tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68664403605913708252024-03-06T22:34:31.103-05:00Randy's Layout BlogA site to chronicle my research, construction, and operation of my HO scale layout of New Britain Ct circa 1946-1954 and related subjects.Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691379750144833461noreply@blogger.comBlogger496125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-49055787143491309802023-09-03T20:18:00.000-04:002023-09-03T20:18:02.143-04:00John Greene of Bethlehem Car Works<p> When I got back from vacation a few days ago there was an unexpected package in the mail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcSSZ2H9VpbthZ1S9is9mdtgZMu9GYLQF2kbtU27CytzVh59JEvEGv04hnV-WsPa2pg6GK68GUg8AxtBa3NenfDm1eg-bloYLEmS6GF2Po4Wr-827pqBogyxWCXuClRIXcj_AKBGsrryleA5U1vMnJ-zPUmhQu428_pKGgahXctxPRUQrA67Di9xCIN3V/s4032/IMG_0390.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcSSZ2H9VpbthZ1S9is9mdtgZMu9GYLQF2kbtU27CytzVh59JEvEGv04hnV-WsPa2pg6GK68GUg8AxtBa3NenfDm1eg-bloYLEmS6GF2Po4Wr-827pqBogyxWCXuClRIXcj_AKBGsrryleA5U1vMnJ-zPUmhQu428_pKGgahXctxPRUQrA67Di9xCIN3V/w300-h400/IMG_0390.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>These trucks are in preparation for a new kit of the NH lightweight grill cars. The original CAD/castings that somebody else had provided had a lot of issues, so I provided feedback, info, diagrams, and brass and Rapido car sides. The new versions looked much better.</p><p>The trucks he's asking about are the three versions Chris and I produced for the NH De Luxe heavyweight coaches, smokers, and combines. We have a new version that we'll have available soon to address issues with the first attempt (free replacements will be available to those who purchased the earlier version).</p><p>Sadly, the next day I learned that John has passed away. I'm not surprised, the last time I saw him his health had deteriorated, but I had hoped it was just an illness. He was always great fun to be around, and I was happy to be able to call him a friend in this great hobby for over a decade.</p><p>Before folks ask, I don't know what will happen to Bethlehem Car Works (including the grill car kit). He had announced that he was selling the company, but I don't think that had gone anywhere yet. For modelers of transition era passenger trains, his many heavyweight kits in particular are still greatly needed.</p><p>Chris and I will continue to work on our own releases, including the New Haven heavyweights we have planned. That will take time, as Chris is a new Dad, but they will come in time. I still need them!</p><p>In any event, I'm sure John is somewhere enjoying a ride in a heavyweight parlor car somewhere. Ride in peace, John.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Here's a <a href="https://www.suessfuneralhome.net/obituary/john-greene?fbclid=IwAR1LY8HvwWHG16v3SAwEpmWIlPMrTvTmaGIxt73S2AF1HcLRpvH-dhr-Dtc" target="_blank">link to his obituary</a> (23 grandchildren!)</p><p><br /></p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-14820886595593756712023-07-26T00:09:00.002-04:002023-07-26T00:09:00.158-04:00NH DEY-3 (ALCo S-1) Part III: Shutter Control and Water Fill<p>Continuing with the DEY-3 models. Units 0971 and later were delivered with automatic shutter controls, while the earlier units had manual shutter controls. The Proto 2000 model comes with parts for the manual shutter controls. It's a small plastic part that mounts near the fan housing, and a long pipe that goes to the cab. There are starter holes inside the hood to drill out for this part. I didn't have a drill bit long enough so <a href="http://www.thevalleylocal.net" target="_blank">Chris</a> drilled them out for me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd11j8j0UifAWCbtSgsXUK7igH-PWV5nFcOgoLNudMaPeFeOzPaapj0wlOwp-Ymcz1t6MMokMKsg7BKjyvayMgIcfezVrzRSD3eCaqbQLRinwcWdsAS1Kc7wR8-6WNQnPXMRm3XtnLygBRzAvbbsrntW2k874poe8vIOPF8EHN-Ou2fxzX7_cv72l8_VY/s2175/IMG_0185.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2175" data-original-width="2121" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd11j8j0UifAWCbtSgsXUK7igH-PWV5nFcOgoLNudMaPeFeOzPaapj0wlOwp-Ymcz1t6MMokMKsg7BKjyvayMgIcfezVrzRSD3eCaqbQLRinwcWdsAS1Kc7wR8-6WNQnPXMRm3XtnLygBRzAvbbsrntW2k874poe8vIOPF8EHN-Ou2fxzX7_cv72l8_VY/w390-h400/IMG_0185.jpeg" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Precision Scale no. 3321 Hancock vertical check valve looked like a decent match to the small motor mounted on the fan housing with the automatic shutter control. On many roads there's a small rectangular box, which is simply protecting this motor. It would have been easier to model.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJQnd5eyQvzjxLfTYx5GPtgkZWALzPRnkrFtZVulneYx7fMkvMK3McWyWKSlc3BQCVFGC5ffm0Zeo_EsQZ4qLbb7gPkHVb7RFiBjtTpQnBnV7lJd69XTC1X0bUqXPU4FAdrGHbweW0vyBQ9B6llUSlmAh8Cv6vBtIF7Ers9KRWqn5jfn7RQ6fjvxN_oQ/s3696/IMG_0179.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3696" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJQnd5eyQvzjxLfTYx5GPtgkZWALzPRnkrFtZVulneYx7fMkvMK3McWyWKSlc3BQCVFGC5ffm0Zeo_EsQZ4qLbb7gPkHVb7RFiBjtTpQnBnV7lJd69XTC1X0bUqXPU4FAdrGHbweW0vyBQ9B6llUSlmAh8Cv6vBtIF7Ers9KRWqn5jfn7RQ6fjvxN_oQ/w328-h400/IMG_0179.jpeg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To start, I drilled a hole at an angle where I wanted to mount it. I also cut off the small round extension on one end and filed it flat, and filed away the mounting bracket that is around the post. I've been using these tungsten bits a lot and find that the large diameter shaft works well as a handle and often just use them manually like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MlZmgjdYekR9VcMplOAdGGqMiaNyb_hRWVtfx7gmoIw5gjuZFXIky7ODZhkbkiaj3xRDfyrO0E0RXff6q6yrvGI9ZBaRfNRivoAoAiYZXL6Wpv_VADVJCg801cHDYUmS07GJ0HC_u7a1wjLH_jleYuwG6WWV7OlBVlRH_PqlHdCSf71EpKEyKB6x-8Y/s2729/IMG_0177.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="2729" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MlZmgjdYekR9VcMplOAdGGqMiaNyb_hRWVtfx7gmoIw5gjuZFXIky7ODZhkbkiaj3xRDfyrO0E0RXff6q6yrvGI9ZBaRfNRivoAoAiYZXL6Wpv_VADVJCg801cHDYUmS07GJ0HC_u7a1wjLH_jleYuwG6WWV7OlBVlRH_PqlHdCSf71EpKEyKB6x-8Y/w400-h198/IMG_0177.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While working on this part, I also drilled and cut out the plastic around the fan so it will be open for the speaker. Once I mounted the part, I soldered one strand from a 32 AWG stranded wire as the conduit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEvEGA9ebBomeUMc3VERppIPW4n1uAAl4qJe-Y1s6VRyrVwotO0o9QzmfkxWK4_8YLNnFgsoIdTgh-i1dD8YnQnZyIpm3LCszzZNVXcTR-200VHbqk0dZFykTDrmvjF2zm9u0_pQVIrEqzTCbZ5PXEfAAoU8fEpLzaAvQQAbdGp5GKYCJ9KTY5WOZh-s/s2959/IMG_0181.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2110" data-original-width="2959" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEvEGA9ebBomeUMc3VERppIPW4n1uAAl4qJe-Y1s6VRyrVwotO0o9QzmfkxWK4_8YLNnFgsoIdTgh-i1dD8YnQnZyIpm3LCszzZNVXcTR-200VHbqk0dZFykTDrmvjF2zm9u0_pQVIrEqzTCbZ5PXEfAAoU8fEpLzaAvQQAbdGp5GKYCJ9KTY5WOZh-s/w400-h285/IMG_0181.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I drilled the hole for the other end based on a photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn0I9WzCLSPwKRxaP2wap2qNX_p6urd-xGLzlLu4wJt9jK4eOwDU84E2wKy-Y25qbAgurw3K4BorU7U5Y5zCCbkJw9-wa3MrvcmXM9EPcWDNdWVt2zzdoYHEUPVEqm1LvViNDGadRfbYXebZuchXa44S7ynFusKI51zUrfsIRfIqqbOM0kI1mQogz3jE/s2661/IMG_0182.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1745" data-original-width="2661" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn0I9WzCLSPwKRxaP2wap2qNX_p6urd-xGLzlLu4wJt9jK4eOwDU84E2wKy-Y25qbAgurw3K4BorU7U5Y5zCCbkJw9-wa3MrvcmXM9EPcWDNdWVt2zzdoYHEUPVEqm1LvViNDGadRfbYXebZuchXa44S7ynFusKI51zUrfsIRfIqqbOM0kI1mQogz3jE/s320/IMG_0182.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirF7bJWJ2cPzWDctqaGxmvCQSbMdwB0cFw8F282O5e0jfKZa993ubMY0tpt1ICZPDdLelwLGnYlnZ1pyMG1nJmWLenDyncML4b_Rb5VaPyNWRVb7Qp73rBJSgP0NizMW3_1fyaa5TDZLR-7xDMo6-OTQmQ8Gy2bBg3iaf005AAttI45kub4lqoVkwepeo/s2044/IMG_0183.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2044" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirF7bJWJ2cPzWDctqaGxmvCQSbMdwB0cFw8F282O5e0jfKZa993ubMY0tpt1ICZPDdLelwLGnYlnZ1pyMG1nJmWLenDyncML4b_Rb5VaPyNWRVb7Qp73rBJSgP0NizMW3_1fyaa5TDZLR-7xDMo6-OTQmQ8Gy2bBg3iaf005AAttI45kub4lqoVkwepeo/s320/IMG_0183.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Many earlier units received automatic shutters as well. This motor is on all of them. Some of them received the new radiator shutters, while others retained the original shutters when converted. Not all of the S-1s received the automatic shutter systems, so I'd recommend modeling from photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There's also a small water fill pipe missing on the model. I made one by using a piece of 1/64" styrene rod and gluing a piece of 0.035" styrene rod centered on the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXjw9YfOdBAqpLr8Kv5PNQu6jOt1xZcUdDTM5nD6Ymg8LaNDDCzMviwOk6VVgnG1BKVxZKytH5Z1eREeBwprKMgbHMBOXbnv9FvfvxozNdDfdTqvu_z1DUierLdUeQCVLEsxckTymEJo9RN9TG_aTdy2IOHbBUfx_HaAovBz3uLu1byO_6NlhjfK6VMc/s2648/IMG_0186.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2648" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXjw9YfOdBAqpLr8Kv5PNQu6jOt1xZcUdDTM5nD6Ymg8LaNDDCzMviwOk6VVgnG1BKVxZKytH5Z1eREeBwprKMgbHMBOXbnv9FvfvxozNdDfdTqvu_z1DUierLdUeQCVLEsxckTymEJo9RN9TG_aTdy2IOHbBUfx_HaAovBz3uLu1byO_6NlhjfK6VMc/w400-h233/IMG_0186.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I cut the larger rod to a thickness that looked good, then glued a second piece of the smaller rod on the other end.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHDac8T0iIL8gq0Lby0E3py1K3XzJVVkVsp9cte5BJEcLTX331uaP1Dj1Q5bVQiRvpRkWK1ukWtMtrKNbpYHGUlGPgyZslI3pFCixqdXaKtolnSR46YmmAGV2ryI-pMmRSz6vhjgBXX6v33OxALzzfp9UP3JPsR58ZEfCm7NVVAqmVrAE4thmKrv4xWA/s2897/IMG_0187.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2897" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHDac8T0iIL8gq0Lby0E3py1K3XzJVVkVsp9cte5BJEcLTX331uaP1Dj1Q5bVQiRvpRkWK1ukWtMtrKNbpYHGUlGPgyZslI3pFCixqdXaKtolnSR46YmmAGV2ryI-pMmRSz6vhjgBXX6v33OxALzzfp9UP3JPsR58ZEfCm7NVVAqmVrAE4thmKrv4xWA/w400-h185/IMG_0187.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I drilled a hole in the model on the center line roughly halfway between the fan housing and the first panel seam to insert the part.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uMIPCTLQj0E6uCixe55LDJRK4PgtwQUk0vLlLJNGRi8b-5f6cCcn1DfIYcdL2dhzzV4mG_wi6px1AL0ntDy71E9_ZvZReC9Fx68OwOpaBH-LYQeenyjzf2vVpWz0ObFp-r2cTaKe_wQsyAMs_kEJuHrhtWW_Umz4EgmHcwgZMHQAGMG13Uk2di4SEbw/s3827/IMG_0188.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2870" data-original-width="3827" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uMIPCTLQj0E6uCixe55LDJRK4PgtwQUk0vLlLJNGRi8b-5f6cCcn1DfIYcdL2dhzzV4mG_wi6px1AL0ntDy71E9_ZvZReC9Fx68OwOpaBH-LYQeenyjzf2vVpWz0ObFp-r2cTaKe_wQsyAMs_kEJuHrhtWW_Umz4EgmHcwgZMHQAGMG13Uk2di4SEbw/w400-h300/IMG_0188.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then I trimmed off the top and filed it until I liked the dimension.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ58fPk8ImsfCmlOmtft7Ex7AIIwFZ0o-QyE7Doo5WQAmZDY602Ue9zXMWRRVdZqTd9WH-0F-ytE_0qFa6v9nY6K1nL6KRXpojFuu31p7b2nV4cSR1rkq8fIcEPqFmWwujGFh0QcC6Cyq7__sbRUhoMv3Y9MvmGzDmwAp9N5F4dx5yPZmpvq5Lza3b2A/s3878/IMG_0189.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2908" data-original-width="3878" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ58fPk8ImsfCmlOmtft7Ex7AIIwFZ0o-QyE7Doo5WQAmZDY602Ue9zXMWRRVdZqTd9WH-0F-ytE_0qFa6v9nY6K1nL6KRXpojFuu31p7b2nV4cSR1rkq8fIcEPqFmWwujGFh0QcC6Cyq7__sbRUhoMv3Y9MvmGzDmwAp9N5F4dx5yPZmpvq5Lza3b2A/w400-h300/IMG_0189.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also decided I'd rather glue on the fan shutters before painting, so I removed the fan altogether so I wouldn't have to worry about how to mask that. I'll install it after the unit is painted. I also need to figure out what to use for the fan for the other unit, since it started with the round fan housing and I drilled that one out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTjP-9GJNWIPAdGD7ViVm929r5Rvtrg-l8dvNAXsEQrEC2Y4-peKjvhQcsm_80nnzXPCKxhb4kbTYvySwyG0Bp4Pk_LaClNVJQMYcguPr0WbzuFqNEtZ7_OkHAoK11qPJTmf5h7Xv0uIz_GeQVSv1oMIpgXR1l-i-q5xkZJ8SZ2_25V7tLe_cN_xpcbo/s4032/IMG_0190.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTjP-9GJNWIPAdGD7ViVm929r5Rvtrg-l8dvNAXsEQrEC2Y4-peKjvhQcsm_80nnzXPCKxhb4kbTYvySwyG0Bp4Pk_LaClNVJQMYcguPr0WbzuFqNEtZ7_OkHAoK11qPJTmf5h7Xv0uIz_GeQVSv1oMIpgXR1l-i-q5xkZJ8SZ2_25V7tLe_cN_xpcbo/w400-h300/IMG_0190.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's how the shutters and shutter actuation systems look on the two units. They've been primed with Badger Stynylrez primer, which I am finding that I love. It's very easy to work with, and appears to be a perfect base coat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71eDe8eX2mUJfQ9GgnojwkMG_xgiFdq3svLFZDR074AOJ9Qlf8hJLH5l_lRNhpBtrtflS5E3C5c1V-4y-toBcpOJUbBHZjagPc-15z1kEyJ3ASsm_GXiq5plJP-3oNESSkXOS34q6wpoU2UjVSYWyF2u8lxg-CReLooCCWn-nz4TfDsi8ycvGJxSjeDg/s3590/IMG_0191.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2467" data-original-width="3590" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71eDe8eX2mUJfQ9GgnojwkMG_xgiFdq3svLFZDR074AOJ9Qlf8hJLH5l_lRNhpBtrtflS5E3C5c1V-4y-toBcpOJUbBHZjagPc-15z1kEyJ3ASsm_GXiq5plJP-3oNESSkXOS34q6wpoU2UjVSYWyF2u8lxg-CReLooCCWn-nz4TfDsi8ycvGJxSjeDg/w400-h275/IMG_0191.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691379750144833461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-33669408606851720612023-07-19T22:06:00.028-04:002023-07-19T22:06:00.139-04:00NH DEY-3 (ALCo S-1) Part II: Shutters and Whistle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a while since I've been working on the DEY-3 (S-1) locomotives, but Mike Redden brought the new one-piece cabs he's 3D printing at home, instead of the flat kit he has available at Shapeways. In addition he now has the proper fan shutters and the low-profile radiator shutters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm working on two units for HDX-5, nos. 0967 and 0994 for different years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are two versions of the Proto 2000 S-1, here's the one with the square fan housing. It comes with an etched fan grate, but unfortunately it should be shutters like an RS-1. Also note the radiator shutters, with 11 wide shutters and how they protrude a couple of inches from the hood. This was a later style of shutters, automatically operated. On the New Haven, this style was on the post-war DEY-3 locomotives, starting with no. 0971.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhmNgd5W_i1l4SqOyA5bf9SZZTk90Ubk1Hjxa1EuSLHuqWimiwAs4bDpgJm_4xCYFF93huytW1v8Yn0NxNj1CaCL7FYn8AKiL-b2E2eSmsbMHUeLxoBf_kAnJ7luh5FYmpf6bpSdvKCHavWsvkgnKq5RvASFvTwwcXRej_mLoO9DLQO6uJ9q9m7Niilw/s4032/IMG_0093.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhmNgd5W_i1l4SqOyA5bf9SZZTk90Ubk1Hjxa1EuSLHuqWimiwAs4bDpgJm_4xCYFF93huytW1v8Yn0NxNj1CaCL7FYn8AKiL-b2E2eSmsbMHUeLxoBf_kAnJ7luh5FYmpf6bpSdvKCHavWsvkgnKq5RvASFvTwwcXRej_mLoO9DLQO6uJ9q9m7Niilw/w400-h300/IMG_0093.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chris started a chat with our CAD buddies Chris Zygmunt and Mike Redden last year to produce the correct cooling fan shutters. Mike has them available now, designed to fit the Proto 2000 models. I was able to provide photos and measurements from an RS-1 shutter, which are identical.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm not using a walk-over grate. Based on photos, it appears that the New Haven didn't install these until c1954 with the introduction of the "full balloon" paint scheme. Although there are a few photos in other schemes with them, all of the dated ones are 1954 or later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One photo of 0943 in Hartford has the narrow walk-over grate and it's still in the Pullman Green delivery scheme. Its next documented repaint was April, 1954 in the "full balloon" scheme, and was obviously prior to 1943. But I haven't documented any others, and also not with the narrow grate. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfUTJE6UVkjz9HIsZrXbp7yAc_XOy55NP7lGzHVS-79csvxgC02xwsBEtd4ckW0HvAVqLSSmWy2_So5t5K_D2iohf2DcPYhL_U8OOfYVzwUfJ9vA5G2NuFJkNqV3Ek2xgF9jvmfhqe1DLrMRSAYjlfpded_3ao5glriWE8YGtIeWsO8mOUqcXUg9F6xw/s4032/IMG_0073.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfUTJE6UVkjz9HIsZrXbp7yAc_XOy55NP7lGzHVS-79csvxgC02xwsBEtd4ckW0HvAVqLSSmWy2_So5t5K_D2iohf2DcPYhL_U8OOfYVzwUfJ9vA5G2NuFJkNqV3Ek2xgF9jvmfhqe1DLrMRSAYjlfpded_3ao5glriWE8YGtIeWsO8mOUqcXUg9F6xw/w400-h300/IMG_0073.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a see-through part with the shutters partially open, which is great because I've mounted the speaker up front. This is mounted on the second version of the Proto model. I drilled out the top and scratch built the square housing to the same dimensions as the other model. Why? Because that version of the model has flush-mounted radiator shutters. Unfortunately, it still has the 11 wide shutters, instead of the 24 narrow shutters on the prototype. Now that Mike has made the correct ones, I'll replace them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33DfYxskphhEXQZrKscxZlqUDLkmrJCD-oa8wQ6Yr9AqT0W9L-RM7H5mTwecfoWvd-V5wZUI77EIrTEqjOxAjoqBM8Tlh5mwynU_zjbeQEjFSPvvzPraEEFQzVtfcht4HnhiCeqeJ5qjD04zN1A1lw8HZoD8JZ6BkdiUgLmGJGmO56VfZIAs-gmtwocw/s4032/IMG_0070.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33DfYxskphhEXQZrKscxZlqUDLkmrJCD-oa8wQ6Yr9AqT0W9L-RM7H5mTwecfoWvd-V5wZUI77EIrTEqjOxAjoqBM8Tlh5mwynU_zjbeQEjFSPvvzPraEEFQzVtfcht4HnhiCeqeJ5qjD04zN1A1lw8HZoD8JZ6BkdiUgLmGJGmO56VfZIAs-gmtwocw/w300-h400/IMG_0070.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To do that I just drilled a bunch of holes, then cut and filed away the old shutters so I could replace them with the new ones. Mike's part installs from the outside, and the flange covers hides the seam, so it doesn't have to be perfect. Here are a couple of pictures with the new fan and radiator shutters. This will be no. 0967.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2wHFPlm63LXnGimUMhGI-9_OjPxCejUNl72_zn3JtxlT-IjeFoW0iyWdNl1qrCZzjEqL_L8QsSiEq6Q8UQmkLBNkMTWsGdBqi4l06Cm-pLFItmRiznqCA4jSJElNzmvtLTXDKndFeoQS5uuNGU96jedspCmhMudXmogmV4S8L2VN4kbcZ1T8oA4ObF0/s4032/IMG_0071.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2wHFPlm63LXnGimUMhGI-9_OjPxCejUNl72_zn3JtxlT-IjeFoW0iyWdNl1qrCZzjEqL_L8QsSiEq6Q8UQmkLBNkMTWsGdBqi4l06Cm-pLFItmRiznqCA4jSJElNzmvtLTXDKndFeoQS5uuNGU96jedspCmhMudXmogmV4S8L2VN4kbcZ1T8oA4ObF0/w400-h300/IMG_0071.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OEH0XSZKMG7HQb6CUOZ3tIPqiNFUPUaimK1itwho2epwGvaja_De9YKBRCO63FhvdnY5I8fU9YnAxi2170Pl7zx65kMtE2G4XeK4-esVz7S23jEv8dv4F3uQZMlstggH6izyTixJ-qSVYW3kqos6DH5QRNdjbEpbTv3bacJZ8ZaW2i6guEzmy3_Zcu0/s4032/IMG_0072.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OEH0XSZKMG7HQb6CUOZ3tIPqiNFUPUaimK1itwho2epwGvaja_De9YKBRCO63FhvdnY5I8fU9YnAxi2170Pl7zx65kMtE2G4XeK4-esVz7S23jEv8dv4F3uQZMlstggH6izyTixJ-qSVYW3kqos6DH5QRNdjbEpbTv3bacJZ8ZaW2i6guEzmy3_Zcu0/w400-h300/IMG_0072.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here's a shot of Mike's one-piece cab with the low-profile New Haven roof. I've also shortened the stack to the same height. The bell has been removed (it's mounted under the frame) and the New Haven used a 3-chime whistle instead of a horn.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZnIbeBeF_B8wSuYln_OXiFwaUJwW9mIUKYRA__7j_s_HnCBRcugzIDBfG8jLifNH2t12wReJ0N2bUX3rpPQ505US2AOWdL8vPQVrjx9IQMd8_b_VGP-0aJwZcTymomvhKqK2YJ6X4NDwBz1RJIuNpBV-mGY8BYoPk_GwS0M72qcyBPgq_Y_vTkoawEQ/s4032/IMG_0074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZnIbeBeF_B8wSuYln_OXiFwaUJwW9mIUKYRA__7j_s_HnCBRcugzIDBfG8jLifNH2t12wReJ0N2bUX3rpPQ505US2AOWdL8vPQVrjx9IQMd8_b_VGP-0aJwZcTymomvhKqK2YJ6X4NDwBz1RJIuNpBV-mGY8BYoPk_GwS0M72qcyBPgq_Y_vTkoawEQ/w400-h300/IMG_0074.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm using a Custom Finishing no. 103 whistle, as it's based on the NH prototypes. It's slightly large/tall, but their shorter whistle is based on a NYC single chime prototype. I'm also using one of the pipes with an elbow from the Precision Scale no. 4839. It's marketed as O-scale parts, but will work well for this. The Precision Scale no. 3321 Hancock vertical check valve (a part that's no longer produced) will be used in the next post...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJQnd5eyQvzjxLfTYx5GPtgkZWALzPRnkrFtZVulneYx7fMkvMK3McWyWKSlc3BQCVFGC5ffm0Zeo_EsQZ4qLbb7gPkHVb7RFiBjtTpQnBnV7lJd69XTC1X0bUqXPU4FAdrGHbweW0vyBQ9B6llUSlmAh8Cv6vBtIF7Ers9KRWqn5jfn7RQ6fjvxN_oQ/s3696/IMG_0179.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3696" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJQnd5eyQvzjxLfTYx5GPtgkZWALzPRnkrFtZVulneYx7fMkvMK3McWyWKSlc3BQCVFGC5ffm0Zeo_EsQZ4qLbb7gPkHVb7RFiBjtTpQnBnV7lJd69XTC1X0bUqXPU4FAdrGHbweW0vyBQ9B6llUSlmAh8Cv6vBtIF7Ers9KRWqn5jfn7RQ6fjvxN_oQ/w328-h400/IMG_0179.jpeg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pipe has an elbow that is already cored. I shortened the post on the whistle and soldered them together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBr-L19AughAk1GZQR14aV-QWCfkxtUd4Ab-u9dPFtXvKQNEzoSWgTl9IUsIW2OAl1mZ-UY3SyTrCjk49GR2hq_zV0dBY21TLqkaO8qKgQG5mP2BUAYcgGflPT0nEZwOpzhuhBlvb_gJXDei_ilush7Cy3W9-MANjU17fNr2F-7y3x117HFP7radXZFXA/s1890/IMG_0180.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="1890" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBr-L19AughAk1GZQR14aV-QWCfkxtUd4Ab-u9dPFtXvKQNEzoSWgTl9IUsIW2OAl1mZ-UY3SyTrCjk49GR2hq_zV0dBY21TLqkaO8qKgQG5mP2BUAYcgGflPT0nEZwOpzhuhBlvb_gJXDei_ilush7Cy3W9-MANjU17fNr2F-7y3x117HFP7radXZFXA/w400-h314/IMG_0180.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although probably large, I used a strip of 1"x8" styrene because it was wide enough to drill for a Cal Scale no. 512 U-bolt to attach the whistle in the same way the New Haven did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVlwvMEI6g1lHB8QDXTl2tYLHCpjI3jDgfTK1P4doJBpMi6lGrhH-xPirlGXZjTrMxjfce7oZLqLZltSYEr2bkvpH1DDIz9oOb62IXnFdsuA77qZsN9bbYAOZMuHCJvHou6xDJKi0QrJD7-JrK9glkqoMt7efhOoCpoIdyFTDzY0Sr7FnWZrFZTPgdis/s3363/IMG_0184.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3363" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVlwvMEI6g1lHB8QDXTl2tYLHCpjI3jDgfTK1P4doJBpMi6lGrhH-xPirlGXZjTrMxjfce7oZLqLZltSYEr2bkvpH1DDIz9oOb62IXnFdsuA77qZsN9bbYAOZMuHCJvHou6xDJKi0QrJD7-JrK9glkqoMt7efhOoCpoIdyFTDzY0Sr7FnWZrFZTPgdis/w360-h400/IMG_0184.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I scored a second piece of 1"x 8" styrene so I could bend it to make a handle for the other part of the whistle bracket.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OypWolodloZoc9YTSTzmf_KXad_uxPCyjFGwBNL9h_4ITEvNRYHElHQazzcmBKsvdvZ7Da-OrPxbikciPaPIVmIt5dR1QyKjhNXWQqnXJfy9faBGdyFDdLWlesxO8U0g7BdHHxoCmsGriKfKBEVBrJS9NahBzrQSCQGQ66vokT3fZ2ose8H4JxdAKg0/s4032/IMG_0075.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OypWolodloZoc9YTSTzmf_KXad_uxPCyjFGwBNL9h_4ITEvNRYHElHQazzcmBKsvdvZ7Da-OrPxbikciPaPIVmIt5dR1QyKjhNXWQqnXJfy9faBGdyFDdLWlesxO8U0g7BdHHxoCmsGriKfKBEVBrJS9NahBzrQSCQGQ66vokT3fZ2ose8H4JxdAKg0/w300-h400/IMG_0075.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You can see how I'm installing it here using styrene cement, and a picture of the prototype behind it. On no. 0967 it's mounted about a foot forward of the cab roof.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO0O0lzfkw_czF9c8BLyl6Z4enuOJtRKxnQCUay52BHn9jjn92I5SEvEeywVI224_47VzoX4pTTkmmhR6c6xBrlZ3eVOs5XlKIjqQx1tdHiEy2EaxldsnvnjesmXzeIJxfTVA8UaYFrSXpA3a1ug1M-zh_q4k_IvYr1eILi5Plm8iIXQbCsE54FJUWkw/s4032/IMG_0076.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO0O0lzfkw_czF9c8BLyl6Z4enuOJtRKxnQCUay52BHn9jjn92I5SEvEeywVI224_47VzoX4pTTkmmhR6c6xBrlZ3eVOs5XlKIjqQx1tdHiEy2EaxldsnvnjesmXzeIJxfTVA8UaYFrSXpA3a1ug1M-zh_q4k_IvYr1eILi5Plm8iIXQbCsE54FJUWkw/w400-h300/IMG_0076.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82i-tvq3zJXTlFRJr0B3FobFSQRYN4BueWkpOnx6HDZ8qTy8YQie4zWYX1xQTtIybgCMqztyT16PSMb81-Nu96pDQoB2G0t73pkhylJY5AAhJVAYnQa5uQmles5GYRzf9rIi8tX970X7qLbyRBnJ0PIfA3djtwsKKfwmv0K1rAE4uSqQ4srOhOb7g1MI/s4032/IMG_0077.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82i-tvq3zJXTlFRJr0B3FobFSQRYN4BueWkpOnx6HDZ8qTy8YQie4zWYX1xQTtIybgCMqztyT16PSMb81-Nu96pDQoB2G0t73pkhylJY5AAhJVAYnQa5uQmles5GYRzf9rIi8tX970X7qLbyRBnJ0PIfA3djtwsKKfwmv0K1rAE4uSqQ4srOhOb7g1MI/w400-h300/IMG_0077.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFhwFo8_QQLjBgonv4tiMCtHDG2R9YddR0ozbrOyuwWZ5pgj41nXN9Eo7tNCCa-CxtvrM8wt35xTuuMx_OxYWycAoDM5ROa62gDEk684GCNqoO7Xgb0suUk0ZH3OUOWW_WiDfh1ZhcDwNARYOdOpEe_0zD3MBm2e8AebEOTxJ7HvOhFaubaxNntdytBo/s4032/IMG_0078.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFhwFo8_QQLjBgonv4tiMCtHDG2R9YddR0ozbrOyuwWZ5pgj41nXN9Eo7tNCCa-CxtvrM8wt35xTuuMx_OxYWycAoDM5ROa62gDEk684GCNqoO7Xgb0suUk0ZH3OUOWW_WiDfh1ZhcDwNARYOdOpEe_0zD3MBm2e8AebEOTxJ7HvOhFaubaxNntdytBo/w400-h300/IMG_0078.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the second unit, no. 0994, it is mounted about three feet forward. you can see the difference in spacing between the two below:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cVXbL792Q4zLwQ2jgHROkTEtWIOtTBhKkyL77vfVMUTJOFQQ3LQajNTrKmxlTfvQAS0eGbmkIQ6FP_ONG5v5nzNclMYA6tHr4aJSbRDh_z-JWAkAlLxnSvY1WZOZim-F34ArFAUVp54hjLtoebhFapmzWyHXOn1XBK7lydfDdeZJ68gQ5qqZ-OIIQAE/s4032/IMG_0192.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2295" data-original-width="4032" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cVXbL792Q4zLwQ2jgHROkTEtWIOtTBhKkyL77vfVMUTJOFQQ3LQajNTrKmxlTfvQAS0eGbmkIQ6FP_ONG5v5nzNclMYA6tHr4aJSbRDh_z-JWAkAlLxnSvY1WZOZim-F34ArFAUVp54hjLtoebhFapmzWyHXOn1XBK7lydfDdeZJ68gQ5qqZ-OIIQAE/w400-h228/IMG_0192.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>More to come...</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><p></p></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691379750144833461noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-48935373737047287022023-07-12T14:58:00.026-04:002023-07-12T14:58:00.143-04:00Designing and Updating Staging<p>Over time I had added additional staging/storage tracks where I had space. The primary purpose for these is to store locomotives when they are not in use during a session. As I've been preparing the layout for signaling, it occurred to me that it would be useful to minimize the number of turnouts on the signaled track. </p><p>There were seven turnouts to staging/storage tracks along the run-through staging track, but by reconfiguring the arrangement, I can reduce that to two. While these weren't in my original staging design, they were dead space and I decided it would be useful to have storage tracks where locomotives not used during the session could remain on the layout. </p><p>On this side I'll eliminate one turnout on the main, and the second one is moved to a new location. This will create a "lower staging yard" of four short tracks for the RDCs - three long enough for a pair, and the fourth for a single unit. For 1953 sessions, these trains can operate right out of this location. As usual on my layout, they terminate in the same track as they originate.</p><p>An additional two tracks will go around behind the Agents desk and will be on a grade. That's fine, because it's storage for locomotives. This replaces the turnout that is currently back there to access these tracks. They will be long enough for the A-B-A and A-B-B-A sets of FA-1/FB-2 locomotives.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvGns0x8O9ONUiLrWeO2QY_SsPLGbHjVgF8A589XUfkyE0yUnMsf3ZGDIjoxYGRsDVENQ7AU7NSuMQoSDH2j45Wv8GhRhx9omukA8AlxSBJXtc4ju5-28xh41w-HqxokC1tHtl3SqOXdKUOLixCOShajdaJezW0eywcMGiulzHrir74XxOrFai8jutZsm/s4032/IMG_0155.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvGns0x8O9ONUiLrWeO2QY_SsPLGbHjVgF8A589XUfkyE0yUnMsf3ZGDIjoxYGRsDVENQ7AU7NSuMQoSDH2j45Wv8GhRhx9omukA8AlxSBJXtc4ju5-28xh41w-HqxokC1tHtl3SqOXdKUOLixCOShajdaJezW0eywcMGiulzHrir74XxOrFai8jutZsm/w400-h300/IMG_0155.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have a general idea of how I think I can fit this using Microengineering Yard Ladder turnouts. I did pick up an extra middle turnout (you can see it in the lower right) but came to the conclusion that it wouldn't fit.</div><div><br /></div><div>If this were for a scenicked portion of the layout, I would have modified the regular No. 5 or No. 6 Microengineering turnouts so I could curve them to follow the main, but in this case a straight ladder is fine...provided I can get reasonable radius curves to enter and exit.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPS8CKVGfmuRYiPVHYDCGfRGVj_NRmGlHFsFSrxAU0u8kx8n3qx6sHzKuDTAzAbWgrd9fs5CYfhEaBUiThe6YSKuYy9BdrRUV1p-c5_9gIHTmJVjIdpmRsCHLpwrl78bhstwAlEE9qsYyUHJmTEtu2RpDPplUUr3uZg6iAceCUABJLqt6eqtRQCjD4gxq/s4032/IMG_0156.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPS8CKVGfmuRYiPVHYDCGfRGVj_NRmGlHFsFSrxAU0u8kx8n3qx6sHzKuDTAzAbWgrd9fs5CYfhEaBUiThe6YSKuYy9BdrRUV1p-c5_9gIHTmJVjIdpmRsCHLpwrl78bhstwAlEE9qsYyUHJmTEtu2RpDPplUUr3uZg6iAceCUABJLqt6eqtRQCjD4gxq/w400-h300/IMG_0156.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have a further two yard ladder turnouts to fit at the far end, so I mock up some ideas there too. I've tried drawing things out like this, and spent some time in the past with some of the CAD programs designed for model railroads but have found that nothing is as good as just working with track, for me. In part because as I see where things lie, I see other options and can tweak the concept instantly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt7oUzR_NJdfejlfr15GthIMmzyDLgdY_zZemnJ_Oktx7HMbXmFP5ltBt0_TiAc_a35op_TmE7IXatT9FkpVI9IypXYppNyOoPSQepWnzhvO4rMWg2UIqyWfRHfiuMx8F-NDtgT6X3nZdMelSO5Z1pet2ijP8xZVWYmSLAhzERHF1RXDd-Ayqgzqrzq8z/s4032/IMG_0157.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt7oUzR_NJdfejlfr15GthIMmzyDLgdY_zZemnJ_Oktx7HMbXmFP5ltBt0_TiAc_a35op_TmE7IXatT9FkpVI9IypXYppNyOoPSQepWnzhvO4rMWg2UIqyWfRHfiuMx8F-NDtgT6X3nZdMelSO5Z1pet2ijP8xZVWYmSLAhzERHF1RXDd-Ayqgzqrzq8z/w400-h300/IMG_0157.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I had some cork sheets left over from making the cork board at the Agent's desk and they were the correct thickness so I used those as the roadbed and started connecting track. I'm shooting for a minimum of 26" radius here, but 24" will work just fine if I have to do that. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh963u-6ex43Vz-TVx3xmSfOmchsYmbVkePfb3vOgTLjtHZVIPR5pO1dI8qrJf7eh8nN-_Pm7MDBQw2jGVDygKQ1cN9TW2EUW9XRUrmS1ZHwFqRy9ksw6mlsxksXwSBqL_3LavnwDCrTLppdBqSAdC0_UNSPgaxJPLlTq--R_KYcsmE5Pc_iEKg0zdjmf6Z/s4032/IMG_0158.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh963u-6ex43Vz-TVx3xmSfOmchsYmbVkePfb3vOgTLjtHZVIPR5pO1dI8qrJf7eh8nN-_Pm7MDBQw2jGVDygKQ1cN9TW2EUW9XRUrmS1ZHwFqRy9ksw6mlsxksXwSBqL_3LavnwDCrTLppdBqSAdC0_UNSPgaxJPLlTq--R_KYcsmE5Pc_iEKg0zdjmf6Z/w400-h300/IMG_0158.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This process involves ensuring that the tracks not only fit for this section, but that I'll have enough clearance at the far end for the curve to the second part. At this point, it looks pretty good.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY6TLZ6BupYHBaKOO61bl43SmE6GI3uqw6szdxo_ykAaq4se4PdhwpmAu_QuBsPNw5Eh8ITFtqGBEvFa06X8iWs92zWAVY0-Ej-fh8E9tiJwTeFLybVlCcSNX_LOWtjCUZJp_hHDXIF-0jHHml2BHMIESOUsGu_dhCDR5MBj_0NIWt4nJR0hA7Ypz2wOg/s4032/IMG_0160.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY6TLZ6BupYHBaKOO61bl43SmE6GI3uqw6szdxo_ykAaq4se4PdhwpmAu_QuBsPNw5Eh8ITFtqGBEvFa06X8iWs92zWAVY0-Ej-fh8E9tiJwTeFLybVlCcSNX_LOWtjCUZJp_hHDXIF-0jHHml2BHMIESOUsGu_dhCDR5MBj_0NIWt4nJR0hA7Ypz2wOg/w400-h300/IMG_0160.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Of course, prior to gluing it down I want to test it with the RDCs too in order to make sure they are long enough.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcQtgd9SXPSMH8bos2vmkDjOm4oGq2ufvslDBXbDiElwr0kCVeU-lbxXB3VI8wm0g1nVNeMcBm9oNsaYnnsQ4D9RkU6hAVCCOt-9pMyxMViu8BL5xya6FlpckuS3ikyf6wk1FjSp9bpaKVlVMpCedLhY0Gt9d-WexJFeng-d6uO9az6sf2Lyan-mPDm3R/s2891/IMG_0173.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="2891" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcQtgd9SXPSMH8bos2vmkDjOm4oGq2ufvslDBXbDiElwr0kCVeU-lbxXB3VI8wm0g1nVNeMcBm9oNsaYnnsQ4D9RkU6hAVCCOt-9pMyxMViu8BL5xya6FlpckuS3ikyf6wk1FjSp9bpaKVlVMpCedLhY0Gt9d-WexJFeng-d6uO9az6sf2Lyan-mPDm3R/w400-h300/IMG_0173.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Looking around the corner, I've switched to Woodland Scenics foam roadbed sheets, since that's what Roger had in stock, and also their 2% grade starters to get up to the higher benchwork as it goes around the corner. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRqcwTPB0L1Wj7TCj8ilUOlFoHWl7bnyCFWdRHExxl32K1CeKlNVLYjG8-UZW-ZF9kvsWFqgXqYH4m34YH7dhO-dsqh0Qnww0GTE2l6TC6RMj8efH7Y8l5TT--SYOOer9vKAZE__iy93gN7DH2eLP2GsMFEC6qJlixvGKv2MAiIuCur5EO0XuHR94rpY6/s4032/IMG_0174.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRqcwTPB0L1Wj7TCj8ilUOlFoHWl7bnyCFWdRHExxl32K1CeKlNVLYjG8-UZW-ZF9kvsWFqgXqYH4m34YH7dhO-dsqh0Qnww0GTE2l6TC6RMj8efH7Y8l5TT--SYOOer9vKAZE__iy93gN7DH2eLP2GsMFEC6qJlixvGKv2MAiIuCur5EO0XuHR94rpY6/w400-h300/IMG_0174.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I have a window cut out in the utility room to access behind the Agent's desk. I need to fill in the track where I removed the turnout - easily accessible but hidden while operating from the layout room. Locomotives can be stored here from the clearance point of the turnout, and I took care (using 85' passenger cars) to ensure clearance around the corner of the desk and between the tracks. The main line track will run along the edge of the cork roadbed, and I can move it further out if needed, to ensure the storage tracks won't interfere with operations.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqG3bMBlBjMwZGv43YbOqNQI22KHMLlbH-glXTjibx6xcWar0fVwCznBxZRDjMzo0hnUIU6p3y6PA2SH6q6tJ_RJilQqfLEd8px6NBBTawoI7mrZ1bGycmyU4Q7B2vJX5BqHh7yMcnvLNFjXltUGFOKP4LrBKYGZ5rNk62Tk4NJi4ocFc7_H__PomfLee/s3176/IMG_0175.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="3176" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqG3bMBlBjMwZGv43YbOqNQI22KHMLlbH-glXTjibx6xcWar0fVwCznBxZRDjMzo0hnUIU6p3y6PA2SH6q6tJ_RJilQqfLEd8px6NBBTawoI7mrZ1bGycmyU4Q7B2vJX5BqHh7yMcnvLNFjXltUGFOKP4LrBKYGZ5rNk62Tk4NJi4ocFc7_H__PomfLee/w400-h300/IMG_0175.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>On the other side, I've already moved the main line turnouts. Like the other side, I had HO scale cork roadbed in the original track arrangement. I found it easier to rip that all out and use the foam sheets instead.<div><br /></div><div>To make this side work, I have a couple of Walthers curved turnouts, one curved Peco, and the rest standard Microengineering ones that I had on hand. I've tried a number of configurations and landed on this. It eliminates 4 main line turnouts.<div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Au6v56X-pMRtEBAYHNLOgxm2E-LDfR0ktxgWBseMOLpncqYN8-bKoKqQkxzUtPqzKS0SUcEec90ed22qyRE54v8Biwfmhd_2bn4qFGX5jQGoF25c5jSJ2g5uJh_QZIstA4jUsb7NTvgFgf_kkn4SfZ2Ofr7pAsEmS1iw3XmQkD_AVn23HFpc_tDdf2Tm/s3899/IMG_0176.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2924" data-original-width="3899" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Au6v56X-pMRtEBAYHNLOgxm2E-LDfR0ktxgWBseMOLpncqYN8-bKoKqQkxzUtPqzKS0SUcEec90ed22qyRE54v8Biwfmhd_2bn4qFGX5jQGoF25c5jSJ2g5uJh_QZIstA4jUsb7NTvgFgf_kkn4SfZ2Ofr7pAsEmS1iw3XmQkD_AVn23HFpc_tDdf2Tm/w400-h300/IMG_0176.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One track will be sized specifically for the Comet and another track for spare cabooses. That will leave two longer tracks for storage of diesel locomotives not in use. The track through the ladder goes to the Walthers turntable used to turn locomotives during the session. I went with the Walthers one because the controller has a button that will turn the bridge 180 degrees, which is really all I need it for. But I will have room to make storage tracks for the steam locomotives when the time comes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I used insulated joiners to isolate these storage tracks, and may also add switches so I can turn them off during sessions. <br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-53294575195821114302023-06-28T12:28:00.008-04:002023-06-28T12:28:00.141-04:00Back from NERPM<p>The New England Prototype Meet was great fun as always. A few folks came over Wednesday to see the layout, two ops sessions on Thursday went very well, the meet was a blast, I presented the DL-109 clinic on Saturday, and a good turnout for the Sunday open house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYFMh6jM_OqFr_qVDu78Jb2_hFeAV2iRXOhlOw3OyAEBGuqhe6sELQl6lwH4RjReHkH4naAdoiIWLYsGZkgABYBeGnJngpIAjBUD1SiRd6z34Cqk-eckCBHB9EoNclLfvs7aA3VmGOwh5XAcrq0z9f-ORphHtQHnFz3bqUFcyNDp1VNspwGNEeuu9nQ2W/s4032/IMG_0065.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="4032" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYFMh6jM_OqFr_qVDu78Jb2_hFeAV2iRXOhlOw3OyAEBGuqhe6sELQl6lwH4RjReHkH4naAdoiIWLYsGZkgABYBeGnJngpIAjBUD1SiRd6z34Cqk-eckCBHB9EoNclLfvs7aA3VmGOwh5XAcrq0z9f-ORphHtQHnFz3bqUFcyNDp1VNspwGNEeuu9nQ2W/w400-h209/IMG_0065.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I have a small punchlist of things to fix on the layout, most completed or underway. In particularly we identified some things that will make it easier for the Agent/Yardmaster/Stanley Foreman to do while preparing switch lists.</p><p>One of the things that became apparent is that it was confusing when writing switch lists that involved Stanley Works. This was because a list would be written for the Stanley crew, for work they needed to do in plant. But when that was completed, a new list would be created for the cut of cars that was now to be handled by the New Haven crews. To fix that, I've created a switch list form specifically for Stanley Works crews, modeled after the New Haven one. I had intended to do this in the future (Stanely Works shouldn't be using New Haven forms), but didn't consider how helpful it would be.</p><p>The last couple of months has been focused primarily on getting the layout and the clinic ready for the meet. Now that I'm past that, and my schedule is opening up a bit, I'm working on finishing up many other projects. The layout, of course, will still be the priority. It needs scenery and structures.</p><p>But I also need more locomotives. Thanks to Mike Redden for the new one-piece cabs, I have resumed my work on the S-1s. One of them will be "leased" to Stanley Works for further ops sessions this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmW2lit8gSSwazMaQPG8bsazGE7xCzE2J12NS4jOom1Yt_5w4-LUpcl7fxWNuUDc4vk5XtFJl_UyzpIxRF7Dv62uabFr_YkuIFobsjPPhtReLbj650upsasx2gAS7Z1qQKC6T_YI0OMI_ULFdCbbNxb2pb3lLBgwc_Hk-bJ6kXa5G-zIbdtzzlNpqAypp/s4032/IMG_0074.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmW2lit8gSSwazMaQPG8bsazGE7xCzE2J12NS4jOom1Yt_5w4-LUpcl7fxWNuUDc4vk5XtFJl_UyzpIxRF7Dv62uabFr_YkuIFobsjPPhtReLbj650upsasx2gAS7Z1qQKC6T_YI0OMI_ULFdCbbNxb2pb3lLBgwc_Hk-bJ6kXa5G-zIbdtzzlNpqAypp/w400-h300/IMG_0074.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As usual, I've also been working on several smaller projects.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I want to get to the ground cover and ballast, but I need to finalize my process for weathering the ties first. </li><li>For the ops sessions (and the foreseeable future as I wait for track), I have several industries delivering coal to the yards to be transferred to trucks. So I've built a couple of coal conveyors that I'll modify. I've also been practicing with the airbrush, and plan on trying the chipping medium on these.</li><li>I'm finalizing measurements and getting photos together to start structures.</li><li>Reassemble staging and finish rewiring for signals. I'm debating additional staging modifications, although they aren't entirely necessary and could be done in the future if that changes.</li><li>Once staging is fully operational again, I need to configure and weather the RDCs. Ops sessions will remain in 1953 for now so the two RS-2s, an S-1, and the RDCs will cover all of the power I need.</li></ul><p></p><p>Other projects are planning ahead for when the Rapido 44-tonners are released. At that point I'll reprogram the RS-2s for regular throttles and add trains to operate other years. Those already in progress include:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cabooses - first up is getting a color I like (because of a side project for Dick). I also need to finalize the decal art with Bill so we can get those produced. Once through freights are running I'll need these.</li><li>Passenger cars - any session prior to 1953 will have regular passenger trains.</li><li>RS-1s - these are the primary passenger locomotives, plus I'll need at least one DL-109.</li></ul><p></p><p>I'm still working a lot of extra hours, but I try to post something over at Facebook periodically while I work on the projects and compile more substantial posts for the blog. Just waiting for a part to arrive this week to continue on the S-1s since I'd like to finish both at the same time.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-84668303258893458052023-05-28T21:01:00.002-04:002023-05-28T21:01:17.048-04:00Preparing for NERPM<p>The 2023 <a href="http://nerpm.org/index.html" target="_blank">New England Prototype Modelers Meet</a> is coming up - June 16-18.</p><p>A lot of what I've been working on is in preparation for the meet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rro6ebWi5iNibKHbaOLCq17o-sorKmmxfOYka62gaiw3kjoGKtoGWTYdf5_K8UsaL5fme1vPyCL5Lrrr6YRhwK-Q9zJYdcZ4fGzTj6uiMPN9JLrc8bRgBvURQr1-n0RywZoa6tT9byHmMBSXOe6HHh3QFEUEcjDVSXbMAiAtaviwx50HRMoHodMgKA/s4032/IMG_0020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="4032" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rro6ebWi5iNibKHbaOLCq17o-sorKmmxfOYka62gaiw3kjoGKtoGWTYdf5_K8UsaL5fme1vPyCL5Lrrr6YRhwK-Q9zJYdcZ4fGzTj6uiMPN9JLrc8bRgBvURQr1-n0RywZoa6tT9byHmMBSXOe6HHh3QFEUEcjDVSXbMAiAtaviwx50HRMoHodMgKA/w400-h166/IMG_0020.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>1. Getting the layout operational. I'll be open for the Sunday layout tour for the first time in a while, and I'm also going to be hosting some casual ops sessions on Thursday just prior.</p><p>This has involved completing a lot of track work changes, completely rewiring the bus for additional circuit breakers and future signaling, and programming the locomotives for ProtoThrottles.</p><p>2. Expanding/updating a clinic covering the New Haven DL-109s (for Saturday night) - with still more new information since I presented the abbreviated version for Hindsight 2020.</p><p>Dale and Ryan ran some test ops on the tracks that are fully operational (the main line still needs power), and Alex and I tweaked 0502 and 0503 (the RS-2s) to serve as switchers for the ops sessions. The Stanley locomotive will be either the HH660 or the H16-44. </p><p>I'm not sure which models to bring along this year. The majority of work has been on the layout itself rather than new models, which is where it has needed to be. </p><p>I can hardly wait, though, I'm looking forward to it. Hope to see you there!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-85950374754877890012023-03-15T10:56:00.016-04:002023-03-16T10:54:26.778-04:00Livestock and Stock Cars<p>I started this post some time ago and never got around to finishing it. Something to do on a rainy/snowy March morning...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w9MOhnY1ASCJNUf3QatmcfnMC3Ub7ypYrpPO5XzB98kPBCI3bR88_9DiZy93hwhx7Uwjau-nF8SZKLDHirvEo8n2e-TkcZVOulkYaLlz0wrwRUIgpiCDlQ9GB-9aJPorYqw5zadbKT46pI1wX_I1eDF5xivUpKA_xINsg08YQ1PzdrAOZacTi0o-2Q/s780/PID%20TBD%20517%20in%20Middletown%20on%20Air%20Line.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="780" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w9MOhnY1ASCJNUf3QatmcfnMC3Ub7ypYrpPO5XzB98kPBCI3bR88_9DiZy93hwhx7Uwjau-nF8SZKLDHirvEo8n2e-TkcZVOulkYaLlz0wrwRUIgpiCDlQ9GB-9aJPorYqw5zadbKT46pI1wX_I1eDF5xivUpKA_xINsg08YQ1PzdrAOZacTi0o-2Q/w400-h394/PID%20TBD%20517%20in%20Middletown%20on%20Air%20Line.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">NH DERS-2c (RS-3) 517 on the Air Line at Middletown with a stock car.</div><p>Were stock cars common on the New Haven?</p><p>Looking through photos, these are the stock cars I've been able to personally verify on the New Haven. I've included the number of stock cars owned by that road, and rankings in parentheses for those roads that were in the top 15 owners of stock cars in 1950. </p><p></p><ul><li>CB&Q - 3,573 (3rd)</li><li>DL&W - 97</li><li>ERIE - 82</li><li>MILW - 3,690 (4th)</li><li>NYC - 1,675 (12th)</li><li>PRR - 2,315 (9th)</li><li>SLSX - 713 (Swift)</li><li>WAB - 594</li></ul><p></p><p>The Swift cars (and Armour, below) would have been destined for their own plants, as photos of the Swift plant in New Haven have shown.</p><p>Other cars I would expect may have made it to the New Haven regularly:</p><p></p><ul><li>ASEX - 200 (Armour)</li><li>B&O - 1,192 (14th) </li><li>CGW - 150</li><li>CNW/CMO - 3,736 (6th)</li><li>IC - 1,100 (15th)</li><li>Mather - 1,444 (B&O, CNW, and CB&Q leased from Mather, may not be included in their totals)</li><li>RI - 1,207 (13th)</li></ul><p>Of course, cars from other roads would be possible. The Santa Fe accounted for 13% of the North American stock car fleet in 1950, and of the 66 roads that owned them, only 18 roads accounted for more than 80% of that total.</p><p>But just because these cars were photographed on the NH doesn't mean they were common. How frequently did stock cars actually move on the New Haven? More often than you might think.</p><p>I touched on it briefly in an <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2020/12/commodities.html" target="_blank">earlier post on commodities</a> because I was surprised to find that swine (in double-deck cars) was the 17th largest group into Connecticut based on number of average annual carloads. This is calculated using the 1% waybill studies from 1950-54, and I was only looking at the statistics for Connecticut (which would also include traffic on the CV delivered to Connecticut).</p><p>Fresh Meats NOS (not otherwise specified) was the 6th largest group, averaging about 7,392 carloads annually. But Swine DD (double-deck) was 2,300, plus another 300 single-deck cars, and 250 single-deck cars of cattle/calves. No cars of sheep/goats were recorded. That's an average of almost 8 stock cars/day delivered to Connecticut.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Livestock Traffic</h3><p>Where does the livestock originate? The cattle to Connecticut tends to come from a bit farther west than the hogs. Major stockyards in those states are listed below. The roads noted correspond to the cars noted above:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Illinois (Cattle - 100; hogs - 475)</b></li><ul><li>Chicago - All except DL&W</li><li>East St. Louis - B&O, CB&Q, IC, NYC, PA, RI, SLSX, WAB</li></ul><li><b>Indiana (Hogs - 775)</b></li><ul><li>Indianapolis - B&O, NYC, PA</li></ul><li><b>Iowa (Cattle - 50; hogs - 1,050)</b></li><ul><li>Dubuque - CGW, IC, MILW</li><li>Sioux City - CNW, IC, MILW</li></ul><li><b>Minnesota (Cattle - 25)</b></li><ul><li>Austin - CGW, MILW</li><li>South St. Paul - CGW</li></ul><li><b>Nebraska (Cattle - 25)</b></li><ul><li>Omaha - CB&Q, CNW, MILW, WAB</li></ul><li><b>New York (Cattle - 50; hogs 75)</b></li><ul><li>Buffalo - B&O, DL&W, ERIE, NYC, PA</li></ul><li><b>Ohio (Hogs - 225)</b></li><ul><li>Cincinnati - B&O, ERIE, NYC, PA</li></ul></ul><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Armour and Swift operated out of all of the major stockyards.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As for destinations? Middletown had a slaughterhouse, which is where the stock car in the photo is headed. <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2021/09/copaco-livestock-chute.html" target="_blank">Copaco in Bloomfield </a>was another destination, as was Swift and Sperry & Barnes in New Haven. There were other industries and stock pens at Hartford, Providence, Boston, and other locations on the NH.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have seen it mentioned several times that some of the movements were to the locations with large Jewish populations for kosher meat. That may account for the cattle, but certainly not the hogs. At least in the Bloomfield, Hartford, and New Haven areas there were a significant number of sausage companies. </div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Models</h3><p>The majority of these roads can be modeled, including all but two roads that I have documented on the New Haven.</p><p>Plastic models have focused on the western roads - ATSF, SP and UP. This makes sense because they owned more than 27% of stock cars in 1950.</p><p>The Proto 2000 Mather stock car plays a big part in modeling stock cars east of Chicago/St. Louis. Otherwise, for accurate stock car models, you'll have to look to resin kits.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>ASEX - none</li><li>DL&W - none</li><li>ERIE - none</li><li>IC - none</li><li>Mather - Proto 2000; Sunshine. Owned 1,444 cars, many leased to the following roads:</li><ul><li>B&O - all Mather cars in 1950 (495 single-deck; 438 double-deck)</li><li>CB&Q (1948 - 60 double-deck)</li><li>CNW (1948 - 300 single-deck)</li><li>GSX (Mather reporting marks)(1948 - 4 single-deck; 19 double-deck)</li><li>MSCX. (Mather reporting marks)(1948 - 46 single-deck; 16 double-deck)</li></ul><li>MILW - Sunshine; Westerfield</li><li>NYC - Westerfield</li><li>PRR - Broadway Limited; F&C</li><li>RI - Westerfield (kitbash)</li><li>SLSX - none</li><li>WAB - Yarmouth</li></ul><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Trains</h3><p>The blocking information in the Arranged Freight Symbol Books includes some regular livestock movements. For example, SN-3 has a block of New Haven perishable & livestock. But it does not have a block that specified Hartford livestock. Nor does any other train, but cars for Copaco in Bloomfield would have been delivered by the Griffins local, originating out of Hartford.</p><p>Also, while many photos on the New Haven have stock cars behind the locomotives, the New Haven livestock block is the second block in the train. </p><p>I think it's most likely that stock cars for trains originating in Hartford would have come via Springfield. But it's possible that they could come via Maybrook, and run through New Britain. So the few stock cars I might run would be on a Maybrook freight. Obviously the Mather and Broadway PRR K-7 are the easiest ones to model. But I'll probably build Westerfield MILW and NYC cars eventually, since I think those were among the most common.</p><p>There are no industries receiving stock cars (of which I'm aware) west of New Britain on the Highland or Canal Lines. So that's the only train that would potentially have any stock cars on my layout. When the Maybrook-Hartford freights aren't running at all, I won't need any at all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFND6kfHtnbt9ulpU5_6XkXSXc_GkSKyl8hw26qbF7c8bk0rDqDhAWvqJRrMe8GQr0jviFpjqASin4XSPTTS1auzjU7LJdz1jxBweAr7PszC3M-CS3zHd8-vBTbJ6VGEoB7qhdMqSgmVPLrgEnoNpMwiWtYe3-nSx9Glqvr-phPbNeEc1b7lJqjrTxQ/s1024/NH%20DERS-2c%20(RS-3)%20with%20MILW%20stock%20car.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1024" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFND6kfHtnbt9ulpU5_6XkXSXc_GkSKyl8hw26qbF7c8bk0rDqDhAWvqJRrMe8GQr0jviFpjqASin4XSPTTS1auzjU7LJdz1jxBweAr7PszC3M-CS3zHd8-vBTbJ6VGEoB7qhdMqSgmVPLrgEnoNpMwiWtYe3-nSx9Glqvr-phPbNeEc1b7lJqjrTxQ/w400-h299/NH%20DERS-2c%20(RS-3)%20with%20MILW%20stock%20car.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NH DERS-2c (RS-3) with a Milwaukee stock car.</div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-39862245114064842092023-03-01T23:18:00.000-05:002023-03-01T23:18:00.200-05:00Feeder Frenzy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw2EHU6xxPBreyoQEje7pSrKPurIi15bDudxIyUhfUUN1CrpqejtZscw8Vj_RS8hzeYw6QmTLHa4IOI0vNKZZE-V0TktogsKuw3pfpuDIlVoTzw_bF5BOSEzs5slAtz5KGmCGo5En2ZQjKTmx529TzZE1XziXAq63NjVf3DLWNDJ4PHSoZ8nT5mu4LA/s4032/20230221_020836355_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw2EHU6xxPBreyoQEje7pSrKPurIi15bDudxIyUhfUUN1CrpqejtZscw8Vj_RS8hzeYw6QmTLHa4IOI0vNKZZE-V0TktogsKuw3pfpuDIlVoTzw_bF5BOSEzs5slAtz5KGmCGo5En2ZQjKTmx529TzZE1XziXAq63NjVf3DLWNDJ4PHSoZ8nT5mu4LA/w400-h300/20230221_020836355_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>In the past couple of weeks I have added more than 100' of new feeders. Where?</p><p>Stanley Works is a new track arrangement, the whole section needed new feeders.</p><p>Fafnir, Corbin, and Russell & Erwin off of Track 5, all new track arrangement, all of it needed feeders.</p><p>New Britain Yard, completely relaid with new track. Everything needed feeders...</p><p>You can see where this is going. Pretty much the entire Highland portion of the layout has been redone, and the feeders needed to be done too.</p><p>In addition, I'm adding more blocks, and decided to redesign the bus so each block is easily identifiable and uses a different color. This was needed for Track 1 and Track 2 for the new signal blocks anyway. I did the wiring (and track) a decade ago and can do much better than my initial design and installation.</p><p>Moving along...</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-25736186357664358602023-02-22T13:57:00.013-05:002023-02-22T13:57:00.195-05:00No Rail Joiners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaik1D1G-u5N0z2t-TQpOdqNGtZYpe7IKkFa9Ooh9D9Dd_5Jf87yjnqC_tbLfMkZLRgdXaIl80zf59wpbHGjruoSWJEbXhHUCXnRvjixca9-UY_lnp95kq0DYCsfQ-Ek0_yqXFL8XeomXlZEOmQPXACgWU57LF1QXSa2L5stK_0E-2sbqeV1u-jRnOOw/s2070/20230215_185619753_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="2070" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaik1D1G-u5N0z2t-TQpOdqNGtZYpe7IKkFa9Ooh9D9Dd_5Jf87yjnqC_tbLfMkZLRgdXaIl80zf59wpbHGjruoSWJEbXhHUCXnRvjixca9-UY_lnp95kq0DYCsfQ-Ek0_yqXFL8XeomXlZEOmQPXACgWU57LF1QXSa2L5stK_0E-2sbqeV1u-jRnOOw/w400-h259/20230215_185619753_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>These are <a href="http://kvmodels.com/joint-bars/">KV Models compromise joint bars</a>. On the left is Microengineering Code 55 track, and the right is a Peco Code 83 curved turnout. The KV Models joint bars can be soldered to the rail, so I figured I could go a step further and eliminate the rail joiners at the same time.</p><p>You can also see one of the reasons I personally don't care for Peco track and turnouts - their tie plates and spikes are significantly larger (out-of-scale) than Microengineering. I'll be able to reduce this with painting and weathering and, of course, it would be less noticeable on a layout that is all Peco track.</p><p>Although I'm not doing this everywhere, I am using the approach throughout New Britain Yard and other newly replaced track that will be close to the fascia. Especially in cases like this where the rail code is different.</p><p>The basic process I'm using now:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Use a Dremel with a wire brush to polish the backs of the joint bars while still on the fret.</li><li>Tin the backs of the joint bars while still on the fret.</li><li>Clean/use a Dremel with a brush to polish the rail.</li><li>Apply flux to both sides of the rail.</li><li>Apply solder paste to both sides of the rail.</li><li>Apply solder paste to the back of the joint bars while still on the fret.</li><li>Cut the joint bars from the fret and apply to both sides of the rail.</li><li>I lightly squeeze the joint bars with a pair of tweezers in place, then touch the iron to the top of the rail.</li></ol><p></p><p>I polished and tinned the entire fret at one time. I apply the solder paste only to joint bar just prior to cutting off the fret to install. The flux/solder paste is sufficient to hold the joint bar in place in the web of the rail, I squeeze them just to ensure they are securely soldered to the rail web. The extra tie in the photo above was to raise the Code 55 rail into the correct position. In addition to the shorter rail, Microengineering ties are shorter than Peco.</p><p>This is the only Peco turnout on the layout, and I have four Walthers turnouts too. Despite the enormous flexibility in modifying Microengineering turnouts, they can't be used for everything. The track geometry here needed a 28" radius diverging track, which is a close match for the Peco turnout. The Walthers ones are also on this track around the top of the helix for similar reasons.</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-75996572515960437232023-02-21T22:56:00.006-05:002023-02-21T22:58:40.910-05:00DL-109 clinic on March 4 Hindsight 20/20<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1h4I3dBkCaP0ePUnqYFE-B11cYftUfsIN1LYdgutLhN8QQ8j-9PWGos1j1PatAdx4CojaouenhDZrJAL1s_3yORMP5jZmoG6hK7ECjN5TcrNm9KD8GuK5kCAG_x5ri_XfahFLDM438NeTCdUKiPIs9cMrQKJM9r5_HuAV1M4XisMQ3jxg5I-wIGc9Qw/s2048/NH%20DER-1c%20(DL-109)%200740%20and%200745%20in%20gold%20and%20silver%20gray%20pinstripes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1h4I3dBkCaP0ePUnqYFE-B11cYftUfsIN1LYdgutLhN8QQ8j-9PWGos1j1PatAdx4CojaouenhDZrJAL1s_3yORMP5jZmoG6hK7ECjN5TcrNm9KD8GuK5kCAG_x5ri_XfahFLDM438NeTCdUKiPIs9cMrQKJM9r5_HuAV1M4XisMQ3jxg5I-wIGc9Qw/w400-h225/NH%20DER-1c%20(DL-109)%200740%20and%200745%20in%20gold%20and%20silver%20gray%20pinstripes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I'll be presenting a clinic on the details and paint schemes of the NH DL-109s on the Hindsight 20/20 virtual meet on March 4.<p></p><p>I've been unearthing additional information even as I finish preparing the clinic, so I'm excited to bring some new clarity to the pre-rebuild DL-109s and their many variations and paint schemes.</p><p>It's free to attend, <a href="http://speedwitchmedia.com/product/hindsight-20-20-15-0-registration/" target="_blank">sign up here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhKqMK20j_PH9dLq-i5j3mcUWvrgk1al87BnSS2y508Xl4gbWPIu9oyLUFUpoLTC8P5TmE37mdjnMh7KjllANKp0S7lCdRHMjUp0IWOwFxQducsY_YlJRKPiNdSph84rMEGiaDkY9D5-VJk8hSbrXs5XW6ceGY8cd0bg7sDOVNu3MqhLROk1MdvnKLA/s876/Hindsight%20March%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="678" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhKqMK20j_PH9dLq-i5j3mcUWvrgk1al87BnSS2y508Xl4gbWPIu9oyLUFUpoLTC8P5TmE37mdjnMh7KjllANKp0S7lCdRHMjUp0IWOwFxQducsY_YlJRKPiNdSph84rMEGiaDkY9D5-VJk8hSbrXs5XW6ceGY8cd0bg7sDOVNu3MqhLROk1MdvnKLA/w310-h400/Hindsight%20March%204.jpg" width="310" /></a></p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-74686606632200260582023-02-15T22:35:00.005-05:002023-02-15T22:35:00.176-05:00The new New Britain Yard<p>Thanks to John Drake switching back to N-scale, I was able to get the turnouts I needed to rebuild New Britain Yard.</p><p>I covered the reasons I did this <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2022/11/i-did-thing-no-sacred-cows.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but I'll summarize in no particular order - </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>My modeling skills have improved, and the ground cover and ballast of this section (the centerpiece) wouldn't match or be up to the standards of what I'll be doing now.</li><li>I wish I had used code 55 track for the yard.</li><li>I need to add switch machines to the main track switches, which is easier to do when they aren't already in place.</li><li>I need to separate track 1 and 2 into individual electrical blocks for signaling.</li><li>I was very happy with the 1-7/8" track centers in Whiting St. Yard. which would also allow me to add the missing track to New Britain Yard.</li><li>Other track arrangement issues, I was able to make more room for the crossing shanty, for example.</li></ol><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Here's a few in-progress shots. Because I tore everything up, instead of using N-scale cork roadbed I used the craft foam I used for Whiting St. Yard. Although just a smidge shorter than the N-scale cork coming into the section, it's not a huge difference. I can draw on it to lay things out easily.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKYOvIBrJLuYsfMbD6bI-Qhz0HC2jeOSBgsU712g2iknileHtIt7I2QT_xX3L8Cq3p4fi9NyAa4JLDh_dmpu8K5ZWWk1sX7BZXvE2sOs8xAisXQCpmXipi8VOH3vuKduFSxQLARTvbKqivp6WhG2qyV9J_Y9xVbhhWRXwSYZCDr3M7-ytjDejXAUBZA/s4032/20230127_231935773_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKYOvIBrJLuYsfMbD6bI-Qhz0HC2jeOSBgsU712g2iknileHtIt7I2QT_xX3L8Cq3p4fi9NyAa4JLDh_dmpu8K5ZWWk1sX7BZXvE2sOs8xAisXQCpmXipi8VOH3vuKduFSxQLARTvbKqivp6WhG2qyV9J_Y9xVbhhWRXwSYZCDr3M7-ytjDejXAUBZA/w400-h300/20230127_231935773_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To mock it up, I have 3/4" wide strips of masonite (left over from the prior layout when I had cut them for spline roadbed). I prefer to work from the edge of the track, rather than the center line. I think it's more precise (at least for me). The 3/4" between the edge of the ties sets the track centers to 13'3" with the NH standard at 13'. Close enough for me. I think it looks better too, with another bonus being that I can fit the missing Track 13 and have a slightly wider spacing before tracks 15 and 17. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVaTI6HCjh0-z8Ub9wT-Ux2nXHO0xtq_JH-V5zF2chEDtzpiMRqfWDZcjXfUhy1pcAWEKtGlRcSsP-aQfMaE68cGqQqYfdUsC3ivfj_sxrbe_gWktvy_pWfezx8wsPFN60MdzkPtqk_yMyv1xfirqMq4nQm5ljBMDFpXl9qD_ZsJBiC5Np9nBMGyl9A/s4032/20230131_144329660_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVaTI6HCjh0-z8Ub9wT-Ux2nXHO0xtq_JH-V5zF2chEDtzpiMRqfWDZcjXfUhy1pcAWEKtGlRcSsP-aQfMaE68cGqQqYfdUsC3ivfj_sxrbe_gWktvy_pWfezx8wsPFN60MdzkPtqk_yMyv1xfirqMq4nQm5ljBMDFpXl9qD_ZsJBiC5Np9nBMGyl9A/w300-h400/20230131_144329660_iOS.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't pull out the tracks in the asphalt. So Track 1 and Track 2 are still on 2" centers. Although by the time I was finishing this up I realized it wouldn't have been too difficult to deal with that, It will work fine as is.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepFLJYGlVHhrbpsIHsyYaDvDzAusJwCgXkl1fY-MYagtlcAHapz9Xks_xHNwuYwfZiC3KHWOp0vk_1EiA4Ab8mUpwBONEwiX5Staxi02eL4ZYgzqYOSLQPnIXbtvvtLpPmFrzfOx1VQIxcFLdyLZgW3tCEsBoRqY2BhlioOZeHr1UxIX69Ka1vZHM6w/s4032/20230131_150429786_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepFLJYGlVHhrbpsIHsyYaDvDzAusJwCgXkl1fY-MYagtlcAHapz9Xks_xHNwuYwfZiC3KHWOp0vk_1EiA4Ab8mUpwBONEwiX5Staxi02eL4ZYgzqYOSLQPnIXbtvvtLpPmFrzfOx1VQIxcFLdyLZgW3tCEsBoRqY2BhlioOZeHr1UxIX69Ka1vZHM6w/w400-h300/20230131_150429786_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyFjgO_CI5V1mTk6SbAoKw1JDrvjfLOZIy3TwFLgkD8K-A4ucuFP4ZTwdV1yHotO39FUhqfPtlKjp4i74NVD4AkxmHAlGhss4x3RrUzLPUL73UUkEj7RPg257PsEBSnn3ct3r_as7E2NhFVXFqzBjxYhtRmnE6NN8J19mz3SLTUeuJ92ZoDBkNNVpbA/s4032/20230131_150439867_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyFjgO_CI5V1mTk6SbAoKw1JDrvjfLOZIy3TwFLgkD8K-A4ucuFP4ZTwdV1yHotO39FUhqfPtlKjp4i74NVD4AkxmHAlGhss4x3RrUzLPUL73UUkEj7RPg257PsEBSnn3ct3r_as7E2NhFVXFqzBjxYhtRmnE6NN8J19mz3SLTUeuJ92ZoDBkNNVpbA/w400-h300/20230131_150439867_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfrh9hdxczPGTsE4yy4X3-SZSg8OngUOQY7tPwuSVfmGrSeMs_n1_IAvdHcuAnkCqZR08Sk1lMoCQ88leIeJ9w4HQ4lnzxY0BE4PGPaMqd_S4sYhXFaEheRX_v8Pa5Gy2g7Ne3EvU8mLsRJPoHZ9Q8IrGdA21fPurja3tsaNucONg5BXdfyMIgBLyqA/s4032/20230131_150548404_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfrh9hdxczPGTsE4yy4X3-SZSg8OngUOQY7tPwuSVfmGrSeMs_n1_IAvdHcuAnkCqZR08Sk1lMoCQ88leIeJ9w4HQ4lnzxY0BE4PGPaMqd_S4sYhXFaEheRX_v8Pa5Gy2g7Ne3EvU8mLsRJPoHZ9Q8IrGdA21fPurja3tsaNucONg5BXdfyMIgBLyqA/w400-h300/20230131_150548404_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The switch shanty has an appropriate amount of room now. <span style="text-align: left;">Still tight, but not much more than the prototype. It also required reworking the engine servicing tracks, also code 55 now.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiy1uub914AWwB_kSk6Zo67tjpUEY0XL5yHbRlDMs80TkH-i4OEcM0IvyFv9Hm9lgneg2xB9-sA_idVZgOeRJXlentoj7h-SoiyovsWltRFRHtkiDDf3pvtrxlPFR6mETEjgFGC9QfZDHSxeNdhKvWvO_TCmZFmF_rifyg892LIjP4UyDRwMo-SeM9A/s4032/20230201_012255453_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiy1uub914AWwB_kSk6Zo67tjpUEY0XL5yHbRlDMs80TkH-i4OEcM0IvyFv9Hm9lgneg2xB9-sA_idVZgOeRJXlentoj7h-SoiyovsWltRFRHtkiDDf3pvtrxlPFR6mETEjgFGC9QfZDHSxeNdhKvWvO_TCmZFmF_rifyg892LIjP4UyDRwMo-SeM9A/w300-h400/20230201_012255453_iOS.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT95QOOU2lIYeL5pGGPBOjcAOa_6QG9erUIgOJBSj8jA0iaJgrL5cnlLEGM0vwtwvQmKh9FoLCwS7QI6YRMXgt5H2oraTQl4wquvKuKrSEhT7VC_4QnmgTCj6fK9EV4w5US-9TV-AeaqD4aomD1SrYaImCjj5qkUDQiDm-ydOx7s53DE3t1Qs7NGBWA/s2294/20230202_024643000_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2294" data-original-width="1290" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT95QOOU2lIYeL5pGGPBOjcAOa_6QG9erUIgOJBSj8jA0iaJgrL5cnlLEGM0vwtwvQmKh9FoLCwS7QI6YRMXgt5H2oraTQl4wquvKuKrSEhT7VC_4QnmgTCj6fK9EV4w5US-9TV-AeaqD4aomD1SrYaImCjj5qkUDQiDm-ydOx7s53DE3t1Qs7NGBWA/w225-h400/20230202_024643000_iOS.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is all this worth it? I think so. Here's a picture of the original arrangement:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjH2JkjiSiOx9K_oQGP4vwyHepKv2jN5vUhgoXuxamJtTt0gByzAsD--ogoOgym1uYy-u7Z8u_Mus6v-UaA1uTLWs5wb9dcrHkb2YFubyxi2e4i65yZ1AT0cwDDK3wv_E10cYFPb5SoT0oAiQJTwCMmbq0ZJUSpiO4JrW4oozqeUpzIgj-G3oZexLzQ/s1024/6232448677_06b0b3c1b1_o%20(1024x866).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1024" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjH2JkjiSiOx9K_oQGP4vwyHepKv2jN5vUhgoXuxamJtTt0gByzAsD--ogoOgym1uYy-u7Z8u_Mus6v-UaA1uTLWs5wb9dcrHkb2YFubyxi2e4i65yZ1AT0cwDDK3wv_E10cYFPb5SoT0oAiQJTwCMmbq0ZJUSpiO4JrW4oozqeUpzIgj-G3oZexLzQ/w400-h339/6232448677_06b0b3c1b1_o%20(1024x866).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note that the yard proper is only 3 tracks. Track 13 should be a long track that crosses Elm St. Without the fourth track, the crossover between the two is missing too. Here's the prototypically accurate arrangement:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5ophTrJ6HVJLjbJovSaoDw74oAGuCdoSyGrzc2Rnmlcn9CWBaL8CLNbRvk6RvK_4T5RBJtkDOtsKTrdpWfEPYfHxbdDrTow2kVfYUlhjalQiqWBMgESHuCiUF7hI5CneMUhXpC2bys0qKHUAjK84jSPBj1xfqYR3-iqiAHDC7zXFnFilqZ_iB5zrzg/s4032/20230208_045241279_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5ophTrJ6HVJLjbJovSaoDw74oAGuCdoSyGrzc2Rnmlcn9CWBaL8CLNbRvk6RvK_4T5RBJtkDOtsKTrdpWfEPYfHxbdDrTow2kVfYUlhjalQiqWBMgESHuCiUF7hI5CneMUhXpC2bys0qKHUAjK84jSPBj1xfqYR3-iqiAHDC7zXFnFilqZ_iB5zrzg/w400-h300/20230208_045241279_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not a huge change by itself, but operationally I think it may be. In addition, the yard tracks are now Code 55 rail. I'm also not using any rail joiners in this section. Instead, I'm using <a href="http://kvmodels.com/joint-bars/" target="_blank">KV Models joint bars</a>, which can be soldered.</div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-20657435742785015692023-02-01T21:37:00.002-05:002023-02-01T21:37:00.192-05:00The Gift of Model Railroading<p> As much as I enjoy modeling, it's the modeling community that I enjoy perhaps even more. Of course, this past weekend was the <a href="https://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/" target="_blank">Amherst Railroad Hobby Show</a> (aka the Springfield Train Show). Although last year was the first post-covid show, a combination of omicron and a blizzard meant it was not quite the return as intended.</p><p>Not this year. Attendance was over 21,000 and it certainly felt like it. I don't typically need much, so I prefer to be involved. </p><p>The reality was, in part because of Emily finally coming home from the hospital after a 4-month visit just a few days before the show, I wasn't well prepared. I didn't have a shopping list ready, barely had things to sell, and didn't get the things ready to display what Chris Z. and I have been up to. Since I didn't have a table this year, I helped Dale (not much) at his, but did sell a few of the trucks that Chris and I made.</p><p>Of course, I saw lots of folks, and that was the most fun for me. We had a great return to the Steaming Tender parlor car for dinner, even if the new arrangement isn't very conducive to moving around to see people. Shows like this really help motivate me to make some progress on my layout.</p><p>I did manage to get a couple of things, though. Dale handles the table for the Amherst club, and this year most of the table consisted of cars and buildings from Dick Elwell's layout, who passed away a few months ago. Of course, Dick was a master modeler and well known from features in Model Railroader and elsewhere. I had the pleasure of operating on his layout in the past too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsqfMJCnkfB4Cz9s_SYXfFhKPcXA45rHgBNOqB0l_JGK_sKmpkgt4gq2DzXKXgz1nmuPd9pIov_EkAyrgikb9ccvSrDKnPbKKq99q-sAzCrG2IJqhesUCdGb023jBjFh55w9jDwQsr3h5GZu3P7AXxuOjxSWl0bIcpMVQubZE19ztaOPYlI6Xx0fMlQ/s4032/20230130_032234498_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsqfMJCnkfB4Cz9s_SYXfFhKPcXA45rHgBNOqB0l_JGK_sKmpkgt4gq2DzXKXgz1nmuPd9pIov_EkAyrgikb9ccvSrDKnPbKKq99q-sAzCrG2IJqhesUCdGb023jBjFh55w9jDwQsr3h5GZu3P7AXxuOjxSWl0bIcpMVQubZE19ztaOPYlI6Xx0fMlQ/w400-h300/20230130_032234498_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XIzgQcvnz9DTL6SkEm8TcWmk6fDvftEuTIMvl74pIExhef89F3Zxm7uOITTZr2KOfOrmvwUFOxSY3YfrPaKoxzQhciGcHadoOIo9bYxMd8P7BM3cV-GC9V0gy1qyrudoSK81De6gcvb5UuY1CF8C8Vd8JYzNYNX862QoLv5xJ8r5y_tHQU8Tsu_4uA/s4032/20230130_032252580_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XIzgQcvnz9DTL6SkEm8TcWmk6fDvftEuTIMvl74pIExhef89F3Zxm7uOITTZr2KOfOrmvwUFOxSY3YfrPaKoxzQhciGcHadoOIo9bYxMd8P7BM3cV-GC9V0gy1qyrudoSK81De6gcvb5UuY1CF8C8Vd8JYzNYNX862QoLv5xJ8r5y_tHQU8Tsu_4uA/w400-h300/20230130_032252580_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I managed to snag a couple of Tangent tank cars Dick weathered. Like the <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2021/03/a-pleasant-surprise.html" target="_blank">Russwin smokestack</a> my buddy <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2022/07/in-memory-of-craig-bisgeier.html" target="_blank">Craig Bisgeier</a> made, Dick's modeling will live on, not only on my layout, but many, many others.</p><p>And they aren't the only ones. Probably the highlight of the weekend for me was a generous gift:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2babpnVIs3navJMj30iTOLqC3WWXmpsYncVrWpBoNcT7-rwQ8Ug1ejIAfso-iB_Y5B0S-khlQnkjjg-DwrDgY3mgfAl5CAx5f4RD8a4mVG5f_J0139MBLyITgNoyys7NifNiVyz4RhxW1t9rl_-qCfbNn6IymclvqE0TEA0yW7Mlqt3rxbBkculQpaQ/s4032/20230130_032438148_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2babpnVIs3navJMj30iTOLqC3WWXmpsYncVrWpBoNcT7-rwQ8Ug1ejIAfso-iB_Y5B0S-khlQnkjjg-DwrDgY3mgfAl5CAx5f4RD8a4mVG5f_J0139MBLyITgNoyys7NifNiVyz4RhxW1t9rl_-qCfbNn6IymclvqE0TEA0yW7Mlqt3rxbBkculQpaQ/w400-h300/20230130_032438148_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>A mutual friend of Bill Welch gave me this Sunshine Rock Island box car built by Bill, who also <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2020/11/bill-welch-and-thanks.html" target="_blank">sadly passed away last year</a>. It appears Bill hadn't quite completed the car, it's not weathered yet, and I'm torn between leaving it as is, and weathering it as my contribution his beautiful work.</p><p>It's not really the freight car itself that moved me. The real gift of this hobby are the thoughtful and generous friends we make. I love going to the shows, not just to see my many modeling buddies, but to meet new ones too. It's a hobby that only grows richer the more folks we know, and it's a community built on helping each other reach their modeling goals.</p><p>I'm not sure I'll be quite as influential as the Dick Elwells, Bill Welches, or Allan McClellands, who also passed last year. I often wonder what I can offer to my friends who are such accomplished modelers. Over the years I've found that I do have ideas, research, and many other things that I could provide to even them. But the real lesson that they have passed on is that it's not what we can offer them, but what we can offer others. </p><p>They were inspired by those that came before them, just as we are by them. And just as they have passed on their love of the hobby, their excellent modeling, and how they did what they did in clinics, articles, and sharing directly, we can too. The richness of model railroading can be seen in their work, but that's the past. The hobby grows by sharing what they have done, and we do, with others and building upon the foundations they and those before them have built.</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-27367762431129004202023-01-30T22:50:00.002-05:002023-02-05T14:40:24.938-05:0044-tonners Part IV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk0cdRfcXV9GeSyvFPABOk_6QnNBksj0b1qhAec5so-1eiodSwZQ6BdEDgFEmhIad6hdj1N6ROvesL_UJgFMGI2l-msx6uN4iMwcvOCKCaCKjv4N6ILiABvXYTGmR0UtW8nCjCzdfdYH-tVnPqdWuVfiwEQp3Vw3l2rehrwXyT3PLvPvIE7qIursjSQ/s2828/NH%20DEY-4%20(44-tonner)%20builders%20photo%200806.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2828" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk0cdRfcXV9GeSyvFPABOk_6QnNBksj0b1qhAec5so-1eiodSwZQ6BdEDgFEmhIad6hdj1N6ROvesL_UJgFMGI2l-msx6uN4iMwcvOCKCaCKjv4N6ILiABvXYTGmR0UtW8nCjCzdfdYH-tVnPqdWuVfiwEQp3Vw3l2rehrwXyT3PLvPvIE7qIursjSQ/w400-h174/NH%20DEY-4%20(44-tonner)%20builders%20photo%200806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Builders Photo of DEY-4 0806. Phase Ic.</div><p>With <a href="https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/44-tonner.html" target="_blank">Rapido's announcement of 44-tonners</a>, The samples look (and was running) great, I've passed on my suggestions to Bill/Rapido so I'm looking forward to their release.</p><p> I, of course, know what I will need, but I've seen some questions online as to who had the earlier phases, and which road numbers were which phase. I've compiled a quick list of the original owners of the Phase Ic and Phase III locomotives.</p><p>This information is from <i>Extra 2000 South</i> issue 51, and issue 52, which define the "phases" and includes drawings of Phase Ic, II, III, IV, V (51) and Ib and Vb (52). They also include serial numbers and all of the subsequent owners and dispositions through mid-1975 and lots of in service and builders' photos.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Phase Ic (53 units) (S/N 13092 - 15131)</h3><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>B&M: 114 - 117</li><li>D&RGW: 38 - 44</li><li>Iowa Ordnance Plant: 8-44, 9-44, 10-44, 11-44</li><li>Kansas Ordnance Plant: 2</li><li>Kentucky Ordnance Works: 1</li><li>LV: 60-62</li><li>MEC: 11 - 12</li><li>MILW (CMStP&P): 1701</li><li>Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry: D-172, D-842</li><li>Missouri & Illinois Bridge & Belt: 100</li><li>MP: 811</li><ul><li>BSL&W: 815</li><li>I-GN: 812</li><li>StLB&M: 813 - 814</li></ul><li>NYNH&H: 0800 - 0806</li><li>NYO&W: 101 - 105</li><li>Pine Buff Arsenal-US Army: unknown road number</li><li>San Francisco & Napa Valley Ry: 30, 40</li><li>Scioto Ordnance Plant: unknown road number</li><li>Sheffield Steel Corporation: 1 - 3</li><li>SP: 1900 - 1902</li><li>US Navy - Brooklyn Navy Yard unknown road number</li><li>US Naval Supply Depot, Pier 91 unknown road number</li><li>Washington & Old Dominion RR: 47 - 49</li></ul><p></p><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Phase III (36 units) (S/N 18145 - 27794, 27973 - 27975)</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Atlantic & East Carolina RR: 8</li><li>ATSF: 463 - 468</li><li>Fernwood Columbia & Gulf RR: D-1, D-2, D-3</li><li>High Point Thomasville & Denton: 101</li><li>MEC: 13-15</li><li>NYNH&H: 0807-0816</li><li>Pacific Electric Railway: 1652-1654</li><li>Sheffield Steel Co: 6</li><li>US Army Aberdeen Proving Grounds: 7931-7932</li><li>US Army Fort Clark: 7492</li><li>US Army Fort Miffin Naval Ammo Depot: 7493</li><li>US Naval Air Station: unknown road numbers (2 units)</li><li>US Naval Ammunition Depot: unknown road number</li><li>US Naval Supply Depot: unknown road number</li><li>US Navy Whiting Field Naval Air Command: 5</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">Phase IVa (S/N 27793 - 29994)</h3></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You can use the list at the <a href="http://www.thedieselshop.us/GE_44Ton.HTML" target="_blank">Diesel Shop</a> to identify them.</li></ul></div><div></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">New Haven 44-tonners</h2><div>I've covered the DEY-4 class of locomotives <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.newbritainstation.com%2F2017%2F02%2Fdey-4-44-tonner-part-i-prototype.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw3Jnbj6RUVk4SV05_Dd0B8M" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.newbritainstation.com%2F2017%2F02%2Fdey-4-44-tonner-part-ii-operations.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1q73ZKbtMNVBC0BaC_420S" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.newbritainstation.com%2F2017%2F02%2Fdey-4-44-tonner-part-iii-modeling.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1cp9WhwJIZAIYcU_Dzx9Mr" target="_blank">here</a>. But since this will be the primary locomotive used in New Britain, this is a good place to add a little more information.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Bachmann chassis suffered from the common issue of nylon gears that crack over time. The gears are no longer available, but I found that the latest truck design (at least their fourth) fit into my existing chassis. Since I needed to take them apart, I decided I wanted to upgrade the decoder and install a keep-alive, so they are waiting in the queue for that upgrade. I have two W&R brass shells of Phase Ic, and the Bachmann shell I modified into a Phase III.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, I'll use the decoders elsewhere and switch to the Rapido locomotives, although I'm still waiting to see how well they can haul up my 2% grade from Whiting St Yard.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have the following assignments during my era (including Phase and scheme):</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Spring 1948</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0802 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0812 - Phase III - delivery</li></ul></div><div><b>Autumn 1948</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0802 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0805 - Phase Ic - delivery</li></ul></div><div><b>Spring 1949</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0802 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0805 - Phase Ic - delivery</li></ul></div><div><b>Autumn 1949</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0805 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0806 - Phase Ic - delivery</li></ul></div><div><b>Autumn 1950</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0805 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0806 - Phase Ic - delivery</li></ul></div><div><b>Spring 1952</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0802 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0804 - Phase Ic - Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab and top of hood</li></ul></div><div><div><b>Autumn 1952</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0802 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0804 - Phase Ic - Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab and top of hood</li></ul></div><div><b>Autumn 1954</b></div><div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0810 - Phase III - Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab and top of hood</li><li>0813 - Phase III - Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab and top of hood</li></ul></div><div>The seven locomotives assigned are:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>0802 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0804 - Phase Ic - Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab and top of hood</li><li>0805 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0806 - Phase Ic - delivery</li><li>0810 - Phase III - Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab and top of hood</li><li>0812 - Phase III - delivery</li><li>0813 - Phase III - Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Rapido is releasing 0801, 0802, and 0804 in the Warm Orange with Pullman Green cab and top of hood scheme. So I'll definitely be getting 0804. </div><div><br /></div><div>0802 also received this scheme in August 1953. Since that was a regularly assigned locomotive for many of the years (and was back in 1956), I'll get that one as too. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even though 0812 was identified in Spring of 1948, I like the idea of having at least one Phase III in the delivery scheme.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the rest, it's a question of if/when they will release the other schemes. I've only identified two (0812, 0813) that received the Warm Orange with Pullman Green cabs, so it seems unlikely to be done soon. But it's also very easy to do provided the cab is a separate piece.</div><div><br /></div><div>The delivery scheme is very easy to do, since it's just Pullman Green. And we already have decals for that scheme. I'd prefer that it was factory painted. All except the two Phase IVa locomotives had this scheme, and several appear to never have received a second scheme. This would be a good option for them to release.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>You'll note in the comments a discussion with Ken Baker. I was incorrect in those comments about the McGinnis scheme. There's a <a href="https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/thenhrhtanewhavenrailroadforum/viewtopic.php?p=101615#p101615" target="_blank">thread he started at the NHRHTA forum</a> on the subject.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is a much better resource for information on the McGinnis and later eras than me!</div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-90105899562430738872023-01-25T22:26:00.000-05:002023-01-25T22:26:04.717-05:00New Cars!<p> I just received the <a href="https://esmc.com/ProdLine4000.html" target="_blank">Eastern Seaboard Models</a> Magor/PC&F XIH box cars. For those unfamiliar with the company, this is their first HO scale offering, after years of excellent N-scale products.</p><p>Bryan has been posting updates, photos, and videos on a regular basis which highlighted testing and various rejections (including just as they were about to ship) to ensure these models were up to their standards.</p><p>I haven't done any significant research on the prototype since the NH version was built mid-1953 and just sneaks into my modeling era. But these are actually two closely related prototypes, 300 cars built for BAR by Magor in 1950, and another 150 cars (plus 100 for the NH) built by PC&F.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVNMOiO1HvUNzOmlN9NeIK0LwcKVY83QamaFik0GVKJ_t3lk9E5Ck1fiDp0kFIt5EeJeAd5QWZ7fv5kiJI7cNDJVT_maBKO7ptEjRQhOYy2fIPt_p6e50JlcZghsaLXCo6G9e9WJMwC1_t938oJQBiPhAjkBS4bebmufIKiMEwUWCkyBKSG4v0Uinxw/s4032/20230126_024420359_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="4032" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVNMOiO1HvUNzOmlN9NeIK0LwcKVY83QamaFik0GVKJ_t3lk9E5Ck1fiDp0kFIt5EeJeAd5QWZ7fv5kiJI7cNDJVT_maBKO7ptEjRQhOYy2fIPt_p6e50JlcZghsaLXCo6G9e9WJMwC1_t938oJQBiPhAjkBS4bebmufIKiMEwUWCkyBKSG4v0Uinxw/w400-h81/20230126_024420359_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d87pYn-NBirfQhyKy7xkktB0mNXRRkxrSOatPp5zmvkqZLmqaGvXazO5pluV84lY8yddoDkxbAJ9XXLDt2ejsAvXTd4Fj9Mdm4vHBsmqi04pj1FMNIGmTZJMCAMlnAozkXKXmOoseCd6H86f5SG5m_OHwAES-gtGL9RR69v-aPJ6cvOGLtU4g-S2wg/s4032/20230126_024013062_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="4032" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d87pYn-NBirfQhyKy7xkktB0mNXRRkxrSOatPp5zmvkqZLmqaGvXazO5pluV84lY8yddoDkxbAJ9XXLDt2ejsAvXTd4Fj9Mdm4vHBsmqi04pj1FMNIGmTZJMCAMlnAozkXKXmOoseCd6H86f5SG5m_OHwAES-gtGL9RR69v-aPJ6cvOGLtU4g-S2wg/w400-h149/20230126_024013062_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Magor-built BAR car.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXp4ajr0Ko9nki92LFrEbbYYe8VaxHt4nxl-wgcv0t5U5jmim8mWiy7oWhCaFMbHLeND3F5EP1MYTj6SRuovL_Kbq9ypJeRUl3gb9cAmN286Q_fZ4MieC_X9GPrX1eNRcUPymGcjAwr22HH_vW8g8YYcymoo2vZkF5fvfA7Gg3XRl81z_7UW722HQZw/s4032/20230126_024020948_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="4032" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXp4ajr0Ko9nki92LFrEbbYYe8VaxHt4nxl-wgcv0t5U5jmim8mWiy7oWhCaFMbHLeND3F5EP1MYTj6SRuovL_Kbq9ypJeRUl3gb9cAmN286Q_fZ4MieC_X9GPrX1eNRcUPymGcjAwr22HH_vW8g8YYcymoo2vZkF5fvfA7Gg3XRl81z_7UW722HQZw/w400-h145/20230126_024020948_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PC&F-built car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudmASGXPeUjifSBvEfkiXKkxxzvhnas7w4COAzvdskoh4nbQKUll6SOPARTK_2FHsVtSxeehJCabeuSF6YzgUnD3GjEqZcBecgg77UcP8-gmmyaTReS2fOGFvuqFcaXtqbSUEG8UZtAbiCFtpwSkFqjllqGggngcHysoVldq3LEYdgWEhqTNN462VRA/s4032/20230126_024249400_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2772" data-original-width="4032" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudmASGXPeUjifSBvEfkiXKkxxzvhnas7w4COAzvdskoh4nbQKUll6SOPARTK_2FHsVtSxeehJCabeuSF6YzgUnD3GjEqZcBecgg77UcP8-gmmyaTReS2fOGFvuqFcaXtqbSUEG8UZtAbiCFtpwSkFqjllqGggngcHysoVldq3LEYdgWEhqTNN462VRA/w400-h275/20230126_024249400_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The PC&F cars (right) used a different roof than the Magor-built cars (left).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The cars are beautifully finished with the ever-popular (even on incorrect prototypes) "State of Maine" scheme. There has always been a lot of debate about the scheme, particularly the ends. Although the ends were painted the same color as the roof and top third of the car sides, it was mixed with asphaltum making them look black. I prefer this choice as it better matches photos of the cars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm sure some will complain about the price, but I'm surprised it's as low as it is. It's their first foray into HO scale, and the amount of testing and changes alone add to the cost. But they also have genuine Kadee couplers, Intermountain trucks and wheelsets, and Hi-Tech rubber air hoses. Although OEM prices are less than what we as consumers pay, it does increase the cost of producing the product.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The main reason I'm posting this now (aside from them arriving today) is that Eastern Seaboard Models is they will be in the Mallary building (section 127) at the <a href="https://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/" target="_blank">Amherst Railroad Hobby Show at West Springfield</a> this weekend. If you didn't order the cars, go check them out in person. I doubt whatever is left will last long. I got mine through NHRHTA and I don't see them listed on the site there at all.</div><div><br /></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-81676133327457467832023-01-23T00:52:00.001-05:002023-01-23T00:52:12.696-05:00New Britain Station - Relaunch<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl30fs2sJ5SSKixi2QjIavEfNuuTOKp7EQRxM-eUtyiPBlcH6q2I7vZhL5Q8oEVXJtCCg62q1PP5g_u_Vp5Vd6CQ89iWN4dtM7hd1W3j7PfOiH10oeHtwAbkaMaYB5tmei_8G-VID124z-x-c6RGCxsk8Y-n2ZgHqAMzqFA7F9zegl9HIb0VWPxFB4g/s769/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%204%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="769" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl30fs2sJ5SSKixi2QjIavEfNuuTOKp7EQRxM-eUtyiPBlcH6q2I7vZhL5Q8oEVXJtCCg62q1PP5g_u_Vp5Vd6CQ89iWN4dtM7hd1W3j7PfOiH10oeHtwAbkaMaYB5tmei_8G-VID124z-x-c6RGCxsk8Y-n2ZgHqAMzqFA7F9zegl9HIb0VWPxFB4g/w400-h246/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%204%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hand-colored postcard of New Britain Station.</i></div><div><br /></div>On <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2007/11/note-as-of-this-posting-im-looking-at.html" target="_blank">November 2, 2007</a> I first published New Britain Station. At the time I was still planning my layout.<div><br /></div><div>I posted about the basic concept of the design, with a helix at either end, in <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2008/03/im-going-to-build-layout.html" target="_blank">March of the following year</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>It wasn't <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2009/02/layout-construction-update.html" target="_blank">until almost a year later </a>that I had removed the old layout to prepare construction for the New Britain layout.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2011, I had to <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2011/01/new-britain-station-v20.html" target="_blank">move the website</a> due to technical issues. Quoting guitarist Robert Fripp, "turn a seeming disadvantage to an advantage," and I took the opportunity to completely redesign the site. In 2014, again due to some technical changes, I switched the blog to be hosted at Blogger. It is more robust and added the ability for readers to comment on my posts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I'm launching <a href="https://www.newbritainstation.com/" target="_blank">New Britain Station 3.0</a>. The old Google Sites is being retired, but the deadline was (fortunately) pushed back several times. Which again allowed me to not just transfer it but redesign it entirely. I've updated and rewritten every page and added loads of photos. Although quite time consuming, I have learned so much more since 2011, it really needed a proper refresh. Hopefully for the last time. The blog will continue without any changes.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Postcards of New Britain</h2><div>The photo at the top of the page is from a postcard produced for F.W. Woolworth Co. and is one I have used as the main photo on the site. Like most postcards, there's no copyright date but the one I have was postmarked in 1913. As it turns out, New Britain Station was a popular subject for postcards. I have found nine different ones to date - here they are:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9hrCIRigJ3UWYyzaomVMM9lu37TT0Zgsh2CI0R349CxkTSpBAqeqFV2wjyHB4G5Z99svFoj75kUQY5l1VEdbCA9NOGhAOXx0Cijj5eY8iVBgT_7qdPhOY4bW072rJNh17_HnYomRQ_V3QdSUmx8HfnKqV3_cuV_tNYxC2kl8Lk0k1_wpK5uMCfno3g/s5196/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4236" data-original-width="5196" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9hrCIRigJ3UWYyzaomVMM9lu37TT0Zgsh2CI0R349CxkTSpBAqeqFV2wjyHB4G5Z99svFoj75kUQY5l1VEdbCA9NOGhAOXx0Cijj5eY8iVBgT_7qdPhOY4bW072rJNh17_HnYomRQ_V3QdSUmx8HfnKqV3_cuV_tNYxC2kl8Lk0k1_wpK5uMCfno3g/w400-h326/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Souvenir Postcard Co. N.Y., postmarked in 1907.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1-OjAFZfqamhjMRAuDU9LGlJ5GNbMciPVAGiIJpx5CBPqPmu3E44LYYTmH4VsYPcQSWn1yj5mVc4nx5SEgjQ9j6gJ5171WzrmjbrLLCCa-bWqKl77-qnnWQ-EYmil-OYfmOM-aJ4xrPNvFeM5M8q3a-QX_TY9akZRu0NpHPGfL7IcdrBgODg06Ct7Q/s6372/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="6372" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1-OjAFZfqamhjMRAuDU9LGlJ5GNbMciPVAGiIJpx5CBPqPmu3E44LYYTmH4VsYPcQSWn1yj5mVc4nx5SEgjQ9j6gJ5171WzrmjbrLLCCa-bWqKl77-qnnWQ-EYmil-OYfmOM-aJ4xrPNvFeM5M8q3a-QX_TY9akZRu0NpHPGfL7IcdrBgODg06Ct7Q/w400-h269/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">August Schmeltzer Co, Meriden Conn. Made in Germany. Postmarked 1911</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrPOen0sQKJl4nOyhtnJqwjLnsLrUmX19mkIdKPwLvS2Nz7mkOjMk6iwJY6_fT6o7GUjyYcHgdexax3Jx_fearh4-ERB5NPA-vzazwlS4Pt_59jHiYdlTilqv2YwYhBNICQgeDXaxD2kYwX6a7cX6bV5j-1pzY0faj02F-Q97MpkN5Co9Wg-cmK9AqQ/s6492/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3564" data-original-width="6492" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrPOen0sQKJl4nOyhtnJqwjLnsLrUmX19mkIdKPwLvS2Nz7mkOjMk6iwJY6_fT6o7GUjyYcHgdexax3Jx_fearh4-ERB5NPA-vzazwlS4Pt_59jHiYdlTilqv2YwYhBNICQgeDXaxD2kYwX6a7cX6bV5j-1pzY0faj02F-Q97MpkN5Co9Wg-cmK9AqQ/w400-h220/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Danzinger & Bermin, New Haven Conn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWfNKcSuZW12c24Gp7vL1yDBWp0mRIp3kVpr1EAQLQBatkVDCfUpN46mqvy1UkqzTMf6_9DbJ-cX6mEZJLZaerBUF-i_TT8hcK5pT4eudCMUb8L4y0FMszxH4GQRtDGV-HY6pamwkaq5x-gwMUh2l52wcdL_OO5Mlxkbt3Lvx22tI3YTN5s0375msuw/s6300/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="6300" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWfNKcSuZW12c24Gp7vL1yDBWp0mRIp3kVpr1EAQLQBatkVDCfUpN46mqvy1UkqzTMf6_9DbJ-cX6mEZJLZaerBUF-i_TT8hcK5pT4eudCMUb8L4y0FMszxH4GQRtDGV-HY6pamwkaq5x-gwMUh2l52wcdL_OO5Mlxkbt3Lvx22tI3YTN5s0375msuw/w400-h253/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Danzinger & Berman, New Haven Conn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYwg8108NtbHhdck-AAieiCma5iXn_hpiY2f8qJYGov5haRwPuiLHvwd2uRVqkDk2vp1mvHYZF6DxZZxQX8a0I0PCDySC0kk5m1ukt0yFg_Wun0Hje32kJ4BxPuK-WrA4tPtKJLyCfS9p2uav1QgYQsq1wxkgrKeIIZ4SAUzzA-IfOKDOUPRHNZUXUQ/s6336/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4200" data-original-width="6336" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYwg8108NtbHhdck-AAieiCma5iXn_hpiY2f8qJYGov5haRwPuiLHvwd2uRVqkDk2vp1mvHYZF6DxZZxQX8a0I0PCDySC0kk5m1ukt0yFg_Wun0Hje32kJ4BxPuK-WrA4tPtKJLyCfS9p2uav1QgYQsq1wxkgrKeIIZ4SAUzzA-IfOKDOUPRHNZUXUQ/w400-h265/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chapin New Company, Hartford, Conn. Made in Germany. Postmarked 1908.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmKrycAh00Id8oT-JBwVDhVNqpFou6qgniLngK7_q4udQtRMRI32d9fHZJulisicSdPihF7hPqRjnEQ-3A5GLuiPEad49Cn8Z10X3bQswdsHHJwz0jGE0b2S6cBWUXvrGPFbi_z6NEYVoX744jPAuFQysNrqlNbyLegJHhtqlyvlq9BAVQjAM1d9M1A/s6396/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="6396" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmKrycAh00Id8oT-JBwVDhVNqpFou6qgniLngK7_q4udQtRMRI32d9fHZJulisicSdPihF7hPqRjnEQ-3A5GLuiPEad49Cn8Z10X3bQswdsHHJwz0jGE0b2S6cBWUXvrGPFbi_z6NEYVoX744jPAuFQysNrqlNbyLegJHhtqlyvlq9BAVQjAM1d9M1A/w400-h259/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%208.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chas. M. Hutlgren, New Britain, Conn. Made in Great Britain.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCJ9WLXmSYZsMKlG8XojpXzaUWz7aCMu-lc2fQcxl1uMt6NR-GW2tBvJNy_y7cVyhawzhJK-ApkbOJJJqFqeOrDPJoxdhOfYKimY83YukfQfEnA-k7QHnAW_y5CF53Adotd63khD6GZwXe0MSgDSpwFqkL_WJWeh0VlKXgRdFSlTBOa8tg4oy4cTTLg/s689/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="689" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCJ9WLXmSYZsMKlG8XojpXzaUWz7aCMu-lc2fQcxl1uMt6NR-GW2tBvJNy_y7cVyhawzhJK-ApkbOJJJqFqeOrDPJoxdhOfYKimY83YukfQfEnA-k7QHnAW_y5CF53Adotd63khD6GZwXe0MSgDSpwFqkL_WJWeh0VlKXgRdFSlTBOa8tg4oy4cTTLg/w400-h254/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leighton & Valentine Co., N.Y. City. Postmarked 1913</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs5RMwQn1msk2ndgS0mpqqxP_a576NmFWx2nQVCgERnDg100V7S7AtNp35nOB1oOpGrKlgy11kmj6Em6yQJpV6HPOWdRXGVgnC5s8iKXpYiQfIJzohgdIO9VEJF9QoyuGxTJOt8RpR7oBG9yUgK39ZMjU-LW1yf0rGpDnNAJ61xko_fv-7dAvC3YW1w/s6432/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4020" data-original-width="6432" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs5RMwQn1msk2ndgS0mpqqxP_a576NmFWx2nQVCgERnDg100V7S7AtNp35nOB1oOpGrKlgy11kmj6Em6yQJpV6HPOWdRXGVgnC5s8iKXpYiQfIJzohgdIO9VEJF9QoyuGxTJOt8RpR7oBG9yUgK39ZMjU-LW1yf0rGpDnNAJ61xko_fv-7dAvC3YW1w/w400-h250/New%20Britain%20Station%20Postcard%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">August Schmeltzer Co., Meriden, Conn. Made in Germany.</div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-25579129517638659022023-01-18T13:37:00.029-05:002023-01-18T13:37:00.190-05:00Another unusual car?<p>As I'm wrapping up the final few pages on the new website (for now) I was looking more closely at this photo of a J-1 (3019?) in Whiting Street Yard. I think this is a Kent Cochrane photo from c1940, but the window of time based on other elements in this, and another photo, is post-1936, pre-1945.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YZDLOEAtJXX7F0O9K2Vs3oxQfO9q4H2WcQQNFDMgISPky90TTE-38lVGhZf8ug1BAoZE8btlU2S8j0tpnL5ruxVnjhroC0pdV4xI4VJAu1Xx-L20TkOWcdqPcXwEMW6Oh5150Zzq_mceQ4hH8TBl_UHYt-jBkk-QjRxTil3BFSrZBc2PYys4ybpiMg/s1200/NH%20J-1%20leaving%20Whiting%20Street%20Yard,%20New%20Britain%20CT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="802" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YZDLOEAtJXX7F0O9K2Vs3oxQfO9q4H2WcQQNFDMgISPky90TTE-38lVGhZf8ug1BAoZE8btlU2S8j0tpnL5ruxVnjhroC0pdV4xI4VJAu1Xx-L20TkOWcdqPcXwEMW6Oh5150Zzq_mceQ4hH8TBl_UHYt-jBkk-QjRxTil3BFSrZBc2PYys4ybpiMg/w429-h640/NH%20J-1%20leaving%20Whiting%20Street%20Yard,%20New%20Britain%20CT.jpg" width="429" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZyUA5BdCoyhB9u7s88ins4hUowm5hXZC80xeF2hc-L87RS1ZWIuyn8vLBPIcbDhGT11TvDdHdpcxVf4Ew-bmtgjFkDj0JfXMgcl17Uza5Cs_SlYNqbItTp-g4lS5AjtGPRYRwr6XijQjjBduXm3ZO42b-NEf8lwljOp80IhdxQJiv4yBWJELc5QDOA/s818/NH%20J-1%20leaving%20Whiting%20Street%20Yard,%20New%20Britain%20CT%20(zoom%201).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="549" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZyUA5BdCoyhB9u7s88ins4hUowm5hXZC80xeF2hc-L87RS1ZWIuyn8vLBPIcbDhGT11TvDdHdpcxVf4Ew-bmtgjFkDj0JfXMgcl17Uza5Cs_SlYNqbItTp-g4lS5AjtGPRYRwr6XijQjjBduXm3ZO42b-NEf8lwljOp80IhdxQJiv4yBWJELc5QDOA/w430-h640/NH%20J-1%20leaving%20Whiting%20Street%20Yard,%20New%20Britain%20CT%20(zoom%201).jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAWf_647yCZpqDRiKcmG5AbGvN7JOzYsLmO89AGdRCNbmqRAp1TfjKZ0IEvH2KuuQE_b6K2yoaFd_sG7A7eeyPOQoOqckDGC_BiyQX6vEMTCwcClfR7tXPy6kb-Wdr-J24wsmTsUr22MUL4Nlj-yRxC92Xje_sZKG8SfPzuiGFORZDmUza4_-2sluiw/s351/NH%20J-1%20leaving%20Whiting%20Street%20Yard,%20New%20Britain%20CT%20(X24).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="210" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAWf_647yCZpqDRiKcmG5AbGvN7JOzYsLmO89AGdRCNbmqRAp1TfjKZ0IEvH2KuuQE_b6K2yoaFd_sG7A7eeyPOQoOqckDGC_BiyQX6vEMTCwcClfR7tXPy6kb-Wdr-J24wsmTsUr22MUL4Nlj-yRxC92Xje_sZKG8SfPzuiGFORZDmUza4_-2sluiw/w382-h640/NH%20J-1%20leaving%20Whiting%20Street%20Yard,%20New%20Britain%20CT%20(X24).jpg" width="382" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Is that a PRR X24 with horizontal sheathing and Youngstown doors?</p><p style="text-align: center;">The lettering in the upper left is "Autom/obiles"</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sure, it's a Pennsy car, how unusual can it be? Originally built 1913, the PRR rostered 2,000 cars. Not a lot for them, perhaps, but a lot of a distinctive class. But between 1934 and 1942 1,421 of the cars were converted to K7 stock cars. Only 318 remained in the 1938 ORER, and I've never seen another photo of an X24 with horizontal sheathing.There were still 289 in 1943, and 147 in 1948.</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-51143567266836575882023-01-11T15:24:00.042-05:002023-01-11T15:24:00.192-05:00Baggage CarsSomebody was looking for some baggage car kits, so I was looking through photos to identify the classes of baggage cars I'd need (and what I could spare) and came across something rather interesting. I also needed to finish the updating the page on the new website for passenger equipment, which led to more digging, and yet another interesting find. The result? A post on baggage cars.<h3 style="text-align: center;">Steel Underframe (Wood) Baggage Cars (3800-3946)</h3><div>Photos seem to confirm that all of the Highland Line passenger trains were assigned Steel Underframe Baggage Cars from the 3800-3946 series of cars. Like Pete Puma, I'll need three or four of them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5y3mqk5Mt5voKe-Q56IrMSUwt0bBuogdujWZyyBaFtthFkA-iRQ-I6dCnY47dD5qQ4jCCqsw9vFsflZPb_SBbq20VjyVIOI-QPBvfakisQqd0kLR4mrSyCfd2ZVgM1rIkFdZBv5qWUEatm3M4fijLhuvt5cAKD_Wg61gMovz-bBwLql-goTNDEOpoQ/s9408/NH%203800-3946%2060'%20Wood%20Baggage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6204" data-original-width="9408" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5y3mqk5Mt5voKe-Q56IrMSUwt0bBuogdujWZyyBaFtthFkA-iRQ-I6dCnY47dD5qQ4jCCqsw9vFsflZPb_SBbq20VjyVIOI-QPBvfakisQqd0kLR4mrSyCfd2ZVgM1rIkFdZBv5qWUEatm3M4fijLhuvt5cAKD_Wg61gMovz-bBwLql-goTNDEOpoQ/w400-h264/NH%203800-3946%2060'%20Wood%20Baggage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The next question is whether I need any steel baggage cars, and which ones. I knew that they showed up in several of the photos at the station. Each day there's a baggage car that is spotted at the station to bring storage mail to Hartford in the evening. I'm 99% sure that these would be 60' steel cars from the 5300-5404 series, and not the longer 70' cars since Train No. 472 is assigned 60' of storage mail.</div><div><br /></div><div>Can I identify if they are the steel underframe vs steel cars? For example, in one of several Kent Cochrane photos, shere's I-2 No. 1300 at the station. To the left you can see the end of the baggage car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ2wEBd9YFv7NjE0ybC1g3e06y4HMT_sWZIyUGeAqaAEQgAOATmziJOi3eelHVtlvkuYDuPJ-staFYDna-X1BX9Gq1Uv6_G4MNymP_eDUwAWi4OHeDc9pFM6953Y4CfPS1GgSh7zOZfbNku1Xa0juFfgp7ub_2oKlufPLxFNhL37faaozdqaq0UN5zQ/s3284/NH%20I-2%20%231300%20eastbound%20at%20New%20Britain%20Station%20(2).tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="3284" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ2wEBd9YFv7NjE0ybC1g3e06y4HMT_sWZIyUGeAqaAEQgAOATmziJOi3eelHVtlvkuYDuPJ-staFYDna-X1BX9Gq1Uv6_G4MNymP_eDUwAWi4OHeDc9pFM6953Y4CfPS1GgSh7zOZfbNku1Xa0juFfgp7ub_2oKlufPLxFNhL37faaozdqaq0UN5zQ/w400-h231/NH%20I-2%20%231300%20eastbound%20at%20New%20Britain%20Station%20(2).tif" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>If you note, the end rails are a simple right angle. That's the arrangement on the 3800-series of cars. Here's I-1 No. 1007 at the station and you can clearly see that the train has a wooden baggage car.<div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRU3Bsw92ZyxIie46a2EZVwgtGD55t5C45MAYH9Tl1GPTjYEMhBap2Go6hyIKxGkCeRApbVWKN6Xuzj5eurvs1cXD7q0gn1WtgCBE6F0OvkG7X32der7XyFayJZ9crvhfKsXSJaxzzFLDI9QipTm1BADNJmP4Ng3sbKAKJaQdm9fLmkoOOHq2Bhp8qA/s5688/NH%20I-1%20%231007%20WB%20at%20New%20Britain%20CT%20circa%201947%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3252" data-original-width="5688" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRU3Bsw92ZyxIie46a2EZVwgtGD55t5C45MAYH9Tl1GPTjYEMhBap2Go6hyIKxGkCeRApbVWKN6Xuzj5eurvs1cXD7q0gn1WtgCBE6F0OvkG7X32der7XyFayJZ9crvhfKsXSJaxzzFLDI9QipTm1BADNJmP4Ng3sbKAKJaQdm9fLmkoOOHq2Bhp8qA/w400-h229/NH%20I-1%20%231007%20WB%20at%20New%20Britain%20CT%20circa%201947%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>But at the station is another baggage car. If I zoom in, we can see that it has an upper right handrail at about a 45-degree angle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot9BMQKQZ8gbT7Va-GOkOI50QFIHdpHlTOdF2WCnTzsJ_czcPT2iYzdsj526PVW0N4B-x4RjvOS9ssJ0C0ArzyI1XjVr3RPMfzpsMpBCjelB8dLnZ7pGF4DwKyVldJaupTrks8Ci81On9zTw1ZZN7Rtyn1Nar7fIcA71OWsdeavXG2G5lLew-S5ZVMA/s438/NH%20I-1%20%231007%20WB%20at%20New%20Britain%20CT%20circa%201947%20(baggage%20car).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="438" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot9BMQKQZ8gbT7Va-GOkOI50QFIHdpHlTOdF2WCnTzsJ_czcPT2iYzdsj526PVW0N4B-x4RjvOS9ssJ0C0ArzyI1XjVr3RPMfzpsMpBCjelB8dLnZ7pGF4DwKyVldJaupTrks8Ci81On9zTw1ZZN7Rtyn1Nar7fIcA71OWsdeavXG2G5lLew-S5ZVMA/w400-h350/NH%20I-1%20%231007%20WB%20at%20New%20Britain%20CT%20circa%201947%20(baggage%20car).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>That's a signature feature of the Osgood-Bradley built steel baggage cars. It won't tell us the length of the car, but since it's only assigned 60' of storage mail, I'm comfortable with that. Are they common?</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">60' Steel Baggage Car (5300-5404)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4nFpgZUm7cqqYcj5V9jcNAVW4VTb-Tzio4O0VwLBDXXbKzwr24s3wrMbd7ChsMIG-ETSyb42S9DyysRjP8ETETBuEJTvHbf4Q-cocBfLBqbKgfKXEGsXhnuZblQ2_CKO2-27GjfrMdykmZ5keGbK6ZqkqQxkkmeGk8kP1IUJTEq-L771MfVweQbx6Q/s9372/NH%205300-5404%2060'%20Baggage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5928" data-original-width="9372" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4nFpgZUm7cqqYcj5V9jcNAVW4VTb-Tzio4O0VwLBDXXbKzwr24s3wrMbd7ChsMIG-ETSyb42S9DyysRjP8ETETBuEJTvHbf4Q-cocBfLBqbKgfKXEGsXhnuZblQ2_CKO2-27GjfrMdykmZ5keGbK6ZqkqQxkkmeGk8kP1IUJTEq-L771MfVweQbx6Q/w400-h253/NH%205300-5404%2060'%20Baggage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>But then things get more interesting...</div><div><br /></div><div>Three photos show alternate angles of baggage cars at the station. First is this baggage car behind DEY-4 No. 0803. You can see a belt line, so it's a steel car (I have commented in the past that I thought it was wood). What I find more interesting is that it's in the yard. That leads me to believe these were probably brought to New Britain by a freight train.</div><div><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2y3V7YQN1p9eNlbt1talEQ2I-M41kCxVpQFJ41V8_uLVWu16v-K0d5a8zO-WoaKJ2PmMzH2Hso7QLQEOkt27Ho8xrfRzqCDwMpgukbJDJcKFsGDBD9oqyfbaIF0wt2V4pZjDtscubngDEGW2E0U3m0xbVeSCANEYyVccmvgUxyN24bOuL9Vb7OKiS4A/s739/NH%20DEY-4%20%230802%20in%20New%20Britain%20Yard%20(Baggage%20Car).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="739" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2y3V7YQN1p9eNlbt1talEQ2I-M41kCxVpQFJ41V8_uLVWu16v-K0d5a8zO-WoaKJ2PmMzH2Hso7QLQEOkt27Ho8xrfRzqCDwMpgukbJDJcKFsGDBD9oqyfbaIF0wt2V4pZjDtscubngDEGW2E0U3m0xbVeSCANEYyVccmvgUxyN24bOuL9Vb7OKiS4A/s320/NH%20DEY-4%20%230802%20in%20New%20Britain%20Yard%20(Baggage%20Car).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second photo taken by Jim Karl on the 1949 day is moments later. Ted Culotta noticed the clerestory roof behind No. 0802, and I found the photo above later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOcUiGZ_zoYiRIOJB1OS4NG-4YEW2-UWgzEU6LfEyM_02CI0A0cLJx9yCm8Z8OHf8CkVcHTflz5Y8dL1SVyeHpTPUO6Ut6kH_ziwCEsJf4Uyn3h_H5vkpiaeqOYQKkjjodAcZs7HcRxVUW7-g7YCzuB-N7D5B1A-CFi8zOFktUbv8y9Y9CjT2n2r_uw/s881/NH%20DEY-4%20%230802%20New%20Britain%201949%20(Baggage%20Car).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="881" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOcUiGZ_zoYiRIOJB1OS4NG-4YEW2-UWgzEU6LfEyM_02CI0A0cLJx9yCm8Z8OHf8CkVcHTflz5Y8dL1SVyeHpTPUO6Ut6kH_ziwCEsJf4Uyn3h_H5vkpiaeqOYQKkjjodAcZs7HcRxVUW7-g7YCzuB-N7D5B1A-CFi8zOFktUbv8y9Y9CjT2n2r_uw/w400-h338/NH%20DEY-4%20%230802%20New%20Britain%201949%20(Baggage%20Car).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But wait, looking at the spacing between the Ward ventilators, there are six "windows" between them. A photo of in the Bob Liljestrand book shows that the 60' car have only four. Is that a 70' car?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The F&C model, and the <a href="http://fandckits.com/HO_Passenger_Traction/801.html" target="_blank">prototype photo on their site</a> shows the 70' car also has only four. But here are two photos (the second is of No. 5532) that show some of them had different spacings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPRdQ2_8BZS4EcSlfSP_AhEd6cjzaOrWVOR4te0HuakNIsnntIJ0R3fxV-LvARa28TurQnwGV40rLvWcyOps3HKIIGo_ag0ENcdKJkUr7GdSmah4OYoLukjEdC1v2jzbZQG02z3AlKovNeYEjn1SCziAEUPTsmhBBqpuh5V_cOvhmt-gO-34VkEjZYA/s649/NH%2060'%20Steel%20Baggage%20Car.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="649" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPRdQ2_8BZS4EcSlfSP_AhEd6cjzaOrWVOR4te0HuakNIsnntIJ0R3fxV-LvARa28TurQnwGV40rLvWcyOps3HKIIGo_ag0ENcdKJkUr7GdSmah4OYoLukjEdC1v2jzbZQG02z3AlKovNeYEjn1SCziAEUPTsmhBBqpuh5V_cOvhmt-gO-34VkEjZYA/w400-h306/NH%2060'%20Steel%20Baggage%20Car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Da7leWLOJ8nTS63D-cb1iliHBiJaeUmtNtWxUce8DFOxRgLeDfZKIpKy3MEWkEm5pXsQoPvxH0hmNYPY_rdnum1_IeCa5HRVgsrKzX9EEXmPVTHFCrNv3EMbDAfhOAxa5R6pxfYTTYVuqRE-OMD90b0QIMm6xGVNqp1Qh2tux2vWMHlUqnYREzbHsQ/s727/NH%205532%2070'%20Baggage%20Car.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="727" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Da7leWLOJ8nTS63D-cb1iliHBiJaeUmtNtWxUce8DFOxRgLeDfZKIpKy3MEWkEm5pXsQoPvxH0hmNYPY_rdnum1_IeCa5HRVgsrKzX9EEXmPVTHFCrNv3EMbDAfhOAxa5R6pxfYTTYVuqRE-OMD90b0QIMm6xGVNqp1Qh2tux2vWMHlUqnYREzbHsQ/w400-h255/NH%205532%2070'%20Baggage%20Car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I already have a couple of the 70' car kits in progress, but the vents are cast into the roof and that complicates things. But it is interesting to see a 70' car in New Britain. Since this is a clerestory roof, it's from the 5500-5569 series of cars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">70' Steel Baggage Cars (5500-5569)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchhb9cAanNMbeGZImHtt8ZdE5Kz3-5KXC43C8FFz6zeHJNAaYo0UcJzCGyBOpbCAL6zMNdYaETpho4O8Iyvr6lKBjklHv3n_feIBL6uDofKEsmwoTFlwMw0dlTMLPpva4BbwMSdDbR2liBQpbuobZd1QOKHFOGbaZObrudbLGsdJQNlM-lWTyJR-2fw/s9708/NH%205500-5569%2070'%20Baggage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6264" data-original-width="9708" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchhb9cAanNMbeGZImHtt8ZdE5Kz3-5KXC43C8FFz6zeHJNAaYo0UcJzCGyBOpbCAL6zMNdYaETpho4O8Iyvr6lKBjklHv3n_feIBL6uDofKEsmwoTFlwMw0dlTMLPpva4BbwMSdDbR2liBQpbuobZd1QOKHFOGbaZObrudbLGsdJQNlM-lWTyJR-2fw/w400-h258/NH%205500-5569%2070'%20Baggage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In that second Jim Karl photo we can also clearly see the side of two baggage cars spotted at the station. The first is clearly steel, and the second is wood. With three cars, it looks like several may have been brought at the beginning of the week. Counting panels, it appears to be a 60' car.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's another even better shot of a steel and a wood baggage in the photo of the Comet at the station. These seems to be in the middle of a switching move, because the cars are sitting on the westbound main (Track No. 1). </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYz0W6wLApglFMXDUG0Zh_qvI3NOg3_Qwjn6k_GatCCWD4CYQwtAaTXZW1yW6vO3vt0kln9mLo_MHSJQOtzWy_oAPD8lkuuhrK7kjbZiqtDpaMmpGavK-Yrzc7qsjsTWq5WeEyIKARcVqsRf_uVy3pLQXavl4Yywlt9C2rKkYAibQVYPPOE7apEue7Q/s1139/NH%20Comet%20eastbound%20on%20Train%20128%20at%20New%20Britain%20Station%201951%20(Cochrane)(Baggage%20Car).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1139" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYz0W6wLApglFMXDUG0Zh_qvI3NOg3_Qwjn6k_GatCCWD4CYQwtAaTXZW1yW6vO3vt0kln9mLo_MHSJQOtzWy_oAPD8lkuuhrK7kjbZiqtDpaMmpGavK-Yrzc7qsjsTWq5WeEyIKARcVqsRf_uVy3pLQXavl4Yywlt9C2rKkYAibQVYPPOE7apEue7Q/w400-h318/NH%20Comet%20eastbound%20on%20Train%20128%20at%20New%20Britain%20Station%201951%20(Cochrane)(Baggage%20Car).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In true New Haven fashion, though, it has to be different. The number of panels is obviously different than in the other photo. It also doesn't have Ward vents, nor the angled end railing. Yes, this is a different car. Unique, in fact, on the New Haven. Car no. 5407 was purchased second-hand in 1942 and is the only car on the railroad like it. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">60' Steel Baggage Car (5407)</h3><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuOMpM9c-qUmUrRC8fklTJVlx0vNiwR6ibOFCLrBa6UlQgBbQrHjXK85lzGPcVNtW7B4qEzWuZoHRir27YPwphOpEaHzXo1Hq5wRPcX56q6sor99S9rJ96F7P7-8hSuGi256lx6JI8H5i6OECFxhpb2TiDstxeokqB-r1IZLdehX6T2w0Q5jw2lW9uA/s9408/NH%205407%2060'%20Baggage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6072" data-original-width="9408" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuOMpM9c-qUmUrRC8fklTJVlx0vNiwR6ibOFCLrBa6UlQgBbQrHjXK85lzGPcVNtW7B4qEzWuZoHRir27YPwphOpEaHzXo1Hq5wRPcX56q6sor99S9rJ96F7P7-8hSuGi256lx6JI8H5i6OECFxhpb2TiDstxeokqB-r1IZLdehX6T2w0Q5jw2lW9uA/w400-h259/NH%205407%2060'%20Baggage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Could the baggage car in the photo of No. 1300 above also be this car since it lacks the angled end railing? No, because it has an Ajax handbrake, and 5407 has a "vertical wheel type," which, in the photo, looks a lot like an Equipco handbrake.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some time ago I had used the Jim Karl photo as a <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2017/02/modeling-from-photo-rare-or-not.html" target="_blank">commentary on rare cars</a>. Well, here are a couple more. And apparently I need more baggage cars than I thought...</div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-84650819188979520082022-11-02T13:02:00.005-04:002022-11-10T21:51:55.422-05:00I Did a Thing (No Sacred Cows)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEVGcts-UZ16RPtHGqKkV_Xh4DfY0oH63e_cYMGP0YxHDYO7QVLlQVe5K5YxTuj6AKA0ccGIuUJOWYiSFZqDI7E81EprJwDWJV9XbO1reXE4dHcfP-6TlC7OilYTRcySd0ua0ulafVnf6Q606p4WqYEqhgb2bAKMa3ZqS033pPSTTS2EyR3Q-ZQVrEQ/s4032/20221030_025719623_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEVGcts-UZ16RPtHGqKkV_Xh4DfY0oH63e_cYMGP0YxHDYO7QVLlQVe5K5YxTuj6AKA0ccGIuUJOWYiSFZqDI7E81EprJwDWJV9XbO1reXE4dHcfP-6TlC7OilYTRcySd0ua0ulafVnf6Q606p4WqYEqhgb2bAKMa3ZqS033pPSTTS2EyR3Q-ZQVrEQ/w400-h300/20221030_025719623_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Ever since I had the <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2014/06/this-and-that.html" target="_blank">issue with the white film over the yard</a> (and <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2015/07/aaarrgggh.html" target="_blank">here</a>), I have been struggling with trying to entirely eliminate it. For the main yard I had simply removed the track and all the ground cover, but I didn't do the main tracks or Track No. 5.</p><p>Several months ago, I started cleaning out all of the ballast and most of the ground cover to the section west of Main St. In addition to not taking very long, I was able to address a few other minor issues in the process.</p><p>I wasn't entirely happy with how the <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2015/07/ground-cover-and-ballast.html" target="_blank">ground cover, ballast, and track weathering itself</a>. At the time I really liked it, but I've continued to experiment and improve my approach. This is the centerpiece of the layout but wouldn't be up to my current standards. So, I started the process of removing the ground cover and ballast here as well. As I was doing so, it occurred to me that I could do the same thing I did before with the yard tracks, leaving just the main tracks and Track No. 5 to clean.</p><p>Not all that much, but it is a slow process. I considered what replacing these tracks would entail but didn't want to go there. But then I damaged a piece of track. Easy enough to fix, but I could also just cut out that section of track and replace it. In fact, I could cut out all of the track, leaving the crossovers and working from them, right?</p><p>One of the things that has always worked for me is to plant the seeds of a problem in my brain, and then just go about my regular activities. In a few days, if there's a solution to be had, it will just come to me. In this case there were several other factors that I hadn't considered that really settled the best course of action.</p><p>1. I made no allowances for under-table switch actuation. I didn't intend to use it but learned that I need to tie in the main track switches with the signal system. This requires removing the spring from the throwbars, and installing them under existing, ballasted track. Furthermore, at least one is directly over joist.</p><p>2. There were some issues with the track arrangement. For example, the location where the crossing shanty sits is much tighter than it should be. Also, as I've learned more, I set the Whiting Street Yard tracks on a prototypical 14' track center. In addition to looking better, it makes enough room to add a missing yard track in New Britain Yard. Correcting the arrangement also moves a switch from Track No. 5 to a side track where it belongs, and properly extends one of the yard tracks across Elm Street. The new arrangement also increases capacity of the yard by about 10 cars. </p><p>3. Laying new track would be much faster than cleaning and working with what was there. Furthermore, it feels much more like progress than the slow process of cleaning out the ballast. That also didn't address the issues with the track weathering either. The only delay is that Microengineering turnouts aren't readily available in Code 70 right now. But I've found much of what I need, and the rest is on the way shortly.</p><p>4. I can add all of the detail parts to the track at the bench, before installing. I can also switch to using KV models joint bars instead of standard rail joiners, improving the appearance even more. </p><p>It also feels like progress. Cleaning out old ballast and "fixing mistakes" feels like a step back. It's often hard to step back and decide that the best option is to "start over" but with over a decade of working on this layout, helping friends on theirs, I've obviously developed new skills, perspectives and goals. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqT8I33uEzqtOR2u1AkU0ROM51UfN9X1oO9SUtikRkjzTSwztKpcVNjkh970D5cWbSHvXrVTbwSSzs-75PyPDwBBx_pQnPaMHwCDd_eJEHS70XueX3bJZo2MB6GW2nv09wri5lEhq6ZpUemLOqM1AGjLPG0m_E0YRDj5Ow3yXY9PSMmEzGzOtJ6jCbA/s4032/20221029_140658543_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqT8I33uEzqtOR2u1AkU0ROM51UfN9X1oO9SUtikRkjzTSwztKpcVNjkh970D5cWbSHvXrVTbwSSzs-75PyPDwBBx_pQnPaMHwCDd_eJEHS70XueX3bJZo2MB6GW2nv09wri5lEhq6ZpUemLOqM1AGjLPG0m_E0YRDj5Ow3yXY9PSMmEzGzOtJ6jCbA/w300-h400/20221029_140658543_iOS.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can confirm that grout does a great job of securing track.</div><p>Online there are a lot of folks who have built multiple layouts. My buddy Bill has been rapidly building his new layout. In his case, it was necessity that required the removal of the old layout. Tony Koester tore down the Allegheny Midland because he eventually found it wasn't lining up with his actual goal (even if he didn't realize it initially) of modeling the NKP. Progress comes in many forms, but in the end it really just means one thing - moving closer to the goal.</p><p>This seemingly drastic step is definitely achieving that, all while making a number of tasks that would be more challenging and time-consuming if I tried to accomplish them with the existing trackwork. I wouldn't even call it a step backward since it will drastically improve the scene with a decade of things I've learned along the way.</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691379750144833461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-11835423211554612002022-10-17T16:50:00.002-04:002023-03-14T15:21:34.964-04:00Research - Railway Mechanical Engineer<p>I'm well into writing an extensive article on New Haven heavyweight equipment. Fortunately, there are a lot of historical records and resources online, particularly periodicals and professional journals. Even better, most are searchable (although skimming through them manually often still yields further insight). </p><p><a href="https://archive.org/details/pub_railway-age" target="_blank"><i>Railway Age</i></a> is probably the most commonly known such journal.</p><p>Many of these periodicals changed names over the years, and/or were combined with other journals. They often maintained their volume numbering system, from predecessors, which can be confusing because you may be looking for editions of, say, <i>Railway Age Gazette, Mechanical Edition</i> and not find many</p><p>One such periodical is <i>Railway Mechanical and Electrical Engineer</i>, which was absorbed into Railway Age in 1953. But it only used that title for a short period. Here's a list of links to the issues of that periodical, along with its predecessors all linked to online sources. It retained its volume numbering system from <i>American Railroad Journal </i>starting in 1832.</p><p>Many of these are hosted in multiple places on the internet, but the ones I have linked have copies that are available to download without restrictions.</p><p>Happy reading and researching!</p><p><a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=amrailj" target="_blank"><i>American Railroad Journal</i></a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Volumes 1 (1832) to 60 (1886)</li><ul><li>This merged with</li></ul></ul><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=vannostrandseng" target="_blank"><i>Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine</i></a></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><ul><li>Volumes 1 (1869) to 35 (1886)</li></ul><li>to become</li></ul></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=railengj" target="_blank"><i>Railroad and Engineering Journal</i></a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Volume 61 (1887) to 66 (1892)</li><ul><li>and then</li></ul></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=amengrail" target="_blank"><i>American Engineer and Railroad Journal</i></a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Volumes 67 (1893) to 85 (1911)</li><li>Volumes 87 (1912) and 87 (1913) were retitled American Engineer</li><ul><li>Another journal:</li></ul></ul><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p><i><a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=natcarbuilder" target="_blank">National Car Builder</a></i></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><ul><ul><li>Volumes 1 (1870) to 16 (1885)</li><ul><li>Only 11-16 are currently available online.</li><ul><li>became</li></ul></ul></ul></ul></ul></ul><p></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p><a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=natcarlocob" target="_blank"><i>National Car and Locomotive Builder</i></a></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><ul><ul><li>Volumes 17 (1886) to 26 (1895)</li><ul><li>then was absorbed into <i>American Engineer and Railroad Journal</i></li></ul></ul></ul></ul></ul><p></p></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>Partway through 1913 it was acquired by the Railway Age Gazette:</li></ul></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=railagemech" target="_blank"><i>Railway Age Gazette, Mechanical Edition</i></a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Volumes 87 (1913) to 89 (1915)</li><ul><li>It 1916 it was retitled to:</li></ul></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://archive.org/search.php?query=%22Railway+Mechanical+Engineer%22" target="_blank"><i>Railway Mechanical Engineer</i></a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Volumes 90 (1916) to 123 (1949)</li><ul><li>After 1949 it became</li></ul></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://archive.org/search.php?query=%22Railway%20Mechanical%20and%20Electrical%20Engineer%22" target="_blank"><i>Railway Mechanical and Electrical Engineer</i></a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Volumes 124 (1950) to 126 (1952)</li><ul><li>It was then absorbed into <a href="https://archive.org/details/pub_railway-age" target="_blank">Railway Age</a></li></ul></ul><p></p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-65726098630824698532022-09-14T10:33:00.004-04:002022-09-14T10:33:40.268-04:00NHRHTA Shoreliner Index<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubWD1ydgNVQsjg4YBbzcRu7VqgcIfcwyN_pRFFKC0U-aYnYldMKDB6zHeZUGveSOci8kWIZG9tzCPsVOqHl7WyZpJuLiOeCnNXWdCXWb20s7XCaZANqWIKs6sDHrvB72s4D6UEwWgXMdWa9TcAN6u4yxuIdE1PNYtCzSo4nm8cWsyVP0fwjOqzAn66Q/s750/44-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubWD1ydgNVQsjg4YBbzcRu7VqgcIfcwyN_pRFFKC0U-aYnYldMKDB6zHeZUGveSOci8kWIZG9tzCPsVOqHl7WyZpJuLiOeCnNXWdCXWb20s7XCaZANqWIKs6sDHrvB72s4D6UEwWgXMdWa9TcAN6u4yxuIdE1PNYtCzSo4nm8cWsyVP0fwjOqzAn66Q/w400-h400/44-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>John Kasey has compiled an excellent index for <i>Shoreliner</i> magazine and has graciously allowed me to host it here so anyone can access it.</p><p><a href="https://newbritainstation-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/p/randy/EcEI2MAN3V1Jm_zGO7JHMfUBXUjdto9JyTxdcf2PGrihbg?e=SD9Esu" target="_blank">John Kasey's Shoreliner Index</a></p><p>Of course, I highly encourage you to subscribe over at <a href="https://www.nhrhta.org/shoreliner" target="_blank">NHRHTA</a>, and you can also order many back issues there too.</p><p><i>Shoreliner </i>30.4 has an excellent article on the New Haven DERS-1b (Alco RS-1) locomotives written by John. </p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-14300791211318307312022-08-16T08:09:00.000-04:002022-08-16T08:09:08.400-04:00Deluxe Heavyweight Car Side Test Prints<p>Here are some initial test shots of the sides for the Deluxe Coaches, Smokers, and Baggage & Smokers. I'm quite happy with how they've come out. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KM0o-Ej8o1wPxHYAeXexEVIDJbbsy5mQUxkjAoibiHSIMVKKLbHWqcba7b5cfIl9zujNI3QD8hR0QFcojZriAtUDpkI4yO6PF5F1eG54LRDfhr3aSYio7uHKn76Ferk6Vlbm9vDWKnvJDAQ85FL_EVor6F7TxJxuWifasLqW4tVQbtV3XOtbEYfQwA/s4032/20220711_211631215_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KM0o-Ej8o1wPxHYAeXexEVIDJbbsy5mQUxkjAoibiHSIMVKKLbHWqcba7b5cfIl9zujNI3QD8hR0QFcojZriAtUDpkI4yO6PF5F1eG54LRDfhr3aSYio7uHKn76Ferk6Vlbm9vDWKnvJDAQ85FL_EVor6F7TxJxuWifasLqW4tVQbtV3XOtbEYfQwA/w400-h300/20220711_211631215_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">There is some slight ghosting next to some of the rivets. I'm not sure they will show when primed/painted, but they should be easy enough to clean up if needed. We've (well, Chris has) also made some adjustments to the CAD that we hope will prevent it in the final prints. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyGHYTGmGS29Ijh_t3G4GTEGzIVcR9Q1x6cIQ-NevVrUpE_NZJdHoWMIgjFObN7AVxJtamG6uVbbAO-ylBcRrbVuwi_NczWY2wolY_GK7gVtxLuX14Z1PImoCfgh65C-rgFNRsdScOyfbnqGNgRFq9Y5IzF5tkyP4bAVE1cINXqke84OsHgwCaEC_4Q/s4032/20220711_212423497_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyGHYTGmGS29Ijh_t3G4GTEGzIVcR9Q1x6cIQ-NevVrUpE_NZJdHoWMIgjFObN7AVxJtamG6uVbbAO-ylBcRrbVuwi_NczWY2wolY_GK7gVtxLuX14Z1PImoCfgh65C-rgFNRsdScOyfbnqGNgRFq9Y5IzF5tkyP4bAVE1cINXqke84OsHgwCaEC_4Q/w400-h300/20220711_212423497_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsR1QOA7i0xSk0CVIPK5MIO8C2WCRO26zsNBPn_ZyXsRGkOEkM4CcMv2h3_mGGS2m1i5DUl-237JsYHvQQJsgAdvWbJjoCVg79dO2B0LbKacZBkrJGtXi-tMjgqxmUAQrZJ_Oh4H9gsX2k4pY3IjP-Si7Iry3_LjEge0Q7Psjr5vcLhjNjvWw-_9Llg/s4032/20220711_211713464_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsR1QOA7i0xSk0CVIPK5MIO8C2WCRO26zsNBPn_ZyXsRGkOEkM4CcMv2h3_mGGS2m1i5DUl-237JsYHvQQJsgAdvWbJjoCVg79dO2B0LbKacZBkrJGtXi-tMjgqxmUAQrZJ_Oh4H9gsX2k4pY3IjP-Si7Iry3_LjEge0Q7Psjr5vcLhjNjvWw-_9Llg/w400-h300/20220711_211713464_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJrHHnI11uz42BOrfUUX18s5vcI6ZqRW5EPkt8c6ETTxtS79R1uic5SHnm-OwfIi2dhMV-tYfubpdUqrW2l83pwXXJCWVEQzA_BS71COwTaksvzFDlGuExHbcwlGD_QcJzTRwlHJLPfjWBwpkhMz8YdzaYVx69Ckt4eYxbvIkZN54XKDufIIr-NQ6-Q/s4032/20220711_211656052_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJrHHnI11uz42BOrfUUX18s5vcI6ZqRW5EPkt8c6ETTxtS79R1uic5SHnm-OwfIi2dhMV-tYfubpdUqrW2l83pwXXJCWVEQzA_BS71COwTaksvzFDlGuExHbcwlGD_QcJzTRwlHJLPfjWBwpkhMz8YdzaYVx69Ckt4eYxbvIkZN54XKDufIIr-NQ6-Q/w400-h300/20220711_211656052_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAAjPrKnm9eDTvcqZbVwf8t2ECcBdCsXc7k1RluzLHifddMxu4BXEEw1nVEz0xF1KmHIYzfUxbVFEaMoaWCR-O2kMRPB94KMWSXhomJmWEGTxXbTNn5oRAbsdRs9_RjBVHT68EsqjSkZzTTFO4DDpht5ZHJMuAO73YRebhqtj6tHs9vJSlKv2RjFiUA/s4032/20220711_211650076_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAAjPrKnm9eDTvcqZbVwf8t2ECcBdCsXc7k1RluzLHifddMxu4BXEEw1nVEz0xF1KmHIYzfUxbVFEaMoaWCR-O2kMRPB94KMWSXhomJmWEGTxXbTNn5oRAbsdRs9_RjBVHT68EsqjSkZzTTFO4DDpht5ZHJMuAO73YRebhqtj6tHs9vJSlKv2RjFiUA/w400-h300/20220711_211650076_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I think we're still on track for having them on-hand at the NHRHTA Reunion on September 10 in Essex, CT. </p>I've also been finishing up the Heavyweight clinic for the Reunion. I'm only covering coaches (including combines) in this clinic. It's already over 130 slides and I only have about an hour. I need to compile the handout still - there will be lots of data.<p></p><p>The remaining slides have been split out into three other clinics now - Part II is Head End Cars, Part III is Parlors, and Part IV will be the Sleepers and Food Service cars. I could easily make each of these clinics 90 minutes, so I'm not entirely sure where I'll be presenting them just yet. I'm thinking Cocoa Beach may be my next opportunity.</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-6685114669211146012022-07-20T13:55:00.000-04:002022-07-20T13:55:00.172-04:00New Haven Heavyweights - New Models Coming<p>This is one of the projects that has been taking up much of my modeling time...</p><p>For those who didn't make it to the New England/Northeast Prototype Modelers Meet, Chris Zygmunt and I were substituting for John Greene of Bethlehem Car Works who couldn't be there. Part of the reason we're involved is that we are working on several new kits with John, that we hope to have in stock by the NHRHTA Reunion on September 10.</p><p>The first group of cars are the Deluxe Coaches, Smokers, and Combine.</p><p>These are based around the Branchline Pullman core, so assembling the kits will be very similar to building a Branchline (now Atlas) car. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdzA1fE9vsjf-Tdi-XeM4mHPPGQ5NUKCvRo6USVqe2RF4kK3-99rlnEaqaCpSXgs8KNxPNc50w1j94NoexG_-PSSuVI4V65CTXEjhd_UxP2kbqrmgBu77L9DWfOX8c3jvJsaQ9MeTXB8eEgqlFeObg2PKFPn_J2kwDXbNRgI9X6C4uA0T9wudqsyY5Q/s754/NH%208113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="754" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdzA1fE9vsjf-Tdi-XeM4mHPPGQ5NUKCvRo6USVqe2RF4kK3-99rlnEaqaCpSXgs8KNxPNc50w1j94NoexG_-PSSuVI4V65CTXEjhd_UxP2kbqrmgBu77L9DWfOX8c3jvJsaQ9MeTXB8eEgqlFeObg2PKFPn_J2kwDXbNRgI9X6C4uA0T9wudqsyY5Q/w400-h286/NH%208113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep, many of these heavyweights received McGinnis colors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is 8113, one of the Deluxe (or De Luxe) coaches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of them ran into the mid-'60s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryk0IRviU6w1Zm-knEhiYYfZJcrNewarLqCR4QGhzYBUC-vCZwDGy3qs24woyzLnpBhLXW92ZXseOvntl6L26F2n4DebgGsfv0gZZ2Wj08iGiNJPJhTq-OgM4-DmiNBz-En1OwI4K2_DfP0hiA4ypruYswEFNEKq6IAdFxTOk99PLBG2E_DYIAuYnDA/s4584/NH%208100-8139,%208151%20Coaches,%206824-6843%20Smokers%20(23413).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4584" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryk0IRviU6w1Zm-knEhiYYfZJcrNewarLqCR4QGhzYBUC-vCZwDGy3qs24woyzLnpBhLXW92ZXseOvntl6L26F2n4DebgGsfv0gZZ2Wj08iGiNJPJhTq-OgM4-DmiNBz-En1OwI4K2_DfP0hiA4ypruYswEFNEKq6IAdFxTOk99PLBG2E_DYIAuYnDA/w400-h265/NH%208100-8139,%208151%20Coaches,%206824-6843%20Smokers%20(23413).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSXUZoha5itru1c3cRYE2iXh9I6TXSK879qAzvq4Hg45f8dGJgVggHRw5Mua8XkeUnGL2GXVKFmyDOFABpMC8tPXGlbDO81SMim-EPU7VYriT0WnPkfPS29BRaC17jQ24Tyf3tZxu_qYjTMJKy6jxixhaKWdbSy0n6ZZ4E4F-wpimliCXAtn2TccYOw/s4705/NH%206824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2457" data-original-width="4705" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSXUZoha5itru1c3cRYE2iXh9I6TXSK879qAzvq4Hg45f8dGJgVggHRw5Mua8XkeUnGL2GXVKFmyDOFABpMC8tPXGlbDO81SMim-EPU7VYriT0WnPkfPS29BRaC17jQ24Tyf3tZxu_qYjTMJKy6jxixhaKWdbSy0n6ZZ4E4F-wpimliCXAtn2TccYOw/w400-h209/NH%206824.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smoker 6824 was converted from one of the Deluxe Coaches and utilizes the same plan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zi542l7HcyVTE6zNa6If42zTEclicwCztuuTc7Uk-1aZRpLtNb7zHuOnPAvDfNxi7TmhyvNNdcfTudkerMmZFc9JjR1_5G9B7Y5vPyp4BEQBbkWymu5LFaS879DQ7NAaSjKWZ7K_q4tASn7URN9paByFKym9gvSwKWzgqGTHPRUoLHsQk5LXdf2SQQ/s11760/NH6813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6648" data-original-width="11760" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zi542l7HcyVTE6zNa6If42zTEclicwCztuuTc7Uk-1aZRpLtNb7zHuOnPAvDfNxi7TmhyvNNdcfTudkerMmZFc9JjR1_5G9B7Y5vPyp4BEQBbkWymu5LFaS879DQ7NAaSjKWZ7K_q4tASn7URN9paByFKym9gvSwKWzgqGTHPRUoLHsQk5LXdf2SQQ/w400-h226/NH6813.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smoker 6813 is one of a second class of Deluxe smokers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a different plan, with only a men's lavatory and saloon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOA8mIYFrXvGBkhrXW7t3aXgzt8l5GazAe25eP5M-uDc6RQc5vdoNys20y1dHA7RUQGAP6wWI1k24VS39chRKM2Z-2bNG8hh9pwTY5N8kA1box7SOQTM9LIiD2cOt2YaEG1Mb-EFQtIMVGYOyxgbAH1iommgEjPuAQQ6nCFo92CD-FuhBtst04eH_Ew/s4598/NH%206800-6823%20Deluxe%20Smoker%20(23495).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2959" data-original-width="4598" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOA8mIYFrXvGBkhrXW7t3aXgzt8l5GazAe25eP5M-uDc6RQc5vdoNys20y1dHA7RUQGAP6wWI1k24VS39chRKM2Z-2bNG8hh9pwTY5N8kA1box7SOQTM9LIiD2cOt2YaEG1Mb-EFQtIMVGYOyxgbAH1iommgEjPuAQQ6nCFo92CD-FuhBtst04eH_Ew/w400-h258/NH%206800-6823%20Deluxe%20Smoker%20(23495).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-96VVyvpgf8nlKPKMCFCPHWbVpY7uTbpCV3TxLBapysEOPvF1d7btDL3GwyUFw8cOX1VH_j3Yx4IR9M8K1paMUJ4fuew36xH_pZ3c4y-7c8-yr98jFLXghPKm8RdDYgxwC0OKI0CWV1PiZF0TAY_y6IEscpoR1I4pNH1fLsodWWrG33eP4xXDPUOIJQ/s11760/NH%206103%20Springfield%203.27.1965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8280" data-original-width="11760" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-96VVyvpgf8nlKPKMCFCPHWbVpY7uTbpCV3TxLBapysEOPvF1d7btDL3GwyUFw8cOX1VH_j3Yx4IR9M8K1paMUJ4fuew36xH_pZ3c4y-7c8-yr98jFLXghPKm8RdDYgxwC0OKI0CWV1PiZF0TAY_y6IEscpoR1I4pNH1fLsodWWrG33eP4xXDPUOIJQ/w400-h281/NH%206103%20Springfield%203.27.1965.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In addition, there is a Deluxe Baggage and Smoker based on the same design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGvEN1etS3pUJyEfyhBykgH6uJZ98_W-Hc99IWPLnZItn4iliRGjU6ZKLP_gB1nGxy7Sw5lkyC7qp5E83dk2PRKABD9S2OTg5TELt7aaRQ3ziBGSk2i_7hG90BOf5mpK8G1rLwK0BwibMLvPjY1PiJx1LEX_wl2xZ7pH9tO9M4IbUpQNGvGkfEiLzGg/s1416/NH%206100-6105%20Deluxe%20Baggage%20and%20Smoker.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1416" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGvEN1etS3pUJyEfyhBykgH6uJZ98_W-Hc99IWPLnZItn4iliRGjU6ZKLP_gB1nGxy7Sw5lkyC7qp5E83dk2PRKABD9S2OTg5TELt7aaRQ3ziBGSk2i_7hG90BOf5mpK8G1rLwK0BwibMLvPjY1PiJx1LEX_wl2xZ7pH9tO9M4IbUpQNGvGkfEiLzGg/w400-h255/NH%206100-6105%20Deluxe%20Baggage%20and%20Smoker.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>These have never been available in HO scale at all, plastic or brass, to the best of my knowledge, and the available kits will cover the life of the cars.</p><p>This includes new trucks that will be an upgrade over the Labelle white metal castings (formerly Bethlehem Car Works, formerly Cape Line). In addition, we are producing the trucks after they were modified starting c1948 with the removal of the top equalizers and the addition of drop equalizers. These have also never been available in any form.</p><p>The trucks will be available separately.</p><p>We also hope to have another run of the excellent 15' Apartment Baggage & Mail cars at Essex to supplement these cars.</p><p><br /></p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-22242053277371462152022-07-13T11:44:00.001-04:002022-07-13T11:44:00.180-04:00Where has the year gone?<p>Well, after a very consistent 2021, I've been very <i>in</i>consistent posting in 2022.</p><p>Even the NE Proto Meet didn't kick off a flurry of modeling activity this year. It's not that I haven't been working on anything at all though, but I think it's time to take stock of where I am and what I need to work on this year.</p><p>First off, I've been able to put in a lot of hours at CNZR since last fall, which has severely cut into my normal modeling time. We're also nearly 23 years in this house (new when we moved in), so household projects have been taking up a lot of the time that has been left each week. This is all in addition to my usual "day job" activities that pay the bills. We usually only take one vacation each year, but for whatever reason we've already gone away once this year and have three more trips over the next several months. It has been an unusually busy year on non-modeling activities.</p><p>On the model railroad "business" side, rebuilding the website is still behind schedule, but fortunately Google extended the deadline another 6-months before the old site is shut down. I'm also involved in several model kit (passenger and freight car) projects that will start to be released over the next 6-months or so. In addition to the research and work related to the production of the kits themselves, I'm also working on getting clinics prepared related to them. </p><p>I have also found that with so much going on, when I have had time to get down and work on things, I've lacked motivation or even the energy to do so. Things are progressing, just not at a record pace.</p><p>The point is, like most of us, model railroading fits within the spaces of the rest of our lives.</p><p>Starting the second half of the year, what are the goals? After watching Bill's layout growing so quickly, operating on Chris' layout and, in particular, visiting a number of new layouts this year, there are two obvious goals that I continue to avoid, despite my declarations in the past.</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Operating</li><ol><li>Test and glue down remaining track.</li><li>Install feeders, including modifying the mainline wiring for signaling.</li><li>Install switch machines for the mainline switches.</li></ol><li>Base Scenery</li><ol><li>Ballast</li><li>Ground Cover</li><li>Fences/Gates</li></ol></ol><p></p><p>Operating is key, because I really like getting together to run trains. I've been working on things like passenger cars, some locomotives, etc., because in the long run they are key elements that need to be completed for full operating sessions. But as I've noted before, for a 1953 session all I need are RDCs, two 44-tonners, and another switcher of some sort for Stanley Works. That could easily be the third 44-tonner, so that means getting those three locomotives finished. Not all of the passenger cars, etc.</p><p>While not all of the layouts I've seen were completed in terms of scenery, I definitely felt that those that were further along were far more inspiring than the current state of my layout. Even those layouts that aren't "complete" yet, like Bill's and Chris', they have a significant amount of scenery done.</p><p>Since most of the time I'm visiting a layout specifically to operate, my focus hasn't been on the scenery as much. I've appreciated the work they've done, but it wasn't as much of a priority for me. However, when visiting several layouts for open houses after the NE Proto Meet, my focus was entirely on the scenery and the layout presentation. </p><p>For all practical purposes, the amount of scenery Bill and Chris have completed on each of their layouts is no more than the space my entire layout occupies. And those are completed scenes, with structures, etc. I should be able to complete at least the basics relatively quickly. I know I can, since I did it on Harvey's layout.</p><p>It's not to say I've done nothing this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGzf1cYnAIaBzXYhPAJDd9HIdUGIEn_vTvifmZ4dKNXyWkyqv5Q2LxTI-o955b78On8wBUktmZ_tekBhxVfJtu0tGwoSqb1WYdQVWBhKrBCC-vLgxBhiBFRNQpYVzUgjhmPaEuwLD4ReGNetIh7GgGNtrifcv3J44HXn8n0-HPheObtAwrKE4Ny8E7Q/s4032/20220711_163930047_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGzf1cYnAIaBzXYhPAJDd9HIdUGIEn_vTvifmZ4dKNXyWkyqv5Q2LxTI-o955b78On8wBUktmZ_tekBhxVfJtu0tGwoSqb1WYdQVWBhKrBCC-vLgxBhiBFRNQpYVzUgjhmPaEuwLD4ReGNetIh7GgGNtrifcv3J44HXn8n0-HPheObtAwrKE4Ny8E7Q/w400-h300/20220711_163930047_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>In addition to the passenger cars that I've been working on, I have built several Campbell horizontal oil tanks (2 sizes), a Rix vertical oil tank (not pictured), and a pair of Walthers LP tanks that I shortened. The three tanks on the right will go elsewhere, but the LP tanks, pump houses, and single horizontal tank are mocked up where I think they will reside for Fafnir Bearing. </p><p>The next few weeks look to be just as busy, but I can at least start prepping for some of the jobs that need to get done so I can work through them more quickly.</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-31877875148436096922022-07-10T13:46:00.000-04:002022-07-10T13:46:15.822-04:00In Memory of Craig Bisgeier<div>In April, I had posted a picture on Facebook of 79-lb rail made for the NY&NE railroad in 1895:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlju1tQgCuXxrpInmeRJUzRY7C-9sPa-7hr3blU4r65K-dTCSCbvkU3oyVsjs7SuCfBfcDrMB3hepzRGz7ztffbxb8WMTROzn1BHJBs_RkhFNcd-RfJQizdG7BS83onbeo7wzm0trgttprIB2yQzpBHLF-Ojtbnh5RtrlNpurv1KHOhyj8ZEi9azpvQ/s4032/20220423_190146721_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlju1tQgCuXxrpInmeRJUzRY7C-9sPa-7hr3blU4r65K-dTCSCbvkU3oyVsjs7SuCfBfcDrMB3hepzRGz7ztffbxb8WMTROzn1BHJBs_RkhFNcd-RfJQizdG7BS83onbeo7wzm0trgttprIB2yQzpBHLF-Ojtbnh5RtrlNpurv1KHOhyj8ZEi9azpvQ/w400-h300/20220423_190146721_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div>Craig posted that one day he'd like a chunk of rail to make an anvil. </div><div><br /></div><div>Easy enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>I got a short piece of 131-lb rail from our yard. Of course, AJ (the owner of the CNZR) always has more information about anything railroad related. When I asked if I could take it, he glanced at it, then stood it on its end and asked if I knew the difference between 131 and 132-lb rail. Apparently the 131-lb rail had the tendency to crack or break where the web meets the head, so the 132-lb rail has a different radius fillet between them, adding 1-lb per yard in weight.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I always find this interesting, and I know Craig would too. I didn't tell him I had it, and it stayed in the back of my car until I could surprise him at the NE Proto Meet.</div><div><br /></div><div>All day Friday I was hoping to see him so I could take him to the car to get the rail, and a few other things, and was looking forward to a day of trains, lunch, dinner, and drinks with him. But I never saw him. It wasn't until Saturday that our friend Jim informed me that Craig had some sort of accident at home, that caused a stroke. He had been in the hospital for a week or more on life support.</div><div><br /></div><div>What little I knew wasn't promising, but then with my own family's extensive medical history, I was cautiously optimistic that he might pull through.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, I've learned Craig passed away yesterday. </div><div><br /></div><div>For now, the rail sits in front of my house as a reminder. I'm not sure if I'll do anything else with it, but it's there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tIVQG_EfOQuGSSjW-vXGs2ptavKzcoghMd-7SuUhsMb6wJTQ27ry2HpGRNrvuoUo4dyD0fCM6o7C0XpJ0NyYXKJJbYfK6-dHftuds5nqmDPaHmR8IRcM01JqrH-Vil6TgcdgE3Q9xV1IGiPz138S6IwwCvz_Af6uWfxJy5g3Ge5N_dn8cc94yHy6Tw/s3634/20220710_162735934_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="3634" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tIVQG_EfOQuGSSjW-vXGs2ptavKzcoghMd-7SuUhsMb6wJTQ27ry2HpGRNrvuoUo4dyD0fCM6o7C0XpJ0NyYXKJJbYfK6-dHftuds5nqmDPaHmR8IRcM01JqrH-Vil6TgcdgE3Q9xV1IGiPz138S6IwwCvz_Af6uWfxJy5g3Ge5N_dn8cc94yHy6Tw/w400-h274/20220710_162735934_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This story is typical of the relationship between Craig and me. We were always experimenting and learning new things. He had a passion for the process, and for tiny details and esoteric knowledge that I share, and not just on trains. We're both in IT and shared lots of other interests too. While we'd chat periodically, or communicate via email, most of our direct interaction was at train shows where we'd have plenty of time to discuss possibilities for producing new models for us and others.</div><div><br /></div><div>I first found Craig via <a href="http://housatonicrr.com/" target="_blank">his website</a> and sought him out soon after. He lived in NJ and I'm in CT, so it wasn't hard to find him at the NE Proto Meet. We operated Rutland Yard together on the final operating session at RPI. We were constantly discussing his perpetually incomplete software program "Here to There" for producing operations paperwork. Even if the program was never fully operational due to technical issues, delving into the prototype's operational processes and how to convert that into something the computer could emulate was a huge help for both of us in terms of understanding prototypical operations and how they all fit together.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last February, out of the blue, I got the following message:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPOdtZpFo4ccgU3iniSQhr3WV5rK2zT8xN5mo_RbL7Mm6_br0at1X-yjrNwsXsUJUtikKIasff4JNgk-E6mMSMRRSp0qRPaE4SsB_O3ciWn3luN1o96oaqBN_xV3FU7Vq_d-3ft-XmkHTb4mUV4JNm7uDBKoS9vQCfuosOEyeJSszxvyq6Xy-rSfORw/s449/Craig%20Chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="326" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPOdtZpFo4ccgU3iniSQhr3WV5rK2zT8xN5mo_RbL7Mm6_br0at1X-yjrNwsXsUJUtikKIasff4JNgk-E6mMSMRRSp0qRPaE4SsB_O3ciWn3luN1o96oaqBN_xV3FU7Vq_d-3ft-XmkHTb4mUV4JNm7uDBKoS9vQCfuosOEyeJSszxvyq6Xy-rSfORw/w290-h400/Craig%20Chat.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><div>I've already related the story of this smokestack <a href="https://blog.newbritainstation.com/2021/03/a-pleasant-surprise.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but I brought the model to the Proto Meet and it was to be the first time he would see the completed model in person.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aside from the projects, models, and ideas, he was first and foremost a great of example of what I love most about this hobby - the people and the modeling community. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll, no, <i>we'll</i> miss you Craig.</div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6866440360591370825.post-72760233775743984912022-06-01T19:39:00.027-04:002022-06-01T19:39:00.173-04:00More Passenger Cars - 15' RPO<p>I've been working on a number of things getting ready for the <a href="http://nerpm.org/index.html" target="_blank">NE Proto Meet</a> so I'm a little behind on posts. In addition to the modifications for the 600-series coaches, I've been working on an RPO.</p><p>A year or two ago Belthlehem Car Works released a NH Baggage car with 15' RPO apartment. Joe Smith detailed how he scratchbuilt a car with a 30' apartment <a href="http://signalstation199.blogspot.com/search/label/RPO" target="_blank">on his blog</a>.</p><p>The kit has a cast resin roof, injection molded ends, and 3D printed resin sides, with the original CAD by John Sheridan. The floor is a piece of styrene with injection molded fishbelly center sills. It's a pretty easy kit to assemble, although I felt the instructions could have been a little clearer in regards to building the floor. I'm not sure my approach matched what was designed, but it worked for me. </p><p>Here's a picture of one of the cars in Danbury. One of these cars was regularly assigned to train 131/136 so it's a key car for my layout.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LiFZabJLIVOtz6wlBYS5kBg7zVwn8biC1oqJz2R6qP_LzMnDbGTBsBjTDHbOauFT8oRXLHUiUmXEz6qrihJe3ZLtglwpedJhjs3flH29l3olb5zoaK4OR2ErPs1rw8ykcckIMEJpt_kZw6gh41_ybaGSszTZGXCWfLVl8MZX_5aqW7zEnWoLTyu6oQ/s1600/20220418_195237368_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LiFZabJLIVOtz6wlBYS5kBg7zVwn8biC1oqJz2R6qP_LzMnDbGTBsBjTDHbOauFT8oRXLHUiUmXEz6qrihJe3ZLtglwpedJhjs3flH29l3olb5zoaK4OR2ErPs1rw8ykcckIMEJpt_kZw6gh41_ybaGSszTZGXCWfLVl8MZX_5aqW7zEnWoLTyu6oQ/w400-h225/20220418_195237368_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">In examining photos it appears that by my era, the mail catcher bar isn't used, or at least not by the time the train gets to New Britain. It may be stowed after passing stations that use a mail crane. I didn't really like the etched parts either, so the simple safety bar seems like a good option.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Regardless, I needed to make the brackets used to hold either of the bars in place. To do this I glued a couple of 1"x2" strips at one end, and then put a piece of wire between them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeunFafVXmxCg0R8wvHi8kF3gDHYINjOSfsTDTw4TvPnIMirCF56zHnCHIg9Q9nzwQW45enhd0Nip-CUebmrWJVGWMofqak7PWo-Mj586e3To9rBa8ng_tm7RqSoz2IP0wQv4BUI0Ofdgi3RgRyG-0IBHM2VasTrWrBrVWsrH6NzDwyTmI1GI-_OAbA/s1274/20220413_033835008_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeunFafVXmxCg0R8wvHi8kF3gDHYINjOSfsTDTw4TvPnIMirCF56zHnCHIg9Q9nzwQW45enhd0Nip-CUebmrWJVGWMofqak7PWo-Mj586e3To9rBa8ng_tm7RqSoz2IP0wQv4BUI0Ofdgi3RgRyG-0IBHM2VasTrWrBrVWsrH6NzDwyTmI1GI-_OAbA/w390-h400/20220413_033835008_iOS.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I then glued it on the other side, and used tweezers to squish the top piece to fit tightly around the wire.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju09DFmMAuLATd83gsLhl96Z56EjKYdEmK2vEFmjq556d80pw6PUf8plKdlNAdhMrQpvkwa6TjPCFdMda9Zsb7uePw3p5lggOapxSXZFhc4wMM3qb9SGrHghtPfeGbTRkhIWd66J45z7Hwb_VLkEdZhwnUB--erBG3JP5Wd_UTwgHFWwYusiRiQCC9jQ/s2639/20220413_033952093_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="2639" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju09DFmMAuLATd83gsLhl96Z56EjKYdEmK2vEFmjq556d80pw6PUf8plKdlNAdhMrQpvkwa6TjPCFdMda9Zsb7uePw3p5lggOapxSXZFhc4wMM3qb9SGrHghtPfeGbTRkhIWd66J45z7Hwb_VLkEdZhwnUB--erBG3JP5Wd_UTwgHFWwYusiRiQCC9jQ/w400-h333/20220413_033952093_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>After doing this at the other end, I trimmed them to fit. The wire is moveable, since it's not glued by the styrene cement.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-nDWMUCK9ScZY34bh3RRpdDESS388epnJSEGicNVb76GhfKh5el4gkGGz2hCMT2mCZTAzefwBdSSdfARW4xghV8Bh9YJU46WqN_Y62RLAwCCoyZqyr2DK36DlU4TGzN34LRrh2wvfCncL5_FvVB1hmVqxjzDFrR8Mws_EO6VTUu3eBidxN6SaOWODA/s1054/20220413_034035710_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="922" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-nDWMUCK9ScZY34bh3RRpdDESS388epnJSEGicNVb76GhfKh5el4gkGGz2hCMT2mCZTAzefwBdSSdfARW4xghV8Bh9YJU46WqN_Y62RLAwCCoyZqyr2DK36DlU4TGzN34LRrh2wvfCncL5_FvVB1hmVqxjzDFrR8Mws_EO6VTUu3eBidxN6SaOWODA/w350-h400/20220413_034035710_iOS.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That allowed me to glue one side on first...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODXeV6bI_DRER3uLo9T7tXqx9Q0jmjiq4TFJpUWhSH7yJS-Q7WWUwbHHUKMVeplfk1Crcd7TnTMTO7aNPPKE2liQb4Sn7y8Dnz0LdR9e_pguxROWxHPdJT6uR0l4vcrSuvj45pDsou7CjV2cxZm5-sdspAvUqyQnqW4OfEF6VunbNevSzhjjPLR6Lzg/s2858/20220413_034235568_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="2858" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODXeV6bI_DRER3uLo9T7tXqx9Q0jmjiq4TFJpUWhSH7yJS-Q7WWUwbHHUKMVeplfk1Crcd7TnTMTO7aNPPKE2liQb4Sn7y8Dnz0LdR9e_pguxROWxHPdJT6uR0l4vcrSuvj45pDsou7CjV2cxZm5-sdspAvUqyQnqW4OfEF6VunbNevSzhjjPLR6Lzg/w400-h258/20220413_034235568_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...then the other.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS934GZ90kJF4d96aCMuGgazyODfAgts2sM6idfxzTESj7RaB4fS1X5jb60NI2q1xeLXMvAkzlu0FKALTQ6J-92LUZQUWI4zn1YH2yxbTCGyECSG7Wr0weP3-FZsKZEpHV8GraeYoZgNHSjuNp9fGGUrD6zyOaNkCHFblt-7dzJtLrjKQzKUbF-YRf8w/s3371/20220413_034342319_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="3371" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS934GZ90kJF4d96aCMuGgazyODfAgts2sM6idfxzTESj7RaB4fS1X5jb60NI2q1xeLXMvAkzlu0FKALTQ6J-92LUZQUWI4zn1YH2yxbTCGyECSG7Wr0weP3-FZsKZEpHV8GraeYoZgNHSjuNp9fGGUrD6zyOaNkCHFblt-7dzJtLrjKQzKUbF-YRf8w/w400-h200/20220413_034342319_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In these photos you can just make out the 3D printing lines which are very, very fine. This is not a resin casting of a 3D printed part.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpSvRN2xgpr8gVj96hT4cwsxVc-OZJDjrrqXcHnOZsR3uLAwkwMFAJYY_IyazcAMI_rRVq1JufyZanBoJ6Ez_tHYVoYT9rxQZeR1KExKYsF1el-BD-xaVu7Y8OCMHvB-MRZISZDX2HFTj6juYS0G_6RhgArzBDXiCBxMSz3WGhSYw99DW_yCzq7s9Wg/s4032/20220413_034345662_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="4032" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpSvRN2xgpr8gVj96hT4cwsxVc-OZJDjrrqXcHnOZsR3uLAwkwMFAJYY_IyazcAMI_rRVq1JufyZanBoJ6Ez_tHYVoYT9rxQZeR1KExKYsF1el-BD-xaVu7Y8OCMHvB-MRZISZDX2HFTj6juYS0G_6RhgArzBDXiCBxMSz3WGhSYw99DW_yCzq7s9Wg/w400-h206/20220413_034345662_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN08dF407uGFgrWFyg79VaQmrife1vhXO8t4g_FtZLidytmMMmzqrqB3LPjKnF3cb1QpCcuYI5n93e8KxOCyekpC9P0xB-rEuFU9OlAyXX3MCCRdeeC11kr4SyyYiXeb5xHEWSK9YMO79skyJlpSUG1fa84UPpWvs30qvX-KSZAt_y0G2AfTnJd_w48A/s4032/20220413_034752257_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN08dF407uGFgrWFyg79VaQmrife1vhXO8t4g_FtZLidytmMMmzqrqB3LPjKnF3cb1QpCcuYI5n93e8KxOCyekpC9P0xB-rEuFU9OlAyXX3MCCRdeeC11kr4SyyYiXeb5xHEWSK9YMO79skyJlpSUG1fa84UPpWvs30qvX-KSZAt_y0G2AfTnJd_w48A/w400-h300/20220413_034752257_iOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902146238334692276noreply@blogger.com1