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HO scale RailCentral kits
In 2009 Casula Hobbies released their HO scale NSWGR Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 country
station kits under the
RailCentral
brand name.
There are some interesting differences between the three models,
providing kit-bashers with much scope to produce the many variations of these
pre-cast concrete buildings, as found on the NSW railway system.
Largest of the three station kits, the Pc3, was released with a slate roof
and 10 inch slabs. Prototype structures such as this were built after 1925.
This model can be cut down to produce later versions of the smaller
Pc2 and Pc1 type buildings.
Unlike the Pc3, the small and intermediate sized Pc1 and Pc2 kits have been
produced with the earlier type 15 inch pre-cast slabs, and they have an
all-corrugated roof. Furthermore, the Pc2 has a single sided waiting room
(no rear loading dock), lacks fan-lights above the entrance, but includes
interior wall and detail. Thus it is possible to combine these kits
to produce variants of the Pc2 (eg. shelter with doors front and rear),
or to build an early version of the larger Pc3.
The Pc1
About ninety Pc1's were built on rural branch lines in NSW, and they provided a
simple shelter for both passengers and small freight. Although all shared the
same basic dimensions, there were several differences that distinguished each
building.
Early Pc1's were constructed from 15 inch wall slabs.
There were low-pitched roof variants, and some even lacked the awning.
Fan-lights above the door were absent on many Pc1's, while some were not
provided with a rear door or loading stage.
Fibro tile roofs were occasionally replaced by corrugated iron.
Water tank could be located at either end,
and there were a few odd Pc1's built in a reversed or 'mirror' layout.
Late Pc1's
had 10 inch rusticated wall slabs and slightly altered fan-lights.
After 1927 corrugated fibro roofs were the norm.
The Pc1 building from Nyrang Creek on the Eugowra branch pictured here
was moved to a yard in Canowindra, and is one of few surviving examples
with 15 inch slabs, fan lights and a rear loading dock - all features
modelled in the RailCentral kit. Unlike the kit, though, it has the more
common steep-pitched, fibro tile roof.
RailCentral's Pc1 kit is supplied with the 35 gallon rainwater separator
that was normally only fitted to larger buildings. It can however be cut down
to represent the correct 19 gallon type, as seen in the image below.
Roof pitch
The RailCentral kits feature a low pitched roof. Although correct for some
early NSWGR pre-cast stations, most of these buildings had a higher,
steeper roof.
Two models built from the RailCentral Pc3 kit are shown here.
The stone coloured Pc1 at left has the low roof as supplied in the kits,
but rake of the awning has been corrected. Also note the cut-down rainwater
separator. The blue building at right is modified to more accurately represent
the majority of these buildings, with a one foot higher roof, and the awning
reduced in width slightly.
Pc2 buildings
Goolgowi's relocated building at Griffith Pioneer Park is an example of the
standard 'Pc2' type with 15 inch wall slabs.
Louvre vents on the end wall were a variation to this particular building.
Pc2 stations with 15 inch wall panels could once be found at Menindee,
Leadville, Hannahs Bridge, Pleasant Hills, Rand, Tumbarumba, Tallimba,
Weethalle, Goolgowi, Baradine, Gwabegar, Bomera, Premer, Springridge and
Kunama.
Later Pc2 stations with 10 inch rusticated slabs were located at:
Newee Creek, Conoble, Crooble, North Star, Larras Lee, Yullundry,
Walmer, Arthurville and Toongi.
Those buildings can be modelled from the RailCentral Pc3 kit.
RailCentral's Pc2 has 15 inch slabs, lacks fan lights and has no loading dock.
With the exception of its corrugated roofing material, the kit is a very close
match to prototypes that once stood at
Leadville and Hannahs Bridge on the Coolah line.
Precast station extensions...
Pictured at right is the
extended Pc2 at Weethalle.
Note that the original 15 inch slab building has a Ladies Room added to the
right end using 10 inch slabs. Several Pc2's were extended like this in the
1920's, providing them with similar facilities to the larger Pc3 buildings.
Click here for a plan
(HO scale at 150 DPI) of the Tallimba extension, which was identical to that at
Weethalle. The reverse layout was used on the opposite end of some buildings.
Extensions are also known to have been added to Pc2's at Baradine, Gwabegar,
Tumbarumba and North Star, as well as Pc1's at Tabbita and Merriwagga.
There may have been others.
...and reductions
The former Pc2's at Pleasant Hills, Rand, Newee Creek, Walmer and Yullundry
were reduced in size by demolition of the office and living rooms,
effectively converting them to Pc1's. Photographic evidence suggests that
the Pc2 at Leadville was demolished and replaced with a Pc1 from elsewhere.
The Risk's Pc3 ended its life cut back to just a toilet block!
Pc3 kit
Photo shows the
RailCentral Pc3 kit components. This model features slate roof
and 10 inch wall slabs, and most closely matches the station building at
Lowanna, with the only significant difference being roof pitch.
Others were at Mangoplah, Westby, Ivanhoe, Taralga, Kurrajong, Kywong,
Kikoira, Naradhan, Burcher, Wiangaree, The Risk, Boggabilla and Robertson.
As far as I'm aware all fourteen of the Pc3's with 10 inch slabs had the
higher roof profile.
Earlier Pc3 buildings with 15 inch wall slabs could be found at Oberon
and Batlow. Coolah had an enlarged Pc3 with low-pitched roof.
The Pc3 kit can easily be cut back to produce later type Pc2 and Pc1 stations,
as well as smaller pre-cast concrete buildings - visit my
RailCentral Pc3 kitbash and
Pc2 Conoble pages.
Pc3 variations
Later Pc3 stations differed slightly in window and door arrangements
at the Ladies end - on the platform side, entrance doors to the Ladies room
and WC were normally off an open vestibule, and the height of this opening
varied. The WC rear of most buildings had a half-height louvered window
instead of the full sized one seen at Lowanna (and in the kit).
Pc3's constructed from 1928 onwards - about half the buildings - received a
corrugated main roof instead of fibro tiles (slates).
This view of Robertson's Pc3 clearly shows the open vestibule with door to the
Ladies Room. Door to Gents in the end wall is an alteration unique to this
station. Corrugated iron has replaced the original fibro roof.
Other precast station types
Types Ac2, Ac3, Ac4 and Ac5 accounted
for a dozen buildings, and there were several more large Pc stations that
did not conform to standard design layouts.
Although it may be possible to construct these buildings from the
RailCentral kits, they are not covered here.
Acknowledgements
