Weekend Update 11/23/25

[up1950s]

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&sca_esv=3254653861c5b0f8&udm=7&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeqDdErwP5rACeJAty2zADJjYuUnSkczEhozYdaq1wZrEheAY38UjnRKVLYFDREDmzxDQH5cf73Nv5SUwLly1WG2RRTz5Zp2Uvco3Dr76giEv7KoLdER8DerohCvE5WYq8IvfNQRQHkwcsZAmUfFI3CBSx3HjRSebGup2eLjFz8thpHIe2Q&q=david+kruschwitz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiO1oyer9eQAxUEFFkFHYiKLX0QtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:de59b19f,vid:nFxXqr-6Sdc,st:0

https://railyardsupply.com/products/electric-derail-equipment?srsltid=AfmBOoqh-MAAMSdjzUZk3Ao3RmZoqSsjukkAUMEA2yKQLirBeW0Y91Us

https://nolancompany.com/product-category/automated-derail-operators/

https://www.aldonco.com/product-category/signs-and-lights/lights-signs-and-lights-signs-and-lights/?srsltid=AfmBOoqkK-C9xtmmcEHRJJrqtXkOstvmLy92SjXLfSQSXVaWL96sT3X3&_categories_signs_and_lights=lights-signs-and-lights-signs-and-lights&_paged=2

https://www.reddit.com/r/trains/comments/1o6q9ix/csx_drags_a_large_tree_and_almost_takes_out/

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https://www.123rf.com/photo_57989702_railway-traffic-light-shows-blue-signal-on-railway-blue-light-moving-train-with-lights-and-green.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/nycrail/comments/lhkpo0/why_are_there_blue_lights_in_the_subway_tunnels/

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/railroad-shunting-traffic-lights-blue-signal-143580901

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b5lSc7yXj2I

[BCR 570]

More progress this week.  After testing the rail components for my crossing while still loose in the fixture, I proceeded to solder them into place:






I then re-tested both routes with a free rolling truck and checked all the flangeways with the NMRA gauge.  Next up is cutting the gaps and cleaning the assembly to remove any flux residue.


I also assembled the four straight sections of track which will adjoin the crossing:




I also continued working on my isolation track.  I got the toggle switch connected to the wire leads:




I received the small lamicoid panel, mounted it on the fascia and drilled the hole for the toggle to sit in behind, starting with 1/8" bit and working up to 1/2"):




And here is the panel and switch in place between the control panels for the south ladder and the shop area:




I received a re-supply of Tamiya grey spray paint this week so I can now proceed with a primer coat on the yard tracks at Dawson Creek.


Tim

[arx nakanishi]

Let me show another cut from my N-scale Cisco, Utah diorama.
We are still hanging around the Duke's Service I uploaded last week.

The gas station structure was formerly the Pace Brothers Company building. Pace Brothers Co. was a stock and ranch holding company established in 1913 and acquired the Cisco Mercantile in 1925.

The dwelling behind the station was formerly a three-room house at Green River, Utah, owned by William Howland.

Thanks for looking!

Hiroshi Nakanishi/Boxcar Red Collection
https://riogrande.blog.jp/

[Sumner]

More progress this week.  After testing the rail components for my crossing while still loose in the fixture, I proceeded to solder them into place:



I then re-tested both routes with a free rolling truck and checked all the flangeways with the NMRA gauge.  Next up is cutting the gaps and cleaning the assembly to remove any flux residue.

Nice work....If I might make a suggestion......clean the flux before cutting the gaps.  With the gaps cut the crossing loses a lot of strength.  I use a liquid flux that one doesn't have to clean but do in warm dish detergent water with a brush.

Also I now add a center PCB tie in the center of the diamond between the two that are there as that is also a weak spot.  Once in place with all the wood ties strength becomes less of an issue but sometimes it is some time before I have track I've built in place.  I have a crossing now that I have to fix as a result of handling it too much.  I'm a 'function' first, 'looks' second kind of guy so maybe not the norm  .

Sumner

[altohorn25]

One of two locomotives I've been working on this past week.  This is an Alco HH-1000.  Milwaukee had two of these locomotives (1670 and 1671) built in August of 1939 and they survived until they were scrapped in 1965 by their second owner (Miller Compressing Company).

This is an Atlas S2 mechanism with Digitrax DCC installed (no sound).  The shell is 3D printed.  Gold Medal Models grab irons.  The bell and bracket are from the Kato Union Pacific 4-8-4.  I ended up using an undecorated cab so I didn't have to crack the glass out of this GN one.  Single chime air horn was relocated to the engineer side on the front of the cab.  Micro Trains Z scale 905 body mount couplers.  Decals are custom printed.

This mechanism runs like a swiss watch and will shove about 15 cars around my yard with no issues.

A nice project of an interesting prototype.

No, the designer and printer of the shell is not interested in making more, so don't ask.

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[altohorn25]

My other project for this weekend.  A Fairbanks-Morse H10-44.

3D printed shell mounted on an Atlas VO-1000 mechanism.  Micro Trains body mount 1015 couplers.  Kato Union Pacific 4-8-4 bell and bracket.  I used my last partial bottle of Polyscale Milwaukee Road Orange for this guy.

I'm letting the orange dry for a bit and and I'll apply the grey this afternoon.  The maroon stripe will be a decal.

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[BCR 570]

Nice work....If I might make a suggestion......clean the flux before cutting the gaps.  With the gaps cut the crossing loses a lot of strength.  I use a liquid flux that one doesn't have to clean but do in warm dish detergent water with a brush.

Also I now add a center PCB tie in the center of the diamond between the two that are there as that is also a weak spot.

Excellent suggestions which I will adopt; thank you!

Tim

[Dave V]

Been doing some subtle weathering lately using pan pastels and my airbrush. These three Blackstone cars were purchased unweathered...and as I shared previously, 3187 was acquired undecorated, so I also had to letter it per photographs.

We usually associate Colorado narrow gauge rolling stock with exceptionally heavy weathering and sagging, sway-backed frames from loose truss rods and so on. Part of that is the influence of more whimsical modelers like John Allen and Malcolm Furlow, and some of it is from seeing photos of abandoned narrow gauge rolling stock in the late 60s after regular D&RGW narrow gauge freight service had ended once and for all. But in the early 40s, these cars were in regular service and maintained accordingly. Sure, some cars were badly in need of a paint job (I have some of those too), but photos from the early 40s suggest that most of these cars were well-maintained with paint in as decent a shape as the climate and altitude (>30% more UV in the high country) would allow.



Some cars, however, were returned to service after maintenance with only their car number and light weight...something I've modeled before and something I plan to simulate again with another Rail Line boxcar kit. Those kits from the 70s build up slowly (every single hole needs to be drilled by hand with a pin vise) but are equals to Blackstone in crispness and detail. They were among the finest injection-modled kits of their (or any) era. Here's one of those Rail Line kits I built that I've shared previously. The next one will have only the car number and light weight:

[Scottl]

Now that the line is open again, trains are starting to stage in Jasper.  Working now on the townsite plan with the station as the central attraction. Space is crimped but I think I can do it reasonable well.  Also contemplating how to do a rendition of Mountain 4-8-2 number 6015 that is on display at the station.  I just need a static model.

[ednadolski]

Finished up a Proto:87 conversion project.  Thread here:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=60330.msg831150#msg831150



Cheers,
Ed

[wm3798]

Acquired another Rivarossi example from the wild.  A ConCor era Heavy Mikado




It was missing valve gear and siderods on th engineer's side, bu the junkbox provided.

Lee

[Sumner]

My other project for this weekend.  A Fairbanks-Morse H10-44.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=60329.0;attach=66615;image

Very nice work.  Where did you get the shell (see link just above)? 





I got the one above a few years back but it isn't detailed near as nice as what you have.  Looking forward to seeing the rest of the painting and decal work as I'll have to do the same at some point (UP though).

Sumner

[Jesse6669]

More track and ballast testing this week.  I received a set of sieves (.15mm and .30mm screen) to sift out the too big and too small ballast from the blend I'm using (AZ Rock & Mineral plus Laticrete grout).  There's more info in the Layout Engineering thread.  So far so good, I think am on track to start painting the Midland Sub track this coming week.

I finished up (99%) this B&O enclosed autorack.  Needs a bit of brown/umber weathering still but quite happy how it turned out.  It's not 100% accurate but it's close enough for me.

 

Prototype--


And finally, work is progressing on the Zumbiel Packaging factory flat.  Did some testing of the 3D prints and method for using Archistories brick.  There's a thread in 3D printing sub on that. 

[haasmarc]

Played with a new rusting solution called Dirty Down.  I like it.



I also found a chrome paint that works good called Fusion Firm Ultra Shining Fluid Silver Foil.  You can brush it or spray it.

This is brushed:

[MK]

I also found a chrome paint that works good called Fusion Firm Ultra Shining Fluid Silver Foil.  You can brush it or spray it.

That's amazing for brushed!

Do you have a link?  Searching on Amazon yields a million hits but nothing exact stands out.