Weekend Update 4/13/25

[up1950s]

https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Roanoke-Shops-played-important-role-in-regions-history-567992041.html

https://wisconsinlife.org/story/riding-on-an-historic-miniature-steam-locomotive/

/>

/>

/>
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=83ceb05c68cf2c95&q=new+rr+portal+north+bridge&udm=7&fbs=ABzOT_Dgt8iPZ9gW18rC6PlWgCdc2St_pHc65h5aYk9UcgPKV9RhNRaPvb3wB6PYfpofI08SfgWLuUk9awMzLsM377MY0IpfPu90KtS5KAeDGwraVMTcARvxZfx1DmJnwt3Kzs5vdRJOU9Ixv-RCxMO2yk1XY56e0f8Ppb4OOrLAcxvo3YF3RZRKuX_9FCBBGmIvPn_PLzl4zzopomSriptsQ6QsIRXekD7I0E3K31s93vvBYbRhtNM&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirjZ7xgqiMAxVIrokEHWyEEwMQtKgLegQIEBAB&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:49474ee4,vid:FEkC5SaVnoU,st:0

https://digital-photography-school.com/railroad-safety-photographers/

https://www.volpe.dot.gov/work-us/small-business-innovation-research/using-ai-powered-camera-technology-improve-railroad

https://www.ndtv.com/webstories/feature/most-dangerous-train-routes-around-the-world-26608

[Dave V]

The PRR Juniata Division version 2.0 has been taking delivery of more motive power from Broadway Limited Imports.

This has been met with confused stares and wild conspiracy theories from the good townfolk of 1905 Aspen, Colorado...

[John]

The PRR Juniata Division version 2.0 has been taking delivery of more motive power from Broadway Limited Imports.

This has been met with confused stares and wild conspiracy theories from the good townfolk of 1905 Aspen, Colorado...

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[bbussey]

The Alco FB1 in the as-delivered scheme has been completed and added to the existing set of Dulmaine green units.

[Lemosteam]

Bit the bullet in a rare purchase of rolling stock, with two dented gons from Bluford for the IS, should I let the railroad become the inventor of patching in the early 50’s? Also some matching Hay Brothers scrap loads. I like them a lot!



Meanwhile a 40’ wartime gon rolls up with another hay brothers load.

[mu26aeh]

Been working on an Atlas PD covered hopper this week.  I faded the graffiti tag by sanding it first with 600 grit sandpaper to remove some of the color, as it has been in the weather and the cheap rattle can paint is fading/wearing off.  They airbrushed light passes of white and grey over the whole car, finished with some rust streaks from the walkway supports

[BCR 570]

The last of seven turnouts requiring my attention was dealt with this week.  The servo was sticking even after freeing it from the turnout, so something is wrong inside:




I swapped the servo arm with throw wire onto another servo removed from the layout elsewhere, and it worked fine:




The turnout in question is at the south end of the industrial lead in Chetwynd Yard and is used to access the shop tracks the Imperial Oil spur and the Canfor mill:




With all turnouts now working well, I am moving on to track cleaning, wheel cleaning and test runs in advance of some op sessions.


Tim

[Sumner]

Great scene!  I need some aspens like that.  Any info on how to make them or what nursery sells them?

Sumner

[InterurbanModels]

Test running my freshly arrived Con-Cor UP M-10000. Runs fine, need some minor improvements on the (rather strange) articulation mecanism.

(If you are screening the used market for those - generally heavily overpriced - items, two advices: 1/ be patient 2/ include Europe in your search. I got mine from Spain for a fair price)

[Dave V]

Great scene!  I need some aspens like that.  Any info on how to make them or what nursery sells them?

Sumner

Those are commercial trees from Grand Central Gems. I found my homemade aspen trees from Supertrees became too brittle too quickly in this climate and were unsuitable for a portable show layout. The ones on the original Colorado Midland layout disintegrated. These are nice and flexible.

[Scottl]

Back home after a long time away.  Absolutely no motivation to work on the layout and the Supertrains show in Calgary did little to stoke it (although it was a great show). 

So I fired up the printer and churned out four of these rock cars in On30.  The car design is by @Chris333 and was originally done for HOn30.  I scaled it up and then down again to look good in On30 (it is about 1:64 now, so S I guess!) and the trucks are from Thingiverse as well.  The trucks must have been for larger models so I scaled them to shorten the wheel base and height.  They look ok with some wheel sets I had in my stash and this little rock car.  I need to add to wire and detail wheels.  I have no idea where this is going but it is fun to print these chunky models.



Together with a Chivers caboose and my little Porter, I have most of a train.  I bought that Porter in 2003 in Phoenix at a Narrow Gauge shop on a whim that has led me to accumulate a small collection of On30 kits over the years.  Many of these companies have gone extinct so I'm glad I did while they were available. 

I have found a design for link and pin couplers so I'll modify that and print some out in ABS resin.  I will do the trucks in ABS resin too as they work but are a bit brittle for the task.

[Sumner]

Scenery to Track Elevator – Part 7

Continuing with the scenery on the upper level going to the track elevator……...

 

I have the print files up on thingiverse for the double track plate girder bridge above and some other abutments where you can vary the angles. More info and print file links ( HERE ) . Also a different style 64 foot bridge ( HERE ) .

 

I designed these abutments to fit the location. If you go to the link further above you can find the print file links to adjustable angle abutments.

 

The image above and the following ones show rock work that was added to hopefully break up the flat mesa top area where the tracks run.

 

.

 

A dirt service road was added that will come in along the rock face to the left and follow the tracks down to the plate girder bridge. It will provide a way for work crews to get to this area if needed.

 

Time for Spackling and paint.

To be continued…....

A link to this whole build ( HERE ) .

Sumner

[altohorn25]

I finished up a new diner ("Pie Car" in circus lingo) for my N scale 1947 Ringling train.

Micro Trains heavyweight diner with Circus City decals.  Scale Trains 36" metal wheels.  Micro Trains Z scale 905 couplers.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Chris333]

There is a guy selling those on Ebay, but with the extruded ice cream machine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/176816425378

Funny thing he posted them on FB one time. I commented that if he had to change anything to make them O scale could he upload the files to the free sites. He replied with "why would I give away all my hard work". I told him I did all the hard work and gave the link with my same name. Again they are free files to do whatever with, but this guy claiming it is his work.

[Missaberoad]

Kind of him not to give you credit... or blame for his less then ideal print job...