Weekend photo fun!!!!!! 5/23/08 - 5/25/08

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Oh well, Don Z, Oh well ...................

[OKrlroads]

Grampys Trains

Nice looking layout, Great job.

[C&O Fan]

Grampys Trains

[Robby P.]

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Grampys Trains, you have one heck of a layout. 

[CMucha]

Can we extend WPF for 1 more day, I have been wanting to get some of my pics in for a while but I havent had anytime.

 

 Grampys Trains: BEAUTIFUL layout !

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Here's my  new branch line caboose on which I jsut now applied the decals. Along wih the repainted GE 44 ton loco, it serves my branch line from Valley Heights to Hinterland.

[CSX_road_slug]

There are so many great pix on this week's WPF thread, I don't have time to comment on every one of them.  All I know is they inspire me to attempt higher levels, so... keep 'em coming!

I finished building (or should I say digging) a new slag pit, my original one was using up 6 sq.ft. of precious layout real estate. Now that I've relocated the pit, I can install a 'downtown' street scene with some merchant row kits and DPM storefronts in its place.  

Anyways, here is the new slag pit in action.  (BTW, this image was digitally 'cooked' - click here to view one of the raw originals)

[twhite]

Big power made a temporary appearance on the Butte Terminal Railroad this weekend on it's way to the cutter's torch.

Don Z.

Don--

SCRAPPER'S torch? 

As Alfonso Bedoya said to Gregory Peck in the terrific western THE BIG COUNTRY when Peck was about to mount a horse called "Old Thunder"--DON' DOOO EEET!" 

Tom

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Ken L (CSX road slug).... I'm really glad to see the slag pit you posted. For my steel mill, I omitted the slag pit as I ran out of room for my steel mill project. I have a track that disappears behind the big buildings where I pretend it's going to a slag pit. Yours is more effective for sure.  

[twhite]

Here's my  new branch line caboose on which I jsut now applied the decals. Along wih the repainted GE 44 ton loco, it serves my branch line from Valley Heights to Hinterland.

Garry--

Okay, I'm breaking the rule about double-posting the photos, but that is just too GOOD not to!  I love the added details--is that an MDC side-door?  That little caboose just has so much personality that it makes me grin!  Dang, Burlington just knew what to do right about EVERYTHING, didn't it? 

I REALLY like that little sweetheart!

Tom

[twhite]

There are so many great pix on this week's WPF thread, I don't have time to comment on every one of them.  All I know is they inspire me to attempt higher levels, so... keep 'em coming!

I finished building (or should I say digging) a new slag pit, my original one was using up 6 sq.ft. of precious layout real estate. Now that I've relocated the pit, I can install a 'downtown' street scene with some merchant row kits and DPM storefronts in its place.  

Anyways, here is the new slag pit in action.  (BTW, this image was digitally 'cooked' - click here to view one of the raw originals)

Whoah, digitally 'cooked' or not, that is one IMPRESSIVE photo!

Tom

[doctorwayne]

Selector,

Do you recall who TH&B aquired its Berkshire(s) from? ( I'm assuming they were 2nd hand). I'm planning to model a bit of the TH&B in the Fort Erie/Buffalo - Welland area in 1952-53. So far the only TH&B steam I have is the BLI Hudson like yours. I know that Bachmann and Lifelike both have released berks, but I didn't think they were used by the roads I'm modelling (CN, NYC/MC, PRR & TH&B).

Thanks for any info you can provide.

John G.

The TH&B's two Hudsons came from the NYC, which, along with the CPR, controlled the TH&B.  The TH&B also owned two Berkshires, the only ones in Canada.  They were bought new in 1928, from Montreal Locomotive Works, an affiliate of ALCo.  They were patterned after 12 2-8-4s that ALCo was building for the C&NW, and had 63" drivers, unlike the 69" drivers on those Berks from Bachman or LifeLike.  Actually, the drivers on Bachmann's version scale out at 67", close enough that I'm going to rebuild one into a TH&B loco for a friend.  The smokebox and boiler diameters also scale out to within a couple of inches, and changing details should be simple.  I'll probably shorten the stock tender, as the prototype ran on 4-wheel trucks, similar to those used behind the B&A's A1s.

Wayne    

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Here's my  new branch line caboose on which I jsut now applied the decals. Along wih the repainted GE 44 ton loco, it serves my branch line from Valley Heights to Hinterland.

Garry--

Okay, I'm breaking the rule about double-posting the photos, but that is just too GOOD not to!  I love the added details--is that an MDC side-door?  That little caboose just has so much personality that it makes me grin!  Dang, Burlington just knew what to do right about EVERYTHING, didn't it? 

I REALLY like that little sweetheart!

Tom

Thanks much Tom. yes, I started with an MDC side door. The result is not an exact replica of any CB&Q cabooss, but it's a "blend" of two pictured in my CB&Q color guide book. I'm not yet done, "Bulingtonizing" the caboose however. It needs new trucks and a new underframe.  Most "Q" wood "way cars" had wood beam trucks. Also, they had steel underframes instaleed in the 1920's. .... Next caboose project is to modify the MDC wood "three-window" caboose sitting on my work table.

Tom, that's a really nice website. Your layout is fantastic.

 

[steinjr]

 New track plan:

 <deleted to save bandwidth - see previous msg> 

 

I'm concerned that your industrial leads are directly off the main line. You will be fouling the main quite a bit while working the industry tracks. Is there only going to be 1 train going at all times? IMO the industry tracks would be on a long runaround so the main stay open for other trains. Of course if there is only 1 train, then no problem. But I like the plan otherwise.

 

 Hi Mike --

 Thank you for the comments. My track plan is a little unusual, inspired by the industrial tracks branching off a single track dead end spur leading into the Progressive Rail Airlake Industrial Park in Lakeville, MN.

 Here is a schematic description of my track plan. 

  

 In normal operation, only one train will be running at a time. The layout is really intended to be run as a point to point shelf switching layout.

 A switching layout with the added twist of not having a runaround  - instead using one engine on the east end of the cars and one engine on the west end of the cars, swapping engines as needed to switch industries.

 Normally the two tracks in the lower left hand corner of the schematic (at the bottom of the layout left of the door in the track plan) will be used as single ended overflow tracks/work space - for temporary storing cars during switching operations.

 But since I had the space for it, I decided to add the option of closing a gate in front of the door to form a loop if I want to run in a different way (for display, to fiddle cars in or out, or to let the kids run trains around and around, or to add the challenge of having the switcher dodge a passing train). 

 If I close the gate, the two spurs in the lower left hand corner of the schematic becomes a single track "mainline" and a "passing siding" respectively.

 Smile,
 Stein

 

[howmus]

Wow!  Great photos again this week.  An especially big WOW to you, Ken!  Absolutely cool.  Or maybe that should be HOT! Grampy's Trains that is an impressive railroad you have there!  Thanks for sharing it.

What very little time I have had for model railroading this week has been spent getting the coal tower basically done.  Some modifications have been made to fit the trackage and available space.  It needs to still have some weathering and painting to make it look right, But I am pleased with it so far.

[CSX_road_slug]

Ken L (CSX road slug).... I'm really glad to see the slag pit you posted. For my steel mill, I omitted the slag pit as I ran out of room for my steel mill project. I have a track that disappears behind the big buildings where I pretend it's going to a slag pit. Yours is more effective for sure.  

Garry, I just now remembered seeing photos of your steel mill on here a while back, and thinking "Cool - another steel modeler!"   Yep, we sure need to make a lot of compromises to portray a steel mill in a regular-sized trainroom.  I had to sacrifice having an ingot mold stripper crane to make room for a coil shipment facility, so that my mill can have outbound as well as inbound rail traffic.  I'll always want to include a slag pit because they use a lot of heavy construction equipment (another of my areas of modeling interest).

I had a 44-tonner like yours assigned to the mill, but sadly, I needed to retire her - she was the older twin-motor type that is just too difficult to install a decoder into... 

[CSX_road_slug]

Tom and Ray - thanx for the kind words!

[chadw]

I built this Korber Models water tower over the last week or two.  All that's left is decals and weathering.

Glueing on each individual gusset plate got old fast but I thing the kit turned out well.  My favorite part is the base which I painted and covered with WS fine cinders.  I think it looks much better than a base matching the tower like I often see.  Here's a close-up of the base.

Ken, one question, how did you get the slag pots to tilt?  Those look like the Walthers cars, which, at least on mine, were locked from tilting by a plastic tab that was flat on one side.

[tomkat-13]

 Not much new on the first section of the shelf layout. All the buildings on the mill siding must be raised up so the track side doors & docks match up to the boxcar doors. Also need to finish the truck-side dock, inside flooring, ect on the metal works building. The the Roads, parking lots, & other scenery after that.

Any help or Ideas,.....Comments....And/ Or Questions feel free to ask. I'm always ready to learn more.

I seem to work backwards on things, as I do all the scenery before I get arround to running any trains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related links on the layout:

     http://cs.trains.com/forums/3/1436416/ShowPost.aspx#1436416

         http://cs.trains.com/forums/1433211/ShowPost.aspx

        http://cs.trains.com/forums/3/1405737/ShowPost.aspx#1405737

               http://cs.trains.com/forums/1417716/ShowPost.aspx

                   http://cs.trains.com/forums/3/1378506/ShowPost.aspx#1378506

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/1315698/ShowPost.aspx

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/1348379/ShowPost.aspx

My new layout, (#4), a bridge-line that takes place in Eastern Missouri, will connect the CB&Q near hiway 79, then west to Hawk Point then south along hiway 47 across the old Wabash / Norfolk & Western RR line near Warrenton thru Missouri Wine Country to connect with MKT near hiway 94. Since this is "my" railroad most places will have the "flavor" of this area but maynot be perfect to the prototype.  Time will be pre Burlington Northern (1970).

The things that will be different on this layout:

 #1 This will be a point to point RR built on Hollow-core doors along two walls, so it will be in sections. 

#2 It's going to be less track, no yard, no switch machines, open staging, & simple engine service area.

#3 Just a few small towns with one or two sidings.

#4 More open scenery between towns.

#5 Interchange with RR on each end.

#6 Keep everything simple so I can spend more time running then repairing!

[rolleiman]

Anyways, here is the new slag pit in action.  (BTW, this image was digitally 'cooked' - click here to view one of the raw originals)

I am not easily impressed with model photos but I have to say that this weeks are above top notch. Especially the one above..

 

[shayfan84325]

I always enjoy seeing everyone's work.  Thanks to all of you for posting your pictures.

Over the past couple of weeks, among other things going on in the ficticious town of Blackwater, Oregon, Spock's Wingnuts got a new box car.  Assembled from a craftsman kit (zero plastic):

[BRAKIE]

Here's a look see at my 2 N Scale C&O RS1s.

[jasperofzeal]

I'm not a steel industry modeler but I have to say that this shot would inspire me to look into that area of modeling.  I can already see this shot in the Walthers catalog showcasing their rolling stock.  Awesome job, keep up the great work. 

[Ibflattop]

Hey Cut the side door out and give it a Rear Brakeman wavying his arm !!!!!  :-)    Kevin

[CSX_road_slug]

... Ken, one question, how did you get the slag pots to tilt?  Those look like the Walthers cars, which, at least on mine, were locked from tilting by a plastic tab that was flat on one side.

Chad, that type of car is designed to only tip toward one side [the one without the tab]. IIRC, the Walthers instruction sheet said to put glue on that tab and on the gear cogs.  I did that for my first 4 before I realized that - unlike the WKW bottle car - the pot itself was not part of the support framework.  So I left the gears and stopper-tab unglued and that allowed me to move the pot freely into any position.

[selector]

Ken, you have outdone yourself with the magnificent image of the slag heap and industrial site in the background.  Really excellent.

-Crandell

[CSX_road_slug]

Thanx for all the kind feedback, guys (Jeff/Tony/Crandell)! Makes all the hours of effort worthwhile...

[railroadyoshi]

Ken and Grampy, your eyes for realism and modelling skill disturb me.

[steemtrayn]

There are so many great pix on this week's WPF thread, I don't have time to comment on every one of them.  All I know is they inspire me to attempt higher levels, so... keep 'em coming!

I finished building (or should I say digging) a new slag pit, my original one was using up 6 sq.ft. of precious layout real estate. Now that I've relocated the pit, I can install a 'downtown' street scene with some merchant row kits and DPM storefronts in its place.  

Anyways, here is the new slag pit in action.  (BTW, this image was digitally 'cooked' - click here to view one of the raw originals)

When I turn off the lights, all I see is the hot slag glowing in the dark. How on earth did you do that?

[jwhitten]

 

Porta Patty ???