Weekend Update 5/5/24

[up1950s]

https://mix941kmxj.com/the-interesting-and-heartbreaking-history-of-the-sad-monkey-railroad/

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=23c7f8c8f2dc8e93&sca_upv=1&hl=en&q=sad+monkey+scenic+railroad&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=ivtzmsnb&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiG5Jfxms2FAxUoEFkFHYgACPMQ0pQJegQIDxAB&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:79335d71,vid:MVlpwu7Zotc,st:0

https://www.newschannel10.com/story/35205196/sad-monkey-railroad-makes-final-stop-in-canyon/

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/02/21/7-2-million-wall-to-be-built-along-train-tracks-in-san-clemente-after-latest-landslide/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Jnva7RqIsao

https://www.american-rails.com/freight.html

https://www.naclpt.com/solutions/logistics/rail-flatcars

https://www.aldonco.com/product/154-burlington-style-rerailer/

https://92moose.fm/insane-maine-train-pain/

[bbussey]

EP4 progress.

[CBQ Fan]

Very nice!

[PiperguyUMD]

I planted a bridge! The WM 4th canal crossing.





There were some cool railroady structures on both ends of this bridge, looking forward to researching and building those.

[Lemosteam]

Added ground dirt to the east side of the channel so I could finish up the other four telephone poles. These will be “connected” to the substation that is where the white rectangle is. I really like the WS poles for their ease of installation, and the fine EZ Line running on them.

Also painted the newly added track in at the waterfront for loading barges from the depressed center crane when finished. This track runs in front of what will be rusting scrap metal piles, so I wanted a more rust color ties here.

Next up will be to wire the remaining buildings with ther plugs so I can mount them at their respective spots.

[bnsfdash8]

I wasn't planning on starting another steam project so soon, but I found another Kato Mikado for a good price, so I thought why not since I have the GHQ kits.

I'm doing a NP W-3 this time around and it is already a bit more challenging than the Southern MS-4 I did. I still have some work to do on the mechanism, but the tender came together nicely. I'll be adding LokSound to this one as well.

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[BCR 570]

The modelling time drought continues, but I did manage to fit in an op session at Michael's E&N Railway today, which saw the last of my engines on loan make their return journey home.

RS-18 613 and RS-10 584 leading a northbound freight out of Victoria on Michael's layout:




Departing Hayward for Wellcox Yard in Nanaimo:




Arriving back on home rails at Chetwynd:




Tim

[nscaler711]

Finally got around to adding a sound decoder to a Model Power Pacific... Honestly wasn't that hard to do as I keep all the Next 18 jumpers from other installs. Though I will say... I managed to break off the tabs on the tender shell so it's lopsided till I can drill and tap some 00-90 screws. So there's that.
Since I'm a Santa Fe nut as you all know... It's 1369. Yes I need the  Valley Flyer set, no I'm not spending $300-$500 on a Con Cor set. 
Yes this was "filmed" the correct way, but a short seemed like the quickest way to upload.
https://youtube.com/shorts/TNu_hkuKyto?si=n0XKIMYEcV80LwTj

*_{Filmed on a potato.}

[RSWController]

One of the more important and distinctive trains in my modeling era were Geneva Steel taconite trains that ran from the Minntac plant in northern Minnesota to the Geneva Steel Mill in Utah. These trains were operated by the UP until the early 1990’s when the Wisconsin Central and Southern Pacific teamed up to win the contract. They ran via Chicago and through Wisconsin until they reached the last part on the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range to load. While they ran with all kinds of SP/DRGW/WC power, the most common were new SP GE’s; first the 8100-series C44-9W’s and then the AC4400CW’s when they were delivered. Thanks to the recent arrival from ScaleTrains, I have new trio to power these trains on my layout.

[SAH]

I attended the B&ORHS mini meet in Grafton, OH yesterday. Very relaxing and enjoyable day. The highlight, for me anyway, was getting to see the interior of the former Big 4 Grafton tower. A few local citizens/railfans were instrumental in the saving, moving, and stabilizing the tower. Certainly a treasure.  This is the tower @btrain measured for his model on the New London loop exhibition layout.  New London is about 20mi SW of Grafton as the crow flies.





Modeling-wise, Grandma Leiby's house is finally finished, 20 years after I started.  It's part of my Spencer FreeMo N module.

[altohorn25]

I spent the day re-powering an A-B-B set of Life-Like Southern Pacific E7's.

As per my usual, I took an A-B-B set of Kato E units and swapped the shells.  I added BLMA windshield wipers to the A unit as well as a MT true scale coupler in the pilot.  The rear of the A unit and both ends of both B units received unimate couplers to shorten up the distance between the carbodies.

Windows were replaced with Krystal Klear (apologies for the spelling.....)

Digitrax DN-163K0A decoders were added.

Weathering was done using railroad tie brown and flat black acrylics with my airbrush.

These shells have the incorrect smaller numberboards on them (SP E7's used the larger numberboards that were further forward on the nose), but I didn't change them.  I may still paint the backgrounds black and add numbers....we'll see how ambitious I feel this week......

They run like champs and will look good on the Golden State, Lark, and Cascade that I've built.

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[jpwisc]

A little more progress on the Pueblo Depot
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[craigolio1]

One of the more important and distinctive trains in my modeling era were Geneva Steel taconite trains that ran from the Minntac plant in northern Minnesota to the Geneva Steel Mill in Utah. These trains were operated by the UP until the early 1990’s when the Wisconsin Central and Southern Pacific teamed up to win the contract. They ran via Chicago and through Wisconsin until they reached the last part on the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range to load. While they ran with all kinds of SP/DRGW/WC power, the most common were new SP GE’s; first the 8100-series C44-9W’s and then the AC4400CW’s when they were delivered. Thanks to the recent arrival from ScaleTrains, I have new trio to power these trains on my layout.

That’s a very interesting bridge!

Craig

[BCRail_FSJ]

First track is being laid at the south end of Beatton River, including the delicate art of N scale superelevation..

[wm3798]

Had fun displaying and running the Newport and Rock Falls layout at the Cumberland Train Show, hosted by the Maryland and West Virginia Model Railroad Club.


Then spent all day Sunday properly installing the Wye tracks on the Hi Rail layout.

Torture tested the new trackwork with LRV 2652, the extra finicky Atlas 2
2-8-8-2.


Success!  Now to properly wire up the TTrak yard and build the control box.
Lee