Great Northern railway

Some 'full size' railroading!

After stopping by my daughter's business, I thought I'd go for a ride since it was a perfectly blue sky day (but cold at around 55 degrees).  Went into Hamilton, Ohio and checked out the area for trains.

This is a spur that comes off of the mainline.  The mainline is North/South and this spur goes East.  Although it may not be a spur since the rail is very 'heavy duty'.

Looking West.

Looking East.

Replaced ties.

A siding that has seen 'better days'!

The siding doesn't seem like it has been used in decades but a MOW was on the spur!

Surprised to this old freight station and surprised it hasn't been torn down.

There is a big fence around it.  Would be nice to be restored and put a nice club layout in there!

Spur looking west where it connects to the mainline.  The spur takes a sharp right turn.

Double track mainline with spur going off to the left.

That's one 'high speed' turnout for a spur.  Even if it's not a spur, the curve wouldn't allow any trains to go very fast plus it's right in the city limits.

Didn't know they used metal to insure the stock rails and points don't move.

Looking north on the mainline.  That crossover is might sharp.

With 136 lb rail, it must be a mainline.  Looks like it was installed in 2012.

A work train went by with just 2 MOW cars.

Farther north was huge buildings that was once served by the railroad.  There was a pile of brick to the right so they may be tearing them down.

The 'way it was'.

Another pretty sharp turn behind the buildings.

The back of the abandoned factories.

A few more abandoned factories.

Hamilton's power station on the right.

No coal piles so it must be gas driven.

One very old bridge behind the power station.

Power distribution.

Talk about going back in time; a 'ma and pa' corner store!

I should have gone inside.

And last, one determined flower in the middle of November in Ohio!

Video of the work train in Hamilton, Ohio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxSn8VvITjA

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

B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 road test:

Video:  At Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZQ1k547W2Y

Skykomish:

Always nice!

North Shore video in 1945.

Home video taken from the front of the cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajJCuMg5JOo

Sam, I love your drive back in time! Its sad to see all the empty buildings and tracks. But it was nice to see that they havent been taken up or tore down yet!

The Video was a nice trip back in time also. I could never imagine living that close to the L. Heck in some places it looked like the L was being held up by the building! LOL

What I like most is the sights and scenes form your layout! It is truly some of the best work I have ever seen posted ! Thank you for taking me along for the ride to watch the progress of your layout!

@samparfitt posted:

Video of the GN R-2 2-8-8-2 in glacier park colors.  The engine rivaled the Big Boy and Allegheny in tractive power.

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

sam

Those are some great pictures and some incredible work on that layout!!!

Depends on what you mean by rivaled. Size, weight, HP, speed.
The R-2 could out pull the Big Boy, but was no where near as fast. So for revenue service, the R-2 is the "king of the mountain" between these 2 locomotives when needing to make it up steep grades, but the Big Boy wins in getting the freight to it's destination the fastest.

In fact, before the 1950's mod of the Y6b, the R-2 could out pull any other articulated locomotive with only 2 sets of drivers. I don't like including triplex locos as they turned out to be a more of a problem than a help.

Most Pulling Force (2 sets of drivers)

N&W Y6b 2-8-8-2 170,000 (simple expansion mode, with booster mid- 1950's modification)
GN R-2 2-8-8-2 153,000
N&W Y6b 2-8-8-2 152,206 (simple expansion mode, before mid-1950 modifications)
WP M-137/151 2-8-8-2 151,000 (with Franklin trailing truck booster) 137,000 (without booster)
DM&IR M-4 2-8-8-4 140,000
UP 4-8-8-4 135,375

Love the GN S-2's too. They've always been the most eye catching non streamlined Northern to me. Got to talk with an old GN engineer in the late 80's that was an engineer on the S2 during WW2. He had some great stories

UP Steam shop tour video:

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

Mike,

Thanks Mike.  For a 40 year old layout, it running pretty good.

Quietman.

Good point: The GN R-2 had high tonnage pull but was slow in the mountains, probably, only running 15-25 MPH.

Each articulated had their 'high points'.

You forgot the C&O H-8 2-6-6-6.

For all around power and speed, the BB, probably, takes the 'cake'.

N&W knew how to build engines.

PRR N8 caboose.

Marker lights install.

A Bowser product.

Roof came off, easily.

Drilled holes for the marker lights.

Some thin CA, from the inside, secured the marker lights.  These are brass castings.

One conductor added.

See through walk boards.

N&W Y-3 2-8-8-2 PM.

Newly done engine is stalling with the drivers not moving when a load is added to the motor so I put in a 'stronger' motor.

I put some heat shrink tubing over the flexible clear tubing.

Painted the lanyards beige.

Video:

Engine drivers are still stopping under too heavy of a load.  Runs OK with only about 15 cars.  Will have to try to install a larger motor.  First time I've had this problem. 

MMM: have to get that vehicle back on the road!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NngVFC6Q8Y0

Nice job on the caboose!

Thanks, Mark.

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

SP caboose: marker lights installed.

Company photographer went on the 'road' to take pictures!

N&W Y-3 2-8-8-2 'road' test.

Just east of Wilmar.

Whitefish.

Chumstick Canyon trestle.

Havre.

Hillyard.

Marias pass.

Tye

Skykomish.

Seattle's freight/passenger throat.

Seattle's freight yard.

Street lights added last year.

Seattle's roundhouse.

Passenger terminal.

Ore dock.  Light poles added, last year.

St. Paul's freight yard.

Light poles added to the icing station, last year.

St. Paul's round house.

Swan River logging company railroad.

All's working well for this Saturday's ops session.

Looking good for the operating session!  Have fun!!

SF 4-8-4 decoder install.

This is a PFM (united) model imported in 1969.  I painted and installed LED's in 2018 along with a new can motor.  Also, I installed a back head in the cab as none existed.

The painting and LED install was done before I had DCC so all the LED's (headlight, marker lights, running board lights and cab light) was all connected to just 2 wires running from the boiler to the driver frame.  I was too lazy and didn't want to change all that wiring in the boiler so I just left it 'as is' being, now all those light functions all operate on just the headlight (FO) function instead of individual functions that I usually install for LED's.

Surprised I put no holes in the tender for sound for the previously existing PFM sound system!

Holes drilled for speaker plus rectangular hole in front of tender to route decoder wires plus padding foam to hold decoder and speaker.

With no independent controls of boiler lights, I only needed 6 wires instead of 8.  To be consistent, I still used an 8 wire connector but left the two 'non used' wires vacant.

Tested the previously installed can motor and the outside contacts started to smoke so installed a new can motor.

With a large box tender I tried using a 'regular' large oval speaker but the sound was very low so I replaced it with the usual PFM speaker.

Original 2 wire connector used that goes to all the boiler lights.

Decoderpro to insure all connections are correct.

BASIC data.

Address down loaded.

Chuff rate changed from the default 100 to 20.

The white wire that goes to all boiler lights changed to 'constant dim'.

As soon as the caulk cures that secures the new can motor to the frame, I'll assemble the engine and road test it.

SF 4-8-4: decoder install (cont)

Assembly and road test.

Videos: Train is pulling vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid freight cars.  With the big 80" drivers, I'm running the train around 80 SMPH.  I believe SF had the heaviest northern made.

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEO9WtRLxfA

Wilmar: Love the sound of the metal wheels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoWyl98eEFs

Glacier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSwY6jauOOA

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll5ozibj2M8

Leaving Havre: The two trestles were built in the late 50's, early 60's when I was a teenager.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbEpTrlEb48

Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CShGDQQj52E

Decoderpro used to test new motor.

Decoderpro also used to check all functions.

Road test.

West of St. Paul.

West of Wilmar.

'Water hoses' needed adjustment as they were interfering with the trailing truck.

Tumwater Canyon Trestle.

Whitefish.

The dispatcher's panel, besides indicating where the train is located, it also indicates what direction it is traveling, ie: East or West.

Skykomish.

Signal PM:

Noticed one of the signals, top mast, would not change from green to red.  One of the wires broke off.

Green to...

red.   All better!

Hi samparfitt I saw your upgrade on the PRR Caboose you did and I'd like to find those Caboose Marker lights. I've looked at the Bowser_Trains web site and the Tomar Industries site but I couldn't locate them could you help me and give me the link where I can order those parts? Thanks Gary

Gary,

I get the CM-63's:

https://tomarindustries.com/up.htm

I use the below red led's that come with a bridge circuit so it provides a constant light.  I leave the colored jewels off and just have all sides red but I ran out of the red and used white and added the jewels on the last few cabeese.  I like these as they are quick to install and no polarity involved plus no flicker.

https://lights4models.com/prod...-red-pico-chip-pkg5/

Hi samparfitt Thanks for the info. Are you ordering the HO scale CM-63's because those are the only one's I'm seeing. I just want to make sure I get the right marker lights for O scale caboose's. Now with the red pico lights can you wire those right into the pickup on the truck or do you have to wire them another way? I've used Evans Designs before to outfit police cars and other emergency vehicles but with those vehicles I'm using a power supply from Evans Designs. Thanks again for your help on this.  Gary

Gary,

The CM-63's are for HO butt it seems like they would look OK for O.  Yes, the wires are directly connected to the trucks.

This page (23) of my thread shows a lot of the marker lights installed:

https://ogrforum.com/...hern-railway?page=23

Hello again samparfitt I just wanted to Thank you for the information and the links to those items. I ordered the Marker Lights and the LED's this morning. I also enjoyed all your photos of the layout you have it's really nicely done.  Gary

Gary,

Thinking about it, the marker lights are, probably, more scale for O gauge than HO!

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

SP AC-1 2-8-8-2 cab forward.

This is by Westside and was made in 1980.  It's an unusual version and not seen often.

Will be disassembling it, LED prep, painting and decoder install.

The model is highly detailed including cab detail.

One of the reasons that I purchased it was the whale back tender.

Disassembly.

Normally, I cut a rectangular slot under the front tender's deck but this tender has none and  I don't want to 'butcher up' all that detail.

Instead, I drilled 4 holes along the tender's bottom frame and will route the decoder's 8 wires through them (2 wires per hole).  With the tender truck so close to the front, any large hole routing 8 wires is going to interfere with truck movement.

Holes for speaker.

Can motor is not large but seems to be a high quality one plus it runs the engine well on the DC test.  All those 'end' wires will be getting flexible hoses.

Cab is removable with two screws from the bottom and will make painting the interior easier.

Besides the regular two tender trucks, a functioning booster truck is provided, which will be used.

Something I've never seen.  Instead of screw on brake shoes along the driver frames, they provide some cover plates that screws to the driver retaining plates.  Separate metal brake shoes have to be attached to these chrome plates.  Had to use thin CA to attach them.

Final results. The brake shoes have a slit in them that goes over each tab on the chrome plate.

I'm guessing this is to be the flexible hoses.  I'll, probably, need more.

The box had two air hoses so I soldered them to the back of the tender.  These are, normally, already attached.

Something that I've never seen modeled.  This engine has attachments for hoses from tender to engine.

The marker lights and headlight was drilled out for LED's.

Another item I've never seen modeled, at least not with this procedure.  Working equalizers for the drivers.  I've got some with wires but his setup rotates between two sets of drivers.

Cleaned in vinegar and dish washing soap and ready to paint.

Parts that won't be painted.

The engine valve gears gave me problems.  They soldered them on when they, usually, have removable screws.

Besides the valve gear not coming off, the entire piston assembly and cow catcher deck is all soldered together.  Very unusual.

Since I don't want to get paint on the plated valve gear I'm using some mold release that I use when making parts for my RC airplanes.  It should come off the valve gear, easily, after all parts are painted.

First coat.

Parts that are baked at 200 degrees for 2 hours.

Parts that are air dried.  Masking tape used to protect all electrical contact points.

New delivery.

Saw these Bachmann 'branches' so bought 3 packs.  There is 60 in each pack so should make for some nice ground cover along the mainline.

WOW Sam, that sure is one huge undertaking! But after fallowing you for so long I know your the guy to get it put back together working better then it ever did! I cant wait to see the finished product!

Thanks Mike. 

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

New delivery:

PRR K-4 streamline by Broadway Limited.

BLI emails me their 'refurbished' list so, when this engine is half price at $275, I'll 'bite'.  This, also, completes my list of PRR engines that I consider iconic since they had hundreds of them.  One sees 'refurbish' and may think some marks may be on the surface; I've gotten 2 so far and they look new to me with everything functioning plus you get the, usual, full year guarantee.

I got the green version versus the original bronze version.

BLI has been making engines, now, with engine and tender already attached so the boxes are long and narrow.

Like most manufacturers now, a plastic case in a plastic sleeve in a foam box are pretty 'standard'.

First thing was on the programming track.

Surprised I could load in the new address with no problems.  In the past I've had to load in the address via the mainline and use the hand throttle.

A very nice engine.  Cast metal engine and tender (very heavy plus a traction tire so no 'frog snot' should be needed!).  Marker lights and number board is lighted.  One nice thing getting a factory painted model is there is no way I can do that kind of striping that neat and accurately.

Number boards and marker lights.

Cab detailed and lighted.

Tender backup light plus lighted marker lights.

Nice smooth paint finish.

The 'flying' letter head is cool.

Has smoke.  I like the Lionel type stuff: takes me back to when I was 9 years old!

Nice real coal pile.

Speaking of coal piles; made one for the 2nd B&O EM-1 1-8-8-4.

My goodness...you certainly keep busy!

Beautiful layout, by the way...

Mark in Oregon

Mark,

Being retired and having powered down the the TV in June, I spend the bulk of my time on my hobbies.  Besides it's only half a day (12 hours) each day!  Even a slow guy like me can get a lot done in 12 hour days!

SP AC-1 2-8-8-2 (cont)

Smoke box masked off for painting.

Microscale decals used, all touch up paint done and then everything was clear coated.

Early engines used 'southern pacific lines'.  Also, AC stands for 'articulated consolidated' and GS, initially, meant 'general service'.

Cab interior painted Burlington green.

Red for knobs and white for dials.

Brass for whistle, bell and pop valves.

Red on air hose connectors.

That's another one that is looking great!!

Thanks, Mark.

==========

SP AC-1 2-8-8-2 (Cont)

Assembly:

Unusual gear diameter in that they are, usually, larger.

The 'mold release' agent I used worked well on the valve gears.

Before (with paint).

After paint was removed.

Journal guides scraped clear of paint on frame for good electrical conductivity.

Some very small screws to secure some of the valve linkage.

Fortunately, they used screws on two parts of the valve so I could remove the crank pin and piston rod.

The two engines assembled.

The two separate plates with the brake shoes were attached to the driver retaining plate.

Normally, the brake shoes are plastic so they don't short out on the driver tires.  Hopefully I don't have to remove the brake shoes due to 'shorting'.

Decoder install.

As mentioned, previously, needed to separate the 8 wires into 4 groups so as not to interfere with the front tender truck.  Instead of one 8 pin connector, two 4 pin connectors were made; labeled red and white so I don't reverse them!

Four holes for the 8 wires.

Tender light installed.  I use a 'low voltage' signal tester to insure all LED's are working properly.

GNRW operating session, Nov. 21

Videos:

D&RGW F-3 Zephyr passenger train at Chumstick Canyon trestle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eoMFq4Aeuw

PRR Q-2 4-4-6-4 freight drag at Chumstick Canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ismqfftfd-M

As usual, we started off with pizza, then trains.

Joe brought his 4 unit F-3 D&RGW diesel set to pull the Zephyr passenger cars.

Steve brought his Nickle Plate Berk.

Dave like's PRR so he ran the J-1 2-10-4 with a coal drag.

Joe departing the newly created passenger yard with the Zephyr.

Steve backing the 'Berk' onto a string of freight cars.

The Zephyr at Marias pass.

Steve's 2-8-4 near Hillyard.

Half the fun is watching others have fun!

Steve's Nickel plate freight train at Tumwater canyon trestle.

Steve taking pictures to impress the 'wife' when he gets home!

PRR J-1 texan 2-10-4 west of Waverly.

Joe's F-3's at Chumstick Canyon trestle.

PRR 2-10-4 taking on water at the BLI's functioning water tower.

The PRR J-1 west of Wilmar and the Zephyr at Marias pass.

Zephyr at Skykomish.

A meet at Marias pass.

Dave getting the PRR Q-2 4-4-6-4  out of the roundhouse.

PRR Q-2 departing Seattle.

Zephyr west of Waverly and Q-2 at Skykomish.

PRR Q-2 at Tye.

It's not suppose to be the Zephyr in the 'hole' waiting for the PRR Q-2 freight drag to pass.

PRR Q-2 at Marias pass.

Zephyr departing Tye.

PRR Q-2 with 34 vintage freight cars.

PRR Q-2 taking on water at Glacier; one of four BLI functioning water towers.

We ended the day with creamcicles and fixing a couple engines that owners brought.

PRR K-4 4-6-2 streamlined.

Newly acquired BLI engine.  Very nicely painted.

Road test:

Videos:

Leaving Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dm5oTggK20

Leaving Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Dniod0AfE

Leaving Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DCmQZJW0Xk

Chumwater Canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaPCu9aw9Lg

Smokes well.  Wasn't sure how many cars it would pull but had no trouble pulling 21 upgrade.  The traction tires make this small engine pull well. Very heavy engine as both engine and tender are cast metal.

Hillyard.

Havre.

West of St. Paul.

The engine and tender comes pre-attached.  The wires make a good profile of water hoses.  After an 850' mainline run, no problems but surprised how hot it is around the smoke stack; that smoke generator must 'draw some amps'!

Just did train running, although this engine needed some PM.

C&O M-1 steam turbine'

Video leaving Havre:

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

The engine wasn't pulling very well as I ran this engine several weeks ago and it pulled 30 cars with no problem.  Now it wouldn't pull 25 cars. Time to check the gear train!

This engine has 8 axles powered and one of the brass gears got worn down.  Weird how that would happen and the other 7 are OK.  Only thing that I can think of is the gear got caught on the driver retaining plate.  Initially, I figure I'd have to remove the gear and just have power with the other 7 axles but, I lucked  out, and happened to have some wheel sets with the same gear ratio (what's the chance of that happening with a 40 year old engine!).  Fortunately, the worm gear was not damaged.

New nylon gear added.

NWSL gear pulling used.

New gear is 2nd from the left.

Had to file the gear hole larger on the plate as the gear was a little wider than the original gears.

All seems to work well.  After a road test, I checked the gear and no damage.  Think I'll go online and see if I can find some brass replacements although I have about an extra 6 nylon gears.

Chumstick Canyon trestle.

Havre.

Tye

Skykomish.

Seattle's yard throat.

Right track leads to the passenger yard.  Center track leads to the freight yard and the left track is the drill track for the switcher which, also, leads to the ore dock.

More 'train running'.

UP challenger 4-6-6-4: Tenshodo with TCS 1517 decoder.

videos:

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kvrhAX9bl4

Leaving Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kDiVg5Lps

West of Waverly.

East of Wilmar.

Wilmar.

Whitefish.

Chumwater Canyon trestle.

Tumwater Canyon trestle.

Hillyard.

Marias pass.

Visit an O gauge layout in the Cincinnati area.

In the basement of a large building.

Left are upper and lower staging yards.

Main room freight yard.

Helix. I ran a C&O H-8 2-6-6-6 with 47 cars where caboose is above the engine in the hexix.

N&W J and passenger cars.

C&O H-8 on the mainline.  B&O EM-1 to the left.

N&W Y-6B on siding.

Joe is taking a video in front of the H-8.  I'll post videos, later.

That is a really nice layout!!  Thank you for posting.

Wonderful layout! I wish I had an o gauge like that near me.

O gauge videos:

Something to do while the turkey is cooking and the family hasn't arrived, yet!

Around the layout with the C&O H-8 2-6-6-6:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8DfGxHqeV8

Parallel track pacing the H-8:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxsGo2dJ-3s

Parallel track pacing the N&W J and passenger cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMGK1hQx31w

Around the layout from cab:

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

Sam, that is a very nice layout they are building.  I have never seen such a well done video of pacing prains before!!

Samparfitt, I just  wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your friends that share the hobby with you. Your layout is so exciting, your so ambitious tackling  so many fun projects, Wow. Keep the trains running and the pictures coming, and enjoy Thanksgiving as best you can. This pandemic will pass and hopefully a new normal will appear. Thank You for sharing your wonderful works of art with us, we never get tired of seeing your amazing train world. Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry,

Thanks for the comments.

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

Family over for Thanksgiving.

Lionel:

HO:

Looks like a great Thanksgiving!