Workshop Wednesday

Thanks All for the replies this week. Tom, with regard to your comment:

I have certainly considered this option. While I would probably make a lift out as part of the design, that would be especially good if I were to take the layout for display somewhere.

There is even a historical precedent for a connection from south of Weir City, connecting back to the Afton Sub near the town of Scammon, between Cherokee and Columbus. As I recall, the connection was heading south at the junction, but hey, pretty close to a complete loop. Mr Chambers would probably confirm that any track arrangement would be historically accurate due to the amount of mine and smelter track that crisscrossed the area.

-Bob T.

 

Ain't Wednesday, 'cause I've been busy with non-model stuff, however, I HAVE done a bit of model stuff.

Some MU misery....

Here's the latest accomplishment prior to it getting shipped off to WhizKid for DCC/Sound...




Fabricated and installed MU's on it. There's four (count 'em: FOUR) per end. Now, DON'T remind me that SOME units had FIVE.

Then there's this one:

You see, one of the KC&G's surviving RS-2's never received the "standardized" MU set up. It still has the older Alco-type MU system, thus it can't be used in consist with the GP7s, F's, and such. Hasn't been an issue, 'cause It has been used as a switch engine up in KC for years. However, because of the pinch for road switcher-type power down in the Ozarks, it's getting ready to be sent down to Ozarka to be the regular switch engine there.



Homemade MU's:

Don't know if this effort is worth it! Wow, what a pain in the butt to make these MU's, then get them installed and adjusted so they match (parallel, correct height and sag, etc.) Still have one more MU to make and then install both on the other (rear) end.

You think it's worth it??

Andre

 

OF COURSE IT'S WORTH IT, Andre!
Nice looking footboards on that RS-2.
We didn't have mu connections on my work vehicles!
From a non-railroader what are the hoses for? Four on each side seem like a bunch?

 

All:

Yeah, I've concluded it's worth it, too. I'll get around to finishing up the other end "soon".

Sherril:

That fourth line was for air-actuated sanders. Once electrical sander actuation was common, three per side (sort of) began to be common.

Tom:

I've developed a very precise way of doing that. Next time I'm out in my train building at my work bench, I'll try to remember to take pictures of the tools I use.

Just wrapped a huge Fri/Sat. Me ol' train bud come over yesterday about lunch and we went to see our mutual aging train friend that's currently dealing with his wonderful wife's slow passing. Once home, we did Mexican food, then employed the "Op 'til you Drop" principle. We got into bed about midnight... up a 6 AM, made the 2 hour drive to Bentonville, AR to a train meet, where I scored some stuff. (Pics later if I can remember to.) Got home late this afternoon, friend headed south another 1 1/2 hrs to his place, and I loaded up my music stuff and headed to church to do music for the Missions Explosion we had tonight. Just got home. 6:30 AM wife and I will be up and at 'em, loading up and heading for church to do three services of music... home after lunch. Weekends have kind of gotten crazy of late!

All fer now!

Andre

 

Tom:

Here's a picture of the precision tools I use to fabricate my own MU's:



I lay the piece of brass wire on the mini-anvil (an old shifter linkage from a Muncie 4 speed, I think), place the flat end of the drift on the brass wire end... and smack it with the tack hammer. Presto: Flattened end.

Very precise.



BUT, the end result (once painted/etc) is DURABLE and can stand the rigors of being handled as needed (by me and/or the operators) for operations. The "Three Foot Rule" takes care of the aesthetics.

Andre

 

Frisco Friends,

A small bit of progress this week, with a few hours after work for the past few nights. Managed to get to wiring the new Lightning Creek Mine set of sections:

Lightning_Creek_Mine_Wiring-1sm (2) by rjthomas909 posted Mar 4, 2020 at 10:37 PM

...and have the feeders and main bus wired up. I decided to keep these two sections together for now with some carriage bolt lash-up. This part of the layout has many small sections of track and needs quite a few feeders to get to all of the rail segments. I was able to test this new portion tonight with power from the Digitrax DCS 52 (New Zephyr something or other), and our sacrificial SP F-Unit:

Lightning_Creek_Mine_Wiring-2 (2) by rjthomas909 posted Mar 4, 2020 at 10:36 PM

Lightning_Creek_Mine_Wiring-3 (2) by rjthomas909 posted Mar 4, 2020 at 10:35 PM

After eliminating only one dead short in the new turnouts (forgot the gap on the throwbar), we have working track, even if a bit dirty in places.

I am going to try and get the switch machines installed over the next couple of evenings and maybe get to the point that I can paint the track on this and the new brickyard section. We'll see.....stand by for more.

Hope all are well,

-Bob T.

 

Great stuff Bob, you too Andre. looks fun guys.


I finished some stuff for my buddy Peter in Toledo this past week. This is the brand new Tangent Chessie caboose they just released. He got one of the first and wanted it weathered up asap, you will be able to check this one out on the Tangent site.

 

Some randomness I took outside also:

 

Frisco stuff too, less the smudge on the lens on the U boat. Oh well...you get the idea.

 

Nice work Bob!

Steve:

Good work! I particularly like the B&O caboose, the WM gon, and the former Utah Belt unit! (OH, and all of the snow scenes!)

 

Well, looks like another week of awesomeness! Here is a bonus Thursday Workshop submission....had about an hour tonight, so finished assembly of a couple of Accurail cars. One for 1913-ish and one for the late 20s. I am particularly fond of the Denver and Salt Lake car. Now for some weathering.



Great to be part of the group!

-Bob T.

 

Thanks Andre. That WM gon will be on the Tangent site too. I can post some pics of the inside. It is a combination of graphite and real rust to look worn, but not the beat to death dented up look of most gons later in life.

 

Well Don, it looks great “semi together”!