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Rockin' it old school

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Saturday, December 3, 2022 2:04 AM

Swiss-Colorado-Lines
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.

 

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.

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Saturday, December 3, 2022 10:32 AM

Hi Eric,

  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.....

Paul

after the holidays, I'll start on my control stand project.

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Saturday, December 3, 2022 6:14 PM

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!

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Monday, December 5, 2022 5:00 PM

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.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 12:42 AM

Paul,

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.

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Friday, January 13, 2023 9:40 AM

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

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Thursday, January 19, 2023 12:26 AM

It looks a little small to run with your outside trains!

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Thursday, January 19, 2023 10:01 AM

Hi Eric,

 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....

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Thursday, January 19, 2023 6:09 PM

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

 

Here's pictures of the RomanceCar in 2018, when the red GSE model was brand new. I have ridden the blue MSE model and the gold EXE models a few times. And I have ridden a couple of the older models, that are now in the RomanceCar Museum.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Sunday, January 22, 2023 2:16 AM

Neat!  Looks like they use them to fill a niche between street car and a "real" train based on your photos.

 

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Sunday, January 22, 2023 9:57 AM

Hi Eric,

  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.

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Monday, January 23, 2023 12:23 PM

PVT Kanaka

Neat!  Looks like they use them to fill a niche between street car and a "real" train based on your photos.

 

 

Eric

 

"Interurban". 
this would be the closest fit to describe Odakyu's operation. Of course, Odakyu is unique in it's own right, and this may be not completely accurate.

 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.

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Monday, January 23, 2023 4:02 PM

Here's a photo of riding the RomanceCar back in 2001. This model, the LSE is also now at the RomanceCar Museum.

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 5:48 PM

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

 

Here's the Shinkansen,

which is the high speed rail system, last time I rode in 2017.

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 7:20 PM

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.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:12 AM

Paul,

 

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!

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Thursday, January 26, 2023 10:06 AM

Hi Eric,

 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!

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Thursday, January 26, 2023 1:17 PM

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

 

Here's some various train riding and fun in Japan, circa 2001.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Monday, January 30, 2023 1:33 AM

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!

 

Eric

 

P.S.  I have a project underway in our little 45mm guage world.  I'll post the thread when it is done.

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Monday, January 30, 2023 1:14 PM

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

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Thursday, February 2, 2023 6:14 PM

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

 

Time to make a stand !!

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Saturday, February 4, 2023 6:36 PM

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

 

Here's the current state of my "Swiss Colorado Lines", as of February 2023:

 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.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Monday, February 13, 2023 4:15 PM

Glad to be of service, Paul!  It was nice to be a provider of tips and not just a reciever!

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 8:37 PM

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

 

Fun in the Sun!

running trains today. My new control stand is quick and easy to set up. Thanks again, Eric for your tip about the connectors.

Paul

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    August 2021
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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Sunday, March 26, 2023 7:12 PM

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

 

Here's some eleventh hour pictures-- before this Shutterfly share site closes down. Love running trains outdoors! The garden railroad feels complete at this time, happy with it as it is. Just track and equipment maintenance. Just serviced the 45 toner, running great once again!

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Monday, March 27, 2023 3:24 AM

Swiss-Colorado-Lines
The 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

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