WM Western Lines Engineering Report

[wm3798]

Repeat that third floor wall on the newspaper building to the left, and you'll be onto something.  I'll email the full size image to you if you like.  (I see a calendar shot!)
Lee

[DKS]

That was just a "quickie" for giggles. It would be a lot easier if you re-shot it with the sky cardstock running all the way behind the full width of the station; it's a bear to mask along the edges of all those dormers. Also, if you could pop a little extra light in under the highway, that would be most appreciated as well.

[Leggy]

Did WM ever get SD40s in this livery?

[wm3798]

Not only did they, that's one of the original ones.  After a long career for the WM, Chessie and CSX, this one went into lease service, and was recently purchased by the Georges Creek Railroad out west of Cumberland,  rebuilt, and was professionally restored to its original appearance.  It either is or will be shortly back in revenue service on home rails hauling coal down to the CSX connection at Westernport.

Ain't she purty?

I have 7471 in my roster, but apparently I haven't photographed it yet...  Here's 7495 in the same color scheme.


Lee

[wm3798]

I did a little monkeying around in Downtown Cumberland...



I started engineering the first block of buildings to be installed there against the skyboard.  I'm working from the back wall out, now since once this is all closed up, I won't be able to access it at all.  I didn't leave much of a pop up back here, athough I can wiggle through enough to be able to do the scenery along the back and skyboard.  Everything else will be "flown in" from the aisle.  Anyway, here's step 2:



This is the foundation for the block.  It's a removable panel, which sits as close to dead level as I can get it, despite the roadways sloping all over the place.  The block of plywood in the back is the base of the highest building, and includes a 1/16" plywood lip that catches the roadway at the back.  This holds the whole operation level.  The threaded rod is the handle I'm using to pick it up and put it down while I'm working on it.



And with the buildings in place.  Having the tall building in the front, I can probably leave the threaded rod handle in place, and just paint it green or blue or whatever will be suitable to make it invisible.  I could always disguise it in a chimney or something.  You can see in this view how it relates to the industrial area and station around the corner.

Finally, the streetside view as the proof of concept.


I have to build on the foundation facades, and do some other detailing, then the sidewalk gets attached at the same slope as the roadway.  Then all the sidewalk details get added.  I'm in the process now of building the interiors and lighting for the buildings.  They will all be linked into one circuit for the block, with a phone jack pigtailed off to make for easy plugging in and out.

All this needs to get in so I can start working on the brewery.  There's a lot of tiny thirsty people up there in the hill country!

Lee

[wm3798]

Had to go to Georgetown, DE today, and stopped by the Hobby Stop in Seaford.  Picked up some I beams and glue, and got started on the next iconic piece of Cumberland...



The steel beam bridge over Wills Creek.



This is a case of selective "extension" since mine ends up a little longer than the prototype.  It has a slight curve on it, where my model is straight, but you get the idea.

Of course, NOW I look at the Google Maps, and see that I have to rework it a little to make it look a little more "right"...
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cumberland,+MD&hl=en&ll=39.651415,-78.764131&spn=0.000621,0.000978&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.682395,64.072266&oq=Cumberland,+Maryland&t=h&hnear=Cumberland,+Allegany,+Maryland&z=20

Oh well...  At least it looks like I won't have to worry about buying more beams...



Here you can see how it relates to the station.

Back to the workbench!!
Lee

[Philip H]

 

[Pomperaugrr]

Lee,

Nice job on a very unique bridge.  I love how the area around that awesome station is progressing.

Eric

[wm3798]

Thanks to Eric (seusscaboose) for dropping down this evening for some track maintenance.  We were able to reopen the mains again after a long period of closure due to the construction going on around Cumberland.

Heading back up now for some badly needed train running...  and of course... wheel cleaning...

Lee

[seusscaboose]

it was a good time... and time sure goes by quick up in the train room...

i looked at the clock and thought it was time for me to hit the road... and only when i was heading out of town did i realize your trainroom clock is fast by one hour....   a TRUE fastclock... very nice.

I owe ya at least one more hour

the good news is, your runnin' trains...  which is nice...   the rails are cleaned and grinded and the engines painted black work splendidly...  the same can't be said for the red white and black fleet... 

the staging yards seem to have come through no worse for the wear, and i think a few passes of a few trains should have em nice and useable.  same for the 2 helix areas.

electrically, all the tortises seem to work and there were no not any dead spots i could find.  basic dirty track which is easily fixable.

the main yard didn't get worked on (only the run through tracks)... that will need to be cleared and cleaned.

otherwise,  you seem to be on your way to shaking things down and watching train's again.

one question.  Dispatch desk...  where is it going to be?   at the workbench or in the train room?  me think's the answer is the dispatch desk.

EP

p.s. i need a billboard for the new lumberyard.  got any good ideas?  here is some inspiration
http://www.google.com/search?q=morningwood+lumber&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=sLecT-GLBKTk0QHns-jzDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBwQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=664

[wm3798]

In the current configuration, the dispatcher will be in the middle of the action, seated next to the yard boss and controlling the helix and west staging.  Although if a communication system can be devised, out at the work bench is a good idea.  Wireless technology and detection, along with the necessary signalling will be the key to that working out.

After you left, I was able to run 3-4 trains around the orbit with a modicum of difficulty.  I put the track cleaning car behind the RS-3s, and it went a long way to getting the less accessible stuff tidied up.  I did have a few issues down in West Staging, the most difficult track to reach (naturally) but most of that was user error (in through the out door etc.)

I'm having guests over for a BBQ this afternoon, and I'm sure there will be demands to see the railroad...I'm confident that I can "make it go" long enough to entertain the troops.

Thanks again, Eric... There will be plenty of opportunity to cash in that hour!

Lee

[John]

I think we should all invest in a FRS walkie talkie - with earbud and microphone .. then do our dispatching that way

[wm3798]

Diddled around with the beam bridge today, having scored the remaining bits required thanks to Phil and to the Moose Caboose in Sykesville.



I used some strip styrene to make some sleepers to catch the rail.  I stripped the ties from the middle of the flex track, glued down the left rail using CA, then used my MT track gauge/coupler height tool to set the opposite rail, gluing it in place a couple of inches at a time.  Worked like a charm.  Added some spacer blocks, and glued the guard rail right to the beams, making the c55 rail lower and looking like c40.  Finally, I painted the whole mess.



I used some Rustoleum texture paint for the piers and abutments, and some oxide red and flat black on the beams.  I went back over them with some dark rust washes, then some lighter grime washes.



While the beam arrangement isn't quite spot on compared to the prototype, I think I've got the flavor about right.

For now, the pier assembly can be slid out from under the beam system, which is suspended below the rails.  Once I get a few critical bits done for the city scape, I'll be able to do a final installation.

Also, this installation signals the completion of the permanently installed main line circuit!

Lee

[DKS]

Total coolness. Love that bridge--something I'd always wanted to build.

[seusscaboose]

Also, this installation signals the completion of the permanently installed main line circuit!

Golden Spike