Trains.com

Pictures of "my" 15" gauge railroad PICTURES NOW HERE!!!!

3411 views
16 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 8, 2005 12:12 PM
Just wish I had room for such a railroad, but my 1 bedroom apartment isn't quite big enough. Guess i'll just have to stick with N guage.
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Redding, California
  • 1,428 posts
Posted by Train 284 on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 6:51 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by SteelMonsters

I am interested in how you deal with safety in terms of braking especially during derailments and uncoupling.

The largest trains I've work with are 7 1/2" gauge. There the locos are usually able to stop the train but a caboose and a connected crew car had brakes activated by a remote which could be used to help slow down. If the coupler fails or the train derails, there are two safety chains on each side of the couplers. They keep the train together. It takes quite a bit to break couplers but it's been done before. It's about the largest gauge that can be rerailed to the most part by one person and no machines.

I've had a couple cases where I had to dig my feet into the balast to stop when it was uber slippery out. Bigger trains make that impossible.


These trains do weigh more than 7.5" gauge thats for sure. Actually, I have never been around at the time of a derailment so I could'nt answer that. Actually we are using the hydrolics as a break. It is ver easy to stop very fast, I know, I have done it. Usually when one one of our couplers fail, the train won't stop, as we have no air brakes on the rest of our train. Usually, the coupler acts to slow it down, and one of the crew members can help ease it to a stop. If we need to uncouple, we have wheel blocks for each car.

Hope that helps. Anymore questions, please contact me!
Matt Cool Espee Forever! Modeling the Modoc Northern Railroad in HO scale Brakeman/Conductor/Fireman on the Yreka Western Railroad Member of Rouge Valley Model RR Club
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 12:27 PM
Matt
Not 1:1 ? check out this site, these are full size field railways from Europe, often using 60cm gauge track or close to 24" gauge. Here in the US and England 18" gauge wasn't uncommon in similar applications, 15" guage wasn't unheard of either.

www.feldbahn.de

Click the British flag for English.
Got to "prototype" and click "picture gallery" enjoy!

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Michigan
  • 227 posts
Posted by SteelMonsters on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 11:32 AM
I am interested in how you deal with safety in terms of braking especially during derailments and uncoupling.

The largest trains I've work with are 7 1/2" gauge. There the locos are usually able to stop the train but a caboose and a connected crew car had brakes activated by a remote which could be used to help slow down. If the coupler fails or the train derails, there are two safety chains on each side of the couplers. They keep the train together. It takes quite a bit to break couplers but it's been done before. It's about the largest gauge that can be rerailed to the most part by one person and no machines.

I've had a couple cases where I had to dig my feet into the balast to stop when it was uber slippery out. Bigger trains make that impossible.
-Marc
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Redding, California
  • 1,428 posts
Posted by Train 284 on Saturday, December 3, 2005 7:30 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by TurboOne

Way cool Matt. What is your favorite thing to work on ? And the most important question, do you get to be the engineer?

Tim[8D][8D]


My favortie thing to work on.........hmmmmm thats a tough one! I love to work on everything!

And the answer to the most important question................YES! It is a lot of fun to drive a train on the upwards of 5+ tons!
Matt Cool Espee Forever! Modeling the Modoc Northern Railroad in HO scale Brakeman/Conductor/Fireman on the Yreka Western Railroad Member of Rouge Valley Model RR Club
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 209 posts
Posted by SandyR on Saturday, December 3, 2005 12:14 PM
AWESOME!! Gee, if I can ever get out that way...
SandyR
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: The great state of Texas
  • 1,084 posts
Posted by TurboOne on Saturday, December 3, 2005 11:09 AM
Way cool Matt. What is your favorite thing to work on ? And the most important question, do you get to be the engineer?

Tim[8D][8D]
WWJD
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 1, 2005 8:37 PM
I looked at the original post but you had to run and couldn't post yet, Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing!
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 135 posts
Posted by monkeyman2 on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 8:45 PM
:-D
Awesome! i wi***here was one neer me! that would be awesome to volenteer at.
Come and vist my website- www.freewebs.com/bcanda
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Redding, California
  • 1,428 posts
Posted by Train 284 on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 8:06 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Oh OK I was just going to enjoy the pics but not say anything but they look great, I always thought if you got room for 15-18" gauge track you got room for full size 1:1 feldbahn or field type railroads and theirs alot of old industrial stuff perfect for a 1:1 size RR, granted the cars on yours are a little less that 1:1 but not by much, and the engine sure looks close to 1:1 feldbahn too me.


On the space we have, no way for a full size railroad, not in a million years! But we do have over a mile of track. The radius is about 60' minimum.

Also, the engine is a scale model of the prototype.
Matt Cool Espee Forever! Modeling the Modoc Northern Railroad in HO scale Brakeman/Conductor/Fireman on the Yreka Western Railroad Member of Rouge Valley Model RR Club
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 3:10 PM
Oh OK I was just going to enjoy the pics but not say anything but they look great, I always thought if you got room for 15-18" gauge track you got room for full size 1:1 feldbahn or field type railroads and theirs alot of old industrial stuff perfect for a 1:1 size RR, granted the cars on yours are a little less that 1:1 but not by much, and the engine sure looks close to 1:1 feldbahn too me.

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:42 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Puckdropper

Nope... Not for another 8 months. Then someone (often the original poster) will bring the thread back from the depths of dead threads so we can get scared by reading posts from people who are banned, dead, or no longer in the hobby.


[:D] Classic.I'm glad someone else has done that.I thought I'd gone mad (or madder)
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 725 posts
Posted by Puckdropper on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:30 AM
Nope... Not for another 8 months. Then someone (often the original poster) will bring the thread back from the depths of dead threads so we can get scared by reading posts from people who are banned, dead, or no longer in the hobby.
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Redding, California
  • 1,428 posts
Posted by Train 284 on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:19 AM
Isn't anyone else going to comment on these pictures!?
Matt Cool Espee Forever! Modeling the Modoc Northern Railroad in HO scale Brakeman/Conductor/Fireman on the Yreka Western Railroad Member of Rouge Valley Model RR Club
  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,264 posts
Posted by bman36 on Monday, November 28, 2005 10:15 AM
Fantastic,
Looks like a whole lot of fun. I really like the idea of a wheelchair accessible car...very thoughtfull. Have fun! Later eh...Brian.
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Virginia Beach
  • 2,150 posts
Posted by tangerine-jack on Sunday, November 27, 2005 9:48 PM
Yeah, let me get 6 good numbers on the Lotto South and see what happens........

Very nice. Very nice indeed. I see why you want to work there, you should almost pay them for the privilage of volunteering!

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 27, 2005 12:49 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Train 284

Ok, it is not my railroad, but I do volunteer here a lot! The railraod is named the Orland, Newville & Pacific and is located on the Glenn Counrt Fairgrounds in Orland, CA and is open to the public. Currently we are operating a 4 wheel side rod davenport switcher. It runs on a 4 cylinder automotive engine and run through a hydrolic drive. As we currently have the diesel, we are looking into purchasing an 0-4-0 steam locomotive. The enitre railroad is built to 5" scale following the designs set out by Redwood Valley Railways founder, Erich Thompsen (www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com). We are curerently building a website. We have a temporary site, mainly just for information on the schedule (www.onprailroad.5u.com). Our e-mail is onprailroad@hotmail.com Enjoy!




Preparing to leave Orland station



Rounding Dead Owl curve



Crossing the trestle



This shot was taken towards the end of the run day, coming out of the tunnel with headlight shining bright




Rounding the curve past the one room school house. Where the train is now in a few weeks there will be a new switch we will be putting in.



This our wheelchair car, the Phil Spiegel special. After he died, the family donated all the materials to build this car in 1997, as a memorial. On either side of the sign are two removable doors, the larger one being for wheelchair access. It is very sturdy.



This photo shows our newest piece of equipment, the ballast car built in February of this year.





Golly that's nice. I have some land out in the country that I have often had the fancy to turn into something like that.

Capt Carrales
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Redding, California
  • 1,428 posts
Pictures of "my" 15" gauge railroad PICTURES NOW HERE!!!!
Posted by Train 284 on Saturday, November 26, 2005 10:16 AM
Ok, it is not my railroad, but I do volunteer here a lot! The railraod is named the Orland, Newville & Pacific and is located on the Glenn Counrt Fairgrounds in Orland, CA and is open to the public. Currently we are operating a 4 wheel side rod davenport switcher. It runs on a 4 cylinder automotive engine and run through a hydrolic drive. As we currently have the diesel, we are looking into purchasing an 0-4-0 steam locomotive. The enitre railroad is built to 5" scale following the designs set out by Redwood Valley Railways founder, Erich Thompsen (www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com). We are curerently building a website. We have a temporary site, mainly just for information on the schedule (www.onprailroad.5u.com). Our e-mail is onprailroad@hotmail.com Enjoy!




Preparing to leave Orland station



Rounding Dead Owl curve



Crossing the trestle



This shot was taken towards the end of the run day, coming out of the tunnel with headlight shining bright




Rounding the curve past the one room school house. Where the train is now in a few weeks there will be a new switch we will be putting in.



This our wheelchair car, the Phil Spiegel special. After he died, the family donated all the materials to build this car in 1997, as a memorial. On either side of the sign are two removable doors, the larger one being for wheelchair access. It is very sturdy.



This photo shows our newest piece of equipment, the ballast car built in February of this year.


Matt Cool Espee Forever! Modeling the Modoc Northern Railroad in HO scale Brakeman/Conductor/Fireman on the Yreka Western Railroad Member of Rouge Valley Model RR Club

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy