let's see your cranes & work trains...

CNJ #1601 posted:

I really like the gondola!  Very nice.

Hump Yard Mike posted:

CNJ #1601 posted:

I really like the gondola!  Very nice.

Thank you, Mike.  I scratch built it in an attempt to model the prototype pictured below.  I cut down an old Atlas gondola, built the wheel/truck rack and the separate bin for the blocking timbers, then painted and lettered it.  I have one more to build...if/when I ever get around to it!

Here is a video of my work train. its too big to get into one picture.  Unfortunately I can't run it with the TMCC  crane car because the *!*! thing won't run over a switch with a Z 1000 switch machine on it. the middle of the frame on the crane car hits the spring on the switch machine. Its always something.

I built the NYC crane tender and painted and redecorated the Weaver troop sleeper and troop Kitchen for NYC Maintenance of Way.

Thanks,

Richard

 Very Nice!

Richard Gonzales posted:

Here is a video of my work train. its too big to get into one picture.  Unfortunately I can't run it with the TMCC  crane car because the *!*! thing won't run over a switch with a Z 1000 switch machine on it. the middle of the frame on the crane car hits the spring on the switch machine. Its always something.

 

Thanks,

Richard

Richard,

I ran into the same problem with my TMCC crane and DZ1000 switch machines.  Two things need to be done to the switch machines to eliminate the issues. The spring must be bent so that it sits below the top of the switch machine and the screw closest to the rails must be replaced with a flat head screw.  the top of the switch machine will have to be carefully countersunk to accept the screw.  I have had zero problems since making these modifications.

Tom

Thanks Tom!

How did you bend the spring? Where did you find the screws and what is the size number?

i have 51 of Z1000’s to modify.

i appreciate your help.

Richard

Krieglok posted:

My PRR wreck train...

Tom

Nice consist.  I have several PRR MoW cars in storage (unfortunately, no photos), including a Weaver gondola in pre-1954 grey.  My plan is to paint the cars the same color grey except for the crane which I will leave black.  Here are a couple of color photos from 1953 showing a mix of cars.

Here are some cars I think would be neat to scratch build.

Well, maybe not the last one

This thread wouldn't be complete without the Lionel 165!

Nice Brian, question are all those crane cars remote controlled? Like in that one video the other day?

                          no, mine are all MTH railking & premier manual cranes...

Construction equipment in place to begin construction of the new steel mill blast furnace 

fl9turbo2 posted:

Construction equipment in place to begin construction of the new steel mill blast furnace 

Now that is a nice setup. Sure looks like fun! TRAINS & CRANES!

Yep some BIG cranes!

Jim

mike g. posted:

fl9turbo2 posted:

Construction equipment in place to begin construction of the new steel mill blast furnace 

Now that is a nice setup. Sure looks like fun! TRAINS & CRANES!

thanks i still have 2 more cranes to add 

Long Island Railroad cranes trying to seperate the telescoped cars in the November 22, 1950 horrific crash in Richmond hills , Queens, N.Y.

Ready to go

Richard Gonzales posted:

Thanks Tom!

How did you bend the spring? Where did you find the screws and what is the size number?

i have 51 of Z1000’s to modify.

i appreciate your help.

Richard

I bent the spring with a pair of needle nose pliers and a block of wood.  I grasped the spring at the point that I wanted to make the bend and pressed it against the block of wood.  The screws I used are 1/2" #4 flat head wood screws from the local hardware.  Nothing special.  Comparable sheet metal screws would also work.  It is actually a very easy process.  You should be able to do all of your switches in an evening.

Tom

Thanks Tom,

I have spare springs on hand so I’ll start practicing modifying some of them. Thanks for the screw size. What size drill bit did you use to counter sink the screw hole in the switch machine?

I appreciate your help!

Richard

Fill 'we up.

Richard Gonzales posted:

Thanks Tom,

I have spare springs on hand so I’ll start practicing modifying some of them. Thanks for the screw size. What size drill bit did you use to counter sink the screw hole in the switch machine?

I appreciate your help!

Richard

I used a woodworking countersink to countersink the holes.  If I remember correctly, I used it in an old hand crank drill so I had better control of the operation.  A cordless drill will work, but you have to be careful.  The plastic is fairly thin so you must go slowly or you'll blow a hole right through it.  After you do a few you get a feel for it and it goes a lot quicker. 

Tom

Thanks again Tom!

I have some dead Z1000 I can practice on.

Once again the OGR Forum has the answers.

 I appreciate your help Tom

Take care,

Richard 

Jushavnfun posted:

Fill 'we up.

Ahaa! Another 165 Mag & it appears operational as well.  Sweet..Here's the book; 1949 , which shows the 182 crane. Only difference I see is cab hangs out the rear further. Jus, I can't see the rear of your cab to tell which it is. Can't believe the original harness to controller still has insulation. We had to rewire mine years ago. & if ya haven't opened controller yet, be ready for a real cluster of interlocking!

Bought it last year, has been rebuilt and works like a champ. A great toy train accessory. 

I love the sound it GROWLS out when in action!!!

stangtrain posted:

I can't get enough of the M of W work crew scene. I can't zoom in , but do they actually have track tools? i.e.; claw bars, spike mules, forks, etc? if so, where did ya find em?

I figured out to zoom in by opening image in another app. They got air tamping guns,,,what look like claw bars, torch set,... pretty close to actual tools..Nice! Need a guy swinging a spike mule & air lines connected to guns...lol

                  My #1Grandson is a CN fan and I made a CN wreck train for him.  

Just a tip as stated above the dz1000 switch machine plastic is fragile.  If you go too deep with the countersink you run into a large hollow.  I too used a countersink bit however I used it in a tap handle to closely control the depth and stress on the plastic.

Thanks Cummins and Tom,

I appreciate your assistance and advice. I have been reading about this fix here on the forum, but never with this much detail.

I appreciate your help.

Richard

My work train is the first train I ever got when I was a kid. Santa gave it to me on Christmas, 1956. Lionel 0-4-0 switcher and cars. 

Any pics with outriggers deployed?

Just picked up this nice MTH set.

found theis home made pair a few weeks ago

I haven't seen it in person (yet) but think that Dennis Sander of Z Stuff has a new trackside (dwarf?) signal which I saw in the latest OGR mag.  I don't have any fix on price.  I believe Dennis moved from NY to Chicago...?  Had the pleasure of working with him for a couple of years ago.

GVDobler posted:

Any pics with outriggers deployed?

How about these...

Tom

I've posted this somewhere on here before, but I just can't get enough of it. Here's a fantastic picture of my then new tmcc crane, taken by Andy Hummel 

A few pictures:

Ex Cotton Belt 250 ton at Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Buff Arkansas.

Ex Santa Fe near Miami Texas ,

Gentlemen,

   Great stuff!

PCRR/Dave