set up and ran the PA this afternoon. Put 2 of 3 cars behind it. Combine and coach. Pullman causes too many problems yet! The combine derailed in same spot several times. So, I lifted the track and kicked a bit more granite under the problem joint. Helped with that derailment problem! Coach catches a frog point on one switch, but does NOT derail. It's either the wheels, or switch flanges too wide. Ran that set up for a couple hours, then switched to the PA alone for about another hour or so. Parents and kids both enjoyed the running train, when coming through, for Trick or Treat! Some folks have seen it before and know about the railroad. Others live a block down and had NO idea! Went over good, while I had it running.
Ran for a bit Wednesday. Actually got the video camera out and shot video of entire railroad! Have NOT uploaded anything yet. Hope to do so, on Thursday, before railroad club meeting. Ed Dickens presents part 2 of Bigboy 4014 move from CA to WY. Hopefully, I’ll have video uploaded sometime Thursday. Just under 15 minutes total. 2 trips each loop out front and a run to the back and return. Plus 2 minor derailments and an almost accident, when I lost balance!
Cool. Hoping to see that video. Also curious- Will Ed Dickens actually be present? If so, wishing he would give an update on 4014 status.
Yes, Ed will be there, giving presentation. Gave Part 1 last year, of moving the bigboy. Gonna finish the trip tonight, I’m guessing. Won’t know much until meeting tonight! Gotta finally get up, dressed and moving! Will be heading out to grab a bite to eat. Then, I can start working with video when I get back! Hopefully, this afternoon sometime! Depending on how long it takes to get video uploaded! Stay tuned!
The complete, although still unfinished garden railroad! Trackwork still required towards the backyard! A couple of the short stops were do to flat car derailing! Had to rerail car, and the second time, I added a small rock to add weight to flatcar, while almost losing my balance and taking a nasty fall. Again! Train consisted of: USA Trains GP30, Airwire/Sound Aristo Craft flatcar - Pushed around railroad by the GP30. 3 Aristo Craft gondolas USA Trains 40' boxcar USA Trains EV caboose
Looks great! I like the sound, too. Love me a EMD 567. It does look like your section gang needs to get some green grease (weeds) cleared, as well as some other track obstructions. Looked like a few of those twigs caused some problems.
Don’t know if the twigs etc....caused the problems or not! My guess says the light weight of the flat car, plus coupler situation - Body mount vs truck mount - may have played a part! Being able to run, despite the weeds, is nice! They get in the way, I run ‘em down! Same with Moms flowers! She knows, and says if they’re in the way, pull ‘em out! Was noticing, with this video, how much track work I’m gonna have to do next year!! Maybe, just maybe, I’ll get the last of the track to the, and in the back ballasted finally!! Maybe I’ll be in decent enough shape to continue! It’s an interesting, and eye opening way to see the railroad and what has to be done! Can’t complain, it runs! Save for the passenger stuff! For now.
Spent about 3 hours, and 15 degrees, running the passenger stuff tonight. Went from about 43* down to 27* when I picked up for the night! A nice, full length hooded coat certainly helped! I was still quite warm, despite the temps otherwise! Hope to finish up an N Scale deal pretty quick next! Going for a pair of custom Rio Grande GP30’s, extra details and working Mars light! More on those later!
Decided to attempt a plow train today! Have about 3” of snow, and lightly falling yet, not much more expected. Plow derail on switches 2-3 times. Locomotives de died they were NOT gonna run properly!! By the time I gave up and started picking up, one GP40 was just being pushed along the track! Sliding along the top of the rails. Gotta add plugs between the units, so I can eventually have 16 wheel electrical pick up! Help along any minor dead spots! Same with the GP30’s. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now. Never got to it since I didn’t have any plugs! Now that I have a bunch......I can finally MU my locomotives! And maybe my passenger cars as well, to help some with flickering. Especially since I reinstalled plastic wheels to my Aristo Pullman car, since steel wheels were causing derailments! Definitely have track work to be done, come spring. Have a couple of spots yet, that need to have jumper wires added. If anything, just to help distribute power evenly around the railroad.
I would love to put an oval of track in one of our flowerbeds for a G scale logging train. So many scales, so little time.
Plenty of time, decent space, no money! Yet. Guarded optimism. Got notice that I qualify for medical disability! They need to check the Non medical requirements next. Maybe soon. Again, Guarded optimism! And to think, I was intent on a Rio Grande NW-2 and 2-3 cars and caboose. Now, I have 10 locomotives, probably something north of 50 cars - a combination of standard and narrow gauge! All but 2 with Airwire RC and sound.
Plowed track the other day. Decided to run train today! My version of the Rio Grande Yampa Valley Mail. ALCo PA #6003, heavyweight combine, streamline coach and heavyweight Pullman. Maybe NOT completely correct, but I like how it looks! No horns on locomotive. Shop I purchased from several years ago, at train show, put the locomotive in the box, the WRONG way! Horns and steam generator vent broke. Just replaced vent. Gotta get new horns for it,. somewhere, somehow. NOT listed as replacement/repair part through USA Trains. Might have to ask IF they have them though.
Might have a correct part somewhere in a G scale detail parts manufacturer. Walthers? Love the PA-1. No better paint scheme for it, either.
Maybe, once I get my disability payment, I can get an adapter plug, for the large number boards down the side, just ahead of the front truck. Those are supposed to be lit as well. The Airwire drop in board was NOT designed to operate those lights! Have to connect to an aux plug, and hope it works! Same with Mars light. It works under DC power. Supposed to be able to program board for it. When I try, lights STOP working right! Thought of Walthers, but they really do not carry much. Stock supplies are, in MY opinion, poor at best.
Beautiful, Keith. I love PA's. I have several N scale ones. Yeah, the horn thing. About half of mine I bought used have one of the two horns missing, either the forward facing one or rearward. It's kind of the same thing as the tweeter domes being pushed in on speakers (HiFi is my other lifetime interest). It's inevitable. Doug
