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Churning the pot….

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 1:30 AM

Thanks for the update and the protptype application!  Usually, we can get away with things because they are smaller.  Compensation for track irregularities, in your example, would seem to be somethign we cannot match in the various "G" gauge scales!

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Monday, October 10, 2022 7:00 PM

Swiss-Colorado-Lines

What I am referring to is that whenever an engine goes through my shop, it comes out somehow altered and modified.Here's some examples:

1. with The Bachmann 10th anniversary 4-6-0, I discovered that I can enhance electrical pickup over switch frogs by wiring LGB conductive wheel sets to the loco, using the right port( for the backup light). I use the existing cable and plug. You just have to set the polarity switch properly.

2.  ole number nine is modified yet again, this time with a tender for the battery for the headlight and cab light. Trying to prepare for more night time operations.

3. Bachmann Spectrum mogul( not pictured), has broken the main gear, but, no worries,mate! I keep an extra motor/ gearbox in the parts bin. But this time, I want to paint the drivers and pilot red.To look like " Leviathan".

These are my current low tech projects.....

Paulhttps://paulsfamouslowtech.shutterfly.com/

 

I have  all rail clamps in place, and have completed the low trestle in the front over my Arroyo( dry creek bed). The arroyo doubles as a pathway to the back corner of the yard. There will be another low crossing there, and final ballasting should finish up my track laying.

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Sunday, October 9, 2022 6:08 PM

Hi Eric,

you mentioned a couple of interesting points: about supporting under the switches to keep them from getting hammered down. I do this also, and with the 30 degree crossing as well. This is actually prototypical, and UP removed a crossing outside the California State Railroad Museum because it was high maintenance, and seldom used.

This reminds me of my " 3985 story":

My old friend U.P. 3985 which I have seen on 5 occasions, and rode behind once. In '93 I was at the Chicago NRHS convention, and chasing the 3985. I believe it was running on the T.P.& W. As you know, Chicago is chock full of crossings, diamonds, and junctions with all the various railroads intersecting. I was at a location to photogragh, right at a diamond. The diamond itself was in great shape, but the adjacent rail joint had been pounded and hammered down to such a point that it appeared dangerous. So, here comes 3985 about 30 mph. I watched this huge engine float over this huge dip in the track, each drive wheel successively roll down into the dip and back up. It was absolutely incredible! The equalization in the locomotive completely compensated for the track deficiencies! It was unbelievable!

So, yes, switch frogs and crossings get hammered down.

Paul

 

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Sunday, October 9, 2022 9:14 AM

Hi Eric, my track floats on ballast. For this new section, I am using conductive paste, and rail clamps as well. I am building the grade, and building up low areas with blocks. Gravel does settle over time, but I find it usually packs down quite solid after a few applications to fill in low spots. Eventually it is very solid.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Sunday, October 9, 2022 2:51 AM

Do you bolt the tracks to a subraodbed?  Or do you let them more or less float?  Our track floats on gravel other than in a few areas where things settled to the point we  buried bricks to get things back on the level.  We've also buried paving stones under our turnouts, as we found this improved operation and removed what seemed to be a stress point.   We found that the plastic "hangers" hold the ties to the rails tended to snap near the rail joint if we left the turnouts unsupported.

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Thursday, October 6, 2022 4:09 PM

Swiss-Colorado-Lines

What I am referring to is that whenever an engine goes through my shop, it comes out somehow altered and modified.Here's some examples:

1. with The Bachmann 10th anniversary 4-6-0, I discovered that I can enhance electrical pickup over switch frogs by wiring LGB conductive wheel sets to the loco, using the right port( for the backup light). I use the existing cable and plug. You just have to set the polarity switch properly.

2.  ole number nine is modified yet again, this time with a tender for the battery for the headlight and cab light. Trying to prepare for more night time operations.

3. Bachmann Spectrum mogul( not pictured), has broken the main gear, but, no worries,mate! I keep an extra motor/ gearbox in the parts bin. But this time, I want to paint the drivers and pilot red.To look like " Leviathan".

These are my current low tech projects.....

Paulhttps://paulsfamouslowtech.shutterfly.com/

 

more pictures:

I'm grading the line, and determining how much correction is needed to keep the track reasonably level. If a car with ball bearing wheel set's doesn't roll, I must be pretty close!

There will be a low trestle over the Arroyo at the lower end, and a gap at the upper end to help prevent a wash out.

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 10:04 AM

Hi Eric,

  my current "Phase Two" is primarily a backyard makeover. 90% makeover, 10% Choo Choo. We have year three of drought here in Cali, and the grass is not practical. I also did not like the type of grass we had,it was rough and coarse. This will be easy maintenance.

 So, at this point, the new track will be separate. The original main loop will be primarily for the cog engine.It is possible there will be a " Phase Three" someday, and I have the vision of the cog line extending out over the new section at high level. But that is just a pipe dream at this point, and I've got at least two years work to complete what I've started. Slow and Steady....

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 3:14 AM

Looking like a wonderful clean slate, Paul!  WIll you be connecting all your various loops in time?  Also, did you ever decide how you were going to terminate your rack railway?  I remember you were kicking around a number of ideas at one time on how to make it look like a  moutain.

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 12:20 PM

Swiss-Colorado-Lines

What I am referring to is that whenever an engine goes through my shop, it comes out somehow altered and modified.Here's some examples:

1. with The Bachmann 10th anniversary 4-6-0, I discovered that I can enhance electrical pickup over switch frogs by wiring LGB conductive wheel sets to the loco, using the right port( for the backup light). I use the existing cable and plug. You just have to set the polarity switch properly.

2.  ole number nine is modified yet again, this time with a tender for the battery for the headlight and cab light. Trying to prepare for more night time operations.

3. Bachmann Spectrum mogul( not pictured), has broken the main gear, but, no worries,mate! I keep an extra motor/ gearbox in the parts bin. But this time, I want to paint the drivers and pilot red.To look like " Leviathan".

These are my current low tech projects.....

Paulhttps://paulsfamouslowtech.shutterfly.com/

 

Here's my current progress on the " Phase Two" expansion:

grass out

gravel in

I shoveled 5 pallets of gravel into a wheelbarrow over the last two weeks, this week I run trains! Not ready for tracklaying yet, will mark the track position for now, and work on the grade( the yard is sloped).

There will be planters in various spots. My wife is keen to be involved in the plant selection process. This is a huge project, and only In it's infancy. Check out the pics I added!

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Monday, September 26, 2022 2:19 AM

Should've modeled 18" guage...then the trains could move the rocks! Big Smile  In all seriousness, be careful!

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 8:30 AM

Thanks,Eric! I am very happy with how it turned out. I adjusted the motor position on the Barry's chassis; it looks like I Will be able to re use it for a 'bash. But right now, my backyard is off to a Rocky start....have started my rock garden project. Twice as big as the area at the old house. This will take a while!

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 9:28 PM

Beautiful work, Paul!  May that loco bring you years of pleasure!

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Friday, September 16, 2022 4:09 PM

I have added some photos to the share site of my completed Spectrum Mogul that I have replaced the gear box and painted the wheels. Click on the Paul'sfamous low tech link at the top of this thread to see the additional pictures.

Paul

I start my backyard project next week....

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Thursday, September 8, 2022 9:32 AM

I spoke to Barry once or twice on the phone when I ordered the chassis, he was very helpful.When you look inside the BBT 460 chassis, it was built to last! Heavy constraction, ball bearings, large motor, everything of the highest quantity. I eventually wore down my drive gear, and it started to slip. I may be able to adjust the motor position to use for a kit bash project with very light loads. We'll see....

I got a new 10 th anniversary chassis from Bachmann; they had a couple for sale again. There is another that is $50 bucks more, not sure if it has metal gears. The 10 th anniversary chassis's have been pretty good, but I'll not use the 5 pound weight that I had in the Barry's...not to load down the gears that much....

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Thursday, September 8, 2022 1:07 AM

I wish I could have picked up a BBT chassis.  I returned to the hobby after circumstances compelled Barry to give up his business.  I have found photos of his work, both originals and items restored to honor him.   I never met him, of course, but he seems to have had quite a lasting impact on the hobby.

As for the new chassis, did you get one with the metal gears?  People seem to rave about those, too.

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Saturday, September 3, 2022 11:48 AM

Supposed to be 115 degrees tomorrow...

taking this time to detail the layout in the train room, and make repairs on some of my G locos:

1. Replaced smoke unit on LGB Forney( for the 4 th time)

2. Bachmann ten wheeler with a Barry's drive is getting a new 10 th Anniversary chassis from Bachmann. This will give me 24 operating G locos. The Barry's finally had problems after 25 years of heavy hauling, quite a testament! But I think I can rebuild it for a light duty project.

And, waiting for cooler weather to work on my backyard project.....

Paul

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Monday, July 18, 2022 9:03 AM

Eric, great news! I will say that Bachmann is ( was) a good value for the money. But I've gotten to where LGB engines are the only ones I buy anymore. Due to reliability. My 26 year old Forney has gone through 3 smoke units, but no other problems whatsoever....

although the grease might dry up on an old LGB engine, you might be wise to open it up and check it....

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Monday, July 18, 2022 2:04 AM

After a Saturday afternoon of tapping, soldering, and testing, North Star, our B'mann 10-wheeler runs again!  Video proof North Star Runs Again!

I agree Paul, that repairs are a constant.   I still think it is ridiculous that this loco gets 3 years of running between major repairs in contrast to 10-20 years for an LGB loco.  I cannot complain about the looks of these B'mann models, though!

 

Have a great week!

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Saturday, July 9, 2022 12:57 PM

Great news about Olomana! Nice engine. And it sounds like the ten wheeler will be up and around soon. Repairs are a constant in all scales, just the way it is....I've got more I haven't gotten to yet.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Friday, July 8, 2022 1:44 PM

Update:

 

We ran the loco with the boiler loosely attached, then lifted the boiler when the loco stopped.   Sure enough, the driver was spinning on the axle.  We ordered new gears (one for the repair, one for a spare) from a recommended vendor via FaceBook who makes these as a sideline business with his own materials.  While I am not looking forward to tearing into the gearbox, I am glad to have these sort of aftermarket options.

 

Oh, Olomana is up an running with a new motor and a bit of fiddling with the motor tabs.

Eric

Eric 

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Thursday, July 7, 2022 6:07 PM

No matter how many times Kader tries to upgrade these, they don't seem to last well. I have..4 or 5 in use. Not one has Bachmann drives. BBT, 4-6-0 and 2-8-0, one custom 2-8-2.

Had three in Christmas display use, guaranteed on top of almost daily running repairs, we'd do a complete gearbox on one and a motor on another in just over a month.

I finally gave up, let them deal with it, and threw all the parts away.

Split axle gear is most likely, you usually can tell by flipping the engine over, thumbs on geared drived, and try to roll the driver. It it moves, it's broke.

Intermediate gears, not often, but does happen.

Same basic gearbox in the 0-4-0's, but those waddle until the motor plate cross screws shake loose.

Interesting latest catalog....4-6-0's, Centennial 2-6-0, and that's it in narrow gauge.

Thomas, and Aristo-man rounds it out.

How far the mighty have fallen.

 

TOC

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Monday, May 2, 2022 3:06 AM

Yeah, Olomana will run again...Even if I have to send her to TrainLi.  Thanks for the warning about the thrust bearing!  Maybe it is a good thing I couldn't pop out the motor!  I lost those on an old STAINZ, but the short shaft Buehlers are internally thrusted, so no harm!

 

As for gears...Yep.  I just wish it wasn't mostly the same, the most complicated, the most recently fixed loco!  That 10-wheeler!

 

 

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Friday, April 29, 2022 10:22 PM

Oh no! Not the Olomana!!

That's a beauty, and worth hunting down parts for. Be sure to look at You tube videos, I believe there will be a tiny ball bearing used as a thrust washer at the end of the motor shaft.Be careful not to lose it.

I've had gear failures 9 times over the last 26 years, but I still love G.

It's just fun running these big trains outside! It just goes with the territory....

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Friday, April 29, 2022 7:21 PM

Thanks, Paul.  If there is one thing I cannot stand, though, it is motive power on the shelf unable to move on its own power.  Angry  I tend to fixate on it, as locomotives, more than anything, see to carry the railroad's history on their frames.  On an intellectual level, their malfunction calls to me like a Siren, challenging me to put that iron horse back in service.

Some repairs are easy (pop out old motor, pop in new one); some have proven challenging; a couple have led to expensive missteps, and one finally earned a trip to TrainLi for professional repair (after some expensive missteps).

 

I have an LGB Olomana that just burned out its can motor.  This loco actually ran within earshot of my house back in the day.  It has been such a joy bringin it "home" to the high iron (or brass).  The saga continues...

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Sunday, April 24, 2022 9:17 AM

Hi Eric,

sorry about your struggle with the Ten Wheeler. If you can remove the boiler shell and look inside when it is whining, you might be able to see what is going wrong. Bachmann used to sell the gearbox for this engine separately, but last I looked these parts were sold out, as well as the entire chassis assembly. Unfortunately, that does not leave many options.

 I updated my locomotive roster the other day, and I am up to 22 operating locos! This is the high water mark for my ever- changing roster. Locomotives blow out gears and go out of service,so the roster changes constantly. Sometimes you can get parts, sometimes you can't...

And when I can't, bits and pieces of one engine wind up getting kit bashed into another engine.

It's a G gauge phenomenon....

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Sunday, April 24, 2022 2:49 AM

Paul,

 

Nice to hear from you!  I am glad to hear of your success.

 

Our Ten-Wheeler is still on the Track of Perpetual Puttering.  To be frank, I am debating whether or not to simply break it for parts.  I have been letting it simmer while I attacked a few other items around the Triple O.

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Saturday, April 16, 2022 5:58 PM

Just wanted to update:

I finished my Bachmann/ Spectrum Mogul, it came out great,I am quite pleased. I replaced the gearbox, and while it was apart, pulled all the drivers and pilot wheels.Painted them Apple Red, along with the pilot and the flutes on the steam dome.I am having trouble posting pictures these days, sorry.

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Friday, January 7, 2022 10:37 PM

Thanks.  There was a little play, but no more than a few donor chassis I have laying around.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Eric

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Posted by Swiss-Colorado-Lines on Friday, January 7, 2022 6:39 PM

It's going to be a little tricky to pinpoint the problem because it is not constantly slipping, but next time you have it open, try to wiggle the motor, and see if it seems loose. This would be a good starting point.

Paul

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