Model Train Talk South Africa

General Model Train Talk and Calendar => Clubs => Topic started by: renegade on December 09, 2014, 11:53:57 AM

Title: Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG)
Post by: renegade on December 09, 2014, 11:53:57 AM
The Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG) is an operations focussed group adhering to the Free-mo modular standards.

The group has the objective of OPERATING trains in a realistic manner. This included using wide radius curves, Digitrax DCC, sound (when available) and running trains waybills and car cards.

The group currently has 19 members and a large number of modules, and meet every school holiday at an agreed venue. get togethers to discuss trains and group matters are held once a month.

For more information, please have a look at https://gfgsa.wordpress.com/ where you will find contact details and group rules and images from some of our previous get meet-ups.

these are just a few scenes and images from our layout. there are many more at the website.
(https://gfgsa.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/2-_dsc0009.jpg?w=1024)
(https://gfgsa.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/22-_dsc0018-copy.jpg?w=1024)
(https://gfgsa.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/11-623.jpg?w=1024)
(https://gfgsa.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/08-227.jpg?w=679)
(https://gfgsa.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/1451.jpg?w=1024)
(https://gfgsa.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/gfg-may-2014-layout-e1400432878586.jpg?w=1092)

Title: Re: Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG)
Post by: wesley on December 09, 2014, 12:19:53 PM
That looks like lots of fun, and some beautiful work thats been done.

Keep up the good work.
Title: Re: Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG)
Post by: BigEd on December 09, 2014, 02:18:17 PM
Nice one!!! :thumb:

Always loved the Freemo principal... :thumb:
Title: Re: Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG)
Post by: renegade on December 09, 2014, 03:00:41 PM
it is great! and we actively try to have a different layout every time we set up.   sofar it has worked very well for us, and we have more than 70 meters of mainline track already!!! with something like 8 or 9 yards/stations and many industries
Title: Re: Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG)
Post by: BigEd on December 09, 2014, 03:29:58 PM
I am also busy with another concept on the back burner - oNeTrak. Based on the original Ntrak idea, but after the application of DCC it just became more fun to do oNetrak.

Not too much different from Freemo I'd say...
Title: Re: Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG)
Post by: renegade on December 09, 2014, 07:58:48 PM
i have read a little on the onetrack concept. Yes very similar to fremo.  i like the idea of of freestyle modules and the inability to make track ovals to simply run trains around.  proper operating is much more difficult than most think, and it requires a LOT of concentration.

At one of our sessions we used 2way radios with a dedicated dispatcher. Each arrival had to be reported to dispatch, and no train was allowed to move onto the main without dispatch authorising it.

Operations is a lot of fun! We typically run 2 man crews - a driver and an assistant. Driver is just that - the driver or engineer. The assistant has to throw the switches and uncouple cars at the yards...

Regards

Francois
Title: Re: Gauteng Freemo Group (GFG)
Post by: BigEd on December 10, 2014, 09:00:07 AM
Cape Town Ntrak did operations back in 1999 already. Boy, that was a lot of fun!