This page last updated September 1st 2007

COMMONWEALTH OIL CORPORATION

WOLGAN VALLEY RAILWAY
HO & O scale

all 2nd and 1st/2nd available

Of interest to Australian modellers, these coaches were used on the Commonwealth Oil Corporation, Wolgan Valley Railway. These coaches are very suitable for use with the "Shays" as used on the WVR and for layouts based on the Shale Railways of NSW.


Photos: Steam And Things; top line: completed Selsey model in 7mm scale, decals, prototype all 2 COC coach built in Birmingham, UK and HO etches of sides and ends
bottom line: Wolgan 1/2 coach prototype and completed HO model of all 2 coach

Steam And Things started these kits as a special "HO" commission and the customer was prepared for certain compromises from the cost point of view. Therefore these kits are dimensionally based on our scale kit for the "Selsey Falcons". The Selsey Falcons were smaller that the WVR stock and so the latter "look right" in the appropriate scale scale.

Dimensional information for the Wolgan coaches such as there is, is:
(HO dimensions taken off a line drawing in "Shale Railways of NSW", which we have taken as being in that scale)

These kits are NOT for true to prototype, ultrascale models, but for very (our opinion) "realistic" look-alikes, with correct window numbers, planking effect etc, although the lack of good quality photographs mean that a certain amount of inspired guess work was required.

The bogies supplied are those on the Selsey Falcons, but a modeller will be able to make his own cosmetic overlays from say styrene sheet, if he so wishes. The bogies are made up from separate bogie side etches, castings and etched stretcher frames. The link to the Selsey Falcons shows some larger and clearer photographs of the bogies. In O scale we will also include some cast bogie sides from another prototype, so that the modeller may be able to use some parts such as grease boxes or springs.The "accurate" modeller will have to indulge in a certain amount of scratch building to modify some of the parts (such as steps) if he wants a substancially more prototypial look.

The models come with castings and decals. Wheels and bearings, are not included in either scale, but we designed the HO bogies to use standard 12mm 8-spoke split wagon wheels with 26mm pin-pont axles. HO sized bearings are available at A$2.00 for the coach (8 bearings). In O scale, Slater's wheels are recommended, and we tend to stock those and are available as extras.

We feel there is insufficient demand and technical information to produce the kits as true scale kits designed from scratch. Unless someone wants this as a special commission and supplies us with all information!

We print our own decals, so these are available in any scale. Though if you are ordering for your own scratch built models the exact scale (3.5mm, 1/4" or 7mm) must be stipulated.