Weekend Update 10/26/14

[BCRail_FSJ]

Andy. Those look very nice. Where did you get the stripes for the hockey stick version.  I had planned to use the stripes from the caboose set but realized just the other day that on the caboose the stripes go back to the right on both sides.

Craig

I am pretty sure I used the Microscale Caboose set for the hockey stick stripes. but I just cut the diagonals from the rest of the decal and probably flipped it upside down on the one side.   The horizontal white stripe along the carbody was all done with painting and masking.  I used the 'BC Rail' from the Microscale Caboose set also.   The font is correct but it is a little too bold compared to the prototype.

[jereising]

Over on the product discussion page, I asked a question on the new FVM SD70ACes - how the ditch lights looked.  (Excellent, we are told.) The usual thread drift happened and we started talking about the FVM GP60Ms and their miserable ditch lights.

I've embarked on a project to remedy that, and as a tease, here's where I am now:



I do plan a tutorial at a later date.

[craigolio1]

I am pretty sure I used the Microscale Caboose set for the hockey stick stripes. but I just cut the diagonals from the rest of the decal and probably flipped it upside down on the one side.   The horizontal white stripe along the carbody was all done with painting and masking.  I used the 'BC Rail' from the Microscale Caboose set also.   The font is correct but it is a little too bold compared to the prototype.

I didn't know that about the BCRail logo. I wonder if that's a caboose thing, or an in accuracy in the set. If it's the set I wonder if the new one from Highball is a better choice?

Craig

[ednadolski]

REAL PUMPED UP. I am going to jump back in to N scale modeling with a new layout. Nothing extreme. Just a
2x4'. Modeling BNSF's FRONT RANGE SUB around Owl Creek, CO. Been taking a lot of pictures and looking at
maps and been real intrigued by this line, much like my admiration for the SD&AE (San Diego and Arizona Eastern).
After disposing of everything for the move in 2012, from California to Alaska, I am literally starting over. My wife
had suggested (a light word) no more massive rooms full of as she says (trains). So I pitched it to her that this
would be a small endeavor to work on and document this Winter.



I am purposely planning a layout with not many structures. It will highlight the high plains scenery, which is much
like desert scenery. The sub is BNSF now, but was BN before that and I think modeling BN would actually work.

http://www.railroadradio.net/content/view/182/220/
http://www.coloradorailfan.com/gallery/gallery.asp?pg=2&sub=FR
http://cheyrails.blogspot.com/2014/10/bnsf-front-range-sub-cheyenne-to-fort.html

Any thoughts on this venture are welcomed and when I get rolling will post in Layout Engineering Report.

I'm looking forward to following this.  Burns Junction on the Front Range Sub is just across the highway from my office at work.

One comment on the plan, your curves look pretty sharp (esp. if that is a 2x4).  What sort of motive power & rolling stock do you have in mind?  Also, have you considered handlaid code 40 track?  Seems like this kind of plan would be amenable to that.

Ed

[davefoxx]

Chuck,

I'm with Ed.  If you could take this up to a HCD-sized layout, you could make your plan work better.  At a 2' x 4' size, those s-curves are going be brutal, since your minimum radius is in the 9" to 10" range at best with no tangent track between the reverse curves.  All you need to do, though, is to straighten that dogleg somewhat.

Hope this helps,
DFF

[LIRR]

I agree as well, unless you're absolutely limited to 24x48 by set-up space, storage space or the area for a permanent location. A 30x80 HCD will give you much more to work with. Even of you cut to door down to 60". I have to believe that even if you are space-limited, you could accommodate the extra 6" width and 12" length going with 30x60. Keep us posted....

[CodyO]

finished stage one of the trainphone installs on 7 N5`s and 1 N5C
Next step is installing the wire

[VonRyan]

I bought some 6' lengths of aluminum code 250 rail at Timmonium. Along with some other odds and ends.
No real idea what I'm going to do with it yet, although I have some ideas.
Other than that, nothing for me this weekend.

[chuck geiger]

Boys good to hear from you, wish I had more room. I could do 2x6, doesn't help the curves, but I will
straighten out the dog bone. Looking at BN Geeps. Would love to do C-40, maybe in Wellington. The
rolling stock would be mostly grain cars, a couple of Geeps and a hack. (Maybe 30") x 6

[Tom L]

As a current resident of Wellington, CO., I will enjoy watching your progress as we'll.  I doubt it has ever been represented on a model railroad before!

Tom L.
Wellington CO (MP85)

[chuck geiger]

Tom was there a C&S, CB&Q, BN depot there and what are the names of the two elevators
off of Cleveland on the mainline?

[Tom L]

Yes, depot photo here, if the link works.  Caption says it was torn down 1959. Looks like there was a passing siding as well.

http://history.fcgov.com/waterways/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/ph&CISOPTR=33006&CISOBOX=1&REC=7

The grain elevators are no longer used, but the buildings are still used. One of them is a health club and the other is used by someone who malts barley for some of the small breweries in Fort Collins. I don't know what they were called when in use, before I moved here.

https://www.facebook.com/GrouseMaltingAndRoastingCompany

I have lived here 10 years and the only rail activity I have seen (other than trains passing through) is that they sometimes park MOW equipment on the siding of the southern most grain elevator. The siding is almost sunk completely into the dirt. there is a spur about a mile or so North of town that looks like it was used for some sort of transloading, maybe sugar beats? A couple of years ago it was used as car storage for covered hoppers. I also read somewhere that there was once a spur that took off, maybe just north of town or near the depot and ran northwest a mile or two to a sugar beet dump. No sign of that anymore, that I can see.

the owl Canyon siding, to the north, is used quite often for meets between North and Southbound trains.  not sure if you would have enough space to include that.

Tom L.

[davefoxx]

Boys good to hear from you, wish I had more room. I could do 2x6, doesn't help the curves, but I will
straighten out the dog bone. Looking at BN Geeps. Would love to do C-40, maybe in Wellington. The
rolling stock would be mostly grain cars, a couple of Geeps and a hack. (Maybe 30") x 6

Chuck,

Do the 2' x 6'.  It may not increase your minimum radius, but it will lengthen your sidings in Wellington and give your dogleg a little breathing room.

DFF

[Hamaker]

Chuck:  Being a BIG fan of the San Diego & Arizona Eastern layout you built, I'll be very anxious to follow
your progress on your new project.

[chuck geiger]

Thanks Ham, still negotiating with the war department.