Nick Kane's Brass Loco Scratch Build

 Some of you may have seen Nick's work on a prior post or have heard about his remarkable talent. He is truly a master. His skills are second to none. 

Nick is modeling the Sacramento Valley RR circa 1855 in HO scale. In addition to scratch-building all his structures. He is one of us who are devoted prototype modelers.  His first build was the Robinson. I will post photos of it another time.

This loco is his second. Check out the cab detail! Remember, this is an ALL-brass scratch build!

I will be adding at least one post a month on Nick's progress with all the aspects of his layout build. Please stay tuned, and comments are always encouraged.

Uodate on LeBron Matthew's Layout

 LeBron models the Western & Atlantic RR as do I. Hence, his model RR is referred to as the south branch, being that he lives in Georgia. 

Several months ago, LeBron had a new layout built by a local company. He has been quite busy and enjoying the scenicing phase. Here are his latest photos of his scenery work. 

Downtown Atlanta, Decatur Street...

On the outskirts ...

His selective compression of Atlanta. Although best seen in person, LeBron's modeling is in the master model railroader category. He is meticulous in his detailing to create authentic representations. He also paints his backdrop! Remarkably talented! 

We have been friends for over 20 years and have had many visits with one another, sharing building techniques, working on projects with each other, and the miseries of adding decoders, speakers, and motors to convert Mantua Generals to a prototypical look. But we certainly do have a whole lotta fun!!

Here is one from about 2004 at his original layout. Chris Brannigan is on the right, and he, along with LeBron, DC Cebula, Brian Kammerer, and I, are the original members of the ACWRRHS.

Brian met up with the General's curator over a few beers one night. The curator was gracious enough to allow us to have our photo taken on the pilot. He told us to stick around after the visitors left the Kennesaw museum, as the General is cordoned off. WHAT a treat!

Operating Session #17

August 12, Trainmen assembled into three crews of two operators each. Bill Myers was assigned to the special running out of Atlanta. A wide range of trains were dispatched, including artillery, mixed, cotton, and hospital. "Random Events" added the unexpected, a wreck train and a telegraph section. Operators also encountered a car with a broken axle, sabateour torching a bale of cotton, officers intervening and demanding two cars off fed and hay dropped on a siding. Bill's special was the spoiler as the other trains had no idea to expect him. Makes for a real-life prototype experience.

After each session, I ask everyone to supply me with highs and lows of their experience. During their runs, they also note where they had issues, e.g., derailments, short, poor loco performance, and anything I need to know for a smooth operation next time.

Here are a few pics from that Saturday...

Corey and Roger are picking up platform cars of cotton in Kingston. Their Random Event was a torched cotton bale, and to uncouple that car.

Here we have Jim on the right, a first timer. He is the Superintendent for our sister NMRA Division, The Garden State. You can read about Jim,  layout updates, and the activities of their division in the Whistle Stop newsletter. Google the NMRA, Garden State Division and their website will pop up. He and Glyn are taking a train through Kingston, on its way to Chattanooga. 

Rob, the engineer, and conductor Dave are making a move in the north end of Big Shanty. Most of you probably know that the Great Locomotive Chase began nearby. By the way, this crew had the car with a broken axle. 

Operating May 31, 2025

We had our 16th op session here two days ago. If you have ever hosted an operating session, you are familiar with the preparation and setup required for a smooth, or relatively smooth, running of the trains. I begin with an email confirming the operators, date, timing, and other incidentals. One example is that we are an inside slipper or sock home; outside shoes are deposited on the inside porch. 

We have an orientation 15 minutes before the first run. I find this is critical to ensure operators are aware of operating nuances. A key one for me is the new hand-thrown switches using a push rod anchored on the fascia:

The rod is attached to the Tortoise switch machine. I plan to add more, as this was a manual railroad. It provides a more active role for the operator. One issue was that I did not allow operators to "practice" using the push rods. Consequently, I would hear the switch machine gears grinding because the operator was pushing and pulling too hard. I will now include a time to practice after a brief instruction.
Here is the Orientation sheet that continues to evolve:

timetable

I find that an orientation, even for operators who have been here a few times, helps anchor them into the time and era as well as new information and how the time table, etc, are to work. 

Below, the Yard Master is building a train with his yard engine, Alabama, for a crew's next run out of Chattanooga:

Switching maneuvers in Dalton with 

two crews negotiating the right-of-way. 

To the right, Dan is functioning as the conductor while a new operator, Andreas, takes position in the cab, figuratively speaking, of course.

Above is a close-up of Dan and Andreas with loco Catoosa.

The first part of the operating session went flawlessly. However, after the first 45 minutes or so, one locomotive was not receiving power, and another had its motor turning but no movement. If the issue is not solvable in a couple of minutes, a replacement loco is acquired. The motor turning one had an issue with the shaft separating. Easy repair with CA super glue. She now became a backup.

This is a pano looking over the south yard in Atlanta, over to Dalton:

And to give you a close-up view on how crews pin the link, as we say, here is a photo by Jim Judge, YM for Chattanooga, showing how it's done. I have found tweezers with LED lights, which help immensely in a dark area of the railroad.

I ask crews to be sure to make notes on their Time Table sheets with any issues, including track repair, car breakdown, and areas where they experienced a short; also to note the actual arrival and departure times. These notes allow me to fix the issues before the next ops.

Bottom line, they continue to come back and enjoy operating and hanging with friends.

LINESIDE DETAILS

These are slides from a power point presentation i did to show all the possibilities for someone's model or virtual railroad.

The first slide indicates categories or areas. This is followed by slides of each category.

More to come. A slight technical difficulty prevented additional slides to upload. Please revisit another time.

Operating Session Jan 18, 2025

Our latest operating session occurred last Saturday afternoon. We had 4 crews of 2 trainmen each, a yard master in Chattanooga and a new role, yard master for Atlanta. When preparing for an op session the key is to ensure the railroad is ready. I created a punch list that includes the obvious, cleaning and lubricating all the locomotives, cleaning track, creating the train orders, stagging the trains and organizing the way bills. A key component is to inform the operators both prior to the day and just prior to the session of the the operating intricacies. Here's where I took somethings for granted, that they all know the nuances of switches, the TO and "Random Events". The latter is simply a card that is pulled off the the TO clip board that is labeled as such. These could include "Car number 5 has a broken axel. Uncouple from the train". Bottom line, my orientation absolutely needs to repeat all the nuances so operators are familiar.

Here is Jim and Dave after Dave and his conductor completed their run to Chattanooga where Jim is the yard master.

Below we have George in foreground as conductor while the tall fella, Greg, throttles the train into Dalton for a switching operation. Corey, engineer of his train, is at the end of the peninsula while his conductor, Heath, confers with George as to when he and Corey can move ahead. In many cases, especially during 1863, there were train delays due to a variety of reasons, mostly due to the number of trains in motion carrying military supplies in addition to regular civilian traffic.

Next you see Heath and Corey admiring their train on the return run over Chickamauga Creek, just south of Chattanooga.

A very unusual occurrence, alien invasion! Greg and Jim, as Ed looks on, spot a small spider on the signal flag upon Rocky Face Ridge. An unexpected enjoyment

Bill and Mike on their run, adjusting a derailment. This was due to my error in the prep stage. Although I had "check the switches" on my punch list, and I did check, but only one! Turns-out (pun intended) I did not check them all. 5 switches experienced expansion. fly rails were getting hung up and caused all kinds of shorts. Another, though annoying, learning. CHECK THEM ALL!

The good news is that these fellas enjoy the running, and their friendships, whether reconnecting or making new ones.

NICK KANE"S SACRAMENTO VALLEY RR, Part 1

Nick is a true artisan. His skills and talent is second to none! Nick is an Antique Restorer specializing in many fields from Tin Lithograph  sign restorations to stoneware and 19th century Furniture. Over the last few years he has and is applying his creative talents to model railroading. 

He is building and HO scale layout of the Sacramento Valley RR, circa 1856-65. You can watch a conversation between he and I on my YouTube Turntable Discussions.

There will be a series of posts here that will include his layout build such as structure builds and scratch built brass 4-4-0 . CRAZY!

This is a Sanborn map which he has referenced for his layout as an overview for his rail road. 

Here is one of the period photos Nick has been investigating to match the map with actual track and structure placement...

The following photos reflect the track work around the turntable.

The engine house was also scratch built... of course.

Stay tuned for more to come, e.g., his 3-way and switch builds using Fast Tracks and his magnificent loco build of the L. L. Robinson!

PROTOTYPE LINESIDE DETAILING

Ideating new possible topics for our virtual meets, I was paging through one of my period RR books and noticed photo content that reminded me of my layout. Then looking about on my layout I thought lineside details may be a good topic. So, during one of our virtual meets awhile back I did a clinic on just that. Here are a few photos that reflect what the real rail lines and centers may have had along the rails. OR, what someone might see that could be considered as such. One fascinating aspect is that these could have been as tall as eight rails high given the need.

Here is the classic snake or worm fence. 

Here is one, nearly completed, of my snake fences. Thanks to Starbucks, I collected a small handful. I split em and configured the rails into HO scale versions.

Another fence type is what I call double post and rail. I have no idea if that is accurate.

And here is one I modeled.

Lastly is this woven fence. I've seen this type as property marker or as a garden barrier to critters.

The modeled version.

Stay tuned for more on LINESIDE DETAILS!

ATLANTA YARD EXPANSION

My initial design had the Atlanta trackwork  mostly focused on the north end and along the aisle. Below is a general view. Backdrops are panels done by Brian Kammerer. The track that traversed the left side of the Car Shed was initially designed as a continuous running for open house visitors. Eventually I removed the bridge to expand the aisle behind Chattanooga beyond the roundhouse.

However, the last panel was pulled in a recent operating session for ease of access. One operator, Andy Estep, suggested connecting that continuous run track as a run around for a loco coming onto that run-around track. Hence, the idea was born! 

Above, the track to far right was the continuous run connection. I laid a switch on existing track to begin planning the new run-around. 

Below, two additional switches are installed. The former continuous run is now the interchange for the Atlanta & West Point RR. The other track you see is marked for the Georgia RR interchange. The operational possibilities have significantly increased including a yard operator position.

Next post will illustrate how I installed Alexander harp switch stands to operate the points.

  

Lessons Applied from May Ops

During the May ops, operators were forthcoming with two excellent suggestions. One was to add two throttle fascia panels to conduct their operating. One was added to Tunnel Hill. This allowed for ease of access as it can be a tight area for 2-3 crews. The other was in Atlanta. This one will provide access to running into and out from the roundhouse. 

The craziness to install Atlanta...

Laying new cable...

But AFTER a whole lotta stuff needed to be moved...