Weekend Update 11/18/18

[OldEastRR]

If you find any models of the NH TOFC flats that are in the original picture, let me know.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Managed to get this decal project started among other things. Even finishing one RDG. There are 28 more to do between CR/PC/RDG not in this photo.

That's hot. I have so many 90 tonners, and I love them all.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

If not as part of a new layout it could be sliced into at least 3 sections , re sceniced , and used as photo dioramas for newly built locos and things they pull . Inside/outside curves , street running , etc . Portable to take advantage of real world lighting , and a personal history that stitches together the hobby / time continuum , or not .

I'm not worried about it. There will be plenty of opportunities for those in the new place. Besides, there are plenty of things I learned from what I built, including some things I'd definitely NOT do again that will make future efforts way better.

[ai5629]

Managed to get this decal project started among other things. Even finishing one RDG. There are 28 more to do between CR/PC/RDG not in this photo.

Those hoppers look good.  If you are going to the trouble of painting and decalling CR and predecessor hoppers, why not use MTL three bays?  They are superior to the Atlas car in every way.  They can also be body mounted pretty easily with a simple 1015.  I am still waiting on MTL to release the recessed off center bolster trucks mentioned a while ago to lower the ride height on these cars.  Are those Highball Graphics decals?  Thanks.

Jeff

[bman]

Those hoppers look good.  If you are going to the trouble of painting and decalling CR and predecessor hoppers, why not use MTL three bays?  They are superior to the Atlas car in every way.  They can also be body mounted pretty easily with a simple 1015.  I am still waiting on MTL to release the recessed off center bolster trucks mentioned a while ago to lower the ride height on these cars.  Are those Highball Graphics decals?  Thanks.

Jeff

Thanks Ed and Jeff. I agree that the MTL hopper is superior, but I've picked up soooo many of the Atlas cars dirt cheap at shows over the years it's tough to switch at this point. These Atlas cars are replacing a bunch of the old Industrial Rail cars I did a couple decades or more ago so at least it's a step in the right direction. The decals are indeed from Highball Graphics.  And I just noticed that he has 2 more new sets. One for Conrail/Penn Central H39 70T open hoppers and a set for Conrail  HR5A 55T Twin Hoppers oh my!

[ai5629]

Thanks Ed and Jeff. I agree that the MTL hopper is superior, but I've picked up soooo many of the Atlas cars dirt cheap at shows over the years it's tough to switch at this point. These Atlas cars are replacing a bunch of the old Industrial Rail cars I did a couple decades or more ago so at least it's a step in the right direction. The decals are indeed from Highball Graphics.  And I just noticed that he has 2 more new sets. One for Conrail/Penn Central H39 70T open hoppers and a set for Conrail  HR5A 55T Twin Hoppers oh my!

If you are using the Highball Graphics decals, his Conrail road numbers are not 100% correct.  His 2's, 4's &  5's are not correct Conrail bold futura, which is a custom version created by Conrail in 1976.  I would recommend using Microscale 60-1482 for just the road numbers.  I have bought about 40 of those sheets that I have used on renumbering 30+ BLMA Conrail gondolas, and the results are excellent.  Just my humble oppinion.  YMMV.

Jeff

I will have to check out the new Conrail decals.  I will definitely find a use for them.

[Jesse6669]

This past week I got back a couple test prints from Shapeways that I thought would be of interest.  First is a 1:450 scale platform section;  It's based on the design that was in place at Cincinnati Union Terminal before they razed the passenger platforms and concourse to create the Gest St. intermodal yard for the Southern Ry.  It's not 100% accurate but it looks like a typical platform.  I even got some details like the overhead lights and dwarf signals printed with it but will see.. bloody tiny.  In T you just have to give up on some of the details.  Also got back a test of the SW9/1200/etc. and it came out quite nicely.  It won't be powered (I can't fit a 4mm diameter motor in that guy) but should be able to be pushed by a powered boxcar. I've started looking at Magnorail just for grins as well. 

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[rickb773]

The Twisted Journey of the PRSL staging.

The one thing I am getting better at as I age is increasing my stupidity coefficient in layout design. I originally laid out the North and South staging yards side by side (see Weekend Update 10/14/18) to support my Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines layout following its major (70%) rebuild.

While lying in bed one night it suddenly dawned on me that the existing north staging yard would enter the on-line Camden Pavonia yard from the wrong end. That meant that I would have to raise the North’s 4 tracks 2” get to the yard from the hi-line end. Out came the jig-saw. I lost some extension on the coal drag track (now reduced to 90” ~ 30 units)

I then finished laying the south end staging (on cork this time). The North yard holds 102 40’ cars and the south yard 122 cars. A lot of tuning remains to get these tracks to run to something resembling flawless.

The layout now has 63 Peco turnouts most of which are around 40 years old. I still need to finish two complex track areas to once again resume operations. This is another case of “If I knew what I was getting into, I never would have started this project.”

The north yard holds the Deepwater (electric plant) coal drag (29 loaded cars), the Penns Grove Tank Sweeper (27 cars), the Philadelphia yard transfer (mixed freight; up to 24 cars), and the Millville Sand Hog (14 empty gons and covered hoppers).

The 5 track south staging holds a loaded Sand Hog, an empty coal drag, and a Salem local. Per the prototype, the trains are all “turns” from Camden reaching the south staging (3 seperate branches: Deepwater/Millville/Salem), doing, run-arounds, and returning to the Camden yard or north staging. Hence 2 of the 5 south staging tracks are always empty for engine run arounds.

Original yard layout:


North staging raised:


With staged trains:

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks Ed and Jeff. I agree that the MTL hopper is superior, but I've picked up soooo many of the Atlas cars dirt cheap at shows over the years it's tough to switch at this point. These Atlas cars are replacing a bunch of the old Industrial Rail cars I did a couple decades or more ago so at least it's a step in the right direction. The decals are indeed from Highball Graphics.  And I just noticed that he has 2 more new sets. One for Conrail/Penn Central H39 70T open hoppers and a set for Conrail  HR5A 55T Twin Hoppers oh my!

Hell yeah! I mean, there's a reason a train of them was the semi-permanent backdrop in Windsor St for so long. It's easy to amass quite the fleet for no mucho dinero.

[dougnelson]

If you find any models of the NH TOFC flats that are in the original picture, let me know.

Bryan B. could probably answer better, but the NH TOFC flat looks like a 40-ish foot flat.  The model is a Red Caboose 42' flat.  Probably a good starting point for a detail project.  I think there was a Shoreliner article on NH TOFC service.

[unittrain]

Managed to get this decal project started among other things. Even finishing one RDG. There are 28 more to do between CR/PC/RDG not in this photo.

These look great, I need more PC small worms logo I got several MTL PC's with large herald. I have more of the atlas 90 tonners than the MTL. I agree the MTL has more detail, however the atlas ones have the correct side posts for Chessie and Conrail plus it's predecessors, the ribs have more depth and are wider than the MTL cars. I've compared both to the HO Bowser triple hoppers and the dimensions are right on for both cars except both the MTL and Atlas cars are slightly  short  in regards to the wheels base dimension. But overall they are both good models.

[mighalpern]

continued with my bridge weathering
gave it 2 different coats, satin brown and satin caramel


going to try the salt method which I tried to post a picture earlier



after that will be the double track bridge ties the Rodney made for me and foliage, lots of foliage 

[Bob]

This is looking really great - I have just started weathering a long bridge of my own, so I'll keep a careful eye on what you are doing.  Thanks for posting!

[nkalanaga]

Any idea why the prototype used double-track ties?  Most bridges I've seen used separate ties for each track.

[mighalpern]

I am guessing on the ties for this bridge. I have not found any good pictures of this bridge. very old Black and whites on the internet and some similar to those on the NPHRA site don't show this detail.  The only picture of the top is with a full deck of snow, so no details.  I am not aware of a bridge construction spec document/book  like i have seen for the SP,  so I am punting a lot.
I do suppose that they were done as individual sections, but when Rodney offered to do the double track, it seemed to answer my need for simplicity and quickness in build.  I originally had planed to lay each coarse with wooden ties stained beforehand and then insert a PC tie every 10 or so, but once I saw what Rodney had done and then his offer,  well hell ya I want it !!!
Anyway anyone with insight or ideas thought, throw them at me.  i am willing to learn
Have a great Holiday guys
will post again once i finish salting this beast.

Thanks
Miguel