Weekend Update 9/14/25

[BCR 570]

John:  I like the colour additions to the tugboat - well done!

This week saw completion of track painting for the main line trackage:






At present the work doesn't stand out a whole lot as the trackbed underneath is a similar colour, but once I start ballasting I think that the painting work will be more evident - at least that is the hope!


I then ran the first test trains over the newly painted trackage:






And that paved the way for hosting an op session for this weekend's Vanrail meet.  My guests included visitors from Port Alberni BC, Saskatoon SK and California USA.

RS-10 No. 584 switching in Chetwynd Yard:




and RS-3s Nos. 570 and 567 passing through Tremblay with a rail relay train:




Tim

[craigolio1]

More progress on BC Rail 3716 this week. Decals are mostly done.





More in the build thread here: 

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=59965.30

Craig

[Hedron]

Repowered a Bachmann Brill trolley purchased in my youth some 35 years ago. Cracked axle gears now, and of course always ran loud and rough. Used a Kato 11-105 and an adapter from Thingiverse (the one in the picture is a failed print that snapped when being removed from the supports. The one I used was complete.) Painted the primer mover black. Added tire weights to the inside ceiling for some heft. The weights are visible, so painted them white to mimic window shades. Hit the shell with Dullcote which reduced the toylike gloss finish. I have not added back the catenaries yet as they will probably snap if I look at them funny. I did not wire it for light at this time.
The adapter is a good fit. A wee bit of filing on two corners. I do miss the undercarriage fittings. Not sure of a good way to add those back given the resistance of the Kato Delrin to adhesive. And yes, the trucks are now a probably complete mismatch and I shall report for excommunication from the hobby forthwith.

[Sumner]

Finished (mostly) the bottom scenery on the backdrop.



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Time for some clouds,

Sumner

[chuck geiger]

Sunday in the Las Piedras Yard

[jpwisc]

Wiring fun… trying to add lights to something that is a flatcar is most interesting…
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[Dave V]

And a parting shot for me. Installed some detailed Ponderosa pines at Placerville. I honestly don't know who made them as I picked them from a bin full of scenery at Mother Lode Model Trains. But damn they look realistic!

[craigolio1]

Wiring fun… trying to add lights to something that is a flatcar is most interesting…
(Attachment Link)

Ooooooo I love complicated lighting with too many wires and not enough space. Following!! Is that decoder going under the shack you have off to the side there?

Craig

[altohorn25]

Layout update:

[btrain]

Had a nice little vacation from work last week. I was on a benchwork building bonanza completing two curved Free-moN modules for my Lake Shore Central, along with the Sandusky Bay causeway (good grief 13’ is a lot of linear model railroad) and Berea interlocking. Also started on a new batch of vehicles and installed a couple of DCC decoders.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

In a very amusing irony, the tiny Stewartstown #10 serves the Mann & Parker Lumber Co. in Shrewsbury with some of very large flatcars of lumber.

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Photo actually taken on Scott Wahl's T-TRAK modules of the Washington & Old Dominion at MARPM this past weekend.

[chuck geiger]

In a very amusing irony, the tiny Stewartstown #10 serves the Mann & Parker Lumber Co. in Shrewsbury with some of very large flatcars of lumber.

(Attachment Link)

Photo actually taken on Scott Wahl's T-TRAK modules of the Washington & Old Dominion at MARPM this past weekend.

The best-looking T-TRAK I've ever seen, with no rollercoasters or spaceships.

[Iain]

@mucktown128,

Based on the pics I have seen of PRR steam tugs, these air intakes appear to allow rotational adjustment. Maybe for pointing into wind direction?

the vents are almost always rotational (not going to say always because i'm sure there's an example where that's not the case)

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The best-looking T-TRAK I've ever seen, with no rollercoasters or spaceships.

His stuff is incredible: https://www.facebook.com/NScaleCustoms

[jpwisc]

Ooooooo I love complicated lighting with too many wires and not enough space. Following!! Is that decoder going under the shack you have off to the side there?

Craig

Yup, the decoder should fit in there nicely. I just need to trim some wires and start soldering (when I get home this weekend)