Track Cleaning "Hanna" Van operation on my Main North layout MVI_1571.AVI

In the 1930 to 1960, on the NSWGR, there was heavy use of sand by locos as they struggled up the Cowan Bank with grades of between 1 in 40 to 1 in 55. To see Video of 3801 in these Tunnels see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwn_Ggcta4g&feature=related

In the open, the build up of sand/oil/grime was cleaned away by the rain. With no rain in the tunnels to clean the track , this build up of sand/oil/grime etc made worse by the heat inside the tunnel, affected the sgnalling system.
Twice a week the Track Cleaning "Hanna" Van was attached to the Down Trip Train at Hornsby and the rails inside the Tunnels were cleaned. The Van was detached at Gosford, where it was attached to the UP Goods Trip train and cleaned the tunnels in the opposite direction. The Van was detached at Hornsby.
For a Clinic on "Loco Sand", I made a Track Cleaning "Hanna" Van and the track cleaning Trip Train, will be a part of each operating session on my layout with it's 50 foot long Cowan Bank with 2 tunnels.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• MVI
• 1571

[railvideo]

Great job Marcus!

Josh

[shazam75]

absolutely fantastic!