[MOC] Australian Narrow Gauge Horse Tram

[Dread Pirate Rob]

G'day All,

Something different from me today: Something other than steam traction:)

Canberra Lego Users Group (CLUG) like many others has a monthly themed build chellenge. This year I have set myself the additional challenge to make all of my MOCs train related. The August build challenge is Horses, in honour of the traditional Horses Birthday.

My build is a horse tram based loosely on the trams that ran on the first public railway in South Australia from Goolwa to Port Elliot.

(Photo from www.steamranger.org.au)

The horse looked too small on 6 wide track so I tried it on narrow gauge and it looked to have much better proportions. It runs on four small train wheels attached to 2x2 plate axle pieces.

The gold 2x2 round plates are from the bell in the Pirates of the Caribbean waterwheel set.

I hope you like it,

Rob

[michaelozzie]

Lovely MOC and a great piece of history

[Ivan Furlanis]

I like it. Can we see more pics? Thanks.

Edit: I've just discovered on your Flickr there are those more pictures .

Edited August 6, 2015 by Ivan Furlanis

[zephyr1934]

Hey, those are EN bits around the bottom. Excellent build, the details on the car are top notch, the proportions look right. I like how you did the harness for the horse, very clever. Only one small quibble, the plates around the neck seem a little too bulky... though I can't come up with anything better for the yoke.

[Dread Pirate Rob]

Lovely MOC and a great piece of history

Thank you, steamranger.org.au has more information on this particular line. There is a restored horse tram still operating at Victor Harbour but I it is a double decker and I couldn't work out how to do the spiral stairs:)

I like it. Can we see more pics? Thanks.

Edit: I've just discovered on your Flickr there are those more pictures .

Sorry, yes, should have said. More on Flickr.

Hey, those are EN bits around the bottom. Excellent build, the details on the car are top notch, the proportions look right. I like how you did the harness for the horse, very clever. Only one small quibble, the plates around the neck seem a little too bulky... though I can't come up with anything better for the yoke.

Yes, fortunately you can only see one side of my EN in the cabinet:) I agree, the harness is not right but I had an idea to use tooth parts that might work. If it does, I'll post an update.

Thank you for the advice.

For those not on Flickr, here is the back end (with emissions management equipment).

[Dread Pirate Rob]

The new harness is less bulky but what do you think? Is it an improvement?

[THERIZE]

does that horse need a light? it looks kinda out of place.

[dr_spock]

Typically light would be mounted on car. Horse may have a feed bag or bucket. Food to go.

[zephyr1934]

Oh, yes, I think the mechanical arms do look better than the plates. Good switch. Did you try making the middle part under the neck with another one of the mechanical arms? How would it look in black?

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

The new harness has a neat design and I like it

The narrow gauge is a nice choice for this MOC and the wagon looks absolutely beautiful!

[Dread Pirate Rob]

does that horse need a light? it looks kinda out of place.

Typically light would be mounted on car. Horse may have a feed bag or bucket. Food to go.

Brilliant idea! I'll put a gold stud on the harness and it will match the gold circle on the tram and its gonna look saweeeeet.

Brilliant execution: Looks like a headlight on a horse.

Gentlemen, you are absolutely right. It looks very silly indeed.

Oh, yes, I think the mechanical arms do look better than the plates. Good switch. Did you try making the middle part under the neck with another one of the mechanical arms? How would it look in black?

Thank you, I gave it a go but i regret in white it looked like the horse was being choked by a skeleton and in black it looked like it was being attacked by a spider. I should have taken a photo but I figured I have provided enough humour with my 'headlight.'

In the end I decided that if I couldn't fix the problem by addition I should switch to subtraction:

No "headlight" by Canvas Rails, on Flickr

Going, going, gone by Canvas Rails, on Flickr

Going, going, gone by Canvas Rails, on Flickr

Sadly I think the last one is best. It is simple and does not detract from the tram.

The new harness has a neat design and I like it

The narrow gauge is a nice choice for this MOC and the wagon looks absolutely beautiful!

Thank you for your kind comments, I will have another go at narrow guage soon. The narrow guage Puffing Billy Railway that the Melbourne Lego Train Club is doing in 4 wide is awe inspiring. For now, the EN has reclaimed her boiler plates and the horse has been put out to pasture.

Thank you all for your input into this project, your advice, as ever, has been sage and thank you for sharing your experience.

[zephyr1934]

Thank you, I gave it a go but i regret in white it looked like the horse was being choked by a skeleton and in black it looked like it was being attacked by a spider. I should have taken a photo but I figured I have provided enough humour with my 'headlight.'

In the end I decided that if I couldn't fix the problem by addition I should switch to subtraction:

...

Sadly I think the last one is best. It is simple and does not detract from the tram.

Heh heh heh, your visuals are hilarious. While after seeing the photos I agree with you that the minimalist "no yoke" version is best, I don't think it is saddening. I certainly would not have guessed that it would look so good until seeing it.

[bigginsd]

I love it! I've ridden on this type of Tram many times down at Victor Harbour in South Australia.

[BMW]

Lovely and full of charm!