The Transcontinental PRR

[eric220]

Well, there's work, and there's work. Two entirely different works.

But yes, I do enjoy me some video entertainment while workin' on the railroad.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

@Ed Kapuscinski,

Except that now that your new job allows you to work from home, you're really watching TV while you're supposed to be working.   

DFF

Shhhhh.

[badlandnp]

And you are having fun at 'work?' That's not allowed! 

[eric220]

Got another turn and a half of the helix track in before running out of curved sectional track. I assembled a 7-car inspection train and ran it down with a K4 on point. She handled the train up the grade with no problems.



I added another car and significant slippage occurred, so 7 cars seems to be the limit. For a single K4 on a 2% curved grade, that's more than adequate, and will be fine for the service I plan on using them for. For more than that, there's always double-heading.

Back to the helix, an order has been placed for the needed supplies. I'm only a turn and a quarter away from getting back to flex track. By the time I get there, I need to have the access to staging sorted out. It's almost time to get back to cutting bench work!

[Cajonpassfan]

Lol, yea, isn't it amazing how much track a helix swallows up whole? And conversely, how much time it takes to get through it....?
Otto K.

[eric220]

Looks like it's gonna be around 2:15 to traverse the helix at 60 SMPH.

Glad I designed it so that operators can watch their trains. That's a long time to just sit back and wait for your train to reappear, let alone if you've got a drag moving at 30-35 SMPH.

[mighalpern]

looking good Eric
when you having the boys over.
Miguel

[GaryHinshaw]

Good to see your progress Eric.  Building a helix is tedious, repetitive work, made difficult by tight access.  For motivation, just think about how glad you'll feel to have it behind you!

Lol, yea, isn't it amazing how much track a helix swallows up whole?
Otto K.

All told, my Vortex consumed just over 7 scale miles of track... 

[davefoxx]

Good to see your progress Eric.  Building a helix is tedious, repetitive work, made difficult by tight access.  For motivation, just think about how glad you'll feel to have it behind you!

All told, my Vortex consumed just over 7 scale miles of track... 

  That's more track than I have on my entire layout! 

[Dave V]

Eric,

What's the story on that Pennsy combine behind the K4?   

[eric220]

looking good Eric
when you having the boys over.
Miguel

Hopefully soon, if everyone is willing to do a Tuesday. We've got some bench work to build!

[eric220]

Eric,

What's the story on that Pennsy combine behind the K4?   

Noticed that, did ya? 



Not much of a story, really. It's a couple of Lima PBM70's bashed into a PB70. I can't take credit for the work, though. I bought this little guy from @OldEastRR . I finally got around to getting some Fox Valley wheel sets installed so I could add it to the inspection train.

[mighalpern]

You know what they say:
Post it, and they will come

[eric220]

I had a very nice, if last minute, visit from @dougnelson this afternoon.  In addition to discussing all things Pennsy, we managed to run some trains.  I was able to get cars staged for the upper level local, and we gave it a run.  I've made the run myself a couple of times, but it's still very much in testing mode.  Unfortunately for Doug, I didn't have time to make up a switch list, so I had to play conductor.  We still had fun, and the layout behaved itself.  Overall, I'd call the play-testing of this train a success.  There's still some tweaking left to do, but the basic operation seems to be working.  The train only has four jobs to do, two of those being simple setout/pickups, but the other two require a bit of planning (including proper blocking of the train ) to accomplish without fouling the main unreasonably.  Given that it takes the train eight to ten minutes just to run the distance without stopping, the job took a reasonable amount of time without being overwhelming or tedious.

You know what they say:
Post it, and they will come

Track has been ordered for the rest of the helix.  Once I get that in, it will be time to push the mains eastward!  You can expect a posting for a Tuesday some time in the next couple of weeks.

[OldEastRR]

Noticed that, did ya? 



Not much of a story, really. It's a couple of Lima PBM70's bashed into a PB70. I can't take credit for the work, though. I bought this little guy from @OldEastRR . I finally got around to getting some Fox Valley wheel sets installed so I could add it to the inspection train.

Actually it's only one PBM70 with switched-around sides. I always wondered if anybody would buy a article about how-to. Making and selling them is better, I think.