The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

Are you planning to also acquire the earlier version of #205, which lacks 'The Road of Personal Service' slogan?

I honestly didn’t even know that was available.  I would prefer to own the older version, but that must be made from unobtainium. 

DFF

[Point353]

I honestly didn’t even know that was available.  I would prefer to own the older version, but that must be made from unobtainium. 

DFF

Both locos were produced about a year apart about 15 years ago.

According to the list in the following link, one of each loco was included in an auction this past April.
https://auctionguy.com/weds-april-28th-ho-trains-loco-rolling-stock-accessories-more-s-816597.html

Apparently, that auction was run by some outfit called Cabin Fever Auctions based in PA.
https://www.cabinfeverauctions.com/

[davefoxx]

I downloaded new files to my Rapido B36-7s from the ESU website, which allows me to better adjust CVs (sounds and lights), as compared to the factory Rapido/ESU file.  Got these B-Boats consisted with sounds and lights controlled in the consist.  I don't like directional lighting, and I have only the headlights on each end of the consist functioning and independently controlled.  I did make the classification lights directional, because I don't know how the prototype class lights operated.  I have some sounds directional, so the horn and bell only work on the leading unit, depending on the consist’s direction of operation.  The middle unit's bell, horn, and lights (except numberboards) are off.  The numberboards' lights turn off when the prime mover is shut down.  I adjusted the sound files, so the prime mover, dynamic brakes, and radiator fans are slightly out of phase, too.  This consist sounds hawt in Run 8 and in dynamics.



DFF

[wazzou]

I don’t believe you.    

[davefoxx]

I don’t believe you.    

Heh, I was too lazy to shoot a video last night.  Maybe I will tonight.

DFF

[davefoxx]

I don’t believe you.    

Ask and ye shall receive:

DFF

EDIT: I noticed the surging of the video, so it appears as if there's some serious pogo or slinky effect going on with this train.  The conductor in the caboose would have whiplash.  This is purely a fault with the upload to YouTube, because I went back and checked the video on my iPhone 7+.  The original video recording does not have this surging.  Stupid YouTube. 

[TiogaTracks]

Beautiful, and sounds great!

I’m curious, how is the volume balance between the horn, bell, and prime mover when you listen to them in person?  I’ve had to tinker with that a lot on my locos.  Your video makes the horn sound barely louder than the diesel engines, but I know that may just be camera audio being weird.

Once again, I’m amazed at how good that scene of yours looks.  Keep up the awesome work!

-Steven

[davefoxx]

@TiogaTracks,

That horn sounds quieter on the video, because the consist has passed the camera and is moving away.  I did that on purpose to imply distance.  In person, the horn is louder than the prime mover by quite a bit.  I set the volume of sound effects down to about 30-40%, but the horn is at probably 75% volume.

Thanks,
DFF

[pedro]

I downloaded new files to my Rapido B36-7s from the ESU website, which allows me to better adjust CVs (sounds and lights), as compared to the factory Rapido/ESU file.  Got these B-Boats consisted with sounds and lights controlled in the consist.  I don't like directional lighting, and I have only the headlights on each end of the consist functioning and independently controlled.  I did make the classification lights directional, because I don't know how the prototype class lights operated.  I have some sounds directional, so the horn and bell only work on the leading unit, depending on the consist’s direction of operation.  The middle unit's bell, horn, and lights (except numberboards) are off.  The numberboards' lights turn off when the prime mover is shut down.  I adjusted the sound files, so the prime mover, dynamic brakes, and radiator fans are slightly out of phase, too.  This consist sounds hawt in Run 8 and in dynamics.



DFF

I love your attention to detail on the headlights; it’s one of my MRR peeves. I can say that shutting numberboards off on trailing units in a consist is still required. More specifically, only the lead identifying numberboard  should be lit. This is to ensure that on territories operated by timetable/train order or track warrants, that, at night, a train waiting for the passing of an opposing train would not be confused by numberboards lit on one of the trailing units. Taking it a step further, it is technically possible that a unit added en route to the point, or on a light engine consist after changing directions may differ from the identifying unit number on the train order. Therefore you would turn off the lead numberboards and have only the identifying units’ lit, even if it’s in a trailing position.

I can’t speak to class lights as they are no longer part of our operating rules, but my educated guess is that they would also be lit only on the lead identifying unit, regardless of direction of travel.

These lights are all controlled manually via slide switches or toggles on the control stand or electrical panel, so it’s not unusual for an engineer not paying attention to have number lights on in trailing units. Some railroads enforce this rule more than others, so as always you’re going to see exceptions. It is in the GCOR however.

[wm3798]

All of that is interesting to know, but when you have a train looping around a tenth of a scale mile loop, it's not something I would spend a lot of time modeling.  A couple of pictures with the lights on and off and a bit of photoshop time cutting and pasting, and you can make your pictures look perfect without really getting your hands dirty.

Lee

[davefoxx]

I love your attention to detail on the headlights; it’s one of my MRR peeves. I can say that shutting numberboards off on trailing units in a consist is still required. More specifically, only the lead identifying numberboard  should be lit. This is to ensure that on territories operated by timetable/train order or track warrants, that, at night, a train waiting for the passing of an opposing train would not be confused by numberboards lit on one of the trailing units. Taking it a step further, it is technically possible that a unit added en route to the point, or on a light engine consist after changing directions may differ from the identifying unit number on the train order. Therefore you would turn off the lead numberboards and have only the identifying units’ lit, even if it’s in a trailing position.

I can’t speak to class lights as they are no longer part of our operating rules, but my educated guess is that they would also be lit only on the lead identifying unit, regardless of direction of travel.

These lights are all controlled manually via slide switches or toggles on the control stand or electrical panel, so it’s not unusual for an engineer not paying attention to have number lights on in trailing units. Some railroads enforce this rule more than others, so as always you’re going to see exceptions. It is in the GCOR however.

@pedro,

This is great information.  I can always go back and revise the programming to turn off the numberboard lights on the trailing units on these B36-7s.  Easy peasy.  I just need to verify that's the way that the SBD did it in the 1980s.  I would love to hear more from real railroad employees about the actual operations of locomotives regarding lighting, bells, and horns.

Thanks,
DFF

[davefoxx]

All of that is interesting to know, but when you have a train looping around a tenth of a scale mile loop, it's not something I would spend a lot of time modeling.  A couple of pictures with the lights on and off and a bit of photoshop time cutting and pasting, and you can make your pictures look perfect without really getting your hands dirty.

Lee

It's a whopping one-third of a scale mile loop, so shut your mouth. 

DFF

[davefoxx]

Thanks to the information from @pedro, I went online and purchased a bound copy of the Seaboard System Operating Rules.  Hopefully, this will educate me to operate my layout more realistically.

DFF

[davefoxx]

I remapped the numberboards functions on the trailing units.  They’re now off.



DFF

[Scottl]

That is a sweet looking scene.  And now we know it sounds as good as it looks.