Work on the Get Out and Push RR has been continuing, albeit at a snails pace.  I am working on creating the landforms for the site of my waterfall.  I am finding that it is taking a large number of rock castings and batches of plaster to create the desired effect.  I am also in the process of building the trestle that will support my reversing loop.

As usual I am in the middle of a couple of different projects at the same time. Currently I am working on a Campbell model, Bret’s Brewery.  This kit has been a pleasure to build and is nearing completion with all of the major components assembled with the exception of the roofs.  I tried an interesting technique for creating the mortar lines on model stone.  I watered down a couple of drops of grey paint and used a large brush to apply it to one side of the building at a time.  Leaving this side up, I placed it in front of my heater and waited until it had dried.  Gravity held the paint into lines and using the heater allowed me to quickly paint all three sides.  In hindsight I probably should have painted them before assembling the walls, but I still would have had an issue on the corner joints.  The technique worked quite well.

The other major project I am working on is a freelanced building for the San Leandro Historical Railway Society .  It is the second building that I am using to represent the Del Monte fruit packing plant which used to be in San Leandro.  It will be placed across the tracks from the first building, connected by a bridge for pipes and electrical wires.  These structures will help to hide a spot where the tracks disappear through a hole in the backdrop.  Test fits of the building show that this will work very well.  I have the structure assembled, with the doors and windows in place.  I am currently working on painting the structure, I need a little touch-up and the exterior will be done.  The next step will be to paint the interior and install desks and people to represent an office scene.

I hope to post pictures soon.

Merry Christmas

I have been really busy lately, working on several different projects at once.  Most of the work has been on my home layout, the GOP (Get Out n’ Push).

I have completed most of the track, with only two switches left to install and the siding they support.  Wiring has been coming along slowly, in part through waiting for my NCE Power Cab, which showed up the other day.  I am also waiting for a reversing unit and a circuit breaker to complete the wiring.  So far I have installed three of the nine Tortoise switch machines.

I have also installed part of the fascia across the front of the module, unfortunately I was unable to get more tempered hardboard and instead used luan plywood.  I don’t think that this will work as well especially as it does not bend as far.

I ran a small switcher engine on DC power the other day, it was great to finally be able to run something, only if it was a couple of feet.

This was another great model from Rio Grande Models Ltd.  The Linn Truck was in use  until the 60′s mostly due to its high traction ability.  It was common to convert them into logging trucks.

I used weathering powders heavily on this truck considering the front wheel was often converted to a more modern style for better traction.  I will most likely use this as a load for a flat car.

Over the Labor Day weekend my wife and I traveled up to Eureka, California.  While we were there we went to a couple places around the area that contained items from the history of the local area.

At Fort Humboldt they had many examples of logging equipment from a wide range of years.

This picture shows a logging “disconnect” car.  These were used in pairs, with the log providing the frame for the car.

Here is a picture of a Dolbeer Logging engine, or steam donkey.  This was invented right in the area, and they had several examples of different types of engines.  This was used for many different tasks in the woods, one of which was loading railroad cars.  This is an example of one of the smaller ones.  I will post pictures of some of the larger “bull” engines later.

Here are more pictures from Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad north of Santa Cruz, CA.

Trestle on a curve:

Watering the Dixiana, two truck Shay locomotive:

This picture below demonstrates the tremendous traction of a Shay locomotive.  You can see the train on the right fork of the switchback, the picture was taken right over the switch.  At this point on the switchback the grade was 9.25%.  To put this in perspective 4% is considered a very steep grade for your average railroad, most grades are less than 2%.