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WPF 4/25/08

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  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
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

  • Member since
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  • 305,205 posts
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 

  • Member since
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  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
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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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  • 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
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
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

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
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]

  • Member since
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  • 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! 

  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
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
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
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.

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Tennessee
  • 665 posts
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.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 1,752 posts
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.

  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
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

  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
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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

  • Member since
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  • From: Austin, TX
  • 1,752 posts
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.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
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]

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
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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]

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Austin, TX
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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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  • From: Carmichael, CA
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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]

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
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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 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.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
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 [:)]

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 1,752 posts
Posted by Don Z on Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:26 PM
 jacon12 wrote:

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.

Jarrell,

How's this for forced perspective....the display case in the background holds N scale equipment that belongs to my son. He recently tore my heart out of my chest and stomped it to pieces when he told me he was 'no longer interested' in trains....I digress...I did build it myself. It is made of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood and uses 2 pieces of 1/4" acrylic as sliding doors to help keep the dust out. If you'd like, I could sketch out a plan for the case and email or snail mail it to you.

Don Z.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 1,752 posts
Posted by Don Z on Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:29 PM
 twhite wrote:

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]

Tom,

Geography, geology...at least I knew it wasn't Geometry! Yeah, I discovered the Milwaukee Road came through Butte, but since their line was electrified, I think I'll leave that to the better skilled modelers. I couldn't find anything produced for the BA&P; not even decals, so I don't know if they'll be on the layout either.....

Don Z.

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:35 PM

Great pictures everybody! Here's my contribution. Anybody like Burlington' s E5's?


GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Austin, TX
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Posted by Don Z on Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:46 PM

Garry,

Are those E units polished stainless? What gives them that sleek, shiny appearance? Thumbs Up [tup]

Don Z.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Sunday, April 27, 2008 9:10 PM

Garry--

Love those Burlington E-5's.  Caught the Texas Zephyr in Amarillo way back in the 'sixties on my way home via Denver, where I caught the California Zephyr (the real one, not AMTRAK).  When those stainless steel babies pulled into the station in Amarillo I just kind of melted.  Something about Burlington, and especially that sleek design just spelled speed and power to me.  That was one LOVELY train!  Have very fond memories of it. 

Really like those models of yours! 

Tom Smile [:)] 

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
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Posted by jacon12 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 9:12 PM

 Tom, the turntable is one that our own Selector sent me when he 'upgraded' to the Walther's indexed model.  I was talking to him via email the other day and he tells me he really likes the improved version so I think I'm going to soon break down and purchase one myself.  I really haven't done any sceniking around it yet because I've been working on the backdrop painting and then the building flats that go behind the engine service area.  I'll so be done with that though and hope to get on with the turntable and roundhouse detailing.  When I get there I'll post some photos of it.

Thanks,

Jarrell 

 

 twhite wrote:

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 [:)]

 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 4,648 posts
Posted by jacon12 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 9:17 PM

 Thanks Don for the offer.  Let me figure out where I have some wall space to put it and I'll contact you for the plans (emailing them would be fine).  I'm a so-so wood worker at best but maybe I could cobble something together for my HO equipment.

Jarrell 

 

 Don Z wrote:
 jacon12 wrote:

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.

Jarrell,

How's this for forced perspective....the display case in the background holds N scale equipment that belongs to my son. He recently tore my heart out of my chest and stomped it to pieces when he told me he was 'no longer interested' in trains....I digress...I did build it myself. It is made of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood and uses 2 pieces of 1/4" acrylic as sliding doors to help keep the dust out. If you'd like, I could sketch out a plan for the case and email or snail mail it to you.

Don Z.

 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, April 27, 2008 9:18 PM

Hello, Don ... thanks.  These are old Hallmark Models E5's, and are constructed with plated brass.

Hello, Tom .... thanks.  That must have been a great trip!!!!!  ...... My experiences riding behind the E5's was on trips aboard the Twin Cities Zephyr although E7's were the regular power for those trains. It was common for the TCZ to have one of the two orignal dome cars with flat glass instead of curved glass. I rode on those. BTW, most of my years growing up were very close to the Q's main line out of Chicago. I could see the trains from my bedroom in the winter without leaves in the trees to block the view.

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Sunday, April 27, 2008 10:10 PM
As always some great and enjoyable work being shown off this weekend.  Sorry to be so late with my contribution, but I had the chance to go to my son's house for dinner tonight and that means a chance to play with my 10 month old granddaughter.......

I am still working on the farm scene at the top of the hill.  Here is an overview of the area as of this evening.  The house is now in place along with the Milk House, Aeromoter pump, Barn with silo and the farm equipment in the scene:



One fun little scratch build for the scene is the clothesline in back of the house.  Hey, 1925, you had to have those things...



And of course back then you absolutely needed that "house behind the house", the obligatory two hole'r out near the back fence.





This side of the road is basically done except for some details like the Dairy Cattle, a few dogs and cats, and some humans to take care of them.......

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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