Andrew's solution was to model this broad gauge (5'3" or 1600mm) line in HOn30. I am certain that many people around the world have chosen to "freelance" a prototypic line, modelling it as though it was built in a narrow gauge. With the Victorian Railways having four 2'6" (762mm) branches around the state, it would have been easy for Andrew to assume that this line was another built in the narrow gauge, and populate the line with the famous 2-6-2T Na class or 2-6-0+0-6-2 G clas garratts.

Andrew knew the line though, in the days when it was a diesel operated branch, and has chosen to build models based on the VR broad gauge locos and tolling stock, suitable narrowed and shortened to fit the NG. Although it is certainly an unusual approach, to my mind it works exceptionally well, as these photographs demonstrate.

With a couple of T class diesels, a NG version of a DERM (Diesel- Electric Rail Motor) and a neat little NG D3 loco, the loco stud is flexible, and the rolling stock consists of BG 4-wheelers running on the 30".

The line has many sharp curves, steep grades, and very many wooden trestle bridges - in all of these aspect it mirrors the prototype branch line, and Shelley and Beetoomba stations are recognizable facsimilies of theose found on the branch.

This is an excellent little layout, and I thoroughly enjoyed the hours I spent photographing it. For those wishing to see more it was featured in the February 2002 issue of Australian Model Railway Magazine