Ride on 8 3/4 gauge train

[Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760]

The gondola is approx 95% complete. A few touch up sections of paint, and it will be complete.

The caboose is also nearing completion approx 80% complete. It needs wiring, lights, trim pieces re-installed, and lettering.

The loco is in the process of final assembly the boiler is back on it's frame. All the frame needs is the cowcatcher and cylinders painted, and a few sections of the boiler touched up.

Trim parts are painted and awaiting cab installation and wiring of the headlamp.

I am looking into a compressor set for the whistle I bought for the loco.

I bought a brass steam dead man's whistle off of ebay that I will install on the loco.

I want to get a better headlight and I am working on the bell. It has some gunk in the hinges.

Photos will follow when I get the work done. 

[Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760]

The gondola is 100% complete and on her trucks.

The teal paint with black trim and lettering looks nice.

The loco is closer to final assembly the smokestack and sand done are attached, as are the handrails.

The loco was assigned the number 42. Name: Gloria McLaughlin after a dear family friend.

The gondola is #21866. Name assigne: Jacob Hottman, after my grandfather, the only person in my family that nurtured my love of trains, much to my grandmother and mother's disgust.

The caboose has not been assigned a number yet, only a name: Cheyenne, after a good cat that fought feline leukemia hard and died in my arms. 

I should have time to get photobucker figured out tomorrow. 

 

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Once I can get the copy and paste feature to work with these blasted posts, I will post links.

I follow the instructions and they do not work.

 

What you need to do is copy and paste to word the last line on Photobucket the IMG code line than copy it from word and paste to the Forum.

 

Byron C.

[Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760]

I hate the fact that copy/paste does not work with firefox, which is what I use to surf the web.

I hate Internet Explorer as it is slower than firefox and does not do tabs like netscape and firefox.

Here goes:

Possum Central Logo (our made up railroad, an 8 3/4" gauge oddball road (think large scale tinplate.) ) 

One of the three switches that came with the set (RH, LH, and Wye)

The train the way it was when we bought it.

Lets see if that works.

James

 

[Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760]

Well, that has worked out pretty well, I just have to start IE to post photos of my work.

It's amazing how little sleep one gets when on a depressant painkiller. (Vicodin)

I have slept about 18 hours out the past 5 days.

Here is the work on Possum Central Car #21866 Jacob Hottman

Here is the car as it looked at purchase:

Here is the gondola after the letters were removed, the car was sanded and stripped and a few coats of grey primer applied.

Here is the gondola with a few coats of Teal applied.

Here is the gondola painted, with trim paint and letters applied, with suffed toy possums on for the ride.

Here is one of the ends of the gondola with the drawbar style coupler highly visible. They are not the most realistic, but they allow for coupling and uncoupling without picking the car up. That or pay a lot of money for operating knuckle couplers, I have no intention of changing the couplers out. Simple, cheap and effective.

Also with the last one, the brackets I installed to strengthen the sides of the car, as the nails are not very effective in holding the sides together. The body of the car is plywood and the frame is steel.

Here is the locomotive with a ferret "engineer". (Katya is part of the Junior Engineer Program)

Final photo on this post, the 21866 with "passengers": Allegheny the cat with Casey Jones the rat. Rat B-stard III is visible in the photo, as well as the tail of Casey Jones Jr.

Enjoy. The next set will probally be of the locomotive.

 

[Anonymous]

Email sent again James.

Toad

[Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760]

Toad, I will probally call later. I am expecting a call from a complaint group regarding the poor level of care I have received during the past 3 weeks.

 

James 

[Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760]

Well,

Because of the depression the drugs I am on has left me not wanting to do alot right now, little progress has been made on the 4-4-0.

I did manage to get my first sign completed.

It may not be perfect, but for being doped up on vicodin, and having spent the last 3 weeks in the worst pain I have ever been in, I think it turned out pretty good, especialkly for less than $15 in parts and supplies.

Enjoy!

Here is the crossbuck portion of the sign being nailed together. (each piece is $1.25 each)

Here is the sign post ($2.95)being prepped for it's primer coat of grey, followed by metallic silver:

Here is the finished product, with the final paint applied to the sign (Ford White Oil-based tractor paint with 3" Hy-Ko vinyl letters 46 cents each, $7.36) with a 1.5" carraige bolt (4/$2.00) On top is a reflector to simulate the lights that some cross-bucks have.

And for the guys out there, another one of Nicholle's goof-off shots. Enjoy!

I know that they are not perfect, the letters have a few bubbles from me being impatiet. (The tractor paint takes a while to dry.) But for how much I paid for the sign parts and the fun that I had making it, I would say it was worth it.

I would be more than happy to share plans for this if anyone wants.

James

[Anonymous]

Got to have some W post! Great cross bucks, like to have a buck about a 12 point!

Toad

[Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760]

Toad, I have plans and supplies on hand to make some whistle posts. It will require the use of a jigsaw to make. Right now, my wife has rightfully taken away the saws because of the depression and dizziness I am experiencing because of my injury and the harassment I am dealing with because  of my injuries, that and the vicodin is wreaking havoc on my mind.

I have the letters for two more crossbucks and 4 whistle posts. I have the posts and wood for both crossbucks, and a small sheet or 1/4" thick aspen sheet (6" by 4')

Here is some photos of the engine work.

Here is a photo of me and my son, Terry with #42 "Cheyenne".

Here is a photo of Nicholle and Terry, with #42 "Cheyenne".

Here is a photo of the tender's transmission:

Here is a photo of the tender's innards. The round drum is the service brake. The transmission is right below the brake drum.

The following photos show the articulation of the 4-4-0's drive wheels, allowing for extremely sharp curves.

I will post more as work goes on. I will be able to get more done after I get the medical help I need and can get off of the narcotic pain killers.

 James