Re: Weekend Update 6/28/26

[up1950s]

https://www.volocars.com/the-attraction/exhibits/steam-power

/>

/>
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-11-02/los-angeles-based-autonomous-freight-train

https://www.newson6.com/tulsa-oklahoma-news/union-pacific-big-boy-no-4014-east-coast-tour-2026-no-oklahoma-stops-this-summer

/>
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/10/vintage-train-journeys-uk-at-risk-as-coal-supply-fails

https://www.loupiote.com/photos/railroad-tattoo-backpiece-209573036.shtml

[delamaize]

I'm getting ahead of the game this week.
Quite a few months ago, I picked up a lot of old Kato GP50 parts for a deal. I was able to build 2 locomotives out of the parts. I decoderized them, then they say. Well yesterday I got some motivation,  and got them painted. I give you SBL 1980 and 1981.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
I'm pretty happy with how they turned out overall. Old Burlington Northern units were the insperation.

Today, I decided to turn down the flanges on 1 or my 2 Minitrix I1SA projects I ha e been working on, so I can do sonw actual test running on my home layout, which is all ME and Atlas Code 55.

I'm pretty happy with the results of this also. It ran for about 2 hours at 20DMPH pulling 25 old Atlas Ore gars, and a Bowser N5 caboose.

I started a thread for those locos here:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=61203.0

Oh, I forgot to add, I finished* the "City of New Orleans" also. And repurposed some wooden tray/boxes ai picked up from PNP trains in Renton, Wa. To make a case for the whole train. I was able to split it between 2 trays, one is power and head end, other is all passenger.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
*waiting for baggage/Dorm I pre-ordered from Lowell Smith, I have a coach as a stand in right now.

[CR4100]

Nothing exciting from me this weekend. I created a sled to hold some tank cars that are too fragile to transport out of the house.
The rails hold the back side of the wheels in place and the corners keep the car from moving around. These will be glued to a corrugated cardboard base which will then go into a cardboard box for transport.

[Ntrainz1]

Rick (rickb773) lent me 2 of his T Trak modules to extend my home layout









Recently acquired a Trix 4-6-2 cheap, I am modifying tender for work train derrick service.

Thank you.
Bob.

[Dave V]

Got some Pennsy goodness in the mail this week:



And, courtesy of @mu26aeh , got that Bowser N5 cabin car I've been looking for!

[Scottl]

To get through a deep N scale funk,  I returned to working on bringing a troubled On30 Shay to back to life.  I bought this as a fixer-upper several years ago at an irresistible price.  I've since dismantled it, replaced the motor, cleaned the corrosion off the decoder and replaced the sound capacitor and speaker.  It runs well now, so on to replacing and upgrading details.  I designed a new cab with screw mounts on the bottom, as well as a coal bunker, sand boxes and pilot and side steps.  It is starting to look pretty good and will be ready for paint soon.

[dnhouston]

I've been working on a Klinger's Pharmacy Kit.  Almost done.

[InterurbanModels]

This Interurban consist is by any means not prototypical at all. But we have a heatwave here in Paris, and I just want to have fun

[ednadolski]

^^ got martini?   (make mine Chopin)

Ed

[Iain]

I'll get pics tomorrow when the paint is dry, but I put decals on my kitbashed Piedmont and Northern boxcar and weathered it.

[cjm413]

I'm getting ahead of the game this week.
Quite a few months ago, I picked up a lot of old Kato GP50 parts for a deal. I was able to build 2 locomotives out of the parts. I decoderized them, then they say. Well yesterday I got some motivation,  and got them painted. I give you SBL 1980 and 1981.
(Attachment Link)
I'm pretty happy with how they turned out overall. Old Burlington Northern units were the insperation.

Today, I decided to turn down the flanges on 1 or my 2 Minitrix I1SA projects I ha e been working on, so I can do sonw actual test running on my home layout, which is all ME and Atlas Code 55.

I'm pretty happy with the results of this also. It ran for about 2 hours at 20DMPH pulling 25 old Atlas Ore gars, and a Bowser N5 caboose.

I started a thread for those locos here:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=61203.0

Oh, I forgot to add, I finished* the "City of New Orleans" also. And repurposed some wooden tray/boxes ai picked up from PNP trains in Renton, Wa. To make a case for the whole train. I was able to split it between 2 trays, one is power and head end, other is all passenger.
(Attachment Link)
*waiting for baggage/Dorm I pre-ordered from Lowell Smith, I have a coach as a stand in right now.

The Lowell Smith baggage-dorm is also going to be a stand-in, IC 1903-1904 were rebuilt from heavyweight cars in IC's Burnside Shops.

Link to IC 1952 Passenger car diagrams here

https://www.illinois-central.net/RollingStock/IC%206-1952%20PASS%20CAR%20DGMS.pdf

[Jim Starbuck]

I had a great time running with the Modutrak crew at the NSE convention in Milwaukee.
I finished this the night before leaving for the setup.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
It’s an ai generated 3d print that’s been modified by milling the underside to accommodate the 7x16mm dual shaft coreless motor driving both axles with Z scale wheels and geared axle tubes.
It has an ESU Lokpilot decoder and a TCS KA-N1 keepalive. I ran short of time but it may get lights and an operating beacon.
The mechanism is basically the motor glued between two pieces of brass angle. The printed Z scale geared axle tubes hold the gauge and the half axles pass through holes in the vertical web of the angle providing track pickup.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Much of the top web was cut away to allow the printed rubber tires to set down on both sides of the motor.
All of the motor and gearing is below the sill height and the rear hood is a solid block of lead. There is also a lead weight under the cab roof. The decoder and KA reside in the cab.
The video is of it running is on the mainline at about twice the speed it should be. It will slow down to a steady crawl though and pull 3 to 5 cars depending on what type.

[BCR 570]

This week I experimented with Sculptamold and Celluclay to build up terrain in a few areas.  I wanted to learn how to use these products as I will need them in other areas on the layout:






I also completed the roof for my museum train official car, including rivet decals, front end detail parts, and the trainphone antenna:






More here:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=60937.45


I also installed the display tracks on their bases.  These are for our 7th Div PNR-NMRA display booth.




Tim

[kiwi_al]

I had a great time running with the Modutrak crew at the NSE convention in Milwaukee.
I finished this the night before leaving for the setup.
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
It’s an ai generated 3d print that’s been modified by milling the underside to accommodate the 7x16mm dual shaft coreless motor driving both axles with Z scale wheels and geared axle tubes from a worm at both ends.
It has an ESU Lokpilot decoder and a TCS KA-N1 keepalive. I ran short of time but it may get lights and an operating beacon.
The mechanism is basically the motor glued between two pieces of brass angle. The printed Z scale geared axle tubes hold the gauge and the half axles pass through holes in the vertical web of the angle providing track pickup.
(Attachment Link)
Much of the top web was cut away to allow the printed rubber tires to set down on both sides of the motor.
All of the motor and gearing is below the sill height and the rear hood is a solid block of lead. There is also a lead weight under the cab roof. The decoder and KA reside in the cab.
The video is of it running is on the mainline at about twice the speed it should be. It will slow down to a steady crawl though and pull 3 to 5 cars depending on what type.

/>

Your next project will be a Hi Rail Truck with DCC, you are obviously getting too good at miniaturisation and I feel you need a tougher project

[lock4244]

^^ got martini?   (make mine Chopin)

Ed

Damn right! Very nice vodka.