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Wombat Creek Tramways

Wombat Creek is a H0 (1:87) scale model of a fictional town situated somewhere in the Victorian Goldfields, Australia.

The time is 1963. Geelong wins the VFL Championship against Hawthorn (109– 60). John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. ValentinaTeresjkova is the first woman in Space. The men behind The Great Train Robbery get £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train heading from Glasgow to London.

The town consists of several buildings. The “Wombat Creek Bank and Gold Exchange” is a prominent building in the town centre. You will also find several other commercial buildings; among them the daily newspaper“W.C. Chronicle”(colloquial known as the "Toilet Paper") and “Wombat Creek Brewing Company” (Famous for the “Wombat Bitter”). “The Big Nugget Gold Mine” is situated at the Western outskirts of town near the small Chinatown. The War Memorial is in a small park along East Street.


The town’s mayor Alfred Campbell together with his son David Campbell owns several businesses, including the bank, the pub and the newspaper. AC/DC basically run the town and make most decisions on behalf of the rest of Wombat Creek’s residents, who, on the other hand, are too busy with their own businesses.


The mayor’s latest initiative is Wombat Creek Tramways. Wombat Creek doesn’t really need a tram system, but AC reckons tramways will improve the town’s reputation. Partly because of limited funds the tramways' construction and rolling stock depend heavily on second-hand requirements from other Australian and overseas tramways.

The ex-Sorrento Tram Taking Passengers

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Thu, May 29, 2025 10:52:15
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The trailers for the Baldwin tram are almost finished. Judging from old black and white photos (the tramway at Sorrento closed after Easter 1921) the bulkheads appear to be filled in with thin sheets of metal. They are difficult to do in 3D printing. Instead of trying to fill them in with thin plastic sheets I have decided the trailers will get some rolled-up blinds.

The original trailers were painted in different colours like bright red,dark red, green yellow, brown and black/dark green. I have opted for just one colour (green). I think different colours would have made the tram into an toy train from an amusement park. Instead of the colours telling the trailers apart I have numbered them 1-3.

Looking at the old photos it appears the gold lining disappeared over time. It is also unknown if the stanchions were brass (probably not, but it looks good!)

More information about the Sorrento tramways from Melbourne Tram Museum.



Happy Days

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Tue, May 20, 2025 11:07:20
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The chief engineer at Wombat Creek Tramways received 7 ‘new’ trams today. They are imported from Britain (read ‘from Canberra’) for a very good price ($160 including freight!). They are all in working order, but they will probably be used as spare parts for more appropriate Australian trams. The double-decker to the front right could be turned into an ex-Hobart double-decker with enclosed ends. The motors from the two identical double-deckers at the back could be used under W classes from Melbourne.



Real world copies model world – or vice versa

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Fri, May 02, 2025 10:34:30

Wombat Creek, November 2021

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Adelaide City, April 2025

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Second steam tram operational

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Wed, April 23, 2025 10:59:50

It took the volunteers at Wombat Creek steam Trams just over three years to go from this:

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to this:

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The steam motor is running pretty well on its own. Still to be tested with the rather heavy die cast trailer, which may need modification negotiating sharper curves.



Trailers under construction

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Wed, April 16, 2025 21:05:57
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My Ebay contact has designed and 3D printed trailers for the Baldwin steam tram. They are very similar to the trailers used at the long gone Sorrento Tramways at Mornington Peninsula. The trailers are printed as a kit to be assembled, which makes painting quite easy. So far I have finished the chassis and the floors.



Testing second steam tram

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Thu, April 03, 2025 10:31:51
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The guys working at Wombat Creek steam Trams have a great time. Their second steam tram, an ex-Bendigo steam motor, was fired up for the first time and had a test run along the tram line near the steam shed. Everything seems to work just fine and work will progress as planned. Next step will be enclosing the boiler with side windows and a roof.



Baldwin steam tram

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Mon, March 31, 2025 11:08:48
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Wombat Creek steam Trams have their first unit restored. The tram (locomotive) is loosely based on a similar Baldwin tram from the Sorrento Tramways. The model is a 3D print. Even without additional weight it is a good (and very fast) runner. With an ‘overhanging’ cab the performance is better running ‘cab first’. The only other rolling stock at the steam trams is the trailer seen in the photo. Originally built for transporting ballast the steam trams use the trailer for transporting coal.

Three passenger trailers are under their way in the post. After assembling and painting they will form the backbone of the Wombat Creek steam Trams public activities. Also in workshop (read ‘on the work desk’) is a former Bendigo steam motor.



Another building finished

Text & photos from Wombat Creek Tramways Posted on Tue, March 25, 2025 18:04:35
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Finally, the Comedy Theatre will open its doors after 19 months of planning and construction.

On stage is the comedy ‘Goodnight Mrs. Puffin’. I don’t know much about the play, but it was staged at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne in 1963. Perhaps the ensemble are doing a few nights is Wombat Creek, too.



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