Happy weekend everybody. I hope all out there are well and in good spirits.
Welcome to my favorite thread that we share every week. This thread can be a goldmine of creative modeling, inspirtation, and general good atmosphere.
This week I purchased a new (to me) brass locomotive. It is another 4-8-2 type, which is the last thing I needed. I already have three 4-8-2s, but this one , when it appeared in BrassTrains Dot Com, demanded that I purchase it.
It is a lovely model of a WHEELING AND LAKE ERIE Class J-1 Mountain Type. My other 4-8-2s are USRA Lights (2) and Heavy (1). Almost my entire steam locomotive fleet are USRA designs. This one really does not have a family look, but like I said, I had to have it.
Maybe it was the brakeman's shanty on the tender deck that did it for me.
I just love the way this model looks. It has a huge boiler and small drivers. I will cherish it even though it does not fit in with the rest of the SGRR locomotives at all. The firebox looks like it was intended for anthracite coal burning.
I am pretty sure I have a trailing truck from a NEW YORK CENTRAL 4-6-4 Hudson stashed somewhere. I think it will fit underneath the firebox. Maybe I will convert it into a unique 4-8-4 with small drivers for freight service.
It is missing the automatic oiler from the left side of the steam chest. Other than that, I cannot see anything wrong with it.
Just look at this beautiful face:
I set up my Kato Unitrack test track and gave it a test run.
BrassTrains Dot Com rated the running noise as a 7 (10 is the loudest), and I think that was pretty generous. An 8 or 9 might have been more appropriate. It is noisy. It has a can motor (I do not think that it is original), but the gearbox in quite loud. Eventually I will see what cleaning and lubrication will do for it.
It does run smooth, and it slid through a 22 inch radius S curve with no problem at all!
The tender wheels do not turn freely, and that made it spin the drivers on tight radius curves. Eventually I will replace the tender trucks with six wheel trucks from a Bachmann heavy duty depressed center flat car. That should help out quite a bit.
There is no visible wear on the drivers. The box and foam are nearly perfect. There are a couple bent pieces of handrail and piping, but that is easy to repair.
BrassTrains Dot Com said it had tarnish, but I really don't see any.
Overall, I am very happy with this purchase.
OK, that is all for me this week.
Please jump in and share anything you like. I get so excited when we share the fun parts of our hobby with one another.
Stay safe and have fun!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks for starting off the first WPF of July, Kevin.
I do like your Wheeling 4-8-2! The Wheeling is in my neck of the woods and I do appreciate their equipment. I believe your 4-8-2 began life on the N&W. Some went to the Rio Grande and some to the RF&P before the Wheeling bought all ten. Eventually they became Nickel Plate 6801 to 6810.
I have a few more photos of the progress on the Santa Fe 10-6 Pine King:
I have the "peeps" in there:
ATSF_10-6_Pine-King-BR by Edmund, on Flickr
— and the start of my "quick & easy" LED lighting with keep alive:
ATSF_10-6_Pine-King-wire by Edmund, on Flickr
I finished up the car and moved on to another project but that's all I have photos of for now
On to more fun and interesting contributions!
Cheers, Ed
Looking forward to lots of good stuff here this weekend! My layout is still boxed (haven't figured out room for it in the new place yet) so it's my turn to dip into the archive.
Kevin, that's a gorgeous locomotive. I have a soft spot for doghouses, too, of course.
But my brass PFM didn't come with one, so I had to scratch mine together some years ago.
Phil
Good morning from sunny and warm Northeast Ohio, after a few days of spotting rain we are supposedly getting a break today, but lake effect rain may come in from time to time.
Kevin, thanks for starting us out, I have one of those beasts. It is probably one of the only screwups the Roanoke Shops ever came out with. It does burn Bituminous but because of the 63" drivers and attaching the main drive rod to the third driver instead of the second driver they were rough riding beasts and usually did not get above 35mph but were only used in freight and not passenger service. The N&W let them loose during the war as Ed stated to the RF&P and Rio Grande until reunited on the W&LE after the war.
Ed, nice work on that wiring, I am going to have to relamp a few of my locomotives as the lights have burned out and need to replace them with LEDS.
Phil, the Doghouse really changed the look of that 2-8-0, I really like the paint scheme you came up with for that locomotive.
Got some work done this week!
While looking for something else I came accross a pair of Stewart G39's that I had not finished, changed out the couplers and wheelsets, added loads and I now have 38 G39's for my ore train.
Tichy, Panel Side Hopper with Grain Extension, painted with green tinted Scalecoat II Silver Paint, Extension with Floquil Reading Green paint, decal came with the kit, this is the 11th car of this type I have completed. The prototypes are ex-Wabash coal hoppers which were bought by the Andersons to haul grain from Maumee, OH to the Port of Toledo.
IMRC 57' R70 Mechanical Reefer Kit, Painted with Scalecoat II White, Daylight Orange and Black Paints then lettered with Herald King Decals. PFE and others bought 1,000's of these cars to haul produce around the country.
Picture of the plastics plant in place on the club layout, waiting for the scenery gurus to ballast and scenic this area.
Oriental Baldwin PRR BP-20's with the Broadway Limited on the Strongsville club layout.
Thanks for looking!
Rick Jesionowski
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!
Kevin ..... I like the brass 4-8-2 .
Ed .... Your interior and lighting for the Santa Fe sleeper is excellent.
Phil.... The doghouse is a nice addition. (Sometimes, I'm in the doghouse, but never mind.)
Rick ... I certainly like the PRR passeger sharknose locomotives. Also, you did good work on the PRR ore cars, the Andersons hopper, and the platics plant.
......
Below is my representation of a Burlington freight train running between Chicago and St Paul in the 1960's when Great Northern F-units operated with CB&Q F-units.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Kevin Thanks for starting WPF. A beauty of a locomotive you have.
Ed - A nice bit of 'electrickery'. Well done.
Phil. A lovely set of pictures.
Rick Another great set of pictures.
Not much to offer this week with been busy on other things. Here is a carriage with little people added. (I like my passenger trains to have people in them if I can get into the carriages.)
A scene on the layout seen from the control area.
Keep the pictures coming.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
David .... Acknowledging your contribution now. We were posting nearly simultaneously. .... I like seeing the people in you passenger trains, and your scene looks great.
Kevin- Beautiful locomotive! I love the big steam locomotives. Will look sharp dressed up in SGRR colors!
Ed- Looking good! I've been wanting to get a soundtraxx soundcar decoder in my CNW cab car on my excursion train and I think you may have just given me the inspiration I needed!
Phil- Love that shot of the locomotive. I really like shots that look like they were taken at ground level!
Rick- It always amazes me at the number of cars you can turn out in a week! And no detail is spared. Amazing work. Sharp looking PRR train
Garry- I really like the look of those F units runing together. Also like the shot of the real thing!
David- Nice little people! I really enjoy seeing pictures of your scenery. You have a beautiful layout!
So it's official, I'm a dad! Lacie Anette was born June 2nd at 4:21 PM. And I can't believe a month has already passed. It feels like a few days. I've missed all of you and it's good to be back.
Railroading found a place in my life still so heres a few updates
Layout is up! The foam is down and glue drying as we speak. Hope to have it wired by this weekend.
A few new additions to the fleet:
The bandit was a complete suprise to find and had to have it, looks tiny next to the Hi cube I got from the GF as a birthday present
WC SW1500 was on my wishlist from the second I got back into Railroading and was very pleased to find one this week.
Also this SOO GP39-2 was a trade and am very happy with it. this thing is LOUD
Heres a shot of the excursion train making its debut rounds at the club layout the day before she was born.
Lets keep this long weekend going with more good stuff!
Glad to be back
Ringo58So it's official, I'm a dad! Lacie Anette was born June 2nd at 4:21 PM.
SeeYou190Ringo58 So it's official, I'm a dad! Lacie Anette was born June 2nd at 4:21 PM. CONGRATULATIONS! -Kevin
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Ringo58So it's official, I'm a dad! Lacie Anette was born June 2nd at 4:21 PM. And I can't believe a month has already passed. It feels like a few days. I've missed all of you and it's good to be back.
Congratulations! Your life will never be the same -- it's better!
York1 John
Ringo58So it's official, I'm a dad! Lacie Anette was born June 2nd at 4:21 PM. And I can't believe a month has already passed. It feels like a few days.
Mike
Ringo58So it's official, I'm a dad! Lacie Anette was born June 2nd
Your life just changed forever. Congrats.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Congrats to Ringo58! And his Wife!
Fantastic selection again this week, everyone, which I always try to read, even if my contributions have been thin lately.
Found a fair deal on a BLI Air Products (UTLX 80055) cryogenic oxygen car and it arrived promptly from MBKlein/MTS. It's my second 80000 series cars that's running and I have a kit to build another. Here's the new car inbound to my fictitious nuke plant built from inside jokes about my research.
Guess I'm collecting them now. Probably because my dad made liquid oxygen in the Air Force, but we never found out what he did with the stuff because it was classified somewhere above Top Secret. That was one topic of my research, among other things.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Ringo58 Congratulations to you and your family.
Ringo58Ed- Looking good! I've been wanting to get a soundtraxx soundcar decoder in my CNW cab car on my excursion train and I think you may have just given me the inspiration I needed!
That was exactly the first thing I did when these "Soundcar" things came along — how long ago?
C_NW_PS-bilevels by Edmund, on Flickr
A bonus is having the added lighting effects . I have the rotary beacon and headlight when the cab is in the lead and the markers automatically come on when the E7 is in the lead.
C_NW_E7-bilevels by Edmund, on Flickr
The SoundCar decoder is a perfect solution for these cab cars, bell and horn and there is an A/C or generator sound that comes on randomly, too. It was a bit of a challenge as I recall but well worth it.
C_NW_PS-bilevel_166 by Edmund, on Flickr
These are the Kato cars and I can push eight of them around the layout at 70 with no hesitation
Congratulations on starting your new family. I'll never forget that day, witnessing the birth, some 43 years ago. I'm glad the dads have more of a role in the birth and the early stages of life. It wasn't always that way
Ringo58Glad to be back
Great to have you back!
Ringo .... Congratulations for you great news ! I like your photos. Thanks for commenting on my contribution.
Bear ... LOL.
Ed .... The CNW commuter train looks good.
Mike L .... That is an impressive tank car. Thanks for incluidng your story.
Kevin, Thanks for opening the WPF with some beautiful brass.
Ringo, Congratulations, time for a cigar train.
Lead out train forming at the Tour de Alba.
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers, have a good weekend and a Happy Independence Day, regards, Peter
Happy Saturday everybody.
I will come back with some more appropriate responses later.
But first... I want to thank Ed and Rick for providing the information about the prototype service of my 4-8-2. I like it even better now. Since it was built by the NORFOLK AND WESTERN, and I intend to eventually add a Class A 2-6-6-4 to the roster, it will be a good fit after all.
I appreciate all the useful information.
More later...
Peter, you don't have a woman holding a sign on your layout, do you?
[quote user="Heartland Division.
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GARRY,
Thanks for your kind comments. Broadway Limited has a real winner here. It's definitely eye-catching, even in this relatively drab paint scheme. Now I'm looking at some of the others that are even flashier. Be still my heart.
mlehmanNow I'm looking at some of the others that are even flashier.
Have you checked the Refurb Outlet?
https://www.broadway-limited.com/6310cryogenictankcarairco2-packho-1.aspx
I have a couple from the first run:
IMG_7685_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
What I'd really like to see is an updated helium car!
4368001 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
I turned in a suggestion to the guy in Markham, Ont. to get to work on a series of these
Garry A great representation of a Burlington Freight Train.
A fab week. Loving the pictures as usual. The tank cars are amazing. The cycle race - WOW!!!
Another day to go. Keep the pictures coming.
Peter .... Your Bike Race scene is great.
Mike L ... You are welcome.
David ... Thanks for your comment.
Ed .... Nice tank car.
...
Happy Fourth of July !
Here are old photos of a parade to celebrate.
Hello all.
First off, really nice work by everybody!
Kevin - Neat looking brass steamer.
Ed - Nice progress shots. And I like the bilevels.
Phil - Nice scratched doghouse.
Rick J - Nice job on the railcars.
Garry - I liike the recreated consist. Neat litle parade scene too.
David - Nice scene. And nicely done geting the little people aboard. Mine don't listen well about boarding yet...
Ringo - Nice progress with the layout, but even bigger Congrats!!!!!
Mike - Cool looking tanker. Nice that you have a connection to them.
Bear - You "purrfectly" captured the attude of cats...
Velo - Neat little scene there.
York -
My contribution this week -
I had a Genesis SD70ACe in Erie paint that I thought the bulbs for the headlight blew out. I finally got around to opening her up, but was met with a HUGE surprise!!!!!
Erie 1068 HO Decoder board issue fixed. by Richard W, on Flickr
Yes, the decoder board has a snapped/broken Common tab!!! Ain't NEVER seen that one before! (It must have been damaged during assembly at the factory, as the lights did work for about the first 15-20 minutes of runtime on my prior layout before both dying.)
So, I found out which was the ditchlight common tab, and soldered the headlight commons to it. Funny thing - BOTH bulbs worked during testing! So it's not that the bulbs blew out, it's that they did not have a complete circuit for power!
Here is my repair -
And, using the clamshell to hold the shell to avoid damaging details, you can see that now both headlights and ditchlights do indeed now work!
So, this will hold things over until I decide to fully upgrade the DCC board and lighting.
No layout progress, so still doing little things, like this. Also upgraded my laptop recently, so my other project has been geting DecoderPro updated and onto it, and rebuilding the roster. (Seems that the "roster export" did not capture a ton of the roster for whatever reason...)
Keep all the good pics coming guys!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ricktrains4824No layout progress, so still doing little things, like this.
Your "little things" would be weeks of learning and working for me!
Many of you on this thread are such experts that you inspire me to keep working at this hobby.
Ed: Great work on the passenger car project progress. I like your C&NW bilevels, that is amazing they track well being pushed at speed. Kato makes great stuff.
Phil: I like the scratchbuilt doghouse on your tender deck.
Rick: Nice job on the PRR ore cars. You said you tinted the Scalecoat II silver green. Did you add a little SC2 green to the silver, use artist inks, or some other type of tint?
Garry: I like the sharing of the prototype photo for your F unit consist. You recreated it very nicely. I also enjoyed your holiday parade scene.
David: Your little people look great inside the passenger car. I will need to populate mine too... seomday.
Ringo: Nice progress with the layout, but you will soon see daughters are so much more amazing. I wouldn't take 1,000 Kato locomotives for one of my daughters, but I would not give a single Kadee #5 coupler to have another!
Mike: Good looking tank car. Hmmm... what would the USAF need all that liquid oxygen for...
JaBear: You sure got that right about the cat... see my note below.
Peter: Great little scene showing the start of the race.
Rick: Nice job on the decoder fix.
Sorry if I missed anyone.
This was my cat "Fluff" I had when my first daughter was born. I had her since I was 9 years old. She was so jealous of the baby, and her attitude was never the same... cats.
Well, I hadn't posted something in a while and figured this being Independance Day that I would post something from times past that I created, and still have.
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
In the booth on the turntable. Another ITLA kit. Lots of weather, paint and details. Lots to do. On the Left is a HOe caboose. 3D printer so only a .010 styrene roof and wheels needed.
Shane
SHane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space