Great Northern railway

'Road testing' a GN R-2 2-8-8-2 made by Tenshodo.

Videos:

With a TCS 1517 decoder.  Sound will be turned off for several seconds so one can 'hear' how quiet this engine is.

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

Demo of controlling the marker and running board lights via the throttles function keys on a TCS 1517 decoder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfbScwYLi1A

Road test an GN R-2 with new TCS 1517 decoder, LED's, new Tenshodo proprietary quiet gear system, can motor, 'easy connect' scissors drawbar and side rod hex bolts.

Post operating session moves plus PM.

Videos:

The usual use of one of 3 sets of diesels that I have to reverse passenger train cars by running them on the mainline.

Using a SF E-1 A-B set to reverse passenger car orientation.

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWea6K71cp0

Waverly:  A 'different' perspective!  You have to ignore that big canyon called the 'floor'!

A lot of those trees haven't 'grown much' in the last 43 years!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfC2f-2vABI

Havre: ditto.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iil0CrzC2Q

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDtZL5fD8dc

D&RGW L-131 2-8-8-2.

The engine that 'normally' pulls the Zephyr passenger set.  A PFM made in 1977 that's been painted, LED's, can motor and decoder install.   This engine use to be able to pull the passenger train but was slipping at two locations; thus

1) I added 'bull frog snot' to some of the drivers and 2) I used 220 grit sandpaper to 'rough up' the rail heads at those two locations.  I've read where people recommend using a stainless steel washer to smooth the tops of the rails so less likely to collect dirt.   I only need to clean my rail about once a year but one must decide for 'them selves' which is 'better'!  DCC is suppose to be more 'sensitive' to dirty track but I can't ever recall ever having an engine 'loose electrical contact' due to dirty track.

Once the engine showed it was successful at negotiating the two 'problem' areas, I used the SF E-1 A-B set from Broadway Limited to complete the 'reversal' of the passenger train.

Final return to the passenger yard.

During the last 'OPS' this newly re-assembled RF&P R-1 4-8-4 engine couldn't even leave the yard due to driver slippage so some bull frog snot was added to some of the drivers.  'Road test' is next.

I ran a few trains to move freight cars from Seattle to St. Paul to 'balance' each yard capacity.

Out with the 'OLD' and in with the NEW' (excluding me!)

For the last several years two fluorescent lights have needed 'jiggling'   to make them work plus one of them had a loud 'buzz' after it was 'on' after about 30 minutes.

I, finally, replaced them with two LED lights.  They are nice in that one can 'daisy chain' the lights.

Menards had a 15 buck sale on them so I bought 6 of them.  Will replace old lights as they go bad.

Having a 'drop' ceiling is really nice to keep dust of your railroad as the tops of the ceiling tiles are dusty.

Couldn't have done it without my 'topside' creeper

While in the rafters I noticed that when the new furnace was installed, 'they' cut big holes in the sill but failed to insulate the huge holes!

Used a stick to remove all the cobwebs.

All better.

The lacquer thinner removed the excess foam from the applicator tube so I can reuse it in the future.

These lighted head sets from Harbor Freight are nice when working in those 'dark' places.

New deliveries plus 'road testing'.

UP 4-12-2 and UP 4-6-6-4 early challenger.

These are the brass hybrids by BLI.

First time I've seen a white box for BLI.

BLI's new 'sleeve' type container.

The usual 'clam shell' packaging.

UP 4-12-2 on the programming track.

Don't have Paragon 4 in my software but the P3 works.

Nicely detailed. Only the headlight functions.  The marker lights and number boards are 'static'.

The 2 center drivers are blind. Not prototype but needed to negotiate sharper radii.

Full cab detail including crew and lighted. Deck plate with 'near scale' distance between engine and tender.

Smoking stack but no smoking whistle; guessing BLI left that out since the whistle is just forward of the cab and would be too difficult to install a motor and heating element in that area.

Somehow I accumulated 5 of these!  I wanted the first one made (far right) as it has a gray boiler (yet to be painted!).

The others were purchased due to good prices!

From right to left:

Sunset: made in 1978.

BLI: 2022

Key: 1984, I painted.

Tenshodo: 1995, Factory painted.

Key: 1984, Factory painted.

Surprised: the BLI has 'see through' walk boards.  An unusual item.

The Key model also has 'see through' walk boards.

The Key and Tenshodo models have working Greasley valve to operate the 3 cylinders that these engines had.  There is a cam on one of the drivers that moves the Greasley valve. Each side rotates forward and backwards.

The Key model has functioning sand hatches....

as well as tender water hatches.

Engine 'down loaded' into the roster.

UP 4-6-6-4 early challenger.

Programming track to upload the new engine address.

This hybrid has the smoking whistle as well as the smoke stack. The whistle uses the same smoke chamber but has it's own motor.  Number boards are lighted but not the marker lights.

Another nicely detailed engine.

All BLI articulateds have the un-prototypical articulated back set of drivers but it is not noticeable on large radii.

All BLI engines come with the tender attached to the engine but they can be disassembled.

I'm guessing they made the boxes long for those who take their engines to club layouts so it's less likely to damage the wire connector between the engine and tender since, now, the two parts can be transported as 'one'.

No 'see through' walk boards but the 'high recesses' make it appear so.

Roster of UP challengers.

Right to Left:

Tenshodo: made in 1973, factory painted.

BLI early challenger 2022

BLI: late challenger 2019. All metal casting with lighted marker lights, number boards and smoking whistle.

KEY, 1984, Factory painted.

The BLI (2nd from the right) has the boiler jacket 'stays'.  They are a little over sized compared to the Key model (far left).

Again, Key has functioning sand hatches, access doors...

and turret hatches with internal details.

UP had the first challenger but NP perfected them.

From right to left:

GN Z-6, 1975, Tenshodo, factory painted

GN Z-6, 1975, Tenshodo, factory painted

SP&S Z-8, 1981, Key, I painted

NP Z-8,  2013, Sunset, Factory painted

D&RGW L-105, 1984, Key, factory painted.

....

I almost forgot one more; NP Z-8 by Key, 1981 that I painted with a gray boiler although it's doubtful the Z-8 was ever painted with a gray boiler!

Same with the GN Z-6: doubtful the Z-6 was painted in Glacier colors.

The smoke box door opens on the D&RGW L-105.

ACL (Atlantic Coast Line) 4-8-4 'road test'.

Recently assembled and needed to be tested.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex9H0hX7OzY&t=5s

Coupler was too low so back of coupler pocket raised plus a brass washer put on the back truck bolster.

Elongated the front truck support so it wasn't too close to the drivers.

Almost forgot to insulate the deck plate!

Unusual paint scheme with no black appliances and gray tender.

Near scale spacing between boiler and tender.

Coupler height, finally, correct.

RF&P 4-8-4 'road test'.

Didn't get far on the 'road test'  as the marker lights were not working.  Had to replace the LED's as the old ones were contacting the metal casing.

Kept a low voltage on the LED's while 'gluing' the LED's in the marker lights to insure no 'shorts'.

Some canopy glue to secure the LED's.

Universal needed 'tweaking'.

Had to put a tube over the flexible tubing to keep a 'straight' alignment.

New LED lighting on the ceiling.  Put a strip of electrical tape down the center of the light to reduce the 'lumens'.

Only did the left side and seems to work well.

Used 220 sandpaper to 'scuff'  the top of the rails where the grade exceeds the usual 0.5%.

Sam,

Gorgeous RR.  Can you post a track plan?

Thanks,

Ed

Basically, just a big 'helix' that's visible.

Time is 1938 modeling the GN railway when steam and electrics were 'king', although the time line and GN interface with other railroads have been 'stretched'.

Basement is 33'X47'.

Seattle is at 36" high in the upper left and goes around the basement walls 2.5 times and ends up at 58" at St. Paul, Minn. yard at the bottom of the picture.   

A logging railroad is next to the steps and has 2 'switch backs'.

Not shown is a new 13 track passenger yard that is in the room to the upper right that is about 23' long.

Minimum radius is 48" with about 100 turnouts.  All turnouts are #10's including in the yards.  There is 1500' of hand laid track on individual wooden ties plus all the turnouts are hand made.  The new passenger yard was done using all commercial turnouts and track (got lazy in my old age!).

Mainline is 400' long, single track with passing sidings.

Seattle's yard holds about 400 cars and St. Paul about 300 cars.  Each yard has 3 incoming tracks plus 'escape' tracks at the end to get to the roundhouse.  Each yard, also, has a drill track for switching the yard without 'interfering' with the mainline.

A 12' long ore dock is in the center of the layout.

Also, not shown, is the 3 track 8' diameter return loop/interchange track in the laundry room (large room to the right center) that bypasses the St. Paul yard.

The layout was designed to run big engines with 'scale like' length freight trains of 25-45 cars and passenger trains of 10-18 cars.

The railroad was started in 1979 and is, now, 43 years old.

A lot of improvements have been made in the last several years;

1)  DCC

2)  several hundred new trees and vegetation.

3) complete signaling system and turnouts via LCC all run via a dispatcher's screen on a PC .

4. New Walther's turntables.

I have operating sessions every 3rd Saturday of the month.

If you're 'in the area' you're welcome to 'stop by'.

Sam,

Thanks for the track plan and all the information.  Those #10 switches make the RR look so real.  You are to be congratulated for such a wise decision.  The scenery is another feather in your cap.

And thanks again for the invitation.  When traveling is not such a chore, I may take you up on it.

Cheers,

Ed

Ed,

The #10's make operation a lot easier for long trains as the transition from one track to another is very gradual.

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

Dayton train show Jan 23, 2022.

One day event in one building on the Montgomery fairgrounds.

'They' still sell dyed sawdust!

Mike found me some GN books for 5 bucks each.

Booty.

Some more vintage metal and wood freight cars. 

Didn't recognize the boxes for these cars....

Just a plain box with a label on one end!

Kadee doesn't make these kind of couplers anymore and they fit some of the old vintage cars.

Unusual 'wagon' car.....

don't have any with this large of  'rounded' edges.

Had one of these tunnels for my Lionel trains but I sold it in the 70's and thought I'd never see it again.  It's cast cement and, I believe, real rocks on top.  I've never seen one of these save the one that I had.  I don't know if this was 'one of a kind' but if it wasn't, I'm sure the number made was 'small'.

Back on my 3 rail vintage layout.

This is the only 3 rail that I'm keeping as I've sold off about 75% of all my contemporary stuff.

Looks like everyone had a good time.

Sam,

I handlaid #8's in my yard and I thought they looked good...until I saw your #10's.  Operation is so much smoother with the higher number switches.  

P.S.: My RR is O Scale.  My min radius is 70" on the mainline.

Take care,

Ed

PM 3 engines and 'road tests' them. (UP 4-6-6-4, 4-12-2 and ACL 4-8-4)

UP 4-6-6-4 early challenger:

Video:  Leaving Whitefish.  This engine, also, has the smoking whistle.

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

Failed attempt to make the back set of drivers rigid.  I was successful in drilling/tapping a screw to secure the back drivers but the front set of drivers rotate at the center of the frame instead of at the rear (as all brass articulated 'do') so the front drivers would 'ride up' on the rails on curves.

Put some Kadee washers at each end of driver sets to reduce 'side' slop'.

BLI's electrical 'pick up' arrangement.

BLI did add some nice nomenclature not normally seen on steam engines.

Air tanks had to be tested and dated.

Builder plates and number boards.

The front set of trucks were derailing.  Found that the cow catcher assembly was loose, 'drooping down' and hitting the front truck.

Had to remove the screws holding the front cylinders to the frame to gain access to tighten the loose screws for the front assembly.

Two screws securing the 'router' steam pipes, also, had to be removed.

Plus the steam pipes going to the pistons.  Just a split piece of plastic used to secure the steam pipe to the boiler.

Even with the back set of drivers being able to 'rotate', not visible on the GN's curves.

The marker lights on the this caboose was flickering. Used a que tip to clean the wheels.

I find this method of electrical connection to the truck wheels works well for me.

All better!  MMM: now I need to straighten the hand rails!

UP 4-12-2 by BLI 'road test'.

Videos:  There's an 'intermittent' chuff which, I assume, is BLI's version of representing the 3rd cylinder on this engine!

Leaving Whitefish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=furhF2RF6LI

Entering Seattle's freight yard:  Always enjoy the sound of the metal wheels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KdiyAlbbzQ

Leaving Tye:

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

More Kadee washers on each set of drivers at 'each end' to reduce side slop.

ACL R-1 4-8-4 'road test'.

Video:

Leaving Seattle's freight yard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO8w1LJp-6Q

Took awhile to find why the engine was, periodically, shorting at random times; the front truck wheel was touching the air pump. Ground the bottom of that part with a Dremel 'cut off' wheel!

@Ed Kelly posted:

Sam,

I handlaid #8's in my yard and I thought they looked good...until I saw your #10's.  Operation is so much smoother with the higher number switches.  

P.S.: My RR is O Scale.  My min radius is 70" on the mainline.

Take care,

Ed

Cool.  Feel free to post pictures or videos.

I find derailments are less when trying to push 25-45 freight cars into a yard when using #10's!

The 'full size' railroads use #20, and larger' but I find #10's 'scale down' nicely to get a nice transition to another track without any 'jerking' of the train through the turnout.  They 'eat up' a lot of space but are worth it for me in achieving my objectives.

Bad diagnostics, 'road testing' the RF&P 4-8-4, Milwaukee EP-2 Bi-polar electric, 'traction tires' plus other 'stuff'.

RF&P 4-8-4.

Videos:

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VP1twTVL5U

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_j5joSbrdU

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EojpefM1p-Y

Departing Skykomish:

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

Bad diagnostics!  I thought the LED's in the marker light housing was shorting.  After replacing them and getting the same results, I found that I did not make a good solder joint on one of the ground wires to the LED's!

'road test'

All seems to be working now!

Milwaukee EP-2 bi-polar electric.

Engine is by MTH and has remote operating pantographs.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGjG9lI5ie0

Tye:

Good for 'still shots' but can't leave the pantographs up while running as the 'old catenary' system is in 'disrepair'!  Also, tunnel portals!

Marias Pass.

This EP-2 is by custom brass.

BEFORE:

AFTER:  TCS and LED's.

Got an email from TCS that rates are going up 20% so I 'stocked up'!

What a Varney box looked like in the 50's.

A new 'traction tire'.  I have 'bull frog snot' but the canopy glue seems to work better as it is thinner and doesn't 'dry out' in the bottle.

Stuff I use for my RC planes.

Some 'train running'.

Videos:

Milwaukee EP-2 bi-polar electric by Custom Brass with TCS decoder.

No sound installed but, to me, the gear noise makes it sound more like an 'electric' than the MTH, with sound, in the following video!   I wanted to 'double head' them but 'gear ratios' are different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlfFq2ntD10

Milwaukee EP-2 bi-polar electric by MTH.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4qyDHDm5J0

The Custom Brass doesn't pull a lot of cars so some Canopy Glue as added to 4 'drivers'.

The MTH model has a cast metal super structure.

Picked up a chrome shelf at Home Depot for more storage.  Nice price at 60 bucks.   Thought chrome went the same 'route' as seen on today's vehicles along with 'white walls' (which I still like!).

Yup, good day to stay in the basement and 'run trains'!

great layout, and that Bi polar is amazing

Thanks, Dave.

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

Neighborhood kids came over to 'play trains'.

Videos:

GN H-5 4-6-2 Pacific with Labelle 1800's passenger cars.  Engine by PFM (United); painted with LED's and TCS 1517 decoder install.

They like running the Pacific since it 'goes fast'!

Tye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOp6gqH7DQY

leaving Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oK3u8jI-4U

Entering Seattle's yard limits:

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

T&P 2-10-4 by Sunset models.  Painted with LED's and TCS 1517 decoder install.

Leaving Hillyard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cJKhtALurw

Gave them some pictures to hang on their walls.

T&P 2-10-4 at Tye.

Wilmar.

Tumwater canyon trestle.

Labelle passenger cars that I bought on ebay from a woman selling her dad's trains that he custom painted.

Got the 'stump puller' out.

UP 8500 HP turbine by Scaletrains.

Videos:

Departing Seattle's freight yard:  'music to my ears' hearing the wheel noise!

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

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRTi0MHuhRo

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uubOL8gx9A

Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzP1OnM6hgo

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0R9GXpNpik

The 43 year old layout has operated well the last few weeks while 'road testing' engines as I can't remember any cars derailing.   I've had to 'debug' engines but the cars have worked well.  Some items I made back around the early 60's when I was around 14 years old; ie the wood trestles are around 60 years old.

Wilmar.

St. Paul.

Wilmar.

Logging railroad.

Thought I'd clean the track and run a logging train.

A long screwdriver to reach into those 'tight' spaces!

The main yard plus John Allen's 'time saver'.

Industries.

An old Suydam logging building that I made 'way back' that I want to replace with my Keystone #112 bandsaw mill.

Logging train leaving the yard with 'empties'.

The left track interfaces with the GN mainline.  The right track goes to the valley via two 'switch backs'.

Grades are around 10%.

'Heading' toward the first 'switch back'.

First 'switch back'.

Heading towards the 2nd 'switch back'.

2nd 'switch back'.  Forgot to take a picture so used an 'old' picture.

Leading to the valley.

2 track yard to the right.

Besides the 2 track yard, there's a 'run around'.

Empties into the yard.

Valley industries and structures.

Roster: 

I need to get these painted.  Only plan on running these as 'DC'.

3 truck shay.

3 truck shay.

Climax class B.

Heisler, 65 ton.

Vulcan (non Spock type!).

2-6-6-2

2 truck and 3 truck shay.  The right shay is huge at 150 tons.   I'm thinking of installing a decoder in this one and run it on the mainline because it is so large: plus it, probably, won't make it through the 'rock formations' on the double 'switch backs'.

Very nice! I would love to see a video of you trains running!

Thanks, Cole.

Take your 'pick':

https://www.youtube.com/user/s...rt=dd&shelf_id=0

Sam, The whole narrow gauge looks great!  I do not recall noticing that you have a narrow gauge railroad on your layout before.

Thanks Mark but it's all standard gauge.

Well, I assumed again.  You wrote logging, not narrow gauge!  Thank you for correcting me!!

Samparfit - incredible videos and incredible layout. I actually subscribed to your YouTube channel and I never do that! You have set a standard to judge all others by. And to top it off it looks fun to operate!

Thanks Cole.  After 70 years 'into trains' I'm bound to get a few things 'right'!

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

With the winter storm the neighborhood kids have been coming over every day.

First they ran the logging railroad and then wanted something with 'smoke' for the 'mainline'.

videos:

Marias Pass:

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

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC20qzgTs2c

Marias Pass:

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

Exiting Cascade tunnel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmIbXpHXq7U

Logging railroad.

Erie triplex 2-8-8-8-2 by MTH.  Smoke and functional marker lights.  Drivers under the engine are powered, the drivers under the tender are 'along for the ride'.

Skykomish.

Basin tunnel.

Wilmar.

The 'other' triplex is the Virginian railroad.  By Westside models made in 1979.  All drivers powered. 

It has 3 motors: one for each set of drivers.

New delivery.

Southern MS-2 duplex 2-8-2 + 2-8-0.

Fast delivery.  Bought it on Thursday and got it on Sunday via Fedex from Georgia.

Made by Westside in 1978.

I've been 'eyeing' one of these for a few years but they were more than I wanted to pay for them.

Trainz had one and they kept dropping the price every few weeks until it reached a value that was 'good' for me plus free shipping!

Back head detail.

That headlight will need some adjustment!

First engine that I've owned where the marker lights are on the running board!

Will have to drill those 'out' and install LED's.

Two motors; engine and tender.

Very large 'back' deck!  The rear pipe is the smokestack.

Both sets of drivers are powered.

Tender power.

Wheels have some 'light' wear on them.

Red on the can motors, I believe, indicate Canon motors.

One other engine that I'm 'looking for' is the Erie 0-8-8-0 camelback.

NMRA MCR DIV 7 monthly meeting.

New elected officers for the year.

Yearly awards for 2021.

contest table.

The dedicated people who set up 'zoom' for every meeting.

John Burchnall's presentation of 'time lines'.

The GNRW was open for viewing after the meeting.

Two 'younguns' showed up.  They enjoyed operating the 4 functional water towers to 'fill up the tenders'.

Since 50% of the hobby is the socializing, most of the pictures are of the guests.

Had two articulated 'roll over' at this same spot.  Both engines were just run in the last several weeks so the 'road bed' will need to be PM'ed.  The single digit temperatures and low humidity, probably, didn't 'help'!

Instead of pizza before 'operating', the engineers got pizza after everyone 'left'.

Nice engine!  It looks like it was a busy weekend!!

Post 'open house' PM;

As mentioned in the previous post, I had two engines fall on there 'sides' in this area.

One was in this tunnel.  It is single track, next to the wall and not 'accessible'.  In 43 years I've never had any problems with this short section of track.  Well, one engine fell on it's side inside this tunnel.    Fortunately, I could stand on the lower yard track, pull the metal screen back at the top of the 'mountain' and retrieve the engine and cars.

The other engine fell on it's side just outside the tunnel.  Visually looking at the track, I could see the back rail was much lower than the front rail.

I put my digital angle gauge on the track to get the 'before' and 'after'.

MMM: fortunately, from the isle, one can't see all the holes, etc. in the scenery!

The 'after' wasn't much but the results, visually, was noticeable.

There was no support between two different 'sub road beds' (ply to spline).  The ply 'sub road bed' needed support with a new piece of wood.

The center of the tunnel, also, got more 'supports'.

This engine (GN N-3 2-8-8-0) is working well again in this area.

As well as the GN R-2 2-8-8-2.  I was surprised neither one sustained any damage or paint chipping.

This one turnout in the yard has been 'bugging' me for the last several weeks due to the solder joint 'breaking' on the control arm under the layout.

I used a wire brush to clean off any debris.  Used solder for copper pipes instead of electrical solder, figuring it may be 'stronger'.  I, also, had to adjust the 'end secure point' of the cable to allow maximum movement of the 'throw rod'.

All seems to work well (versus good) again!

A bolster fell off one of the freight cars so some CA was used to secure it.

One of the vintage all metal freight cars.

The low humidity may have affected the 'sub road bed' under the mountain as, I believe, it's usually around 28 instead of 20.

Why I like TCS 1517 decoders.  Nice 'side rod clanking' and brake shoe noise.  Also, the engine has lots of 'momentum' as a multi-ton train should have so brakes are needed to stop it.  The 'air pumps' also, randomly, 'come on'.

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2xKdeZC0Gg

Had to go to the detached shop to cut some wood for the roadbed.  Thought the snow was very 'shallow' but found I was walking on about 4" of frozen snow.   Had to bang at the bottom of the garage door to free it from the snow.

Looks like good repairs.  I'm glad trains are running properly again.

Mark: 'Things happen' on a 43 year old layout!

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

Running trains:

Also, needed to test the 're-alignment' of the track that was causing serious derailments.

UP 4-12-2 by BLI.  The sound level on this engine is more 'scale' for the distance that we view them.

Videos:  Took some videos from some new locations.

Wilmar:

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

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWWtqJ2BXSQ

Marias Pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTDJiALLOe8

Seattle:

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

Havre:

Found a 'possible' expansion spot: could add about a 2'X6' area for more buildings against the wall in the laundry room.

ACL R-1 4-8-4 PM.

This engine gave me a lot of trouble on shorts.

Found that the nut on the other end of the draw bar on the engine was making, momentary, contact with the frame.

The recesses for the front truck wheels to clear the frame were not 'deep' enough so a Dremel drum sander 'fixed it'!

Yes a 43-year old layout would need some attention.  After that much time, still looking at expansion tells us a layout is never done

PRR P5A boxcab electrics freight drag.

Models are by BLI and have cast metal super structures.

videos:

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCyBAP9pJq4

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3-7YX4vfAQ

Tye:

Havre.

Wilmar.

Crossroads Railroad club.   

I visited a club layout in Dayton (Vandalia).

They have 2 layouts: HO and N.

They started in 1978, one year older than my layout.

HO.

Bill.

JD

A logging/mining via switch backs.

All hand laid track and turnouts.

Dual gauge.

Didn't know diesels had such 'scale' hand rails!

Trolley system.

N gauge.

N gauge modular layout.

They have very nice layouts.  Thank you for posting!

New delivery of Woodland Scenics plus freight car 'drag weight' computation and UP big boy assembly:

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

Woodland Scenics TV & appliance store.  Made in N, HO and O.

Had to buy this as it reminds me when I was growing up in the 50's.

I was around 5-7 when we got our first TV; about a 15" screen, black and white of course and it would have a 'test pattern' 'on it' when the stations weren't broadcasting anything.  Three channels 'back then'.

Very light.

A plastic building with a light cardboard housing for the inside of the store with LED's (interior only).

The TV's flicker like the 'old days'!

back side.

The two sides.

roof detail.

I just ordered another 'lights & plug' set.

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Freight car drag weight:

Thought I'd try to acquire some 'facts' on how many ounces are needed to pull my freight cars.

I used a 'pull' meter to get how many ounces are needed to pull each set of cars in each track.

These measurements are for vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Ambroid/Silver Streak freight cars.  Most have Intermountain wheel sets and, probably, 70% have the plastic Delrin plastic trucks.

One set of cars are from the 70's.

I'm guessing new cars are, probably, extremely 'low friction' cars.

Of course, this is not counting my 0.5 % grade.

Next, I'll have to measure the 'pulling power' of an engine and see if it 'equates' to a certain string of like 'drag' freight cars.

1.2 ounces to pull 19 cars or .06 oz per car.

4.2 ounces to pull 43 cars or .098 per car.

1.7 ounces to pull 28 cars: these were all the 'open load' cars or .074 oz per car.

2.4 ounces to pull 43 cars of the 1970's vintage, ie; Athearn and TM plastic cars or .06 oz. per car.

3.5 ounces to pull 37 cars or .095 oz per car.

2.8 ounces to pull 35 cars or .08 oz per car.

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UP 4-8-8-4 big boy re-assembly.

A Key model made in 1987 that I acquired last Spring.

I'm a 'sucker' for engines with lots of 'bells and whistles' and this engine has them in spades so I bought it as I also got it at a good price: Functioning smoke box door, sand hatches, turret hatches, lighted open fire box door, tender water hatches, sprung trailing truck, tender trucks.

Already had the LED's installed in the marker lights, running board, cab, fire box.  Managed to solder all of them to a new 5 pin connector and tape the wires to the top of the boiler.

This front 2 pin connector is for the headlight on the 'cow catcher'.  This picture shows the front smoke box door open and it, also, has interior detail.

Usually, I only need a 4 pin connector to the boiler but the 'lighted fire box door' in the cab is open so an extra LED was needed for it.

Some of the 'bells and whistles':

Two new deliveries plus a visit to a train show (doesn't get any better than 'that'!)

UP E6 A-B-B, New Haven I-5 4-6-4 and Milford, Ohio train show:

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UP E6 A-B-B set of diesels by BLI.

Videos:

Departing Seattle: The gyrating light is cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnXgx_q2ZLo

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgg5EVD6yJs

Glasgow:  First time video at this location.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY8wPaWG6P8

Basin tunnel: All seems 'well' as this is where I had 2 engines fall on their sides!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U71WXFGTuxY

This is my 4th diesel.

I hadn't plan on buying any diesels but

1) I liked the way the front of the engine looks

2) thought it would look good 'heading' my UP passenger train

3) it was sold at a very reasonable price (probably the main factor!) especially the way prices have increase over the last year on, both' new and used stuff!

More boxes of 3 rail trains that have been sold so I decided to convert $$ to 'motive power'!

The 3 kids got a substantial Christmas present  from the sale of my 3-rail equipment but I thought I'd spend some on 'moi'!

I believe this set was made around 2014.  It has the old QSI decoder but, what I've read, they seem to be reliable.

Two of the engines are powered, both with sound.

With the box this set is very heavy weighing in at 5.1 lbs.

Very large box.

Wish 'they' still packaged them with the foam!

Some extra details.  Didn't see any dimples for 'ease' of installation of these detail parts.

The seller said he never 'ran' the engines and it appears so.

'Old school' method for the QSI decoder.

Function list.

Downloaded new address, etc via the programming track.  There was no 'QSI' under the BLI but the Paragon 2 'worked'.

This UP 2-tone gray challenger from BLI is the usual motive power for the UP passenger train.

The 'alternative'!

Very nicely painted.  I like the 'rakish' nose. Would be nice to remove that coupler and have a cover for that 'coupler hole'.

My BLI SF E1 has that option but it is only a few years old.

A 'paint job' that I would have trouble duplicating!

Nice cab detail.

Nice scale distance for the diaphrams.

Top views.

Powered B unit.

Dummy B unit.

I couldn't have the diaphragms touching on the passenger cars as they are plastic with 'little give'.

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New Haven I-5 4-6-4.

Made by BLI in 2007 (I think) as a brass hybrid although the leading/trailing trucks and tender trucks appear to be metal plus the side rods are thicker than the usual thinner side rods on other BLI engines plus no traction tires plus no 'normal' brass contacts to the tender truck wheels; everything seems to 'point' to a full brass engine!

If anyone has knowledge on this engine please 'chime in'.

Videos:

Departing Seattle:  Discovered that the whistle function has 2 options: short press gives a short whistle and holding the button down gives a long whistle.  17 cars is about 'max' for this engine with no traction tires.

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

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX0J2t6d8VY

Leaving Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txuj5Kejetk

With box very heavy weighing in at 3.2 lbs.

Not familiar with this packaging by BLI.

The 'underside' has all the 'looks' of a 'full' brass engine.

My other BLI hybrid brass doesn't have screws securing the trucks side frames plus they feel like metal.

The wheels, also, 'look like' those on my brass engines.

Same with the tender trucks plus there are no brass contacts that are the 'usual' for BLI engines.

There are 2 speakers.

Loaded into my roster.

Function list.  It appears no marker/number boards are lighted plus no smoke.

A very nice looking engine, though.

Very cool: CLOSED.

OPEN.  The coupler also 'swings out'.

The white 'side walls' 'sold me'!

Nice 'scale' distance between engine and tender.   Has a deck plate.

I, also, like the 'signature' on the tender.

Nice 'real' coal.

No traction tires which, also, makes me believe this engine may be all brass.

The side rods are thick and chromed as on my other brass engines.

Nice cab detail.

The multi-pin connector is under the deck plate.

Wilmar.

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Milford, Ohio train show.

Held in a church gymnasium.

Always good to see friends.

Impressive N gauge PRR T-1 by BLI.  Pulled well and nice sound.

I did find one vintage metal freight car at the show.

Don't remember the name of these 'look alike' Kadee couplers!

Those are both great looking engines!  It looks like everyone had fun at the train show!

Thanks, Mark.

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Interesting video on the Hulett unloaders that was sent to me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2B-V2n4b34

That was an interesting history of the Huletts.  The ones I was familiar with were located at Conneaut, Ohio where the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad hauled  iron ore past where I live and on to North Bessemer, Pennsylvania outside Pittsburgh.