Weekend Update 7/22/18

[up1950s]

http://thislifeinruins.blogspot.com/2010/07/repurposed-train-cars-yakima-7162010.html

[pdx1955]

Let's kick this update off this week with a new completed MOW project. This represents a converted surplus 12-1 tourist sleeper into SPMW 5355 a Boarding/Bunk car for the work train.

[GhengisKong]

http://thislifeinruins.blogspot.com/2010/07/repurposed-train-cars-yakima-7162010.html

I could definitely use a 10-1-1 for my CoSL.

[draskouasshat]

Let's kick this update off this week with a new completed MOW project. This represents a converted surplus 12-1 tourist sleeper into SPMW 5355 a Boarding/Bunk car for the work train.

you might want tp turn the truck on the right 180*

[BCR 570]

Summer holidays have arrived at last and it is prime modelling time for me, so please pardon the lengthy post as a lot happened here this week!

Firstly, while waiting for revisions to control panels for Chetwynd, I have been working on some freight cars which can be prepared fairly quickly.

With Superior Propane dealerships up and down the BCR line, I couldn't resist this beautiful CGTX tank car from Atlas, seen here after receiving BLMA 70-Ton trucks and MT 905 couplers:




A CS Models chip car which will become PGE 9797; this is the first one I built using a custom assembly jig to help keep the parts straight:




The first of six log stake cars built from the Kaslo Shops resin kit are fully assembled:




And two National Steel Car 52'-6" riveted flat cars from the new Briggs Models 3D printed kit:




More to follow,

Tim

[BCR 570]

Meanwhile, the layout inches closer towards operations with more work undertaken on turnouts at Chetwynd.  I received the revised North Ladder control panel and got it installed, which allowed me to finally finish mounting the wires from the toggles to the Singlets underneath.  Here is the new panel in place:




I also mounted some magnetic strips to hold the clipboards for my operators.  There is a clipboard for Chetwynd Yard and three for the road jobs, seen here with my replicas of BCR Timetable #3:




Finally, on Wednesday evening, I hosted an initial trial operating session with my friends Michael and Philippe as guest operators.  We ran a Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday schedule with no train to/from Dawson Creek so that we could focus on evaluating the yard job and the Septimus Turn.  My preparations began with providing switch lists, which I have patterned closely on the prototype as seen at right in this photograph:




The layout was prepared with the Vancouver-Peace Freight arriving on the main track in Chetwynd:




and the southbound tonnage from Fort St. John waiting at Septimus:




Michael got to work in Chetwynd Yard, dismantling the V-P Freight and building the Septimus Turn:




Philippe prepares to depart Chetwynd with the northbound Septimus Turn comprising 11 cars behind Engs 607-581-613:




After many years of operating on other people's layouts, and 13 years of work to get to this stage, it was hugely rewarding and satisfying to see others operating my layout, and having a lot of fun doing it!  Here Michael switches the Canfor mill as Philippe returns to town with the Septimus Turn:




The session ended with departure of the Peace-Vancouver freight behind MLW M-630s 710 and 708.  Consist was 21 cars:




The post-op discussion was very positive and we agreed to host a second trial session in two weeks, for which we will add a third operator and run the Dawson Creek Switcher as well.


OK I'm done,

Tim

[central.vermont]

And two National Steel Car 52'-6" riveted flat cars from the new Briggs Models 3D printed kit:


Tim

Tim, can you tell me what the build date of these flats Jeff has done. Wondering if they were around in 1966.

Jon

[Angus Shops]

Local hobby shop etiquette rule  #1: If the shop only has 5 #80 drill bits in stock, don't buy all 5; leave at least 1 for your fellow modeller, who may not be able to get to shop as early as you on a Friday because you happen to be a teacher. Yes, I'm looking at you Mr. Tim Horton 😀.
 
Seriously, good looking progress on your layout. It's great to see that you've made it to 'operating'. But don't be surprised if you find me pounding on your front door if my last #80 breaks...
Geoff

[BCR 570]

Tim, can you tell me what the build date of these flats Jeff has done. Wondering if they were around in 1966.

Jon

Oh yes they would have been.  The PGE cars were delivered between 1954 and 1956, and served the railway up to the CN takeover in 2004.  The CN and CP cars would have been of a similar vintage.  Jeff offers a CN/CP version and a PGE/BCR version; not sure of the differences.  The carbody is one piece with a central weight cavity; the underframe fits on top of the weights.  Accessories include coupler boxes for 1015 draft gear which slide and lock in place, and a brake wheel.  There are pre-drills for all of the sill steps and grab irons.  Very easy kit to build.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Local hobby shop etiquette rule  #1: If the shop only has 5 #80 drill bits in stock, don't buy all 5; leave at least 1 for your fellow modeller, who may not be able to get to shop as early as you on a Friday because you happen to be a teacher. Yes, I'm looking at you Mr. Tim Horton 😀.
 
Seriously, good looking progress on your layout. It's great to see that you've made it to 'operating'. But don't be surprised if you find me pounding on your front door if my last #80 breaks...
Geoff

Local hobby shop etiquette rule #2:  They should have more than 5 in stock!  I asked for a dozen and got five; I asked for a pack of #17 blades and there were none.  Grrr.

I find that drilling into the 3D printed material is harder on the drills than drilling into resin.  It also doesn't help when your pin vise rolls off the desk and lands on the floor drill bit down . . . 

Seriously, by all means come over and see the layout, and get a drill bit or two if you are desperate!

Tim

[DKS]

Been working on an abandoned tower.





More details in the Layout Engineering thread.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=44969.30

[central.vermont]

Oh yes they would have been.  The PGE cars were delivered between 1954 and 1956, and served the railway up to the CN takeover in 2004.  The CN and CP cars would have been of a similar vintage.  Jeff offers a CN/CP version and a PGE/BCR version; not sure of the differences.  The carbody is one piece with a central weight cavity; the underframe fits on top of the weights.  Accessories include coupler boxes for 1015 draft gear which slide and lock in place, and a brake wheel.  There are pre-drills for all of the sill steps and grab irons.  Very easy kit to build.


Tim

Thank you Tim.
Jon

[coldriver]

After many years of operating on other people's layouts, and 13 years of work to get to this stage, it was hugely rewarding and satisfying to see others operating my layout, and having a lot of fun doing it!

Congratulations on achieving this milestone Tim!  You've done things right and I expect you'll be receiving rave reviews from everyone who operates with you. 

[Angus Shops]

On the New Westminster waterfront this morning: 4 BNSF units (all spotlessly clean) on a long string of SRY boxcars; one of the units was a GP30. I'm not a BNSF expert by any stretch, but I was surprised that any GP30's are still active on a behemoth like BNSF. I've also seen a CN Draper Taper lurking around.

All of this and more is visible from the windows of Steel and Oak, our local micro brewery. Surprisingly active rail scene in New West with CN, CP, SRY, and apparently  BNSF.  It  seems to me there's a pretty good chance  of  seeing  some activity if you stop in for a glass or two. And no,  I wasn't at S&O at 9:30 this AM, I was on a different mission.

Geoff

[Coxy]

After a long hiatus, I'm doing a little track work.

This one's a code 55 N scale diamond for an interlocking plant on a friend's Chicagoland layout. The curved leg is 39.5" radius.

I'm experimenting with the slotted rail technique which I have not used before. The pcb ties are glued to a paper printout. I want the ties held firmly to the base and plenty of solder joints on the rail so everything is nice and solid for when I'm filing the slots. Once done, I'll free the diamond from the paper with a razor blade. The darker areas in the photos are covered in fine metal filings. That will get cleaned up once the diamond is done.

Construction is currently in the "large amounts of swearing" phase as I need to get some finer files that will fit between the running rail and the guard rails.