Weekend Update 4/3/16

[Kisatchie]

The humor and restrained moderation is one of the big reasons I like this forum.  Being almost exclusively N-Scale helps too. 

Yeah! If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.


Hmm... Kiz just cooked up
a big batch of hamburgers...

[BCR 570]

We had to load the cars last night and even putting them in a garage didn't completely protect them from below freezing temps.... we had both rail movement and shrinkage... (insert bad joke here)

Below freezing?  Should I tell you that I was basking in the sun on my balcony yesterday afternoon in shorts and no shirt?   

Looking forward to your show photographs - run a PGE or BCR car for us.   

Tim
 

[Dave V]

The humor and restrained moderation is one of the big reasons I like this forum.  Being almost exclusively N-Scale helps too. 

I upvoted this.   

[Catt]

If someone didn't insult someone else on this forum at least once a week I would think I had got on the wrong forum by accident.

Or as the man says "If you don't like the show change the damn channel".

[Philip H]

Below freezing?  Should I tell you that I was basking in the sun on my balcony yesterday afternoon in shorts and ,[bold] no shirt? [/bold]

Tim

What has been seen . . .     

[peteski]

I upvoted this.   

<Elvis voice> Thank you, thank you  very much! </Elvis voice> 

And I up-voted your up-vote message! 

[BCR 570]

I am a little late to the party this week but it has been quite a week for me with model trains.  After a hiatus of more than two years I am back to work on the layout and have just finished laying the tracks at Septimus, including main track, siding 1 and siding 2.  This was a first effort with the Atlas Code 55 track.  Septimus is literally in the middle of nowhere halfway between Chetwynd and Fort St. John and served as a meeting point for northbound and southbound trains to exchange tonnage.  On my layout it will effectively serve as north staging for prototypical operation of the yard at Chetwynd.  At some point in the future this will be partially hidden by a scenic ridge to separate it from the Dawson Creek branch in the foreground.

Looking south through Septimus:




Looking north through Septimus:




I have included just enough mainline beyond the north switch to allow a set of engines to run out and around their train.  This is currently the only segment of track in this new section to be wired to the bus:




Despite the limited power connection at this point in time, it is still possible to run throughout the new section with power being fed just through the rail joiners.  The next step is to power the turnouts, and to that end I have been learning how to connect the servos to their drivers and how to actuate them with a remote toggle switch.  I have held this entire assembly in place under the layout and successfully thrown a turnout with it:




Meanwhile, time was taken to enjoy running a few trains along the new tracks and test things out.  Work Extra 581 with a ballast train and Work Extra 584 with the Prince George Auxiliary are seen in action at Septimus:






I also received a set of nine new BCR bulkhead flatcars from Prairie Shadows, and my fleet of BCR trailers is now fully weathered - just need to secure the underframes in and make some loads for the flatdeck trailers and they are done.  I also received my Micro Engineering bridge flex for upcoming tracklaying on the Dawson Creek branch.


Tim

[BCR751]

I have just been called a knuckle head . I think there is a silent majority that will give you a glad hand of applause . I knew it would be a broken vote . I will curb my humor in the future to things that are funny without insulting anybody , like Trump , AD Clay , and somebody else . Not mad , surprised , or glad just a  .

You can't do anything without insulting somebody these days.  My opinion - they'll either get over it or die mad, it's their choice.

Doug

[arbomambo]

A little more work on the Bachmann S4...
Trimmed the stack a bit, and took off the rounded corners with a sanding stick...
Decided to use Floquil Bright Silver, then drybrushed some 'exhaust'...it really looks the 'part' now.
Something else I noticed about the Bachmann Alco which works in my favor-the long hood side grabs and nose grabs are not molded in. Great for me as, now, I don't have to remove molded grabs to replace with freestanding ones.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Another week of no modeling for me.
However, times like this I sometimes pull up one of the many fab MRR websites I've cached & see if there's anything new or just enjoy golden oldies.
Here's one that inspired me: the Free Heaven Harbor Terminal http://jean-louis.simonet.perso.neuf.fr/Fhht_us.htm









Built in 1994-95 by four Frenchmen who love American railroading, this now dismantled 10'x14' traveling showcase layout has everything I love: waterfront, dockside warehouses, ship-to-surface ops, carfloat, custom C40 trackwork, BUSY & used.
They pack a shipload of scenery & scenes in a small space.
Enjoy!

[mopacaustin]

Visiting my folks after graduation and [ Guests cannot view attachments ] I got into my train stuff for the first time in over 2 years 

[mopacaustin]

Visiting my folks after graduation and (Attachment Link) I got into my train stuff for the first time in over 2 years 

Great the attachment messed up and I can't edit it since this was my first post on this new account 

[Puddington]

The Lindsay Train show has come and gone. Sam and I are exhausted but feeling a sense of significant accomplishment. We actually presented our own layout.... father and son.

The set up; as I said earlier was a chore but day two was a breeze; unloading the cars back from our nifty custom car cube and rolling show desk was a pleasure; I'll have to get pics of that later... the set up; while not "uber professional" looked ok for a couple of "dudes"....





We ran about ten different consists; including the MOW train. Our twenty car limit seemed to work as it could snake through and disappear from sight on both sides.













We even reached back in time and ran a mixed train - a couple of ol' guys watched that; came over and one, with tears in his eyes thanked me for brining back memories..... you can't buy a feeling like that!



Sam was a pro; he greeted everyone; told them about building the layout, introduced them to Littl' Puddy (who ran like the champ she is) and delighted so many kids.... they could be just like him - we heard more than one family head to the vendors with buying intent!



Even Puddy was having fun..... although his Hunter Harrison-esque face wouldn't convince you of that..... behind "Hunter" are some of my friends that helped make it happen - Rob (in the black PV T shirt) is one of my best friends; he was in charge of getting us to and from the show and he did so with calm and ease. His son Andrew (famous as superintendent of the Andrew Junction Sub) held the mains on the throttle for us all Saturday and did so like a 30 year hogger.... my Rapido buddies Dan, Thomas and Jordan and "honourary Rapido buddies" Matt, Andrew and Jacob we also there to help out and cheer us on and Rob's wife and mine were there to help us break it down.... with me being damn near immobile by Sunday at 4, they just took over and took care of me too......... what friends!



It was a special weekend. My health issues aside (and I am paying for this weekend right now.... ugh!) it was truly special..... my trains, my friends (so many of who helped and came out), my family (all of whom came out) and my son...... wiping away a tear right now.....  a tear of happiness and pride.... we did it!



The Pud..... Mike

[Scottl]

Mike, just fantastic in so many ways.  I wish I could have made it but just couldn't swing the five hour drive.  I hope I'll be able to see the next appearance of the father and son team.

[jmarley76]

Nice work everyone, especially Mike, great work!! 

Keep the caboose - a "flashing red end device" might be even more offensive...