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WPF 4/25/08

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  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Pocahontas, VA
  • 57 posts
Posted by David Woodard on Friday, April 25, 2008 8:44 PM

Nothing from me yet.  I do have news on my new room though!  I am about one third of the way done with the remodel (in case you didnt know I am turning one side of my garage into a train room, which required extensive remodeling).  The plumbing reroute is done for the apartment upstairs, the stairwell is now drywalled and the outer walls insulated.  I now must build two walls, insulate, drywall and then put in a drop ceiling.  At that point I start benchwork.  I am getting excited as by the end of summer I may be laying track!!!!!!

 I will post pics of the progress sometime soon.

Chuggin with the ole' Chessie
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Utah
  • 1,315 posts
Posted by shayfan84325 on Friday, April 25, 2008 10:35 PM

I always enjoy seeing everyone's work.  Thanks for putting it up here.

I spent my model railroading time building this pump house from a Campbell kit.  It was a fun project:Photobucket

I'm hoping you can give me advice about where to put it on my layout.  I model 1935 and my railroad buys most of their equipment second-hand (lots of slide valves - I like slide valve steam the best Smile [:)]).  The pump house question is this: Does it make sense to place the pump house adjacent to a railroad water tank or should I put it somewhere else?

Other news:  My railroad, the Blackwater and Butte Creek RR, got its first employee.  Here he is, hard at work:Photobucket

He's my turntable polarity indicator - when he faces the front the polarity switch should be up; when he faces the other way...

...you get the idea.

Since I run DC with a solid state throttle, I have to have blocks, so I made this little panel for my turtable:Photobucket

BTW, the crank is how the railroad's president (namely me) powers the turntable.

We had 2 days of snow this week and one morning it was 19 degrees.  If winter ever lets go, my model railroad will see little action (gotta do the summer chores).  Until then, I'll keep you all posted on progress.

Phil,
I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, April 25, 2008 11:40 PM
 shayfan84325 wrote:

I always enjoy seeing everyone's work.  Thanks for putting it up here....

Sign - Ditto [#ditto]  It's my favourite thread of the week.  And what a thread it is so far....Shock [:O] Cool [8D]

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Crosby, Texas
  • 3,660 posts
Posted by cwclark on Friday, April 25, 2008 11:58 PM

Here's an SP MW crane and flat car I just finished at the kitchen table. Relatives were visiting from Las Vegas all week so I had to stay in the house and entertain them with my train stuff.

     I bought this crane car and flat car at a garage sale. The control cab and crane hoist pulleys are scratch build from styrene and the pulleys made from metal paper brads. The flat car is an old Western Maryland tractor hauler. I sawed off the tractor hauler part and replaced the deck with strip styrene. It's as prototype as i could get it from pictures of SP MW 5595. The only thing that's different is the boom style and the white instead of black lettering. ( Ran out of black SP decals.) And who said you can't make tyco rolling stock look good?. I paid $3.00 for both cars. chuck

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • 1,132 posts
Posted by saronaterry on Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:54 AM

Again some great pics!

How about something different?

Overall layout shot of bay 2 of 4 bays on my layout:

And a  progress shot of bay3 and 4:

I kinda like seeing overall shots of layouts.I've learned a lot about benchwork, backdrops etc from them.  And it's nice to see how a layout fits in a space.

Terry

 

Terry in NW Wisconsin

Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel

  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 26, 2008 9:11 AM

Terry, loved those shots of your layout! Lighting job and layout look professional!

I'd post one of mine, except I'd accidently kill all of you that are bothered by messes.....Whistling [:-^] The shelves under the layout (and lots of the actual layout that's not completed) are covered in disorganized junk... I hope to put up black curtains to hide the shelves underneath.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Riverside,Ca.
  • 1,127 posts
Posted by spidge on Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:52 AM

Terry, I like what I see. Looks like you may ned some operators to complete the layout.Big Smile [:D]

 

John

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Riverside,Ca.
  • 1,127 posts
Posted by spidge on Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:55 AM
 twhite wrote:

 Tom Smile [:)]

 

 

I haven't been here in a while but I do know that you have been working for some time to capture this very fine look to your layout and specifically this photo angle. Hows the rest of it?

John

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:22 AM
I went to Wal-Mart the other day and got a quart of flat latex the same color as the WS blended turf I use in my scenery. Today I put it to the test. I paint an area then sprinkle on some blended turf. What would have taken an hour or more now takes about ten minutes.




Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:51 AM

Looks good Jeff!

Tom; That looks amazing! Reminds me of pics I've seen of the Gorre & Daphited!Thumbs Up [tup]

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, April 26, 2008 12:52 PM

Ty--

Thanks for the compliment--I'm afraid that I got bit by John Allen when I was about 15 and have never recuperated, LOL! 

Well, here's my first try at Photobucket--the Deer Creek engine facility I'm working on.  It's of the famous "Basket Case" Yellowstone that I acquired a couple of months ago.  Still needs some cosmetic work, but it's turned out to be a really smooth runner.   Hope the picture turns up okay.  The 2-10-2 to the right of it is another 'basket case' I acquired about 20 years ago--a PFM that ran me a whole $25. 

The Yellowstone will join my other two 'never was' 3900 series Rio Grande L-140's. 

Tom Smile [:)]

Question to the rest of you that use Photobucket:  I notice that there is an option for editing photos--I tried cropping this photo to get a better closeup, but couldn't get the crop to 'save'.  Is there some secret to this that I'm overlooking?  I come up with two directions:  "Override existing image" and plain "Save."  I've tried both, but the resulting photo turns out to be the original, not the cropped.  Any help will really be appreciated, especially since I'm so computer klutzy. 

Tom Blush [:I]

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • 1,132 posts
Posted by saronaterry on Saturday, April 26, 2008 1:51 PM
 spidge wrote:

Terry, I like what I see. Looks like you may ned some operators to complete the layout.Big Smile [:D]

 

John, that's the plan when I get a little farther along. Problem is I live in NW Wisconsin, out in the sticks. Finding 5-6 operators will be difficult, I'm afraid!Sigh [sigh]

Terry

Terry in NW Wisconsin

Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,207 posts
Posted by stebbycentral on Saturday, April 26, 2008 2:06 PM
 shayfan84325 wrote:

I spent my model railroading time building this pump house from a Campbell kit.  It was a fun project:Photobucket

I'm hoping you can give me advice about where to put it on my layout.  The pump house question is this: Does it make sense to place the pump house adjacent to a railroad water tank or should I put it somewhere else?

My friend, I think what you've got there is an oil derrick.  In which case somewhere else would be the best option. 

I have figured out what is wrong with my brain!  On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 43 posts
Posted by KB0QQW on Saturday, April 26, 2008 3:06 PM

The Platte Valley & Western Model Railroad Club in Denver hosted it's monthly open house Friday night...  Lots of interesting heavy weight passenger consists as well as other trains running the rails thru the rockies for the members of the public that stopped by to visit.

In the last couple of weeks, work on the Ft. Steele scenery has been progressing nicely.  Here's Duane working on some of the roadways in the town.  He also created most of the rockwork you can see in the image.

More info & images can be seen on the club's website @ www.PVWRR.org.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: ARCH CITY
  • 1,769 posts
Posted by tomkat-13 on Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:32 PM

Early morning at Hawk Point, Lincoln County Mo.

 

I model MKT & CB&Q in Missouri. A MUST SEE LINK: Great photographs from glassplate negatives of St Louis 1914-1917!!!! http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/kempland/glassplate.htm Boeing Employee RR Club-St Louis http://www.berrc-stl.com/
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Elizabeth City, NC
  • 155 posts
Posted by V&AL on Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:42 PM
spent some time working on the RR... I'm gonna post in a new thread that I can continue as the layout progresses...
Virginia and Alleghenny Railroad Texas and Gulf Coast Railroad (The Dixie Road) PACE: Pittsburgh Area Commuter Express Texas Express
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:51 PM

Sorry to chime in here again, but I think I got a closer view of the Basket Case through Photobucket.  Anyway, if it works, here it is.  I didn't know you could click the image to view it full-size.  Never could do that on my old PictureTrail. 

Oh, BTW, the other big hunker under the coal tower is #1802, my big M-68 4-8-4.  It's a Key model and it can handle all 10 of my Walthers "Royal Gorge" cars up a 2% without batting an eyelash or spinning a driver.  It's de-LOVELY!!

Now I promise I'll go away for a while.  Blush [:I]

Tom  

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 1,752 posts
Posted by Don Z on Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:53 PM

Tom,

Great photo of a great loco! Welcome to the world of Photobucket...now I can see your layout and I can say it looks very nice indeed!

Don Z.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:59 PM

I agree, it looks to be part of a very nice layout. Tongue [:P]  But...............but..........don't those nice brass engines come with brass coal? Laugh [(-D]

-Crandell

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, April 26, 2008 8:11 PM

Don--Crandell--

Aww, YOU GUYS!!! (he blushed).  Blush [:I]

BRASS coal?  Hm, never thought of it.  Hey, might get a better combustion from the heat, but hoo-boy--cleaning out the grates?  Whatta MESS, LOL!

Really, guys, thanks a lot.  Photobucket is cool, but I just found out--it lets you know what you REALLY have to work on, by golly!

TomTongue [:P]

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Elizabeth City, NC
  • 155 posts
Posted by V&AL on Saturday, April 26, 2008 9:24 PM

Believe it or not the timetables of 2 different entities line right up! A PACE commuter train meets a V&AL train in Coffeeville, PA.

Virginia and Alleghenny Railroad Texas and Gulf Coast Railroad (The Dixie Road) PACE: Pittsburgh Area Commuter Express Texas Express
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: St. Paul
  • 823 posts
Posted by garya on Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:17 PM

Not a lot of work done this week, but I fixed my daughter's loco (Bachmann Hogwart's Express; put a new motor in, installed a decoder):




Happy her Red Choo Choo runs:


Gary

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Indy
  • 997 posts
Posted by mononguy63 on Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:52 PM

I attended a model railroad estate auction today. I had to leave about midway through without gathering as many good items as I would have preferred, but still managed to acquire the components of this coal train for a song, including the older Atlas RS-11 that runs like a Swiss watch. The hoppers all have different numbers and Kadees, and most have coal loads and metal wheels. Not bad for under two bucks apiece.

Sorry for the poor picture quality. Didn't spend much time trying to get a good shot.

Here's a video of the train on the main line, first emerging from Tunnel 2 above Mud Creek and entering Tunnel 1, and later emerging from Tunnel 1 farther downline.

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i89/mononguy63/Model%20Railroad/?action=view&current=CoalTrain.flv

The second loco in the video is needed to help wrestle the train up my 2.5% grade.

Jim

 

"I am lapidary but not eristic when I use big words." - William F. Buckley

I haven't been sleeping. I'm afraid I'll dream I'm in a coma and then wake up unconscious.  -Stephen Wright

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
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Posted by wm3798 on Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:58 PM

Stayed up too late last night...  But I got this finished!

Also got to run some trains with a couple friends today, one is a Con Man...

 

...and one is a Rocketeer...

Had a great day. 

Lee 

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:02 PM

Mononguy--

Swiss watch is right!  Very neat video--you got a HUGE bargain with the loco and the cars.  Thanks for sharing.  Tongue [:P]

Tom Big Smile [:D]

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:48 PM

Lee, nice diesels.  I take it that you painted and decaled them?  Nice work.  The scenery "works", too. Smile [:)]

Here is a second image for this weekend.  A new vantage point and a new scene showing PRR #1361 thundering out of a natural portal and continuing to haul its heavies upgrade.

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, April 27, 2008 7:53 AM
I spent some time last night installing three flood lights on the front of the south engine house.



They have quite an impact when the room lights are off.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
  • 2,916 posts
Posted by wm3798 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:22 AM

I only painted the WM GP35.  The others were just decoder installs visiting the railroad...

Lee 

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Sunday, April 27, 2008 10:10 AM

Crandell--

GREAT shot!  I love the track detail--looks like your sanders really work overtime up that grade.  The rock-work, especially that tunnel portal, is terrific--reminds me of a few of the natural tunnels on the old SP Donner Pass line. 

Tom Tongue [:P]

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,475 posts
Posted by New Haven I-5 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 11:39 AM
 Selector, is this a MTH K4?  Great scenery!  Everyone, keep up the good work!

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

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