Weekend Update 9/19/21

[up1950s]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Virginian_Railway_electric_locomotive,_100_(Wonder_Book_of_Engineering_Wonders,_1931).jpg

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/grassroots-railroad-sports/161868/page66/

https://www.google.com/search?q=virginian+electric+locomotives&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwirs_jl6v_yAhWOgnIEHfndDF0Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Virginian+Electric&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgUIABCABDIGCAAQCBAeMgYIABAIEB46BAgAEBg6BggAEAUQHlDGzgJYqIgDYOWcA2gCcAB4AIABzgGIAYAHkgEGMTAuMC4xmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=O01BYeupMo6FytMP-buz6AU&bih=839&biw=1831&hl=en

[thomasjmdavis]

Still some touch up and detailing to do on these, but a lot of progress in the past couple weeks.

Some weeks ago, I started work on some Monon diesels circa the mid 1950s.  Thanks to @Missaberoad , who kindly provided me with a copy of the May 1982 Mainline Modeler (my copy having gone missing from my collection sometime in the last 2-3 decades) which contains an article that details the various paint and lettering changes these locos went though, I am now 90% finished.  A little touch up (saw a few things in the enlarged photos that I can't see by eye, anymore), and some bits and pieces yet to add.  But I am happy with the results.

Added large number board frames from Kato parts department- originally for their FP7 (the number boards themselves are one of those details I still need to add).  Removed the dynamic brake slots and screens from 81A & B.  Should have also removed them from the 85s, but was too far along before realizing.  Turned out to be a lot easier than I thought, so may go ahead as I continue to work on these.

The stainless grilles on 81B were installed as part of the repairs after the locomotive was involved in a wreck in Sept 1981.  85A&B were originally EMD demonstrators, and were purchased after several locomotives were destroyed or damaged in 1947.  These units had steam generators and frequently served as passenger engines, but were painted in the black-gold freight scheme from their acquisition.









And just so they don't get lonely traveling around the layout (these are all stand ins, but I am happy with results and the "look" of the cars.....

[nkalanaga]

It doesn't look like there are any wires over that VGN motor, so they should be safe.

[johnb]

Part of being a model railroader is the ability of re-writing history. I feel robbed that I had to wait until I was 13 years old to ride a train from Long Beach to Los Angeles, and what was worse, was the fact that most of the route was rebuilt over the top of the old Pacific Electric line. I have wondered many times how different Los Angeles and Orange Counties would be if the Pacific Electric stayed in the passenger business past 1953 (they sold the passenger service, The MTA kept going until 1961 on the old Pacific Electric lines and until 1963 with the old LARy PCC's), and if they made it to today.



I used some Microscale decals that Miniatures By Eric had made for his line of PE Interurbans…I still have 4 cars to build, and I have three chassis…..I better get back to the 1950’s next….

[altohorn25]

I swapped out the wheels on some of my older Kato power with new low profile wheels from the Kato parts department so that these would run on Atlas code 55 track.

Not too big of a chore, but it sure makes them run better. 

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Most of these units have varying degrees of detail work done to them:  All are weathered, the F units have windshield wipers installed,  unimates between the F units, true scale couplers on the front pilots of the lead F unit, extra details added to the PRR A unit, and Digitrax decoders installed.

[svedblen]

I'm pondering building a vignette/diorama showing a stretch of disused lime quarry and lime works rail line. The line is currently used as a short tourist line. I have so far built a piece of O scale test track. Since the prototype track is 600 mm gauge, doing this in On2 would be more or less correct since 600 mm is just 9 mm shy of 2 ft.

Here is a picture of the prototype. Note the absence of tie plates, which makes things easier for me 



And here are two pictures of my test build.





Althugh the build is in O scale, the small gauge makes it feel more like H0. So I made an attempt to visualize the actual size by adding an O scale man. 

[garethashenden]

Approaching completion on my covered bridge. I tried it out in position and I like the look. Need to make some abutments, weather the outside, and do the roof, then it can be installed. Then the work crew showed up. Like most little boys they love model trains but don't understand how delicate they can be. So the bridge was swiftly whisked out of way.

[peteski]

I swapped out the wheels on some of my older Kato power with new low profile wheels from the Kato parts department so that these would run on Atlas code 55 track.

Not too big of a chore, but it sure makes them run better. 

And look better too. Those new Kato wheels with narrower tread and smaller flanges look really good.

[up1950s]

It doesn't look like there are any wires over that VGN motor, so they should be safe.

They use Tesler's method of transmitted power . Boy would that solve us modelers centenary headache . 

[nkalanaga]

Yes, but his "transmitted power" also caused a lot of problems, like turning lights on that people wanted off!

Besides that, any form of transmitted (broadcast) power is very inefficient, because most of it never encounters a receiver, and is simply lost in space.  Modern wireless chargers use the same induction principle as transformers and some AC motors, so are fairly efficient, but only at very close range.

[trainforfun]

At first I tought it was a current ( no pun ) picture from India , then I saw the VIRGINIAN on the side !

[BCR 570]

Good Afternoon All:

When soliciting photographs of the PGE's chip car conversions, I received pictures of two cars with side doors, which I assume are clean out doors.  I wanted to complete one of my cars with these for variety and got the doors installed today:






As my layout is currently in storage, I took my gondolas and chip cars over to friend Michael B. for a test run on his E&N layout.  RS-10s 581 and 584 are currently on loan to the E&N and did the honours (photo by Michael):




I also received parts from Keystone Details via Shapeways for my BCPM official car build.  A BIG thank you to John for the custom roof.  From top to bottom, the parts include roof, underframe kits, steps, roof hatches, 242a trucks, and a pair of archbar tender trucks for the BCPM 2-6-2:




Into the Bestine they will go, so should look opaque white by this time next week.


Tim

[randgust]

Betcha thought I gave up on this one.   Well, it's proven to be extraordinarily difficult to paint.   And the ultimate look I want is that of a 1937 locomotive, where there was a good deal of road grime and dust but not really weathered, but underneath it you can still see that there was a glossy boiler jacket.

So this is an interim step, the 'right out of the paint shop' builders shot of my PRR D16 #1046, and I'll load some more to my build thread, but I had to have some fun with this one.   This is just sort of parked (no drive shaft and no front screw holding the boiler down) but you get the idea....



I had fun with the smokebox, Floquil Old Silver with a 'dry rub in' of Floquil graphite.   Really like the way that came out, but the rest of it is still 'too glossy' at this point.

[dnhouston]

A little more progress on detailing the yard area.  Completed the 2nd cattle ramp and built a small worker's shack.

[TiogaTracks]

My weekend involved the least painful ballasting job I’ve ever done.  Usually I’m on the same page as davefoxx (and many more!) when it comes to dreading ballasting. But in this larger scale, the job resembles the prototype process more than the typical model methods, so it brings back good memories and spares me a gluey mess.

I did a bunch more leveling with coarse driveway gravel, and finally spread 2 bags of crushed “marble” stone that I’d had stashed for years.  I still want to overcoat this with scale-sized rock with some mortar or cement to stick it in place, but that’s for next year.  I’m happy enough with these results, I shot a bunch of photos.

The completed section so far:
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A decent view of the ballast profile along the fill section.  I raised the bridge so much, I added bricks to loosely represent taller abutments.
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And, a view of the profile in the cut.  I’m undecided on how much to try to scenic this area.
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More photos to come over in the Large-Scale WAG layout engineering thread.

-Steven