Weekend Update 12/15/24

[up1950s]

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https://www.hallmarkornaments.com/Lionel-Trains_c_220.html

https://zmodal.com/2020/12/15/logistics-of-christmas-tree-shipping/

https://fireadaptednetwork.org/all-aboard-the-christmas-tree-train/

https://rrmodelcraftsman.com/christmas-trees-shipped-by-rail/

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https://www.google.com/maps/@31.5919251,-97.3340791,3a,75y,237.38h,84.81t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sk2BcxElHlejVF37bY2FaGw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D5.19098569252904%26panoid%3Dk2BcxElHlejVF37bY2FaGw%26yaw%3D237.37726447085754!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://northlandz.com/eventscalendar

[bbussey]

I’ve discovered that a pair of Rapido FL9s won’t pull my 30-car RBB&B circus consist. So I’m employing a quartet of Atlas and Life-Like Alco FA units, which pull a ton. The first, second and fourth units are new Atlas units repainted in NH New Image that I’m working on now. The third unit is a vintage split-frame Life-Like FB2 digitized and sound-equipped. The frame was milled to accommodate the new electronics and the new Atlas-style pickups. The body was painted /decorated in the Dulmaine scheme.

[BCR 570]

A little more progress on my scratch-built track projects this week.  After installing the stock rails for the turnout last week, I got the same done for my crossover this week:




I then went back to the turnout and bent the point rails and wing rails:




and then the same for the crossover:




Tim

[rickb773]

The Christmas Trees and Trains Wonderland community event has kicked off this weekend in Turnersville NJ.

50+ theme decorated trees, the local firetruck (bedazzled of course), music and food.






New Jersey Southern's T-Trak layout:





Some Lionel (wouldn't be Christmas without them!)





New Jersey Southern's N-Trak layout with Jason & Ken hard at work)



Themed Christmas tree from a tech group with dancing message.
An auto shop provided a tire and car tree.
The Dunkin' tree with miniature coffee carry out bags.
The parking lot folks had a tree decorated with road signs such as "Don't even think about parking there!" and the tree base was covered in their fluorescent safety vests.



The Atlantic County 4H group brought their HO modular layout up from the shore. (In NJ, we "go down to the shore" no matter what direction we are traveling from.)



Saturday afternoon will include a Christmas themed auto show and fire pits in the parking lot outside.
It's free so come visit us and be sure to say hi!

[PiperguyUMD]

One tree at a time!

[mkearns]

Finished up my first TTRAK Module just in time for our local NMRA holiday gathering. Since my first layout was Christmas themed and snow covered, this was my first time using more generic Appalachian scenery techniques. I learned a ton and executed my vision, thanks to the help of friends and family.

[nkalanaga]

The opening picture, Northern Pacific boxcar:  Shelton, WA, I assume?

[DirtyD79]

That thing about the Hallmark Lionel ornaments reminded me I really wish somebody would make an HO scale version of the Eggliner, especially one painted for either Amtrak or Conrail. Yes, I would actually run it on a layout. No, I would not feel ashamed.

[Scottl]

This week I managed to get in some railfanning in Jasper National Park.  Climbed up on the ridge above the CN line at Park Gate on a sunny spring morning and caught some of the parade of trains.





We then drove down the long bumpy road to Devona and the bridges across the Snake Indian River where we caught the Hinton local heading east from Jasper with empties for the mills.

[Sumner]

Moving along and testing some sound options for the HandCab-DC throttle. A a DC throttle that is handheld (not wireless/on a tether) that operates similar to a throttle an engineer would operate in a GP7 cab. No throttle knob here. You use throttle and brake levers and a reverser handle for forward and reverse.

More info on Railwire here ....

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58761.msg811632#new

Sumner

[bnsfdash8]

Just some 3D modeling this week.

I got the AC44C6M ready for a test print and revisited the GP59ECO (rebuilt GP59 to tier 3 emission standards) I started a while ago. The GP59ECO are meant to be masters for NS' RP-M4C slugs so I'll have to design those next.

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I also splurged a little on an Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra. It should be a nice step up from my Anycubic Phototon Mono X.

[Dave V]

I'd accidentally posted this first to Foxxy's layout thread. 

Anyway, the Pennsylvania Railroad Juniata Division v2.0 has finally started construction.



This module will be Jack's interlocking, which was just west of Mount Union, where the old mainline (and interchange with the East Broad Top) connected back into the new mainline. Jacks was in a narrows on the Juniata River, so the scenery will slope down from the track in the front.

LED position light signals assembled by our own Mad Max @mmagliaro will protect the crossovers in this two-track incarnation of a Pennsy interlocking.

Not shown is a big old box of green scenery material and a much better static grass applicator than the one I have, courtesy of Scenic Express' Black Friday sale.

[crrcoal]

And Lombards has Loksound PRR RS3's for your new layout! 

Anyway, the Pennsylvania Railroad Juniata Division v2.0 has finally started construction.

This module will be Jack's interlocking, which was just west of Mount Union, where the old mainline (and interchange with the East Broad Top) connected back into the new mainline. Jacks was in a narrows on the Juniata River, so the scenery will slope down from the track in the front.

LED position light signals assembled by our own Mad Max @mmagliaro will protect the crossovers in this two-track incarnation of a Pennsy interlocking.

Not shown is a big old box of green scenery material and a much better static grass applicator than the one I have, courtesy of Scenic Express' Black Friday sale.

[OldEastRR]

Obviously a fixer-upper town made from leftovers, but now I have another NH commuter stop where no scenery was before.

. Something about the arrangement reminded me of Cornersville, the charming little scene that used to be on Lee Weldon's current layout. Until an expanding rail network bought up the land and had the town removed. I thought it'd be nice to give this place a similar name, and came up w/ "Lee Corners" or "Lee's Corner", depending on how locals refer to it. More story in Engineering Reports on the NKP-ish layout.

[chessie system fan]

Way back in the '90s, our very own @SAH wrote an article in N Scale magazine about improving the looks of Atlas' airslide covered hopper. And about 15-17 years ago as a wee college student, I found the article and decided to follow it.  And here is the result! In addition to a scratch built roof using the Atlas hatches, I also thinned the original roofwalk and added GMM etched steps and body-mounted couplers.



All in all, it's not a bad effort for the mid 2000's, if I say so myself. But that WM car was the last Atlas airslide I ever bought because the Athearn car outclasses the Atlas in every way.  But I still have a few Atlas junk box queens and last year I decided to make a 3D printed replacement roof to turn the Atlas cars into runners that are slightly less embarrassing if not passable.  And this past week, I finally got around to test-fitting it. (Yes, I know ATSF cars didn't have black roofs. The roof is not glued on yet.) 





The Atlas cars have a roof that is pitched too high, so some minor surgery is required on the ends to make the new correct roof fit. But for the minimal work required, the new roof is a massive improvement.  Just don't place an upgraded car next to an Athearn car, because the Atlas car is now too short!  That's right, the height with the thick roof is correct, and Atlas shortened the car body to account for the thick roof.  I'm so glad that N scale has moved past 1992 logic...

Oh, and I noticed while taking the photos that my original WM car has the hatches facing the wrong direction.  Oops.     Note to self--I didn't do this but I should have--when designing a 3D part that only goes one way, key the part so that it only fits one way.