Great winter 'drone' video of the Northwest:
"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.
Post your non-O scale stuff here!
Don't know whether anyone has mentioned it, but another run by someone of the 10 GN Circus Boxcars from 1956 would be welcome. Petersen Supply put them out as limited runs many years ago if I recall correctly, and I have the MicroTrains Z gauge set just issued recently, but it would be nice to have them in O three rail with modern manufacturing techniques.
DM&IR S-7 0-10-2.
Final assembly including routing LED wires, making wire connectors, decoder install and programming track.
After routing the LED wires, a ground wire to the boiler to the LED wires is done to insure no wires are grounded to the boiler.
My signal checker makes easy and safe checks of the LED's as it is low voltage.
4 wire connector from boiler LED's to the frame and all LED wires bundled; well, kind of! The 4 wires are blue (hot), pink for running board lights, green for marker lights and white for headlight and cab light. Each is on a separate function so they can be turned on and off, individually.
TCS 1517 decoder with 'keep alive' and 8 pin connector completed.
Get all that 'spaghetti' wires into the tender! Never been 'one on neatness' when it comes to wires: those electrons know where to go! The rectangular hole at the front of the tender allows the large wire connector to be put inside the tender so only the 2 sets of 4-wire bundles inside heat shrink tubing is exposed and looks like water hoses.
Tender done.
About 4" of wires used for the 8 pin connector on the engine side. Got 3 engines to complete so cut 3 sets.
Forgot to take a picture of the completed engine side wiring harness.
Programming track using Decoderpro via SPROG.
Address inputted. I transposed the engine number 601 as 610 and took a few minutes to figure out why the engine wasn't running on the mainline!
Changed all LED's to 'constant dim'.
Reduced chuff rate from default of 100 to 20 and still had to reduce it farther down.
New engine logged into the roster screen.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
New back head added, cab light and deck plate. I wanted to put the tender closer to the cab but the deck plate is a little too wide.
Tried to clean the camera lens but it appears to be dirt behind the lens and doubt if that comes apart, easily!
Runs well in the yard. Will still have to 'road test' her.
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RF&P 4-8-4.
Final assembly.
4 wire connector for the boiler lights done.
Being a small area inside the tender, I went with a sugar cube speaker.
A little CA to assemble the speaker and tender decoder and 8 wire harness done.
After stuffing the decoder and 'keep alive' inside the tender, the speaker is facing down.
Some foam used to semi-secure the speaker in position.
Coal support cover screwed to tender.
Tender done.
8 wire connector to tender and 4 wire connector to boiler.
Programming track to load in all the data.
Had a slight 'thumping' when testing the drive train. The front hex pin hits the piston drive rod when front driver is pushed to that side.
Put some Kadee grey washers between the side rods and the driving rod to move the driving rod out a 'hair or two'.
Wires to motor and fire box glow LED. The fire box LED is connected to the RED and Black wires leading to the decoder (external to the decoder); The fire box will light telling me the engine has power thus the decoder is ready for the engine's address. Good to know when selecting an engine in the roundhouse, in a siding, etc.
Assembly complete.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Green box has the 'automatic train control'
Engine is erratic so used another tender for diagnostics.
Seems to be the tender. Unusual contact point for the trucks to the tender as no usual 'cylindrical' brass standoff. Will investigate another time.
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Good thing this is a hobby and not a business or I'd be broke!
N&W Y-3 2-8-8-2.
I spent part of yesterday and all day today getting this engine to operate smoothly.
First problem was the lead truck was coming off at two places; never mind that dozens of engines and hundreds of cars pass over that same track with no problems! I tried some other wheels and they worked but too large of diameter.
Wheels were 'in gauge', etc. so I ended up putting a small bend at the end of the truck support; this allowed very little vertical up movement which prevented the wheels from derailing. Not too much to lift the front drivers but enough vertical movement to handle some uneven track. Usually, some extra lead will fix these problems but this lead truck already has lead weight.
The larger wheels sets would have rubbed against the deck frame and, eventually, wear the paint off and cause a short against the brass frame. The wheel diameter must be around 28-30".
Next was the front drive set was binding. It was sporadic, the engine would run for awhile and then bind or slow down. The back set works fine but the front was binding due to the gear box. Without the gear box, the drive train rolls freely with no binding. This, along with a high current draw can motor, burned out a few decoders.
I dismantled the gear and used the air compressor to clean out the gear box, hoping there was some debris, but nada. Since the gear box rotated some, I put a piece of brass on the gear box to prevent any 'rocking' motion of the gear box; another failure to fix the problem.
After spend a couple hours on that, I decided to replace the gear with an NOS Tenshodo gear set.
Most wheels have square journals but this engine has long, wide journals: I'm guessing this was needed since a wire the full length of the frame was used instead of the 'traditional' springs on each axle.
Since the frame has round recesses for the axles, I had to modify some square brass journals by making one end round.
Original front gear (top) and the replacement (bottom).
The hole in the retaining plate for the driver's gear box was too narrow so that was widened with a file to accept the Tenshodo gear set.
The front ran with no more binding but, as I was afraid of, the gears on each engine operated at a different speed so the back engine's gear set, also, had to be replaced.
Original gear set up.
I had to modify my wheel puller for the wide journals on the driver set.
Making several attempts to remove the wheel, the usual 'X' mark on the end of the axle was worn away to I had to quarter the driver set.
Axle gear done.
The new gear tower was too wide for the opening in the frame so it has to be hand filed. Could only remove a small amount of the supporting linkage brass superstructure.
The remaining had to come from the new gear tower. Fortunately, the casing is thick so about a 1/16" could be hand filed. All holes were taped over to insure no filing got into the gears.
The horizontal motor mount was made into an 'incline' mount.
Front half of motor mount simply cut with a dremel cut off disk and re-soldered as 'one piece'.
Holes in the back piston assembly had to be drilled to accept the 'drive shaft' support. One hole drilled and screwed so the other hole could be, accurately, drilled.
Back gear set done with motor temporarily mounted.
Drilled a hole and tapped it for, I think, a #80 screw.
I 'screwed up' and cut the motor shaft too short and not enough friction to hold the neoprene tubing.
Cut one of the white universals and drilled/tapped for set screws to connect the motor to the gear tower. I should have drilled one set screw 180 degrees apart for balancing.
Well, all seems to be working again.
Motor caulked to motor mount. Will have to let that 'cook' for several hours before assembly and a 'road test'.
On a brighter note the DM&IR seems to be working well.
DM&IR 0-10-2.
Road test. Only ran it 450' but seems to be running well.
Video. leaving Whitefish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENYwF1YsJ7E
Engine was shorting going over a turnout. Turns out the offset crank on the opposite side came off. The set screw was stripped so a new one was added. I tried some solder but didn't adhere well to the steel pin.
Chumstick canyon trestle.
Marias pass.
Tye.
Skykomish.
Checked the decoder to insure all's 'good' and no 'over heating'.
Almost forgot to tape the bottom of the deck plate to prevent shorting to the tender.
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GNRW operating session:
The usual pizza first: can't work on an 'empty stomach'!
Chuck backing a PRR J-1 2-10-4 to his freight train. The J-1 is by Westside made in 1977.
Bob running a T&P 2-10-4 freight drag at Wilmar. The 2-10-4 is by Sunset made in 1978.
Fortunately, joe took care of dispatching. 'Life' is much easier knowing where all trains are, remote control of all mainline turnouts plus the engineers can just follow the signals to know when and how far to proceed. The dispatcher was made in 1939!
Dave engineering a NYC Niagara passenger train. The Niagara was made by Nickle Plate Products in 1977.
Steve getting a C&O 2-8-4 Berk ready. The Berk was made by United (PFM) in 1972.
Mainline was busy.
John's B&O EM-1 passenger train 'taking on water' at Glacier. The EM-1 2-8-8-4 was made by Westside in 1979.
Chuck's PRR J-1 at Marias pass.
Bob's T&P approaching Waverly.
Another 'watering hole' for the B&O EM-1. There are 4 BLI functioning water towers with sound along the mainline where the steam engines have to stop.
One west and one east.
YUP. T&P 2-10-4 nearly Waverly.
Steve's C&O 2-8-4 coal drag at Marias pass.
Bob's T&P approaching Wilmar for some H2O.
John's EM-1 passenger train at Waverly. Those signs on the valances were printed on my 1980's PC and the print matrix printer. I believe I paid around 2400 bucks for the PC back then; that was a lot of $$$ and it does less than our new 'smart' phones. Kids liked it though and got a lot out of it.
T&P 2-10-4 at Tye.
Steve and Chuck don't mind waiting with their freight drags for a passenger train to pass as they get paid by the hour!
Dave's NYC Niagara passenger train at Tye.
'Rail fans' along the mainline!
Started using the St. Paul yard. Had enough people to start expanding operations.
NYC Niagara 4-8-4 leaving Tye.
John's EM-1 at another 'topping off' the tender.
Incoming C&O 2-8-4 arriving at St. Paul.
I've always enjoyed the 'near eye' level of the St. Paul yard.
The St. Paul roundhouse. In the morning, I tested all the yard tracks and the roundhouse. Had only one yard track that needed a jumper wire soldered. The turntable needed some PM. Some tracks needed re-alignment with the turntable plus
if your Walthers turntable is a little erratic, try checking the gears on the bottom of the turntable. Mine had a lot of 'gunk' on them as both turntables gears were really nasty. I'm surprised they were even tracking well. Had to clean a few teeth, put bridge in table and turn a 1/4" and clean some more teeth until all were cleaned.
Chuck's J-1 west of St. Paul.
The PRR J-1 leaving Waverly.
D&RGW L-131 Zephyr passenger train approaching Waverly.
Dave's train at Tye.
Steve decided to pull a 50 car train with the SF 4-8-4 leaving St. Paul. The 4-8-4 made by United (PFM) in 1969.
Bob's D&RGW L-131 2-8-8-2 Zephyr passenger train bypassing Seattle's freight yard...
and arriving at the passenger yard. The L-131 2-8-8-2 made by United (PFM) in 1977.
SF 4-8-4 50 car freight drag spanning Chumstick and Tumwater canyon trestles.
SF 4-8-4 at Marias pass.
Might as well pull another 50 car train with the SF E-1 A-B units. The E-1's by BLI in 2020.
Skykomish
Marias pass.
Entering St. Paul's yard.
As with the Seattle's freight yard, St. Paul has 3 incoming tracks with 'engine escape'.
Engine drops off the train and then heads to the roundhouse while the switcher on the drill track on the other end can sort the cars into the freight yard.
We finish with 'train talk' and orange cream cicles 
Videos will be posted when youtube finishes the uploads.
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Looks like everyone had a great time!!
Some post ops session PM:
PRR S-2 6-8-6 imported by Alco models in 1977.
One of the hex pins came out.
This engine had 'roller bearings' hex pins so I had to use two screw drivers to push on the two slots 180 degrees apart.
All's 'good' again in the 'railroad world'!
B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4; Imported by Westside in 1979.
The lead truck was not rolling. Ended up having to turn the whole truck 180 degrees (length wise) to get the wheel to roll. After insuring all paint, etc was not inhibiting movement, it appears the 'open' end of the 'bolsters' (just brass stock) was pinched together to hold the axle and inhibiting movement; the smooth, closed end of the 'bolster' allowed free movement of the axle.
Much better. Also, dimmed all lights via Decoderpro.
Three passenger trains were run on ops night. Found it easier to just run the whole train to the upper interchange loop than, manually, move all the cars. A 1000 foot run but better than a manual change.
Used a Bachmann PRR GG1 to reverse the NYC passenger train. Can run the GG1 at 99 SMPH so doesn't take long to reverse the whole train.
Ditto with the B&O passenger train.
Got the BLI SF E-1 A/B units out for the D&RGW Zephyr set. Since the SF 'super chief' was, also, stainless steel, they look good together.
Reshuffled the 50 car train that was on the inbound track to the yard in St. Paul.
Presently, there is only one DCC engine in the St. Paul roundhouse. For the next ops session, several DCC engines will be added to this roundhouse.
More 'proof' for having 'Eastern' steam engines on the GN!
An Erie steam engine on the full size GNRW. Never say: 'that never happened'!
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Nice turbine video:
Needed some R&R: Just running trains.
Joe brought his two new N&W Y6B's to the GNRW to 'road test' them.
These just came in from BLI. I, believe, this is their second run of these so they must be popular. Uploaded their engine addresses on the programming track via Decoderpro via SPROG. No other changes were made.
Double head, of course, backing up to a freight drag. We had 32 cars but should have added more cars.
Skykomish.
I ran a NYC Dreyfuss Hudson passenger train while Joe ran his Y6B's.
Glacier.
Near Waverly.
Wilmar.
Tumwater canyon trestle.
Havre.
Skykomish.
They did a very nice job on this engine. All cast metal (engine and tender), smoke and lots of detail. Even had Kadee couplers on the pilots. As usual now, they come engine and tender attached in long, narrow boxes.
Cab detail, crew and functional cab windows.
Weight was 70 ounces including the box(already boxed when we decided to weigh them) so around 4 pounds for the engine and tender. Took videos but Youtube has spent 1.5 days uploading the videos, which still is at zero upload stage!
Ran some trains before and during Joe's 'road test'.
NYC Dreyfuss Hudson by MTH. Also all cast metal with smoke. Most of the passenger cars are IHC from the 70's but 4 are by Walthers.
BLI functional water tower.
C&O L-1 streamlined hybrid Hudson by BLI.
Havre.
Tumwater canyon trestle.
Chumstick canyon trestle.
Marias pass.
Tye.
Purchased some super capacitors to make 'keep alives' for BLI engines that don't have them. NMRA recent magazines issues have a 'how to' on making your own. Not sure why manufacturer's charge 25-30 bucks for something that cost 5-6 bucks to make and no circuit board, etc needed. Looks like the new BLI Paragon4 engines will, now, have 'keep alives'.
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Joe's Y6b s look great! Great photographs as always!! I think you need some more passenger tracks! 
Mark,
I'll, probably, 'end up' buying one, myself!
No more passenger tracks! In reality, I do have two more; they are next to the freight yard and are the, original two track passenger yard.
Nice HO layout with lots of steam power:
Samparfitt, I like looking at your post as it’s always interesting, your layout is so well detailed, your trains looking so realistic going over the trestle, the yards, all of the scenery is made with perfection... What I need you to do, is simply move to Tennessee and live near me so that I could visit you. From Ohio to Tennessee, wow... I’m just kidding about moving, but one day I’m coming to Ohio to see Bill Bramlages layiut, possibly Bob Bartezek’s layout again, how far are you from Cincinnati? All said, you have great abilities, repairing steamers, painting locomotives, building a great model railroad and more. Thanks for sharing your many talents with us, we are truly blessed. Happy Railroading Everyone
Thanks Larry,
I'm just North of Cincinnati off of I-75. Bob is about 12 miles from me. You're always welcome to visit.
Prepping St. Paul roundhouse and yard plus 'running trains'.
St. Paul roundhouse.
The 7 tracks outside the roundhouse was shorting when an engine transitioned from the table to the track. Turns out I had the ground and hot sides reversed. Re-soldered the wires and all's 'good'. Presently, 4 DCC engines are in the St. Paul roundhouse. A good 'start' to begin using the upper yard during OPS sessions.
The St. Paul yard is functioning well and ready for incoming and departing trains.
More 'train running'.
UP 2-tone grey challenger by BLI passenger train.
PRR K-4 streamlined 4-6-2 by BLI; Cast metal with smoke.
Skykomish.
Tye.
Havre.
Engine would, occasionally, lose electrical contact. Truck wheels needed cleaning. Unlike traditional brass engines, each tender truck is opposite on the hot side so both trucks complete a ground/hot pickups.
Chumstick canyon trestle.
Tumwater canyon trestle.
Marias pass.
Tye.
Skykomish.
C&O H-8 2-6-6-6 by MTH. Cast metal engine/tender with smoke.
Seattle's turntable.
Departing Seattle's freight yard.
Skykomish.
Tye.
Marias pass.
Hillyard.
Havre.
Chumstick canyon trestle.
Some of the vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver streak/Ambroid kits.
Flat loads.
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Very nice UP layout:
Samparfitt, fantastic roundhouse, everything you are doing is fantastic. When I make my trip north to Ohio, I’ll let you know and hopefully you can join us. Great workmanship in every way. Happy Railroading Everyone
Erie triplex 2-8-8-8-2 freight drag. MTH model with smoke and lighted marker lights (engine/tender) pulling vintage freight cars.
Departing Seattle.
Skykomish.
Tye
Marias pass.
Hillyard
Glacier.
Basin tunnel.
Waverly.
upper staging/return loops.
St. Paul.
Waverly.
Wilmar.
Glasgow.
Glacier.
Chumstick canyon trestle.
Havre.
Marias pass.
Tye.
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Joe's N&W Y6B's by BLI, double heading videos:
These are diecast metal boilers and tenders. The freight cars are vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid kits.
Leaving Tye:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TefhCMokTN0
NYC Dreyfuss Hudson and Y6B's siding meet at Marias Pass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4mho_1Fa20
Leaving Hillyard:
The videos are always great!
Thanks, Mark.
==========
UP 2-tone challenger 4-6-6-4 and PRR centipedes passenger trains videos:
These, finally, uploaded on Youtube after a '2nd try'.
UP 2-tone challenger by BLI:
Leaving Seattle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Q-0md1K7U
Departing Tye:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A2W9g3L05I
Departing Glacier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIbPUtK73W0
PRR centipede passenger train by BLI:
Skykomish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nAuKOV1LCU
Departing Tye:
Sam, all I can say is Thank you for sharing such wonderful videos of your your trains and your wonderful layout! Its funny every place you videoed I have either been to or worked in that area. Of course I have been to Seattle many times in my life, I have done road work for the county in both Skykomish and Tye. Been to Glacier area for a weeekend camping trip a couple times! Love them all! You do some of the most realistic and amazing work I have seen! Thank you again!
Thanks for the kind words, Mike. After around 65 years in the hobby, I'm bound to get a few things 'right'!
=============
Things have changed since the mid 70's.
Back in the mid 70's AHC that advertised in MR had a sale on the AHM 2 stall engine houses. I called them up and asked how many they had and I bought all of them. I believe the price was between $1.98 and $2.98 and I got around 15 of them.
Used them for making my roundhouse and flats in the St. Paul yard.
Now they are a little more expensive!
A major retailer has them on sale: On Sale Today$42.98
$2.98 in 1975 is about $14.57 today (which would seem reasonable for that kit) especially since the molds have been paid for, 'many times over'!
If I recall, correctly, I believe they made these, also, into bakeries and, maybe, a warehouse, etc.
Looking around my layout, I've got several of their buildings that they made, ie, machine shop, residential houses, hotel, freight station, brewery, switch tower combo, gas station, etc.
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NYC Dreyfuss Hudson and C&O L-1 Hudson.
Finally, the last two Youtube uploads finished.
NYC Dreyfus by MTH.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhuzkwNuTaw
C&O L-1 streamlined hybrid Hudson by BLI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEOJtk7u-zg
The BLI engine doesn't come with 'keep alive' so bought some super capacitors and the NMRA monthly magazine explains how to make them and BLI has instructions on where to solder the leads.
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We diagnosed a PRR B6 0-6-0 decoder plus some train running with videos.
=========
UP 8500 turbine videos. The Scaletrains museum version. This engine is for the 'rivet counter'.
Skykomish: Love those metal wheels!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeNw2i0MfvA
Hillyard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMG00EyNX3k
departing Havre:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuCSw9kzP8Q
=========
PRR B6 0-6-0 by Sunset. A fellow modeler brought his newly installed decoder engine to be set up on the 'programming track'. It took about 2 hours to diagnose and get everything 'squared away'.
Took awhile to see that the manufacturer had twisted the one brush tab to the metal side of the can motor which was 'grounding' the engine.
All 'ended well'. Previously, we did some 'Dremeling' to remove parts of the tender's interior to make room for the decoder plus the 'keep alive'.
UP 8500 turbine. This is the museum version: interior cab detail and lighted, twin headlight, 3 way marker lights (clear, red, green), lighted number boards. Full turbine noise with functioning fan blades. Metal contacts next to wheels to detect and make wheel noise when wheels go through a turnout. Each unit has a separate decoder, including the tender. More listed later.
Tye.
Marias pass.
Glacier.
Basin tunnel.
Wilmar.
Waverly.
Glacier.
Night lights on end of units plus under the steps. Full hoses between the two powered units. Both units powered.
Functioning doors with interior details.
If turbine not engaged and only the diesel engine for yard movement is running, engine will not pull any freight cars.
Some of the vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid freight cars.
I think this is an Ulrich car that I assembled when I was very young (most of those brain cells are dead).
Just a 'run of the mill' car but metal and a nice 'load'.
Chumstick canyon trestle.
Havre.
Skykomish.
New delivery; Some warm white, red and green 0402 LED's plus some warm white 0201 LED's. These should be enough to complete the rest of the engines, hopefully!
The 0201's are half the size of the 0402's.
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New deliveries.
N&W Y-6B, Milwaukee passenger cars and motors.
I sold my vette that I've had for 26 years and got my government 'stimulus' check so I've got more hobby money to spend
I had space on the Milwaukee passenger train track for 4 more cars so found them on ebay. Three came in and another is 'on the way'.
The Milwaukee train is center in the picture.
Ordered enough 'very low current' draw motors.
N&W Y-6B 2-8-8-2.
Engine is from BLI with cast metal boiler and tender. This is a new release (2021) and one of the 'dealers' had a 10% Easter sale off the already marked down price so I 'bought'.
Video:
The cattle 'sounds' are from a BLI car.
Skykomish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1OtLwt120g
Departing Hillyard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hCURYF0P4E
The usual long box.
Loaded new address and added to the 'roster'.
Just the engine weighs around 34 ounces.
Nicely detailed.
Road test:
Tye.
Marias pass.
Glacier.
Basin tunnel.
Chumstick canyon trestle.
These first two cars are from my 'change from Lionel to HO'. My first HO train was a Gilbert HO Hudson freight set; Chuffing and smoke and 4 freight cars with track.
This is an all metal flat car with metal load.
The Gilbert set had this covered hopper: probably my first 'weathering' job.
A 'load' kit I picked up just a few years ago at a train show.
Most of the rest of the pictures are of my vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid kits.
I think I've got 3 of these wood Ambroid cars.
Just a plastic car but an unusual load.
Back to wood kits.
Metal and wood kits.
Bachmann just brought out this poultry car this year.
Hillyard.
Marias pass.
Tye.
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Ok Sam, I am truly sorry to see you sell your vette, but you sure did get a bang for your buck and I would think there is still more to come! What a great addition to your Railway and layout! I cant think of anything better to spend my money on except maybe a Vette! LOL
Sam, we should be seeing a buying frenzy after selling the Corvette!
Thanks, guys,
I've got enough 'stuff' for the 'most part'. There's only a few other engines that I'm interested in acquiring.
I've sold off all my old cars and only have my truck, now which I use to hall my trailer for my RC airplanes. It didn't hurt any either when I was visiting my son and we went to HD to pick up 14 heavy bags of soil, a wheel barrow and a rake!
I've got a lot of Lionel, MTH and K-line stuff that I think I'll put on Craigslist to 'whittle down' my supply of 3 rail trains. I'll keep about 30% of them. Thought I'd try Craigslist first to get the local railroaders in the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, etc area so I don't have to pack them and mail them (lots of extra work).
===================
New deliveries.
My last Milwaukee Hiawatha car arrived. Also, 6 more decoders arrived plus 3 more coming in this week so I should have enough to get a few more engines 'done'.
That makes up a 14 car Hiawatha train.
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Sam, I thought you would probably say that there isn't much more you would want to buy. The Hiawatha car looks great! I think that is good to have vehicles for functionality, not just for fun. Besides, if you are like me, once I got into the Corvette, I would have a hard time getting back out!
Nice museum layout in Switzerland.
That is nice, Sam! Thank you!
Some engine updates and prep for Saturday's operating session.
Back around 2015, I purchased two of the BLI GN S-2 4-8-4 hybrids and both stopped smoking. It appeared to be the smoke unit circuit board so I bought two from BLI (only 36 bucks for both, including shipping).
Installed them and the smoke, is now, working fine.
In the past, I must of added some lead weight to the engine's lead trucks.
All's 'well'.
Testing the mainline before the railroaders arrive on Saturday. For a 'quick' test I like to use the Bachmann's GG-1 as it runs 99 SMPH so the test is quick. The engine was, periodically, stopping. Checked the wheels and the lead trucks were pretty dirty. Unusual in that these trucks are a primary electrical 'pickup'. Cleaned them and the engine ran fine but then the engine was stopping along about 30' of the mainline. Checked the track and it was, literally, filthy. Used a 'bright boy' to clean that section of track since it was accessible.
Figure I'd better clean all the track so got out my track cleaner cars. These are old Ulrich (I believe) track cleaners from the 70's. They have dense fibrous material for cleaning the track. About every 40' or where I can get access to the cars, I just clean and soak the fibrous material in enamel reducer and it does a pretty good job of cleaning the track. It's, probably, been a year since any track was cleaned.
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Some engine repair and the monthly operation session.
UP turbine veranda by MTH.
This engine had one powered truck that was binding. I took it apart and went 'step by step' from the motor to the tower to the gears to the wheels; of course it was the wheels, being the last item I checked!
The last geared wheel I checked was the problem. Found a 'hair line' crack in the gear which caused two teeth to be a 'hair' wider and caused a small binding, once per wheel rotation.
First I thought I'd just reverse the wheel so it's not engaged but the retaining plate didn't have a recess on that side so that didn't work.
Since the gear has a 'sleeve' I decide to rummage around my RC airplane parts of which I have lots of different size metal tubing. I found one that is a little tight fitting over the gear sleeve.
Final install. The metal tubing closed up the 'hair line' crack.
After a 'road test' on the mainline, it seems to work. Still, I went to MTH's service site and ordered 4 sets of new wheels. Hopefully, they have them since this engine was made in 2010. Figure I'd better get one for each geared wheel for future use! Initially, I had trouble removing the wheel retaining plate held on by two screws. Turns out the hot/ground wires were connected to the two side brass contacts and the wires were very short. I unsoldered them and left them off as: 1) easier to remove/replace the retaining plate and 2) each set of the 4 trucks had metal contacts which was way more than needed.
GNRW operating session.
Before the 'crew' arrived, I put some more 'motive power' in the St. Paul yard. I just installed a new smoke unit in the GN S-2 4-8-4 and it was making perfect smoke rings.
The usual: pizza first. Those of us started eating before the rest of the guys 'showed up'.
Bob did a ore drag with the DM&IR S-7 0-10-2 that I just finished painting, installing LED's and a TCS 1517 decoder.
Ore cars pulled off the ore dock and moved to a departing yard track. Bob backing the S-7 to his train.
Skykomish.
Dave backing the new N&W Y-6B 2-8-8-2 by BLI onto the turntable.
Alan's B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 passenger train bypassing the freight yard.
Alan.
Dave's Y-6B at the engine servicing area.
Fortunately, for me, Joe takes care of the dispatching.
Bob's N&W J 4-8-4 passenger train at Marias pass.
Alan's B&O EM-1 at Wilmar while John's Erie triplex freight drag is at Marias pass.
Bob's N&W J at Waverly while Bob's DM&IR S-7 is at Tumwater canyon trestle.
DM&IR ore drag.
DM&IR taking water at Tye.
Dave's N&W Y-6B at Glacier waiting for the slow ore drag to pass which took awhile since that train only runs about 20 SMPH and had to pass through 2 blocks.
Bob's ore drag departing Tye.
John's Erie Triplex freight drag at Marias pass.
N&W Y-6B at the watering hole at Wilmar.
John's Erie triplex at Chumstick canyon trestle while dave's N&W Y-6B is at St. Paul.
Bob delivering ore cars at the 'dock'.
John's Erie triplex arriving at St. Paul's freight yard. Freight cars just dropped off and engine going to the escape track to the roundhouse.
St. Paul's freight yard.
John putting the incoming freight cars into the yard.
Bob's PRR centipede passenger train at Tumwater canyon trestle.
PRR centipedes at Chumstick canyon trestle.
Final break with orange creamsicles and 'important' post operating discussions!
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Bellevue, Ohio rail yard; Surprised a roundhouse still 'stands'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R52KFTZpwTE
Queensgate; Cincinnati, Ohio yard:
Nice video of passenger trains;
SF super chief (F's, PA's, E1's), old trollies, vintage 40's & 50's cars, SP, turntable for trollies, UP, Zephyr, WP, D&RGW, Moffat tunnel, Burlington.
Checking out the 12" to the foot 'layouts'.
Hamilton, Ohio.
Happened to come across an article from 2019 saying CSX wanted to tear down the Hamilton, Ohio passenger station and Hamilton wanted to save it. Figure I'd better get some pictures as I thought, with the pandemic and municipalities being short of 'funds', any move was not going to happen.
While Joe and I was there, CSX and a moving company was checking out the building.
CSX guy and Joe.
The company who may be doing the 'moving'.
With no basement I inquired how he would move the building. He said they would knock holes along the foundation and slide the beams in the holes so the first couple feet of bricks would not be moved, intact. He said the two buildings would be moved separately and the low short section would not be moved. He wouldn't give an exact figure but sounded like about a $250,000 job. Wished I would have asked the CSX guy, wouldn't be easier to just sell the property and building to Middletown for a buck and not move the building.
Track side of the building.
Not moving it far as they said the building would be move to the other side of the street where the 'signs' are (in front of the green truck). Looking North.
Looking South.
The CSX guy said there was a CSX maintenance office farther North along 127 so we went up there.
Just as we got there a train stopped at the 'office', a guy got out and walked over to the office. Seems strange to see a Canadian Pacific engine on the 'road'.
The office and property.
Yard 'stuff'.
Miscellaneous track 'stuff' in concrete dividers.
Next we headed up to Middletown to check out their passenger station. It's in very good shape. The door says 'gift shop'. It wasn't open and not sure if it, ever, is! Wished I, also, would have asked the CSX guy if this station belongs to CSX or Middletown! Having a 'gift shop' on premise, I'm guessing it belongs to Middletown.
Track side.
Looking North.
A short 6 car train.
Next morning: not often we get snow on April 21 in Cincinnati, Ohio! It was 29 this morning.
So much for stats:
For April in Cincinnati, Ohio:
Daily high temperatures increase by 10°F, from 60°F to 70°F, rarely falling below 46°F or exceeding 82°F.
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