Trams

[Barry Marchant]

Models of Trams (streetcars) made by Barry and Colin. All are completely scratch built, to the scale of 1:32 and run on 45mm track (handlaid using HO rail with the sleepers removed  and the base built up to represent street scenes.),not garden railway track.

[JeroenS]

Barry, your pics seem to be missing?

[Bandsaw Steve]

Hi Barry,

 

Right spot 👍but as JeroenS says the pictures haven’t come through. 🙁

 

Getting there though 👍. I’m looking forward to seeing these.

 

Steve

 

 

[Barry Marchant]

Posted Friday at 16:07 (edited)
My model of a Christchurch double deck tram as built 1905. The trolley pole had been removed when this photo was taken. Usually the model appears after the original was built, but in this case the model came first! It was then used to persuade the unbelievers how the seating should be arranged on No 26 at Ferrymead. 

This is a good example of scratch building! The trolley standard is the barrel of a ball point pen, the netting around the top deck is a length of fly screen netting as used on a flyscreen door! and the windows are cut from a soft drink bottle with straight sides. Stairs were cut from a block of customwood with a fret saw. The pole (not shown) was made from a double-butted bike spoke and fitted with a trolley head and base. Wheels are the correct scale size. The truck side frames were made from two excellent patterns carved by Colin. These were embedded in plastersene and hardened in the freezer (don't tell mum!) over night. Next morning the patterns were removed from the moulds to be replaced with builders bog. The result is a set of 14D5  side frames to match the full size originals. Unfortunately the aprons are still missing their wooden tops. I think the driver has escaped to have a cuppa.

The model runs very nicely and will tow a trailer.

Edited January 22, 2019 by Barry Marchant
add pic

[bar side]

Nice build.  What do you use to power it?  Driven bogies I guess but adapted axels for the new rack gauge?

[Bandsaw Steve]

Nice work Barry - that photo came through fine. Some more like that one please!

[Spiny]

Looks great, even better when you consider it moves under it's own steam (as it were).

 

I don't know a lot about the Christchurch tram system (it wasn't running when I was out there), but do they ever run the old trams such as these or is it just new stuff?

[Barry Marchant]

13 hours ago, bar side said:

Nice build.  What do you use to power it?  Driven bogies I guess but adapted axels for the new rack gauge?

Hi bar side, one truck is powered, on 1 axle by a Mashima 12 volt motor through a worm and pinion obtained from North Yard based in Blenheim NZ (see their catalog) The axles are 3mm bright steel bar purchased in long lengths and cut to length (1 15/16in )

Insulated wheels are fitted with a 10mm nylon bush drilled 3mm while still in the lathe and the axle pressed in.

Live wheels are turned with a bush on the inside which is drilled and tapped for a grub screw Meccano style

Track gauge is 45mm or 1.75 inches (gauge 1) but MUCH finer than garden railway track.

Pickup is from the rails of course.

[Barry Marchant]

On 21/05/2018 at 08:42, Spiny said:

Looks great, even better when you consider it moves under it's own steam (as it were).

 

I don't know a lot about the Christchurch tram system (it wasn't running when I was out there), but do they ever run the old trams such as these or is it just new stuff?

Hello Spiny, if you google for Christchurch Trams, or Ferrymead Tramway you should get a lot of leads.

Both tramways are a 'must see' if you visit us. There are no 'new' trams' in Christchurch, several have been rebuilt completely from abandond wrecks.

 

Actually, in 1905 it was indirectly steam powered! The whole system was powered by a big steam generating plant boosted by batteries. (reputedly the biggest such plant in the souther hemesphere) In 1916 there was a massive failure in the State Electricity system and the CTB took over the whole of the emergency supplies in Christchurch   Boilers were cold when the request came in and they picked up the first emergency load within about an hour!

Edited January 22, 2019 by Barry Marchant

[Barry Marchant]

The side of the tram says it all! The original is a Melbourne W2 considerably modified inside and painted in this striking colour scheme. It does daily meal trips around the city circuit most evenings and a booking for a meal is essential.The power truck has both axles powered. Working headlights and side lights are fitted and powered with a 9 volt battery hidden in the kitchen area. This model, made by Barry can run on either Colin's or my layout.

The truck side frames are Chch Brill 77e castings. They should be Melbourne No 1 or 1a but I do not know where to source them. Help welcomed on this matter

Edited May 21, 2018 by Barry Marchant

[Spiny]

20 hours ago, Barry Marchant said:

Hello Spiny, if you google for Christchurch Trams, or Ferrymead Tramway you should get a lot of leads.

Both tramways are a 'must see' if you visit us. There are no 'new' trams' in Christchurch, several have been rebuilt completely from abandond wrecks.

Thanks, just had a look and that would have been great while playing tourist. But even more than that, it's great to see in the photos that the city seems to be recovering from the quakes.

[Bandsaw Steve]

Looks great Barry! Like you say, a really striking colour scheme. I’ve been on this one also. Spent an evening in the restaurant car in 2008, a really good night out. 👍

[bar side]

On 5/21/2018 at 12:38 AM, Barry Marchant said:

Hi bar side, one truck is powered, on 1 axle by a Mashima 12 volt motor through a worm and pinion obtained from North Yard based in Blenheim NZ (see their catalog) The axles are 3mm bright steel bar purchased in long lengths and cut to length (1 15/16in )

Insulated wheels are fitted with a 10mm nylon bush drilled 3mm while still in the lathe and the axle pressed in.

Live wheels are turned with a bush on the inside which is drilled and tapped for a grub screw Meccano style

Track gauge is 45mm or 1.75 inches (gauge 1) but MUCH finer than garden railway track.

Pickup is from the rails of course.

Sounds good.  Built a fold up brass frame & Mishima drive a long time ago.  Always fancied a Tenshodo spud bogie, but the axel length wouldn’t be easy to vary much.  

[Bandsaw Steve]

 

More trams please Barry! 

 

Come on man! I know you have at least a score of the things. Your public awaits!

[Ian T]

It’s great to see something really different and so good!!

[Barry Marchant]

On 19/06/2018 at 09:29, Ian T said:

It’s great to see something really different and so good!!

Thanks Ian, Trams are certainly different in the modelling world, so many advantages.

1:32 scale suits my eyesight! I have a complete layout on a 8x4 base, so many prototypes to choose from, 1 single tram is a complete unit, Tight curves.

I wish more modellers would choose this subject.

There are plenty of trams at Ferny Grove you could model, I will put up Colin's Brisbane dropcenter for you shortly.

Edited June 22, 2018 by Barry Marchant
correct text.

[Ian T]

20 hours ago, Barry Marchant said:

Thanks Ian, Trams are certainly different in the modelling world, so many advantages.

1:32 scale suits my eyesight! I have a complete layout on a 8x4 base, so many prototypes to choose from, 1 single tram is a complete unit, Tight curves.

I wish more modellers would choose this subject.

There are plenty of trams at Ferny Grove you could model, I will put up Colin's Brisbane dropcenter for you shortly.

Hi Barry, I’ve visited the Ferny Grove trams and had a great time, my brother (in the UK) is really into trams, buses and trolley buses, etc. He is currently building a N gauge railway that has a street tramway servicing the stations.  I’ll send him these pictures which I’m sure will greatly interest him. Keep up the good work, I’m sure we’d all like to see some more pictures. Regards Ian

[Will Vale]

Very nice work and an interesting bill of materials. The carved stairs and carved/cast sideframes came out really well!

 

I must show this to my dad in the morning, he's a volunteer motorman at Queen Elizabeth Park.

 

Cheers,

 

Will

[Barry Marchant]

Can someone please tell me why the photo with this reference will not display?

http://village.photos/members/Barry/Trams/468950/IMG_0066

TIA

 

Problem now solved, thanks.

Edited January 22, 2019 by Barry Marchant

[bhouse]

This post deleted

[JeroenS]

1 hour ago, Barry Marchant said:

Can someone please tell me why the photo with this reference will not display?

http://village.photos/members/Barry/Trams/468950/IMG_0066

TIA

I believe this is caused by the fact that the image in the link has no extension (i.e. .jpg or .jpeg or whatever your image is). BM will not recognize it as an image and will not embed the image in the post.

[bar side]

Let’s see if this works

 

 

that is a result then.  All I did was open your picture on photo village and click on it, choosing open in a new tab.  That opened the picture with a .jpg on the end of the url, which will post on here.

[Barry Marchant]

4 hours ago, bar side said:

Let’s see if this works

 

 

that is a result then.  All I did was open your picture on photo village and click on it, choosing open in a new tab.  That opened the picture with a .jpg on the end of the url, which will post on here.

Ahhhh!! thank you Barside, there are none so blind as those that will not see!  I did not read the Village Photos instructions correctly.

This is a model of a Christchurch 'Hills' tram of which several were built in the early 20th century. They were fitted with Peckham 14d5 trucks and powerful motors which enabled them to climb the 1:11 grade up Hackthorne Road, Cashmere, Chch.

Two of them headed the last ceremonial trams in Christchurch in 1954, And No 24 is now being rebuilt at Ferrymead, Christchurch

 

The photo below shows the various components pre assembled ready to make the finished model.

From the top..... 2 advertising boards for the roof.

                         the roof

                         2 driver's cabins

                         the main body, (saloon on the right)

                         the main floor unit with trucks under, only the motor showing.

                        2 floor units for drivers cabins

The 2 poles and truck side frames have yet to be made, but it runs.

 

 

 

Edited January 22, 2019 by Barry Marchant
added photo & description.

[lordairgtar]

Interesting subject. I noticed right away the differing sized wheels. Was this common in NZ. Nothng American used that style as I can see. I live near a trolley museum where one can ride the trams along a small stretch of track. Cool stuff.

[Barry Marchant]

On 27/01/2019 at 06:46, lordairgtar said:

Interesting subject. I noticed right away the differing sized wheels. Was this common in NZ. Nothng American used that style as I can see. I live near a trolley museum where one can ride the trams along a small stretch of track. Cool stuff.

Hello Lordairgtar,

This type of truck was used in NZ and UK and elsewhere. It was an effort to give a smoother ride on a long car than a single truck would, but without the complications involved in wiring 4 motors as would be involved if 2 ordinary trucks were fitted. The large wheels were on the driving axles and the small (pony) wheels gave the trucks turning ability.

The driving axles carried <> 60% of the car weight and the truck pivot point is closer to the driving axle than the pony axle,  In NZ such trucks were used in Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin. At Crich the Hill Of Howarth car is also fitted with them. The Ferrymead tramway in Christchurch has a number of cars requiring these trucks, but none being available world wide, They have set up to produce new replicas from scratch using motors obtained from overseas and casting new steel parts from their own patterns. So far, 2 pairs are in regular use and more are to be constructed.

My models have wheels turned to scale, all trucks being identical. See the decker above.

Makers I am aware of are Peckham and Brill.