Weekend Update 7/2/17

[rickb773]

It is amazing how much we take experience for granted. Over the weekend I hosted 5 folks from a nearby private club (around 15 people lead by a layout owner who proclaims himself to be the “benevolent dictator”) that is planning on starting operations on their 25’x30’ layout. The purpose was to introduce them to my industry driven car card/waybill system.

After 8 operating sessions over a couple of years, my home crew (Ntrainz1, epumph, mrodtoo, and Tim Harrison) can manage to run a 15 train schedule (all have on-line or yard switching involved) in less than 4 hours (including a lunch break). We forget it did not start out that smoothly (and now I have 2 highly competent, experienced yard masters).

The new learning team managed 1 and 2 half trains in about 3 hours. I had pre-blocked all the locals but the incoming transfer run required adding those cars to the pre-blocked locals and that overwhelmed the learning curve for the new yard crew. (Next time I’ll assume the Philly transfer has arrived and has already been pre-blocked into the locals.) Nothing beats experience and familiarity, especially in the yard work.

In fairness to the padawans they were “not at all” used to a DC block system. I chuckled when they all came through the front door toting their bags of DCC controllers.

Well, rack that go-round up to a poor teaching job. I’ll have to do better in the future.

[mmagliaro]

An old friend  Many years ago someone asked me to build them a 4-4-0 camelback like the one I had. I started building it https://goo.gl/photos/QyNMEF5HvsD2QJbAA
But after a short while I just asked if I could send the one had already built. Well they told me they were getting out of N scale and wanted to send it back to me!
Here she sits on the Mahoning Divison.

Still my favorite of all the steam models I've ever seen on Railwire.  I don't know why that thing
isn't in Model Railroader and adorned with blue ribbons.

[Dave V]

Making and planting trees.  Aspen grow in groves with a common, shared root system.

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[milw12]

Still my favorite of all the steam models I've ever seen on Railwire.

Agreed Max, I remember being impressed by this on Trainboard (maybe?), still looks as good as it did then.

As for myself, the long holiday weekend has allowed for some ongoing progress:



More in the layout thread, thanks for looking!

Lucas

[coldriver]

If that is not a photo of a full size railroad I'll eat my hat. Wait, I don't wear a hat (but that is still an incredible scene and photograph). 

Thanks Peteski - it means a lot coming from such an accomplished modeler as yourself (blown away by the stuff you brought to Pittsburgh!)  

Coldriver:  I thought I commented last night, but can't find it anywhere.  Maybe a troll ate it...

Great job on the basalt cliffs.  That looks very much like the canyons of home, and I don't remember ever seeing slide fences modeled.

thanks, I definitely took the easy way out with the slide fences by not stringing wire.  But it's interesting how the eye sort of fills it in - it still feels right. 

[nkalanaga]

I never noticed the lack of wire, so it definitely "feels right".  In many cases the wire is fine enough that it's hard to see from a distance, especially from the side.  Looking down the track it's more apparent, but even then not obvious.

The NS has a slide fence along the Big Sandy River. just south (east?) of Kenova, WV, easily seen from the eastbound I-64 bridge.  It's the same style as yours, with the angled overhang at the top, and I see it nearly every day, on the way to work.  I've never noticed the wires on it!

[peteski]

Thanks Peteski - it means a lot coming from such an accomplished modeler as yourself (blown away by the stuff you brought to Pittsburgh!)   

Thanks colddriver!  Sure, I can do some fancy modeling on a micro scale (like a building or a vehicle), but then modelers like you do some wonderful modeling and weathering in a much larger area (that is something I don't have much experience in).  You are just as accomplished in a different area of this hobby.

[arbomambo]

My Sweetheart, Denise, is making the awards ribbons for the various module contests for the T-TRAK layout at The National Train Show in Orlando in 4 weeks!
 Winners in each  category will receive a ribbon, certificate, and a generous prize/product donated by the sponsor of that category...
Sponsors include:
Kato
Woodland (formerly Woodland Scenics)
Blair Line LLC
Showcase Miniatures
T-Kits
Trovestar

[cbroughton67]

I'm on a bit of a CP Rail kick for the moment and finished up a GP9u and RS18u over the weekend. The RS18u started with a RS11 and uses a cab/short hood and other parts made by Briggs Models. I think these are the first custom CP Rail locomotives I've ever built.


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[SSW7771]

Great stuff everyone

I did not get much modeling time over this 4 day weekend, but I did get a good head start on clean out the long wall of the garage for the future layout.  Other than that I spend so quality time with kids and family. Happy Birthday America!

[dougnelson]

Not a train, but still pretty cool: an operating 1945 GM Greyhound bus from the Pacific Bus Museum, today at the Sausalito 4th of July picnic. It's top speed is 62 mph and it made it up the Waldo grade on 101 at 15 mph.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

An old friend  Many years ago someone asked me to build them a 4-4-0 camelback like the one I had. I started building it https://goo.gl/photos/QyNMEF5HvsD2QJbAA
But after a short while I just asked if I could send the one had already built. Well they told me they were getting out of N scale and wanted to send it back to me!
Here she sits on the Mahoning Divison.

Chris, that 4-4-0 is my favorite of ALL of the amazing builds you've done over the years. If you're ever considering getting rid of it again, keep my email handy...

[altohorn25]

Finally got around to building and installing the passenger canopy for the eastbound main on my Wisconsin Dells Module. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[rickb773]

Ah, nothing like a Baldwin in the morning!

Now if I could just get some RTR Baldwin AS-16(s).

[haasmarc]

Now if I could just get some RTR Baldwin AS-16(s).

Amen brother!