Mail Call! Railway Post Office, commonly abbreviated as RPO has rolled in!

[Iron Horseman]

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I've always liked the twice around design. And I like how you don't have the straight tracks parallel to the edge of the space.

 

[Smudge617]

A pike is your model railroad. The "layout" is the track arrangement, and the pike is the whole miniature world. I don't know when model railroaders began using the term pike, but definitely by the 1950s.

For back ground (thanks to stokesda) explained by Carl Swanson in the August 2007 "Model Railroader," p. 20:

"A pike is an ancient infantry weapon, a pointed metal head on a long thin wooden shaft." [that is the duh part, but it continues]. In the old days, private companies built toll roads, which were blocked by a wood shaft - a pike. You would pay your toll, and the attendant would swing the pike away to let you through. Toll roads are still called turnpikes today.

In the past, railroaders often used 'pike,' in the sense of 'road,' as slang for their full-size railroad. Modelers picked up on that and started calling their layouts 'pikes.' ..."

And from another source ... UP2CSX says
Just as pikes were the original toll roads, railroads were also named pikes since you had to pay to ride. I there were a few early railroads that even included "Pike" in their corporate names.

Never heard that phrase used in modelling in the UK. When you said toll pike I understood that meaning, but in the sense of the modelling world nope. Thanks for that, learning something new everyday, thanks

 

[CHRISTIAΝ]

Sorry for derailing this thread again...
I slightly modified my layout:

 

[Smudge617]

I can never get my crossovers to work, always derail, tried a brand new one and had the same problems, so took it out, must be me I think.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

What brand are you using?
Do all your rolling stuff derail?
What number turnout are you using?
Can you post a picture?

 

[NYC_George]

MICRO ENGINEERING CODE 83 WEATHERED FLEX TRACK. I started using this track on my rebuild back better project. It comes pre weathered. It's not painted. They use some type of acid to create the weathering affect. You have to use some type of wire brush to remove any of the weathering so use can solder the joints or any other soldering you might have to do. It looks great and eliminates all the extra work I would have to do, weathering and wiping off the paint etc. with regular flex track. The track is extremally stiff when bending for curves and takes some getting use to, but you get the hang of it after a few tries. You can see how it looks almost installed in the 2nd photo below.

George

 

[Alcomotive]

Well I got a another mail call today.....I have been doing a little Christmas shopping while hunting down more switches. I got a few more cars and a locomotive switcher....

1st up is a custom decaled Athearn A.&S.A.B. #5764 The Bay Line Boxcar

next we have a real cool find a kit Walthers 932-240255 HO Scale 53' Thrall Gondola 2-Pack Union Pacific the previous owner did a nice job on adding certain details...as it did require some assembly for this Gold Line series. I like that the Coil stops or cradle was included.

 

[Alcomotive]

So next up is the newly acquired switcher. Some of you may remember I bought one of these before and well I stumbled on this gem for50 bucks. These are solid runners and not too shabby on details. I will be adding a decoder to this and even possibly with sound.

KATO EMD NW2 PHASE 1, 37-10E UNION PACIFIC ENGINE D.S. #1028 (SERVES ALL THE WEST)

I even had to take a few pictures with the other unit UP D.S. 1003 that I bought previously......

 

[Alcomotive]

Well these (2) guys showed up on my door step. I know you guys have seen my obsession with transfer cabeese.....yup I got another one from Spring Creek....couldn't resist!

Bluford Shops HO Transfer Caboose Short Roof Rock Island #19125

 

[Alcomotive]

and the 2nd piece is ATLAS MODEL RAILROAD #20 001 536 ATLANTA & St. ANDREWS BAY FMC SD BOXCAR #7004 HO FMC 5077 Single Door Box Car (Early Version)

 

[OBTC 1909]

@Alcomotive I've got a Bluford Shops Indiana Rail Road transfer caboose like that I need to get repaired. Some idiot (me) knocked it off a table by accident and some pieces need repaired or replaced. Nothing too severe, but I need to get it fixed. I really like Bluford stuff.

 

[CambriaArea51]

James- You have a lot of weathering to do.

 

[CambriaArea51]

Got the rest of my pipe in so now I can paint it and finish another flatcar load.

 

[Alcomotive]

James- You have a lot of weathering to do.

I do....for sure!

 

[Alcomotive]

So as I mentioned in the coffee shop.....these came today. I am pretty happy with these cars and fortunate to get a great deal on these.

Thrall 56' All Door Box Cars

 

[Smudge617]

What brand are you using?
Do all your rolling stuff derail?
What number turnout are you using?
Can you post a picture?

All my track is Hornby, most of freight and coaches were fine over the crossing, just seems to the odd one, but you couldn't predict where in the rake it would happen. I checked all the b2b's,the track, rail joins and the board but couldn't find the reason, I just got fed up with it, so it's no longer on the board.

 

[Alcomotive]

So as mentioned in the Coffee Shop it turns out the ME Ladder switches arrived today from https://www.hiawathahobbies.com/

and as you can see I got another ASAB boxcar.....this came off evil bay for 12 bucks pls 6 bucks shipping....it was a road number I didn't have. I am pretty much done getting the green ASAB boxcars. Looking for some of the yellow and orange ones and also 2 more woodchip cars.

I am looking forward to laying the track for the yard now! Stay tuned the track gang is gearing up! Although I still need the last ladder switch LH 5e but I am on the look out for it.....

 

[TLOC]

Well these (2) guys showed up on my door step. I know you guys have seen my obsession with transfer cabeese.....yup I got another one from Spring Creek....couldn't resist!

Bluford Shops HO Transfer Caboose Short Roof Rock Island #19125

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I just purchased a couple months ago a Milwaukee Road transfer caboose but from Fox Valley. A very heavy unit. Do the Blufords seem heavy enough?

Great looking
TomO

 

[Alcomotive]

I just purchased a couple months ago a Milwaukee Road transfer caboose but from Fox Valley. A very heavy unit. Do the Blufords seem heavy enough?

Great looking
TomO

Tom,

They seem to have proper weight I will have to put them on a scale to see if they meet NMRA but I willing to bet they are and do. They really track well. This my 5th one now....I really love the details and quality of work on them. Notice each one has the correct prototype wheel sets too. Also the generators/alternators came with them as well I just need to install them on 3 of them. The labeling and print is excellent! I do have prototype photos of each model as well. I will be weathering a few of them to match.

I bought the red MOPAC #13087, the UP #13737 and the RI #19125 from Spring Creek Model Trains. The other (2) green MOPAC/UP and the orange MOPAC/UP on ebay as they were the hardest to find as it took a long while to get them. I paid above normal cost for the orange one but well worth it to me.

I am looking for one more Missouri Pacific #13927 in the Red color. I actually have a ton of prototype pictures that I took (inside and outside) when it ran through Arkansas. So that one will be a sentimental find!


Also in regards to Fox Valley, if you go to the Bluford website they mention that the wheel sets are from them. At least the early releases. Interestiing I thought. I personally do not own anything from Fox Valley. I may need to look at their products.

 

[TLOC]

Tom,

They seem to have proper weight I will have to put them on a scale to see if they meet NMRA but I willing to bet they are and do. They really track well. This my 5th one now....I really love the details and quality of work on them. Notice each one has the correct prototype wheel sets too. Also the generators/alternators came with them as well I just need to install them on 3 of them. The labeling and print is excellent! I do have prototype photos of each model as well. I will be weathering a few of them to match.

I bought the red MOPAC #13087, the UP #13737 and the RI #19125 from Spring Creek Model Trains. The other (2) green MOPAC/UP and the orange MOPAC/UP on ebay as they were the hardest to find as it took a long while to get them. I paid above normal cost for the orange one but well worth it to me.

I am looking for one more Missouri Pacific #13927 in the Red color. I actually have a ton of prototype pictures that I took (inside and outside) when it ran through Arkansas. So that one will be a sentimental find!


Also in regards to Fox Valley, if you go to the Bluford website they mention that the wheel sets are from them. At least the early releases. Interestiing I thought. I personally do not own anything from Fox Valley. I may need to look at their products.

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James thanks for the reply and info. I l8e the Bluford transfere caboose and been thinking of getting one. The Fox Vallet transfer is the second pieceI have that is Fox Valley. For weight I go 1oz per inch of rolling stock with a minimum amount of 6oz. The FV transfer weigh in at 6.72 ounces. Fox Valley make nicely detailed models that are getting more difficult to find. I got this one at Hiawatha Hobbies as a walk in.

I am going to buy the Bluford as I cannot make myself strip the Milwaukee Road into my freelance road. I won’t have that issue with the Bluford. Thanks again, road-trip coming Wednesday (today).

TomO