Great Northern railway

Leapinlarry,

Thanks for the kind words. Always a pleasure to share with other railroaders.

==================

NMRA MCR DIV 7 monthly meeting.    

Awards for last year.

Always a good attendance.

Monthly raffle.

Frank's stuff for sale.  I picked up a nice Walthers Pullman heavy weight passenger car. 

The Div 7's store.

Monthly contest entries. 

The presentation for this month.

Div 7's library of DVD's to borrow.

Bill's impressive 3-rail layout (he's on the right).

Jim from OGR.

He has thousands of people.

He makes his skyscrapers by kit bashing or from scratch.

His workshop.

Very detailed interiors.

Matt's contemporary layout: Jersey area.

Thank you for posting all the great photographs!!  Bill's amd Matt's layouts are great!!

video of Bill's 3-rail layout, night scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DFwkmtsPpg

The GNRW's mission statement:

Hauling nothing, nowhere, on time, everyday!

Also, excellent safety record: We've gone 14,600 days with no fatalities!

New LCC logic added to detect when upper interchange/staging 3-track loops are occupied.

Joe and I added logic to detect when and how many of the 3 track loops are occupied and send the info to a signal mast along the track leading to the staging yard.

The signal is SM101 with explanation in red in picture below indicating conditions.

In this case: red for all loops occupied.

Yellow when one loop is available for entry.  Any combination works for all conditions. 

Flashing yellow when two loops are available for entry.

Green when all 3 loops are available for entry.

Here's the logic.   We learned something new in that parenthesis can be used to define your logic after all the variables are defined.  In this case we needed a variable for each loop being occupied and unoccupied and then set up the logic to light the respective signal light for each condition. 

Logic for all 4 situations. 

The 'virtual' signal is set up on the monitor: I now have to set up the physical one leading into the staging loops.

Will be able to tap into the left side of this LCC signal board. 

We enjoyed setting this up as it was very rewarding once we got it working. 

Sam, that is very impressive!!  Great job by you and Joe!!

Thanks, Mark.

=====

More testing before the ops session, tonight.

NP A-5 4-8-4 (Oriental Limited) and passenger cars.

Just this one engine was derailing under Glacier (snow scene).  Can't get to it (been that way for 40 years) so I used some small tin snips and cut a U shape into the scenery and pulled it back to gain access to the track.

Widen and beveled outside edge a bit to fix this one engine derailment. 

Tested PRR GG1's (Bachmann) and passenger cars.

About twice the train shorted: not sure why as no derailments and I moved each car laterally to see if any intermittent shorts but none.  Not sure if, momentarily, exceeding max amps.  Just hit the reset for the CB and all's good!  Two powered engines and 14 lighted cars (8 are brass so heavy load).   With the brass cars having metal trucks and wheels, sometimes it sounds like a car derailed but nada. 

D&RGW L-131 2-8-8-2 (PFM United) and BLI lighted zephyr passenger cars.  

Just noticed that when backing up a train past a red signal, it changes back to green so able to proceed forward again, as normal clear.

Ran train over 850' of track and one spot, the lead truck came off going with the points.  No problem when engine went against the points.  Again, points were a little lower than stock rail so beveled the inside edge of the stock rail.   Also, gauge was a little wide.  Another spot where everything else works great passing this area but one engine and in only one direction!

Glad I made most trees removable as it was a lot easier fixing this turnout with the trees removed!

You give a lot of tips when test running!  40 years pass before your first derailment with one particular engine in that mountain.  Must be a record!!!

GNRW ops session pictures.

Pizza arrived at 6:45 so, after full stomachs, we then 'ran trains'.

Main line was pretty busy.

First timer Rex seem to enjoy running a NYC and a N&W passenger train.   At one time, I looked over at the schematic on the monitor and I think every district was in red (ie, occupied).   Some engineers had to wait awhile for the mainline ahead of him to clear but they made the 'run' under the 12 hour rule!

Bob running a D&GRW Zephyr passenger train. 

"YES, I'm pretty sure the train is in there!"

Jack with a UP 2 tone challenger passenger train.  Joe had the SP AC-5 passenger train.

Zephyr train taking on water.

John had a GN R-2 2-8-8-2 pulling a 43 car freight drag. 

Times like these, I'm glad I made generous width isles!

Jack and the UP passenger train.

Rex arriving at the passenger yard.

John's freight drag taking on water: I love the BLI functioning water towers!  Four of them on the mainline.

Freight drag arriving at Seattle on inbound freight yard track while Jor's PRR passenger train departing on passenger track.

I was impressed by all the engineers obeying all signals when they were red: good thing, don't need any 'cornfield meets'!  The LCC signalling system sure saves me a lot of work on directing traffic.

Later, we talked trains and solved world problems (mostly trains though)!  The new 20 amp power station and 4 boosters seem to work very well.  Most left around midnight.  I get half my fun with the post ops discussion session!

The GNRW mission statement was accomplished: 

Morning Sam, Its been awhile since my last comment, been busy with the house. 

I still think you have one of the most amazing layouts I have ever seen! I am glad that you all had a great time last night and that everything ran smooth! 
Your signaling system is way about my ability, but it sure looks cool and I am glad that it all worked out great and that the guys fallowed the signals!

I hope the rest of your weekend it a fun one as well!

Mike,

Thanks for the kind words.  Couldn't have gotten the software side done for the signalling system without my friend's help.   Initially, I always figured I'd could install a simple signalling system ie: green, next block clear; red, next block occupied and then clear after a few minutes.  The present LCC signalling system operates like a full size railroad: green, next block clear; red, next block occupied; yellow, 2nd block occupied; flashing yellow, 3rd block occupied.  Plus, it's multi-directional for the single track and the passing tracks and responds to how the turnouts are thrown and all signals and train locations are shown on the monitor's track schematic.

A few fixes from last night:

The NYC Niagara's drivers locked up, last night, and I thought one driver went 'out of quarter' but, this morning, found that it was just a side rod screw that came loose: easy fix.

Derailment of one light wood kit but noticed that I was hoping to be able to use the old trucks but the wheel sets have no fillet next to the flange so these tend to derail under large loads (ie, lots of cars behind it). 

One turnout in the Seattle's engine yard would only stay in the middle of the rails.

Had to re-solder the linkage.  Surprising: would think a 40 year 'young' layout with only 100 turnouts wouldn't get these problems!  40 years in modeling is probably like dog years, ie 280 years!    This being my 4th large layout, most of the wood has been used on each layout, dating back to around 1959.   First layout at my parent's basement, 2nd and 3rd in Cleveland and my present, after a 'company' transfer, 4th layout started in 1979.  My next move is '6 feet under'. 

Auxiliary to GNRW mission statement:

GNRW operating rules:

Rule 1: This is my railroad.

Rule 2: I make the rules.

Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!

Sam, It looks like everyone had a great time!  Your railroad combines a lot of train running and yard, great looking and operating models, plus great scenery.  It is good that on such a well established railroad only had those minor problems!  Excellent!!

Never Assume (twice)!

The SP AC-5 4-8-8-2 used to haul the 18 passenger cars but I had to remove 4 of them to make the grade.  Initially, I assumed the track had oil on it and needed cleaning. Turns out the cars developed a lot of drag.  

The trucks pass the electric to the lights via metal journals and, after several runs on the layout, they needed oiling.  Normally, I never lube axles as they usually stay friction free. These are the SP unit passenger cars by  BLI.  I checked the enclosed packaging and no suggestions on needing oil. 

2nd assumption: new circuit boards are more reliable than 40 year old contact switches!  I spent about an hour trying to 'make' the old contact switches for my turnouts that send a signal to the LCC boards but found out the circuit board had a defect for one lead.  Only way I found it was swapping two of the input wires to the circuit board and the problem stayed with the respective circuit board's input.

After each power up, the power cat-5 cable has to be disconnected and reconnected to the LCC tower board to initiate proper operation.  If not done, the signals don't respond.  There is a yellow LED that flashes indicating a problem.  The CAT-5 cable runs about 150' to connect all LCC boards so the distance may be a factor.  I have an additional power source that I can add to break up the total run.   It's no big hassle to do for each startup of the system but something I always need to remember to do. 

Testing the SP AC-5 and passenger train. 

Some rail adjustment needed to prevent front drivers from lifting at this one spot. 

Long reach to spike rail ends so the lead truck doesn't pick it.   Some white foam helps protect my knees and hands. 

Stock rail a little too wide for lead trucks.

Got the engine from H@ll out on the mainline. 

Interesting, this web site doesn't like to use of H@ll so it asterisks it out.

First test though was the NYC Niagara: needed testing after side rod screw came out.

Got the MTH Erie triplex 2-8-8-8-2. The engine from H@ll as it found about 10 out of gauge track on the mainline during it's last run.  With 24 drivers and narrow tread width, this engine finds any minor track deviations. 

Going East (up grade), it ran well except one spot where the two rail ends were slightly misaligned.   

Going West (down grade) there were two locations (passing sidings) that needed fixing.  Initially, on the first location, I thought it was at the turnout but the turnout only shorted the engine due to the previous curve having too wide of a gauge and derailing the trailing set of drivers.  The tender drivers are not powered but roll freely behind the engine.   The second location the gauge was, again, too wide.  All other engines and rolling stock transverses these areas with no problems. 

I've done this with some other contemporary made steam engines where the frame is narrower than on brass steam so there is a lot of 'side play' slop to negotiate sharp curves.  Some kadee washers were put on the leading and trailing axles to reduce the side play and, hopefully, keep the engine's drivers from going down the track at an oblique angle.   That'll be the next test!  A pie shape is cut in the washer so insertion of the washer on the axle is done without dismantling the engine. 

Looks great!!

Thanks, Mark.

===========

Happiness...

is having the Erie Triplex run the full mainline, both East and West, with no problems.  After 5-6 weeks of testing, it appears all bugs in the mainline are resolved.

Sam, Running the triplex over the entire line is the reward for your diligence in making repair 

More engine and rolling stock testing.

With the track working well, each engine and cars needs additional testing.

Milwaukee S-3 4-8-4 by Overland models and Walther's Hiawatha passenger cars.  This engine had some issues, previously, so it was tested again.

Video:  TCS 1517 decoder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw4HUzwe2Ks

The lead trucks were derailing, once in awhile.  Previously, I had change the front truck mount from a straight screw with a spring to this movable bar connected from the truck to the driver retaining plate.  One additional mod was needed by putting a Z bend in the bar to keep the back of the truck from interfering with the bar.  

The lead truck on the tender came off on one curve.  Being under a mountain, I left the track alone and removed the tension spring that is normally on the truck bolster screw.  This seemed to fix the problem as the spring was very rigid and the truck didn't have much vertical or horizontal movement with the spring.  

One passenger car had a 'drooping' coupler so a thin piece of plastic stock (grey) was added to the retaining plate to raise the coupler. 

All seems to be running well, now, with this engine and cars.

Interesting mainline trains on the BNSF at Marias Pass area:  I see they're still using the red ballast around Glacier Park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlgwOVntknA&t=38s

PRR S-1 6-4-4-6.

After testing the Erie Triplex, I thought I'd test another sensitive engine.  With the extreme length of the engine with all the wheels plus the tender is very long having two 8-wheel trucks, this engine can, also, try one's patience!  This engine was made by Gem models and was factory painted in 1965 which is pretty unusual since about the only people painting engines back then was Tenshodo.  It's very well detailed, including raised pen striping, cab detail and fully functional sprung tender trucks.   The original owner never ran it and it sat in the box for 52 years.  I can see why he didn't run it as it must take at least a 32" radius, if not more.  It's just not the engine but also the size of the tender. 

PRR only made one of these and, I believe, they only ran on the flat lands of western Ohio and was suppose to do 100 MPH for passenger service.

Video: 

will post after uploading is complete.

The engine ran fine going East (up grade) with only the lead truck coming off once.

Must be a company truck as it's always at the station!

Heading West (down grade), the tender's trailing truck picked two turnouts. 

When I first got it, I installed a TCS 1517 decoder with all the lights, ie: headlight (engine, tender), marker lights (engine, tender), four running board lights over each piston valve gear, cab light and fire box glow. 

With fully working 8 wheel tender trucks, one would think they would operate better than just brass side cast trucks but the functional trucks tend to have some wheels not touch the rails.  

As a 'backup' I bought some cast 8 wheel trucks and painted them.  I'll have to try testing them on the tender and see if derailments are reduced.  Another possible problem that I just noticed  is the tender has skirting so the trucks are limited on how far they can pivot. I'm hoping my minimum 48" radius exceeds the trucks needed pivot points. 

Sam, Great work and wonderful shots of your amazing layout! Sounds like you have a new track testing engine! LOL Sure is a sharp looking engine!

Thanks for sharing the BNSF video. Was a pleasure to watch with my morning coffee!

Keep up the great work keeping that 40 year old layout running smooth!

This is a nice layout and great collection of engines.  I don't always comment but I always follow along.  I have to tell you I've gotten some inspiration with you lighting projects, I know I am going to start adding ground lights on my diesels and running board lights on my steam engines.

Gene Anstine

Thanks, Mike.

GRFD59, 

Glad I could help.  I like to post work items as it may help others from making the same mistakes I make plus it's a good reference for me when, 2 years 'down the road', I forgot how I did something!

==============

Tested the UP 8500 turbine.

Videos: Pulling vintage metal Athearn and Varney freight cars.

At Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayPmZUfgpB0

At Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5ggJhJoTdg

At Chumstick Canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LonGVvsANa0

This is by scaletrains.  A truly impressive engine. Tons of detail.  The three unit set has a decoder in each unit: yes, even one in the tender just for the tender light (there are no decoder wires between units).  The first unit has the diesel engine noise and is used for moving around the yard.  The second unit has the turbine.  It is loud, just like the full size engine.  And it operates like the full size: if you don't start up the turbine and try to pull a train, it will not move due to not enough power with just using the diesel engine in the first unit. 

Functioning doors with interior detail.  Very nice ladder work.

Interior.  Nicely detailed trucks.

Working fan blades.  See through walk way.

Three color marker lights (clear, green, red), lighted headlight and number boards.  Ladder way is lighted over the trucks.

Fine see through screen.

Amazing what they can do for details.

Operating doors.  Interior cab detail.

Lighted walkway and a ton of hoses between units. 

Contacts on bottom detects when going through turnouts so the decoder makes the respective noises for that.

Plenty of weight.  The units easily pull the 45 cars and would, probably, handle 100 cars, upgrade!

PRR S-1 6-4-4-6 videos:  pulling vintage metal Athearn and Varney freight cars.

At Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGuKliBDmHM

At Chumstick Canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76KvzyWXY94

New delivery.

A box of 100 intermountain 33" metal wheel sets.

A spare LCC signal board (just in case).

NYC 2-8-2 H-10B by PFM, United.

Made in 1981 (getting close to the end of PFM import days).  Back in the 60's and 70's I remember always looking on the back cover of MR to see what PFM was producing.  PFM owned the back cover of MR for decades.  They produced a lot of nice, good running engines, especially the Tenshodo imports.  They could be noisy but tracked well and gave reliable performance.   I've re-geared and added can motors to most of mine. 

The previous owner ran this engine but no visible wear on wheels.  This engine has a can motor.

Nicely detailed backhead.

The previous owner did a nice job of painting this engine.  This engine bristles with piping which is why I bought it.  All the great detail caught my attention.  I wasn't expecting to get it as my bid was low as it was less than half of what brasstrains sells it for and less than the suggested retail price when it was made in 1981.  There were several paint nicks but easy to fix with scalecoat loco black as it dries a dull color and matches the original paint, perfectly.  No headlights, etc and just DC.  

Love all that piping and the nice, crisp castings. 

Trailing truck has a booster. 

All the turret piping added.

This rounds out my NYC collection.  Right to left: Hudson, 2-8-2. Niagara, Mohawk (L-3A and L-3B).  These are what I consider NYC's iconic steam engines. 

WOW Sam, You sure know your way around engines! I sure like how you take care of them like they were your kids! LOL

Question, I have the same scale and how to you convert or set it up for OZ?

Sam, I thought the same as Mike; WOW!  I too saw them on the back of MR then as a teenager and college student and was amazed!

Thanks, Mike,

Been messing with engines since the 70's.  Not sure what you mean for OZ?

Mark,

The good ol' days.

=============

PRR S-1 6-4-4-6 final mods made.

Had four mods made which, after they were made, ran the engine a total of 850' and it ran well.  (Almost 3 football fields).

Mod 1: replaced tender trucks.

Originals.

The originals (top) are sprung plus the center functioning mechanism makes the trucks wider and they were hitting the skirting on the tender.  The bottom trucks are cast, non functioning. Two different shoulder bolts were also needed.  The original trucks were put in plastic bags and put in the original engine box.

Mod 2:

The front truck derailed once on a previous test so I added two brass washers to raise the tender so the trucks won't hit the skirting, which solved the one derail.

Mod 3:  Relocate decoder wires from tender to engine.  This was the first time I've routed the wires from under the tender and it was a mistake as they interfere with the lead truck.

Had to cut all eight decoder wires and route them through a new hole drilled in the front of the tender.

All wires re-soldered. 

Finished.  Hole is just below the tender deck, which is where I should have, originally, put it.

MOD 4: Lead engine truck would, occasionally, derail.  Normally, the screw guide is in the center of the truck but this truck is at the back so the front of the truck doesn't get as much downward pressure so it would derail a couple times.   A 1/2 oz lead weight was added to the front and this seems to have resolved the problem.

Another alternative is to make a drawbar from the driver retaining plate to the truck. This is what I, normally, like but we'll leave it as is, for now. 

TA DA: 850' of good running.

This engine also has sprung lead and trailing trucks. 

Videos of UP 8500 turbine pulling 75 vintage metal Athearn, Varney and wood Silver Streak, Ambroid freight cars. 

I was wrong, the turbine couldn't handle 100 cars upgrade.  I'm guessing 60 would be OK.  Heading East (up hill), I had to 'double up' to get the train over the first hill.  After that no problem.

At Tye: Metal wheels over turnout sounds good. (videos and pictures always reveal errors that one doesn't always notice in 'real life': already fixed that one building roof and cupola!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t55dmF5mTQI

At Chumstick Canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be

At Marias Pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba2IpQL2Hes

At Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7lLaM506do

UP 4-12-2 testing.  

Videos:

At Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW5zfVS9k9o

At Tumwater Canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paNAMe7E4AE

Another engine with a 12 coupled set of drivers that can 'test' your track work.

The drivers were derailing at a couple spots so I replaced the geared, flange driver with the provided 'blind' driver.  Quick and easy change: remove driver retaining plate, side rod screws and gear box cover. 

I noticed the spring was 'working' its way past the engine's lead truck so a washer was added to keep the spring on the upper side of the truck and provide good downward pressure on the tracks. 

The tender front truck came off at one spot.  Noticed the decoder wires were getting pinched between the tender and cab so a new, longer draw bar was inserted. Not a scale distance between the tender and engine but functional. 

The engine is by key and was painted 4 years ago with all the LED lighting and decoder (TCS 1517) added.

Nicely detailed engine:

Front smoke box opens. 

See through walk boards. 

Nice cab detail.  Cab came off so I could paint the interior, green.

Second driver back has rotating cam to operate the center, third piston rod which these engines had. 

Air tank nomenclature. 

Testing engine. Also, had a few track adjustments but all seems to run well, now.

PRR T-1 4-4-4-4 and ACL passenger cars.

This is by Alco models with lights and TCS 1517 decoder installed.  

Running the train and it started to short.  After checking that it wasn't the cars, check engine and tender and found one wheel came loose from its insulation on the tender truck.  Some CA fixed it. 

This engine has about the same tender as the PRR S-1: long, skirted and 8 wheel trucks.  The front truck would, occasionally, derail.  Added a metal washer to raise the tender over the truck and removed the bolster spring for more vertical and horizontal movement (seems to have fixed it). 

I made the mistake of ASSUMING again

I was running the GN Q-1 2-10-2 and the headlight was not lighting. 

First went through all my function keys to insure they were on.  Next, figured it was the 401 LED so I replaced it....only the same results.  Next, I figured it's got to be the white wire as all other LED's are working off the same base blue wire.  Used the voltmeter to check the white wire: good.  Must be in the tender.  Took that apart and disconnected the wire harness to the decoder to check the white wire: also good.   Turns out the decoder's headlight circuitry is bad.   To double check, I connected another engine's tender to the Q-1 engine and the headlight worked.   All engines have the same sequence wiring (at least for the ones I install and not counting factory installed decoders) so cross checking is possible. 

Pulled up decoderpro and highlighted the Q-1 and re-wrote the saved data back into the engine which took about 30 seconds.

My GN P-2 4-8-2 also  had the headlight plus the running board lights not working.  Again, after checking all functions and using another tender, the circuit board, again, was defective.  TCS has a free lifetime warranty so I'll go out to their web site and fill out the paper work and send the decoders to them.  They usually get them fixed within a couple weeks.  The last thing I suspected was the decoder since sound and all other functions were working.

The life of a 'hogger' on the GNRW:

Engine number 2006, an N-3 2-8-8-0 all topped off with oil and water.

GN N-3 backing down the ready track to pick up his train.

GN N-3 leaving Seattle's freight yard.  Tower man gives him the high ball.

GN N-3 arriving at Skykomish ready to get his electric helper through the 8 mile long Cascade tunnel. 

GNRW Y-1 electric coming out of the 'shed'.

GN Y-1 coupled onto the train and ready to pull the train through the tunnel. 

Video of GN Y-1 and N-3 freight drag coming out of Cascade tunnel at Tye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnoNTNpYM8A

Cascade entrance at Tye:

===========

Farther down the line, the N-3 arrives at a town that has a virtual endless amount of water to top off the tenders!

Sam you have such a great layout and the attention to detail is just amazing! OZ I meant ounce.

mike g. posted:

WOW Sam, You sure know your way around engines! I sure like how you take care of them like they were your kids! LOL

Question, I have the same scale and how to you convert or set it up for OZ?

You can just push the right 'mode' button and it changes from ounces to grams.

Reorganization:

Since I like running my vintage old cars I moved all my vintage metal Athearn, Varney and wood Silver Streak, Ambroid cars that were in the St. Paul yard to the Seattle freight yard.

The vintage cars takes up about 3.5 tracks. 

One 'string' is on the 'road' but there are about 130 vintage cars available for trains. 

The St Paul freight yard gets all the 70's and 80's (also my age bracket!) Athearn, Train Miniature, etc cars. 

Don't remember who made this but it weighs a ton.

Something different: aluminum foil covered.

Some exceptions:

Have several contemporary made cars that are really nicely detailed. 

...and any 'gons' or 'flats' with loads.

...and last, the TM 'state of Maine' potato cars.  Remember back in the 70's when these came out, I had to go to every hobby shop in Cleveland to get a nice string of them as each hobby shop only had one or two of them. 

The Athearn, etc cars of the 70's/80's also have some nice graphics.

Ribbed side box.

MP car.

samparfitt posted:

mike g. posted:

WOW Sam, You sure know your way around engines! I sure like how you take care of them like they were your kids! LOL

Question, I have the same scale and how to you convert or set it up for OZ?

You can just push the right 'mode' button and it changes from ounces to grams.

Thanks Sam, I thought there might be a way to change the decimal point?

Testing the relocated vintage metal Athearn, Varney and wood Silver Streak, Ambroid freight cars.

Front end power is a GN R-2 2-8-8-2 by Tenshodo fully lighted with TCS 1517 decoder.  Surprised this engine is never listed with the top largest engines produced as it's said that this engine's pulling power exceeded any other articulated engine made.  As for miniature size, mine has no problem pulling 45 freight cars up a grade!

Videos after Youtube is done uploading them.

Waverly.

Watering hole.  Wilmar.

Marias Pass.

Marias Pass.

Train entering one of the three incoming tracks at Seattle's freight yard. 

Engine dropped off the cars and using the escape turnouts to access roundhouse area. 

Track leading to turntable. 

Walther's turntable is excellent with its indexing system and accuracy. 

GN 0-8-0 switcher on drill track and getting cars from the 'tail' end.

Switcher pulling cars from incoming track...

...and into the yard tracks.

Intermountain wheel sets replace original wheel sets on the vintage cars.

I try to keep the original sprung trucks. 

Some times the intermountain wheels touch the outside metal truck frame and short out.  I was replacing them with accurail truck frames but may have found a solution to the short:  I noticed the side truck frame's bottom angles in, slightly, which is where the insulated wheel side touches and causes the short.  Some thick CA was applied to where the bolster contacts the side frame while holding the side frame vertical while the glue dries (some 'kicker' speeds up drying time).  After the repair, the truck is put on the track and pushed side ways to see if any shorts occur. 

This is the car that needed new wheel sets.  Remarkable how freely some of the cars roll.  This one, after just touching it, rolled a couple feet. 

What I consider some of the unusual cars in the vintage set:  Different roads and their slogans along with private company cars. 

A different version of the 'potato' car.

A little blurry trying to take pictures while the train is moving!