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T O P I C    R E V I E W
AVRR-PA Posted - 08/19/2010 : 09:51:03 AM
I'm ready to start actual benchwork construction on this project and I want to cover that in a thread separate from the "Rail-Marine Layout Plans" thread. So here goes...

Moving to a new window so I'll be able to edit.

Don
15   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
AVRR-PA Posted - 05/21/2013 : 7:28:41 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Vagel Keller

Good progress -- no, excellent progress, Don!

But as I recall, that former stub-end siding was to serve an automobile unloading platform. It'll now be a run-around track unless there's an automobile boxcar spotted there first, at which time it'll be a kabuki dance track. But, hey, that's the fun of operations in a confined urban space. It's a certainty that real yard masters in such locations had to deal with these kinds of situations. It'll be a nice twist to what is already a very interesting modified prototype track arrangement.

Vagel


Hi, Vagel -- yes, there are definitely both losses and gains in this change. And there will definitely be some kabuki switching if not dancing.

Here's what I'm trying this evening: Using the 0-5-0 switcher, I'm placing cars at various locations in the yard - a couple of Athearn "Blue Box" automobile cars at the automobile platform (which is now on the run-around and which is blocked by these cars), a couple of the same type of cars on the float, an empty "poultry" car at the poultry platform and a full one on the float; and so on.

The idea is that the crew shows up for work in the morning as the float and tug are "approaching" and due in a hour or so. (At this point, the float is represented by a place-holder that doesn't move, but we'll use our imagination.)

The poor hard-working switching crew must now rearrange all these empties to make room for the first string to be pulled off the barge. I've no idea how it's all going to work out but I'm sure it will be fun.

Now that I've gotten a few other chores done, I can go back to improving, weathering, finishing, etc., the cars we picked up at Greenberg show plus the various kits that I've been futzing with for years.

I should get a tape of appropriate music for kabuki dancing.

Don
Vagel Keller Posted - 05/21/2013 : 4:58:00 PM
Good progress -- no, excellent progress, Don!

But as I recall, that former stub-end siding was to serve an automobile unloading platform. It'll now be a run-around track unless there's an automobile boxcar spotted there first, at which time it'll be a kabuki dance track. But, hey, that's the fun of operations in a confined urban space. It's a certainty that real yard masters in such locations had to deal with these kinds of situations. It'll be a nice twist to what is already a very interesting modified prototype track arrangement.

Vagel
jbvb Posted - 05/20/2013 : 7:04:54 PM
My Weller, bought for me by my parents around 1969, only has 1 range. I can still get tips, I haven't looked for new switch contact.
AVRR-PA Posted - 05/20/2013 : 4:54:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by elwoodblues

Don,

Nice progress, the run around track will add a lot to the operating potential of the layout.

Is that a Weller soldering gun on the layout, I used to use one of those to melt ties.



I'm setting up for an operating session - although that's probably too dignified a term for what I'll be doing. More like "Don plays with trains." At this point, I'm not even using a switch list - just trying to remember what the cars on the float are supposed to represent and where they will be going. But even that is a lot of fun. I'll take pictures as I go along and post a description of the great event.

Yeah, that's an old Weller. I liberated it when I was in the Air Force, somewhere around 1966.

It's still labeled "USA CEM" as in "Communications - Electronics - Metrology."

Can't kill it. It does melt plastic ties very effectively, but with the two step trigger, you can actually control it pretty well. And I'm way too impatient to wait for an iron to heat up. I sure hope it never dies.

Don
elwoodblues Posted - 05/20/2013 : 1:28:15 PM
Don,

Nice progress, the run around track will add a lot to the operating potential of the layout.

Is that a Weller soldering gun on the layout, I used to use one of those to melt ties.
AVRR-PA Posted - 05/19/2013 : 9:05:23 PM
I decided today was the day to finally clean up some things on this layout. I am tired of tripping over all the magazines that are supposed to be under the layout but are all over the living room floor because I need to be able to work under the layout.

The first project was repairing a Tortoise that I had installed incorrectly. This lead to the usual Tortoise-ey frustrations. I spent about an hour trying to install it with original (cut-off) throw lever before finally breaking down and spending five minutes making a new (longer) one - which I was then able to install very quickly. Stoopid. Anyhow - that's done.

Tortoise before:


Tortoise before repair


Tortoise after:


Tortoise after repair

While working on the Tortoise, the whole layout shorted out. I almost took a recip saw to it. It turned out to be not so mysterious - two buses were touching each other at un-insulated connections where track feeders connected to the bus. That motivated me to move everything out from under the layout (snarl!) and cover every uninsulated bit of wire with that nasty gloppy brush-on "electrical tape." Not fun but I'm glad I did it.

Playing with the layout has made it clear that, in compressing the original design, we had eliminated a badly needed run-around. So the other project was to create a second, longer run around by adding a turnout. I had been pretty much dreading this...

Here's where I started - that stub-end track could be connected to the main switching lead, thus creating the run-around:




Here I have the new turnout sitting on top of the existing track, marking the cuts. BTW, the "new" turnout is one of the many turnouts that Al Carter contributed to this project.

I cut the rail with that slick little razor saw that I did a thread on - it cuts so quickly and cleanly that I prefer it to the Dremel.




I cut some leftover cork to make a base for the turnout and the rest of the track I'd be adding.




And here is the new roadbed, ready for the turnout:




Here's the turnout, soldered and nailed in place, while I work on the s-shaped track that connects it to the existing siding:




And here are a couple of pictures of the new run-around in use:







It was a busy afternoon and evening. Tomorrow I will gamble that there won't be problems under the layout and re-load the magazines into the cabinets. Fingers crossed...

Don
Orionvp17 Posted - 03/27/2013 : 4:07:45 PM
You're welcome.

Pete
in Michigan
AVRR-PA Posted - 03/26/2013 : 2:31:12 PM
Thanks, Pete!
AVRR-PA Posted - 03/25/2013 : 6:41:52 PM
A few days ago, I decided it was time to get serious about perfecting all the soldered rail joints, especially the ones where I used home-made transition joiners. I really want the locomotive and rolling stock to run smoothly - I don't want it to look like I'm modeling the Allegheny Valley RR - they must issue Dramamine to the crews.

I decided I'd make some flags to help me keep track of where all the joints are and which ones have been worked on. I cropped toothpicks (so I wouldn't jam one through my hand) and added little bits of blue tape:





And here they are in place - ready for Round one:





My plan is to keep moving them landward as I do the joints until I eventually run out of rail.

Next, I started laying out tools. In particular, I got out the cordless Dremel and starting digging around in plastic bags and various comportments of two different Dremel cases, trying to find the right bits. At which point I decided I had been annoying myself with this nonsense for way too many years and it was time to come up with a better solution.

Fortunately, I remembered an article in "Shopnotes" from 10 years ago on building a rotary tool carrying case. Also fortunately, it was a cover article so it wasn't too hard to find.

And for the rest of the story, you'll have to go to Mike Chambers Craftsmen's Corner - because I just decided to do a separate thread rather than bury this in the rail-marine thread.

But to make a long story short - I did build the case and I'm ready to resume work on the layout.

Don
AVRR-PA Posted - 03/23/2013 : 6:34:39 PM
As planned, most of my attention has been on Vagel's trestle. But my own layout has not been totally neglected.

I did manage to install a ground throw on one of the two turnouts that don't have Tortoises. At first, it was really stiff. I trimmed and shimmed and shot it with silicone and it's working fine.

Also, I made two more of the recessed holders for the DPDT switches that control the Tortoises - that's the last of them.

[They aren't permanently mounted yet. That will require cutting a bunch of big messy holes in the fascia and generating lots of sawdust - and that can wait a while. They work fine in their temporary locations.]

I had a very nice Road Trip with Vagel to the Midwest NG Convention. It was a beautiful day for a drive. I loaded up on Hunterline stripwood, Kadee whisker couplers from Crusader Rail, and some Plastic Prep for the airbrushing activities. It was great to see Sam Swanson, his wife, and many other people that I don't get to see otherwise.

Tomorrow I'll be helping with the open house at Vagel's layout, as part of the RPM meet.

More later,

Don
Georgia Gulf Posted - 03/14/2013 : 5:41:46 PM
Don;Thanks for the links;will look through them all with glee.Still reckon its your fault but we can share the blame around.
Thanks again for your time.
Nick
AVRR-PA Posted - 03/14/2013 : 2:51:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Vagel Keller

Great to see you've been able to work through the electrical stuff without me, Don. And it was great to see you've started to play with trains on the layout.

Vagel




Hi, Vagel -- and I enjoyed giving you the $2 tour. Once I get things a bit more organized, the two of us can have an operating session. There's enough work in that yard to keep a two-person train crew busy.

Don
AVRR-PA Posted - 03/14/2013 : 2:49:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Georgia Gulf

Juist caught up with your build;inspirational;I;ve had thoughts of doing a rail-marine layout for years and you have finally pushed me over the edge.So thanks as long as I know who to blame.
Can't wait to see further progress.
Nick


Hi, Nick -- check out these sites, if you haven't already discovered them. Then you will have more people to blame for your rail-marine obsession.

An awesome resource on NY Harbor rail-marine:
http://www.trainweb.org/bedt/IndustrialLocos.html

The site I blame for my particular layout design:
http://members.trainweb.com/bedt/indloco/dlw25.html

In French but it doesn't matter:

http://teamtrack.xooit.com/t451-NEW-YORK-RAIL-MARINE-OPERATIONS.htm

In between making bents for Vagel's trestle, I'm trolling Google Images and Youtube for pictures that will help me get the colors right on the hull and deck of the barge.

Don
Vagel Keller Posted - 03/14/2013 : 1:52:47 PM
Great to see you've been able to work through the electrical stuff without me, Don. And it was great to see you've started to play with trains on the layout.

Vagel
Georgia Gulf Posted - 03/13/2013 : 4:54:22 PM
Juist caught up with your build;inspirational;I;ve had thoughts of doing a rail-marine layout for years and you have finally pushed me over the edge.So thanks as long as I know who to blame.
Can't wait to see further progress.
Nick

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