Weekend Update 11/2/25

[up1950s]

https://www.railwayage.com/news/rail-freight-whats-in-the-crystal-ball/

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https://www.rhomberg-sersa.com/en/news/75-years-of-innovation-on-track

https://www.cordstrap.com/en/applications/rail-load-securement/how-innovation-and-customer-support-drove-railcar-securement-success/

https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/news/53068267/fire-officials-unaware-of-railroad-maintenance-that-sparked-fires

https://www.wagjag.com/deal/waterloo-central-railway-thanksgiving-2008582?srsltid=AfmBOoob9yt0PhLTJH9hntAzkpsBx7EZ36YTPoyfNCRDTNupSPY_qcSn

[Dave V]

A couple weeks ago I managed to score a unicorn... a Blackstone undecorated 3000-series "economy door" boxcar. Many of the D&RGW's ubiquitous 3000-series boxcars did not have the more familiar "Camel" hardware that included the signature horizontal steel brace across the center of the door. However, of all the kits and RTR 3000-series cars ever made in HOn3, only Blackstone made the "economy door" version.



I lettered it according to a photo taken of 3187 in 1940 in Ouray, CO. As it happens, 3187 is the "default" car number in the San Juan Decals set of this car. As such, many people letter their 3000-series cars as 3187, but it's usually on a Rail Line or Almomsa Car Shops car with the wrong door. 3187 was an "economy door" boxcar. I also added the correct lettering on the tack board. Blackstone did not release a decorated model of 3187.

[bbussey]

Decades in the making. Still many months of work ahead, but finally reached a major milestone with the successful rendering of New Haven Union Station main components.

[ednadolski]

Here is a recent project to build a longe #12 turnout in Z scale.  Details here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=60231.msg829665#msg829665




Cheers,
Ed

[nscaler711]

Guys... I may have ordered the wrong crane for my uh... Scrap yard...

[nkalanaga]

Depends on what you're scrapping!

Water sprayers on rail-grinding trains are common.  They make a LOT of sparks, and can easily start fires along the tracks.  Worst case, they can set the ties on fire.

[mandealco]

Hi
Still haven't managed to do much modelling for a while, but Laura and I have been on a couple of trains recently.  We crossed the ditch (Tasman Sea) to visit one of our sons near Adelaide.  Starting in Melbourne then travelling on the Overland to Adelaide.  After a week with family, we took the 24-car Ghan to Darwin, a nearly 3,000km journey.  The cars were built by Commonwealth Engineering under license from Budd designs.

The first photo shows the Ghan during its 4-hour layover in Alice Springs.  The crew I'm told don't leave the power, hence the shades are drawn to combat the 40 degree (Celcius) heat.  The engines are General Electric Cv40-9i's built in Australia by Goninan in the mid 90's.  They look different, but make all the right noises.

While in Adelaide, I purchased an Auscision Models N-Scale NR class in Ghan livery and the same number as the trailing unit, though in an earlier scheme.  That's it on the top step.

Now at home I had to put it on some track to see how it looked but haven't run it yet.  These things are gorgeous, right down to sanders and underframe piping, plus a full cab interior.  Mine is DC, but they also come with DCC and sound.


Untill I had it back home I hadn't thought about the height of it.  At 13'-11", it comes in a bit less than a modern US built GE at 16'.  I put it nose to nose with one of my more modern units, an M-420!!


Due to circumstances beyond my control, we're heading back to Adelaide in 3 weeks.  Our 8 boys all contributed to a super 70th birthday present for me.  We're going to the Aussie Supercars final and staying with our youngest boy near there.  I will also be picking up another Auscision Models unit while there, an 80-class cowl unit built by Comeng to MLW/BBD specification CE615A.  It's not what I model, but it's an Alco and is also gorgeous.
Cheers
Steve

[NorthWestGN]

Halfway through my RS2 detailing project, still need to source a few parts…

[rickb773]

I may be in the minority for absolutely hating Kato couplers, but I posted an on-line YouTube video from @Veekerstudios on a very simple solution to my issues. Thread: "Making Kato Couplers Compatible with More Common Couplers"

A response has brought up a potential issue, and I hope someone tests the problem listed.
(I cannot since my layout is torn apart down to the L-Girder level.)

I hope this helps others looking for a very, very simple solution to a very irritating problem (at least to me).

Keep 'em rollin',
Rick

[BCR 570]

I ventured down to Portland last weekend to take in the local RPM meet there, and to retrieve one of my locomotives.  Eng 632 has returned to the layout after a long absence during which it has received a new decoder to replace the one which inexplicably died.  While visiting my friend Dave Mackinnon we also worked on a few of my C-425s, and got the ditch lights restored on Eng 812.  Here is C-420 632 back on home rails:




The layout is now shut down for a while as I prepare to move forward with painting of the yard tracks.  During the last op session, all cars were brought south to Chetwynd and subsequently removed from the layout.  I then removed all of the structures and vehicles.

The next step was to mask the backdrops and fascias with newspaper to contain any overspray:




I then set about masking all of the turnouts at their throw bars and hinge points, and also where the point rails contact the stock rails.  I also replaced a few broken headblock ties and a few missing ties at rail joints.  Here is the scene in Chetwynd Yard:




And in the yard at Dawson Creek:




Now onto painting!


Tim

[LARGEdrop]

The scenery, rock work and weathered rolling stock look fantastic, great work on the locomotive too!

Halfway through my RS2 detailing project, still need to source a few parts…

[InterurbanModels]

Just having fun with some micro-modules on my kitchen table

The full view:

[randgust]

Got in a CMR shell print to put soldered brass handrails on.   This is Georgetown Railroad 9056



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/GRR02.jpg

That's the problem with RP shells, you still can't convince me that you can come up with handrails that either aren't too fragile or sewer pipes, even when the surface quality of new RP prints is comparable to any injection molding.

[mu26aeh]

Working on junking my GP30 roadmate

https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopicture.aspx?id=19399





And started on a Rapido SP B-100-40 boxcar.  I caught one of these sitting on the Gettysburg & Northern interchange a few years ago.

[timwatson]

I finished a new turnout throw. It uses an SMD switch that the switch base sits on.







You can see the layout thread here - https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=60242.msg82973