Swiss-Colorado-LinesThe garden railroad feels complete at this time,
I haven't the water under the keel of some, but I bet that no one ever really completes their garden railroad!
It looks like it is a lot of fun. Adding the castle to the top of the rack line was a nice touch.
Eric
Postwar Paul I have been banging away on the indoor layout, setting up a new American Flyer loop, and trying to make some headway on the scenery. Haven't worked on the Garden line much, although Trains run every single weekend ! My daughter gave me these artificial stones for my Birthday. Just what the Doctor ordered ! Paulhttps://rockinitoldschool.shutterfly.com/#%3aemid%3dsite_sitecreated%26cid%3dSHARE3SXXXX
I have been banging away on the indoor layout, setting up a new American Flyer loop, and trying to make some headway on the scenery. Haven't worked on the Garden line much, although Trains run every single weekend ! My daughter gave me these artificial stones for my Birthday. Just what the Doctor ordered !
Paulhttps://rockinitoldschool.shutterfly.com/#%3aemid%3dsite_sitecreated%26cid%3dSHARE3SXXXX
Paul
running trains today. My new control stand is quick and easy to set up. Thanks again, Eric for your tip about the connectors.
Glad to be of service, Paul! It was nice to be a provider of tips and not just a reciever!
control stand finished in Polyurethane. Quick release connections( thanks Eric). It keeps the transformers shaded from the hot sun, and well ventilated.
Experimenting with building placement. I take them inside every time. The station is a Santa Fe design from drawings in MR. The rectangular water tank is a Canadian Pacific tank, also from MR.
Happy with current progress.
Hi Eric,
one last thing on gauge: here's a picture of the Kingston Flyer on a lorry when I was in New Zealand 40+ years ago. They also run 3'6". Generally, as a rule of thumb, almost all railroads in Japan are 3'6", except for the Shinkansen high speed network, which is standard gauge. In Japan, they have taken the 3'6" and developed it into an impressive rail network that goes Everywhere! Always a lot of train riding when we are in Japan.
Lastly, a few pictures from the big train museum in Kyoto ( there's another smaller museum across town). The original Shinkansen trains ran just 200 kmh. Every newer Shinkansen model ups the speed. We were fortunate to ride the 500 in '99 when it was only 2 years old. This is the first Shinkansen capable of 300 kmh(. 186 mph) Now, here it is in the museum.....Every new model gets faster. I've heard it said:
" It's too fast!.... It's NOT an airplane!"......
Looking forward to pictures of your next project!
I need to get cracking with my Control Stand project!
Paul,
Thanks a lot for the info and the photos! I had always associated 3'6" with South Africa and Australia; I had not realized it had a broader following outside of the old British Empire, let alone that is still currently in relatively widespread use!
Guage is such a neat thing as a historical marker. Indian Broad gauge extended across the Raj and remains in use from Bangladesh through Pakistan. Meter guage is the gauge of choice with few exception across Southeast Asia where the French and Dutch once held sway. The old Warsaw Pact countries and former Soviet states still use in whole or part Russian Broad gauge. All quite fascinating architectural markers!
P.S. I have a project underway in our little 45mm guage world. I'll post the thread when it is done.
I just want to clarify that most railroads in Japan were built to 3'6", which turns out to be a very common gauge in many countries. More than you would think.... But, when the Shinkansen high speed line was built, it was built standard gauge. This line was built completely new and separate from the existing railroads. There are no frieght trains, or grade crossings. And the train frequency is mind blowing! Very impressive!
Thanks as ever for the information and the photos! What an interesting answer to "How do we get people to leave their cars at home?" I also think it is interesting they used the relatively rare Cape Gauge? I thought it might be an Imperial legacy, so I checked the Japanese-built Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan, but it is 30" gauge. That led to my "discovery" of Taiwan's Taichung line, which was, in fact 3'6". I am sure there is a reason somewhere!
Turn the clock back to 1999. Here's shots of the Shinkansen fleet in Tokyo station. Everything here has been retired, and replaced with new equipment. We rode the 500 this day; my favorite Shinkansen model. All retired, an example is in the train museum in Kyoto.
which is the high speed rail system, last time I rode in 2017.
Here's a photo of riding the RomanceCar back in 2001. This model, the LSE is also now at the RomanceCar Museum.
PVT Kanaka Neat! Looks like they use them to fill a niche between street car and a "real" train based on your photos. Eric
Neat! Looks like they use them to fill a niche between street car and a "real" train based on your photos.
Imagine Pacific Electric, in addition to it's standard services, having a deluxe train running the 60 miles between downtown Los Angeles and San Bernardino, making only 2 stops, passing through intermediate stations at speed. The RomanceCar is going in style ! I would roughly classify the Odakyu as an Interurban.Also providing commute services, which is the backbone of their operations.
here's some background:
the Odakyu Electric Railway is a private rail line separate from JR, although a "Pasmo" pass is good on all, including busses. Odakyu is 3'6" gauge, and runs a heavy commuter operation southwest out of Tokyo.They run from Shinjuku in Tokyo out to Hakone, near Mt. Fuji. Well maintained roadbed,heavily ballasted, allowing high speeds.
The RomanceCar is an upgraded service, exta fare, reserved seating, limited stops.They have plush seats.Some models have the driver sitting on top, and passengers can reserve the end seats at the front or rear windows. I rode the one pictured in the museum back in '99. You can see my collection of N scale models I bought in Japan.
Swiss-Colorado-Lines Postwar Paul I have been banging away on the indoor layout, setting up a new American Flyer loop, and trying to make some headway on the scenery. Haven't worked on the Garden line much, although Trains run every single weekend ! My daughter gave me these artificial stones for my Birthday. Just what the Doctor ordered ! Paulhttps://rockinitoldschool.shutterfly.com/#%3aemid%3dsite_sitecreated%26cid%3dSHARE3SXXXX We spent a week in Tokyo. I got a great deal on this model of Odakyu Electric Railway's newest RomanceCar. Paul
We spent a week in Tokyo. I got a great deal on this model of Odakyu Electric Railway's newest RomanceCar.
it's a new train for my indoor layout in the Train Room. My N scale fleet is getting old, some don't run anymore, display only.
Maybe I run them too much? I have a lot of various interests....
It looks a little small to run with your outside trains!
It looks really, really nice. If you care to tinker, we like the G-Scale Graphics "Magnetic Critter Controller." If the price of lithium ion batteries ever comes down, I may covert a few other little locos to use this nifty device.
Here's the other battery operated trains: the Rudolph is a great train, it smokes! But it gets less usage because of the odd track gauge. The Rio Grande train runs on manual, or remote control. I'll keep it just as it is for demo duty! And the P.E. Box.
Experimenting with 2train operation: one with battery power, one with track power. I ran the battery operation for more than 1 1/2 hours. Batteries still have more power and run time remaining. Pretty good!
those battery powered trains are quick and easy for a demo, and if someone expresses a deeper interest, we can always have them come back over for a full demonstration with all my best trains. It just takes a lot of time to set up, and many times a quick demo is sufficient. That's what I've learned.....
after the holidays, I'll start on my control stand project.
Swiss-Colorado-LinesWhat I've realized is the need for a quick to set up/ tear down demonstration train to show guests our backyard, people with less excitement for trains than I have.
Truer words never spoken. Our PIKO "Clean Machine," Diesel Dan, serves that purpose for us! We also have those eZTec Atlantics for little visitors. We got an LGB m2075 that used batteries with a Christmas set in 2015, but, unlike "real" LGB locos, this little guy wasn't up to the task and got a STAINZ chassis like its older brother did.
So, I've got all the connections soldered, headlight mounted and connected, and all the body mounting screws in. This is a really smooth running train! I deem this project completed!
More pictures in the share:
Track testing today. I started her up and she derailed almost immediately. I added a small lead weight to the lead truck just above the first set of wheels. This remedied the problem, and she tracks beautifully! Operating with a manual three position switch; forward, stop, or reverse. No speed control. It turns out 9 volts is perfect for loping along sedately.
I wanted to build this engine because I am thin on the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. I only have a sample in N scale and HO, nothing in G. My thinking now is to keep this engine in Christmas livery , at least until she fades and painting is mandatory. What I've realized is the need for a quick to set up/ tear down demonstration train to show guests our backyard, people with less excitement for trains than I have. I can give a quick spiel, and we can go back inside and eat. These battery powered trains are easy, and can be useful in this purpose.
You can see a couple of my Halloween cars from years past. This gives me a seasonal demo train.....
Thanks, Eric! In truth, the front truck came from one of the 4-4-2 engines, and it is a drop in fit. Couldn't be any easier, no modifications needed Except eliminating the side to side play. This Christmas engine has been staring at me for years, and I've wanted to find an old LGB engine to power it, but used the salvaged drive instead. Paint works miracles! But I might just keep this as a Christmas engine.
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