What trains did you run today?

[Rico]

I believe they are 36’s on the entire string in the photo, I tried to add 38’s but not enough clearance.
My big problem with articulated cars is the ball and socket joints, wonder if they could be 3D printed with stronger stuff?
Oh, and yes there will be a small yard and loco shop in the area!

 

[kjd]

Then I stand corrected.

I thought maybe you meant 38 and typed 28 by mistake.

 

[Alcomotive]

I ran some of my switchers. Particularly UP #1317 with UP Slug #S303. Jerome would be proud of these . I have more switchers that are not out yet. (I think I have about 35 or 40 of them) I am building some shelves that will be above my work bench. I painted the standards, brackets and cut the shelves today. Will install them tomorrow. Then will be able to put some of my locos up on them for staging. Which will be cycled through a very tough inspection and then rigorous testing. All have DCC decoders on them and will be checked against my JMRI programming etc. So here are some shots of the switchers and locos. I had to take them out of the boxes they were in because they were laying on their sides. The boxes were not the original manufacturer boxes. I am not a fan of that for the locos to laid on their side for obvious reasons.

I also ran UP #1207 SW10 and UP #1241 SW10

 

[kjd]

James, I'd like to hear more about the SW10s, are they plastic, brass? Did you build them?

 

[Alcomotive]

James, I'd like to hear more about the SW10s, are they plastic, brass? Did you build them?

Both units were kit bashed by 2 different modelers. Both started out as standard Athearn units with Canon detail kits. I have an article that was run by Model Railroad Craftsman that listed all the parts required and the step by step instruction for the build. Both units are powered. These 2 units are some of my favorites. I hope to acquire 2 more units. I may try to do a build myself once I get my work bench completed and my paint booth built. I have a ways to go yet.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Moving containers on the D&J Railroad yesterday.

 

[kjd]

Ken, the Canyon Diablo bridge is pretty amazing. It's good to see in finally installed.

Here is a car in a train today. It's the third car I've finished during the break. It started as a Walthers car. I don't even remember where I got it but it was already (poorly) assembled. The hood support was broken and it was going to be a quick fix. Then I noticed the font on the car number was not what BN used nor did the number match the car style.

It turns out BN didn't have any cars like the Walthers model. The Walthers model seems to represent a Evans coil car from before 1970. This one was built in 1975. The main change is in the side, the earlier car had a step up at the trucks while the BN cars I found had a straight sill with no step. I cut off the stepped part and made it straight. I painted the repairs and added the little reflector decals. I also modified the hoods a little. They used to have ridges on the ends but that wasn't right so they had to go. The way the brake gear was laid out didn't make a lot of sense to me so I rearranged the visible components to match the photos I used for reference.

I weathered it in a series of steps that didn't go quite as expected. There is some chalk, dullcoat, acylic washes and tomorrow will finish it with another coat of dullcoat. So what was supposed to be a little glue and a new number turned into a complete rebuild. There is a second similar car waiting for grabs on the hoods and weathering.

Here's a before photo from Walthers website.

 

[kjd]

The first car in the train was a heavy duty flat with a transformer. The car is Walthers with a few added details and I scratchbuilt the transformer. The four boxes on the end platforms are counterweights to counterbalance the iron core in the transformer.

 

[kjd]

After our discussion of stack car wheel size, I looked on ebay and there were Jaybee wheel packages with 4 33" wheel sets and 8 38" wheel sets. They just arrived and I applied them to a Walthers car. Like Rico said, at first they didn't seem to fit but closer inspection showed the joints were not level but sagging slightly. Once fixed, the wheels fit but just barely. It does roll without rubbing though.

I like the look but wouldn't recommend the Jaybee wheels due to some of the wheels not being concentric with the axles. I think it would look even better with semi-scale wheels instead of the dragster wheels that are code 110.

 

[Alcomotive]

Well this evening...ahem wee hours of this morning (4:00am) I test ran a few of my DCC locomotives that I haven't run in 10 plus years. All went well so far. I ran UP #2538, #9728, #1183 with S303 and CNW #1724. I also test my EDOT or FRED on my box car.

Sorry last 2 pics are upside down can't seem to rotate on here.....

 

[santafewillie]

Sorry last 2 pics are upside down can't seem to rotate on here.....

Makes them easier for Ray to see!

 

[Alcomotive]

Makes them easier for Ray to see!

I edited those last 2 by adding the them corrected. I will leave those 2 upside down for Ray.....

 

[Greg@mnrr]

I think tomorrow is time for me to take out my collection of Kadee rolling stock and run a train pulled by a GP-9 and in the rear.... a caboose. The cars have been kept hidden in their plastic jewel cases way too long. Most have been operated only once since I purchased them years ago when Kadee first introduced the rolling stock.

I like the detail these RTR cars have like the sprung trucks and ladders.

Greg

 

[kjd]

Greg, snap a photo for us! I have some cars like that. My last layout big enough for more than 25 cars or so was about 18 years ago. I think some of the cars have been in boxes since then.

 

[Greg@mnrr]

Greg, snap a photo for us! I have some cars like that. My last layout big enough for more than 25 cars or so was about 18 years ago. I think some of the cars have been in boxes since then.

I'll do my best and will post. Maybe even try doing a movie clip???

Greg