Yes this is the first post of the blog for the South Coast Traction Company. As with many companies this blog will start slow and gradually get bigger.
My 're entry' to traction modelling came about after a long break of around forty years of doing other things in between. I had been traction modelling back in the mid 70's till the early 80's. I then turned to model trains for probably the 4th time in my life. What I liked about the traction modelling was the challenge of construction and scratch building.
The only thing you could purchase was the brass trams that were primarily made in Japan and later in Korea. The issue then with most brass models whether they were trams or trains was that they came in their raw state i.e. just brass. So they had to be painted to your favourite colour scheme. US models dominated the market but every now and then they made some European models.
There was also another issue with them in that for some reason they never provided any glazing in the models. How draughty can that be. I would like to know the reason that this couldn't have been supplied even if it was separate and the modeller inserted it after painting. They probably thought once your model was a few feet away, you wouldn't know any way.
What sparked this return to my tramway days was I was looking at an ancient 8mm roll of movie film. It was unlabelled and became a lucky dip when I ran it through the projector. And what should be on it but a very small segment of a model tramway I had built way back. The scene lasted all of around 10 seconds and was of a single truck freight car rumbling past the camera. I then remembered that I had taken more film of the layout but it could be amongst thousands of unlabelled 8mm movie film. At my time of life and many projects on the go it may never be found.
After discovering this movie film find I then started to research model tramways again. If any readers of this are from the US forgive me for referring to them as 'tramways' and not 'trolleys' as in Australia thats what we call them.
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| Modern trams in George Street Sydney (or light rail as they are now referred to) |
My first tram layout was made on a flat door that was cheap as there was a big dent on one side, which wasn't a worry. (I was only going to build on the one side anyway) It was also rigid and didn't need any framing. At this was my first attempt at tramway modelling I had to go my own way, remember this was well before the internet so unless it was in a book or Model Railroader/Model Railroad Craftsman had done an article you were on your own.
I decided to cut up some brass sheeting and glue this to the door following the track layout I had decided on. Pliobond glue held the brass down as I had heard this formed a stronger bond under heat when the rail was soldered to it. Must of been true as none ever lifted up. Wow what sharp corners you could get in tramways. I used code 100 rail and it was soldered to the brass sleepers.
Infrastructure
It was one thing to have the track finally laid but no tramway is complete without overhead wiring. Luckily there was a local wire manufacturer (back in the days when you could buy locally made products) In my youthfull innocence I entered their doorway where I saw a worker and told him what I was after. I am sure he was totally confused trying to picture a HO tramway. So after selecting a fine wire he then picked up an empty reel and promptly wound enough wire onto it to be able to produce a layout around three actual miles long. That roll disappeared when my whim changed and I ditched tramway modelling and was onsold with the layout.
I came across a few Model Tramway/Trolley Facebook sites and joined them to get the flavour back in my veins. I came across a guy named 'Jasons Brass Poles' and when he advertised some Suydam wire hangers for sale I was straight onto it. Sometimes I think going back to tramway modelling is like stabbing yourself with a knife - Don't do it! Eventually I had to go through the saga of the exchange rates and in the end the seemingly excessive postal rates to Australia. What choice do you have? But the internet is great, you can find this stuff readily and have it sent here. Traction modelling seems to be a very niche market, similar to narrow gauge modelling. Jason also produced some brass poles so as a time saver I ordered some single, side and double poles for a layout.
The other find was some overhead frogs and wire hangers which I call ears. When I was modelling all that time ago these items were readily available to purchase but everything had to be ordered via the postal service. It seems now that any of these items able to be purchased now are 'leftovers' from someones dreams from long ago. When you see a packet on line the way cheaper price on the package sticker has been crossed out. But I suppose the thrill of the chase is still there. So all of these part orders are on their way across the Pacific.
Research
With everything I have modelled in the past, I have tried to gather as much prototype material on the subject as possible. This is always a help to get the feel of how things were done such as colours, style, structures, design etc. Although tramway modelling was a fringe selection there was plenty of material. Firstly books were written about the systems of each state and regional cities. Problem being forty years ago was that there were no Australian models available, there were maybe some English models mainly double deck trams. Then there was the brass US models which were popular and readily available. One major importer of brass into Australia was the Model Dockyard in Melbourne. As an occasional visitor to the southern capital, the Dockyard was usually the first stop after alighting the train at Spencer Street station. Located in Swanston Street you entered the shop and then proceeded down stairs and once below you faced an incredible showcase full of brass trains, carriages and of course the 'trolleys' tucked up on a row or two. I didn't have any particular system to model and follow and my budget was tight at the time. Over time I aquired a PE Hollywood car, a New Orleans car (painted up to look like an Adelaide H car) a Birney car and for the works side of things a Brill single truck sprinkler, a single truck freight car and a bogie flatbed motor.
Apart from the prototype books on traction, I discovered a magazine called Traction and Models. I think it was sort of every month or two months and was eagerly waited on when modelling. Wall to wall traction.
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| "The magazine for Traction Modellers" |
I think as time has passed since its publication there has been a loss of traction modellers and the likes of this magazine will never be seen again. I now regret passing my pile of these mags on when I surrendered interest, I had plenty of issues. What I would love now is if someone could scan the old issues and make them available digitally for newcomers and for the sake of nostalgia. There were so many model traction layouts back then. If you have a scanned collection please let me know.
There were two 'bibles' amongst the books I previously had, both written by William D. Middleton. The first one was 'Time of the Trolley' which had world wide photos of tramway systems and the second by the author was 'The Interurban Era'. An internet search actually revealed an obscure bookshop in Tasmania actually had a copy of it, so with the ease of Ebay purchasing, one click later and it was on its way to me. It arrived today, its musty smelling pages attest to its probable life on a shelf for the last half century. I think I'll soon get over that once I start recognising past outstanding photos I am recollecting. Book number 1 is now on the shelf. So I will keep a look out for the 'Time of the Trolley', a copy will turn up one day.
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| George Street trams in Sydney |
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