Weekend Update 10/5/25

[Pizzaparty]

I finished this Baldwin DT6-6-2000.
It’s the recently released printed shell from ScaleTraxx on an Atlas C-628/630 chassis. It has a LokSound Atlas Legacy decoder and an ESU 9x16 speaker.

Fantastic work as always! I’m waiting for them to release the rebuilt versions of the ej&e models

[craigolio1]

With the basic car bodies complete for my log train, I am taking a break from that project to begin work on another important addition to the car roster: a fleet of 40-foot double-door E&N boxcars.  In 1977, CP started re-lettering double door cars in its 292xxx series with E&N reporting marks in order to facilitate more efficient shipment of Vancouver Island lumber, primarily to US markets. Empty E&N cars were to be returned directly to the Island.  They were a familiar part of the railway scene on Vancouver Island from the late 70s through the mid 80s, and these cars could be seen across North America.

The starting point for this project is the Micro-Trains car, in both double-door and sliding/plug door versions. Yesterday's NMRA divisional modelling night was a good opportunity to begin this project, and as my friend Tim had nothing on his "project docket", he graciously offered to help set up an assembly line to expedite work.

The first task was to strip the cars down to the shells, and then Tim started drilling out the running board mounting holes so that they would accept .080 styrene rod.



As Tim finished drilling out each car, I cut and glued sections of styrene rod to fill the holes, until I had a very odd-looking group of cars.



Meanwhile, Tim was attacking the underframes, removing the trucks and stirrup steps, and then chopping the couplers off the trucks for use on later projects. This project will use 1027 couplers.





Then I tapped the mounting holes for the couplers so they would accept the 00-90 mounting screws.



As with any project like this, things always look worse before they look better, and this was the state of play when we wrapped up for the evening--not a bad night's work!

Great project!!  I did a pair using Atlas double door box cars factory painted for CP Rail. I removed the lettering and applied CDS dry transfers.

What are you plans for decals (or decoration)?

Craig

[craigolio1]

Fixed.

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

Thanks!!  Are you able to tell me how? I tried in the gallery and on my phone but no luck.

Craig

[craigolio1]

Yikes, pin-connected center cantilever truss?  Looking at those connections...

Reminds me of the Youngs High Bridge over the Kentucky River, only sturdier.

Where's Bob Knight when you really need him?   

Yup. It’s a work of art. With a story too!  It originally built in 1884 (?) for the CPR crossing at Cisco in the Fraser Canyon and then moved to this location in 1910 (?).

Craig

[craigolio1]

@BCR 570 that looks like an awesome trip!!  So many great things to see!

I’m very excited that you measured Cariboo.

Craig

[LARGEdrop]

I've been mulling ways to model cinders.  I saw someone use stippled modeling clay, so this week I made a small diorama to try it out with some scrap Atlas code 55. To my eye, the technique shows promise for certain situations like engine terminals.  I had fun weathering the scene too.

Cool locomotives!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I put together an edited version of the photo freight and the really cool ride in the EBT M-1 motor car.

[Slim Rail Mike]

This week.
One thing leads to another.
    Finished my turnout control redo on my modules that have some pavement.



Decided to test it out. I tried some switching with the recent 0-6-0 s.



   Oh no! Bunches of derailments. Checked the track work with the NMRA gauge. Two spots,  one wide spot and one tight flangeway. Fixed them. Still derailments!
   Checked if the wheel sets were in gauge. Found a couple too wide. Fix them. Still derailments!
   Made a test car from some clear acrylic and a pair of trucks. With the test car I could see the wheels on the farside of the car ride up on the pavement. The balsa apparently moved with the change in the weather,  (we had rain last week). Dug up the pavement in the problem area, problem solved. Now I’m redoing the pavement with styrene.

 Having found a couple of cars not meeting standards, I’ve gone through my entire freight fleet (about 80 cars). Checked wheels, truck pivot, rolling qualities, couplers height and motion, and finially weight. Fixed those with deficiencies. This lead me to a box of old bachmann tank cars, that I started to modify, long ago. That are now going it get finished.

[BCR 570]

@BCR 570 that looks like an awesome trip!!  So many great things to see!

I’m very excited that you measured Cariboo.

Craig

Yes it was an interesting trip.  And you were out here in BC and didnt visit - again! 

I got most of CARIBOU measured; the left side was mostly inaccessible so will have to contact the curator to see what can be done for my second visit; hopefully next spring.


Tim