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Yesterday, I went to visit the HO scale layout at the Golden Empire Historical and Modeling Society. The HO scale layout is on the uppermost floor of the old Newberry's store in downtown Bakersfield, Ca. The N scale layout is one floor lower, all accessed by this 1948 era freight elevator:

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The guys I met there go every Saturday and Tuesday night. The HO layout has been under construction since the 1980s.

Since Bakersfield only has a few months of pleasant weather, we all stay indoors most of the year. This club's fine modeling reflects this time well-spent.

This is the club's url:

http://gehams.org/

If you would like to see videos, this is my YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channe...pnHrja3ZsMDOt5JfD1Rw

 

 

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As usual another great weekend. Finger hurts, but no gain no pain,    Scotts starts us off with a an accident and a NSTB investigation, but no worries they will blame the operator instead of the dispatcher who gave clearance to use that track.   Gary gives us 2R, and CNJ 3676 gives us Subway. Putnam Division gives us a different view while J Daddy gives us urban renewal. PennsyPride94 and scale rail show off 1/1 scale while Alan Rogers shows off HO, walt rapp gives us a sign and Liam builds a bridge.  SIRT well He"s SIRT while D500 show he has skills too. BAR GP7 #63 is forced to work while  SDIV Tim enjoys a night out. Roger Wasson scrapes a Warbonnet and BobbyD found a truck. Andy Hummell goes to a vet while the rest run trains.  I know I missed some but sorry I need to go, its Sunday and tomorrows a school day. So after the kids stop arguing and go to bed, I plan on sneaking out and stopping by AG - River Leaf Models new burger joint and get something to eat then check out a mural( Farmer_Bill in Deep Ellum .   Here is mine version of the film Das Boot with out subtitles. I didn't need them anyway.

Engineer-Joe posted:

Looks like they're off the floor now too Naveen! Maybe you'll make a layout soon?

Joe,

Yes I am building a 2-rail layout but I expect it to take 4 -5 years to complete the benchwork. I have had this room in my basement measuring 34’ X 13’ for over 4 years but working for Caterpillar, I always have this uncertainty if I will be living in my current house for long to justify a permanent layout. I had 4 changes in my job duties in the last 12 months but so far I didn’t have to move. Others haven’t been as lucky as we have around 10,000 fewer people working worldwide compared to last year.

For many years, I have been running my trains on the floor as you knew but as I get older, my back & knee injuries from the gym prevent me from spending too much time on the floor. So I am working on this over-engineered, costly modular layout built on bolted-on steel workbench frames, with swiveling casters at all 4 corners. Each of these tables are approximately 6’ long & 30” wide. That way if I have to relocate, I could roll them away as they would fit through most doors & being 6’ long, they should fit in most of the U-Haul trucks or covered trailers. I am close to completing 5 tables this year & plan to have 4 – 5 more tables completed in each of the next few years.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

On Sunday the 25th I went over to Boonton NJ to the URHS's museum for a day. Before the URHS was able to put up yellow tape, around 20 people including me forced past and explored the expansive yard. I was able to snag a few pics of the Raritan River caboose. I would've gotten more such as the NJT E60 or CNJ GP7, RDG RS-3, NJDOT E8, and much more. But #10 was high on my list. After we got booted out, other Raritan River NRHS members showed up and a member of the Tri State Historical Society was kind enough to let us go inside the caboose.IMG_1444IMG_1445IMG_1446IMG_1447IMG_1449IMG_1448IMG_1450

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PETE S posted:

Trainroom Gary,

The roundhouse in your photos closely resembles the B&O roundhouse in Cleveland.  Was it scratch built or from a kit?

Pete S

Hi PETE S, I spoke to the Club President and this is what I learned. The roundhouse was built by a former member,  He is an award winning structures modeler.  It is scratch built.  He made patterns using whatever materials would give him the results he wanted.  He then made molds and cast what you see in some kind of molding plaster.  I do not know the prototype.  I suspect if it is not freelance, it is a PRR prototype or influenced by a PRR prototype.  He is a dyed-in-the-wool PRR fanatic! 

The photos below were taken yesterday, on a work day at the DMRRC. Hope this helps. If you have photos of the Cleveland round house please post to this thread.1 Dorance Roundhouse Right Side2. Dorrance Roundhouse Back3 Dorrance Roundhouse Left Side4 Dorrance Roundhouse Front

Gary

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Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 

Cough Cough, bring it back to NJ, cough cough.

write a huge check and get the OK from every railroad we'd need to run on and I'm sure we can work it out.

Eh you know I'm joking, you guys got a good gig out there in Minersville. Wish I was closer so I could help out. But wouldn't it really be something if it came back to NJ for a tour or something?

RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:
Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 

Cough Cough, bring it back to NJ, cough cough.

write a huge check and get the OK from every railroad we'd need to run on and I'm sure we can work it out.

Eh you know I'm joking, you guys got a good gig out there in Minersville. Wish I was closer so I could help out. But wouldn't it really be something if it came back to NJ for a tour or something?

Baby steps.  We're hopefully going off system for the first time next year.

Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:
Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 

Cough Cough, bring it back to NJ, cough cough.

write a huge check and get the OK from every railroad we'd need to run on and I'm sure we can work it out.

Eh you know I'm joking, you guys got a good gig out there in Minersville. Wish I was closer so I could help out. But wouldn't it really be something if it came back to NJ for a tour or something?

Baby steps.  We're hopefully going off system for the first time next year.

Where are you deciding to take it? Or should I say who wants you to run it elsewhere? Steamtown? Man 113 would look great with their CNJ coaches.

RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:
Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:
Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 

Cough Cough, bring it back to NJ, cough cough.

write a huge check and get the OK from every railroad we'd need to run on and I'm sure we can work it out.

Eh you know I'm joking, you guys got a good gig out there in Minersville. Wish I was closer so I could help out. But wouldn't it really be something if it came back to NJ for a tour or something?

Baby steps.  We're hopefully going off system for the first time next year.

Where are you deciding to take it? Or should I say who wants you to run it elsewhere? Steamtown? Man 113 would look great with their CNJ coaches.

While it's not official yet, the plan is to travel to Steamtown shortly after our Santa Trains in December, where we'll use their shop to do heavy running gear work.  It is possible we'll pull trains there after the wheels are back under her, but that's all decided well above my pay grade.  I'm sure we'll at least run several tests before heading back to Minersville. 

Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:
Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:
Wowak posted:
RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 

Cough Cough, bring it back to NJ, cough cough.

write a huge check and get the OK from every railroad we'd need to run on and I'm sure we can work it out.

Eh you know I'm joking, you guys got a good gig out there in Minersville. Wish I was closer so I could help out. But wouldn't it really be something if it came back to NJ for a tour or something?

Baby steps.  We're hopefully going off system for the first time next year.

Where are you deciding to take it? Or should I say who wants you to run it elsewhere? Steamtown? Man 113 would look great with their CNJ coaches.

While it's not official yet, the plan is to travel to Steamtown shortly after our Santa Trains in December, where we'll use their shop to do heavy running gear work.  It is possible we'll pull trains there after the wheels are back under her, but that's all decided well above my pay grade.  I'm sure we'll at least run several tests before heading back to Minersville. 

Oh man that sounds great. Another steamer in Steamtown will surely rouse the railfans in the area and out of the area as well. 

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Former B&O Roundhouse Cleveland, Ohio

Thanks Trainroomgary for your research and photos, but obviously the roundhouses don't match well.  I was hoping to kitbash something to come up with a reasonable model. My scratch build talents are limited.  There are plans to complete the restoration and some funding is in place.

Pete S

PETE S posted:

No Photo  /  Broken Link


Former B&O Roundhouse Cleveland, Ohio

Thanks Trainroomgary for your research and photos, but obviously the roundhouses don't match well.  I was hoping to kitbash something to come up with a reasonable model. My scratch build talents are limited.  There are plans to complete the restoration and some funding is in place.

Pete S

Hi Pete: You are welcome.  Your photo did no show up, broken link.  Could you please try again. Best to put the photo on your desk top and then attach the photo with (Add Attachments)

Thanks - Gary

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