The Cable Layer Train Thread(The following information is from the "Future Projects, Unfinished thread")
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Northern Lines Limited, Cable-Laying (train)
I constructed this beast, from photos that had appeared in Trains and Diesel Era magazines. The original company, Northern Lines Limited had modified a exBN, U30C into a cabling "plow". The conversion kept most of the locomotive from the walkway, down. I believe it was stated, that the fuel tank was "weighted" with water or cement?. They also gave NLLX 5600, a nickname, "Clyde".
In my model, I tried to do the same with the use of a few Kato U30C parts (Trucks and Pilots). The handrails were from Concor's C630 locomotive and the rest of the model was styrene stock.
The video is of a Newer, Version of "Clyde".
On the GGX version, I would be adding a "Supply Car"..
So, for now it looks like, "Clyde" will finally get his train!
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August 26, 2017Update of the previous information...
The NLL company went out of business in the early 2000s', when there was a downturn in the business of communication cable laying. The company was folded into another and all info on the fate of "Clyde" ended there.
The Cable Layer Train...With the work on the "Plow"car (Clyde) for the CLT, already completed. I have started on construction of the "Reel" supply cars that make-up the remainder of the train.
The plan was to use, Atlas 50 foot flatcars modified with the required framework, to support the reels of cable. After, a few test builds, I decided that the 50 foot length was too small. So, I rectified that by kitbashing two cars together, to give me a longer, 65 foot car.
I used about 2/3s of each car frame and glued them together. To strenghten the cars frame at this seam . I used a full-length piece of the Atlas 50 foot car's metal weight, fastened with GOOP cement and positioned, dead center over the seam. A second metal weight, that was cut in half was than added, to the outside of the center weight.
This gave the car, a solid backbone and a decent weight. The original decking, (which I did not order from Atlas) was replaced with a sheet of .040 "V-grooved" styrene stock.
The kitbashed car., with my first attempt at building the Reel Support framework.
The plan was to make the Reels or spools, "Removable" from car for different running options. To do this, I need to have the mounting pins loose. But, the wider styrene top frame looks too big. It has been suggested to me, to build the framework, out of brass stock (.016) and forgo the "removable" part.
I am also, researching the dimensions of the cable "reels". I have decided to fabricate my own, with "v-grooved" styrene (which looks like decking) for the sides and "tube" stock for the internal spindle of the reels.
Jerry G.
