Weekend Update 3/23/14

[SkipGear]

For the opening picture - That would be the definition of a "water level" route.

[bnsfdash8]

I'm still working on my NYC E7. I pretty much finished up the detailing and I'm waiting on a Loksound decoder to get here so I can do my first sound install. I put ditch lights on it so the FRA wouldn't have a fit when I run it down the line.

[Scottl]

Although spring is technically here, we had 10 cm of snow this morning and winter still seems to have us in it's grip.  Which means, more time at the workbench!

Tim, I really like that NAR box car.  Some great bridges have emerged and Craig, that box bodes well for an epic project ahead.

I spent some time working on my Cisco high bridge.  I rebuilt the approach ballasted decks to be wider for the track curve (~18"R) and did a mock up with ballast, track, and the walkway and railing etches.  It all goes together well, so the next step is to start painting the parts before final assembly.  Those railings are going to be the end of me 



 

[tom mann]

The last couple of weeks I've been working on HO Scale California Live Oak trees for my room-filling Hinshaw Valley layout.  I've been making them using the twisted wire method.  Foliage is Silflor Oak Horsetail, which is expensive but looks very good for HO and larger (the "leaves" are about 6" across in HO).

[seusscaboose]

First.... Wow Tom!
Second... Operated on the Erie Lackawana today (locally) where I was the Reading interchange at Rupert, Pa.  Very fun job.  Next up was a local which was not blocked properly, so I proceeded to tie up the yard as I blocked it correctly.  Didn't make too many friends in the Yard, but the Superintendent/Owner was egging me on, so I'm pretty sure I'm still on the List. 
Third... Got 6 way Tam Valley hex juicer to install tomorrow... So Woebegone will be juiced

[Cajonpassfan]

Scott, that bridge looks amazing! What do you use for ballast?
Thanks, OttoK.

[BCR 570]

This evening was spent adding details to my Prairie Shadows speecial run NAR GP-9, including Micro-Trains #1015 couplers, Miniatures By Eric bell, horn and winterization hatch, and a Sunrise Enterprises Sinclair antenna:




The winterization hatch is still loose as it does not seem to fit well and I am not yet sure if I have it located and oriented properly.  The new parts have yet to be paint matched to the shell.

This locomotive is an interesting diversion for me (they operated into Dawson Creek on the mixed trains) and I plan to use this locomotive as a trial installation for the ESU Loksound decoder and a speaker.


Tim

[pjm20]

Well I got a few photos while going to a college open house:

Lexington, VA:

A CSX maintainence truck at the hotel I stayed at -



Berkeley Springs, West Virginia:

Station -



US Silica -



CSX's Yard along the Potomac -




I also saw a CSX coal train while getting gas in Staunton.

[craigolio1]

The last couple of weeks I've been working on HO Scale California Live Oak trees for my room-filling Hinshaw Valley layout.  I've been making them using the twisted wire method.  Foliage is Silflor Oak Horsetail, which is expensive but looks very good for HO and larger (the "leaves" are about 6" across in HO).

 I thought that was real. 

[craigolio1]

In addition to the bridge box I was able to finish decals on a few freight cars.

These are all Kaslo Shops kits and are lettered with ORO decals.

   The skeleton cars below are intended to be run in two unit sets with an idler flat in between to carry poles.  I numbered them with different numbers on either side.  Each unloaded three car set has the same numbers on each side as a corresponding loaded three car set car.  This way I can have either loaded sets or unloaded sets and by simply turning the cars I can change the numbers.  I can there for run an unloaded set to a load out which would likely be hidden, and then pull out a loaded set that's numbered the same later in an opps session, (or pull out a set with different numbers dropped previously).  This would all be set up before hand.  This allows me to leave the loads in the cars along with the tie downs and what not, and I hope will prevent damaging them....    as much, as they are just too delicate to be repeatedly installing and removing loads.  It will also prevent me needing to double the size of the fleet to have both loaded and unloaded cars which are numbered the same.

   Four are complete with four more to go.  Two will be the lighter British Columbia Railway colour and two will be in the brown PGE colour.  The PGE one will be interesting.  Over the years a few survived in the PGE lettering and a few were re-stenciled to BCR.  Both types were the PGE brown that weathered to an almost black colour.  I plan to do one of each so in keeping with my plan of different numbers, the two brown cars, while the same dark brown/black colour, will actually have completely different markings on either side.  Both will have PGE on one side and re-stenciled BCR on the other.  One with a load and one with out.





The other car I completed the decals on is this BC Rail combination door box car.  This car was the most numerous car on the BCR in my time period of the mid to late 80's.  I have a dozen or so of the Micro Trains version which is Marked for British Columbia Railway.  They aren't correct but they fit the part.  After 1986 they were re-lettered in this Interim logo that you see here.  And then a few years later the final version started showing up.  I have seven of these cars ready for decals.  Four will receive this logo you see here and three the final logo.



Hmmm.  Photos reveal a lot.  Clearly I need to address the residue left behind before I clear coat these.

Craig

[keeper]

Lots of nice work as usual.

Applied decals on these two cars:
DM&IR coach #85



CNW RPO #9427



Both are foobies/stand-ins...

DM&IR's one and only RDC. The number board and 'United States...' decals are still missing.
I also installed a decoder. One of the worst installs...



Thomas

[Kevin C]

I managed to get the woodwork part of my main helix complete today. All I need to do now is connect the helix trackwork to the track on the upper and lower levels, do the wiring and test. More details are posted in the Layout Engineering Section.

[LIRR]

Now that's a helix!

[fifer]

Here is a loco I worked on the last couple days. Gavin is trying to get me to model BNSF and I think I am falling for it.
Added Fire Cracker and moved horn as well as the blocked out BN to BNSF. The only thing I didn't want to tackle is the low headlight.
Waiting for Digitrax K1C.







Mike

[BCR 570]

These are all Kaslo Shops kits and are lettered with ORO decals.

Nice to see another modeller completing the Kaslo kits - good work!


Tim