Weekend Photo Fun 10/30/15 HONGZ

The joy and sorrow...

The joy of locating my Lindberg SW1 while doing some archaeology under the Great Plywood Glacier.

The sorrow to discover the frame has warped :

Rusty

It's Friday again, so time for some more beer.

Well darn, Rusty.

Looks like it was subjected to some high heat (attic?) at some point during its storage life?

Might be able to get that out with some time and weight.  Remove all parts down to the plastic frame, support the frame under the ends, then place a weight in the middle that levels it out. Leave for ??? days/weeks/months required to straighten it.

could he do that to the shell in very hot water and then cool it down? I've heard that works. I've never tried it though.

It's never been stored in a high heat zone, I think it might be zinc pest.  I once discovered two old Athearn U30C's in much worse condition.

I've thought about blocking up the frame and slowly applying pressure in a vice.

Rusty

Thank you for starting this thread each week, Chessie.  Here are two HO tank locos, by Rivarossi (top) and Marklin.

Any photos/info of your friend's switching layout, Bob?

Matt

Hi, Matt.

Thanks for your interest. The layout measures 2 feet wide X 7 feet long. There are three industrial sidings, a team track, a small yard and a run around. We fill out a drill slip and, even with the railroad's compact size, it can still take us a few hours to finish our work depending upon how many pulls and spots we have to make. It's very challenging and a lot of fun at the same time. My friend is a professional railroader and he did a splendid job in designing the layout.

I'm working on a track diagram of the railroad but haven't drawn it up in final form yet. Below are a few more photos which were taken during a previous operating session I posted a few weeks ago.

Bob

A few pictures of my layout, it is a work in progress.

This is a great example of fun in small spaces.    Once you start doing switching, the size of the layout, and for that matter, the completion level of the scenery, and the detail of the rolling stock becomes secondary.  The "job" sucks you in, and at least in my case, gives me the feeling that I am actually "railroading" (while I don't go out and work on a railroad every day, my day job does put me in the cab on occasion). 

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to operate on Bob H's Great Northern / Missabe railroad.  His layout is what I would call the "atypical" iron ore model railroad, as his space does not allow for ore docks, he represents that activity by staging.  His railroad focuses on the mine loading, as well as the "extra" manifest freights, 1st class passenger, and ore extras (which for his time period of 1958 means the Soo passenger is a one car consist behind a RS-1, and the GN train is three cars behind an E7).

The GN main is modeled from Floodwood (with Saunders and Boyelston represented in staging) thru Cass Lake (with beyond in staging, which is shared with Saunders).  The line that cuts off at Gunn goes up a helix and re-enters the stage at Canesteo, where there is a small yard, and mine.  The DM&IR operations are on the upper level, where there is a small yard, and the DM&IR has trackage rights over the GN from Taconite Jct. and on to Proctor (which is staging, shared with Kelly Lake staging). 

Bob operates with Timetable and Train Orders (TT&TO) and it is an absolute hoot to operate! Bob easily keeps 10 guys busy for a three hour session.

If any of you guys are into operation, I would wholeheartedly suggest that you check out the OPSIG.  Membership is not very expensive, and it gets you access to regular operating sessions.  Some are by invite, some are open, but most of the ones that request invite do so just to manage the process. 

Owners of layouts that are build for operation are for the most part ALWAYS looking for more operators.  While doing paperwork sounds like it can be a lot of work, and the first 30 minutes on a new layout can at times be intimidating, to me at least, it is not work, the learning is worth it, and once you become familiar with a railroad, it is many HOURS of enjoyment. 

I know people that don't even have a home layout, and very little purchased model equipment that basically participate in this hobby exclusively thru operating sessions.  In one of the groups I frequent, all that is required is to be the "dining car steward" on occasion, which means you buy the soda and munchies for the night.  Pretty small price to pay. 

Once I get my operating sessions going, I will be placing a crew call for people on this board for anybody that wants to make a trek to the Chicago area, or who already live here and try TT&TO operating on for size on my HO railroad.  I've had very few people that used to operate on my railroad before expansion come over and not enjoy the experience.

regards,

Jerry

Jerry:

Thanks for the tip about the OPSIG. I'm starting to review the website now. It appears to be extremely interesting.

Best,

Bob

You might be successful if you completely disassemble the engine down to the Delrin frame casting, then try the weight trick, or hot water w/weight, or perhaps even weight it, and heat it in the oven at about 150-180 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Just be sure you support the frame at the ends under the side sill. Do NOT allow the pilot footboards to bear the weight. They are very fragile.

BTW: I note your Lindberg Lines SW still has the air tanks!  That's rare!  Those fall off very easily and thus most often are missing from Lindberg SW's you find at meets/eBay. I have several parts SW's that I've purchased that are sans air tanks.

You did surprisingly well on the paint job for having to do it freehand!!

Great picture's everyone!

Bob:

Looks like your friend has packed in a lot of operational interest in such a small space!

It also looks to have the potential to portray the gritty "urban switching" look that many of us are fond of.  Hopefully, your friend will continue to develop the scenery on his neat little layout and you can continue to share pictures with us!

I also hope you can indeed supply a track diagram... I'm always on the lookout for ideas to incorporate into "the next one".

For nearly 15 years now, I've espoused the concept that an urban switching theme is THE TICKET for small to medium sized layouts: On prototypes in such settings cramped quarters were common, and interesting scenes abounded.

Jerry:

Enjoyed reading you comments to the above layout, as well as your description of your friend's layout.

Agree whole heartedly with your comment: "This is a great example of fun in small spaces."

Also have first hand experience in your comment about how once you start operating/switching, you get sucked into the immersion and the scenery's not all that important!

Good stuff this weekend, guys, good stuff.

Athearn SW switchers