Weekend Update 11/3/24

[up1950s]

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=xBI0aE3ILFA

https://fsnews.eu/fs-trains-usa-has-been-announced-for-msfs/

https://hawkinsrails.net/industrials/narc/narc.html

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/steam21.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/TrainPorn/comments/py2fmt/pennsylvania_power_light_company_fireless_060fs/

https://www.google.com/search?q=Fireless+steam+locos&sca_esv=e936ada1b37f2909&udm=2&biw=1920&bih=911&ei=oJ8jZ_SwM4bS5NoPvvXZ4AE&ved=0ahUKEwj0gPCT9biJAxUGKVkFHb56FhwQ4dUDCBE&oq=Fireless+steam+locos&gs_lp=EgNpbWciFEZpcmVsZXNzIHN0ZWFtIGxvY29zSPoTULcEWMAJcAF4AJABAJgBN6ABwQKqAQE3uAEMyAEA-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAiAYBkgcAoAe7Ag&sclient=img

[Lemosteam]

Adding some more details to “finished” areas on the layout.

IS Excavator #4 has suffered a catastrophic engine failure and fire. The operator made it out safely, thankfully.



Meanwhile, #2, 5 & 6 are still being built on the plant floor:



Added some pallets with locomotive parts to outside the engine house:



Another child swinging on the dead tree tire:



Painted the new spur, and added a long curved wood crossover; sand ballast next (sorry for the LED/digital camera wavelength effect).



Added some compacted gravel to protect the wood crossover from heavy equipment and made an anthracite coal pile.





Here is another overhead image of the west side if the channel.



On the east side of the channel, I modified an MT PRR X32a by adding a short screw up through the floor for a magnetic bagged goods pallet attachment inside the car.



Added some bagged goods and workers unloading the X32a to the team track ramp. Ramp will be secured after I have added ground cover to the scrap yard.



A fan shot as the empty is pulled away by the LIRR IS to the interchange siding up on the elevated berm. It will take four moves by the engineer and switchman to get it up there.

[mu26aeh]

Ready to send of another steam locomotive for the Reading and Lehigh.  When the C&O decided to rid themselves of their steam fleet, the R&L said yes please.  This unit retained the original number, got yellow footboard striping and R&L lettering on the cab.

[brokemoto]

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Is that a fireless 0-6-0T?

The "what if" would be grand.  There is one rub on small N scale power:  the small footprint and necessarily lighter weight makes it difficult to maintain reliable contact, even on straight and level.  What would be necessary is an electrically live box car or caboose that either is hardwired to it or has easy plug/unplug connectors.  Doing this does improve reliability.   For some diesel locomotives, you can get away with running them in MU.  The B-mann GEs are a case in point.  If one does lose contact, the other one usually has enough OOMPH to push the dead one until it quickly re-establishes contact.

Conversely, My experience with the later versions of the B-mann MDT has been that you get the better performance out of it if you hardwire a pair together or hardwire one to live rolling stock. I currently run them in both configurations.

For a tank engine, the hardwired rolling stock would be the better option (or one that plugs/unplugs easily).  That would reduce the pulling power by one car but those tank engines never did pull much anyhow.

Fireless or with a fuel and water tank, I would like to see a reliable tank engine in N.  The B-mann, Arnold and LL offerings simply never got it.

[Dave V]

Stock Extra 455 East at Bridge 45-A, Ophir, Colorado, September 1946:



RGS C-16 #12, out of service early 1920s, stored derelict September 1939, scrapped 1942:



Northbound (railroad east) oil from Farmington, NM at Placerville, CO, in September 1940:



Lastly, I don't know what this is... Pennsy in the Rockies with a serious time warp thing happening:

[muktown128]

John,

Nice job on the brick work and burnt out cab.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Bringing "The Screamer" into the shops to see if I can get it to stop screening.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

And then doing some detailing of the scene.

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[dnhouston]

Working on a small general store.  Still have signs, details and more weathering to add.

[dandopinski]

Really like the V&O all door boxcar!

[btrain]

This week I’ve been putting the finishing touches for two paint/decal jobs that have been on my shelf for the past month. I was really pleased with how the Circus City decals went on the Erie Western engine, despite the weird contours it had to go over for the stripe.

Now comes the challenging part of dirtying up a white ALCO without overdoing it

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

Really like the V&O all door boxcar!

Oh, you noticed that? 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This week I’ve been putting the finishing touches for two paint/decal jobs that have been on my shelf for the past month. I was really pleased with how the Circus City decals went on the Erie Western engine, despite the weird contours it had to go over for the stripe.

Now comes the challenging part of dirtying up a white ALCO without overdoing it

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That's hot. I love washes and pan pastels for soot.

Also, @3rdrail would've approved. I know he was involved with the Erie Western. Can't believe how long ago we lost him. https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=18582.0

[Tad_T]

Trying out the proposed track plan for the Mill Loop.

[Sumner]

Made a nice....



.... 12v PWM DC throttle for under $10 that I can use testing DC locos before I convert them to DCC.  More images and info along with print file links on Railwire here....

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58728.0

You can find a demo of the throttle on YouTube ( HERE ).

Also been printing the last parts of the sawmill complex...





... and started assembly.  More on Railwire here...

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58208.msg808807#new

Sumner