Weekend Update 1/19/20

[BCR 570]

The last several weeks have been spent speed matching my locomotives in preparation for a return to revenue operations this coming Friday.  The first phase of this operation was to dial out accel/decel and adjust speed values to achieve consistent scale m.p.h. at speed steps 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25.  The scale speed is double the speed step which will allow operators to estimate how fast they are actually going (ie. speed step 10 = 20 scale m.p.h.).  Speed step 28 is ramped up to full speed for wheel cleaning.  This phase involved running each locomotive through the speedometer at the various speed steps:




and then making adjustments in JMRI with the locomotive on the program track:




Phase 2 involved dialing back in some accel/decel.  Not sure how much to use so have gone with 55 for now and will solicit feedback from operators this Friday.  Initial accel/decel tests were done with NAR GP9 203 in the yard at Dawson Creek, now paired with the new caboose from Bluford Shops:




I then began assembling consists for the upcoming operating session to see how well the locomotives will run together after speed matching.  So far I am very pleased with the results.  Here are two of my new RS-3 locomotives re-marshalling their plow extra at Dawson Creek:




I have intentionally paired locomotives from different manufacturers and ones which I knew did not run well together previously.  Two Life-Like C-425s and an Atlas C-420 lead a test train of new freight cars across the Kiskatinaw River bridge:




Ex-Erie Lackawanna C-425s 810 and 807 team up on a short work train departing Chetwynd.  Prior to speed matching these two locomotives had top speeds of 45 and 94 smph respectively; now they run together beautifully:




Power for the next VP-PV freight comprising two Atlas C-630 mechanisms and a Life-Like C-424.  M-630 717 is making its operational debut after finally curing a serious truck issue:




Also, some new freight cars joined the roster today.  As always, a big thank you to Jeff Briggs for his custom painting and weathering, and Philippe Whyte for the custom decals.  Two Micro-Trains 50' double door boxcars re-equipped with 8' doors to represent the BCIT 800000-800079 series cars leased from USRM during the 1970s; these were rebuilt by USRM from surplus 40' boxcars.  They carried a unique font for the reporting marks:




And two ex-BAR 40' boxcars representing the 3045-3099 series also leased during the 1970s; they were partially repainted and re-stencilled:




This photo was the inspiration for modelling these cars, seen at the Albert Pool elevator in Fort St. John:




And here are my cars at the identical Alberta Pool elevator in Dawson Creek:




It is gratifying to see the layout coming back to life after the five month hiatus.  The new DCC system is working well, hte computer interface and JMRI are working well, and I can now run any combination of locomotives I want to.  I am looking forward to Friday's op session and receiving feedback from the operators.

I will leave you with a trackside video of Work Extra 570 departing Dawson Creek:

All for now,

Tim

[narrowminded]

I've been busy working on the designs and tooling for my new N, Nn3, and Z Scale highly detailed track project.  This is a piece of the siding track that I got itchy to see what some paint and washes might look like.  This isn't the best, actually a rush job and something I'm new to but I have to say, I'm pretty happy with how this is going.   This also makes me anxious to see what @robert3985 will do with this stuff.

This piece was painted Krylon Camo Brown and then a light tan wash, then some grain scratched with a track saw, then some India ink wash, then the tie plates colored with Red Earth acrylic ink.  The rails were given a coating of Neolube.  Convenient and fast but not the way to go for a real installation.  I definitely need practice but I'm seeing great possibilities!  It even stands up to closeup photography.  I'm happy. 

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[wm3798]

Resurrected an old friend.  Never worked right with a decoder, so I found a replacement light board on line and got back in the switching business.


Then did a little JFRTM.

[spookshow]

I've been spending my days planting corn and cornerpunching window and door openings -



For a hobby that provides me so much enjoyment, there sure are a lot of individual tasks that I just really don't enjoy at all 

-Mark

[thomasjmdavis]

Early-Mid 1950s.. like this?

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2261489

It is a very nice shot, but definitely sometime in the 1960s ("silver" roof and locomotive paint scheme are giveaways, any captions notwithstanding).  Also, 449 and 450 were later rebuilds (447 and 448 are shown on the 1954 ORPTE, the other 2 came later). at least according to the best info I can find.  But all 4 were rebuilds of various baggage coach combines. I do get to keep the taller windows on 448, per my one photo.  With Microtrains, Wheels of Time and Atlas all having an interest in head end cars, I was hoping that someone would bring out a baggage mail with 2 baggage doors per side, as many Midwestern roads had them, but no one has and I got tired of waiting. 

If I don't come up with a photo or documentation, I will probably change out the doors, assuming that Wabash did so at the time of the conversion to mail-baggage.  My best guess is that at some date in the 1950s, Wabash began using the single window baggage door as a replacement for worn out doors and in rebuilds.  None of the 1940s photos show them, but almost all baggage cars after 1960 have them.  The problem is that it seems Wabash photographers of the 1950s were distracted by dome cars in general, and the Blue Bird train set in particular, along with recording their last steam locos.

As it happens, one of my Christmas presents was a Hasegawa "Trytool"- which is a stainless steel etched template set of geometric shapes in sizes that scale out conveniently for N scale.  And I think this will make cutting precise square tiny windows for modernized baggage doors a piece of cake.

[Cajonpassfan]

I...

As it happens, one of my Christmas presents was a Hasegawa "Trytool"- which is a stainless steel etched template set of geometric shapes in sizes that scale out conveniently for N scale.  And I think this will make cutting precise square tiny windows for modernized baggage doors a piece of cake.

Hmmm, interesting. Please post some pics once you start using this new wondertoool...
I’d like to learn about it.
Tanks,
Otto K.

[arbomambo]

Can you tell us more about how you did those headlight lenses within tue housing?

Those headlight inserts are from a detail parts kit that was released by Kato USA a year or two ago. It was designed to update their Union Pacific E9 units to represent the current excursion set operated by UP. It consisted of these acrylic(?) headlight inserts (2), ditchlight housings(2 pair), MU cables( 4 sets), rotary beacon(2), 5 chime horn with 'over the winterization hatch' mount(2), and the quintessential UP snowshields(3 pair).
Due to demand, they released the set again, but they sold out almost as rapidly as the first release did.

  I only needed the snowshields for my 1957 era UP E units (I bought 4 sets), so I had 8 of these twin beam headlight inserts left over.

They're perfect for the single headlight housing on these Freight Fs (only the very first couple of sets retained their single beam headlight up to the 1959-60 shop retrofits.)
I would also use them for the center headlight housing on my warbonnet Fs but, of course, they're designed to fit the larger upper headlight housing that the Kato models have. The Santa Fe installed their own center headlight housing to their warbonnet F units, which was larger than the ones that EMD used as a factory built item. In this respect the Kato units' center headlight housing, at least for the ATSF warbonnet units, is incorrect.

[diezmon]

The NTRAK club I belong to (and probably many other NTRAK clubs everywhere) have been using the Velcro ^TM curtain attachment method for decades.  My friend (and NTRAK member) also uses it on his layout.  It works very well.

whose layout?   I'd be interested in more pics.   It looks impressive. 

[diezmon]

I hit a local annual railroad flea market to collect some more things I don't really need.  The guy took ten bucks, so I'll have my first bout with a steam engine, as I attempt to put this atlas unit back together.   

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While applying decals, i realized my GN observation didn't have enough bottom end, so i tacked on some extra side..  A last silver stripe and I can finally finish my badger/gopher consist. 

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[peteski]

whose layout?   I'd be interested in more pics.   It looks impressive.

Ernie Poole's MRL layout. In Wilmington, MA.  It was featured in May 2009 Model Railroader Magazine.  I had a nice write-up on it (with lots more photos) on the Atlas Forum, but that is now gone.  I did upload those photos here, but haven't created the write-up yet.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;cat=137;u=2700

More photos in Puddy's Memorial Train thread: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=39650.msg509405#msg509405

[bnsfdash8]

More work on coil cars this week.

Painted, then chipped corrugated CR hoods. I used AK Interactive's heavy chipping fluid to create the chips.

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The first NS CS-28 coil car to be decaled.

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[Bryn]

I've finally got around to building my Skytop Model's conversion kit for a Milwaukee Road MP15AC, which started as a n scale Atlas MP15DC. More detail on my thread;

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=48770.msg647810#new

[u18b]

You are making me want to work on mine, now. Only real problem with it is the tender wobbles, causing the footboards to contact the railhead occasionally, and the driveshaft connection between the tender and engine is a little short, so sometimes it just pops out and causes it to bind; was just thinking of trying to extend the female part of the driveshaft so that it doesn't do that, assuming it can't be adjusted forward.

(Thanks Jim from previous post)


Hi Christian.

I would not recommend messing with the female half-shafts.    They are complex castings.   I don't think you can extend them.



Now, if you simply must adjust a half-shaft, you could extend the male part.
You need to disassemble the entire u-joint (which is a bit scary- and very difficult to put back together when finished).
Here is a surplus one I have.



The male part is actually 2 pieces.  The football shaped barrel and the shaft.  The shaft is a square rod that has been rounded to a pin on one end.  Parts are soldered together.
So theoretically you COULD make a new shaft that is longer.


But to be honest, even that is not the best solution.


The first thing you should do is find your tightest curve.  Here is mine.  A 348mm radius (13.7") Kato Unitrak.
Here the loco is on the curve with the curve to the inside as far as the drive train goes.
Notice the truck under the cab is about as tight as it can go.
And there is just a little play left in the front truck and the tender truck.


Here is a closer shot of the tender truck interface.  You can see that the shaft could be a little longer and not bind.



Now turn the Shay the opposite direction and stretch all the joints.


You can see in the close up that it would not hurt for the male shaft to be a little longer.


However, you really only need to make a new drawbar and pull the tender closer if there really is a problem.  It's just a piece of brass with two holes.  Make a new one with the holes 2mm closer.


As for the tender wobbling, try 4 things.
1.  Add a washer to the drawbar screw in the tender and lock the drawbar down so it does not pivot.  The pivot will now all be at the coal bunker.

2.  Add a washer to the tender truck retaining screw.  I have 2 Shays and did it 2 ways.  The first has a metal washer "Goldilocks just right" so there is very very little wobble in the truck but it still freely pivots.

3.  But the other Shay (my best one), I added an extra washer to the screw to take OUT the pivot of the truck.  The truck is now rigid and when a pivot is needed in curves, the entire tender pivots (after all, it's only one truck).

4.  Lastly, you can bend the drawbar to move the rear tender pilot higher and the front lower.

These changes should help.

[160pennsy]

My progress on the Hoit Brothers machine shop for this week. Details and additional photos can be found at this link:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=48670.0

[bnsfdash8]

Since the weather has been less than stellar this weekend I sent Martin Rail Solutions SW1200 #912 through the paint booth as well this weekend. It still needs the name applied to the hood.

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