Weekend Update 9/27/09

[BCR 570]

Tim,

I have to ask why all those screws?? On my helix I ran my
bus wire and feeds up and down in just two spots 180 degrees
from each other. This way every loop around was fed in two
places. You'll also save a lot of wire.

Jon

Jon:

I installed feeder wires for every set of rail joiners and for every length of flex track, so there are about six pairs of feeders per turn to collect.  I considered running up vertically and branching out to each turn, but it has been recommended to me that I keep the bus wire runs as a single one-way run.  The 14 AWG wire should only lose 1/2 volt over 40 feet and my run will be 54-55 feet around the helix, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Tim

[ednadolski]

One, the wire conduit was waaay too fat;

Looks like you missed a rivet...   (just teasing!) 

Seriously tho, that's some impressive work.

[atsf_arizona]

SNFF 2009 09 25

Hi, all,

For this week, I displayed the following loco at the
Sept 2009 NMRA Pacific Coast Region, Coast Division
Meet, weathering using Bragdon weathering chalks:



Also......

I was just notified that I got my first NMRA Achievement Program
Certificate, for Model Railroad Author.  My 1st one. 
Six more to go.

Have a good week!

[wm3798]

Once again we gathered around the soft glow of a bunch of little LED's, and enjoyed the peaceful whir of 5-pole motors doing what they were meant to do.

When suddenly, the silence was shattered!


First, by Phil Hoffman's ancient Atlas/Roco GP-30, which sounded like a blender, but amused us with its staying power after over 30 years of service!

Then, after all the usual freight was handled (including two locals expertly delivered by Bryan) an unscheduled excursion burst upon the scene, complete with a sound equipped Walther's N&W Mallet, thanks to Tim "Sizemore" Alder. 



The Rapido B&O coaches looked great, but Tim pointed out several deficiencies that he hopes will be ironed out before the N&W version arrives. 

And here we are, after a pleasant afternoon of running the Western Maryland.


From left, Me, Brian with an I, Ed the K, Phil the H, Timmah, Bryan with a Y.

Lee

[Packer]

Made myself a test track out of a 1x6 and the track from the old layout (meaning the switches are snap switches, but my big 6-axles will make it through them). Im using it to speed match my locos (QSI decoders are kind of a pain since they have no CV 6, have yet to try my genesis F45 with it's MRC decoder) and check couplerheight.



Also got 2 new cars. Both are athearn kits that have had the trucks reamed, intermountain metal wheelsets and kadees added, and weighted up to 4.5 ounces. I've never used intermountain wheelsets before (most of mine are branchline or proto) and they roll insanely well in the reamed trucks



Bordem shot:

Also got a wash in on this bulkhead flat, in addition to it's pipeload.

[Freighttrain]

All I did on my weekend was work on a army truck.Nothing Choo Choo related unless you count trying to figure out how I am gonna do my T gauge layout when my trains arrive.Thinking double track main via dogbone setup with the "reverse loops" hidden under the layout.

[Philip H]

As previously noted, I brought sensible railroading to the WM.  And apparently I am now in the blender business.  All in all a great visit Lee - and while I have zero frame of reference, I like the lists.  Of course, I am still trying to figure out how we kept Ed from running conrail . . . .

[wm3798]

It was easy..  I made sure all my engines were running this time, then I took half the rolling stock off the layout so there wouldn't be any power shortages.  Oh, also, Carl didn't come this time, so the Penn Central turn didnt' get run either....

Lee

[RockGp40]

Actually Lee, your PC GP30 got a little run time. While I was waiting for work, I ran it long enough to get in Bryan's way as he worked the junction..

[Ian MacMillan]

Laid some more track and built more benchwork on Friday. Nothing 1:160 this weekend, but I did spend all day Saturday and Sunday running the tie crane over at New England Southern. We are currently doing a major tie job so I spent all weekend stacking the old ties and stuffing the ends of the new ones. We've been doing this for the last 6 months, the last tie job being done by the B&M in 1949. While we used to do this all by hand with tie tongs and a back hoe, the boss man decided to buy my crew two tampers and a tie inserter this year! Looking at a spiker for next year.

[Zox]

It looks like this is as far as I'll get on this project this weekend:



I'm starting to work on the riverbanks for my Kankakee River bridge module. Yes, some touchup painting is needed on the concrete retaining walls.

[up1950s]

SNFF 2009 09 25

Hi, all,

For this week, I displayed the following loco at the
Sept 2009 NMRA Pacific Coast Region, Coast Division
Meet, weathering using Bragdon weathering chalks:



Also......

I was just notified that I got my first NMRA Achievement Program
Certificate, for Model Railroad Author.  My 1st one. 
Six more to go.

Have a good week!

John , that loco looks great and congrats on the award .

[Philip H]

It was easy..  I made sure all my engines were running this time, then I took half the rolling stock off the layout so there wouldn't be any power shortages.  Oh, also, Carl didn't come this time, so the Penn Central turn didnt' get run either....

Lee

Next time make up some paper for it - after I'm done cutting my train into thirds in staging, I can foul the main nicely trying to see which GP 30 runs better!

[sirenwerks]

Actually Lee, your PC GP30 got a little run time. While I was waiting for work, I ran it long enough to get in Bryan's way as he worked the junction..

That made up for me getting in everyone's way switching the previous local. Although, then I felt like the lone moving employee in the city work crew. You know, the one actually working?

[conrail98]

I took an extra long trip on Amtrak to Harrisburg and learned how to be a nice car host,

Phil