Build Thread - Provincial Museum Train in N Scale

[craigolio1]

Flatcar Load Installation (Part 1)
Well if you have read this far then you are basically caught up to where I am now.  As mentioned, my efforts to secure the loads to the flatcars were hampered by a lack of photographs showing the tie-down details.  Most photographs taken some distance from ground level don't show much of this.  A recent batch of photographs from two individuals who worked on the train have been very helpful as they were taken standing very close to the flatcars or, even better, looking down on them from an embankment.

The donkey engine was secured in place with timber blocking on either side which is bolted to the deck, and steel cables strapped across the skids and around either end of the steel chassis.  A steam line from underneath the flatcar supplied the donkey boiler.  The front portion of this flatcar was used as a speaker's platform during public displays.  A microphone was set up and speakers were located on the tender of the Climax and on the display first coach.  For the first two years of operation, a pile of ties served as the speaker's platform; in subsequent years a proper platform with railing was carried.  As I wish to display the train in various configurations, I thought I would model both speaker's platforms and use a mounting hole and pins for interchangeability.  So this flatcar will require scale lumber for the blocking timbers, eyebolts and brass wire for the steel cables, and the two platforms.

The Climax locomotive was a much heavier and taller exhibit, and thus required a far more extensive tie-down system.  It sat on a track panel of light rail and steel ties, with what appear to be steel girders on either side of the rear truck.  The panel was the same length as the locomotive and had four heavy lifting lugs.  The track panel was secured in place fore and aft and either side with blocking timbers bolted to the flatcar deck.  There was a system of steel cables to tie down the locomotive to the track and deck.  During displays the rear truck was jacked up so that the locomotive could be steamed and the gears and rear wheels activated.  The front truck remained on the track panel and was disconnected from the main crankshaft.  A steam line went from underneath the flatcar up to the locomotive boiler.  For this flatcar I will have to fabricate blocking timbers, the track panel, eyebolts and steel cables from brass wire.

I started on the flatcar securing arrangements with some scale lumber and wood ties.  I cut the various blocking timbers to length and cut the ties to a length of eight feet.  I stained all of these using Micro-Mark's Railroad Tie and Bridge Stain.  I then assembled the platform of ties, and inserted a mounting pin of .040" styrene rod underneath:




The later speaker's platform was assembled from various pieces of .060" thick styrene strip and covered with a Z scale grass mat from JTT which was close in colour to the prototype.  It would also receive a mounting pin underneath.  It still requires the safety railing, which I have yet to figure out how to make:






This photograph shows my model held up to the only decent photograph I have of the prototype:




The track panel was assembled from Code 40 rail and PC board ties.  The steel girders on either side of the rear truck were fabricated from strip styrene:




I fashioned the four lifting lugs from strip styrene and drilled holes through them, and I installed the steel girders.  This assembly was then airbrushed with Floquil Grimy Black.  After that I attached the two side timbers.  The white styrene pieces are safety placards asking people not to climb on the car.  They will receive a decal with the warning sign.  I filed the bottom of this assembly to ensure it would sit flat on the car:




I positioned the exhibits on the flatcars and then glued the blocking timbers in place on the flatcar decks except for those alongside the track panel, which were glued directly to it instead.  I used BLMA lift rings for the eyebolts where the cables are secured to the decks; probably difficult to see them in this photograph as they are so tiny.  Here are the flatcars with the blocking timbers and eyebolts installed:




Here is CHEMAINUS RIVER with the early speaker's platform pinned in place:




and again with the later platform substituted in place:




This photograph shows CAYCUSE RIVER with a test fit of the track panel in place:




And so the time has finally come to mount the exhibits on their cars permanently, and then attempt to represent the cable tie-downs.


Stay tuned!

Tim

The flat cars look so good Tim. Well done.

Craig

[dandopinski]

Fantastic!!!

[Philip H]

Those railings look like the pipe railings around a lot of building in that time period. Inch and half OD I think. Should be easy enough to shape with some styrene rod  and  3d printed fittings.

[Nick Lorusso]

Tim,
Outstanding work as usual. Looking forward to seeing it all completed.

[BCR 570]

Thank you all for the encouragement; glad it is of interest to others.

Tim

[BCR 570]

Flatcar Load Installation (Part 2)
This past week was spent working on the later speaker's platform, and the remaining challenge was to fabricate and install the safety railing.  One of the people who worked on the train and have been providing me with information and photographs suggested soldering together pieces of phosphor bronze wire, and when Craig suggested something similar I knew I had to give it a try.  I have used soldering skills for trackwork but not for anything like this.

The railing appears to be 36" high and comprises a railing across the front end, and a railing surrounding the three remaining sides.  I bent the top rails and end stanchions for each from .015" phosphor bronze wire, and cut the remaining stanchions.  I used a piece of wood as a surface on which to do this, and used painter's tape to secure the pieces while soldering.  I drew a horizontal and vertical line to aid in getting the stanchions perpendicular to the railing.  I used acid flux, Fast Tracks solder, and the fine conical tip for my iron (Weller ST-6).  I started with a few test joints to see how much solder was needed on the iron (not much!) and whether this would actually work.

This is the front end handrail going together:




Adding stanchions to the surrounding railing:




And the other side of the surrounding railing:




I was able to get the railings fairly parallel and square, and the joints not too "blobby":




I thought the hard part would be fabricating the handrails, but drilling the holes and getting the railings in without breaking them - my goodness!  Enlarging the holes with a #78 drill helped, and after gluing the railings in place with ACC I was quite pleased with the results:




Craig suggested Tru-Color Tuscan Red paint for the railing.  It took two brush coats to cover the phosphor bronze wire and I had to be careful not to hit the grass mat.  This completes the later speaker's platform, and as it involved a new technique for me it was a pleasant success:




I am waiting on safety decals for the track panel (easier to apply before it is glued to the flatcar) and I can then proceed with permanent installation of the loads on the flatcars.  Meanwhile I have started on the two tank cars for the train, so will share my initial work on those next I think.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Service Tank Cars (Part 1)
For its first two seasons the museum train included in its consist an auxiliary water tank car for the two steam locomotives.  This was required due to the absence of watering facilities during their travels, and the relatively low capacity of the tenders on the two steam locomotives.  The water car was formerly a British Columbia Railway fire protection tank car numbered BCOL 991936.  Most of the railway's fire cars were built from salvaged parts (tank cars wrecked on the railway).  Capacity of the tank was 8,000 imperial gallons.  The dome was cut down and plated over, and a large hatch cut in the top plate.  Safety handrails were installed on either end of the hatch.  The car retained its number during museum train service.  A steam line was added under the car, a duplex pump was installed under the right side, and standpipes at each end of the car for connections to the locomotive tenders were added.  There was also a vertical pipe on the right side up to the top hatch for filling the car.  The car was painted black and stencilled PROVINCIAL MUSEUM.  I am not aware of this car's final disposition other than it is no longer around and presumably scrapped some years ago.  The absence of the car and knowledge of its origin present challenges with respect to knowing the dimensions.

This is a photograph of the car after its museum train service, when it was being used in film work:




In its third season requiring further travel, an auxiliary fuel oil tank car was added to the consist.  This car was CGTX 14087 from a series of cars built in December 1956.  It was a 10,000 imperial gallon insulated car with a large dome and platform.  Again, a steam line was added under the car, a duplex pump was installed under the right side, and a vertical pipe up to the top hatch.  There were also MU connections at either end of the car and a connecting cable run as the car ran between steam and diesel locomotives on several occasions.  The car was painted black and stencilled BRITISH COLUMBIA as it was used initially on the 1977 BC Tourism train with Royal Hudson No. 2860.  The car was donated to the museum at Squamish and for some time was used in the BCIT training fleet.  It remains there today which has enabled me to obtain precise measurements and reference photographs.

I took this photograph of the car a few years ago:




For the last few weeks I have been preparing drawings from which to work, based on my field measurements and study of available photographs.  These are for the water tank car:




and these are for the fuel oil tank car:




The most suitable model for the water tank car would appear to be the Intermountain 8,000 gallon tank car.  The biggest change required is the dome, which must be cut down and filled in.  However, after consulting with my friend Greg K. (PGEModeller) it transpires that the Intermountain car, while the correct style having three longitudinal courses, is too long and too narrow.  Greg estimates a tank length of 28'-6" and a diameter of 83 inches.  The frame would have to be shortened to match, something like 33'-3" overall.  The tank would have to be cut twice and a section taken out either side of the dome, and then wrapped with a sheet of styrene.  The frame would also have to be cut twice, shortened and reassembled.  Yuk!

Another option, if possible, would be to "digitize" the Intermountain tank and frame, make the necessary adjustments, and print the parts.


The best candidate for the fuel oil tank car is the Atlas 11,000 gallon tank car, which is very close in dimensions and is the correct style (welded and insulated).  The model has a small manway and platform which will need to be replaced with a larger dome and platform.


I began by mounting the Intermountain tank car on Micro-Trains Bettendorf trucks with Fox Valley wheels, and the Atlas tank car on BLMA trucks and wheels.  I fitted both cars with Micro-Trains Z scale couplers:




I then took the cars for a test run to verify that the trucks, wheels and couplers were working and the cars were tracking well:






So far, so good.  I am now working on replacement domes, and will need to find a way to correct the Intermountain tank and frame, either via surgery or 3D replacements.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Service Tank Cars (Part 2)
My friend Geoff F. offered to help with rendering and printing of new domes for the two tank cars, which I am very grateful for.  I shared my drawings with him and after an initial render and print for "proof of concept", we got together and worked out the exact arrangements and dimensions based on my measurements and photographs.

The dome for the water car was cut down and plated over, and a large hatch installed.  This is intended to fit into the Intermountain tank body as a replacement dome part:




The dome for the fuel oil car is much larger than the manway on the Atlas model.  Due to the challenge of drilling a large (amost half-inch) hole into the tank body, this part was designed to rest on top of the Atlas tank body.  It contains the hatch and vents:




The parts were printed for an initial test fit (water car on left; fuel oil car on right):




Here is the new dome part inserted into the Intermountain tank body.  We were able to achieve a fairly snug fit:




and here is the new dome part sitting on top of the Atlas tank (off centre as I have yet to remove the manway):




The next step will be to try and get these printed at a higher resolution.  I will fashion handrails for the water car dome from phosphor bronze wire, and I am hoping to get the platform for the fuel car dome etched.  These parts are a big step toward achieving more accurate models of these two cars:




Geoff has also offered to have a go at "digitizing" the water car tank body so we can make the required changes in the CAD software rather than me having to cut up the actual model.  If that is successful I will then cut and splice the frame to match, and I will have a fairly accurate model of that car.  For the fuel oil car I need to remove the manway and the rivet strip along the lower tank body.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Display Board
I also created a display board to accompany the model train at shows this year.  The left panel shows the train in each of its five seasons from 1975 to 1979.  The centre panel illustrates the cars in the original 1975-1976 consist, and the right panel shows the later additions.  The photographs are from friends Roger Burrows, Robert Hunter, Ross Pugsley, Robert Turner and Dave Wilkie.  Thanks to Philippe Whyte for assistance with the top banners, which are designed to replicate the stenciling on the cars:




Tim

[BCR 570]

Service Tank Cars (Part 3)
My friend Geoff offered to have a go at "digitizing" the tank for the water car, so working from my drawings he did exactly that and then made the required changes.  This saved me from having to cut up and rearrange the Intermountain tank body.  After drawing the Intermountain tank as is, it was shortened in length and increased in diameter:








After an initial test print, the ends were altered for a better profile and the cut down dome was integrated into the tank body.  We also added the extra retention straps either side of the dome:






It was then up to me to shorten the Intermountain underframe to accommodate the shortened tank body.  Rather than cut up and rearrange the underframe, I elected to scratch-build a new one in styrene:






Here is the new tank siting on the new underframe:






Meanwhile, on the fuel oil car, I removed the lower rivet strip on each side using sanding sticks:






I then test-fitted the latest version of the replacement dome for this car.  We added a depression underneath which enables this part to snap onto the manway housing molded onto the top of the Atlas tank.  This guarantees a centered and level fit:




So I now have correct frames, tanks and domes for these two cars.  I can now proceed with brake equipment, duplex pumps and safety fittings.


Tim

[craigolio1]

The tanks look great Tim! 

Would the printed tank to replace the IM model be a better starting point for a BCR fire service / water tank than the Arnold models you had used previously? If I recall correctly, you used Arnold tanks on Micro-Trains frames.

Craig

[BCR 570]

Would the printed tank to replace the IM model be a better starting point for a BCR fire service / water tank than the Arnold models you had used previously? If I recall correctly, you used Arnold tanks on Micro-Trains frames.

Craig

Yes it probably would; already has the dome cut down.

Tim

[craigolio1]

Yes it probably would; already has the dome cut down.

Tim

Hmmmm good to know.

Thanks

[BCR 570]

Service Tank Cars (Part 4)
I have completed fabrication of the mounts for the various brake appliances for the two tank cars.  The ones for the fuel oil car were assembled from my field measurements and photographs; those for the water car were based on standard practice for older tank cars as I only have one or two photographs of the car.  The styrene mounts are for the Precision Scale Co. brake cylinder, AB reservoir and triple valve.  The brake wheels are Gold Medal Model etched parts:




The scratchbuilt underframe for the water car required bunks for the tank to sit on.  I copied the bunks on the Intermountain underframe as best I could, and drilled the holes for the mounting pins.  I then filed and sanded the bunks until I was happy with how the tank sat on the frame:




There is a small part underneath the tank which needed to sit on top of the centre sill, at which point I knew I had a good fit:




Another challenge with these two cars was the steam pumps mounted underneath the running board on the right side.  The framework supporting these is a network of 6" channel and 3' angle iron, which is not available in strip styrene shapes.  I tried assembling some from .010" x .010" and .010" x .020" styrene, and putting together the framework, but it was just too small and fiddly.  I had also planned to use some steam pumps by Miniatures By Eric for the pumps, but the castings proved to be way too large.  Fortunately my friend Geoff came to the rescue again and converted my pencil drawings into 3D renders:

Steam pump assembly for water car:




Steam pump assembly for fuel oil car:




These were then printed, adjusted to fit the cars, and reprinted.  This is the water car with its pump:




and the fuel oil car with its pump:




So I now have all the parts required to detail the underframes.  I just need to get out to the hobby shop for some different diameters of brass wire for all the piping and plumbing.

I also sent Geoff's STL files for water tank body and the fuel tank dome to Bryan Busséy, who kindly offered to print them for me at a higher resolution:




So it is now on to detailing the underframes and tanks in hopes of having these cars assembled for display at a show the following weekend.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Staff Coaches (Part 1)
My museum train project has received a big boost with the arrival of three coach models to represent the staff cars operated during the train's fourth and fifth seasons in 1978 and 1979.  These were three of five staff cars acquired from the American Freedom Train Foundation in 1977.  The models are accurate representations of the cars, requiring minimal work prior to painting:




The car on the left is a Centralia Car Shops P-S 4-4-2 sleeper car which will represent the crew sleeper ADVENTURE (ex-AFT-201; ex-SP 9111).  I will need to remove the skirts along the lower car sides between the trucks but the model is otherwise correct.

The car in the middle is an Interurban Models 3D print representing the staff diner ENDEAVOUR (ex-AFT-202; ex-Reading 592).  This model only requires the addition of grab irons at the doors.

The car on the right is an Interurban Models 3D print representing the official car BRITANNIA (ex-AFT-205; ex-Reading 1329).  This model requires assembly of the rear platform and handrail, and the installation of grab irons for the doors.


Tim