Weekend Update 4/21/13

[mark dance]

You didn't happen to document the resulting chaos, did you? Or are the crash investigators still working on it? Sounds like someone needs a  few demerit marks in any case... Maybe the guy who called a surprise plow extra in the first place.

This is one more reason why prototype operations can be so satisfying. All the drama of real life railroading, including all the unforeseen hazards and unplanned mishaps.

Nope, no photos, thankfully for the parties involved. 

One of the upsides/downsides of DCC is the potential for cornfield meets when someone isn't paying attention to the timetable or the register books.  And we have proven we can pull trains a part just like the real thing when we are trying to push a train to the summit:)

On the C&W snowplow extras are never scheduled so always a surprise!  This is 1970 and there are no longer any scheduled passenger trains to plow in advance of just in case a slide has come down. 

The Dispatcher's trainsheets have a column to record the weather at the Train Order stations on the divisions.  We have talked about making heavy snow a dice role probability but so far it has been left to the Dispatcher and/or Superintendent to call for plows...Gary had it much too easy Thursday night so I needed to spice things up.

thx for asking!

md

[Swing Motorman]

I have 30 of those cars in 3 different schemes and still need to replace trucks on all of them
Did you just do a simple truck swap?

I'm no expert, but I remember a distinct detail of X29s is that the outer wheels (under the car ends) are nearly flush with the end/possibly stick an inch or two beyond the carbody's ends.  So I found Micro-Trains trucks unsuitable, as their bolster hole is offset slightly.  While shorter-shank couplers would have been nice, I settled for dropping in a pair of Atlas Accumate-equipped trucks, using the X29's original bolster pins.  Everything fits well except the coupler length, so I'm happy.  Hope that helps some!


-Steven

[nkalanaga]

Mark:  If you want a semi-random snow generator, go to the NWS site and check the weather for whatever area you're modeling.  If shows significant snow, call out the plows.  Of course, you'll only run them in the winter, but it would be realistic.

[Chris333]

Been outside working on my car... But I did change out this background photo to one that Tim photo shopped out the close autos.


And I gave Middlesex mfg. a splash of paint:

[CodyO]

I'm no expert, but I remember a distinct detail of X29s is that the outer wheels (under the car ends) are nearly flush with the end/possibly stick an inch or two beyond the carbody's ends.  So I found Micro-Trains trucks unsuitable, as their bolster hole is offset slightly.  While shorter-shank couplers would have been nice, I settled for dropping in a pair of Atlas Accumate-equipped trucks, using the X29's original bolster pins.  Everything fits well except the coupler length, so I'm happy.  Hope that helps some!


-Steven

Thanks steve did help I`m also unhappy with the coupler length and guess I will stick with the atlas trucks swamp

[Swing Motorman]

Thanks steve did help I`m also unhappy with the coupler length and guess I will stick with the atlas trucks swamp

I'm thinking of slicing the Accumate coupler boxes off the Atlas trucks, drilling a hole where the coupler shank's pivot pin in, and screwing them to the body.  Provided the axles clear and have enough swing to clear in sharp curves, this should shorten the coupler length (and gain the benefits of body-mounting.)

Dreaming's one thing, but actually accomplishing it...   Hm, maybe I could do it in time for the next Weekend Update?


-Steven

[CodyO]

finish over the weekend update and then maybe I`ll copy you when I`m off monday-thursday!

does sound like a good idea and I do like atlas trucks and accumates better

[seusscaboose]

a Chuck-pak arrived today


for video of the real thing, check out this DVD http://railtrekmedia.com.  No affiliation, but the DVD rocks.  Support a struggling railfan

[CodyO]

Progress on the L1 build gota fix the forward piping on the engineer side and straighten out the platform on the smokebox front

[RWCJr]

Rear roundhouse walls painted and window decals added, will let everything dry overnight, then heavy coat of gloss-coat to seal, followed by light application of dull-coat. Robert