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nhguy
Fireman
USA
3689 Posts |
 Posted - 01/25/2011 : 02:48:47 AM
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Coming along quite nicely. I like the Aurora bridge pier idea. They look like something from the 50's and back East when all the road construction was going on the motto was "if it didn't fit on land raise it up in the air' philosophy of road building. There are a lot of elevated roads back East.
I also have to agree that the 'building canyon' look is coming together on it's own. Nice job! |
Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado |
Edited by - nhguy on 01/25/2011 02:51:06 AM |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 04:48:35 AM
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Eric: as a matter of fact I have given a lot of thought to displaying a few spreaders outside; in fact, GHQ Models sells what appears to be the exact spreader needed: http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/60002.html Possibly James can confirm that it is indeed a duplicate of a New Idea spreader.
As far as the Caboose Industries ground throws mounted on the edge, they handle all the turnouts on the section except one I installed in Capital Iron to allow for a second scrap track; one of the reasons why the New Idea building is only two stories tall is so that the operator can reach over and throw that one isolated turnout. As far as waybills go, I'm out of cute options, having spent all my imagination on F&B Fertilizer. Long ago I made a pact to myself to resist giving things a cute name, but felt an overwhelming compulsion to recognize my two compadres in model railroading crime with a structure (albeit a VERY stinky one) all their very own. Next ops session I'm going to ask Mark to stand next to the complex after he's consumed a healthy dose of Mrs. Harsco's infamous garlic dip just to add some some additional olfactory ambiance to the scene....LOL.
The devil as they say, is in the details: still left to build is a long concrete loading dock for New Idea, as well as the spreaders Eric mentioned....will need to order probably three to have on the dock or being towed to the dock for loading onto a flat car. Capital Iron has been in limbo for some time now; currently I'm studying Dean Freytag's MR article from several years back on modeling a foundry to see if I have the space needed to transform Capital from a structural steel fabricator to a casting foundry.....those bottle cars need some place to go!
Bill: I'm one of those guys who get a secret thrill out of "making a silk purse out of a sow's ear" as my dad used to say...LOL. While far from perfect, they do have the right shape and proportions!
Looking back at the last "canyon" picture, I couldn't help but notice the window frame sitting on the room of W.O Hickok Boiler Works...<slapping forehead vigorously> so much for neatness counting!
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Edited by - Harsco on 01/25/2011 04:59:11 AM |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 08:10:18 AM
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Well, Rick says he resits the thought of 'cute names', but truth be told, 'New Idea Spreader' truly represents the atmostphere in Rick's basement. You see, between all of the 'new ideas' floating around, combined with some of the BS that follows, well, it is an appropriate industry on the HTRR!  |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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dlwrailfan1
Crew Chief
USA
574 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 12:49:05 PM
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Rick,
Keeping with the ongoing theme, New Idea has located its factory in the "Manure Spreader Valley". Residents of Pennsylvania from Erie to Scranton, Pittsburgh to Philadelphia send their best manure spreaders filled with "new ideas" to Capitol Street. On rare occasion they come back home for a visit, but most stay in the 'valley' for life.
If I can get the tongue out of my cheek [:-yuck] -- the manure spreaders, I mean state legislators have no equal in fertilizer business.
Inside joke heaped on inside joke -- what fun!
Eric |
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jbvb
Fireman
USA
1916 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 8:02:46 PM
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| I believe the GHQ HO scale spreader kit is an IH model, probably from closer to 1950 than 1960. But it could be kitbashed or robbed of parts to get a more accurate New Idea spreader. Searching Google Images for '"new idea" spreader' finds many pictures. For your era, I believe you want wood sides, solid red paint, PTO drive setup in front and probably "New Idea" in yellow high up on the front of the side for most of them. They usually offered several models, mostly different in length. Steel sides and floor don't last very long in a spreader, the transition from wood to recycled plastic took place over the last 15-20 years. |
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pcmatt
Engine Wiper
USA
181 Posts |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 8:14:04 PM
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James - thanks for the info; that saves a whole lot of researching!
Eric: your posting is filled with too many "rich" metaphors to comment any further....LOL.
Mark: Mrs. H is making the garlic dip! |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 2:17:34 PM
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January has proven to be a busy month for the HTRR; two weekends ago, I was open for the New Jersey Division meet and hosted 40+ visitors, some of whom I hadn't seen for almost fifteen years, the last time I was on the tour. Assisted by Steam and Mark, my pride and joy ran flawlessly.
Just like any spoiled child though, this layout has a way of exacting it's revenge....witness last evening's ops session, or more accurately "Derail Fest 2011". I offer a few candid pictures of the night's proceedings to illustrate my point, with apologies for the poor quality:
First up, a shot of the newly inaugurated commuter run, Trains 982 and 984, between Enola and downtown Harrisburg. Knowing the origin of my idea, Joe H kept repeatedly referring to it as the "Pemberton Local", which was operated 120 miles east of Harrisburg. Joe has a skewed sense of humor. Here's a shot of the inbound 982 slowing down and trying to locate the as-yet-unbuilt Maclay Street station stop. I told Joe to use his imagination and drop the customers off where ever he wanted:
January seems to be the time when the layout decides to stretch itself a little, witness this derailment at the LE (Lucknow East) interlock....in reality the wheels started hitting the ground earlier due to a weather induced kink on the preceding curve:
I call this one "Scrap West, Slag East" but more accurately, it's "Scrap Plus Forgotten Through Freight Cars West, Slag East". Hearing some muted whispers of "Go ahead, he'll never notice", I peered around the peninsula to find Mark tacking freight cars that Steam had missed onto the empty scrap train:
The co-conspirators conspiring:
Last night saw a major shake-up in personnel assignments....Matt as Harsco Supervisor, Bob P at Herr:
Joe C at Maclay:
And last, but certainly not least, the ever effervescent Diamond Bill occupying the dispatcher's hot seat:
As mentioned previously, the layout had it's moments, the most spectacular of which was a massive pile up of slag cars captured by the local Harrisburg news chopper:
Suffice to say an investigation is pending. Does everyone know what happens when a bunch of molten slag is unceremoniously dumped on the right of way?
Several other Kodak moments to share...Steam at Division:
Mini-kibitzing session at State Street and Harris Tower:
Mark handling some local action at Lucknow. After two years of waiting for the area to heat up action wise, Diamond Bill delivered...the place was tighter than a bull's behind during fly season!
Harris Tower to all operating units: "OK, everyone stop and tell me where you're at". Diamond Bill trying to bring order out of chaos:
Mark "adjusting" just one of many "oops" last night:
P-83, the general freight run to Commonwealth Coke, finishes up it's work and heads to the barn:
Last, but certainly not least, one of the evening's bright spots: a new, freshly Steam painted and sound equipped H10-44 switcher humming away between chores at it's new home in Division Street Yard:
In fairness to this intrepid band of operational scalawags, the last, most visually stunning derailment in which ten plus cars decorated the scenic hillsides of Lucknow was unfortunately NOT photo documented since yours truly was the chief culprit, insisting that Joe H obtain "helper service" to push his train up the Commonwealth Branch. Let's just say the result of this misguided recommendation was ugly.....very ugly.
Looking over the carnage this morning, my hit list has swollen considerably to include three turnouts, two kinked rail sections, one balky loco, and at least three cars with amputated couplers...all in all, a satisfying night's work, wouldn't you say, guys? Although I'm not 100% sure a prototypical dispatcher would ever tell a train crew asking for clearance to "go for it!"
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Edited by - Harsco on 01/29/2011 2:34:42 PM |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 3:13:15 PM
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| Rick, as always, a great time had by all! Considering you once again moved everyone around to different positions, I think things went very well, even with the few tie hitting moments! But of course, as smoothly as the layout ran, there were those occassional moments of levity brought about by friendly b-busting! Thanks again, and the layout looks great and keeps getting better! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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lv4142003
Engine Wiper
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2011 : 08:31:55 AM
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| No one mentioned the nice food spread put out by Mrs. Harsco. Tasty as ever (what were the vegetables for?). But I'm putting in a request that Mrs. H refrain from delivering her renowned TOXIC garlic dip. We have several MGPU's (Mobile Gas Producing Units) at least one of which has a non functioning Audible Gas Pressure Relief Valve. Several times during the ops session it was necessary to abandon certin section of the railroad as a gas release had occured and no audible warning was sounded. Some opeartors have suffered olfactory damage which isn't covered under the present insurance plan. The terrain in these sections of the layout makes it conducive to a gas inversion layer which tends to linger and has no way of escaping the aisle, you just have to wait until it gets cold and sinks to the ground. Joe H |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2011 : 09:59:32 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by lv4142003
No one mentioned the nice food spread put out by Mrs. Harsco. Tasty as ever (what were the vegetables for?). But I'm putting in a request that Mrs. H refrain from delivering her renowned TOXIC garlic dip. We have several MGPU's (Mobile Gas Producing Units) at least one of which has a non functioning Audible Gas Pressure Relief Valve. Several times during the ops session it was necessary to abandon certin section of the railroad as a gas release had occured and no audible warning was sounded. Some opeartors have suffered olfactory damage which isn't covered under the present insurance plan. The terrain in these sections of the layout makes it conducive to a gas inversion layer which tends to linger and has no way of escaping the aisle, you just have to wait until it gets cold and sinks to the ground. Joe H
Duly noted, Joe....I took one sampling of the infamous material and my eyes started watering, this despite the fact that 1) I really do like garlic, and 2) Mrs. H actually DILUTED the concentration from the last time she made it. I kept checking during the evening and there was really only one or two people who took more than a courtesy taste....they would be the most likely culprits.
You know, come to think of it, maybe it wasn't the weather that produced all those kinked rails..... |
Edited by - Harsco on 01/30/2011 10:00:21 AM |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2011 : 12:27:49 PM
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Well I enjoyed MY share! Mrs. Harsco, as always, outdid herself and the goodies were excellent! And I for one enjoyed the garlic dip! Thank you Mrs. H! [:-angel]
Now, as for the 'toxic air' that you are referring to, let it be known that I take credit for what I do, but I can't take credit for that. In fact, I was one of the victims of the 'surprises' left behind! I do believe the one you are referring to has the initials 'PJ'. He even at one point confessed to his 'ROSE' (really obnoxious smelly exhaust).
Hey Joe, perhaps it was the aroma left behind that caused you to be slightly 'intoxicated' to the point of driving over Rick's lawn? [:-eyebrows] |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Edited by - MarkF on 01/30/2011 12:28:36 PM |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1107 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2011 : 12:35:17 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkF
Well I enjoyed MY share! Mrs. Harsco, as always, outdid herself and the goodies were excellent! And I for one enjoyed the garlic dip! Thank you Mrs. H! [:-angel]
Now, as for the 'toxic air' that you are referring to, let it be known that I take credit for what I do, but I can't take credit for that. In fact, I was one of the victims of the 'surprises' left behind! I do believe the one you are referring to has the initials 'PJ'. He even at one point confessed to his 'ROSE' (really obnoxious smelly exhaust).
Hey Joe, perhaps it was the aroma left behind that caused you to be slightly 'intoxicated' to the point of driving over Rick's lawn? [:-eyebrows]
I feel compelled to stand up for Joseph here; he called the next day and steadfastly asserted he was NOT the errant driver....but a review of the garage video should help.
If that was a "ROSE", I'd sure hate to experience a THORN... (Totally Horrendous, Obnoxiously Repulsive Nose-curler) LOL |
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Twist67
Engine Wiper
Germany
124 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2011 : 05:24:17 AM
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Hi there,
Thatīs an amazing layout with so much to look at...I wish I could visit this one day....I think I must travel to the USA one day and visit all the nice layouts and also original Railroads etc...
Seems that there is a lot of work to do during the operation sessions but also seems to be a lot of fun..
I canīt wait to see more pictures and progress....
Thanks for sharing,
Cheers,Chris |
PGE BCR Dawson Creek Subdivision in HO scale
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34748
My Photoalbum http://public.fotki.com/Twist67/ |
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2011 : 06:39:28 AM
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| Hueber's driving on peoples lawn again? I thought my wife cured that when he ran over ours and my wife ***** slapped him. |
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Harrisburg Terminal Railroad (HTRR)
