Seneca & Chetola Line

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Lookin better evry time I check in.

[jhsimpson62]

Have been busy keeping the wild onions at bay. This time of year it is a daily chore. If any one knows a better way than digging them out, let me know. Did some work in the shop and have complete three buildings for the lumber yard. Here are a few pictures. I am still working on the interior of the lumber mill, but wanted to get something posted prior to leaving town for awhile.

[jhsimpson62]

It is hard to believe its been almost a month since my last post. Been traveling some. Did complete some of the interior of the saw mill and a switchman's tower. There are some pictures here. The tower is from Gardentexture plans which I modified a little. Next in line is a small passenger station for the other end of the siding. Also want to add some more touches the the interior or the saw mill. Provided the weather cooperates, we are planning our first showing of the garden and trains in early November.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Thats aswm. For the saw mill I'd make a verticle boiler out of some old PVC pipe and a funnel. Then mount a piston looking thing (I'd just hack up an old HO train) and add a wheel to it. Then add another one to the saw and run a piece of folded over masking tape to make a belt. Not much work but fills all that room and gives the impression that its highly dietaled. (See I ocasionaly have something useful to say)

[jhsimpson62]

I was planning on some type of boiler and steam engine with power belts to the saw and the ramp for pulling in the logs. Also want to do some kind of wench to lift logs on to the ramp since I have no room for a pond. Haven't given much thought how to go about it yet, so I appreciate your ideas. Thanks.

[altterrain]

The sawmill is looking good, Jack! i have on of those on my future projects list. Right now its just a siding to nowhere. Did you motorize the saw blade?

 

 

 -Brian

[jhsimpson62]

I haven't motorized the saw yet. Thats another one of those furture to do things that keep a railroad from ever being finished.

[sawdust]

If you have the bucks, try live steam.  I power my sawmill with a Jenson #75 dry fuel steam engine.  People are just as excited to see the steam engine run as my trains.  I thing the #75 is around $195.

Allen

[jhsimpson62]

Sawdust, I've been thinking live steam would be great, but haven't really looked into it yet. It should be doable since I have more than enough motive power and running stock. Thanks for the info. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

Hoisted our first open house for friends from the local Elks Club. Although a sparse turnout, all enjoyed the afternoon. Beautiful weather, good friends and the trains ran perfectly for four hours. Most had heard me talk about garden railroading, few had any idea what it is really  all about and were impressed with what can be done playing in the dirt. Some attendees brought their grand childern, which were a delight to watch as they enjoyed the trains. We plan on doing this a couple times a year so people can follow the development of the railroad.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Sounds like one sucessful day, did the kids get to run anything?

[jhsimpson62]

Believe it or not, they were to busy chasing the trains around they didn't even think of running them. They are the grand children of close frinds so will be back again. I'll get them into it in the future. I can arrange it so its fool proof and impossible to hurt anything. I had kids in mind when I wired everything. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

Have downloaded a few pictures of the open house. Also of the completed station. You can find them here. Next will be some platforms for either end of the station.

[smcgill]

Looks great

Thanks for the updates!

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Nice, looks like a good way to spend a day.

[Anonymous]

Jack, you worked really hard on your layout and it shows in the peoples faces lightn up and glowing!!!

Did any of your buddies next door come over and say "Wow! so this is what you been working on all hours of the night!? And I just thought you was crazy."

Toad

[jhsimpson62]

The neighbors are always checking up on me, so normally stay away if there are strangers around. I tell them it not a big deal, just come over, but they don't. Now that the railroad and garden in getting to look acceptable, I be looking for reasons to open it to the public. i.e. local garden club, historical socity, etc. Thanks for the compliments. Jack

[Old Hog]

The neighbors are always checking up on me, so normally stay away if there are strangers around. I tell them it not a big deal, just come over, but they don't. Now that the railroad and garden in getting to look acceptable, I be looking for reasons to open it to the public. i.e. local garden club, historical socity, etc. Thanks for the compliments. Jack

Well, you could do as us model railroaders have done for a long time- start em young. Offer open house days to the local scout troops (Boyscouts AND Girlscouts). Also contact your local library. You could easily work with them to coordinate a selection of the many fine 'train' books for kids and let them link it to your open house. Certainly you can invite the local newspaper (yes, there are still newspapers) over to cover an open house. Tell them they can cover it as a human interest kind of thing. Then you can reach out to local elementary schools. They're always looking for relatively short local 'field trips' to things that can be broadened into classroom discussion, usually involving the role played by the railroads in building this country.

I could go on and on, but by now, you should get the idea. You've got a fine start and as the landscaping matures and your layout gets more populated, it can only get better.

My own personal layout problem is a little more serious- I'm trying to plan something that will look good on 5+ acres of steeply sloping land. Some might not consider this a 'problem', but they may not be keeping the concept of a budget in mind!

[jhsimpson62]

Old Hog, Thanks. You are right, there are many ways to open the layout to groups. Its now just a matter of contacting the right people and making it happen. With budget constraints any large layout becomes a big problem. I have no way near 5 acres and it is a problem. Nothing that can't be overcome with time, but still a problem. Just takes forever. Jack

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Is this where creativity in advertising comes in? You could make yourself a non-profit business and ask for donations to maintain the railroad and have small parties and such. good Luck! Who knows in ten years there might be a Seneca & Chetola line in every major city. (not a bad idea axually)

[jhsimpson62]

I can't believe its been so long since my last post. Holidays, travel, computer problems and a bad cold have all contributed to the delay. I have finished a few buildings and working on some more. Here are some pictures. I'll try not to let go so long between postings in the future. House building is about all that gets finished. Finially getting some much needed rain so can't do much outdoors. Doesn't dry out between rains. Hope all have a very good year.

[Ray Dunakin]

Looking good, Jack! The layout has come a long way.

[zakowitz]

    It is great to look in on your work again. Real nice buildings!!!  I love all the trestle work.  I can't wait for our area to get out of this rainy,  windy, funk we are in so I can get back outside and play in the dirt. Keep up the great work!

                                       Regards,

 

                                        Zak

[jhsimpson62]

Thanks for the nice comments. Sorry about leading you to the first page of pictures. Usually I link to the new pictures. Guess I had a "Senior moment". Hopefully today I'll get started painting the two story house (if I can get my shed warm enough).

[Rex in Pinetop]

Jack, 

Nice buildings as well as the hard work on the layout.  I recognize the saw mill, lumber shed, and office buildings as being Garden-Texture.  What is the source (did you design them or purchase plans) of your other buildings?  Are you cutting your own lumber or did you buy kits?

I've built the saw mill and love their plans.  I also bought a couple sets of plans from Smith Pond Junction.

Rex

[jhsimpson62]

Rex, Right on. All the building are from Garden-Texture plans with some modifications. I like working with their plans after enlarging them to 1:20.3 scale. I am currently working on a two story house from the plans of the bungalow (modified) and will get a picture posted when finished. My first building was the Lumber Yard Office. It was a kit, but at 1:24 its a bit small. Every thing else is just plans and I cut my own lumber down from 1 x 8s. Since red wood is impossible to find aroun here, I've been using cedar and either painting or staining it.

[Rex in Pinetop]

Jack, I also have the "Bungalow" plans so I'm very interested in how you're planning to modify it.  My layout includes a housing area for the miners, loggers, and towns people.  I have room for about 14 houses along the river near the town.  I'd like each of the houses to be different but right now I only have the Bungalow and the "Lumber Baron's House" plans.  Modification will be the name of the game so let the unscrupulous bashing begin. 

Are you using the plastic windows and doors or are you making those as well?  The GR article on building doors looks easy.  I said the same thing about the street lamp construction article and then failed miserably trying to get wires down the too small diameter tubing.  I could only get one wire through so I tried using the brass post as the other wire and managed to short the whole thing out when my soldering effort melted the wire insulation.

My saw mill, grist mill, ore tipple, and sand & water tower are all finished in natural cedar wood perservative.  I haven't tried painting yet but will give it a go with the service station/garage I'm working on now.  It looks like it would be easier to shoot paint on the building and trim separately.  How did you do it and what tips can you give us?

Thanks,

Rex

[jhsimpson62]

Rex, Lets see if I can answer your questions. So far I have been using the plastic windows available at Garden Texture. Since the CFO (wife) wants more windows than come with the plans, I've been thinking of trying to build my own. Looks like a lot of work.

The first modification on the Bungalow was to change the location and the style of the windows. Also altered the way the siding is placed. Some horizonal and some parallel. Think I'll do the next one on an angle. Made one two story by simply adding an additional 4.5 inches to the height and added a wrap-around porch. Also varied the paint color of both house and trim. Can also vary the style of trim work. Also plan to change the roof line and shorten the ends, lengthen the front and back and make a ranch style house out of it.

I have been spray painting (out of cans) window and doors and brushing the paint on the houses and roofs. I found a paint which has some roughness to the finish and a little glitter which looks a good bit like asphault shingles. I did one roof with asphault shingles made from vinyl sheet and coated it with the rough, glittery paint and looks good. Sheets don't fit a 1:20.3 building so it had to be pieced. After everything is painted, I spray a couple coats of clear matte finish lacqur for UV protection and cutting the shine of the paint.

Good luck with your bashing. Just let your imagination be your guide. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

We had a rare "snow event" here in South Carolina up-country. Took a few pics of some new buildings and some of the older ones just for kicks since it might be a long time before we see it again. Here they are. Sorry about the darkness. Thought the flash worked automatically. The frieght platform is scratched build and the two story house with wrap around porch is based on the bungalow plans from GT.

[jhsimpson62]

Stopped by the local nersury today. They had a new shipment of miniture plants, so I just had to have some. Trimmed them up and planted them this afternoon near the houses I promised pictures of without snow blocking them. The plants are Jean's Dilly dwarf Alberta Spruce (mini forest). Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Cream Ball' a false cypress, and Ulmus x elegantissima 'Jacqueline Hillier' a miniture elm. The elms are really hard to see without their leaves, but trust me they are really there. Finished constructing a Bunk house for the lumber mill, but haven't decided where I'll put it. First thought was in the mini forest, but it dwarfs the trees. Maybe some larger Alberta Spruces as it were placed closed to the mill's current cutting operations.