Back In Business

All Aboard Is Back

Some months ago, our aging computer conked out for good and, since my wife Susie had just purchased an IPhone, we didn't bother to replace it.  However, there really isn't much substitute for a computer, especially when it comes to printing, etc., so we bought a new one this week.  So I'm back to my blog.

My new layout, which has been under construction since we moved into our present home two years ago, is complete.  Well, as complete as any model railroad ever is.  The track has been tested using my "most difficult" cars, that is, those most prone to derailing over the slightest imperfection, and corrections made.  The scenery is done and all structures installed.  Of course, with an L-shaped 8 x 12 layout, it's really not too hard to get to a completed stage, so don't be too impressed.

I've unpacked my rolling stock and am in the process of checking and, in some cases, upgrading each car to ensure proper coupler height, weight, etc., as well as making sure details like grabirons, brakewheels and steps are intact.  My NW-2 diesel loco runs very smoothly, but my old Rex 0-6-0 needs some overhauling and is confined to the roundhouse until I get around to it; I think it chiefly needs brush cleaning and gear adjustments.

Layout Concept

My layout depicts the main portion of the fictional town of Gulf Harbor, Texas, located somewhere between Houston and Corpus Christi, in April 1947 (which happens to be when I was born).  Gulf Harbor is a stop on the fictional Texas Coast Railroad, which has a main line between Houston and Brownsville and a major branch from Gulf Harbor to San Antonio.  The town and port of Gulf Harbor are served by the Gulf Harbor Terminal Railway, a subsidiary of the Texas Coast.    Industrial sidings include the general merchandise pier, a lumber yard, a wholesale grocery distributor, a bulk oil dealer, maritime supply company, as well as a freight house and team track.

The GHT operated with three old steam switchers until the end of World War II, but has replaced two of them with a secondhand NW-2 diesel which, with the remaining 0-6-0, is sufficient to handle the somewhat diminished postwar traffic.  (The 0-6-0 will remain in service until 1954, but that lies in the "future.")  The GHT has only two pieces of rolling stock, a tank car for loco fuel oil (the 0-6-0 is oil-fired) and an ancient gondola for maintenance-of-way work.  The TC stores some MOW rolling stock near the GHT three-stall roundhouse, too.  A couple of TC passenger cars will be spotted on a depot siding, but these will be more to suggest the TC presence than for actual operation.

So that's a brief look at the GHT.  My next post will have photos.

It's good to be back!

Back To My Blog

I didn't realize so much time had passed since my last posting.  I've put the time to good use, however.  My wiring in complete and all trackwork laid to date has been tested, bugs have been worked out of turnouts, etc., and I've started scenery.  The only track yet to be laid is the wharf spur, which will have to wait until I build the wharf and "water" section.  I've unpacked my structures, which haven't seen daylight since we left Idaho in 2008, and am modifying them to fit into my new layout...and I'm also making any changes necessary to represent Texas in April 1947, instead of my previous place and era of Idaho in September 1939.

Photos soon!

Wiring Underway

With trackwork complete, I'm in the process of wiring. I built a new "control panel" using some good-looking wood from an old computer desk. Rather than cantilevering out like a miniature desk, as I've done before, I made this one to fit flush against the fascia, with the power pack sitting vertically. It takes less room and doesn't interfere with my reach to the back of the layout.

After wiring's complete (probably in the next couple of days) I'll clean the track and get my locomotives ready for test runs.

Merry Christmas!

We're having a great Christmas season so far, and we're so blessed that our daughters, sons-in-law and granddaughters live just minutes away.

The tracklaying is completed, except for the wharf, which will come later. All of the segments salvaged from my previous layout are connected. I'm now completing finishing touches on the turnouts...soldering in tie rods, connecting ground throws. Next is wiring, starting with installing jumper wires wherever there are rail joiners; I haven't had much problem with bad connections at rail joiners, but I want to build in some redundancy anyway. When that's completed, I'll install my control panel (also salvaged from my previous layout) and do the final wiring. The layout will be broken into 12 electrical sections. Three of those, actually, are roundhouse tracks.

Oh, and the turntable control wheel still has to be installed.

Once all of this is done, I'll lubricate my locomotives, clean wheels, etc., and test run them to check the trackwork. Then it will be time to unpack rolling stock and make sure every car is in good running order.

Beyond that, I'll begin adding scenery and structures, starting with the roundhouse.

Don't know if this blog has any readers or not, but if so, I'd love to hear from you!!

Merry Christmas and all the best in 2012!

Looking Ahead

I try to "work ahead" on my layout construction. That is, while I am working on one phase, such as tracklaying, I take some time to begin planning upcoming phases, such as wiring. Looking further ahead, I am beginning to consider scenery and structures.

For example, I have been studying a 1917 vintage book on wharf construction, even though that is still pretty far down the road. I originally thought I'd build an all-wood wharf, but now I think it will have be of the paved variety, though with a wood framework; the book I've been studying has several examples.

Another project in months to come is the depot. One of my favorite movies is the Hitchcock thriller Shadow Of A Doubt, which was filmed on location in Santa Rosa, California. One of the early scenes...and one of the last...was shot at the Santa Rosa depot (Southern Pacific, I'm sure). That type of station is perfect for my layout, and it still exists, so there are online photos available. While I don't intend to model that particular depot, I like the look and feel of it and plan to build something similar incorporating some of the features.

The same goes for the residential streets shown in the movie; while my layout only has room for depicting the edge of a residential area, I at least know the 1940s-era look I'm after.

Modeling the look of 1947 is made easier by the wealth of movies and other available material from that year, such as photos on the websites of historical societies, etc.

Tracklaying Continues

Tracklaying continues, with the end in sight as the sections salvaged from my previous layout are progressively connected, which has involved adding six new turnouts. Above are a couple of views of recent progress

Top Photo:

Looking east. The foreground track will lead to the wharf area. The turnout and the tracks crossing the wharf lead, which will lead to a couple of industry spurs, are laid directly on the roadbed, as this area will be in the middle of a street and no ties would be visible.

Bottom Photo:

The view west. A short runaround track is in the foreground. To the left are industry spurs. The "main", which has a couple of cars on it, leads to the stub-end depot tracks.

General:

Turnout laying is going well, though it has required some careful (and tedious!) alignment where switches closely branch off one another. My procedure is to thoroughly test turnouts during all construction stages by running a couple of my "fussiest" cars...a gondola and a hopper...through them at higher than normal speeds. Same goes for the double crossing...laying that was really tedious and very time consuming; it's done, except for easer rails.

I've also begun installing 6-inch hardboard fascia, which gives the layout a more finished look.

I've still got about a half-dozen switch points to make, and then I'll be able to add tie rods and ground throws.

It seems like it's taking a while to get the track done, but I've learned through experience that it's far better to take time at this stage and get things right.

So, I hope, tracklaying is on the home stretch...then comes wiring.

Turnout Frog Construction

I've made some slight modifications to my original plan, specifically eliminating three turnouts that are unnecessary. They branched into short...too short...storage sidings near the roundhouse. One turnout will do. So that leaves five additional turnouts I must build. I've started on the components, beginning with the frogs.

My turnouts use "hot" frogs; that is, they are continuously powered and their polarity is subject to the position of the turnout's point rails (more about that in a future post). I use a block of white pine, soft wood that will readily accept spikes, and lay out the frog angle. I only use #6 frogs, so the spread is one-sixth of any given distance from the point of the "vee" in the frog. In practice, I measure six fourths from the vee point and then a width of one fourth. I then spike down one rail along one axis and cut it at the same angle as the other axis, thus producing a perfect No. 6 angle in the vee point. Next, I file a second rail to fit along the second axis. Finally, I add the wing rails.

Now I'm ready to solder. I fill the frog assembly with solder and then file it out to flange depth. I find this makes for a very accurate frog and, though I of course use guard rails, cars seem to go through my frogs correctly even without them.

The photos will, I hope, make all this more clear. From top to bottom...

Photo #1, 2

A finished and installed frog. After soldering and filing, I trim the rails so that the frog assembly is a scale 15 feet long, about 3 inches in S Scale.

Photo #3

The frog assembly before soldering.

Photo #4,5

A frog assembly during the flangeway filing process.