"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Hi Bear!
I sympathize with your electronic woes. I just installed Windows 10 on our home computer. So far, for me, it has worked fine. However, it has crashed on my wife three times. In fairness to Microsoft, its possible that it was our internet provider who was messing up, but it really doesn't matter who the culprit was. My wife has a very low tolerance for misbehaving electronic devices and she has made that very clear in the past few days. That's the reason I don't keep a hammer in the computer room.
To continue with my last week's WPF theme, I have made some progress on the McKeen car. I figured out how to attach the two side frames to each other. It turned out to be a very simple task despite my fears that it would be a challenge. The truck even flexes to allow the wheels to stay on the track. I amazed myself! I also did a trial assembly of the chassis and trucks. It took a little fiddling to get the floor level, but I actually have something that looks like it might be able to run on rails! That was also easier than I had anticipated. The result was that I amazed myself again! Twice it two days!!
Here is the front truck with the cross piece. No springs yet. It is scratch built:
The vertical bits above the cross bar will be removed.
Here is the trial assembly of the frame and trucks:
The cut outs in the middle are for the stairways. I had to add a center frame member to the chassis to keep it rigid:
The opening over the front truck is where the engine sits. The engine in the McKeen car was mounted directly on the front truck and it pivoted with the truck on curves. I have to play with the opening a bit to allow enough space for the truck to pivot properly but my intent is to have the engine visible inside the cab.
Dave
EDIT:
Got the springs in the front truck. I started out with 12 springs. I needed 8. I have 1 left. Oh, and I installed the power pickup stuff too:
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I posted this Earlier this week in the Layout building section
I had to shorten and make mine a single stall version but believe it captures the flavor of the Phototype Interior view showing studded walls and lights It serves as my Programing track so I used rerailers to assure the loco was on the tracks I also included a boiler that the prototype used for heat and ran the lighting wires up the smoke stack to hide them A pot belly stove on the left and an over head light in the center of the office The map on the wall is a real C&O area route map Reduced 630% Still need a desk and chairs
I had to shorten and make mine a single stall version but believe it captures the flavor of the Phototype
Interior view showing studded walls and lights It serves as my Programing track so I used rerailers to assure the loco was on the tracks I also included a boiler that the prototype used for heat and ran the lighting wires up the smoke stack to hide them A pot belly stove on the left and an over head light in the center of the office The map on the wall is a real C&O area route map Reduced 630% Still need a desk and chairs
Interior view showing studded walls and lights
It serves as my Programing track so I used rerailers to assure the loco was on the tracks I also included a boiler that the prototype used for heat and ran the lighting wires up the smoke stack to hide them A pot belly stove on the left and an over head light in the center of the office The map on the wall is a real C&O area route map Reduced 630% Still need a desk and chairs
A pot belly stove on the left and an over head light in the center of the office The map on the wall is a real C&O area route map Reduced 630% Still need a desk and chairs
The map on the wall is a real C&O area route map Reduced 630% Still need a desk and chairs
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
Terry:
That is really nice! Makes me want to toss my diesels and do steam, well almost.
hon30critter Terry: That is really nice! Makes me want to toss my diesels and do steam, well almost. Dave
Thanks Dave
The engine house survived up till 1980 although it was leaning badly by 1978 when i was last there so you could keep your diesels
Good morning everyone, Bear thanks for starting again this week!
Dave, nice work on the McKeen car it is coming along great.
Terry, beautiful engine house, hard to work with having to cut all your own wood and come up with a very great model.
I managed to get some cars finished this week!
Intermountain Milk Car kit, painted with Floquil Pullman Green and Black Paint, lettered with Highball Graphics Decals.
Atlas 60' ACF Boxcar Kit, Painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red and Floquil Platinum Mist, lettered with Oddballs Decals.
Branchline Trains 50' Boxcar (Fishbelly Side Sill) Kit, painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red and lettered with Mark Vaughn Decals.
And as an added treat, had my NYC C430's at the club last week and took a couple of pictures with a Flex-Van consist.
Thanks for looking!
Rick J
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Dave, Terry, and Rick,
Nice, sharp work there from y'all.
Bear,
Yeah, some weeks are like that. This was a pretty good one for me, as I finally discovered just the quotes I need to revise my dissertation in some primary documents just declassified last October after flailing about ineffectually and frustratingly for a month. Now to get 'er done...but I digress.
Some of what was going on in the basement this week you already know about in this thread where you advised against the taking full advanatage of Bear-length arm reach. Fortunately, while tall, I ain't that big For those who haven't stumbled across it in the Layouts and Layout Building Forum, here's the link: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/249387.aspx
If you've ever needed to squeeze in one more track close to the edge, this might be useful as it illustrates my technique for doing so in several forms. Here's a pic of where things are with it now, with new ROW ready for when I scrape up some cash for track.
On the cork besides the train on the existing track will go a new siding and spur, adding as much as 20 car capacity to Silverton yard. To see how I did it, follow the link. I'll be updating that post with full details later in the weekend, but there's plenty to chew on now, as several folks have already done beyond Bear's helpful reminder about overreach.
I also finished adding the control knobs to the manual switch throws on the new track at Snowden.
May have more pics later, but have a lot to do today getting ready for a garage sale on Saturday morning -- gotta get some track money
And, if anyone is local and wants to operate on what they see here, drop me a message as I have the first in a string of weeknight ops session coming up here next Thursday evening. Of course the Bear is invited, too, but getting time off may be tougher than coughing up the cash for airfare, so don't depend on him being here, except in spirit. Will send pics for next week's WPF.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Bear .... Your ferry project continues to be challenging for you. It is testing your patience. Eventually, however, your ferry will be a world class model.
Dave - HOn3 ... Your McKeen car is another great proect in progress. I admire your workmanship.
Terry in TX... Your enginehouse is a great model.
Rick J .... I like your milk car, box cars, and C430's .
Mike L.... Great layout photos. I know what you mean about the need to squeez in tracks where there seems to be no room.
.........
Here is a pair of SD7's pulling a train of stock cars.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Great modeling everyone. Thanks to Bear for starting the thread once more.
I am currently rewiring the layout.
Contrary to the title of this thread, this is not fun at all.
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
Guy PapillonContrary to the title of this thread, this is not fun at all.Sad
True, but it is Great Stuff.
I'm all but certain you'll be happy when it's over. In the meantime, I understand your pain...
wiring!
An artsy 1:1 shot...
Charlie Russell Chew Choo
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I completed an upgrade to a P1K RDC 2 that we have had in our collection at Boothbay Railway Village for years. BM 6211 was originally DC with directional constant lighting. I added a TCS T1 decoder, painted the passenger compartment similar to some on-line photos I found, added passengers, lighting to the passenger compartment, and changed the headlights to LEDs.
Now all I need to do is finish the other RDC 2 and the RDC 3; it should go a lot quicker now that I have the wiring figured out. Hopefully by next week.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Edit: I neglected to mention, this scene is on the On30 Texas Outlaw layout.
Thanks for starting off WPF again this week Bear,
Dave, looks like you are making progress on your project.
Terry, great looking engine house. I love the boards and battens exterior.
Rick J, Love the NYC locos and the Flexi-Van train.
Mike, impressive as always.
Garry, nice scene, I like the backdrop sky.
Guy, I don't envy you your task. The BRVRR needs the same treatment. Maybe someday.
GPain, Great job on the RDC.
A little much needed maintenance on NYC #4089. New wheels, axles, bearings and gears came in from Walthers for the front truck. The loco had a decided 'thump' which sounded exactly like a broken/cracked gear.
A bottom shot of the loco after repair. Kinda boring actually. The new parts cured the problem.
The same loco, right side up this time, during a test run at the head of a NYC Mail and Express train at the east end of the BRVRR layout.
Keep the photos and ideas coming guys. Thanks to you WPF is always the best thread of the week.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
Bear, Thanks for opening the fun. "When it rains it pours", and having a photo archive is a many splendored thing.
Was exciting fun putting the finishing touches on my carfloat harbor this past week, planting seagulls, a deck hand and three-part make-ups.
Thanks to all, regards, Peter
Last weekend I was at Horseshoe Curve and Altoona:
I found K4 #1361 in the new Roundhouse at the Railroader's Memorial Museum:And this scribbled on the tender:A shot of GG1 #4913, which I have in N courtesy of Kato:A overhead shot of the equipment on the spur to the main:Interesting Graffiti:And here is a video of NS trains 21E and 10G on the Curve, and 13G, 20R, 21M, and the Curve helpers at 17th Street in Altoona:
Modeling the Bellefonte Central Railroad
Fan of the PRR
Garden Railway Enthusiast
Check out my Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PennsyModeler
JaBear: Yes, the boxcar is from the Florence and Cripple Creek railway framed by two Denver and Rio Grande drop bottom gondolas.
eric
eared Steam. BTW I hope the restoration of the J.Neils Shay is still ticking away.
Bear, rumors are its not looking good, time will tell.
Finally have my bench set back up out in the almost completed layout building. I am out of construction supplies atm so, I spent my free time this week working on some unfinished bench projects.
I finished up this woodchip hopper conversion.
Since I have done so many of these for my HO layout, I decided to try one in N scale.
And him with his big brother
With the Lehigh Valley camelback done I took a family photo.
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60361449@N02/
Anthracite Modeler - YouTube
A Family Lines local with a GP7 has tied up for the weekend.I took the photo today at the Bucyrus (Oh) HO Club.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"