Harp Stand Build

 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!

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes. And I had more than necessity; I had HIGH need. This is a key area for my operating plans. I decided to use or build my own harp stand. First choice was the PCS hand throw. Al Mueller built one to operate. Unfortunately this stand is good for only a 2 way. I'd need to convert my rail from code 83 to 55 to make that a possibility. That was out of the equation as I had close to 200' of track. Build the harp was the most obvious possibility.

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. 

Next I used a razor saw. With a cross cutting motion I sawed the edges as well as the depth. This gradually created the tree openings large enough to hold the piano wire throw bar.  

Fabricating the legs and frame required 2 sizes of KLM angle brass stock. Angle was chosen for greater stability. The way to bend the angle is to make a notch which reduces an awkward bend and a cleaner angle in the leg.  

A quick touch of solder and the two legs are secured. The other half has been built and secured.

Spacers were inserted to ensure clearances for the headblock and throw bar movement as the reinforcing side panels were secured. 

Here is the Arduino servo that my friend Ray Russell built and helped me install. Unfortunately, however, the programming was too technical for me which led me to build the harp. 

The image below shows the harp installed and I am shiming the base, made from flat brass stock.

Workin on the DC - Delaware Central RR

 This past Tuesday I took a ride to Newark DE to see our good friend DC Cebula and his progress on his period layout. WOW has been motorin! Prior to making this photo happen, he began last year preparing the layout room in his basement. Herculean effort it was. Now his benchwork is completed and track is being set in preparation for permanent bedding.

To our right, your left, is a return loop. His is building a freelance prototype of the DE Central RR. All of his 30 plus turnouts have been built with Fast Tracks templates. One remarkable attribute of DC is his meticulous attention to all construction, from benchwork to track work, etc. During my time with him, as I have made two trips in two weeks, we have built the laser cut throw devices and placed the track exactly where it will be permanently adhered. Visit his website, https://delawarecentralrailroad.blogspot.com/

Although he has not uploaded layout photos yet, you will see his magnificent modeling skills.

FEB 2020 OPS SESSION / SHAKEDOWN & PEACHTREE ST RENOVATION VIDEO

It's what can happen when my honey decides to go visit one of her friends for more than 4 days... INVITE THE CREW! In addition to DC and Andy, a very good friend and contributor was able to visit as well, LeBron Matthews. One day we will feature his remarkable modeling as he too models the W&A, referenced as the south branch. LeBron is from Columbus Georgia.


This crew was here on Wednesday working on different projects as well as to help prep for the Thursday night ops session. DC continues to scenic the new section. More on this section and DC's work in a future post.

 LeBron scenicing Atlanta; grass was more likely in many areas around the tracks and yard than I considered. Where there is no traffic most likely there'd be grasses. Needless to say, the added greenery has a few effects. 1) it pulls the elements of Atlanta together, the green is the connector to the structures. 2) it fills out the area of Atlanta; makes it "pop" as some like to say.
3) the color adds a pleasing invitation to the eye.

Andy took on his first structure, a Woodlands Scenics casting of the Tack Shed. The door off the hinge was his intention!
Six other fellas came by for the session. Adding LeBron and Paul, we grouped them into four 2-man crews, one engineer and one brakeman. In addition to operating the loco, the engineer handled the way bill/schedule. Brakeman had responsibility for coupling, switching. Here Lebron, engineer, along with his brakeman Paul, maneuver the Dr. Thompson consist into Big Shanty. DC and I were trouble shooters.

Engineers and Brakemen

Left to right, LeBron, DC, Ray, Paul, Bill, TR, Dave, Hilmar, Ed and Andy. Paul, Ed and Hilmar are from our local RR club, Garden State Central. Paul is building an HO scale W&A layout, focusing on the Battle of Mission Ridge. Ray has a MASSIVE HO multi-level layout, Norfolk and Western. Bill and Dave contribute to his layout and all three are members of the Model RR Club. Andy is our resident photographer and videographer. He excels at tree making ,and during this visit apprenticed with LeBron on scenic work.

Lessons learned or reinforced

1) Prior to ops session, have a friend review the schedule/way bills. We found out, 30 minutes prior to people arriving, the schedules included the same cars! During staging this was most apparent as one person set up a consist, went off to do another, only to return and find the cars he set gone!  
2) Always invite guests to offer feedback. Most often they will not offer input to avoid offending. This also shows them that your intention is to improve the efficiency and fun. 
3) Just because a person has done the brakeman job a few times does NOT mean they know how to engineer a locomotive! Although we are familiar with shorts, we had an excessive number this time. Speaking with one engineer at the end, I realized this engineer did not know that he could not run a loco into an adjacent turnout if the rails were not aligned to the track he was exiting! Good news is that this one breakdown indicated that we did not have a massive, layout wide, short issue to untangle.
4) Coupled with number 3, invite operators who are familiar operating on your layout. Then be sure to partner the most familiar with newest guests.
5) The realization that metal wheels can cause a short when the stub rails are either too close or wheel sets are too loose and hitting both rails simultaneously.

Turntable Discussions Episode 3 with Al Mueller

One common theme with these discussions is that my guests who model railroads of the American Civil War are all remote. Al is from the Milwaukee area. This is from my visit in February. As this was a rare opportunity to visit with him, I spontaneously decided to use a portion of time to shoot the next episode of Turntable Discussions. This is my first attempt using Adobe Premier Elements video editing. I want to apologize first for the blurriness in some footage. I used my iPhone 4S as well as trying to shoot while I was mobile. LOTS of lessons learned! The entire interview ran about 45 minutes. I edited much in order to meet the less-than-15-minutes allowed via blogspot. Additional footage will be posted at a future date.

CONVERTING POINTS TO STUBS

One of the challenges, the many challenges, of building a period layout, Civil War in particular, is determining the degree of authenticity to replicate. This being my first and most likely last layout, I had the proverbial dream of a railroad that appealed to my "must haves" as well as some "druthers", and in the highest possbile caliber. Inspiration came from those modelers featured in the articles, books and vidoes many of us have seen over the years. The only problem for me was being clueless on the immensity of this deavour. Being the novice, and no one in the entire north east to access as a guide or coach for a Civil War layout, I asked RailDreams to construct the benchwork, lay the track and wire the entire layout to avoid what I perceived to be a most painfully slow process requiring the least of my already limited skill sets. They made the bench with 1.5" pink insulation foam. I indicated my desire for stub turnouts. At the very least, I could not see building a period model railroad using points. However, they knowing this was my first layout with virtually no experience and wanting to make this easy, encouraged me to settle for 4 of the 44 turnouts being stub. These would require much less maintenance and provide more reliable operatiing conditions. I conceeded.

Fast forward, RailDreams used point turnouts converted into stubs. Using these as a template I began laying these in Dalton. I chose to start there because I did not want to rip out the scenery between Atlanta and Kingston. However, I did add a siding and a cross over in Atlanta using BK Enterprise stubs which work quite well. As with many aspects of modeling, it is often best to do a practice run; learn what to do as well as what not. As you can see in the above photo of my first turnout, I did not take my own advice. The ties are obviously not well aligned and a quite a few split. My ratioanle...the crew was pressed for time hearing that the Yankees were in Chattanooga.
Laying any track could not be done on the foam, as far as I know, it being too soft to hold spikes, by Micro Engineering . It requires a solid base so I used Homasote cut to fit into the area beneath the turnouts.

This here turnout is a #8. Most are Shinohara. It could be easier to lay from scratch, but I thought this method would expedite the process given the number yet to install. One challenge to converting points is the rail arrangement. The angle requires some creative adjusments. The key of course is ensuring a reasonably smooth and efficient transition to and from the main. You can see there are a number of ties to remove in order to align the rails. The head block is from a copper PC circuit board I read about in MRR, January '86. Another consideration is ensuring a reasonable gap to allow for humidity's influence.

The following two photos are at the north end of the Dalton yards and show completed points to stubs. The piece of foam core sits on the piano wire which is connected to the Tourtiose switch machine below and protects fore arms from impalements.

You will also see brass bridle rods on the approach or fly rails to maintain gauge. The January '86 MRR article explains how these are attached. Most important is using epoxy which works as an insulator as well. Notice the Homesote base on the above shot. The turnout in the bottom photo needed to placed on a piece of pine integral to the benchwork making the drilling for spikes slightly more difficult.



Next I will be showing progress updates on Kingston scenicing, the Oostanaula crossing and Dalton among a variety of other projects. Hope you enjoy the trip. Comments are most welcomed.