I started the construction on the coal loader at Mine II on the Wharton branch.Other than originally planned it will only use the northern track, while the southern is used for storage. I started to design the baseplate and a pivot plate as well as the abutments, which will hold the building in place. Since...
The manifest train setup got some additional power. F7B #1255 was added to the consist.
I managed to finish the quartet of covered hoppers.After painting and applying the decals, all cars got a decent subtle weathering and are put into service. For the weathering I used my preferred method with powdered pastels and applicated them either dry or wet.
I recently started to convert 4 covered hoppers for service on the C&E.Two 4740cuft PS2-CD and two 4750 cuft Thrall covered hoppers. While removing the paint I accidentally damaged the bottom outlets on the PS2 hoppers. The Thrall had no modelled outlets at all, they also lost their handbrake wheel some time ago, an on...
and a happy New Year
I recently created some details for the layout scenes that I stumbled across while browsing the net.A yard speaker, that was probably used for communication between train crew and yard master before CB radio was established in locomotives. As my era is settled in early 80ies I found it plausible to add them to the...
Recently I made some more progress on the signalling of Bend Jct. I started the assembling of the masts for the color position light signals. The mast is made out of a 1.1 mm brass tubing for the upper mast section and 1.5 mm brass tubing for the lower mast section. The 1.1 mm tubing...
Here is part two for my endeavor into junction signaling at Bend Jct. In addition to the planed signals to govern the turnout routes, I plan to add an occupancy detection for the turnouts. This idea occurred not only for the junction, but I had it in mind for a longer time. I didn’t want...
First mockup for the junction signaling at Bend Jct. / Sarverville. I aim to mimic manual interlocking signals with no block detection outside the two turnouts.Red pushpins mark the home signals and yellow the distant signals. I will install 4 home signals a one is governing the movement out of Sarverville siding and yard.
Not much progress on the bridge scene, but a minor step to complete the look of the bridge itself. I added two telephone crossarm bracing to the bridge to simulate the continuity of the line along the bridge itself. In a first try, I added a double pole mast on either side of the hillside,...