Weekend Update 12/29/24

[up1950s]

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/full-steam-ahead-200-years-of-train-travel-to-be-marked-with-celebrations

https://www.dart.org/about/plans-projects-and-initiatives/expansion/silver-line-regional-rail-project

https://media.amtrak.com/2024/02/amtrak-awards-contract-to-build-new-frederick-douglass-tunnel-in-baltimore/

https://wsbt.com/news/local/railroad-connecting-st-joseph-elkhart-county-canadian-national-railway-proposed-project-new-development-indiana

https://www.capmetro.org/railimprovements

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/10/30/u-24B-railroads-funding/4181730328021/

https://www.mbta.com/projects/south-coast-rail

https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2024/04/northeastern-us-rail-infrastructure-to-be-transformed

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/high-speed-train-project-chugs-ahead-as-3-billion-in-nevada-funding-gets-ok/

https://www.rtands.com/track-construction/track-structure/bridges-tunnels/first-arch-arrives-at-portal-north-bridge-construction-site/

[Sumner]

Well an update that will have to do for this weekend and last weekend.

Been trying to get the HandCab-DC throttle to a place where I can consider it finished (mostly).  Not much progress that can be shown visually.  Been working on the final wiring configuration and rewriting a lot of the code for the Arduino Nano.  The actual motor controller that controls the motors speed is pretty darn simple and basically what I covered ( HERE ) with a simple cheap ($4.00) DC throttle that one can put together in short order.

The HandCab-DC puts that $4 motor controller in a throttle case that makes you control the loco more like ....



... how an engineer would control the speed and direction in a GP-7 cab.  Makes running the loco a lot more interesting vs. a simple knob control.

I've got probably over 25 hours in the past week and a half creating sound files for the throttle, changing the wiring and rewriting most of the code that controls the sound functions on the throttle.

You can see, mostly hear what/how it will work in ....

... the video above.

Hopefully the next update might be the throttle with all of the above in the throttle case and actually controlling a train.

Sumner

[Kentuckian]

Finally getting back on my micro-layout, the Ashland Coal and Iron. I’m trying to get the appropriate size rolling stock together. A small layout needs short cars. Sticking with my typical modus operandi the caboose first:



Bachmann chassis, Arnold shell, Micro trains caboose rails and ladders, Kato smoke jack. A real team effort. Scalecoat and Vallejo paint. Some of you SPF’s may recognize the color.

[BCR 570]

The arrival of a package from Fast Tracks on Christmas Eve allowed me to get started on the third of my projects for the NMRA Civil Certificate - a 30 degree crossing.  Due to the complexity of the crossing I opted to purchase the assembly fixture and filing jig.  The first step was to get the PC board ties cut, gapped and into the fixture:




I then got the outer stock rails filed and soldered together:




and then the outer point rails:





I also made progress this week on my two BCR cabooses, starting with gluing the bodies to the underframes:




The arrival of my brake kits allowed me to finish off the underbody brake detail:




I added the end grates, which are a nice detail:




Tim

[mandealco]

Nice looking Caboose models Tim.
Cheers
Steve

[OldEastRR]

Color comes to Lees Corner:



Houses and stores repainted to look presentable. Yes, that's chicken coop (mock-up) in the yard. Still work to do.
And to make it look like the town extends off the edge of the layout, a photoprint of the remains of an adjacent demolished building.(An idea I had published in a MR mag)



The cardboard base is the pattern for the styrofoam base for the scene. I need to shape it for the buildings and land. Building the whole scene at the workbench makes it a hobby and not a labor.

[Chris333]

What about the Fast Tracks Diamond Line of cast nickel silver crossings?  Seems they would made a jig un-needed.

[garethashenden]

What about the Fast Tracks Diamond Line of cast nickel silver crossings?  Seems they would made a jig un-needed.

They're HO only still.

[BCR 570]

What about the Fast Tracks Diamond Line of cast nickel silver crossings?  Seems they would made a jig un-needed.

They're HO only still.

Correct, and commercial frogs are not permissible for the Civil Certificate projects.


Tim

[wm3798]

Color comes to Lees Corner:



Houses and stores repainted to look presentable. Yes, that's chicken coop (mock-up) in the yard. Still work to do.
And to make it look like the town extends off the edge of the layout, a photoprint of the remains of an adjacent demolished building.(An idea I had published in a MR mag)



The cardboard base is the pattern for the styrofoam base for the scene. I need to shape it for the buildings and land. Building the whole scene at the workbench makes it a hobby and not a labor.

There's a wonderful Bodine photo from the 1950s, when much of old Baltimore was being razed in the name of urban renewal.  There's the ghost of a demolished building on the side of its surviving neighbor, complete with painted plaster, trims, and a mantlepiece.  Bodine took a nail and used it to hang up a coat and hat, as if someone had just gotten home from work as the house was torn down.  It's quite brilliant.

I've used the same technique to expand an urban block when I didn't have enough structures to do the job.  I'll have to see if I have a picture somewhere.
Lee

[craigolio1]

@BCR 570 those cabooses look great! If I hadn’t nearly finished four of the resin kits (just need to paint and install hand rails I soldered) I’d be tempted to get a few. I don’t think they are available anymore though, is that correct?

I got a bit of work done on my Jordan spreader with the moving wings and lighting. It’s become way bigger than I planned but then don’t they always?

This week I made a four light array on the cab roof with 0201 LEDs.




Build thread.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58909.0

[TrainCat2]

Been learning about the laser, alignment, correct focal length, power/speed ratios. A lot to develop and there is nothing out of the box with this new item. However, I did make significant progress where I was able to cut a sample for items I need to complete kits.



I also tried out my idea for cobblestone street brickage. I initially purchased the clay rollers from RAILNSCALE. Having streets sections 2in wide was a problem. Unfortunately, My attempts to contact him through his site and PM here were not successful. So laser cut streets ... I am very pleased at the initial results. The laser cuts a nice thin lines to give a realistic 3D effect. These will have to be trimmed around the wing rails & guard rails fitting for each unique placement. They are amazingly close right out of the cutter. Nice thing about this wood street over the clay method is that I should be able to gain access to the track w/o possible tearing up the track. Replacement of a part could be done very quickly too. Now I just need to find a good color for the rail.

[altohorn25]

Shells ready for grab irons and steps.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Pizzaparty]

Shells ready for grab irons and steps.

(Attachment Link)

These are really sharp! Did you get them from N3DPM?

[altohorn25]

These are really sharp! Did you get them from N3DPM?

No - these are very old castings that were made by Bill Denton (Skytop Models).  They were in my stash of projects and I just had never got around to building them.