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WPF 4/25/08

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  • Member since
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  • From: Carmichael, CA
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Posted by twhite on Sunday, April 27, 2008 7:44 PM

Jarrell--

I'm envious of the roundhouse and the turntable, I'm 98% steam and would you believe that I don't have ROOM!!?  (bad planning).  How about a couple of shots of the turntable?  How long is it, what kit, that kind of thing--even though diesels have taken over the steam facility, it's kind of neat to know that they have to be turned ALSO, occasionally, LOL! 

Keep us posted, okay? 

Tom Smile [:)]

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Posted by jacon12 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 7:30 PM

An area I'm about to start working on.., the roundhouse and turntable area.

Jarrell

 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.
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Posted by jacon12 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 7:28 PM

Don, everything looks great!  I'm interested in building myself a bookcase type 'rack' for extra cars and locos such as you have on your wall in the background.  Did you build yours yourself or is it a commercial building?  Do you have a better photo of it?

Thanks,

Jarrell

 

 Don Z wrote:

Here's a larger photo of my layout that shows a little more of the rock castings and scenery that I have been working on. The structure in the foreground is Walthers Glacier Gravel. I haven't painted the building yet.

Don Z.

 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.
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Posted by twhite on Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:58 PM

Don--

Butte, Montana--that scenery's going to work really well, as I remember.  Been a while since I've been there, but the geography (and geology) is REALLY varied, so it should work really well for you. 

BTW, depending on your time-frame, don't forget Milwaukee and Butte, Anaconda & Pacific, either! 

Boy, are YOU gonna have fun!

Tom Tongue [:P]

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Posted by Don Z on Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:44 PM
 twhite wrote:
 Don Z wrote:

This photo should provide a sense of scale to the scenery that I've been working on. A Union Pacific MP-15DC struggles upgrade on its local switching job.....

Don Z.

 

Don--

Wow, we are NOT talking the Great Plains here, are we???  The folds in your sandstone are some of the best I've ever seen--that is just INCREDIBLE rockwork.  After looking at that, I've just GOTTA re-do Yuba Pass this summer! 

PS:  What's the gradient through that cut?  Looks nice and heavy to me. 

Tom Bow [bow]Bow [bow]

Tom,

The grade in the photo is a respectable 2% up to the summit. Great Plains?? I don't think so. I am excited to finally have solved the dilemma of running the Union Pacific and Great Northern together....I originally tried to freelance the scenario that they were co-existing in Minnesota, but since the geography that was created looked so little like Minnesota, it was time to start some research.

Lo and behold, the UP and GN actually interchanged in Butte, Montana! The terrain looks more at home in Montana also....so the name I have come up with for my layout (after 2 years of work) is the "Butte Terminal Railroad". The GN runs from Helena to Butte, and the UP runs from Pocatello, ID up to Butte through Silver Bow, MT, where the NP also makes an appearance once I come up with some NP motive power....

Thanks again for the Bow [bow]...it's much appreciated!

Don Z.

PS One thing about taking photos like this...I see some spots in the rock work that need touching up.....holes need to be filled, etc.

  • Member since
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Posted by twhite on Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:32 PM
 Don Z wrote:

This photo should provide a sense of scale to the scenery that I've been working on. A Union Pacific MP-15DC struggles upgrade on its local switching job.....

Don Z.

 

Don--

Wow, we are NOT talking the Great Plains here, are we???  The folds in your sandstone are some of the best I've ever seen--that is just INCREDIBLE rockwork.  After looking at that, I've just GOTTA re-do Yuba Pass this summer! 

PS:  What's the gradient through that cut?  Looks nice and heavy to me. 

Tom Bow [bow]Bow [bow]

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Posted by twhite on Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:27 PM

Aggro--

AMAZING!!  I can smell the bark from here, LOL! 

PS, thanks for the Bow [bow].  Coming from someone whose work I respect as much as yours, that's high praise, indeed.  Thanks again. 

Tom  Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by Don Z on Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:15 PM
 AggroJones wrote:

 

I just got some logs that are going in a flat car as a load. 

Aggro,

Those look great! Check your email - I sent you a question regarding your trees.

Don Z.

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Posted by AggroJones on Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:07 PM

 

I just got some logs that are going in a flat car as a load. 

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

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Posted by AggroJones on Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:59 PM
 twhite wrote:

Okay, a couple of more new shots from my Photobucket, and then I'm outta here to work on the train. 

The 1949 Royal Gorge (pre-ex-Chessie domes) pulling out of Deer Creek on the lower gradient Eastbound track.  Loco is 4-8-4 #1802. 

Passing the Champion Mine in South Yuba Canyon on the 1.5% eastbound grade. 

Pulling out of South Yuba Canyon, passing 2-10-2 #1400 heading west on upper level track after a helper job on Yuba Pass. 

Okay, that's it.  I'm off to the California Basement for the afternoon.   

Tom Smile [:)]

 

Bow [bow] Bow [bow] Bow [bow]

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

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Posted by Don Z on Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:39 PM

This photo should provide a sense of scale to the scenery that I've been working on. A Union Pacific MP-15DC struggles upgrade on its local switching job.....

Don Z.

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Posted by Kenfolk on Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:01 PM

 

It is a welcome image to me, none-the-less, Kenfolk.  Looks like you have a very nice viaduct there.  It will be instructive for some viewers to see how you manage to mount it on your layout.  It will take some imagineering with all those piers of the same length.

-Crandell

 

Crandell--At this point I've got several options, including possibly shortening some piers. I also ended up with extra piers that could be used if I run into any issues and mess something up. But since it'll be on foam, it would be fairly straightforward to remove foam for pier to drop into to make it appear shorter--a technique I've used in the past with other layout features.

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Posted by Dave Vollmer on Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:01 PM
 selector wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Although the original alignment through the tunnel is clearly out of service, Norfolk Southern still uses the double-track line to the right quite frequently.

You hit a home run, even if you weren't swinging!

OMG, Dave.....I didn't know such a thing existed, so you hit your own homerun. Tongue [:P]  I just liked the concept for what reason escapes me now.  Thanks so much for posting this for me. Smile [:)]

-Crandell

My family is originally from Lancaster County...  My father's side came to Lancaster directly from Germany before the Civil War; my mother's family moved there from the coal country of northeastern PA when she was a teen.  I know Lancaster county about as well or better than my home town in New York. 

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

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Posted by selector on Sunday, April 27, 2008 4:46 PM

It is a welcome image to me, none-the-less, Kenfolk.  Looks like you have a very nice viaduct there.  It will be instructive for some viewers to see how you manage to mount it on your layout.  It will take some imagineering with all those piers of the same length.

-Crandell

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Tennessee
  • 665 posts
Posted by Kenfolk on Sunday, April 27, 2008 4:15 PM

Lots of great stuff on here this weekend -- Thanks everyone.

This past week I worked on this viaduct that will eventually wind up on the freelanced n-scale layout extension. Electrician should be ready to get to work on the garage soon,  so I can get to work in earnest.

The snapshot is just that, taken with a cellphone camera. 

Have a good week, all! 

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Posted by selector on Sunday, April 27, 2008 4:03 PM

Tom, I had no idea.  Your tiny avatar, in retrospect, is just a shameless tease. Mischief [:-,]

Bow [bow]Big Smile [:D]Bow [bow]Big Smile [:D]Bow [bow]

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Posted by selector on Sunday, April 27, 2008 4:00 PM
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Although the original alignment through the tunnel is clearly out of service, Norfolk Southern still uses the double-track line to the right quite frequently.

You hit a home run, even if you weren't swinging!

OMG, Dave.....I didn't know such a thing existed, so you hit your own homerun. Tongue [:P]  I just liked the concept for what reason escapes me now.  Thanks so much for posting this for me. Smile [:)]

-Crandell

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  • From: Carmichael, CA
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Posted by twhite on Sunday, April 27, 2008 3:28 PM

Okay, a couple of more new shots from my Photobucket, and then I'm outta here to work on the train. 

The 1949 Royal Gorge (pre-ex-Chessie domes) pulling out of Deer Creek on the lower gradient Eastbound track.  Loco is 4-8-4 #1802. 

Passing the Champion Mine in South Yuba Canyon on the 1.5% eastbound grade. 

Pulling out of South Yuba Canyon, passing 2-10-2 #1400 heading west on upper level track after a helper job on Yuba Pass. 

Okay, that's it.  I'm off to the California Basement for the afternoon.   

Tom Smile [:)]

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
Posted by Dave Vollmer on Sunday, April 27, 2008 2:24 PM
 selector wrote:

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.

Crandell,

That looks just like Chickies Rock Tunnel on the PRR's Columbia & Port Deposit/Atglen & Susquehanna low-grade line in Lancaster County, PA.  That K4 would be northbound on the original alignment; the two parallel tracks would be the new alignment.  This line funneled freight from Enola and points west to Philly and Baltimore/DC area.  All you're missing is the overhead catenary!

Here's an arial photo looking south; the river is the Susquehanna, and we're about 20 miles southeast of Harrisburg:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=qp64vs8mq3j5&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=8714268&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

Although the original alignment through the tunnel is clearly out of service, Norfolk Southern still uses the double-track line to the right quite frequently.

You hit a home run, even if you weren't swinging!

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 27, 2008 1:35 PM

Well, I finally got the video of my last operating session up! I only had one other operator, which is much less than my preffered number of 4 plus me, but it was pretty fun. I only have one walkaround throttle, (one of my crew member brings the throttles normally) so he ran and I filmed.

Fanning the New Poland Turn, Part 1. WARNING: Lots of switching (7 minutes of it, through 3 different towns) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxKlyI2BcKM 

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Posted by selector on Sunday, April 27, 2008 11:56 AM

New Haven 1-5 & Tom, thanks for your compliments.  Smile [:)]

The locomotive is a BLI diecast model.  Nice and heavy, comes with a separate traction tire axle set, but it really isn't necessary on average grades (2-3% on many layouts) and a short consist of 3-4 heavyweights. 

-Crandell

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    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
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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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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]

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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

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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


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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
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
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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]

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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

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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

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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

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