Newburg update

Still laying track in Newburg. I'm at the stage with the yard and main line where I can start troubleshooting, fine tuning, adding more feeders and ballasting. Still need to deal with how to throw switches. I don't want to use machines where I can reach the switches. Caboose hand throws are grossly oversize, so I don't want to use them either. I could stick with just throwing the points with my finger I guess and use dummy switchstands. I've drilled 1/2" holes under all the point assemblies so a machine or some hand thrown method could be used. Decisions decisions.
As soon as things are ballasted, I can move the roundhouse "module" into place and run the leads to it. The east roundhouse lead is where the turnout is on track 7. The west lead will come off the yard throat on that end.
There's an EB and WB yard. I didn't follow the track map to the letter. There was two crossovers from the main to track one, but both going the same way according to the 1918 map.
From the east yard throat in the foreground to the west throat is something like 28'. I haven't measured or drawn it yet. When it's all said and done, a hostler and a yard crew should be able to stay busy here.
Depot is awaiting screens and weathering. Roundhouse is awaiting the roof to get finished.
That's it for now folks.

 

The Frisco in Newburg lives on!

Ken

 

Fabulous, Don. Tell me again the brick building on the near end of things? I forget what it represents but it's a dandy model.

Best Regards,

 

That was the "CTC" building. Actually the dispatcher's office. Came along in the early '40s. The model isn't what it seems. I used some software called Modelbuilder to do the 4 sides. Lay them out with brick, windows, doors and the like, then print them on photo paper, glue it to illustration board or something like that. I added details to make it more 3D. Still needs roof detail and weathering. I also built the stairs and railings. Fairly convincing in the photos.

 

Sure, right away find something to nitpick. It's a Stewart Baldwin VO-1000 in blue and white. Unfortunately, it runs better than the two steamers in the photo. Creeps through turnouts like they aren't even there. And it's not even DCC yet.
There's one other skeleton in the closet, may as well bare my soul. There's an undec 44 ton in a box somewhere downstairs that will also be blue and white some day. So there!

 

Here's the famous Frisco PR photo of the brand new Meteor trainset at Newburg on a demo run up to St Louis. You can see the Newburg CTC building that Don has modeled in the foreground above E7 SLSF 2005.

Ken

 

To HWB, a hearty Bronx cheer and the news that I'm the exception to the rule of everyone converting to diesel. I actually detest them, but in modeling 1943 there are two with their nose under the tent. There will be no more!
Oh, and one gas electric.

 

A foggy day in Newburg town. A westbound freight has just been yarded and after shooting that, I walked down along the caboose track. Maybe I can make it to the roundhouse before the RR cop runs me off.

 

Don, I say again...this captures the era I'm hoping to model better than anything I've seen. And I'm reminded why I was attracted to this era of Frisco railroading in the first place...well done!

Best Regards,

 

Don, I remeber seeing an article where Bill Darnaby used homemade mechanisms on his "Maumee Route" layout. It was quite clever, manually operated and avoided the shortcomings you've listed. I'll have to see if I can find the issue.

Otherwise, I think I'd prefer throwing the points with my not-to-scale fingers.

Best Regards,

 

I've started using something called a Bullfrog, put out by

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/

They work very positively, have a microswitch for changing frog polarity and are very economical. The kit is $6 and the assembled version is $9. They make all manner of accessories for them.
They are a snap to install and really fill the bill for me. I'm going to have a sort of ongoing track diagram along the fascia and will route the throw levers through it.

 

Thanks for posting the photos Doug.
I was at the east end of Newburg today to see 1522 taking No. 12 east after being turned and serviced. The engineer has seen the signal at the east switch is clear and has the sanders going as he starts his run at Rolla Hill. The fireman is just starting to sand the flues. Sound was impressive.

 

Re: Newburg update Halloween

I've been working on the east end of Newburg and the forestry service is in need of a ton of trees to work on the hill at this end. I used some white faced masonite for a fascia board and fed the throw rods from the Bullfrog switch machines through it. I need to redo the tape track diagram tho as I got it wrong. The knobs are fishing bobbers from Wal-Mart. I filled in the area between the track and fascia board and did basic ground cover there.
Lotta work to do before Newburg is even getting close, but it's making some progress. Then I can start benchwork for the main line both directions out of town and actually run some trains. Almost time for tonnage tests with the new 4500s.