The "N" Crowd

[Dave Vollmer]

Yay!  My first hard-wired DCC decoder install!  The PRR H10 project is almost complete.  All that remains is decaling the road number on the engineer's side, some weathering, and Dullcote.

Pictures will be forthcoming.  Here's a sneak preview:

[Dave Vollmer]

For the "N" gang! I would like to know if a person could use "BRASSO" for cleaning "N" rails??

Thanks

JIM

I wouldn't...  I've used Brasso on military accoutrements and it tends to leave a film.  I don't know if that film is non-conductive or not, but it's a little greasy so might interfere with traction as well.

[trainfreek92]

Pcarrel, thats ok i see were you could go wrong. Anway does anyone no any good sites for Maine Central? Im most intrested in the Mountain division. Tim

Try here: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mikemcnh/flatcar/mec.html

And here: http://www.thebluecomet.com/mecmountain.html

This would probably help: http://home.comcast.net/~railimages/SLIDE-LIST/MEC.htm

N scale double deck plan: http://www.falken.net/dave/layout/nplan.html

 Then there's Iain Rice's Mid-Sized and Manageable layout book with an N scale plan for the Mountain Dvision. It's large, but you don't have to use the whole thing. Most of the plan consists of Portland Union Station and Rigby Yard. The actual Mountain Division trackage is a pretty small part.

Andre

 

Thanxs Andre.  I have designed myself a plan, its not really realsitic it is 3 36x84 doors. I have Rigby yard (just a name its doesnt look at all like it) a double track mainline that has a grade on part of it im including the saco river in my plan. A town along the line in New Hampshire (not sure of the name yet) And St. Johnsberry. (again just a name) I desgined this layout so it would give me operation, I also have a feed dealer spur, meat packers (based on swift prototype) a creamery and maybe a few others in the yard. Happy Modeling.

[pcarrell]

Phillip, thanxs for your time! I am not looking to buy and books you sent me a site earlier this year that had a lot about the MEC but its not one your list? Thanxs again Tim.

I can't think of what that site was. Any hints?

[oleirish]

For the "N" gang! I would like to know if a person could use "BRASSO" for cleaning "N" rails??

Thanks

JIM

[trainfreek92]

Phillip, thanxs for your time! I am not looking to buy and books you sent me a site earlier this year that had a lot about the MEC but its not one your list? Thanxs again Tim.

[pcarrell]

Tim,

Here's a site that has pics specifically from the mountain division;  http://www.thebluecomet.com/mecmain.html

There's also a book or two you might want to check out: http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/nhbooks/maine.html

http://www.470rrclub.org/book.html

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Maine-railroads-Ron-Johnson/dp/B00070X2XK/sr=8-16/qid=1168527455/ref=sr_1_16/105-2013696-7090007?ie=UTF8&s=books

You also might want to check this out:  http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=S&sort=D&output=3&cmdtext=%22MEC%22

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/steamtown/shs2k.htm

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mikemcnh/railfan.html

http://library.uml.edu/clh/bmarch.html

www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/RRRXIContacts11306.pdf

http://www.mountaindivisiontrail.org/history.html

http://www.railroadexplorer.com/backissues/index.htm

http://glo.bmwe.org/public/journal/1998/05may/06.htm

http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order=byposter&page=1&key=dlarrabe

http://home.comcast.net/~railimages/SLIDE-LIST/MEC.htm

http://www.trainweb.org/nhrra/Crown/CROWN_OF_NE.htm

And a layout plan.....

http://www.falken.net/dave/layout/nplan.html

Thats about all I could come up with.

[nscaler711]

thats al right i do it all the time

[CSXFan]

Question for Dave Vollmer (again)

Sorry I keep on bugging you, but your layout continues to inspire me as I go along. Anyway, I noticed the curves on you layout are superelevated. I went to your website and saw that you used 0.010" and 0.020" styrene for this. How did this work for you? Should I put the styrene under the roadbed or track? Thanks. 

It worked OK...  I would use cork instead of foam roadbed next time because the foam is soft and "absorbs" the shims to a certain extent.  I glued the styrene shims directly to the underside of the ties.  Hope this helps!

Yes that helps a lot. Thanks again! 

[andrechapelon]

Pcarrel, thats ok i see were you could go wrong. Anway does anyone no any good sites for Maine Central? Im most intrested in the Mountain division. Tim

Try here: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mikemcnh/flatcar/mec.html

And here: http://www.thebluecomet.com/mecmountain.html

This would probably help: http://home.comcast.net/~railimages/SLIDE-LIST/MEC.htm

N scale double deck plan: http://www.falken.net/dave/layout/nplan.html

 Then there's Iain Rice's Mid-Sized and Manageable layout book with an N scale plan for the Mountain Dvision. It's large, but you don't have to use the whole thing. Most of the plan consists of Portland Union Station and Rigby Yard. The actual Mountain Division trackage is a pretty small part.

Andre

 

[trainfreek92]

Thanxs Pcarrel. Do you have anygood sites to read about the divisions of the Maine Central thanxs

[pcarrell]

Pcarrel, thats ok i see were you could go wrong. Anway does anyone no any good sites for Maine Central? Im most intrested in the Mountain division. Tim

Tim, (Hey!  I got one right!)

I know of a couple of places to look.

This one is just pics, but there's over 700 of them!  http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?byrail:1:Maine_Central

Here's a diesel roster: http://www.trainweb.org/trains/MECROS.HTM

Or:  http://www.northeast.railfan.net/mec.html

More pics:  http://www.trainweb.org/trains/mec.html

and more pics:  http://users.silcon.com/~lgoss/Homepage.htm

And did you know the MEC had Hudsons?  http://www.steamlocomotive.com/hudson/mec.shtml

Some system maps from different timeframes:  http://www.mcwetboy.net/maproom/2004/07/boston_and_maine_maine_central.phtml

A little more info:  http://kenanderson.net/aroostook/railroad.html

A history lesson:  http://home.sprynet.com/~jwhite07/mec/mec.htm

Some semaphore info:  http://www.semaphores.com/resources/Waterville3.html

A nice loco shot:  http://catskillarchive.com/rrextra/mcr469.Html

Some really old pics:  http://www.vintagemaineimages.com/bin/Detail?ln=8068

And some good general info:  http://www.trainandtrooper.com/

That ought to give you a start!

[Dave Vollmer]

Question for Dave Vollmer (again)

Sorry I keep on bugging you, but your layout continues to inspire me as I go along. Anyway, I noticed the curves on you layout are superelevated. I went to your website and saw that you used 0.010" and 0.020" styrene for this. How did this work for you? Should I put the styrene under the roadbed or track? Thanks. 

It worked OK...  I would use cork instead of foam roadbed next time because the foam is soft and "absorbs" the shims to a certain extent.  I glued the styrene shims directly to the underside of the ties.  Hope this helps!

[trainfreek92]

Pcarrel, thats ok i see were you could go wrong. Anway does anyone no any good sites for Maine Central? Im most intrested in the Mountain division. Tim

[CSXFan]

Question for Dave Vollmer (again)

Sorry I keep on bugging you, but your layout continues to inspire me as I go along. Anyway, I noticed the curves on you layout are superelevated. I went to your website and saw that you used 0.010" and 0.020" styrene for this. How did this work for you? Should I put the styrene under the roadbed or track? Thanks. 

[pcarrell]

 im not dewayne, not tryin to be rude, pcarrell i was trying to get somethin out of dewayne hes been quite lately, not payin attention again hmmm sounds like someone i know...........................ME!!!!!  hey i forget peoples names too!

Man, I've really been screwing up the names lately.  Sorry about that!

[nscaler711]

 im not dewayne, not tryin to be rude, pcarrell i was trying to get somethin out of dewayne hes been quite lately, not payin attention again hmmm sounds like someone i know...........................ME!!!!!  hey i forget peoples names too!

[cpeterson]

Well, I finally started my backlog of scratchbuilding projects.  I started with Sperry Flour (ogden UT).  I have all of the windows cut in the elevator and am adding architectural details while filing out the defects from the cuts.  Hopefully by next week I'll have the elevator assembled (maybe not painted?).  When the elevator portion is complete I'll post some pics.

[NS2591]

Well, I screwed up on my layout. I used Code 80 Joiners on Code 55 rail. You can get away with this in HO(I've done it) with Code 100 joiners on Code 83 rail. But it doesn't work in N scale. So tomorrow on the way home from school I'm going to stop at the LHS and Order 2 packs of Code 55 joiners. I could Solder the rails but thats too much work, and If I change my mind about something I don't have a lot of ruined track. I'm also going to start putting feeders every 6 feet Approx. You can get away with larger joiners and less feeders in HO but not apprantly in N scale

[Dave Vollmer]

I'm new to the hobby myself, though I had plenty of exposure when I was a kid with my dad's N scale layout.  Anyway, I picked up Bachman's Empire Builder set when it was discounted at Hobby Lobby for $95 for Christmas, and it came with the 4-8-4 Northern engine.  The shell isn't super-detailed and I'm afraid if I breathe too hard on it, the front bell or whatever that little piece of plastic flashing is might fall off.

But the train runs beautifully.  No stuttering at low speed, and nice and smooth even at full bore.  I was worried how well it might push in reverse with the tender to engine coupling being a little plastic tab, but it did just fine, even on the 11.25"r corners that came with the set.

...And I also went to the WGH tour in Indy and came back with my wallet a little lighter :)  Got an ERmodels PRR Sharknose A&B and some cheap rolling stock.  I'm on a budget, so the discounted rapido couplers are right up my alley :)

Welcome aboard!  Congratulations on your good taste with those ER Models PRR Sharks...  I have a pair myself, shown below:

I like them.  I added the Gold Medal Models PRR Trainphone antennas to the roof.  One sad note, though, is that Digitrax used to make a really easy drop-in DCC decoder replacement board for them, but they quit making them in October 2005.  I found some in November 2005, but they've become pretty scarce.

[Lego_90]

I'm new to the hobby myself, though I had plenty of exposure when I was a kid with my dad's N scale layout.  Anyway, I picked up Bachman's Empire Builder set when it was discounted at Hobby Lobby for $95 for Christmas, and it came with the 4-8-4 Northern engine.  The shell isn't super-detailed and I'm afraid if I breathe too hard on it, the front bell or whatever that little piece of plastic flashing is might fall off.

But the train runs beautifully.  No stuttering at low speed, and nice and smooth even at full bore.  I was worried how well it might push in reverse with the tender to engine coupling being a little plastic tab, but it did just fine, even on the 11.25"r corners that came with the set.

...And I also went to the WGH tour in Indy and came back with my wallet a little lighter :)  Got an ERmodels PRR Sharknose A&B and some cheap rolling stock.  I'm on a budget, so the discounted rapido couplers are right up my alley :)

[modelalaska]

I think what we can take away from the discussion on the Bachmann Locos is the it is a hit and miss situation.  If a person doesn't want to take a chance, they should stay clear.

I got a 4-8-2 light mountain last year and though it is one of the most beautiful detailed engines I have, it really runs poorly. It jerks and studders and is noisey (right out of the box). 

<>Peter

[pcarrell]

Scott,

No such luck!  A conversion is in order here.

Phillip, I think you are confusing me with Trainfreak409? Im Tim not Scott. lol thats to bad about the knuckle couplers.

I did it again!  Sorry!  I just see the "trainfreak" part and then zone out.  I'll try not to let it happen again Tim.

[cpeterson]

I think the N-trak idea is a great one.  I did pretty much the same when I was in med school.  Did a 2X6 module.  Enough to run and switch a little, and something to relax and keep your hands busy after studying for hours each day.  When he's up at two in the morning studying and needs a break it will be a good stress reliever.

 Model Railroader has published a lot of great plans over the years and did some project modules as well.  Also the N-Trak handbook had a ton of ideas.  I'll look around through my old MRR this eve and see if I can find a few examples.

[P & LE RR]

before you throw out the ho guy, let me start by saying im here on behalf of my younger brother who is thinking about starting out in n scale... normally id convince him to go with ho, but hes about to start medical school next year so he cant get started on something too big and i was talking with him about maybe building an n scale module to start... but we have some questions...

 whats the norm for a nscale module.. does it follow the ntrak standards and come in the 2' x 4' variety... if so, does anyone have any fun module plans?

 

[trainfreek92]

Scott,

No such luck!  A conversion is in order here.

Phillip, I think you are confusing me with Trainfreak409? Im Tim not Scott. lol thats to bad about the knuckle couplers.

[nscaler711]

MY 2-6-2 was in the jewel case brand new updated version and it sucked im not saying there cars suck just their orginal non spectrum line ive owned three spectrum locos dash 8, sd45(i think or is it sd40? i dont have it in front of me so i cant remember) and another. ive had two e-60 noisey little buggers, and an f7 2-6-2 gp40 and some others

[Adelie]

 Hey Guys!

 Whatddya All think of my new logo???

 

Both my thumbs are up!  Very sharp indeed. 

[CanadianShield]

 

 Hey Guys!

 Whatddya All think of my new logo???

 

 

[pcarrell]

Scott,

No such luck!  A conversion is in order here.