Lime stone line in On2 scale

[svedblen]

I am starting a new project. I am not sure where this will end (if it ever ends), but I will give it a try and risk my good name ( ) by exposing myself to your scrutiny 

Once again I will model in O scale but this time based on a Swedish narrow gauge prototype, namely the old 600 mm gauge rail line at the Bläse lime stone quarry and lime works. Bläse is located on the Swedish island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea. The lime stone operation is long since discontinued but the site still exists today, as a museum. The museum includes the restored rail line between the quarry and the lime works, and is run as a tourist line.

I am starting this thread in the Layout Engineering forum even if this will maybe not count as layout. My intention is not to model the whole setup or rail line. It will be more of a diorama or vignette. But since I would like to make the rolling stock movable and self propelled it in a sense might be considered a layout.

Here are some real world pictures.







As said, the track is 600 mm gauge, but since that is just 9 mm shy of 2 feet I will be doing the track in On2 scale. Hopefully that will make it a little easier to find some ready to run or "kitbashable" rolling stock. And it makes track laying tools such as track gauges readily available.

So far I have cut a piece of foam and covered it with 2 mm cork. This will the be the combined dioarama base and subroad bed. I have also laid out a first version track plan using paper templates. The plan covers the area where the tourist train loads and unloads and where the engine house is located.

[Hawghead]

Looking forward to seeing more narrow gauge.

Scott

[nkalanaga]

9 mm in O scale (1:48, American O) is only 0.19 mm, or 0.0074 inches, so I doubt that anyone will notice the difference.

Most prototype industrial lines probably couldn't tell the difference, given the state of their track!

[p51]

This looks like a great project, can't wait to see the progress!

[Chris333]

Any better photos of their locomotive?

[svedblen]

The locomotive is a DEMAG, built in Germany during WW2, and used by the Germans at the Rjukan heavy water facility in Norway. After the war it ended up on the Gotland island, Sweden, and was first used at another lime stone quarry than the one mentioned in this thread. Internet sources does not agree upon what kind of DEMAG locomotive this is. Some says it is an ML-15, others that it is is a ML-55, or ML-50. Based on a guess-timated wheel base, looking at the photos below, I would say it is something in between. The DEMAG units seems to have come in a large number of custom adapted versions and variants.

There is an intereseting story about this locomotive. As you might know that the Norwegian resistance movement, with help from the British, made a number of sabotage raids against the Rjukan plant, and finally managed to stop the heavy water production. According to legend the locomotive below was standing as a backup during one of these actions, filled with explosives. It was however never used and the explosives were forgotten and not found until the the locomotive ended up in Sweden after the war. The explosives where supposed to be found in the gear box! How much explosives can you stuff into a gear box? I am not sure if all of this is actually true. Some of it possibly is, but it is all the same a good story.

My intention right now is to try to create something similar to the above locomotive based on this Universal Power Bogie kit, which I just received from the UK: https://www.locosnstuff.com/Motor-Bogie-and-Chassis-kits.php Exactly how I shall achive this I do not know   



Now for the photos:

[svedblen]

Progress has been embarrassingly slow, but finally I have glued down the ties.

[svedblen]

The ties have been weathered and rail spiking has commenced. The prototype does not use tie plates, except in turnout point and frog areas.

[svedblen]

In situ turnout construction is ongoing along with the track laying. I'm using On2 templates from Fast Tracks as a base but has adjusted the tie placement in order to better comply with the prototype. I also build switch handles based on prototype pictures.





Here is what I'm aiming at 

[Hawghead]

Lennart,

Looks great, will those switch stands be used to control the position of the points, or will the turnouts be controlled by switch machines and the switch stands just move with the points?  If you are going to control the points with those switch stands what will hold the points in place?

Scott

[svedblen]

Thanks Scott. The switch stands will control the points, and there will be nothing to hold the points in place other than the tiny weight off the assembly itself and the friction between its parts. Just like the prototype  But seriously, this will be more like a diorama and if anything will ever move by its own force on these rails the small likelihood that the points will acccidently move is nothing I worry about. 

[Hawghead]

Ahh,

I thought it was going to be a small switching layout.  In the above picture the points move a long way from the stock rail and so create a kind of "over center" situation on the switch stand.  That combined with what I'm sure is a fairly heavy top weight appears to keep the points in place on the prototype.  While the plastic top weight on your probably won't do much to hold the points in place, perhaps there is enough "over center" to keep the points from moving.  Any way it looks great (would look even better with a small 0-4-0 steam locomotive  ) and I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Scott

[svedblen]

I ran out of rail and had to order some more. While waiting for the rail to arrive I started some track and turnout weathering.

[svedblen]

Finally, all track has been laid and weathered. Weathering included spraying with Vallejo German Black Brown (70.822) and dusting with AIM weathering powders, mostly Medium Earth but also some Light Rust in the occasional spot. I have started to avoid the AIM rust powders since they in my opinion gives a to stark red or orange tone. At least for track weathering.

Here are som photos.









Next comes ballasting.

[PJPickard]

I look forward to seeing more of this. I didn't know about this line, we were supposed to visit Gotland about two years ago...but then this pandemic thing happened. Hopefully soon one day we can go.