Bill Spaulding's NP Pike (is GONE) may live again, sort of

[Curmudgeon]

Featured CTT December 2006.

Last bit came down yesterday afternoon. Many runs to the dump. Some e-bay seller bought most of the rolling stock. No idea who.

26 years....hard to do...I wired the whole thing and helpd build the benchwork.

I did get a HUGE box of used drywall screws out of the deal.

Please note: No offer for sale (it's gone), no mention of money, no soliciting (it's gone).

 

So this is NOT a "for anything" post, just a notification...if you're in the area and want to see it...you can't.

 

[Penny Trains]

I'll ask the only important question: why did it come down?

[Curmudgeon]

Moving to Tucson this month.

https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/ctt061201

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny3LYYwV_-I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq3zKX1XdgU

 

First is a link to the website to see the coverage in CTT. Next two are youtubes, no idea (either one of us) who took the videos, but gives you an idea of what it was.

It was so well know in this part of the country, I have colour ptotos of the railroad, and will put them with the youtube links in an envelope and give them to the new owners, so they will know why folks show up at the door from time to time.

[Curmudgeon]

I tried to get into the same spot to take a photo of the room as it is now to compare with what it was a month ago.

Everything is gone, no longer on the premisis. The fluorescents are gone, replaced by can lights, screw holes filled, walls repainted, new carpeting, ready for an entertainment room for the new owners of the house.

 

Almost all the track is here, all the switches are here, almost all the wiring is here, control panels and control systems are all here.

I'll get some photos up later of some of the engines that are here.

Funny how upturned noses are to: repainted into another road name, detailed, made more functional, equipment becomes to the "collector mentality".

[CB&Q]

you do know its a tad warmish in Tucson now right

[Curmudgeon]

That simple factoid has been pointed out several times to him.

[Curmudgeon]

So, I've had a little time in the eveings...and my NP Pike needed to be extended and a yard put in. I now have over 500 feet of really nice GarGraves, and 51 switches...so the work has begun. Benchwork modified, mainlines roughly laid, south yard throat cut in, should be able to finish the throat tomorrow and lay yard tracks northward approaching the yet unlaid north yard throat.

I will have a place to put freight cars now anyway. Cutting in half the crossover for the branchline (current main) to the new main so I can use the branch line as a drill track off the yard. Need to lay temp track to the upper level to know where the new main will fit...but it's working!

[Curmudgeon]

The SE corner of the basement. South yard throat in, tracks laid out heading northward. New outer double-track main with crossover in, screwed down, through the tunnel, ready to curve around and connect with switches to existing double track near basement door.

 TOC

[Penny Trains]

Looking good!  

[lionelsoni]

I just noticed this in the original post:  "I did get a HUGE box of used drywall screws out of the deal."  Drywall screws are very brittle and not safe for structural applications.  Of course, a train layout is not in that category--if you're sure you won't ever need to climb on top of it.

They are also likely to be fully threaded, which makes them tend to leave a small gap between two boards screwed together, instead of pulling the boards into contact for a stronger joint that does not depend on the screw's shear strength.

[Curmudgeon]

Okay, let me just share real-life here.

Bill and I used to build railroads for folks. Lots of them. Some big, some small.

Once drywall screws came into play, made life easier.

After (his) 26 years in place, guess how many failed due to poor shear strength?

On mine, as I open it up to add or subtract, guess how many?

Yeah, we can panic, and think the entire project will become a pile of splintered lumber and fractured screws overnight.....but combined, the two railroads have 56 years between them.

I suppose if you just use one screw.....then you'd have a problem.

But since we built this stuff to be able to hold a dance marathon on.....it will outlast me.

 

Oh, and we pre-drill (pilot clearance) all holes so the threads all the way makes no difference.

[lionelsoni]

This is the list of fasteners that the International Building Code allows:  http://www.bradleyco.net/resources/5/General/2012%20IRC%20Fastener%20Schedule.pdf

Screws are allowed for drywall and floor underlayment.  But what do they know?

[Curmudgeon]

Since we are not BUILDING CODE, and no place I have ever lived required a permit to build a model railroad.....just  keep your legalese to yourself. It serves no purpose other than scare tactics.

TOC

[Greg Elmassian]

Yikes, I just went out the the railroad, and just barely touched it. All the brittle drywall screws shattered and the layout fell to pieces.

In sympathy, the entire house dropped to the ground as all the drywall flew off the wall, and the subfloors levitated into the air.

Now this would not be so bad, but the resultant alpha waves from these quasi-nuclear reactions levelled the block.

So we decided to use depleted uranium drywall screws from now on, good tip and warning, thanks!

Greg

 

p.s. we were told to ship all standard drywall screws to North Korea to assemble missles. Sounds about right.

[Curmudgeon]

Are you sure Depleted Uranium meets building and electrical codes?

[cwburfle]

Lots of nastiness in this thread.
Is that what the CTT board is all about?
Is that what the hobby is about?

[Bob Keller]

I'm inclined to agree. Knock it off. 

 

[Curmudgeon]

New junction in, wired and tested. This give new double tracked main access to both old double tracks, now branch line.