Weekend Update 3/5/23

[Slim Rail Mike]

Almost done with the tracks on the ferry boat. Still need stubby guard rails at the bow, and car stops at the stern.

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[paggs]

What type of Barge is that going to be? Las Plumas?

[Slim Rail Mike]

Yes, the ferry is the M/V Las Plumas. Right now I'm making parts for a test fit of the superstructure.

[Cajonpassfan]

That barge is looking great!
Otto K.

[paggs]

Here is a model of the WP Las Plumas that I built on balsa wood sheathed with brass stock so I could solder the rails onto the deck. Since locomotives didn't power onto the vessel, I went this way with building it. It is really close to the exact width and length of the real vessel. I believe I have the bridge drawn up on CAD and that is where I stopped. It was built to go on my RMIM model back in 2016.

[craigolio1]

Following with interest, that is gonna be good.

Oliver

Thanks Oliver!

I’ve updated the build thread with new pics showing the process, and successful test pours.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=55399.msg764839#msg764839

Craig.

[craigolio1]

Great work, Craig.  Of course, I love the prototype picture as well.

Michael

Thank you! I’ve updated the build thread.

The link is in the post above this one.

Craig.

[Pomperaugrr]

I only had time for a small project this week.  I made some progress with the truck dump and conveyor loading area at Specialty Minerals. The dolomite limestone in this scene is actually dolomite limestone from the prototype Specialty Minerals plant in Canaan, CT. They have an open pit quarry about 1.5 miles from the processing plant. The trucks come in from the quarry, and dump the raw stone in the bulk unloading area. Bucket loaders then pile it up and also feed the conveyor pit to the crushers at the processing plant.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

I wrapped up a few projects that have been sitting on the workbench for weeks, months, and literally, years.

Weeks: a V&O bulkhead flat made from a cheapo MTL CLC car and leftover K4 decals.
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Months: a modernized Barretts tank car. Barretts was the chemical plant that was at the end of the street that I grew up on. 30 years ago my parents found a pair of these cars and added those to the fleet. I've loved them, but never messed with them since I considered them quite rare. A few months ago @mu26aeh turned me onto a stash of the cars for sale and I invested heavily with the idea of getting some to modernize. Here you see one of them with COTS, U1 and ACI labels applied to bring it into the late 70s.

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Years: I picked this car up because I thought it looked cool and would be a fun modernization project. So I did that: removed the roofwalk, added decals, etc... then, I looked at prototype reference photos (backwards, I know), and found that all of these cars KEPT their roofwalks into the 80s. Yikes! Anyway, so then I had to track down a new roofwalk for it. It sat in the "todo" for ages until I got tired of looking at it. Here it is, done, finally.

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Bonus years: I got this car years ago too and have been slowly doing the modernization thing. It finally got through the paint shop for weathering this weekend.
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[wcfn100]

Years: I picked this car up because I thought it looked cool and would be a fun modernization project. So I did that: removed the roofwalk, added decals, etc... then, I looked at prototype reference photos (backwards, I know), and found that all of these cars KEPT their roofwalks into the 80s. Yikes! Anyway, so then I had to track down a new roofwalk for it. It sat in the "todo" for ages until I got tired of looking at it. Here it is, done, finally.

Is that the right underframe for that car?  The trucks sit pretty far inward.


Jason

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Is that the right underframe for that car?  The trucks sit pretty far inward.


Jason

Interesting. I'd assume so. I never messed with it.

Maybe it's a keystoning thing from the photo angle. I'll have to go look.

[bbussey]

Interesting. I'd assume so. I never messed with it.

Maybe it's a keystoning thing from the photo angle. I'll have to go look.

Just turn the trucks around.  The offset bolster is the wrong way.

Months: a modernized Barretts tank car. Barretts was the chemical plant that was at the end of the street that I grew up on. 30 years ago my parents found a pair of these cars and added those to the fleet. I've loved them, but never messed with them since I considered them quite rare. A few months ago @mu26aeh turned me onto a stash of the cars for sale and I invested heavily with the idea of getting some to modernize. Here you see one of them with COTS, U1 and ACI labels applied to bring it into the late 70s.

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Now that you have a stash of them, it needs a full platform with railings. 

[mu26aeh]

I always enjoy trying to spend other peoples money.  Until it's time for that person to return the favor and hit me with something I want/need 

[davefoxx]

@Ed Kapuscinski,

Where have you been hiding that Cat Mountain & Santa Fe Ry. boxcar?  That’s sweet.  Another favorite model railroad of mine from my youth.  Love it.

DFF

[NtheBasement]

Made a 9-minute "new way" coal video that features a unit train with operating rotary couplers, operating flood loader and dumper, and the latest scenery additions.