Weekend Update 7/22/18

[mark dance]

Congratulations on reaching the huge milestone Tim!

md

[Mark W]

Been traveling for 2 weeks now and finally caught a few trains!  Anyone care to guess which country I'm traveling?  Its probably not your first guess. 

[C855B]

Sri Lanka.

[bdennis]

Like Coxy, I needed to build a diamond crossover. I used the Fastracks paper template and the traditional method of building it. the template has extra long check rails that I dont think are needed so did not install them.
Here are a few pictures.

[Mike Madonna]

Tim,

Layout looks great! Wondering what is the height of the upper and lower levels?

Thanks!

[jpwisc]

I’ve started working on KRL 078, an escort caboose for the Schnabel. I’ve filled most of the windows and have started working on some of the new details.
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[BCR 570]

Tim,

Layout looks great! Wondering what is the height of the upper and lower levels?

Thanks

Thank you - lower level is at 42" and upper level is at 58".  I experimented with heights using small dioramas on a bookcase prior to construction.  At 58" the upper deck is a nice viewing height but not too high for uncoupling, etc.  At 42" the lower deck is a sufficient distance below the upper deck, and a nice viewing angle if you are seated on a stool or in a chair.  I should perhaps mention that I kept the gradient level along the lower and upper decks; the only change is in the helix.  Thirteen years on I would have to say that I am pleased with the heights I chose.


Tim

[Mark W]

Sri Lanka.

Well that was fast,  if your first guess wasn't India.   

We've been driving around the whole island the past six days,  and this is the only glimpse of railroad I've seen so far.
 But not to worry; we'll stop at Demodara Loop and Nine Arch Bridge today,  then on the 24th we've organized a cab ride! 

[GhengisKong]

Well that was fast,  if your first guess wasn't India.   

We've been driving around the whole island the past six days,  and this is the only glimpse of railroad I've seen so far.
 But not to worry; we'll stop at Demodara Loop and Nine Arch Bridge today,  then on the 24th we've organized a cab ride!

How is the food there compared to the Punjabi fare that we normally enjoy here back in the States?

[C855B]

Well that was fast,  if your first guess wasn't India.   

We've been driving around the whole island the past six days,  and this is the only glimpse of railroad I've seen so far.
 But not to worry; we'll stop at Demodara Loop and Nine Arch Bridge today,  then on the 24th we've organized a cab ride!

Sounds like fun!

I have a leg up on this region. Our son spent three years in India and is fluent in Hindi, Urdu and Tamal. I don't recall if he took time off from school to visit Sri Lanka directly, but he did spend some time in the Tamal region. So... though I don't read it, I recognized the Tamal on the signage and noticed only English on the equipment, which eliminated India immediately.

[James Costello]

Thank you - lower level is at 42" and upper level is at 58".  I experimented with heights using small dioramas on a bookcase prior to construction.  At 58" the upper deck is a nice viewing height but not too high for uncoupling, etc.  At 42" the lower deck is a sufficient distance below the upper deck, and a nice viewing angle if you are seated on a stool or in a chair.  I should perhaps mention that I kept the gradient level along the lower and upper decks; the only change is in the helix.  Thirteen years on I would have to say that I am pleased with the heights I chose.


Tim

Good feedback - thanks Tim

[nkalanaga]

Coxy:  I used the same idea on my one, and hopefully only, crossing, and it's still solid as a rock after 20 years.  I think you and your friend will be well satisfied with the results.  I have no idea how old the technique is, as I got it from an old magazine, and the author didn't claim it was original.

I didn't make the guardrails part of the assembly, adding them later, but mine is an "almost 90 degree" crossing, and the guardrails were very simple to add at the end of the process.

[BCRail_FSJ]

Congratulations on the operation session Tim!.    I have been doing my best to catch up by beginning the rough scenery forms at the east end of Fort St John yard and installing a front fascia.   

Andy

[OldEastRR]

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.

Do you guys have a local (non-retail-chain) hardware store? Mine stocks not only #80 bits but many others in that range  (60,61,62, etc) along with the drill sizes used for full-sized drills. They also carry plenty of hobby knife blades of the many varieties. They also carry other MR usable items, including brass rods and structural shapes.

[John]

Been traveling for 2 weeks now and finally caught a few trains!  Anyone care to guess which country I'm traveling?  Its probably not your first guess. 

I'd say Sri Lanka