Sunday Photo Fun 2-14-10

[spankybird]

Here is our new O gauge layout at The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum. It has grown by over 10 feet in length on the outside legs and 20 feet on the middle leg.

Our Winter Open House is next weekend and includes a train show!.

 Visit our web page at www.wrmrrm.org

[laz 57]

WOW TOM,  BIG CONGA on your new digs.  Nice place to stretch out those flanged wheels.  Good luck with the Open House and Train show.

laz57

[Buckeye Riveter]

Working on scenery.....

After reading just about everything written on the construction of a rock face wall and asking question to many posters,  HEKI had the solution, rock foil.

At the start, we looked like this:

 

 

 

 

And now we are constructing the rock wall:

 

 

Did you know that a 1x6, is exactly 5.5 inches wide.  The same height as my second level. PPPPP

 

 

 

 

Now I need to find my tunneling machine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dougdagrump]

Spanky, Sweet digs for the new layout but the layout is looking even sweeter than the digs !

A new lashup that I tried last friday, Atlas/K-line/Atlas. Worked together flawlessly, was concerned about stall speed settings but no problems.

Back-up was at the ready should any problems have occurred,

We were entertained by a marvelous dance group that formed a parade down main street which even brought out some celebrities,

The parade:

The celebs:

Happy Valentines Day to all our spouses who tolerate our insanity which contributes to our sanity.

[traindaddy1]

"The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum"   

Wow!   Talk about 'benchwork'....Beautiful.  All the best. Thanks for sharing.

[ChiefEagles]

Great job Tom.  Hope that continues as you want it too.  Separate subject: Will not discuss that Ohio engineer's construction on that other layout.  

[rtraincollector]

ChiefEagles

Great job Tom.  Hope that continues as you want it too.  Separate subject: Will not discuss that Ohio engineer's construction on that other layout.  

seems he can't comment on greatness when he See's it by a YANKEE

[rtraincollector]

looking great tom whis I had a place like that to run some of mine lol

 

[Blueberryhill RR]

Great pictures, Guys.

Tom ( Spankybird ) .....Buckeye and I want to see that layout, this summer.

Chuck

[Northwoods Flyer]

Greetings Folks,

What a great layout at the museum!  I keep telling my wife that I want to display my entire collection some day.  We refer to it as the museum.  I don't dare show her the pictures that Tom posted.

One of the things about having been a collector for over 25 years is that you probably have things stored in boxes that you didn't remember that you had, or that you forgot that you had , or that you knew you had and couldn't find .  I've been going through some of those storage boxes again and re-discovered one of my favorite items that I should probably submit for "My Greatest Find."

When I was still exclusively collecting Flyer S gauge I came across a unique variation that at the time I was unaware existed, and it wasn't listed in the Greenberg guides.

At an old hobby shop in the town where I lived in the early 1980's I had cultivated a friendship with the owner.  He knew I was interested in American Flyer S gauge trains.  Periodically he would bring out something that had been brought in for trade and that he had stored in boxes in his back room.  One day he brought out a 635 crane.  I had always liked that car and at that time had only one example of it on a sheet metal frame.  The 635 he brought out was different.

 

It was the version on a die cast base.  I bought it and thought myself pretty fortunate to now have two examples of the 635.  It wasn't until I got it home and started to research it in my Greenberg guide(Editon 3) that I noticed that it wasn't like the pictures in the guide.

 

 

They all have red roofs.  My "new to me" crane had a black roof.

 

 

I started doing some earnest research to discover if this was authentic or just a repaint.  Even though the roof is not in the best of shape eveything about the car says that it is a factory original.

 

 

I knew by reading the guide that there had been several variations of the 635 but again, they all have red roofs.  I took it to several of the local train shows here and the S gauge Flyer authorities and they pronounced it as authentic.  I posted a question about it in the old "The Collector" magazine which was the publication of the American Flyer Collectors Club published by Frank Hare and had responses from two other collectors who had examples.

 

At that point I contacted Bruce Greenberg and submitted my black roofed crane car for the next edition.  It did appear as an entry in the 4th Edition of Greenberg's Guide to American Flyer S Gauge - Vol 1,published in 1991, credited as being in my collection.  I haven't purchased any of the subsequent editions to know if it is still included in the listings.  I do check the pocket price guides on occasion, and I think that it may still be listed as a variation, with NRS - no reported sale - after it.

 

So while there is no picture of it in the Greenberg guide this is the actual example that the entry is based upon.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

 

[Seayakbill]

Wow, the Western Reserve Layout is going to be fantastic. Going to have to take a drive up I-71 once the snow clears.

[Seayakbill]

The nuclear reactor site is taking shape

 

[tim o'm]

This is Cole. He is one of the Hershey's Collectibles elves celebrating Valentines day by selling kisses. A Hershey MP15 is coming to his aid by delivering a fresh shipment of chocolate kisses. Some hugs to go with the kisses, too. Delivery is made, and it's off the next Valentine's event!

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Great pictures everyone!  Spanky thanks for picking up the slack, Could not get on the net this morning.

Greg - the 635 is one of my favorites too

When I got mine it did not have a roof so I went to the bone yard.  By the brass coupler weight  makes it 1948.  In theStandard Catalog of American Flyer Trains by Doyle, on page 70 it has a picture of your 635 with a black roof, the book called it "unpainted blued steel with a chrome stack.  It is also listed as being VERY rare.

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

Guess what????  The Big Boy came out of mothballs.  Have not run it in 6 to 8 months.  Been sitting quitely on siding.

UP smoking caboose brings up the rear.

Fun afternoon. 

[laz 57]

CHIEF here's my FEF and BB double heading.

 

laz57

[rtraincollector]

all looking great all hope to post some new buys in the past few months sometime soon.

[jonadel]

Tom--

Thank you so much for taking the time to post the progress shots, WONDERFUL!!

 

Buckeye--just consider the source of the most recent criticism of your efforts, some things never change, especially HIS layout 

[Serows1]

Super great photo's from everyone this week!!!  I finally got around to working on the layout again, I only had a few hours today but I atleast started on the small town of  Grafton.  It's a beginning....

 

 

 

And of course I had to run trains for a while

 

 

 

 

Keep them coming and have fun!!

 

Paul

[dwiemer]

Tom, great looking layout going on up there.  Only problem I see is that by the time an engine makes it once around the loop, you will need to replace a traction tire and send her off to get lubed!  Great problem to have. 

Thanks to all for the contributions.

Dennis

[ChiefEagles]

jonadel

Buckeye--just consider the source of the most recent criticism of your efforts, some things never change, especially HIS layout 

I think that was a quote from a former friend of ours.  

[Buckeye Riveter]

jonadel

Buckeye--just consider the source of the most recent criticism of your efforts, some things never change, especially HIS layout 

As always, you are right again.  I was shocked when it left the rug.

 

[fifedog]

Just returned from West Virginia, where I caught some rail action dshing thru the snow.

Yard power at West Virginia Junction, just outside the Luke paper mill.

Usually a caboose sitting around as well.  Potomac River in the foreground.

Heard this plow move blowing for the Rte 46 crossing at Beryl.  That's the Kinsgford Charcoal Plant thru the trees.

This is where the former WESTERN MARYLAND Thomas Sub heads west under the former B&O Bloomington Viaduct (17 Mile Grade).

Chessie System markings still look good on this Jordan spreader.

Just north of Romney, WV the SOUTH BRANCH VALLEY brings the train known as the "chicken feed" north from Moorefield to Green Spring, on former B&O rails.

First generation diesels, painted in B&O inspired livery, trolling thru mountain valleys, is what makes this short line my favorite.

Even had a SD unit on the rear as a helper.

Crossing a timber treste south of Blues Beach.  South Branch Potomac in foreground.

The SBV really maintains its locomotive fleet.  Not a dog in the bunch.

Crossing over the Rte 28 bridge at Springfield, WV.  Second unit is the real McCoy, B&O GP7 6604, still sporting its torpedo tubes on top.  Still earning her keep.

So, if you're in the area, drop by and maybe ride the Potomac Eagle, and perhaps catch a glimpse of these beauties.

[dougdagrump]

fifedog

 

The SBV really maintains its locomotive fleet.  Not a dog in the bunch.

Fife,

 Just love that GP7 in the B&O passenger colors, but I've always believed  that B&O stood for Best & Only.

[ChiefEagles]

Fifey, looks like two SHORT lines.