Let's try something new today! Let's have a mini-challenge to celebrate Labor Day! Now pay attention here, we're going to experiment with some things! The topic will be "Labor Day Weekend Fun With Trains". Eligible content will include a photograph, video, and/or short story of something you did today that relates to trains, be it modeling and/or prototype! Heck, it could even be just something you saw, heard, or read about trains! In other words, show us through a photograph, video, or short story (or all three if you like!) how trains took part in your Labor Day Weekend!
Deadline will be tomorrow afternoon. Feel free to include multiple photos/videos this time (up to 4, as allowed for a single post).
OK, I'll bite. Here's what I accomplished today (Labor Day, 2011): Finished adding the grabs to the idler/reach gondola. Just needs a little straightening here and there (though the prototype had rather bent-up grabs anyway). Added the eye bolts to the "cement blocks" used for weight. Headlight assemblies came in for the 59-tonner so they've been installed. Adjusted the front and rear platforms (they were a little crooked before). Added some styrene under the roof to bring it up just a little (looks a lot more like the prototype this way). Next step is roof details, including a pair of exhaust mufflers with feed pipes (I'll be using a large paper clip with a piece of red plastic pipe from a can of dust off), then time to paint both. They're sitting on a piece of test track that I've set up for testing my equipment on a 5.5" radius curve. All but one of my locomotives works on this curve, and quite well I must add! Only the RSD-15 wouldn't make it (which is what I expected). The Kato F3, Kato GP50, Atlas GP40, Bachmann PCC Trolley, and even the Bachmann Plymouth switcher could handle it with ease! http://dev.checkertaxistand.com/phot...a/5.5-inch.avi So those, plus the box cab and 59-tonner (and the SW8 my drummer is sending me) will all work on my layout. Woot! (And, I got to see my trains move under their own power, so double-WOOT!)
I got my updated layout plan to a point that I really like it. And there's a good chance that I'll be working on benchwork this fall/winter! Smooth rails!
This is a better view of the layout plan. The "n-scale track" as a line doesn't show up well at some 'focal lengths' (if that makes sense...). Changed it to a simple solid line. Smooth rails!
KCS Chase-Labor Day 2011 Chased the KCS Detour train across Subdivision 3 from Iowa City to Marengo, IA on Labor Day-- a]Eagle Road east of Oxford, IA b]Marengo, IA where Barry Anderson and Frank Grizel were railfanning. c]Marengo, IA working an industry d]Departing Marengo, IA
I'll add this one just for fun. While I didn't railfan yesterday, I edited and uploaded this railfan video: [video=youtube;sTnsj0U71go]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTnsj0U71go[/video]
Congrats to everyone who got to enjoy some train action on Labor Day! PW&NJ, I selected your post as the best show and tell. Congrats!
