Weekend Update 5/31/15

[up1950s]

[peteski]

Ok, I'm blinded by the spike, but where the heck are those transcontinental tracks?!  The spike sits in a trackless park!

[sirenwerks]

Well, the '"transcontinental" (of which there are five or six depending on how you count them - the first - UP/SP, the second - NP, then GN, ATSF, Milwaukee, and eventually SP on its own) did start, basically, at the Iowa border.  At least that's where it connected to the existing eastern lines.

[Missaberoad]

Well, the '"transcontinental" (of which there are five or six depending on how you count them - the first - UP/SP, the second - NP, then GN, ATSF, Milwaukee, and eventually SP on its own) did start, basically, at the Iowa border.  At least that's where it connected to the existing eastern lines.

But strangely enough there was no bridge between Counsel Bluffs and Omaha until 1873. So the first true "Transcontinental" rail link was made in 1870 in Strasburg Colorado at the completion of the Kansas Pacific Railroad...

[Chris333]

I was about to blast my HOn30 shay for painting, but put it all back together one more time just to make sure it still works 





Crappiest video ever of it running:

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I may still add a 3D back to the ash pan to give it some bulk.

[Joetrain59]

Chris, how many scales do you model in? How many layouts do you have?
 Awesome.
 Joe D

[mark dance]

cute little shay! HOn30" is the perfect combination of gauge and scale.  I have several Train & Trooper locos for the "one day" layout.

slowly slowly...this week's progress on the sawmill.  Roofs, details and buildings just set in place.







have a great weekend!

md

[Chris333]

Chris, how many scales do you model in? How many layouts do you have?

Is that a trick question? 

Z, Nn3, N, HOn30, On30

[Chris333]

I have several Train & Trooper locos for the "one day" layout.

I have this for "one day":

[peteski]

Nice hose Chris. Love the sag!    Is it made of solder?

[shark_jj]

Mark, that sawmill looks excellent.  Quite a unique structure with all of the angles and height variations.  One thing I have been curious about, is how are operators uncoupling cars.  Some sidings and yard tracks seem to be a bit of a reach for manual uncoupling.

[sirenwerks]

But strangely enough there was no bridge between Counsel Bluffs and Omaha until 1873. So the first true "Transcontinental" rail link was made in 1870 in Strasburg Colorado at the completion of the Kansas Pacific Railroad...

True that.  But the transcontinental term was one assigned by Congress to western extension roads not to the eastern roads (which were literally half of the equation).  And, contrary to popular belief, only some of these western lines utilized federal subsidies (IE land grants).  For instance, the UP/SP line was land grant, as was the NP, but the GN technically wasn't (the original purchase St. Paul & Pacific was, but the rest was bought with capital investments).  The Milwaukee, ATSF and SP were so late to the game they paid their own way.  Of course, some of these roads did get state land grants to entice them too, once states started to solidify from territories. 

I've been reading about the settling of the northern plains by the railroads and it's quite fascinating stuff.  Especially James Hill's sensible commitment to traffic creation through road building (intermodal hub and spoke at its earliest incarnation) and agricultural development of the region via animal husbandry and crop and irrigation research.  He may have been an amalgamation and consolidation capitalist but he was a true visionary as far as community/economic development was concerned.

[Missaberoad]

I've been reading about the settling of the northern plains by the railroads and it's quite fascinating stuff.  Especially James Hill's sensible commitment to traffic creation through road building (intermodal hub and spoke at its earliest incarnation) and agricultural development of the region via animal husbandry and crop and irrigation research.  He may have been an amalgamation and consolidation capitalist but he was a true visionary as far as community/economic development was concerned.

Something he took away from his time at Canadian Pacific. (or perhaps he contributed to it there) Van Horne was also very active in creating the revenue source a railroad through unsettled territory so desperately needs.

[mark dance]

Mark, that sawmill looks excellent.  Quite a unique structure with all of the angles and height variations.  One thing I have been curious about, is how are operators uncoupling cars.  Some sidings and yard tracks seem to be a bit of a reach for manual uncoupling.

Than you Shark.  The Castlegar/Kraft benchwork 42" high and only 24" deep so all track on this side of the main swing gate is within 21", no problem.  On the far south side of the yard, the operators can go through the main swing gate and use a "slave" panel on the other side to control the turnouts while still uncoupling manually.  Normally this is only necessary to switch a few small industries in South Castlegar as the yard can be switched from the west end.  The track plan has been published a few times and is on the Flikr site should you be interested.

thx for asking!

md

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  That dark line beyond the spike is a railroad track.  Google Maps (satellite view) shows that it's a spur going to an industry with a bunch of tank cars.  Then there's more grass and trees, and a small yard, multiple industries, and what could be somebody's main line.

Golden Spike Park, Council Bluffs, Iowa