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Weather or not…I’ll be ready!

I HAD PLANS. Big plans. Just ask Cody and Rene, and they’ll tell you that 2019 was supposed to be the year I’d make significant progress toward improving the plight of my railroad. Whether or not I wanted to believe it, Wisconsin weather really managed to make a mockery of my plans! Home turf for me is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a. It’s also the same region that hosts Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, the NFL gridiron aptly known as The Frozen Tundra. Around these parts, no one is surprised when a polar vortex sweeps down for a week of subzero lows (−30°F) or a blizzard blasts us with 2' of snowfall just in time to foil the budding trees. But come springtime, things are supposed to change. They did. Trees,…

Weather or not…I’ll be ready!

Weather or not…I’ll be ready!

I HAD PLANS. Big plans. Just ask Cody and Rene, and they’ll tell you that 2019 was supposed to be the year I’d make significant progress toward improving the plight of my railroad. Whether or not I wanted to believe it, Wisconsin weather really managed to make a mockery of my plans! Home turf for me is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a. It’s also the same region that hosts Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, the NFL gridiron aptly known as The Frozen Tundra. Around these parts, no one is surprised when a polar vortex sweeps down for a week of subzero lows (−30°F) or a blizzard blasts us with 2' of snowfall just in time to foil the budding trees. But come springtime, things are supposed to change. They did.…

Weather or not…I’ll be ready!

Engines & rolling stock PIKO America, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego CA 92120, released a General Electric 25-ton industrial starter set (#38151, shown). The set includes a General Electric 25-ton diesel switcher with directional light-emitting-diode headlights, two ore cars, circle of track, power supply, and more. Price: $349.99. The firm also has a North Pole Hauler remote-control starter set (#38152). It includes a General Electric diesel switcher with directional light-emitting-diode headlights, two ore cars, transformer, RC-operated direct current controller, pocket remote, and a circle of track. Price: $374.99. PIKO America also sells a double-sheathed center-cupola caboose in Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (#38896, $89.99, shown) and Merry Christmas (#38897, $119.99) designs. Lastly, PIKO America has three new versions of their GE 25-ton diesels (#38503, #38504, #38505). They are…

VIDEO 101 Along the line

AS I WALKED UP the driveway toward Mick Spilsbury’s Black Canyon Railroad, I could begin to hear the multitude of sounds stemming from the site. At first, I could distinguish the sounds of cows and sheep coming from the vicinity of four stock cars. But then I listened a bit more deliberately, and heard 10 different animal sounds playing. Further along the railroad, there was a dancehall with piano music and raucous laughter. Mick encouraged me to listen longer. A fight broke out; there were shouts of men, screams of women, and the sounds of chairs and tables splintering to bits. And then, the calm returned and the music resumed. “Now keep listening, there’s one more,” Mick whispered. It was the sound of a patron who had indulged a bit too…

VIDEO 101 Along the line

Engines & rolling stock PIKO America, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego CA 92120, released a General Electric 25-ton industrial starter set (#38151, shown). The set includes a General Electric 25-ton diesel switcher with directional light-emitting-diode headlights, two ore cars, circle of track, power supply, and more. Price: $349.99. The firm also has a North Pole Hauler remote-control starter set (#38152). It includes a General Electric diesel switcher with directional light-emitting-diode headlights, two ore cars, transformer, RC-operated direct current controller, pocket remote, and a circle of track. Price: $374.99. PIKO America also sells a double-sheathed center-cupola caboose in Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (#38896, $89.99, shown) and Merry Christmas (#38897, $119.99) designs. Lastly, PIKO America has three new versions of their GE 25-ton diesels (#38503, #38504, #38505). They…

POND PROBLEMS For years, we’ve contemplated how to route electrical power to our pond (“Waterscape Your Railroad,” Fall 2019 issue). When you say “no extension cords,” do you mean none from the pump’s plug to the outlet or that the pump needs to be hard wired to the outlet? I am assuming the outlet itself should be a professional job if not already installed, or could this be a DIY project? We keep guppies and water hyacinth, but a pump would open up what we could keep as we are in the tropics. With our liner leaking, it may be a good time to tackle this project, if we could just work out the power issue. If I could have added one thing to your article, it would’ve been mosquito control. Either add…

VIDEO 101 Along the line

AS I WALKED UP the driveway toward Mick Spilsbury’s Black Canyon Railroad, I could begin to hear the multitude of sounds stemming from the site. At first, I could distinguish the sounds of cows and sheep coming from the vicinity of four stock cars. But then I listened a bit more deliberately, and heard 10 different animal sounds playing. Further along the railroad, there was a dancehall with piano music and raucous laughter. Mick encouraged me to listen longer. A fight broke out; there were shouts of men, screams of women, and the sounds of chairs and tables splintering to bits. And then, the calm returned and the music resumed. “Now keep listening, there’s one more,” Mick whispered. It was the sound of a patron who had indulged a bit…

VIDEO 101 Along the line

Surveying your backyard

SOME FOLKS ARE LUCKY enough to custom build a house and plan for a railroad as part of the construction. Most of us, though, move into a dwelling with an established backyard. Since backyards come in all shapes and sizes, your track plan will need to fit the confines of the available space. But there’s more to planning a railroad than considering square footage. Before you start building your railroad, you’ll want to survey the grade of your yard. You may assume your yard is flat, but even small changes in elevation can be significant when scaled down. If you have a steeply sloping back yard, surveying it first will give you a better idea of how much fill you may need to bring in, or what design changes you’ll need…

Surveying your backyard

Weave a dry wash within your railway

DRY STREAMS CAN MAKE A SPLASH! There’s no water, yet it flows. Running a ribbon of river rock unites your scenery and gives bridges purpose. The premise is simple. We mirror a watercourse, carve a curving “V” into the landscape, then dress it up. Here, I’ll share examples of how 12 railroad gardeners cut swaths of dry creeks for paths, winter flood swales, and natural open spaces. ADD ACCESS AND ATTENTION POINTS When Jack Verducci hosts an operating session on his Crystal Springs Railroad, parallel river beds help operators find footholds among the dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, Zones 4-8) and low Elfin thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin’, photo 1). On Dart and Dottye Rinefort’s detailed OS&FRR, a fence keeps the parade from falling into a drainage ditch, which trickles (seasonally) under a…

Weave a dry wash within your railway

POND PROBLEMS For years, we’ve contemplated how to route electrical power to our pond (“Waterscape Your Railroad,” Fall 2019 issue). When you say “no extension cords,” do you mean none from the pump’s plug to the outlet or that the pump needs to be hard wired to the outlet? I am assuming the outlet itself should be a professional job if not already installed, or could this be a DIY project? We keep guppies and water hyacinth, but a pump would open up what we could keep as we are in the tropics. With our liner leaking, it may be a good time to tackle this project, if we could just work out the power issue. If I could have added one thing to your article, it would’ve been mosquito…

Surveying your backyard

SOME FOLKS ARE LUCKY enough to custom build a house and plan for a railroad as part of the construction. Most of us, though, move into a dwelling with an established backyard. Since backyards come in all shapes and sizes, your track plan will need to fit the confines of the available space. But there’s more to planning a railroad than considering square footage. Before you start building your railroad, you’ll want to survey the grade of your yard. You may assume your yard is flat, but even small changes in elevation can be significant when scaled down. If you have a steeply sloping back yard, surveying it first will give you a better idea of how much fill you may need to bring in, or what design changes you’ll…

Surveying your backyard

REGIONAL GARDENING REPORTS

How do dry creeks let your landscape flow? Ray Turner San Jose, California, Zone 9 Concrete course I wish I could say I’d planned for access to all areas of my railroad, but I didn’t. Where needed, I’ve built dry stream beds (and a wet one) to accommodate repairs/maintenance in the interior sections of the Mystic Mountain Railroad. The largest dry creek is human sized for access to an air pump and track (I duck under the high bridge). The smaller dry creeks provided a good reason to install trestles. All stream beds are made from concrete, so I can walk on them. Paul Smith Lincoln, Maine, Zone 5 Flood swale My pond was one of the first elements of the Bagley Mountain Division of the Maine Central Railroad, but I soon learned that year-round rain needs adequate drainage.…

REGIONAL GARDENING REPORTS

To feature “devil’s tongue” cactus in a family hobby may be controversial—just check out all those spines. Not soft or fuzzy, stiff spines hurt if stuck in skin and can break off, burying their little daggers in flesh. Opuntia pads are edible, if you can get past the spines, and bear delicious fruit, also called Indian fig. The pictured, barrier-like row of cactus growing in Zone 3 Alberta, Canada, certainly starts a conversation; the hobo and his old boxcar appear to want isolation. Most of us think of prickly pear cacti (cactuses) as native to the Southwest US, but Canada hosts a few native, cold-hardy species. O. polyacantha is probably the one pictured. Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa, Zones 4-10) is flatter with fewer spines. O. ‘Baby Rita’, Zones 6-11,…

Weave a dry wash within your railway

DRY STREAMS CAN MAKE A SPLASH! There’s no water, yet it flows. Running a ribbon of river rock unites your scenery and gives bridges purpose. The premise is simple. We mirror a watercourse, carve a curving “V” into the landscape, then dress it up. Here, I’ll share examples of how 12 railroad gardeners cut swaths of dry creeks for paths, winter flood swales, and natural open spaces. ADD ACCESS AND ATTENTION POINTS When Jack Verducci hosts an operating session on his Crystal Springs Railroad, parallel river beds help operators find footholds among the dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, Zones 4-8) and low Elfin thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin’, photo 1). On Dart and Dottye Rinefort’s detailed OS&FRR, a fence keeps the parade from falling into a drainage ditch, which trickles…

Weave a dry wash within your railway

REGIONAL GARDENING REPORTS

How do dry creeks let your landscape flow? Ray Turner San Jose, California, Zone 9 Concrete course I wish I could say I’d planned for access to all areas of my railroad, but I didn’t. Where needed, I’ve built dry stream beds (and a wet one) to accommodate repairs/maintenance in the interior sections of the Mystic Mountain Railroad. The largest dry creek is human sized for access to an air pump and track (I duck under the high bridge). The smaller dry creeks provided a good reason to install trestles. All stream beds are made from concrete, so I can walk on them. Paul Smith Lincoln, Maine, Zone 5 Flood swale My pond was one of the first elements of the Bagley Mountain Division of the Maine Central Railroad, but…

REGIONAL GARDENING REPORTS

READERS’ GALLERY

BOB CONGE An old pickup truck waits at the rural crossing for the Bachmann Consolidation to pass with its trainload of timber. The locomotive is modified for battery power and R/C control. Bob’s Crowhaven Line is a 1:20.3 scale garden railroad located in upstate New York. It’s now in its third year of operation. Garden railway scenes from around the world CHARLIE ZIMMERMAN Reading no. 103, a customized USA Trains NW2 diesel locomotive, is seen switching some customized AML boxcars one cold winter morning on Charlie Zimmerman’s garden railroad in Mechanicsburg, PA. Later rules about railroad safety required the removal of the steps at the ends of switchers and many railroads installed plates around the couplers, as seen on this unit. Modeled with sheet styrene and dressed up with detail castings, this is an…

READERS’ GALLERY

Now that’s ENTERTRAINMENT!

Cincinnati, Ohio EXCEPT AS NOTED FOR MANY GARDEN RAILWAY enthusiasts, a trip to the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State area is on their bucket list. That’s because Cincinnati, Ohio, is the home of Entertrainment Junction, which boasts the biggest indoor large-scale (1:24) model train layout on the planet. Opened in August 2008, Entertrainment Junction was the vision of successful Cincinnati businessman Don Oeters, a model train enthusiast since childhood. After 34 years in business, Don sold his company to follow his dream of opening a massive, climate-controlled model railroad. In the suburb of West Chester, OH, he purchased an 80,000-square-foot building, formerly home to a sprawling furniture store, and then immediately went to work on his passionate pursuit. “From the beginning, our passion was to create a one-of-a-kind family entertainment center that would entertain, educate, and…

Now that’s ENTERTRAINMENT!

To feature “devil’s tongue” cactus in a family hobby may be controversial—just check out all those spines. Not soft or fuzzy, stiff spines hurt if stuck in skin and can break off, burying their little daggers in flesh. Opuntia pads are edible, if you can get past the spines, and bear delicious fruit, also called Indian fig. The pictured, barrier-like row of cactus growing in Zone 3 Alberta, Canada, certainly starts a conversation; the hobo and his old boxcar appear to want isolation. Most of us think of prickly pear cacti (cactuses) as native to the Southwest US, but Canada hosts a few native, cold-hardy species. O. polyacantha is probably the one pictured. Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa, Zones 4-10) is flatter with fewer spines. O. ‘Baby Rita’, Zones 6-11,…

RAILWAY AT A GLANCE

Name: Entertrainment Junction RR Size: 25,000 sq. ft. (80,000 sq ft. overall) Scale: 1:24 Gauge: 1 (45mm) Theme: Freelanced U.S. locales Eras: Early Period (1830s-1890s), Middle Period (1900-1950s), and Modern Period (1960s to the present) Construction: Steel studs supporting ¾" plywood decks Motive power: Track-powered Length of mainline: 10,560' (2 miles) Maximum gradient: 2.5% Type of track: Aristo-Craft, U.S. flextrack Track heights: 2' to 12' Minimum radius: early period 5', middle and modern areas 10' Minimum turnout: Aristo-Craft wide radius Structures: Scratchbuilt Control systems: Individual DC power packs with a proprietary computerized system to operate the trains Website: www.entertrainmentjunction.com POINTS OF INTEREST (KEY) 1. Main entrance2. Junction Cafe3. Hobby Shop4. Ticket office5. Railway entrance6. Tunnel One7. Tunnel Two8. Tunnel Three9. Tunnel Four10. Gift shop Early period 11. Waterfall12. Encampment13. River Bend14. Imagination Junction15. Kid’s Express (outdoor layout) Middle period 16. Downtown city scene17. American Railroading Museum18. Balcony (repair shop below)19. Coney…

RAILWAY AT A GLANCE

BUSY BEHIND THE SCENES

Adjacent to the Modern Period’s big city buzz, there’s a path that diverts visitors into the Train Expo Center, which hosts a variety of temporary display layouts, a permanent marble collection exhibit, and a National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) library. But a large portion of this 8,000-squarefoot Train Expo Center area is devoted to the “temporary” workshop, where visitors are welcome to watch the volunteers at work, building and detailing all sorts of projects for the layout. An interesting sign that sums up the work of these wonderful people is posted on a toolbox: VOLUNTEERS DON’T GET PAID, NOT BECAUSE THEY’RE WORTHLESS, BUT BECAUSE THEY’RE PRICELESS! Many of these volunteers are seniors who enjoy building the large (1:24 scale) structures from Ozark Miniatures kits, scratchbuilding others, and making the detailed interiors. One volunteer…

BUSY BEHIND THE SCENES

READERS’ GALLERY

BOB CONGE An old pickup truck waits at the rural crossing for the Bachmann Consolidation to pass with its trainload of timber. The locomotive is modified for battery power and R/C control. Bob’s Crowhaven Line is a 1:20.3 scale garden railroad located in upstate New York. It’s now in its third year of operation. Garden railway scenes from around the world CHARLIE ZIMMERMAN Reading no. 103, a customized USA Trains NW2 diesel locomotive, is seen switching some customized AML boxcars one cold winter morning on Charlie Zimmerman’s garden railroad in Mechanicsburg, PA. Later rules about railroad safety required the removal of the steps at the ends of switchers and many railroads installed plates around the couplers, as seen on this unit. Modeled with sheet styrene and dressed up with detail…

READERS’ GALLERY

DIGITAL DISPATCHING

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) operate the control system and are responsible for operating each distinct area of the immense train layout. Rather than housing controllers in a centralized location, a total of six PLCs are dispersed throughout the layout and share information with each other via a hardwired network utilizing “peer logic” technology. The PLCs monitor more than 850 magnetic reed sensors, control buttons, and 500 individually controlled blocks as well as voltage control for engines. Traffic signals, switches, speed changes, and stopping and starting locomotives all operate through this system. Operators can adjust speed and stop/start trains from a computer tablet. The system can even send email to appropriate staff informing them of situations that require attention.…

DIGITAL DISPATCHING

Now that’s ENTERTRAINMENT!

■ Cincinnati, Ohio EXCEPT AS NOTED FOR MANY GARDEN RAILWAY enthusiasts, a trip to the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State area is on their bucket list. That’s because Cincinnati, Ohio, is the home of Entertrainment Junction, which boasts the biggest indoor large-scale (1:24) model train layout on the planet. Opened in August 2008, Entertrainment Junction was the vision of successful Cincinnati businessman Don Oeters, a model train enthusiast since childhood. After 34 years in business, Don sold his company to follow his dream of opening a massive, climate-controlled model railroad. In the suburb of West Chester, OH, he purchased an 80,000-square-foot building, formerly home to a sprawling furniture store, and then immediately went to work on his passionate pursuit. “From the beginning, our passion was to create a one-of-a-kind family entertainment center…

Now that’s ENTERTRAINMENT!

RAILWAY AT A GLANCE

Name: Entertrainment Junction RR Size: 25,000 sq. ft. (80,000 sq ft. overall) Scale: 1:24 Gauge: 1 (45mm) Theme: Freelanced U.S. locales Eras: Early Period (1830s-1890s), Middle Period (1900-1950s), and Modern Period (1960s to the present) Construction: Steel studs supporting ¾" plywood decks Motive power: Track-powered Length of mainline: 10,560' (2 miles) Maximum gradient: 2.5% Type of track: Aristo-Craft, U.S. flextrack Track heights: 2' to 12' Minimum radius: early period 5', middle and modern areas 10' Minimum turnout: Aristo-Craft wide radius Structures: Scratchbuilt Control systems: Individual DC power packs with a proprietary computerized system to operate the trains Website: www.entertrainmentjunction.com POINTS OF INTEREST (KEY) Early period Middle period Modern period Location and hours Entertrainment Junction is located at 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, Ohio. It’s just east of I-75 exit 22…

RAILWAY AT A GLANCE

SUPER-SIZED SOO LINE

Eubank, Kentucky EXCEPT WHERE NOTED You might say that railroading runs in our blood. My interest in the Soo Line (Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Ry.) stems from growing up in Glenwood, Minn. It was the first division point west of Shoreham Yard in Minneapolis in the 1940s and ’50s. My dad was a brakeman on the Soo, and I had the opportunity to ride the train with him a number of times. My wife Renee’s interest in railroads comes from growing up in Waite Park, Minn. Her father and four generations of her family, including several brothers, worked for the Great Northern Ry. at the car shops. I also worked as a machinist for the Great Northern in the Waite Park shops from 1968 to 1970, so we both have…

SUPER-SIZED SOO LINE

BUSY BEHIND THE SCENES

Adjacent to the Modern Period’s big city buzz, there’s a path that diverts visitors into the Train Expo Center, which hosts a variety of temporary display layouts, a permanent marble collection exhibit, and a National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) library. But a large portion of this 8,000-squarefoot Train Expo Center area is devoted to the “temporary” workshop, where visitors are welcome to watch the volunteers at work, building and detailing all sorts of projects for the layout. An interesting sign that sums up the work of these wonderful people is posted on a toolbox: VOLUNTEERS DON’T GET PAID, NOT BECAUSE THEY’RE WORTHLESS, BUT BECAUSE THEY’RE PRICELESS! Many of these volunteers are seniors who enjoy building the large (1:24 scale) structures from Ozark Miniatures kits, scratchbuilding others, and making the detailed…

BUSY BEHIND THE SCENES

DIGITAL DISPATCHING

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) operate the control system and are responsible for operating each distinct area of the immense train layout. Rather than housing controllers in a centralized location, a total of six PLCs are dispersed throughout the layout and share information with each other via a hardwired network utilizing “peer logic” technology. The PLCs monitor more than 850 magnetic reed sensors, control buttons, and 500 individually controlled blocks as well as voltage control for engines. Traffic signals, switches, speed changes, and stopping and starting locomotives all operate through this system. Operators can adjust speed and stop/start trains from a computer tablet. The system can even send email to appropriate staff informing them of situations that require attention.…

DIGITAL DISPATCHING

TACKLING TRACKWORK

When we started our outdoor railroad adventure, I copied some track construction details I’d found at the Mill Creek Central ride-on railroad in Coshocton, Ohio (millcreekcentral.com). The folks at MCC were extremely helpful and shared their techniques for building the roadbed, laying the track, and ballasting it. Our track is common 1" aluminum rail. We make our own 1½"×1½"×16" wood ties cut from 2×6 treated lumber. We secure the rail to the ties with cadmium-plated 1" sheet metal screws. However, we’ve recently started using stainless-steel screws of the same size. Renee and I built a jig in the barn on a rolling table to assemble track panels. I also build the switches on that same table. I use cast-aluminum frogs for the switches in standard no. 6 and no. 9 sizes. For…

TACKLING TRACKWORK

SUPER-SIZED SOO LINE

■ Eubank, Kentucky EXCEPT WHERE NOTED You might say that railroading runs in our blood. My interest in the Soo Line (Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Ry.) stems from growing up in Glenwood, Minn. It was the first division point west of Shoreham Yard in Minneapolis in the 1940s and ’50s. My dad was a brakeman on the Soo, and I had the opportunity to ride the train with him a number of times. My wife Renee’s interest in railroads comes from growing up in Waite Park, Minn. Her father and four generations of her family, including several brothers, worked for the Great Northern Ry. at the car shops. I also worked as a machinist for the Great Northern in the Waite Park shops from 1968 to 1970,…

SUPER-SIZED SOO LINE

WELL-EQUIPPED FOR WINTER

The Grosssers enjoy making railroading a year-round activity. Ray built the all-steel Russell snow-plow to lead the charge through the occasional snowfall, but it would take a whole heap of flakes to stall this 1,600 pound scratchbuilt consist! A. Russell snow plow Parts made from laser-cut 14-gauge steel sheet, complete with ⅛" rivet holes. Also fitted with operable wings. B. 1929 PS sawtooth boxcar Outside bracing, 20-gauge steel Z channels • Trucks and couplers mounts, 1"×2"×⅛" steel center frame • Underframe, " ½×1½" channel • Underframe ribs, 1" channel • Roof carlines, oak • Sides, ⅜" plywood • Sheath, "⅛×¾" boards • Roof, ⅛" tempered Masonite C. 1907 wood caboose Car side, scribed furniture-grade seven-ply maple plywood • Detailed interior • Roof and underframe built using the same techniques as sawtooth boxcar. D. Couplers and brakes All cars…

WELL-EQUIPPED FOR WINTER

Build a STEEL-FRAME SNOW PLOW

Woodstock, Ontario EXCEPT AS NOTED WINTER ISN'T FAR AWAY, but instead of dreading the cold and snow, I’m looking forward to it. My steel-frame snow plow is taking shape and will soon be up to the job of clearing the rails this season. If you missed part one in the Fall 2019 issue, I designed the plow, made the frame, and discussed two methods of welding (MIG and TIG). Let’s continue building the body, detailing the inside, and finishing this piece. BODY DESIGN AND ASSEMBLY After I built the steel frame, I printed paper versions of the plastic plow parts and taped them in place to check design and fit (A). I made a few tweaks to my design, and sized the finished sheets just under the maximum size that would fit into the…

Build a STEEL-FRAME SNOW PLOW

TACKLING TRACKWORK

When we started our outdoor railroad adventure, I copied some track construction details I’d found at the Mill Creek Central ride-on railroad in Coshocton, Ohio (millcreekcentral.com). The folks at MCC were extremely helpful and shared their techniques for building the roadbed, laying the track, and ballasting it. Our track is common 1" aluminum rail. We make our own 1½"×1½"×16" wood ties cut from 2×6 treated lumber. We secure the rail to the ties with cadmium-plated 1" sheet metal screws. However, we’ve recently started using stainless-steel screws of the same size. Renee and I built a jig in the barn on a rolling table to assemble track panels. I also build the switches on that same table. I use cast-aluminum frogs for the switches in standard no. 6 and no. 9…

TACKLING TRACKWORK

Tips for bending polystyrene

HAVE YOUR MATERIALS READY beforehand, because the working time of heated plastic is short. You’ll need an old cookie sheet (not used for food), a Magic Bag (a cloth bag with beans or seeds inside, used for applying heat or cold to your body, also called a Bed Buddy), gloves, and a curved item on which to bend the softened plastic. I used an old milk can. Remember, the radius of the curved form that you use must be smaller than the finished size, because plastic wants to spring back to its flattened state. Experiment with scraps before softening your final project pieces. Heating time is variable, depending on the thickness of the material. You want the piece to be hot, but not limp. If the piece is so hot that…

Tips for bending polystyrene

WELL-EQUIPPED FOR WINTER

The Grosssers enjoy making railroading a year-round activity. Ray built the all-steel Russell snow-plow to lead the charge through the occasional snowfall, but it would take a whole heap of flakes to stall this 1,600 pound scratchbuilt consist! A. Russell snow plow Parts made from laser-cut 14-gauge steel sheet, complete with ⅛" rivet holes. Also fitted with operable wings. B. 1929 PS sawtooth boxcar Outside bracing, 20-gauge steel Z channels • Trucks and couplers mounts, 1"×2"×⅛" steel center frame • Underframe, " ½×1½" channel • Underframe ribs, 1" channel • Roof carlines, oak • Sides, ⅜" plywood • Sheath, "⅛×¾" boards • Roof, ⅛" tempered Masonite C. 1907 wood caboose Car side, scribed furniture-grade seven-ply maple plywood • Detailed interior • Roof and underframe built using the same techniques as…

WELL-EQUIPPED FOR WINTER

PLOWING INTO THE SEASON

Phippsburg, Maine EXCEPT WHERE NOTED BEING A TRUE NEW ENGLANDER, I’ve come to appreciate the many harsh realities of a winter in Maine. I know that frost heaves can be treacherous on roads and railroads alike. And with no uncertainty, I also know to always be prepared for unpredictable winter weather – through June! Even so, I’ve still managed to enjoy all that the winter months bring with it. Especially the snow. Much of my enthusiasm about the snow season stems from the fact that I get to plow it from my large-scale railway and a 1:1 scale railroad too. When I acquired my initial live-steam locomotive (an Aster Climax geared engine), one of its primary assignments was to power the snow removal efforts on my garden railroad in Connecticut. Accordingly, the many…

PLOWING INTO THE SEASON

PICK OF THE PLOWS

Pilot plows (photo A), also known as “pony plows,” are typically mounted on the front of a locomotive. The weight of the steam, track, or battery-powered model helps the plowing operation by keeping the plow on the rails. Pilot plows tend to be somewhat smaller and limited in the amount of snow they can push. With this type, the downward forces on the plow can be an issue. Model steam locomotives often have the drivers carry the majority of the engine’s weight and the pilot plow is often cantilevered over softly sprung lead trucks quite a distance away. Force on the plow tends to push the nose down, which can cause the rear drive wheels to derail. Fortunately, models of diesel locomotives featuring two trucks offer functional geometry for a pilot plow. A…

PICK OF THE PLOWS

Build a STEEL-FRAME SNOW PLOW

Woodstock, Ontario EXCEPT AS NOTED WINTER ISN'T FAR AWAY, but instead of dreading the cold and snow, I’m looking forward to it. My steel-frame snow plow is taking shape and will soon be up to the job of clearing the rails this season. If you missed part one in the Fall 2019 issue, I designed the plow, made the frame, and discussed two methods of welding (MIG and TIG). Let’s continue building the body, detailing the inside, and finishing this piece. BODY DESIGN AND ASSEMBLY After I built the steel frame, I printed paper versions of the plastic plow parts and taped them in place to check design and fit (A). I made a few tweaks to my design, and sized the finished sheets just under the maximum size that…

Build a STEEL-FRAME SNOW PLOW

PERFECTING THE PLOWING PROCESS

1 Prior to plowing, you’ll need to have all of the switches aligned for safe movement. I tend to set them even before the snow arrives. As with the real thing, in order to operate a model switch, you have to clear away the snow off it and out from between the points. 2 Start small. If you have a minimal amount of snowfall (an inch or less, I typically enjoy simply starting out with a locomotive equipped with a pilot plow. 3 Dig deeper. When dealing with deeper snow, a proper plow car is in order. There are some ready-to-run options available or you can make your own. I’ve also seen some nice plows kit-bashed from caboose and boxcar models. In this issue, you’ll find instructions for finishing your own steel-frame…

PERFECTING THE PLOWING PROCESS

Tips for bending polystyrene

HAVE YOUR MATERIALS READY beforehand, because the working time of heated plastic is short. You’ll need an old cookie sheet (not used for food), a Magic Bag (a cloth bag with beans or seeds inside, used for applying heat or cold to your body, also called a Bed Buddy), gloves, and a curved item on which to bend the softened plastic. I used an old milk can. Remember, the radius of the curved form that you use must be smaller than the finished size, because plastic wants to spring back to its flattened state. Experiment with scraps before softening your final project pieces. Heating time is variable, depending on the thickness of the material. You want the piece to be hot, but not limp. If the piece is so hot…

Tips for bending polystyrene

PLOWING INTO THE SEASON

Phippsburg, Maine EXCEPT WHERE NOTED BEING A TRUE NEW ENGLANDER, I’ve come to appreciate the many harsh realities of a winter in Maine. I know that frost heaves can be treacherous on roads and railroads alike. And with no uncertainty, I also know to always be prepared for unpredictable winter weather – through June! Even so, I’ve still managed to enjoy all that the winter months bring with it. Especially the snow. Much of my enthusiasm about the snow season stems from the fact that I get to plow it from my large-scale railway and a 1:1 scale railroad too. When I acquired my initial live-steam locomotive (an Aster Climax geared engine), one of its primary assignments was to power the snow removal efforts on my garden railroad in Connecticut.…

PLOWING INTO THE SEASON

January 19-25, 2020: Diamondhead International Small Scale Steamup • Diamondhead Resort, Diamondhead MS 39525 • Pat Darby, k5pat@bellsouth.net, 985-867-8695 • Info:www.diamondhead.org March 13-14, 2020: East Coast Large Scale Train Show • Maryland State Fairgrounds, Baltimore MD • Info: 410-349-4290 • eclsts.com June 22-27, 2020: Big Train Operator Club Convention • “Meet me In St. Louis” • Contact Bob Somogyi, btoeditor@sbcglobal.net • bigtrainoperator.com May 31-June 6, 2020: National Garden Railway Convention • Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville TN • ngrc2020.com July 8-12, 2020: National Summer Steamup 2020 • McClellan Conference Center, McClellan, CA. • Info: www.steam-events.org Future National Garden Railroad Conventions 2021: Denver, CO 2022: Santa Clara, CA Event notices are published at no charge. Send your listings to Garden Railways, PO Box 1612, Waukesha WI 53187-1612, or e-mail them to rschweitzer@gardenrailways.com MISSED US AT MILWAUKEE’S TRAINFEST SHOW?…

PICK OF THE PLOWS

Pilot plows (photo A), also known as “pony plows,” are typically mounted on the front of a locomotive. The weight of the steam, track, or battery-powered model helps the plowing operation by keeping the plow on the rails. Pilot plows tend to be somewhat smaller and limited in the amount of snow they can push. With this type, the downward forces on the plow can be an issue. Model steam locomotives often have the drivers carry the majority of the engine’s weight and the pilot plow is often cantilevered over softly sprung lead trucks quite a distance away. Force on the plow tends to push the nose down, which can cause the rear drive wheels to derail. Fortunately, models of diesel locomotives featuring two trucks offer functional geometry for a…

PICK OF THE PLOWS

Accucraft’s KERR STEWART “WREN”

7/8" SCALE “ACCUCRAFT HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF REPLICATING THIS ENGINE.”-Marc Horovitz Kerr Stuart was a locomotive manufacturer in Stoke-on-Trent, England. The company was founded in 1883 and was sold to the Hunslet Engine Company in 1930. Kerr Stuart’s products were primarily small industrial steam locomotives. The prototype. Starting in 1903, they produced 163 of the diminutive “Wren” class of 0-4-0ST engines in a variety of variations. They saw service all over the world, doing light industrial work such as air-field construction, sewer construction, hauling munitions at factories, and so forth. Several of them have been preserved and are running today. The model. Accucraft’s 7⁄8"-scale model, for gauge-1 track, is based on the so-called “new type” of engine, developed in 1915. The two-foot-gauge prototype had inside frames, Hackworth valve gear, and cast-iron…

Accucraft’s KERR STEWART “WREN”

PERFECTING THE PLOWING PROCESS

1 Prior to plowing, you’ll need to have all of the switches aligned for safe movement. I tend to set them even before the snow arrives. As with the real thing, in order to operate a model switch, you have to clear away the snow off it and out from between the points. 2 Start small. If you have a minimal amount of snowfall (an inch or less, I typically enjoy simply starting out with a locomotive equipped with a pilot plow. 3 Dig deeper. When dealing with deeper snow, a proper plow car is in order. There are some ready-to-run options available or you can make your own. I’ve also seen some nice plows kit-bashed from caboose and boxcar models. In this issue, you’ll find instructions for finishing your…

PERFECTING THE PLOWING PROCESS

PIKO America 0-6-0 CAMELBACK steam locomotive

1: 2 4 SCALE A 1:24 scale 0-6-0 Camelback steam locomotive has joined the PIKO America locomotive roster. The short-wheelbase plastic engine features a dual-mode SoundTraxx sound decoder; separate, factory-applied detail parts; and a smoke unit. Pint-sized prototype: Camelback, Mother Hubbard, and center-cab are just some of the names for Reading Co.’s 0-6-0 steam switcher. Regardless of the name, the short-wheelbase locomotives were distinct. The cab, located at the center of the engine ahead of the firebox, straddled the boiler. The Wootten firebox, built wider than traditional fireboxes for burning ungraded pieces of Anthracite, was at the rear of the engine. The fireman shoveled coal into the firebox while standing on the tender plate between the engine and tender. Our sample is decorated as a Reading Co. class B8b 0-6-0 no. 1396, part…

PIKO America 0-6-0 CAMELBACK steam locomotive

ONE-PAGE PROJECT

Waukesha, WI INSPIRATION CAN HAPPEN in unlikely places. While shopping at a local thrift store, I spotted an aluminum tealight candle holder. The shape and size approximated a large-scale gazebo. With minor modifications and spray paint, it would make a weatherproof and inexpensive display piece in the railroad. I added a miniature hanging basket plant, made from a glue-stick cap, paper clip wire, and a small scrap of outdoor carpet. Follow the steps to make your own gazebo. Find a similar tealight holder at Joann Fabrics (in their Hudson 43 line), Michaels (Ashland series), or search Amazon for “mini lantern candle holder.” SUPPLY LIST ◼ Lantern tealight holder◼ Old toothbrush◼ Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X spray paint (primer and white)◼ Cap from bottle or glue stick◼ Paper clip or other small gauge wire◼ Scrap…

ONE-PAGE PROJECT

January 19-25, 2020: Diamondhead International Small Scale Steamup • Diamondhead Resort, Diamondhead MS 39525 • Pat Darby, k5pat@bellsouth.net, 985-867-8695 • Info:www.diamondhead.org March 13-14, 2020: East Coast Large Scale Train Show • Maryland State Fairgrounds, Baltimore MD • Info: 410-349-4290 • eclsts.com June 22-27, 2020: Big Train Operator Club Convention • “Meet me In St. Louis” • Contact Bob Somogyi, btoeditor@sbcglobal.net • bigtrainoperator.com May 31-June 6, 2020: National Garden Railway Convention • Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville TN • ngrc2020.com July 8-12, 2020: National Summer Steamup 2020 • McClellan Conference Center, McClellan, CA. • Info: www.steam-events.org Future National Garden Railroad Conventions 2021: Denver, CO 2022: Santa Clara, CA Event notices are published at no charge. Send your listings to Garden Railways, PO Box 1612, Waukesha WI 53187-1612, or e-mail…

Accucraft’s KERR STEWART “WREN”

7/8" SCALE “ACCUCRAFT HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF REPLICATING THIS ENGINE.”-Marc Horovitz Kerr Stuart was a locomotive manufacturer in Stoke-on-Trent, England. The company was founded in 1883 and was sold to the Hunslet Engine Company in 1930. Kerr Stuart’s products were primarily small industrial steam locomotives. The prototype. Starting in 1903, they produced 163 of the diminutive “Wren” class of 0-4-0ST engines in a variety of variations. They saw service all over the world, doing light industrial work such as air-field construction, sewer construction, hauling munitions at factories, and so forth. Several of them have been preserved and are running today. The model. Accucraft’s 7⁄8"-scale model, for gauge-1 track, is based on the so-called “new type” of engine, developed in 1915. The two-foot-gauge prototype had inside frames, Hackworth valve…

Accucraft’s KERR STEWART “WREN”

PIKO America 0-6-0 CAMELBACK steam locomotive

1: 2 4 SCALE A 1:24 scale 0-6-0 Camelback steam locomotive has joined the PIKO America locomotive roster. The short-wheelbase plastic engine features a dual-mode SoundTraxx sound decoder; separate, factory-applied detail parts; and a smoke unit. Pint-sized prototype: Camelback, Mother Hubbard, and center-cab are just some of the names for Reading Co.’s 0-6-0 steam switcher. Regardless of the name, the short-wheelbase locomotives were distinct. The cab, located at the center of the engine ahead of the firebox, straddled the boiler. The Wootten firebox, built wider than traditional fireboxes for burning ungraded pieces of Anthracite, was at the rear of the engine. The fireman shoveled coal into the firebox while standing on the tender plate between the engine and tender. Our sample is decorated as a Reading Co. class B8b 0-6-0…

PIKO America 0-6-0 CAMELBACK steam locomotive

ONE-PAGE PROJECT

Waukesha, WI INSPIRATION CAN HAPPEN in unlikely places. While shopping at a local thrift store, I spotted an aluminum tealight candle holder. The shape and size approximated a large-scale gazebo. With minor modifications and spray paint, it would make a weatherproof and inexpensive display piece in the railroad. I added a miniature hanging basket plant, made from a glue-stick cap, paper clip wire, and a small scrap of outdoor carpet. Follow the steps to make your own gazebo. Find a similar tealight holder at Joann Fabrics (in their Hudson 43 line), Michaels (Ashland series), or search Amazon for “mini lantern candle holder.” SUPPLY LIST Lantern tealight holder Old toothbrush Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X spray paint (primer and white) Cap from bottle or glue stick Paper clip or other small gauge…

ONE-PAGE PROJECT

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