. Measuring just 450mm x 300mm (17" x 12") of working space and set a modified and highly polished bee hive frame, we've recreated a typical Japanese narrow gauge forest railway. This self contained HOn30/HOe Micro Layout features two independently controlled logging trains - one on a continuous loop and the other, a working mountain switchback. Four comprehensive lighting circuits are included, each switched and two... dimable. The working diorama also features two aerial ropeways: one manually opeated and the other electrically powered and driven by a hidden gearhead motor using a unique switchless PWM control mechanism which allows the operator to feather controls for a continuous forward/reverse movement of the overhead ropeway through a complex network of pulleys, sheaves and cable drums. 'The Cableway' in HOe narrow gauge now joins 'Log Camp' and 'Temple Stop' in our premium BeeBox Deluxe series of commercial Micro Layouts. See our FB video library for more unusual narrow gauge railway models: https://www.facebook.com/OzSteam-536347446536356/videos

15.01.2022 Model Railway Gauge Comparison thanks to Brian Taylor Lawson

14.01.2022 Lima Shay SL25 working hard on Taiwan's 2'6" gauge Alishan Forest Railway

13.01.2022 Success! I feel a dual gauge micro layout coming on as I just managed to snaffle this gorgeous mint brass, Japanese made 12 ton 'A Class' vertical boiler Climax from the US at a better than reasonable price!

13.01.2022 'The Cableway' working videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k25t_cRKkCA and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pQLqzs8GDI&t=5s

12.01.2022 Finally, some pricing & availability. https://tomamw.miiduu.com/

11.01.2022 Working directional electric lamps on our completed re-modelled, re-motored and re-gauged HO Climax loco. (now HOn30 - see the running video in our site Video files)

10.01.2022 When your locomotive runs out of steam, Push! Crikey, now I want a Safari Suit with a Pith Helmet. This 'push cart' line in north western Formosa (now Taiwan) was a popular tourist attraction in the 1930s.

10.01.2022 My friend from Japan, Takashi Tsukuno is currently developing a new, high performance low geared chassis replacement for Tomytec's now discontinued TM-TR02 9mm gauge power unit. Fitted with a coreless motor, double reduction gearing, with easy DCC integration and boasting a very short 17mm wheelbase, it's sure to be popular with fans of the 'Nekoya Line' series and more. Eagerly anticipated so more info as it arises!

10.01.2022 Here is the first successful amalgamation of Case & Cassette for our Japanese themed 'BeeBox DeLuxe' Micro Layout, 'The Cableway'. Set in a heavily varnished former bee hive frame, this complex micro layout enjoys just 450mm x 350mm of working space yet includes four separate lighting circuits, an integrated stereo MP3 SFX payer with hidden speakers and three independent PWM DC controllers. All work in harmony as two separate log trains operate independently of each other a...nd two working overhead aerial ropeways grace the miniature forestry scene. The stereo MP3 player ensures the remote controlled sound effects add realism to this miniature diorama. Operational video coming soon!

10.01.2022 A world of railway related drawings at your fingertips - many with dimensions recorded. https://photos.google.com//AF1QipNOI0vuaU6otwaD2hxKrEFsX3P

09.01.2022 The new coreless, double reduction power unit from Narrow Japan is now available! This tiny but efficient DC unit is a direct replacement for Tomytec's popular TM-TR02 chassis which powers many HOe/HOn30 and 009 models. For more info, contact Mr Takashi Tsukuno direct at Narrow Japan. (he speaks excellent English) Details linked here with ordering information available from Narrow Japan's Homepage: http://www.narrow-garage.com/NG-HP1606.html... English site: http://narrow-japan.net/

08.01.2022 Here are some pictures from our recent coastal tour where we located the remains of several long abandoned narrow gauge timber railways. On the way, we paid our respects to 'The Grandis', a 400 year old Flooded Gum and currently the largest tree in NSW. This area was fortunately spared from the huge fires early in 2020. Many historic tramway sites can still be found lurking in the deep forests of the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.

08.01.2022 An early development video of Toma Model Works 13 ton Lima Shay for HOe/HOn30 https://youtu.be/nFTacQjbRQs

06.01.2022 We visit the Alunite Mine and skip-way ruins on Bulahdelah's 'Alum Mountain'

05.01.2022 Absolutely fed up with the high cost of imported, commercially made narrow gauge points Downunder in Australia, I decided to make my own. (that's a Switch or Turnout to my USA friends) Given I make forestry and mining micro layouts, I decided to look through UK writer, Michael Reilly's excellent 'Narrow Gauge Railways of Taiwan' for inspiration. Many Asian NG railways used a simple, single blade point so I took a bit of scrap Peco OO9 'Crazy Track' then cut & trimmed it to s...uit the angle. I drilled a fine hole into the base of the pivoting piece of rail then soldered in a short length of phosphor bronze rod. The hole below the tie was drilled oversize and fitted with a short length of 1/16" O.D. bass tube to form a bearing. The bottom of the bronze rod extends well below the brass tube & baseboard so it can easily be bent up to add a spring/s, bell crank or solenoid for electric point operation. Hardly suitable for main line operation but Hey, that's what 'proper' points are for! This design is ideally suited to hand-laid track using real wood sleepers (ties) and metal dog spikes.

02.01.2022 A great new and re-issued HOe 'Nekoya Line' selection has just been announced at Tomytec in 1:80. The new release sees a return of the very popular center-cab DL as well as the venerable TM-TR02 chassis. There is also a cute snow plough and for the first time, a three car freight set! Loads of Micro Layout possibilities here especially as Narrow-Japan are now shipping their low geared, coreless motor TM-TR02 replacement with the same short 17mm wheelbase.

02.01.2022 With a cosy fire flickering in the Crew Hut, the rising sun slowly warms a chilly morning under the Cableway.

02.01.2022 Good news! My previously large and somewhat diverse range of OzSteam locomotive dress-up and structure kits may soon be back on the market again after some ten years. We have just completed the sale of all our 'Steam in the Bush' O/On30 kits, plans, parts & custom molds to a very enthusiastic buyer from the US of A so Narrow Gauge modellers should start to see a gentle trickle of updated & improved kits very soon!

02.01.2022 I feel an On18 Micro layout brewing! Here's something to get your narrow gauge juices flowing. This gorgeous brass steamer kit from Pairhands in Japan is modelled in On18 scale, (for N/9mm track) At about US$90 + shipping, it might just the thing for your O scale/On30 railway. https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/pairhands/on-9-18.html... 16.5mm On30 kits: https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/pairhan/oa5caa5eda2.html 9mm HOe/HOn30 kits: https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/pairhands/hoa5caa5ed.html

01.01.2022 Another gorgeous miniature railway from Japan by our good friend Ryo Yamashita: https://www.facebook.com/plannershi/videos/3738526672842540

01.01.2022 Dawn strikes 'The Cableway' Crew Hut