Great Northern railway

Good looking locomotive, but I think the R-2 can take him.

He is in GN country after all.

NMRA MCR DIV 7 meeting and layout visit pictures.

Meeting.

Awards.

Good attendance.

Contest table.

Civil war trains.

Jack Sibert's Southern Layout.

===========

Randy Seiler's layout.

4 levels.

Double helix: one double track and one is single track.

New deliveries.

BLI Rock Island E6A A-A set.

I like the colors on these engines so I bought them.

The left one has a QSI decoder and the right one has a Paragon 2 decoder.

Unfortunately, the QSI starts up faster so I made some changes to the CV's but no change, which seems peculiar?

The QSI decoder.  To reduce the start up speed:

1)  I put in a 'log curve' plus added 'slow start 5 (greatest curvature).

2) I inputted 'regulated throttle control' which should make the engine act as if it has a 'load' (pulling a string of cars).

3)  I had Decoderpro read the decoder and I selected below 'decoder family' and 'decoder model': Actually, I did this first!

On the Paragon 2 engine.

1)  I selected 'standard throttle control'  to have quick starts.

2) I selected 0 for 'motor startup delay'.

3)  I selected 'high end' motor curve to start the motor without any delay.

None of these worked on either engine, which doesn't make sense?

===========

Purchased an empty box for future use as I have a PFM logging engine in a box that has printed paper on the outside of the box.

Those are two very nice layouts!

Very handsome RI E6 units

Ross club meeting pictures.

Videos:
NP A-3 4-8-4 freight drag at Skykomish (Brass hybrid imported by BLI in 2020):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLT0ljkdD70

NP A-3 at Marias Pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG_pQWxu9q0

GN R-2 2-8-8-2 at Havre.  Made by Tenshodo in 1972.  Re-geared and re-motored. TCS 1517 decoder with headlight (engine/tender), marker lights, running board lights, cab light and fire box glow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM-izVORWoE

Erie Triplex 2-8-8-8-2.  imported by MTH in 2010. Cast metal boiler/tender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHzgG7pBBy4

Meeting.

Operating.

NP A-3 at Seattle's roundhouse.

NP A-3 at Hillyard.

NP A-3 at Havre.

NP A-3 at Tumwater canyon trestle.

GN R-2 2-8-8-2 at Seattle's freight yard.

Erie triplex 2-8-8-8-2 departing Seattle's yard.

GN R-2 at Hillyard's water tower.

Meet at Havre.

Erie at Havre.

You have one of the best roundhouse setups I ever saw! Great roster there and great scenery.

Thanks, Bill.

The new Walther's turntable is outstanding.  Very easy to set up and all automatic.

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

Rock Island E6 A-A units all 'fixed'.

Since the two units were made in different years with one having an old QSI decoder and the other a Paragon 2 decoder the two engines were not starting at the same 'rate'.

I contacted the BLI tech and he gave me some good advice to reset the decoder as the decoder may be locked via CV 16.

I removed the shell so I could access the glass reed switch located at the front of the decoder. 

One is suppose to be able to reset it while the shell is on but I wasn't sure where the switch was, exactly.

I small magnet is provided and put on the switch and then power is turned on and the decoder will say 'reset'.

The front coupler screw goes into the top shell so it has to be removed to remove the shell from the frame.

Then there are the usual 4 tabs on the sides to spread apart for removal.

The glass reed switch at the front of the decoder.

The magnet.

Not sure if CV 16 was locked or I failed to notice to 'click' on the 'Quantum Speed Table' (user defined speed table) located above the 'speed table'.   

I could have done some more 'experimenting' to find the 'problem' but, everything was now working and I didn't want to 'screw it up'.

I put a 'log curve' in the QSI decoder and that worked.

Both engines now run at the same speed.

One small problem is, when stopping, the Paragon 2 engine takes a couple more seconds to completely stop; I can 'live' with that!

I tried 2 adjustments.

1) Disabled 'motor loading' on the Paragon 2 but nada.

2) same results on reducing 'motor load power filter' to 1 from 6.

Function 5 turned on the Mars light.

INDY Junction 2022:  NMRA Division meet in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 19-22.

Only 114 miles from my house.

Contest room.

HO gauge.

N gauge.  A very nice modular layout.

1st of 2 'stuff for sale' rooms.

Very nice O gauge stuff.

Impressive.  I built all my turnouts, save one: I bought my slip switch!

We had these guys give a presentation at one of our Div 7 meetings several years ago.

They'll let you ride with them.

A rare picture of 'moi'.

S gauge.

2nd room.

Thank you for all the great photographs!  It looks like that was a great meet!  I’ll say a rare picture of you!  I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one before!  😄  That looks like a great ride!

Somehow I missed this show. I would have loved to go.

New deliveries:

NH EP-5 electric, Xuron cutters, Dremel collets and new book.

These electrics are pretty small so they only pull about 10-15 cars so, being Memorial day and 'specials', I bought a 2nd electric.   These have motorized pantographs.

The first one that I bought several weeks ago arrived in 'good shape'.

This one had 3 items that needed to be reattached.

Both front windows were in the box.  I didn't use any CA on them and, hopefully, they 'stay in place'.

One of the number boards (to the left in the picture) was CA'ed.  I put some CA on a toothpick to insure very little was on the part before gluing it to the body.

One air tank fell off and the other was loose.  Used CA to secure these.

Decoderpro used.  Made this engine the same number (address wise) as the first engine.

Both of these sets of motive power need to be 'road tested'.

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

Good price from Amazon.

=======

Was missing some 'different size' Dremel collets so bought this set.  Also, from Amazon.

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

Again, from Amazon.  Used books are pretty cheap: especially train books.

Great Northern Railway operating session.

Pizza time!

Ben brought some 'turn of the century' passenger cars that he bought recently.

GN O-8 2-8-2 imported by Sunset in 1976. TCS 1517 decoder with lots of LED's.

Skykomish.

Mark and John.

Dave 'road testing' the new Rock Island E6 A-A units.

Ben's new passenger cars at Wilmar.

Rock Island E6 A-A imported by BLI in 2014 at Marias Pass.

RI E-6's at Hillyard.

Bill 'doing' the logging railroad.

John 'switching' the Seattle's freight yard to get all the Boston and Maine potato cars 'reefers'

'reefers' imported by Train Miniature (TM) back in the 70's.

Joe teaching Paul the 'dispatching' duties.

Joe gets a 'break' on dispatching.

GN O-8 at Waverly.

A 'meet' at Waverly.

John using a Hybrid New Haven I-5 4-6-4 imported by BLI in 2007 to 'pull' the 'potato reefers' at Skykomish.

NH 4-6-4 at Chumstick canyon trestle.  Back in the 70's when the TM 'potato reefers' were made, I had to go to several hobby shops to get 10 of them as each hobby shop only 2 of them.

GN O-8 at Wilmar.

Dave with RI E-6's at Waverly.

Mark 'road tested' the new NH EP-5 electrics imported by Rapido in 2022 with motorized pantographs.

Mark and Bill.

NH I-5 at Waverly.

Bill operating the logging shay.

NH I-5 at St. Paul.

Seattle's arrival tracks.

Ben operating the C&O M-1 steam turbine 2-D-2 + 2-D-2 imported by Custom Brass in 1980 with Loksound decoder with turbine sound and lots of LED's.

NH I-5 at Tye.

C&O M-1 at Hillyard.

Wilmar.

Waverly.

John had 'show and tell' on the stuff he purchased last W/E.

Finished with orange 'creamcicles'.

Interesting.

Didn't know they built 'non articulated' compound engines:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compound_locomotive

I think Santa Fe had many non-articulated compounds as 2-8-0 and a few other wheel arrangements.

Some PM and Ross railroaders operating.

Had a few problems while operating the layout, yesterday.

PRR S-1 6-4-4-6 (Imported by Gem models in 1965) was shorting at all turnouts.

Initially, thought that one of the retaining screws for leading or trailing trucks were loose and too low and touching the top of the rail.

Found that a 'ground' contact to one of the rail heads that I made was bent and causing the problem.

Engine seems to run fine without it so removed it.

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

One of the signals wasn't detecting the present of a train in that block.

Figured it is a bad circuit board since the 'coil'  would be, almost impossible, to 'go bad'!

Wrong: one wire broke so the 'fix' was easy and cheap!

Glad I labeled them!

The green light on the circuit board 'lights' when that block has a train in it.

All better.  Block turns red when occupied.

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

Another train was shorting, occasionally.

Put another engine on the train and same results.

Figured it must be one of the cars.

When given 'side pressure' the metal wheels touched the metal truck side frame.

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

Ross railroad club: last week.

Bob came over early to 'runs trains'.  After their meeting it was late so no other trains were run.

SP AC-5 4-8-8-2 (imported by KEY models in 1984 with TCS 1517 decoder and lots of LED's.

The 17 passenger cars are by BLI.

Tye.

Skykomish.

Tye

Hillyard.

Havre.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Wilmar.

Passenger yard.

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

This week.

Nick running a diesel that he brought.

Glacier.

Waverly.

Mark, also, brought some diesels to 'run'.

Gerry ran the N&W Jawn Henry imported by Custom Brass models in 1982 with Loksound (turbine sounds) and lots of LED's and custom painted.

Marias pass.

Mark's diesel.

Tye.

Gerry with Jawn Henry at Chumstick canyon trestle.

Glacier.

Water stop.

Mark 'consisting' his diesels.

Nick's diesel at Tye.

Wilmar.

Mark's diesels departing Seattle's freight yard with all 'open loads'.

Nick at Seattle's freight yard.

This is the upper loop/interchange/staging tracks.  Never intended for 'scenery' but, over time, I've added 'stuff' to make the 'stop' more interesting, ie coal, water, etc.   I saved on not adding ties when laying the rail figuring it was just  'staging' tracks.

Nick's diesel departing Seattle's main 'throat'.

Bob ran the PRR S-1 6-4-4-6.

Skykomish.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

A 'meet' at Havre.

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

Some of Joe's 'glow' rocks that he purchased at a 'rock' show last week end.

NMRA MCR DIV 7 picnic.

Good food, prizes and camaraderie.

Not to mention that is a handsome looking venue as well, Sam!

Looks like a wonderful time having guys over to run trains on your layout. Also looks like everyone was having a great time at the NMRAMCR DIV. 7 picnic! I am with Mark seems to be a very nice place.

Ross club meeting and 'train running'.

Nick brought an A-B set of B&O diesels.

Skykomish.

Mark's diesel at Chumstick canyon trestle.

Tye.

Gerry's freight drag of PRR P5A electrics departing Seattle.

Tumwater canyon trestle.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Seattle's freight yard.

Joe dispatching.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

New delivery.

SP AC-6 4-8-8-2 cab forward, original build ('flat face').

Imported by MTH in 2010. The engine is pretty old but I've been 'pleased' with 'older' engine that I have purchased in the past and haven't had any 'issues' with them.

Purchased from the seller who is the original owner and never ran it (or even removed it from the box).

I have an AC-6 by Key in the 'modern' cab front.

I bought this since it was only 350 bucks.  When I consider it cost me about $150 just to install a decoder, speaker and lights,  plus new engines are getting pretty expensive, it makes this purchase a 'no brainer' for me (plus it smokes).

Original wrapping.

Spare parts.

Cast metal boiler and tender so very heavy plus 'traction' tires.

Oiled all moving surfaces.  They put a lot of 'slop' in 'side movement' of the drivers so they can negotiate tight curves.

Sometimes I have to add Kadee fiber washers to the end drivers to keep the engine from 'skewing' on the track.

They also make the drivers under the fire box rotate but it's not noticeable on my minimum 48" curves.

Nice 'brake rigging'.  MTH puts springs on the drivers (like brass engines) which I, don't believe, other manufactures 'do'.

Bad packing by the Chinese.

Removed 2 screws securing the parts and was able to straighten the parts.

Power pickup (+/-) from both sides of the wheels.

Installed both sets of couplers supplied in the box: tender and front of engine.

Nice 'wireless' connection.

Tender water hatch cover access.

MTH engines smoke well.

I, always, test the engine under address 3 before changing it.

Nicely detailed. Window glass. Air hoses on front and tender.

Lighted number boards.

Nice yellow headlight.

Well detailed cab and crew.

Readable builder's plate, etc.

Early SP signature.

Lighted headlight and number boards.

Programming track.

JMRI couldn't read the decoder so I selected MTH Proto 3.

The data is in the roster but the decoder didn't take the 'info'.

Didn't take '4126' so I used the throttle but nada.  Also inputted just a 2 digit address (being a 12 year old decoder) but same results.

Will have to research my other MTH engines.

SP roster:

The AC-6 by Key in 1984 with modern front.

front left: AC-4 by Key in 1984

front right: AC-12 by Tenshodo in 1976.

Back left: AC-6 by Key in 1984.

Back right: AC-7 by Key in 1984.

GS-4 by Westside in 1980.

AC-1 by Westside in 1980.  In assembly mode.

AC-12 by Tenshodo in 1976.

AC-9 by Sunset in 1981.

AC-5 by Key in 1984.

Removed engines 'sitting' on 3rd track as incoming train engines couldn't escape from the train to depart to the roundhouse.

96 outside, 75 upstairs, 68 in the basement.

That AC6 is REALLY sharp. Either you're an outrageous photographer or those details just really pop!

It's, definitely, not my photography!

The Rexall train:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zax66T_0zN8

Entertrainment junction in West Chester, Ohio.

Two miles from my house.

We used Joe's ticket 'winnings' from our last Div 7 meet.

Each area has a different theme.   

All G gauge.

Real water.

With 'rapids'.

Kid's play area.

Everything is 'automated'.  Here a logging train moves up 'switch backs'.

Just about all buildings are lighted with interiors.

Upper deck:

Looking 'down' on layout from upper deck.

Automated turntable with engines leaving and entering turntable and going to 'coaling' tower.

Lionel layout.

Two engines were 'off the track' so I re-railed them so they would run.

Everywhere, one pushes red buttons to automate 'stuff'.

Must be tough buttons because all the kids 'beat' on the buttons.

Their 'attention span' appears to be 'short' as they hit the buttons and then 'leave'!

N scale layout.

Cincinnati Union Terminal (CUT).  Same as Cleveland Union Terminal.

Functioning air balloon.

Moving crane.

Places to eat.  Can bring own lunch.

New delivery.

NP Z-8 4-6-6-4. Made by Tenshodo in 1979.

Attention to detail: Shipper not only 'bubble wrapped' the box but, also, put 'soft plastic' around it.

Suppose to be from Jim Walshes collection who had a large inventory of steam engines.

Has a new foam insert as the foam in a lot of engines deteriorated after a decade and, if the engine wasn't properly wrapped in plastic, could damage the paint.

An extra long drawbar included.

At most, just test run on a test track.

Once PFM came out with their 'sound system' (around 1972) other importers started adding 'sound cams' to their engines.

Tenshodo started labeling their engines around 1974 indicating 'engine, when made and how many of total'.

The 'total' wasn't always THE 'total'.

A functioning SPRING-LOADED TENDER VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM

Nicely detailed engine.

Functioning front coupler.

Hex head rod screws.

Nice close fit between engine and tender.

Back 'then' they applied the decal with no 'top coat' plus the quality of decals wasn't as good as 'today'.

No Kadee ever attached.

Challenger roster: 4-6-6-4.

Left to right:

GN Z-6, Tenshodo, 1971.

GN Z-6, Tenshodo, 1975.

NP Z-8, Key, 1981

NP Z-8, Sunset, 2013 (came with decoder and sound).

NP Z-8, Tenshodo, 1979

SP&S Z-8, Key, 1981 (railroad owned by NP and GN).

HMMMMM: never noticed those crooked ties, before; only been that way for 43 years!

GN  never had a 'glacier' Z-6 but I do!

Ditto on the Grey NP Z-8!

UP challenger roster.

These engines were not as big as the 'Z' class.

Top to bottom:

UP late challenger, Tenshodo, 1973

UP early challenger, BLI hybrid, 2022

UP 2-tone grey challenger, cast metal engine and tender, BLI, 2019,

UP 2-tone grey challenger, Key, 1984, functioning sand hatches, turret hatches, tender hatches, smoke box door, cab doors and 'see through' walk boards.

PS: ignore that light tower laying on its 'side'!

That is really impressive, Sam!!

Nice 'detailing' video by Sam Swanson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLY_CYMCA0g

Road test newly acquired SP AC-6 4-8-8-2 cab forward by MTH.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZJK7SGtSkM

Tye

Seattle.

GNRW ops session, June 25.

A 2-rail O gauge group from Detroit area stopped by at 4 pm.

Here's a video of one of the 2-rail layouts:

Love all that 'hand laid' 2-rail track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ5jlwhbJaY

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

OPS group.  Chowing down on pizza.

The crew getting their 'motive power' and train.

C&O K-4 2-8-4 Berk.  Imported by PFM in 1972.  Painted, can motor, TCS 1517 decoder and lots of LED's.

Wilmar's functioning water tower.

Dispatcher joe.

John ran a B&O passenger train.  B&O E A,B by BLI in 2022 and 15 passenger cars bypassing Seattle's Freight yard.

Passenger cars from the 70's by IHC.

Mark running an N&W J 4-8-4 and 10 passenger cars.  All imported by MTH in 2017.  J is cast metal boiler/tender and smoke.

Milwaukee S-3 4-8-4 with 13 passenger cars.  Engine by BLI with cast metal boiler/tender in 2021 and Walthers passenger cars.

Marias pass.

Bob's running the Milwaukee train.

Milwaukee at Havre.

Mark running the N&W J.

GN R-2 2-8-8-2 made by Tenshodo in 1972.  Re-motored, re-geared, TCS 1517 decoder, painted and LED's installed.

Wilmar.

N&W J at Marias pass.

Ben 'switching' the yard.

Drill track.  GN C-1 0-8-0 imported by Tenshodo in 1968.

B&O E A/B passenger train west of Waverly.

Bob and John.

Bill operating the GN R-2.  East of Waverly.

PRR Q-2 4-4-6-4 imported by Westside models in 1970. Usual re-motor, paint, decoder, LED's.

Had no trouble pulling around 30 cars upgrade.

Havre.

Mark's N&W J East of Waverly.

Ben checking out my 'stash' of old 1950's Varney/Athearn metal freight car kits and Ambroid/Silver Streak wood kits.

A 'meet' at Havre.  Milwaukee and PRR.

GN R-2 at Wilmar's water tower.

GN R-2 on Seattle's 'incoming' tracks.

PRR Q-2 at Tye's water tower.  I inserted a light in the 'dog house' for the brakeman!

Bob's 'road testing' the new SP AC-6 from MTH made in 2010 with cast metal boiler/tender and smoke.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Light number boards, interior and crew.

NYC H-10B 2-8-2 imported by PFM in 1981.  Usual upgrades.

Water tank at Wilmar.

Morning summer sun shining on my childhood Lionel trains.

POST OPS PM.

Got to work on one problem before 'heading' out to a 'train fest' in Dayton, Ohio.

The B&O E A/B passenger train was, momentarily, shorting at a few locations.

Departing Hillyard video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFiFFXMl0Yc

Starting 'point'.

Departing the passenger yard.

Found one problem.

I missed replacing one passenger car's 'pizza' flanges with Intermountain wheels!

Much better.

The old wheel sets were, also, out of gauge.

Figured that would 'solve the problem' but nada.

All the turnouts are #10's and there's not a lot of room between the 'points' and 'stock' rail so shorts can occur with 'out of gauge' wheels.

Have two areas were I didn't do a very good job for the 'sub road bed' 43 years ago so there are some small 'humps' in the track where a passenger car will 'occasionally' uncouple.

I shimmed the observation car's coupler on the B&O car to fix this 'one problem'.

Passenger car track where one small 'hump' occurs.  No explanation of why that happened as the sub road bed is 1/2" ply and homosote.

This is the other spot where 'spline' road bed meets 'flat ply' road bed.

So far, all's 'good'.

The train, consistently, shorted in this one tunnel going about 3 MPH.

This is the car with the new wheel sets and it is lighted so I rotated one truck so no lights 'come on' but the momentary short still occurred.  I removed the car but the same results.

I took the B unit off the train and no short so;

1) checked the B's wheel sets and all's 'good'.

2) thought, maybe too much amperage and overloading the 'system' so  I changed that affected 'booster' from 'HO' to 'O/G' and no more 'momentary' shorts.

To me, it makes no sense since the circuit breakers would seem to be the 'deciding factor'!

This was the other spot where the short occurred and, again, all's 'good'.

After 950' of 'track running', back to the passenger yard and everything seems OK; Go figure!

Yesterday, before the Detroit crew arrived, I found one of the incoming/ round house depart tracks had no power.

A 'quick fix' with some alligator clips for the 'ground' rail.

Samparfitt, for some reason not all your pictures are showing up. 

Trainfest at Carillon park, Dayton, Ohio.

Very impressive park.   I don't think most 'area' people are aware of it.

Videos:

Train ride:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzchN7Ss2Ao

Calliope:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtQq3LPj34o

MAP.

Main entrance.

Very enthusiastic tote saying 'choo choo train'.

Old stationary steam engines.

Lots of buildings with 'things' inside.

Live steam

Allan and Liz.

Functioning printing presses.

Train ride.

A 3' gauge railroad is suppose to be 'ready' by December.

'In use' eagles nest.

Not 'steam' but can't get 'choosey'!

Rail cars.

Property has a lot of huge trees.

First we visited the 'outside' displays while it was still cool in the morning.

Later we 'hit' the indoor displays.

Dayton was NCR's corporate HQ.

'stuff' for sale in the main 'hall'.

Bill.

N-trak.

Dave.

Mike.

@samparfitt, how did you deal with the changes in technology over time given the age of your layout?

Everything was DC using PFM's sound systems until about 4 years ago.

Initially, I thought a conversion to DCC from an existing DC layout would be a lot of work.

A friend brought over his Digitrax DCC so I could test it on my layout and it worked great so I bought one.

Being such a large layout, adding boosters, circuit breakers, etc did make it more work than it 'first appeared' but it was manageable.  I had to route new wires from/to the old control panel and 'break' the 'common wire' to the 'ground' rail.

I'm glad I converted 'late' as I got the latest 'stuff', ie command station and decoders that have sound, lights, etc.

DCC has 'matured' to where I don't have to worry about it becoming obsolete.

The big thing with DCC is no more 'throwing' toggles to 'route' your trains.

With the old DC system having 4 main line throttles, there would always be a toggle 'not thrown' or a train would enter another block not controlled by his throttle.

It's really nice to run any engine or train anywhere on the layout without having to worry about 'toggles'.

Since the conversion I've never used the old DC system.

The big 'project' was installing decoders.

I doubt if I'll get all my engines converted but about 100, now, have decoders.

The only 'negative' is the 'cost': Converting 100 engines to DCC isn't cheap.

Recently prices of TCS decoders have increased so an 'install' with all the LED's, speaker, etc. is about $150 for each engine.

Plus, in my 'old age', I've been buying quite a few BLI engines: They are already painted and they have really nice brass hybrid engines plus smoke.  I've been pleased with their reliability.

Considering the cost of installing decoders, it makes a lot of the BLI engines pretty cheap.

I've, also, have bought several of the MTH cast metal engines.

Most are several years old but the decoders work great, have smoke and can be bought at a 'very good price'.

An example is the MTH AC-6 that I just purchased for $350: 10 years old and brand new.  Subtract the 150 bucks I would have had to spend installing a decoder it makes the cab forward, at $200, really cheap.

All my other engines get TCS 1517 steam decoders.

New delivery.

NP A-3 4-8-4 brass hybrid imported by BLI in 2022.

Paragon 4 now has 'keep alive' although I only remember one BLI engine that I have that 'stops once in awhile' due to electrical interference.

This is my second A-3.

This engine is so nice that I had to buy another one.

Will look cool 'double headed'.

I'm guessing 'new' white boxes.

Well 'sealed' in 'clam shell' plastic.

Lubricated all moving parts.

Traction tires.

Well detailed cab with crew and lights.

Lots of 'piping'.

Love stuff like this: functioning turret hatches.

Amazing BLI doesn't mention this!

Programming track.

Decoderpro via SPROG.

Comes with a Kadee coupler on the pilot.

Will be easy to 'double head' with this 2nd engine.

A good 'smoker'.  Love this stuff!

A great time to be in this hobby plus my RC planes: lots of high quality stuff.

Ross club meeting.

No meeting and only 4 'showed up' but they had a good time!

Paul ran the NP A-3 4-8-4 brass hybrid from BLI.

Skykomish.

Hillyard.

chumstick canyon trestle.

Back at Seattle's roundhouse.

Nick and Mark brought their diesels and gave them a good 'work out';

They ran trains 2 times on the mainline so each 'diesel set' got 1900' of mainline 'running' or about 32 scale miles or over 6 football fields!

MMM: near the end of the last 'run' they were sitting and just watching their trains 'run'; wore them out walking along with their trains.

Dispatcher Joe's work was 'light'.

PM another engine.

GN N-3 2-8-8-0 made by Tenshodo in 1973.  TCS 1517 decoder, re-gear, re-motor, lots of LED lights and Glacier paint added.

This engine was, occasionally, shorting at the last 'OPS'.

Videos:

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qHm2YUmYTw

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7liWQpnGjk

While in a tunnel, I noticed the 'blow down' pipe was below rail 'level'.  That was adjusted but nada.

'Blow down' pipe.

While on a trestle, I started wiggling the engine with no results and then the tender and noticed a tiny spark where the draw bar screw nut was, momentarily, making contact with the engine frame, thus causing the short.  The draw bar screw just had to be tightened while securing the nut and all's 'good'.

The Seattle's freight yard was full so the 'freight drag' was routed to St. Paul's freight yard.

Last PM from the last OPS session.

The Milwaukee passenger train had 3-4 cars derail at Glacier.

The cars are a scale distance but have had no prior problems in the past.

Road test:

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRa3wtuAF8A

Skykomish.

Love their observation car.

Ran fine through Glacier: both ways.

Guessing, maybe a car came off and caused the others to 'bind'.

No derailments on the 'road test'.

West of Waverly.

St. Paul.

Wilmar.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Tye, just entering Cascade tunnel.

Ran 1000' with no problems. 

Just entering the passenger yard.

Looking good!

Western Maryland's 1309 latest videos

Nicely narrated:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1OkksnpW_E

cab ride:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL7y5ZCMgcg

HO version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ienkgQ3BryI