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.
An HO scale model of the rail line between Chattanooga TN. and Atlanta GA.
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.
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 enjoymentIdeating 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.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.
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...Our latest and perhaps one of our most enjoyable train runnin sessions.
Left to right, Andy, Heath, DC, Ted, Rob and Jim. Unfortunately Corey had to leave early.
When planning these sessions, there are always one or two operators that may need to cancel last minute. I lost my mind as I had spent more than a week working out the schedules for two member crews. Another lesson learned... KEEP MY COOL! It worked out great. There were four trains and two had solo operators. This helped me realize that one person can do all the jobs. Now I just need to make a few adjustments to minimize all the paraphernalia an operator needs to carry. Easy!This view shows the new ops elements I incorporated into different train orders. The car with derrick is the wreck train with two attached cars. These were mentioned in a couple of writings by trainmen who rode the W&A at the time and other lines such as the VA Central, East TN & GA and GA RR.
Bottom left is a telegraph car. This would take new poles and insulators to set along the line or to replace those needed.
The keg is one of whiskey which seemed appropriate to "support" the troops. Next is a grease bucket, the idea coming from Wilber Kurtz notes that one engineer was asked to meet another train to hand of a bucket of grease.
Last are pole cars. Lever cars were had not arrived on the W&A in 1863. However, these pole cars were on occasion transported to an area where workers would need to travel down a line to either inspect of conduct minor repairs.
During this session, each of these were added to a crew's train orders. The feedback was ecstatic as it provided a hands-on experience for the operators.
Harp stands were the way for switching track mid 1800's. These of course were known as stub switches, the most common turnout configuration until point switches were created.
I had installed a 3 way switch about 10 months ago. My initial throw mechanism was an Arduino. Unfortunately, although it worked, knowing how to program it was WAY outside my wheelhouse!Using the PCS stand as the idea, I did a crude drawing, guessing the size needed. I went with about O scale to give it the length to reach across three rails.
Fabrication of the throw bar positioning cap was a critical build. Overall, my build came with a lot of luck as I measured only the distance the headblock would need to travel to ensure the fly rails reached the outer stock rails.
Initially I used a tri-corner file to start the cut for each of the three slots to hold the throw bar position.
Another fun ride on the W&A, north branch! Operators included members from our ACW RRs group, Corey, Bill and DC, https://groups.io/g/CivilWarRailRoads. Another person, Glyn is a fellow board member in our NMRA Division, and Ed who is a member from our local model RR club, Garden State Central http://www.gardenstatecentral.com/
I had three train schedules prepared. However, a couple of folks couldn't make it last minute And, I didnt even think about removing the one train. This, however, made for an interesting movement for the crew that encountered this train as it blocked their route.
One of the compelling aspects of modeling this era is the consistent randomness of situations which were very prototypical then given the demands for both civilian and military needs and requirements.
Below, Bill is Yardmaster in Chattanooga while Ed and Glynn are preparing to depart for points south.
I have rebuilt about 10 of these Mantua Generals. But since Soundtraxx came out with the TS2 1100, I have converted a few to include these beauties. The sound varieties are are superior to their Economi and Micro sound decoders, which I had in several of my locos. Photo below is the General as Mantua manufactured it. I believe the former owner colored the stack and pilot as these were originally black, or if from a kit it would be bare metal. Note the drive shaft. This too was modified as I needed to change the motor to fit the tender along with a speaker, "super" capcitor and the sound decoder.
The most mindful aspect for a rebuild is determining what parts to paint while adding the electrical parts and the new details.Where to start?1?1?1 - Contemplate your sequence of moves. It is a bit of a chess match. And as with chess, there are multiple moves. For this build I first chose all the detail parts I wanted to add. Here are two photos showing these.
Top photo, row left to right: tender steps, water valves, water tank hatch, stack.
Bottom row left to right: tender brake beams, firewood split from local shrub, short and long handrail stanchions. Later I'll show how these were configured.
This next image shows the above components installed into the tender. The pointer is indicating the mini plug connecting the hot wire from the decoder to right side drivers. The ground wire is not visible but it's been attached to a screw that was tapped into the tender from. This connects the left side of the tender trucks which also have brass wire wipers soldered to the truck and bent slightly to touch the tender wheels on the left side. The white wire is connected to another mini plug for the hot wire coming from the headlamp.
The decals are by the master, John Ott. He is a medical illustrator by trade. He also creates remarkable lithographs of 19th century locomotives. http://www.ottgalleries.com
Here are the decals he recently did for me for this build. Impressive no?
The area to apply decals must be painted white for the decals to show up. I use Vajello white. I tried the gloss white but it was too clumpy. ALthough you can see small ridges in the paint, these are unnoticeable after decal is applied. Micro Scale decal products are quite reliable.
Once applied, I wick most of the water away in some cases. right photo. But the water helps to loosen the decal to position it, left photo.
In some cases the decal is a little short. Color matching is ket to cover the white area at tender bottom. Two Polly S colors worked!