Re: Scale Trains has reefers on preorder
I think it¡¯s great to see the return of the 40 foot wood reefer but I did have a couple of concerns.
The thanks detailed information makes reference to opening doors, which is different from the previous runs. So I¡¯m wondering if this is a modification to the tooling or if the information is perhaps not correct.
Secondly, the WRX Green Bay & Western car is yellow rather than gray. The only photos I can find in addition to other models of the car are gray. So I¡¯m wondering if the color is correct or perhaps represents the era when the line was founded back in the late 20s or early 30s?
Best regards to all,
Fred McDermott?
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Bob,
In your time frame there was still a lot of industrial manufacturing
in west Oakland.? Think ship building/repair, steel making, steel
rolling, etc.? "Heli-arc" welding was popular as it significantly
reduced the amount of slag in the joint.? The "Heli" from Helium.?
All of these industrial sites were rail served to some degree.? The
interstate highway system, similar state highways did not yet
exist.? Think 2- and 3-lane roads mostly.? There was a Chevrolet
plant in east Oakland.???
I grew up in the East Bay in your time frame.? Now I am retired to
Auburn, CA - on the Donner Route.
Dave McBrayer
Auburn, CA
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On 01/27/2025 6:59 AM, adguytrains via
groups.io wrote:
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Bill...
We used to get t-2 cars at a time delivered to an
industry?on the north side of West Grand Ave. in Oakland
during the 1950's and 1960's.? I can't remember what they made
there.
Bob Hogan
On Mon, Jan 27, 2025 at
9:56?AM Jamie Bothwell via <jamie.bothwell610= [email protected]>
wrote:
Bill,
I'd bet they are on their way to some
Naval Air Station to fill up blimps.
Jamie Bothwell
Bethlehem, PA
We are fortunate to have 1:64 S scale
helium cars available to us today. As for the 1:1
Southern Pacific move, I cannot begin to guess the
purpose.
Notice the string of eight behind the
three SP locomotives. The attached photo, which
showed up a day or two ago ago on the Espee mailing
list, is the Leesdale Local passing through
Chatsworth, California on 12/05/85. Chatsworth is a
Los Angeles neighborhood, and Leesdale is about 39
miles west, on the fringe of Oxnard.
--
Dave McBrayer
Auburn, CA?
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Bill... We used to get t-2 cars at a time delivered to an industry?on the north side of West Grand Ave. in Oakland during the 1950's and 1960's.? I can't remember what they made there. Bob Hogan On Mon, Jan 27, 2025 at 9:56?AM Jamie Bothwell via <jamie.bothwell610= [email protected]> wrote:
Bill, I'd bet they are on their way to some Naval Air Station to fill up blimps. Jamie Bothwell Bethlehem, PA
We are fortunate to have 1:64 S scale helium cars available to us today. As for the 1:1 Southern Pacific move, I cannot begin to guess the purpose.
Notice the string of eight behind the three SP locomotives. The attached photo, which showed up a day or two ago ago on the Espee mailing list, is the Leesdale Local passing through Chatsworth, California on 12/05/85. Chatsworth is a Los Angeles neighborhood, and Leesdale is about 39 miles west, on the fringe of Oxnard.
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Bill, I'd bet they are on their way to some Naval Air Station to fill up blimps. Jamie Bothwell Bethlehem, PA
We are fortunate to have 1:64 S scale helium cars available to us today. As for the 1:1 Southern Pacific move, I cannot begin to guess the purpose.
Notice the string of eight behind the three SP locomotives. The attached photo, which showed up a day or two ago ago on the Espee mailing list, is the Leesdale Local passing through Chatsworth, California on 12/05/85. Chatsworth is a Los Angeles neighborhood, and Leesdale is about 39 miles west, on the fringe of Oxnard.
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Re: Bad tracking for SHS short covered hoppers.
I had this problem on other cars when my trucks were too tight and could not swivel properly.
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Re: Bad tracking for SHS short covered hoppers.
During the last year or so of our production with Sanda Kan, the tool for our 50 ton PRR and Andrew truck wore out. Hard to believe¡after more than a quarter of a million ejection, the tool needed to be replaced. The first run of those cars may have been sent to us with less than stellar trucks. With the car upside down and hopefully in a foam cradle, see if the diagonal movement (axles look like a parallelogram) is over extended. Earlier and trucks from the new tool should not do this.?
? Also, make sure the trucks have all their springs, if you lose just one, they will derail!?
Don
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Re: Bad tracking for SHS short covered hoppers.
I have a small inventory of rolling stock but I also had a problem SHS covered hopper.? It seemed to me that there was more drag at the bolster connection unreleased to the tightness of the screw.? I had a drill bit (?" maybe) that fit the hole very tightly so I gently reamed it until the drill bit moved freely and remounted the truck.? The drag on the truck cleared up and fixed the? problem.
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Re: Des Plaines Gunderson Huskies
Oh my, well what a total cock-up that was then on my part!? I never even noticed the drawbars in the parts list.? They were for sure not in the box or identified in the pictures of the parts.? I just followed along with the directions, comparing the parts called out in the written paragraphs to the included pictures and the sprues.
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The instructions just called for installing couplers into the (6) coupler pockets.
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C'est la vie.
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I wonder if there were inconsistencies, back in the day, between the intent of the editing of the paperwork, the actual manufacturing and the packing of the boxes?? I also bought the kit second (at least) hand.? No fault to the seller, Bill!? :-)? I have what I wanted.
?
Thanks,
?
Bill
Philadelphia
I:64
On 01/24/2025 7:06 PM EST Tom Hawley via groups.io <t.hawley@...> wrote:
?
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Hawk via groups.io <archhawk@...>
I can add that this ¡°3 car kit¡± does not and did not have draw bars or any indication of making a decision to use draw bars. All cars have 2 trucks and two coupler pockets.
> > > > > > > > > >
That's interesting because the instructions, a copy of which you attach, begins with a parts last that includes part "300-15 Two drawbars."
But it's no big deal,??You're doing what I and many of us would do with this kit??--??making three stand-alone cars.
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Re: Bad tracking for SHS short covered hoppers.
On Sun, Jan 26, 2025 at 06:58 PM, George Courtney wrote:
Hard to help without more information.? But try this for starters:
-- Are the trucks free rolling and equalized?
-- Are the couplers free to move side-to-side without catches or restrictions or binding?
-- Are the couplers on the coupled-to cars free to move sideways without binding?
-- Is the gauge of all four wheelsets correct?
-- Does this happen at a rail joint which is not in good alignment?
?
Check these possibilities and then come back with more information.
?
Good luck..........Ed L.
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Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
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We are fortunate to have 1:64 S scale helium cars available to us today. As for the 1:1 Southern Pacific move, I cannot begin to guess the purpose.
Notice the string of eight behind the three SP locomotives. The attached photo, which showed up a day or two ago ago on the Espee mailing list, is the Leesdale Local passing through Chatsworth, California on 12/05/85. Chatsworth is a Los Angeles neighborhood, and Leesdale is about 39 miles west, on the fringe of Oxnard.
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Bad tracking for SHS short covered hoppers.
I'm having a problem with the SHS short covered hoppers.? These were made by putting a top on regular open hoppers.? I think they were the last covered hoppers Don did. They are derailing in trains where no other car derails.? I've added four ounces of weight to one and the result was it hits the ground harder when it derails.? Which reminds me, "Model Railroading is Fun."? Anyone else experience this and come up with a solution?
I'm far from the best track layer.? And my track isn't perfect.? But all my other, and longer cars are not derailing but very rarely.?
?
Thanks,
George Courtney
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On Sun, Jan 26, 2025 at 06:28 PM, Bob Werre wrote:
I do admire you and Ed's ability to keep grades low and curves long.
Bob...I am not sure "ability" had anything to do with it.? At the outset of concept and design, the #1 goal was a long mainline with broad curves and shallow grades.? I've always liked long freight trains and 84' passenger equipment.? Fitting a layout into available space is always a challenging project, but keeping with the original priorities makes it a lot easier.? Coming back later to adjust things is no fun at all.? Cheers.......Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
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Thanks for everybody's input on car
weight.? On a related thing, there was once a very popular
computer program? (still in with some), called Rail Ops.? In an
advanced mode, the program would ask you to add a unit if
additional cars were added or if steep grades would be
encountered--ie, adding a diner and Pullman mid route, might
require an extra unit.? Those who praised the program said they
had a great time with it!
I think I'll take Bill's suggestion of
just tack the parts together for the time being.? As I wait for
some midnight labor's that'll have to do till my Digitrax system
can breathe new life!?
When I bought all those RR cars, the
trucks didn't roll very well compared to most of what I had--at
the time the Rex trucks with those plastic wheels and straight
axles were probably the worst.? So running a dozen of those cars
would also put a great strain on power.? So I installed? PRS's
first truck version with NWSL wheels where I quickly discovered
that those cars now ran nearly forever!--be careful what you wish
for!? I then tried the SHS Pennsy/Bettendorf type truck. Enter
Goldie locks--just right!?
I do admire you and Ed's ability to
keep grades low and curves long.? On the other hand, I still
admire the Milwaukee road where a long freight might be climbing
two mountain grades, dropping down another as you made several
curves on grades --all with rotten ties!? My kinda railroad!?
Bob Werre
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Hi Bob --
I add 2 oz to a "naked" 40' PRS box/reefer
which I suspect brings it up to about 4 or 5 ounces.?
?Never weighed my brass cars (many) but they are
definitely?heavy enough!? ?I have three SWM flats running
lead on a 30 car freight of mixed materials and I have no
problems (54" minimum radius and 2+% grades).? I think Ed
L.'s weighting system pretty much parallels mine, but his
layout has about the same design minimums as mine.? ?If it
works, no need to make things heavier as that causes more
stress in the train (couplers, stringline effects, need
for more horsepower, etc.).? ?Perhaps you can run the car
unsealed (just setting the body on the floor -- easy
enough?to glue some wood or plastic strip in the body?to
keep the floor from going up too far into the body) to see
what is / is not needed?? ??
I just?pulled my SMMW kit out to feel how
heavy it is, and it is plenty heavy without adding any
weight for my purposes.? ?I didn't see if there is a
weight to be added in the box, but if there is and it's
steel, I will change it out to lead, IF I think it
needs?it.? ??
It's a very rare kit that I totally seal.?
I usually just hit a couple of small places with a LITTLE
bit of glue so that I can break into the car, if I
have?to.? ?I only totally glued one car of all that I have
built, but I regretted doing that.? I decided on this
after I overweighted?a PRS boxcar to NMRA RPs long ago and
discovered that it was very unnecessary.? However, I could
not tear into the car without damage, so it has been a
heavy weight its entire life leading the?M&E train
behind it with a brass boxcar, three brass express cars,
an RPO and rider coach -- the other 5 cars are plastic,
including two HW baggage cars.? At 11 cars, it is a
legitimate steam?double header, 4-4-2 or 4-6-2 and 4-8-2,
on?the 2% grades.? (photos)
The only?cars I have that used a
significant amount of weight more than what they came with
(none) are the AM two bay hoppers and the smooth side
streamlined passenger?cars.? ?Their lack of weight caused
stringline issues (passenger?cars) and buffing issues with
the hoppers being pushed off the track by the weight of
the cars behind while on a downhill grade.?
?
Have fun!
Bill Winans
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I think we all have come up against
this!? I bought several of the River Raisin Milwaukee
Road cars from years ago.? Being a fan of the road and
given it was a part NASG/RR project, I had to buy as
many as I could afford. If i caught the local way
freight of 20 cars, generally half would be ribbed
sided cars! ?
So more recently I bought just one of
the Smoky Mt. cars that represents the older version
of this car.? I started on it a couple of evenings
ago.? I'm now trying to determine how much weight to
add to a 'sealed car'? I know the NMRA has it's
guidelines, as does SHS for their cars (similar as I
recall) but the RR brass car comes in at 12oz naked.?
The SMountain version is about 4 oz? So I gathered a
couple of large steel nuts as Jim recommends--now I'm
at about 7oz.? I just cut up some of lead type that
puts the weight at 10.? my gut feeling says this is a
bit too much!? However since this car is resin, also
subject to sagging and I don't want to have to dig
back into it going either way --add or subtract?? I've
had little problem with string-lining but I generally
arrange my cars in mind--something that might be
difficult to correct when you have a vintage Regal
USRA gondola at about 2 oz during guest operations!?
Most of my brass cars outweigh my more typical AM, SHS
and SSA cars, though the SSA boxcars are probably the
heaviest (and longest)
Suggestions? or should I stage a
contest of sorts? Has anyone else built one (or more?)
of these!?
Bob Werre
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Re: S scale switching layout plan
My solution was to eliminate the bridge crossing, so have one gradient up to the intermediate switchback track end, then the second grade up to the top.? ?Now you can make the grades as steep or shallow as you want.? If one thinks of operating this with 2 cast metal 0-4-0T Docksides, pulling 2 - 40' cars up any sort of grade is not a problem.
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Re: S scale switching layout plan
The Gum Stump plan concept is a really good one...elevation changes are great on any sized layout....but unless you're willing to have really steep grades, it isn't particularly compact.? ?By my math, assuming a 3% grade, the 'switchback' needs to be 14' long to get the needed 5" separation.??
Brooks Stover
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Re: Scale Trains has reefers on preorder
On Sun, Jan 26, 2025 at 08:47 AM, Michael Krope wrote:
However, in August of 1980 I saw a wooden car on the Burlington's Chicago racetrack. It had the BN logo as well.
My GN color guide shows a wood WFEX reefer photographed in 1969 with BSB style herald, and I believe that I have seen online photos of these with BN reporting marks, but can't tell you the years.? Someone have ORER from the BN years???
--
Ted Larson
trainweb.org/mhrr/??????? --------??????? NASG.org??????? --------???????
GN in 1965
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Re: S scale switching layout plan
Tom,
?
Having modeled in hi-rail for decades, from time to time I have contemplated building a small, operating diorama in scale and developed sketches of some ideas.? My objective was to include both reasonable operation and multiple photo opportunities so I did not fill the space with track.? Rather, I divided the space into three scenes...a small industrial area at one end and small rural station and small industries and team track at the other with a creek/trestle to visually separate the two scenes.? I sketched both 12' x 2' and 10' x 2' versions.? I even got so far as to start researching structure kits.? ?One idea would be to build this as a 'How To Get Into S' project using only commercially available track, equipment and kits.
?
The next iteration of refinement would be to look into ways to 'rotate' the track slightly so it wouldn't all be parallel to the sides.? This would further improve the appearance and make it appear a bit larger.? Short locomotives and short cars would be the way to go.? But there could be some neat views...like looking down the road at the far end between the story and gas station to the industries beyond.? Looking down the creek would also be fun....and with more elevation changes that could be road passing under the track.
?
Maybe there are some thoughts here of value.? Again, I'm thinking of this as an 'operational diorama' more than a 'switching layout'.
Brooks Stover
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Re: S scale switching layout plan
Please do a Google search for "Gum Stump and Snowshoe":
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I have built a version of this model railroad in HO in a space of 1' x 8'.? Operation is interesting in that it requires 2 locomotives.? The switchback and gradient gives you a sense of actually going somewhere with your train.? Many smaller trackplans seem to be just shuffling back and forth.
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Re: S scale switching layout plan
I don't have access to the plan, but if you have room for a 4'x8' layout I recall an old MR layout that had a two or three track yard on one long side.? It then curved around to an industrial area, about an inch higher on the other long side in HO.? ?The idea being actually going from one place to another.? Of course at this width, you can only run 40' or less freight cars safely if you are an average track layer.? ?Or you can do the same thing with a 4'x8' cut in half with a corner section along two walls.? Thus making a L shape with a possible wider curve.? Make scenery in the corner section to clearly define two different if close areas.? If you buy two sheets of plywood you can make a longer layout if you have the room obviously.
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George Courtney
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Re: Scale Trains has reefers on preorder
On Sat, Jan 25, 2025 at 07:32 PM, George Courtney wrote:
Scale Trains has brought out four new lettering cars just after I painted and decaled the roads I didn't have.
Looks like you are a good luck charm...!!!
--
Ted Larson
trainweb.org/mhrr/??????? --------??????? NASG.org??????? --------???????
GN in 1965
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David McBrayer
Don Thompson
Bob Werre
Ted Larson
