Weekend Update 9/10/17

[cjm413]

CJM413:  Yes, the IM boxcars do need to be lowered, and they are designed for a centered bolster hole.  Both can be done by using BLMA trucks, but it isn't hard to file the bolsters, especially before the car is assembled.

For the trucks, if one files the bolsters, the IM trucks aren't bad.  If you want metal wheels you'll need to check the axle length, but the IM wheels seem to work fine through my pickiest turnouts.

The kit cars don't come with any weights, or didn't when I bought mine, so I put a couple quarter ounce stick-on lead weights in each car.  Don't put them at the extreme ends, though, or you'll have to make sure the coupler screws are short enough to clear them.

Unfortunately, there are a good number of IMRC releases that were only available as (allegedly) RTR cars with MTL trucks.

Fortunately, I've had enough extra Atlas 50T Bettendorf trucks in my parts box where I haven't had to spend any extra $ on new trucks.

[rickb773]

I have an Op Session coming up this month. Since the yard is the most likely place to bottleneck first and I have interested visitors coming, I decided to script the first few yard moves to get my yard folks off to a quicker start. Since the spreadsheet looked like gobbledygook I added pictures to the blog entry (http://rickb773-prsl.blogspot.com/ Sept 10, 2017) but the angle isn’t great enough to help show which cars are on the 2 mainlines and the inbound/outbound yard lead. Oh well, the best laid plans of mice and men!

[jpwisc]

I made a little progress on a WC Mega Log Hauler project that got back shelved for too long. I hope to get the remaining 240 pieces of styrene cut over the next couple nights so I can paint this next weekend.
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[wm3798]

Classic shot.  The depot at Towson (where I grew up) didn't last long.  All that remains of the M&P in Towson are the stone bridge abutments at York Road.  Other than that, there is precious little evidence that the town was once served by rail.  There is a small office building on the site of the depot, it sits at an odd angle to the street owing to it's orientation to the old railroad property line.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Towson,+MD/@39.3983494,-76.6040249,106m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c80e5369e65cd3:0x641571de3a43d1f4!8m2!3d39.4014955!4d-76.6019125?hl=en&authuser=3

[Cajonpassfan]

I spent a pleasant afternoon kitbashing the California Walnut Exchange building for my LA yard. Brew 102 is next
Wish I had better pics to work from....
Otto K.

[3DTrains]

Wish I had better pics to work from....

Otto - have you contacted Keith Jordan? He models the Patch in HO: http://www.patchrailroad.net

Perhaps he has some better pics for you.

Cheers!
Marc - Riverside

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks Marc, yes I have....
Otto

[jpwisc]

More progress, only 170 pieces left to cut and glue on.
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[Ed Kapuscinski]

Classic shot.  The depot at Towson (where I grew up) didn't last long.  All that remains of the M&P in Towson are the stone bridge abutments at York Road.  Other than that, there is precious little evidence that the town was once served by rail.  There is a small office building on the site of the depot, it sits at an odd angle to the street owing to it's orientation to the old railroad property line.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Towson,+MD/@39.3983494,-76.6040249,106m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c80e5369e65cd3:0x641571de3a43d1f4!8m2!3d39.4014955!4d-76.6019125?hl=en&authuser=3

Yep. It's amazing how much Towson has changed since the MPA left town.

I recently saw a photo presentation on the MA&PA, and seeing photos of this area from then, well, it was unrecognizable.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/12345911905/in/set-72157640589530695 became this:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3971008,-76.606811,3a,75y,314.58h,86.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPgy5yqp5CmvkmHQXpxmSZg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Lots of other amazing photos here too:
http://maandparailroad.com/photos.php

[sp org div]

I spent a pleasant afternoon kitbashing the California Walnut Exchange building for my LA yard. Brew 102 is next
Wish I had better pics to work from....
Otto K.

Lookin good Otto!  ...but really lookin forward to that Brew 102 structure (cant imagine why  ).
Oh, and all that code 40 is lookin sweet!   
Go dog
Jeff

[jnevis]

No work to the layout this weekend, but I decided to update my lighting to LED shop lights I purchased at Home Depot.  These are 4000k 3200 Lumens.  Started building the framing last weekend and finally got everything installed today.  Definitely brightens everything up but now I see a lot that needs to be redone.   

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Thanks for looking,

David

All others for show, Pave Low to go!  Yes, I see the three H-53s under there.
Great work everybody.

[Cajonpassfan]

Lookin good Otto!  ...but really lookin forward to that Brew 102 structure (cant imagine why  ).
Oh, and all that code 40 is lookin sweet!   
Go dog
Jeff

Jeff, "Brew 102" was LA's "working man's beer" in the forties, on the low end of the price and quality spectrum.  Nothing against working men, but I suspect you wouldn't like their beer; it was no IPA  But, it was an iconic brand and building, and so I got to have it... a mockup to test the scale and form is under way...
Correction: Oh, I just learned it was a "pure and wholesome beverage, for family use, recommended by prominent physicians" no less, see below. I take it all back
Otto

[sp org div]

Was that the brewhouse off the 5 at main st?
It used to stand right across the street from my old union hall.
Hard to recognize in that old pic...

[Cajonpassfan]

No Jeff, it was on the south side of Aliso (now the 101 freeway) east of Vignes. It will just be a distant background building on my layout, just need to capture the "flavor"...
Otto

[Philip H]

More progress, only 170 pieces left to cut and glue on.
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Got any prototype photo links? And any data on when this was in use?