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US $5.95 • Can $7.95
Display until April 30th
Celebrating
the art of
1:48 modeling
Issue #19
Mar/Apr 2005
Vol. 4, No. 2
Publisher
Joe Giannovario
jag@oscalemag.com
Art Director
Jaini Giannovario
jaini@oscalemag.com
Editor
Brian Scace
brian@oscalemag.com
Features
4
Brady McGuire and the boys show us how they do a club Texas-style.
18
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Building a Small O Scale Layout – Part 2
A multi-part series on building a small O Scale layout to fit an apartment. Watch as Mike Culham rebuilds his Great Central Railway.
Advertising Manager
Jeb Kriigel
jeb@oscalemag.com
Contributors
Ted Byrne
Gene Deimling
Bobber Gibbs
Carey Hinch
Hobo D. Hirailer
Jace Kahn
Neville Rossiter
The Texas Midland Railway – Dallas Division
28
O Scale Influences – Glen Davis
An on-going series about people who have made a difference in other
O Scaler’s lives. Stanley Harper contributed this article about Mr. Davis.
42
Scratchbuilding a Simple Steam Service Site
Tom Houle is back with another of his excellent scratchbuilding articles.
This one focuses on easy to build service facilities for small steam.
Departments
10
Easements for the Learning Curve – Brian Scace
12
The Modern Image - Carey Hinch
23 The Workshop – Neville Rossiter
24
Narrow Minded – Bobber Gibbs
40
Reader Feedback – Letters to the Editor
34
Product News & Reviews
53
Fine Scale Modeling – Gene Deimling
56
Confessions of a HiRailer – Hobo D. Hirailer
58
Buy-Sell-Trade Ads
58
Modeler’s Shelf
Cover: A scene from Mike Culham’s former Great Central
Railway O Scale layout. Follow as Mike rebuilds the GCR in
its new home.
59
Advertiser Index
60
Events Listing
Centerspread: “Winter Solstice” - OST Subscriber Don
Latham commissioned Reed Artim (of O Scale Realty) to
build Latham Mill Works for his layout. K. Jeb Kriigel created
this diorama especially for the mill and photographed this
moody wintry scene.
62
Observations – Joe Giannovario
O Scale Trains ISSN 1536-9528
www.oscalemag.com
Published bimonthly (6 times a year) by
O Scale Trains Magazine
PO Box 238, Lionville PA 19353-0238
© 2005 OST All Rights Reserved
Printed in the U.S.A.
Contributors: O Scale Trains welcomes your feature
articles, photos, and drawings. Such material should
be sent to the above address for possible publication. If
we accept, you will be notified immediately. For more
information concerning article preparation guidelines,
please send an SASE to the above address and request
our “Guide For Authors” or visit our website at: www.
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OST is a proud Member of the
Model Railroad Industry Association
Mar/April ’05 - O Scale Trains • H. R. “Hot Rod” Warren squeaks to a stop as he backs away from the boxcar. This is the last heavy load. TMRwy #523, in LCL service, is almost
unloaded. Reloading for destinations East won’t start until the third shift. The five-door, four-story Texas Midland Railway Freight House is
scratchbuilt using brick paper and basswood columns and beams.
The Dallas Fort Worth O Scale Model Railroad Club has
been in existence since 1985. Currently the club owns and
operates three distinct layouts. Our largest layout of the three
is The Texas Midland Railway, Sherman Division, located in
Sherman, Texas, about 60 miles north of Dallas. This doubletrack 22’ by 28’ layout was originally built in 1986, utilizing 3’
x 6’ modules. This layout was initially designed for display running at train shows, but now incorporates two additional yards,
an eleven-track westbound yard and an eight-track eastbound
yard. These two staging yards are utilized for off-line staging of
through trains. Both yards have handlaid track using code 125
rail spiked directly on to hollow-core Luan doors. The 1 3/8”
thick doors are supported every 40 inches. Train lengths are 18
to 20 cars on freights and six to seven cars on passenger trains.
The layout’s on-line four-track yard is used to make up wayfreights to switch the eleven local industries. More industries
are planned including a 21-car icing facility. We operate this
division one Saturday a month.
The second TMRwy layout is a portable 10' x 30' “U” shaped
modular layout built primarily for traction operation. The Texas
Midland Railway Traction Division was built in 1993 and operates at two to four train shows a year. The operation includes
both passenger and freight traffic using trolleys, interurbans and
box motors. Our traction layout is a big hit at train shows, since
visitors do not see two-rail O Scale that often. It is especially
a surprise when viewers discover the layout uses an overhead
“hot” wire for powering the trolley poles. The layout features
return loops and sidings with spring switches permitting opera-
• O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr ’05
tion of three trolley cars simultaneously. This layout is stored at
members’ homes between shows, as different members own the
different parts of the layout.
Our third layout, The Texas Midland Railway, Dallas Division,
is the subject of this article. In 1997 an opportunity arose for
our club to lease a 14' x 29' room on the mezzanine level of
the restored historic Dallas Union Station in downtown Dallas,
Texas. Dallas Union Station is a stop on the DART (Dallas Area
Rapid Transit) line and is also the eastern terminus for the Trinity
Railway Express from Fort Worth. This feature allows for convenient travel for our members. This location also has many railfan opportunities as Amtrak trains and several Union Pacific and
Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight trains are often seen. In this
new space we decided to build a large urban industrial district
with lots of switching and large buildings. After seven years we
have built a working layout and we are at the point of actually
having operating sessions. We work two Saturdays a month finishing the wiring, scenery, industrial tracks and structures.
History
The Texas Midland Railway is a fictitious regional railroad
(not to be confused with another similarly named railroad, the
Texas Midland Railroad in east Texas, which was absorbed into
the Southern Pacific in the 1930’s). The Texas Midland Railway was conceived in the 1880’s as a major trunk line serving east, north and west Texas. Its stated purpose was to service
Texarkana, Greenville, Dallas, Fort Worth and El Paso. Unfortunately tracks were never laid from Fort Worth to El Paso. The
management once even dreamed of extending the tracks east
TEXAS MIDLAND RAILWAY, DALLAS DIV.
DALLAS FT. WORTH
O SCALE MODEL RR CLUB
DALLAS UNION STATION, DALLAS, TEXAS
29' X 14' OVERALL
Structures Legend
1. Mobilgas- kitbashed Walthers Phoenix Oil kit
2. Runzo Bros. Produce- scratchbuilt 1/8 inch Masonite, rough side out, and
basswood beams and columns
3. Farmers Union Creamery- kitbashed Walthers kit
4. Engine house- scratchbuilt (future)
5. Water tower- scratchbuilt using computer disc storage cylinder
6. Blue’s Icehouse and Cold Storage- kitbashed Berkshire Valley kit
7. Independent Pneumatic Tool Co. - Masonite flat with printed paper building
applied
8. Willsie Tool Supply- scratchbuilt (future)
9. Unnamed Factory building- kitbashed from 1⁄4" Masonite walls with reworked
Pioneer Valley Apartment Building Kit # 081 cardstock sides, new factory-style
windows added
10. Roberts Printing Co.- kitbashed Walthers HO for distance perspective
11. Steel fabrication plant- scratchbuilt 1⁄4" Masonite flat with reworked Pioneer
Valley Machine Shop #086 cardstock sides
12. Factory- scratchbuilt 1⁄4" Masonite flat with Westport Models #12 Sprag Electric
Co. cardstock sides
13. Factory- scratchbuilt 1⁄4" Masonite flat with Westport Models #18 Norwalk Tire
Co. cardstock sides
14. TMRw. tool shed- scratchbuilt (future)
15. TMRwy Freight House- scratchbuilt 1" foam, basswood beams and columns
with Pioneer Valley brick paper. Windows drawn on computer, then printed on
“overhead” clear material
16. Dallas Union Grain- scratchbuilt using 4" PVC pipe silos and basswood head
house and elevator
17. Smithton Texas Traction Station- scratchbuilt 1⁄4" Masonite flat with A.G. Smith
HO Bank cardstock printed side enlarged to O Scale with new station sign‑
18. Smithton Main Street- 1" foam with printed A. G. Smith HO cardstock sides
enlarged to O Scale. Smithton is named in honor of Mr. A. G. Smith. Main Street
contains Epstein’s Dept. Store, Bijou Theater, a bakery, Barrett’s Drug Store, an
office building and Riley’s Grocery
19. Cook’s Electrical Supply Co.- scratchbuilt (future)
20. Texas Power and Light Co.- scratchbuilt flats (future)
21. Farmer’s Co-op Grain- scratchbuilt with corrugated siding made from heavy
duty aluminum foil embossed over a pattern
22. J. W. Holding Co. stock chute and pens- scratchbuilt
23. Cottonwood Station- scratchbuilt
24. Store side- scratchbuilt 1⁄4" Masonite flat and printed cardstock side,
using HO Scale A. G. Smith bldg. enlarged to O scale
25. House- kitbashed Model Power Jordan’s House, garage and wood fence
26. House- kitbashed from Model Power Jordan’s House
Layout Particulars
Name: Texas Midland Railway and Texas Traction (future overhead)
Location: Historic Dallas Union Station, Dallas, Texas
Scale: O Scale (1:48)
Size: 14' x 29'
Theme:Regional railroading, urban switching with 17 industries (11 on the
Rwy., 6 on the traction line)
Locale:East of Dallas, Texas
Era: Late 1950s- early 1960s, steam and Diesel
Style: Walk-around
Height:52 inches from floor with no grades
Benchwork: L-girders with 2" foam on lightweight grid
Roadbed: 1⁄2" Homasote mainline and yards, industrial spurs on 0.060"
illustration board
Track: Combination of Micro Engineering code 125 and handlaid track and
turnouts. Industrial spurs handlaid code 100 on low-profile ties.
Mainline: Approx. 70'
Turnouts: No. 5 on Rwy. No. 4 on traction - total 27. Most laid with Right-O’Way points & frogs. All turnouts controlled with Caboose Industries
manual ground throws.
Min Radius: Mainline 60", spurs and yard 48"
Scenery: Styrofoam painted with latex paint with Woodland Scenic ground
cover
Backdrop: Painted sheet rock with hand painted horizon, clouds and trees
Structures: 26 mostly scratchbuilt with some kitbashed
Control: Conventional DC with block control using Aristo-Craft radio throttles
Operation. Card Order, Set Out and Pick Up only, no Hold position
Mar/April ’05 - O Scale Trains • from Texarkana to Memphis, but
that never materialized either.
The Texas Midland Railway has
always had fierce competition
from the Texas and Pacific which
serves the same corridor. The
TMRwy is a single track railroad
with few passing sidings and
has always had difficulty maintaining schedules. The
meager profits have never allowed
the luxury of new equipment, so
most of the locomotives and rolling stock are hand-me-downs.
Some say the equipment is old
and worn out, but expert shop
forces keep them running reasonably well. The only new locomotives to ever grace the rails
are the beautiful pair of EMD
F-9s and a GP-9. They were purchased with Uncle Sam’s money
when several major government
flood control projects in east
Texas forced the re-routing of
miles of track. Since the outcome
was many more route miles, part
of the compensation was the two
new F-9s and GP-9, increasing
train speeds to keep competitive with the Texas and Pacific.
The fact that the TMRwy even
exists today (late '50s through
the early '60s) is through shear
determination and luck, not
profits. The Texas Traction line
was acquired in 1923 to service
additional industry with a slight
increase in revenue. The TMRwy
has never been a suitable merger
partner or candidate for takeover because no one covets its
route. In Texarkana the TMRwy
interchanges with the Missouri Pacific and the Kansas
City Southern. The TMRwy also
interchanges with the Katy and
Santa Fe in east Texas at Greenville but, of course, they both
also directly serve the industrial
districts of east Dallas, the location we model. On the west
end, the TMRwy interchanges
with the Frisco, Rock Island, and
Ft. Worth & Denver (Burlington)
in Fort Worth. Cooperation and
interchange with the Texas and
Pacific has always been meager,
awkward and downright contentious at times. The TMRwy crews
spend their time switching the
many industries on its route and
running transfers to the yards
of the bigger roads in the Dallas and Fort Worth area. Today
Cattleman J. W. Holding waits anxiously for a TMRwy stock car to be spotted at the loading chute. J. W.
wants this shipment of steers loaded and on their way tonight. The stock pens and loading chute are
scratchbuilt. TMR 17056 stock car was built from an old Mainline kit.
Extra 162 heads west with F-9 # 162 and # 160. This transfer run has cars for both the Rock Island and
Burlington yards in Fort Worth. The units' paint schemes were designed and applied by Steve Holding.
Later in the day, Extra 160 East, with F-9 # 160 and GP-9 #1502, departs Moore Yard for Greenville and
Texarkana. There are few through freights remaining for the struggling Texas Midland Rwy. The massive
structures in the background are over six feet in viewing height.
It’s still 15 minutes before the departure of Texas Midland Traction # 45 for
Cottonwood. The Smithton passengers leisurely take their time boarding. It is cooler
waiting on the benches than sitting in the motionless car. The midday freight run
has a few wooden seats for hardy travelers. Smithton was created by enlarging A. G.
Smith HO building cutouts to O Scale.
Railway Express reefer R.E.X. 124, loaded with strawberries, is already spotted on the
siding for pickup. A Texas Traction crew delivered # 124 just ten minutes ago. Texas
Midland Railway eastward Mail and Express #6 is due in just 22 minutes. Cottonwood
passengers prepare to board the single coach and sleeper that round out the consist.
R.E.X. 124 was downsized from a Mainline wood kit. The 36-foot wood reefer was
narrowed one foot and height reduced one foot to better negotiate the tight trackage
and clearances of the Texas Traction line.
Final inspection with hatches closed. Heavily weathered F.G.E.X. 59605 is iced and
cooled, ready for pickup. A TMRwy crew is due any minute to move the reefer across
town to Runzo Bros. Produce Co. There it will be quickly loaded with a shipment of Texas
grapefruit for eastern markets. Blue’s Ice is kitbashed from the Berkshire Valley kit.
the Texas Midland Railway functions more as a terminal
railroad than a bridge route, because little through traffic
remains.
Construction
Our industrial district layout is built around the walls,
with depths varying from 16 to 24 inches. The sections
are constructed of lightweight 1" x 2" framing supporting
a 1⁄4" OSB (oriented strand board) base topped by two layers of 3⁄4" high-density blue foam board, a Dow product.
After we glued the two 3⁄4" foam layers together with Latex
Liquid Nails (blue label), we located a supplier in Dallas
that has 2" thick high-density blue foam in stock. In the
future we will use 2" thick pieces. The roadbed on top of
the blue foam is 1⁄2" Homasote for the mainline and yards.
The industrial spurs use 0.060" illustration board for subroadbed. The spurs are constructed on low-profile wood
ties and handlaid code 100 rail. The mainline trackage is a
combination of handlaid and Micro Engineering code 125
flextrack. All the turnouts (27 total) were handlaid by Richard Moore with most using Right-O’-Way frogs and points.
We are using #5 turnouts on the mainline and #4 turnouts
on the traction line. All turnouts are hand thrown using
Caboose Industries ground throws. The height of the layout
is 52 inches.
Wiring and Control
The layout is built with conventional block control. We
use Aristo-Craft radio control throttles and have separate
controls for the mainline and yard. Number 12 bus wires
circumnavigate the bench work and each piece of rail has
an electrical drop to the bus.
Operation
There are 17 possible locations to spot cars during
switching operations, with 11 located on the railway and
six on the traction line. We are currently using a card-order
system, but some members are thinking about changing to
a Rail-Op switch list. We use the card-order Set Out and
Pickup operations only. We do not use the Hold position.
In a typical session both eastbound and westbound wayfreights are assembled in Moore Yard with train lengths typically six to eight cars. The eastbound local works industries
along its way while the westbound is being assembled back
at Moore Yard. During a normal operating session all industries are switched. The Texas Midland Railway interchanges
a few cars for the Texas Traction. The Texas Traction runs
between Smithton and Cottonwood. The traction line has
no access to Moore Yard or the outside world.
Locomotives and Rolling Stock
The club itself owns only one locomotive and five freight
cars lettered for the Texas Midland Railway. The club’s loco
is an Atlas SW-9 (recently leased from the Erie Lackawanna). All other motive power and rolling stock are member
owned. Because of our members’ diverse interests at any
given time, many railroads are represented, such as Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Burlington, Katy, and Frisco with occasional visits from the Wabash, Pennsylvania, Union Pacific,
Norfolk & Western and others.
Standards
Our club standards for rolling stock are metal Kadee
couplers and metalwheel sets in Delrin sideframes. Our
weight standard is 9-11 ounces for a forty-foot car. We
have found that it is not necessary to weight cars to a full
16 ounces (per the NMRA Standards) to achieve good reliable operations. This is true of both our switching layouts,
the Dallas Division, and our larger Sherman Division layout where we routinely back 18-car trains through hand-
Mar/April ’05 - O Scale Trains • laid #5 turnouts into the staging yards.
Scenery
The terrain is relatively flat. The blue foam was slightly
contoured with a Stanley “Surform” curved rasp shaver and
then painted with latex paint. Woodland Scenic ground foam
was sprinkled on while the paint is wet. The backdrop is
sheetrock with sky, clouds, horizon and trees handpainted in.
At the location of the streams, the blue foam was removed
down to the OSB. The streambeds were made by using drywall compound. When the compound was dry, it was then
painted with several blends of acrylic paint colors. All four of
the bridges are scratchbuilt. The two mainline bridges use HO
Scale Chooch stone abutments and Atlas steel girder sides.
The two wooden pile trestles on the spur tracks are made of
basswood we cut to size using a Micro-Mark table saw. Mirrors are used at the end of Moore Yard and Smithton’s main
street to achieve the illusion of distance. Another example of
simulating distance is an HO model of Roberts Printing, kitbashed and set back near the window a few feet from the Charley completes the unloading of the tank car as Mr. DeMarco drives by
with a few barrels of roofing tar. Ted, the slacker, steals some naptime in
layout. HO vehicles complete this scene.
the shade of Tank #4. The Mobilgas facility is kitbashed from the Walthers
Structures.
There are 26 structures currently built or planned. The kit. The office/warehouse is an old Revell HO building up-sized for O Scale.
majority are scratchbuilt, while others are kitbashed. Most The Mobilgas tank car, GATX 6324, is a K-Line product with scale couplers,
are as large as we could make them; for example, the
bolsters, trucks and corner frame wire grabs added.
TMRwy Freight House is a four-story structure, 38 inches
long and 20 inches high. The Dallas Union Grain silos are
made from four-inch diameter PVC pipe, and are 22 inches
high. The building is 33 inches long overall. This puts the
top of these structures over six feet high for viewing.
The town of Smithton is named in honor of A. G. Smith.
Brady McGuire used Mr. Smith’s Main Street (a Dover Publication product) HO cardstock building fronts for our main
street. He took the building fronts to Kinko’s and enlarged
them to O Scale, increasing the print size by 181%. He then
mounted the heavy paper enlargements to 1” foam backing. Brady had Kinko’s print the enlargements on light grey
paper, not white, for a more toned down weathered coloring.
Future Plans
We plan to add overhead trolley wire to the traction portion of the layout from Cottonwood to Smithton. Also, a
three track staging yard under Cottonwood is planned, looping two thirds of the way around the layout to minimize the
TMRwy carmen study the problem. It appears the brakes are stuck on
grade. By adding an angled peninsula into the center of the TMRwy covered hopper # 336. The model is a Williams (KMT) car, with scale
room, we can build a new industrial switching district addcouplers, bolsters, trucks and wire grabs. Decals are Champ's data and
ing five or six new industries. The resulting switching fees
custom made road name. The slightly undersized car operates well on the
will be greatly appreciated by the shareholders of the Texas
traction trackage. The bridges are scratchbuilt. The stone abutments are
Midland Railway.
modified Chooch HO product.
Credits
Most of the work has been done by all members, but
some were put in charge of things in which they excel. Dick
We normally meet three times a month, two Saturdays at Dallas
Kuelbs designed the track plan, wiring and control panels. Richard Moore, our switch building expert, built all of Union Station and one Saturday in Sherman. New members and
the turnouts (hence Moore Yard). Steve Holding and David visitors are always welcome. Contacts for information (such as times
Jeter laid most of the track and installed the electrical feeder the layouts are available for visits) are. Richard Kuelbs, 17432 Maridrops. Brady McGuire planned the scenery and buildings. anne Cir, Dallas, TX, 75252, 972-248-6262; David Jeter, Denison,
Brady built cardboard mockups for each of the structures, TX, 903-465-6276; Richard Moore, Richardson, TX, 972-234-2726;
then a member constructed the actual building needed. Brady McGuire, Sherman, TX, 903-868-2726. ◆
Steve, David, Richard and Brady built up the permanent
structures. Bob Brown took the photos and Bob Robertson
drew the scale drawing of the layout.
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Mar/April ’05 - O Scale Trains • You’ll have to pardon me a bit, this
issue, because I’m going to be a little more
serious than usual. You see, I’ve a bit of a
cob up about some trends in the O Scale
world. Let’s look at a couple of points.
First, although we are experiencing
a pretty healthy growth in O Scale, the
model railroading hobby as a whole is
slowly shrinking. If the latest TCA member numbers are indicative, the toy train
hobby is also in decay, important only
because this is an important source of new
blood for us. Although we are currently
experiencing good times in O Scale, the
long-term ramifications look a little less
optimistic.
Second, within our world, there are
those who complain of the “dumbing down” of O Scale, what with all the
ready-to-run stuff coming out. I hear of,
and read about, concerns that no-one
wants to build anymore. There are no real
craftsmen left, fidelity is taking a hit, and
the people who want to operate (the “car
shifters” is a term I’ve read), rather than
painstakingly scratchbuild museum quality models, are to blame for the death of
the kit, the loss of the art of scratchbuilding, and the defeat of the Greeks at Thermopylae.
Third, a couple of issues ago, we introduced a feature we call O Scale Influences. These are stories about the folks who
took us under their wing and spent the
time and effort to educate and inspire us.
We all had ‘em, whether it was the likes
of Joe Fischer, Bill Lenoir, Wash Loveland,
Ted Stepek, or the old guy who lived in
the house up the street with the Icken outside-third stuff who gave us our first crack
at one of the old card-sided kits he had
mouldering away in his basement.
These three points are related, strangely enough. While the previous generation
was so generous to us, we aren’t doing so
hot in doing the same for the next generation. Maybe we think our stuff is too
valuable for the next generation to see
and feel; maybe we jealously guard our
skill-sets and time so closely that we don’t
have the patience to teach the next generation. But I ask you, can you remember
the one-on-one tutelage you got from that
mentor you remember so fondly? Can you
say you’ve done the same for someone
10 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr ’05
else a generation down? If you can answer
the second question with as emphatic a
“yes” as you did the first one, you are rare
indeed. As a generation, this is where we
are failing miserably.
While I’m not saying that our taking up
the mantle where it was dropped will bring
kids flocking to model railroading in general, and O Scale in particular, I am saying that it will help reverse the first point.
One excuse I’ve heard over and over is,
“Kids don’t see trains like we did, so they
aren’t interested.” Well, I didn’t see them
regularly when I was a kid, either. It took
someone like Wash Loveland to make the
time to take me to them before I saw trains
on a regular basis, especially with someone who could explain what was going
on. Before then, they were a noisy novelty
of staying at my grandparent’s house out
by the B&A.
Here’s another one. “Kids just sit in
front of the computer playing computer
games.” In my youth, it was the television and that hellish rock-and-roll noise,
but the same lame excuse.
Who taught us about kits,
scratchbuilding, and (as a
result) patience? Why don’t
we? I guess you could call
me both a “car-shifter” and
a craftsman, but it took a
couple of older guys to
pry me away from the TV
and inspire me to learn it.
All you guys who are worried about the “dumbingdown of O Scale” could
take a lesson from that
one, because that’s what
happened to you, too. You
weren’t born with it. Someone took the time and
interest in you.
So, at OST, we reserve
some space for these
heroes who saved our butts
from the clutches of Japanese monster movies, Elvis,
Milton Berle, slot-cars,
and other diseases. We do
this so they can inspire us
again, to invest some time
in the new blood as they
did in us (What they saw in
us that made ‘em do it, though, is beyond
me!).
There are a couple things to consider
here. First is the fact that the significant
investment is time. Wash, Ted Stepek, John
Armstrong, they all took time away from
something and invested it in my continued model railroading education. When
they could have been working on their
own stuff, they were working on me. We
need to get past this one, as we tend to
guard time more jealously than treasure.
It will take time to show someone the
nuances of even a simple kit, but it is an
investment that pays off big when that kid
reminds you of it as an adult.
Second, especially if you are dealing
with your own offspring, is that the kid
may just not be interested. You can’t force
craftsmanship or a love for the game on
anyone. Don’t give up, though. There are
“30-somethings”, “Gen-X-ers”, and other
folks out there who are very interested,
but can’t find anyone who can inspire.
They may be found at a club (another
environment that’s in trouble!) or at the
hobby shop.
Third, again especially important while
dealing with offspring, interests change.
Your protege may love train watching at
age three, simple kits at age eight, joining
your friends for an operating session and
seriously defending the Pennsy against all
comers as a teenager. He very well may
then lose interest for college, women,
or R/C boats, instead of railroads. Good
for him! The time you spent together
will never be forgotten, and the lessons
learned (patience, saving money for a big
purchase, craftsmanship, creative cussing)
will be your gifts carried forever.
Think about the old O Scale Influences from your past, and try your hand at it
with the next generation. I think you’ll be
surprised and, if we assume that responsibility from our previous generation, it will
help improve the prospects of a healthy
future for our hobby and our scale. Meanwhile, I’m going down to my shop and
mix myself a drink, put on a little Glenn
Miller, put my kid up on my shoulders and
run my railroad. I already have a bunch of
kits ready for him, and the brat across the
street has been showing a hint of tolerable
behavior as of late…
Let’s go Exploring!
◆
Nos. 16001-18500
O SCALE/PROTO 48 • Kit #124/124-P … $49.95
• Based on 1917 prototype built
by Mt. Vernon Car Co.
• Double sheath with Dreadnought ends
• Steel underframe
• Andrews trucks
• Kit includes couplers and decals
Also available –
SACRAMENTO NORTHERN
Boxcar Nos. 2301-2350
Kit #125/125-P … $49.95
� Coming soon – SP Sugar Beet Gondola
Mar/April ’05 - O Scale Trains • 11
Modern Engine Facilities: Turntables
Once they were a necessity to the operation of a railroad.
They could be found everywhere back in the steam era. Most
were at the end of a division, at a major junction, or at the heart
of a classification facility. Every railroad, regardless of size, used
them. They were turntables. A railroad could barely function
without some method to turn their steam locomotives. When
a steam locomotive arrived at its destination, a usual course of
action was for the hostler to fuel, sand, and “turn” the engine so
it faced forward on its return. Quite often the steam locomotive
was simply backed into a roundhouse track until “called-up” for
a train. If you think about the purpose of a turntable then, you
1
can see why they are still in service today.
Cosmetically a modern turntable would resemble a steam era
turntable in most ways, including size, construction, and operation. Originally, turntables were built big enough to hold the
largest steam power used on a particular section of the railroad,
for example long enough to accommodate the massive Union
Pacific 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” locomotives. A modern version would
not need the length these steamers required. No more than a 90'
bridge (24" in O Scale terms) would hold most current Diesel
locomotives.
Here are few modernizing considerations. A wooden or brick
pit wall might be remodeled in concrete or possibly steel. The
bridge house may be removed, as well as any power lines to the
bridge, as many modernized turntables have underground power
3
cables. Consider placing a small pre-fab metal shed nearby to
house the new turntable controls, and don’t forget a transformer
box connecting to an adjacent power line. Lastly, don’t forget
the weathering, including thinned black paint to represent fuel
and oil spills, and sand spills around the pit.
The accompanying photos show an example of a
modernized, but not new, BNSF turntable. It was originally built in 1923 during the early Frisco Railroad
days. The table is 80' in length, and can handle SD75
and DASH 9 locomotives with care. It has undergone
updating, repairs, and lots of use. The green paint is
a Burlington Northern remnant. Notice the bridge
decking around the tracks in Photo 2. If your turntable
bridge decking has wooden walkways, consider covering this with thin styrene to represent the installation
of a metal deck. This table still uses the overhead electrical connection for motor power.
The details around the BNSF table also tell the story of modernization. Notice in the photos how a concrete curb now encircles the pit. No tracks other than the through route are present.
The table now has the one purpose of turning engines, instead of
the multiple duties associated with a roundhouse. Look closely
at Photo 3, shot from several yards back, and you’ll see remnants
of abandoned roundhouse tracks. Most obvious here is the total
lack of a roundhouse. Perhaps the concrete pads visible in Photo
3 were once support pads for the roundhouse. The hint that a
building once stood here shows how progress reclaims valuable
space.
You don’t have to rip out your roundhouse to modernize the turntable. Many railroads still use a roundhouse for Diesel storage and maintenance. Don’t
overlook the obvious details though. Change the steam
era details for Diesel. A lot can carry over, but stored
72" drivers aren’t modern. If your turntable and yards
are representing a major Class 1 railroad, then the
area around the turntable and roundhouse might be
junk-free. Think like a railroad here. If you are going
for modern from the start and space permits, consider
2
an add-on pre-fab metal enginehouse. This would be a
stark contrast to a large brick and steel roundhouse. A
metal enginehouse would certainly be a unique addition to any scene.
If you originally designed your railroad to include a
turntable, you might have been thinking only of steam
engine requirements, but a turntable in Diesel years
would be no more out of place than a semaphore
signal. Modernizing your engine facilities adds credibility to the era being modeled. Many model railroaders now focus on operation for their layouts. Adding
a turntable to handle your Diesel locomotives could
keep the hostler very busy during an operating session. Next time,
we’ll look at the Diesel details that bring those 1960’s locomotives into the 21st Century.
◆
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G-5 4-6-0 U⁄P $850
Q1 4-6-4-4 F/P shrouded $1500
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These kits include only the parts above the frame.
Building a Small O Scale Layout
Part Two
Michael Culham
Welcome to Part Two of Building a Small O Scale Layout. In
Part One, I talked about building the benchwork for my industrial
switching layout (The corrected track plan is included in this issue
- Ed). In this issue we will be covering the laying out of the track
plan on the table-top, and gluing down the ties to get everything
ready for hand-laying the track and turnouts. We’ll actually lay
the trackage in Parts Three and Four.
I decided that, on this layout, I would handlay my track as I
did on my old layout but I would use 48-inch radius curves and
#5 turnouts. This would give the look of industrial trackwork, with
its tight curves and short turnouts, made to fit into the small areas
between buildings. Once I had decided this, there was no question about using the turnout and track components from Right-OWay as they would give me the detailed track work that I wanted
on my layout. I know there have been articles over the years on
handlaying track and turnouts, but I thought I would show you
the techniques that I use, and how to use Right-O-Way track and
turnout components. With this in mind, it is time to get started
putting down tracks.
Laying Out the Track Plan
With the benchwork in place and the 1⁄2 inch foam glued
down, I was ready to draw out the track plan. I found that drawing the plan in full scale helps to work out any problems that may
arise, such as clearances and turnout locations near the joints in
the bench work. When marking out the plan, I have three tools
that I use, a curve template, a metal ruler and a turnout template.
A friend of mine who moved to Canada from the U.K. is also
modeling in O Scale. He loaned me some metal curve templates
in the radii of 48 inches and 60 inches, purchased in the U.K.
These are designed to be placed between the rails of flextrack
when laying out curves. I also found them useable to mark out
my curves on the tabletop, so I made some copies of these out
of 0.040" styrene (see Photo 1). These work well in that you can
mark out the alignment of both rails.
1
For the straight sections, I used a steel ruler that measures 11⁄4
inches wide, the same as the gauge for O Scale track.
I also needed a template to lay out the turnouts. Here is how I
made the #5 turnout template out of styrene. First, on a piece of
0.040” styrene sheet at least 14 inches long and four inches wide,
I marked out the straight section of the turnout (I used my steel
ruler for this). Next, I marked the start of the points and measured a distance of 101⁄2 inches back along the straight section.
This gave me the location of the frog. I then placed one of the
ROW # 5 frogs on the styrene and marked the angle of the frog.
With this done, I took the 48-inch curve template and marked
out the curved section of the turnout. Then, I cut out the styrene
along the outside of the stock rails and the “V” at the back of the
frog (see Photo 2). I used the resulting template to trace out the
turnouts on the tabletop. One template can be used for both the
left or right turnouts; just flip it over as needed.
2
With these tools in hand and a fine tipped marker pen we are
ready to draw out the track plan (see Photos 3 & 4). Now is when
3
4
you’ll want to mark out the location and the footprint of your
buildings, as this will help in locating where the track will go.
Have a freight car handy to check the clearances as well.
When you are done, you will have a full-scale plan of the layout, showing the path of both rails instead of just the centerline.
I find this is handy when gluing down the ties, as they can be
equally positioned on either side of the lines. Also, when you
start spiking, it will show you the location of each rail.
Installing the Ties
Once you have the track plan marked out, you are ready to
glue down the ties. I have read about making fancy jigs for spacing the ties. You can do this if you want (and have the time), or
you can do as I did. Take a piece of flextrack (in my case Micro
Engineering) and turn it upside down. Instant tie jig.
The ties that I decided to use are 4" x 9", with a length of 81⁄2
feet (part # TT 8-6). For the turnouts, you will need ties 161⁄2 feet
long (part # TT 16-6). I purchased these from Right-O-Way. Put
the ties along the flextrack in the spaces between the cast plastic
ties. As these tie strips are being made up for an industrial railroad, they do not have to be neat; a few ties slightly out of alignment is fine. I usually make each strip of ties a foot long, as I find
it a lot easier to handle.
Next, put a strip of 1⁄2-inch masking tape along the center of
the ties and make sure all the wood ties are stuck to it (see Photos
5-7). Lift the masking tape and ties off of the flextrack. Make sev-
eral of these tie strips at a time, so you can do a large area during
a work session. You can make tie strips for turnouts the same way,
as you can see in Photo 8.
The turnout ties will have to be cut to different lengths, also
visible in Photo 8. Using a North West Short Line “Chopper”, set
the cutting guide so it is the length of one regular tie (8' 6") plus
7
5
a small scrap piece
of styrene sheet to
spread the glue. As
you see in Photos 911, put down a bead
of glue along the center of the track lines.
Then spread it out
in a thin layer with
the scrap of styrene
so that it covers in
between the lines and
out to about 1⁄4-inch
outside of the lines.
Then place the tie
strips along the track
location lines and
push them down into
the glue. I use a piece
of wood for this.
Once the glue is
set, peel off the masking tape. It took a total of about eight hours to make all the tie
strips and glue them all down on the whole layout following the
track plan. Let the glue dry fully for a couple of days, then paint
the ties using Polly Scale Rail Tie Brown paint. Next, drybrush on
some gray and tan colors to give a weathered look to the ties. Let
the paint dry for a few days. Now you are ready to start spiking
rail.
In Photo12, you can see the tools that I use to lay track. These
8
6
the width of a tie (9".). Cut three ties. Now, reset the guide using
the last tie you cut and add the width of a tie and cut three more.
Keep doing this until you get to the 161⁄2’ length (see Fig.1 for the
position of the ties).
With the tie strips all ready to glue down, you will need to
get a bottle of white glue (it does not matter what brand). I use
10
11
12
are a must, so make sure you have them
before we start laying the track in Part
Three. Here is a list of what you will need:
Needlenose pliers
Heavy-duty rail cutters
Small files
Three point gage for code 125 rail, two
required (Precision Scale)
NMRA gage
Modeling knife with sharp # 11 blades
Tweezers
A truck with metal wheelsets that are in
gauge.
Map pins (These are straight pins with little
colored balls on the end of them)
You will also need the rail and the turnout parts, plus all the detailing components as well. I have made the following
Oops! The layout diagram used in Part 1 (OST#18) was incorrect. This is the correct layout plan. Also, in the text in Part
1 it stated the benchwork was made from 1/4" plywood with 1/4" foam on top. That was incorrect; both are 1/2". The
drawings with Part 1 were correct, however.
9
From Right-O’-Way
Description
Part #
1- Frogs
FB25-5
2- Points
P25-16
3- Guard rail
GR25
4- Throw rod
TR
5- Rail braces
RB25
6- Gauge plates
GP25
7- Switch tie plates
TPF4
8- Insulated joiners
IJ25
9- Tie plates
TPF2 (125)
10- Rail joiners (metal) NJ25
11- Joiners (cement on) CJ25
12- Spikes 10 oz.
13- 4x9 Ties, 81⁄2' long TT 8-6
14- 4x9 Ties161⁄2'’ long TT 16-6
Qty
9
9
9
18
9
9
3
4
9
3
3
1
2
3
Right-O’-Way, 23682 Road 15-3/4 Chowchilla, CA
93610
From Micro Engineering (or House of Duddy)
Code 125 nickel silver rail – 99 feet (one bundle)
All the above supplies will cost about $700.00
US, not a bad price for good-looking track work.
House of Duddy, 5B Tealwood Dr., Creve Coeur,
MO 63141, www.houseofduddy.com
list of what I purchased:
Progress is being made on the new layout. With all the ties in place, I could start
to visualize what the overall layout would
look like, and know that it would work. I
was confident that, yes, an O Scale layout could work in this small area. In Part
Three, I will show you how to handlay
track and add details to make it look like
the real thing.
So until next time, Happy Modeling! ◆
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Historic Journeys by Rail Central RR of NJ-Stations, Structures . .27.25
Lackawanna Railroad in Color Vol 3 Transition Years . . . . . .48.00
Lima – A History – Hirsimaki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55.00
Locomotive Cyclopedia Vol II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65.00
Log Trains of Southern Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39.00
Mason Steam Locomotives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Milwaukee Road 261 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
Milwaukee Road Pass Service -Hiawatha to Amtrak–Dorin .27.25
Missouri Pacific in Color Vol 1Era of the Eagles . . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Monongahela Railway: History & Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36.00
Narrow Gauge-Sheepscot Valley WW&F Vol 4 s/c . . . . . . . .31.50
Narrow Gauge-Sheepscot Valley WW&F Vol 4 h/c . . . . . . . .55.00
New Haven in Color Vol. 1 Battle for Profits 1945-61/
Vol 2 Struggle for Survival - each . . . . . .48.00
New York Subway- An Illustrated History – Sansone . . . . . . .45.00
New York, Westchester & Boston –1906-1946 Bang h/c . . .31.50
Next Stop Honolulu! – Oahu Railway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55.00
North Platte East – A Railfan’s Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33.50
Off the Beaten Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53.00
Omaha Road – Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha . .45.00
P & LE Berkshires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40.50
Passenger Cars 1930’s -1960’s - Wayner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22.25
Passenger Trains of Northern New England 1933-1966 . . . .27.25
Penn Central Railroad Color History – Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.50
Pennsylvania Railroad Color Pictorial Vol 4 – Sweetland . . . .55.00
Pennsylvania Railroad – The Eastern Lines – Color . . . . . . . .29.00
Pennsylvania Railroad in Cincinnati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47.50
Pennsylvania Railroad Pass. Trains, Consists& Cars Vol 1 . .36.00
Pennsylvania Trolleys in Color Vol 4 – The 40’s . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie in Color Vol 2 1956-1976 . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Plant System of Railroads, Steamships & Hotels . . . . . . . . . .45.00
PRR Lines West: Pittsburgh to St. Louis 1960-1999 . . . . . . . .55.00
PRR Triumph Vol. V11 Harrisburg to the Lakes . . . . . . . . . . .68.00
Pullmans to St. Louis – Missouri Pacific Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.25
Railroad Logging in Klamath Country-Bowden . . . . . . . . . . . .45.00
Railroad Signaling – Solomon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.50
Rails Along the Oriskany (NYO&W)s/c 23.25 h/c . . . . . . . . . .60.00
Rails of Dreams –Youngstown & Southern,Pittsburg Lisbon & Western 38.00
Rio Grande to the Pacific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55.00
Santa Fe Dining Car Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.25
Santa Fe Facilities in Color Vol 1 Chicago to LA . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Santa Fe Railway Passenger Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30.25
Santa Fe Railway Streamlined Observation Cars . . . . . . . . . .19.25
South Buffalo Railway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
The South Park Line – Ferrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82.00
Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives – Church . . . . . . . . . .65.00
Southern Pacific Diesel Compendium Vol 1 Strapac . . . . . . .52.00
Southern Pacific’s Scenic Coast Line –Color Pictorial – Dill . .55.00
Southern Pacific’s Western Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65.00
Southern States Trolleys in Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Steam Echoes - Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53.00
Steam to the Niagara Frontier – Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00
Streetcar Lines to the Hub – 1940’s – Clarke . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00
The Subway & the City – Fischler & Henderson . . . . . . . . . . .36.00
Texas & New Orleans Color Pictorial – Goen . . . . . . . . . . . . .55.00
The Sleeping Car – A General Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
Those Amazing Railway Patents - Vol 1 – Trostle . . . . . . . . . .27.25
Thunder of Their Passing-D&RG & Cumbres &Toltec H/C 50.00 S/C40.50
Trackside Along the Boston & Maine 1945-1975 . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Trackside Around Cleveland 1965-1979 (due 4/04) . . . . . . . .48.00
Trackside Around Detroit Downriver 1946-1976 . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Trackside with EMD Field Rep. Casey Cavenaugh 1960-62 .48.00
Virginian Railway in Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Visalia Electric Railroad – SP’s Orange Grove Route . . . . . .50.00
Vista Dome – North Coast Limited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68.00
Wabash Pittsburgh Terminal Railroad – Worley . . . . . . . . . . .21.00
Warbonnets & Bluebonnets – Mc Millan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58.50
When the RR Leaves Town V1 or 2 –each s/c 23.25 h/c . .36.00
Willamette Iron & Steel Catalog – Reprint of 1925 edition . . .23.25
*$18.00 MINIMUM order for free shipping in the USA. Send $3.00 for latest
list. All orders must be paid in U.S. funds. NY residents please add correct sales tax. Print your name, address and phone number. Credit card
users add card number and expiration date. Allow 4 weeks for delivery. For delivery outside of USA please add $8.00 for the first book and $3.00 for each additional book. Make checks payable to Ron’s Books. Only inquiries which include a
SASE will be answered. Prices subject to change. WE BUY COLLECTIONS
The Public Delivery Track
Locomotives - 2 rail
Atlas..GP-9's..B&O, Erie, WM, SP, ATSF..$339-$379
New..C424/C425..EL, D&H, NW, CP, Rdg..$219-$425
RS-1..LIRR, Rut, CNJ, NH, RI, SF, WT, M&E..$325-$359
SALE..SD-35, Dash 8, GP-35..selected ones..$299
SW's..RRiv, LV, Rdg, Susq, CNJ, DMIR, NYC..$225-$329
MTH..New PRR H-3..$669; CNJ P-47 Pacific...$749
0-8-0, 4-4-0, Hudson, 2-10-4, H-9, EP-3 electric..call
Weaver....K-4, L-1, GG-1, C-630, NKP Berk...call
Little Joe Electric..$735. USRA Light Pacific..$649
VO-1000..B&O, CNJ, GN, LV, MILW, PRR, UP, WM..$259
SALE..RS-11..CN, CV, CNW, MEC, PRR, SOU..$219
RS-3's, U25's, GP-38's..B&M, BN, C&O, CP, CSX, D&H,
EL, ICG, LV, L&N, MEC, MILW, NH, NKP. NYC, PRR,
Rdg, Rutland, Susq, more..Pwr..$219-$249; Dum..$159
Shaft drive RS-3's, GP-38's, FA/FB's..$99-$150
Passenger Sets
Weaver..SALE Pullman-Bradleys..4/ $349; 2/ $189
New..Troop sleeper, kitchen car, Express, bunk car..$62-$80
K-line..80' cars..Amtk, DRGW, PRR, NYC, more..call
Box Cars - 2 rail
Pecos River..NYC, SOU, SP, SF, CBQ, WAB...$35
..C&O, B&O, WM, PM, Erie, NKP; UP, SF end door..$45
Atlas..40' Wood..P&R, B&O, C&O, CBQ, CNJ, CNW, EJE
NYC, N&W, PRR, Rdg, SP, SSW, WM, B&M, WAG..$47-$55
40' Steel..Erie, NH, SP, PRR, NYC, CNW, GN, Susq..$48-$52
40' 1960's..Erie, L&N, MEC, PRR, NYC, MILW, B&M..$30
50'..NH, RG, BAR, DH, NYC, MILW, MKT, SAL, SF..$55-$57
53'..Aloha, Purina, B&M, BN, CNW, FEC, MP, UP..$35-$50
60'..MKT, NS, CSX, B&O, EL, RG, Sou, NW..$39-$49
Weaver..ACL, ACY, ATSF, BAR, B&O, B&M, CBQ, CGW,
CIM, CNJ, CN, C&O, CP, CV, CR, D&H, DTSL,EL,GN, IC,
MEC, LV, L&N, MP, NYC, NW, NH, NP, PC, PLE, PRR, Rut,
Sou, SP, TPW, UP, WP, R&N, Rbox, MRL, more..$25-$32
Refrigerator Cars - 2 rail
Wvr/Crown..B&M, CV, CN, NYC, NP, BAR, REA, Hoods,
Whitehse, Dubuque, Nrn Refrig, Beers, more..$25-$32
57'..BAR, MEC, PA Produce, NW, MILW ..15 roads..$30-$50
Atlas..36' & 40'..Custom ptd CNJ..20+ others..$45 and up
40' steel..IC, DLW, NP, ATSF, PFE, BAR, MDT, ART..$51
Covered Hoppers - 2 rail
Weaver PS-2..BN, CBQ, CNJ, CNW, CP, CR, CSX, DLW
C&O, DTI, EL, LV, NH, NYC, PRR, SLSF, WAB, UP..$27-$32
AC-2..DLW, PRR, WM, N&W, UP, SP, C&O, B&M..$32
Wvr C'flow or Grain..CR, CP, LV, NYC, PRR, WC,
MRL, BN, UP, SP, RI, CNW, MNS, 20+ roads..$25-$29
Atlas..ACF 34'..Erie, NKP, Borax, NH, UP, SSW...$55
Cyl..DLW, BN, Trona, NYC, WGrace, GN, PRR..$35-$45
Airslide..CNJ, LV, D&H, CSX, PRR, UP, Jfrost..$35-$49
PS-4427..RG, SF, MILW, LV, SOO, Wayne Fd, PRR...$55
Hopper Cars - 2 rail
Atlas..SALE..Wartime Composite hoppers..$40
Fishbelly and USRA 2 bay..15 roads..$40-$47
Ore..BLE, CN, DMIR, UP..$27. H21..PRR, NW, PC..$55-$64
Weaver..2, 3, 4-bay and Comp..B&A, BAR, B&M, CBQ
CP, CR, CNJ, C&O, D&H, DLW, Erie, EL, IC, GT, NH, NS
NYC, NKP, NW, PRR, Rdg, SAL, SF, WAB, WM..$25-$32
Tank Cars - 2 rail
Weaver..Jfrost, GULF, BN, Trusweet, Allied, ADM, Army
Ethyl, Diamond, Hooker, DuPont, Sun,Bakers..$30 -$35
Atlas..60'..Propane, CNTX, GLNX, ACFX, more..$37-$52
40'..SHPX, UTLX, Hooker, Staley, Gulf..17 roads..$55
50'..ACFX, Olin, Diamond, Hooker, Stauffer..$59
Flat Cars, Stock Cars, MofW
Atlas..89' flats..$50-$65. Trailers..$25. Auto Carriers..$85
Pulpwood flats..ACL, ATSF, BN, D&H, IC, L&N..$47-$50
Front runners......no trailer..$45; With trailer........$67
Wvr Flats..DH, Rdg, CN, Erie, LV, BN, TTX, Army..$25-$30
Stock..CNW, Armour, RG, PRR, Rdg, Erie, UP..$27-$32
MTH..Plows, Cranes, Schnabel, dump cars, etc..call
Scale signals..1 and 2 head color, PRR, B&O, dwarf,
semaphore, cantilever, highway flashers, 20+ types..$20-$50
Gondolas - 2 rail
Atlas..CBQ, CNJ, GN, MP, NW, NYC, PRR, Rdg..$32
Wvr..CNJ, PRR, LV, RI, SF, Rdg, UP, NKP, BM, MEC..$27
Cabeese - 2 rail, 3 rail scale
Wvr.. BM, NH, NYC, Erie, LHR, LV, DH, more..$25-$45
K-line, MTH..N-8, N5c, NE'rn, Bay w..15 roads..$35-$60
Atlas..BN, CR, NKP, RFP, Rut, GN, Chessie, RG..$50-$75
The Public Delivery Track • pdt@gis.net
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JAK ROLLERS can be used independent of Dynamic
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How to Build Fencing
Have you ever needed some
fencing for that industry or along the right-of-way? Maybe you
want to build a cattle pen? Well, here are two simple ways you
can build as much wooden fencing as you need, all in one
night. The secret is in the jigs; once made you can churn out
fence after fence.
For my wooden fencing, I go to the local hobby shop that
stocks all that cheap wood used for boat building. It’s not cut
as precise as your normal scale wood, but it’s ideal for fencing
and very cheap compared to the price of scale wood.
The jigs are made up using lengths of full-size 2" x 3" lumber as a base. Then, all you have to do is glue off-cuts spaced
out to suit the type of fence you require. The size of my wooden fence is six scale feet high using scale six-inch wide planking. The dimensions for the cattle pen fence are, again, six feet
high with six-inch wide rails spaced nine inches apart. The
posts are a scale 6" x 6" square. The photos show the method
of construction using the jigs.
◆
Narrow
Minded
Bobber Gibbs
Dream Layout or Nightmare?
In 2005, I hope to celebrate my 65th birthday and 44th wedding
anniversary. Like many older model railroaders, I have often thought
about downsizing from our large empty nest and having a new home
designed and built around my dream layout. Since my last column in
OST #18, Karen and I decided the time was right and our new home
is now well under way. In this column, I’ll tell you about our plans
and some of the construction features I insisted on for my Northway
Railroad. The Northway Railroad is a modern switching layout featuring around- and through-the-wall construction, standard-gauge Diesel power, three yards, industrial spurs, narrow-gauge trains, some
dual-gauge tracks and a railroad museum.
In Wasaga Beach, on Georgian Bay in Canada, the water table
is high and, if you want a high basement, the usual choice is a
raised bungalow where you go up a few steps to the main floor or
down a few steps to the lower level. After having both knee joints
replaced, Karen’s demands were simple: “Put all our living space
on the upper level and you can have the garage and basement! I
want all the electrical outlets 24 inches from the floor. Make sure
the house is completely finished and maintenance-free.”
After a long search, we found a friendly, local builder who had
completed the shell of a home that fully met our requirements, and
he was waiting for a buyer to determine how it would be finished.
Following a few meetings and lots of discussions and drawings, we
agreed on a deal. The home is to be completed by May 15.
The Lot
Our present home is on a half-acre lot in a good neighborhood on
the Nottawasaga River, and our new home is just two blocks away on
a quiet street on high ground. The new lot is smaller, and that means
less grasscutting, less snowplowing and a smaller tax bill.
The Garage
The double garage has a single 16’ overhead door and a direct
stairway into the basement. It will be insulated and paneled with its
own heating system and raised storage cupboards, making it the perfect Bobbershop.
The Main Level
Upstairs, we agreed on an open concept sitting room/dining room/kitchen, a generous master bedroom with en suite
bathroom, an office/computer room/guest bedroom, a guest
bathroom, laundry room and extra storage closets. A freestanding gas stove provides emergency heat, and a 43’ x 10’
deck runs across the back of the home, accessible from the
eating area and the master bedroom. All rooms are wired for
security, phone, television and computer systems.
The Trains Level
When you descend to the Trains Level from the garage, you pass
a large visitors’ coat closet and, in the center hallway, you face the
door to the Northway Railroad’s Head Office, Executive Washroom,
Meditation Center and President’s Jacuzzi Tub.
If you descend by the main stairway, you arrive at the same hallway and face the door to the Dispatcher’s Office, Control Center and
Maintenance Shop. It is a large utility room and houses the gas furnace, water heater, sump, extra laundry tub and paint spraybooth.
Northway, the 28’ x 12’ room to the left off the hallway, is connected to Rockwood, the 31’ x 15’ room to the right, via special
openings through the walls into the Dispatcher’s Office. Although
the general trackplan is settled, several industrial spurs will be added
when construction begins.
This is the scenario: In the booming Rockwood District, small
industrial switchers work several quarry, mining and timber spurs,
preparing loads for transportation south to a connection with the CN
railroad at Beague City. Ore cars are actually loaded at the quarries
and mines, and timber and lumber is loaded at other sites. Twice
each day, a pair of back-to-back 1800hp road switchers from Northway delivers more empties to the Rockwood Yard, and removes loaded cars for the nine mile trip back to Northway. Southbound trains
are often limited to half-loads and severe speed restrictions.
Once a day, and more often as necessary, a pair of heavier GP38’s
arrives at Northway from Beague City with strings of empties and
loads of supplies, and departs with up to 16 loaded ore cars for the
11-mile trip back to Beague Yard. Later, the Beague switcher moves
loaded ore cars to the quad rotary dumper for unloading before the
next return trip to Northway.
As this column is being completed on the final day of 2004,
a new pair of Sunset RDC-1’s is expected shortly, and they are
expected to handle commuter, tourist and excursion passenger
service between Beague City, Northway Station and Rockwood
Station.
An On30 narrow-gauge industrial railway services several
industries, and one test section of track is to be built to Proto48
standards.
The layout is designed to be operated by one person, or a crew of
operators. A dispatcher can work from his control board and monitor
operations through the closed circuit video system, keeping in touch
with all operators with wireless radio sets. The dispatcher, or another
operator, can operate the Beague Yard from the Control Center and,
although the yard does extend into both main rooms, it is hidden
behind a divider and only visible to the Beague operator.
The separate mainline track through the Control Center simulates
the nine miles between Northway and Rockwood, and the passing
siding at Midway allows for meets with the passenger train. It also
provides a suitable time delay after a train leaves one room, and
before it arrives at the other. I prefer slow and challenging switching
operations to repeated loops around a room, and the hidden passing
track simulates a long run
nicely.
In my next column, I
will describe some other
features of the Northway
Railroad, including the narrow-gauge lines and the
operating railroad museum.
Although this is intended to
be my dream layout, I know
how things can go wrong,
so we’ll see if the dream
comes true or turns into a
nightmare.
If you care to follow the design and
construction of the Northway‑Railroad,‑check‑out:
[http://groups.yahoo.com/
group/Northway/] on the
Internet.
Happy rails to you.
bobber@sympatico.ca
◆
1-877-531-5275 TOLL FREE
1-585-334-8810 LOCAL
1-585-334-1003 FAX
Digistardcc@netacc.net
P.O. Box 577
Henrietta NY 14467
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The Ultimate Series of Laser-Cut Kits from
The McCabe Lumber Company
in O Scale!
Slatyfork Sawmill is a double bandsaw mill that can handle the load! This Master Creations kit consists of
laser-cut basswood, plywood, and lots of detail castings. Interior walls, stairs and floors are included as are
removable roofs. And the standard features of B.T.S. kits are there... peel & stick window sashes, positionable
doors and window sashes, slot and tab construction, brass door knobs, and well-engineered construction
providing fast and easy assembly.
Most modelers want interior machinery components. The machinery is not included in the sawmill kit, but will
be offered as a separate package with lost-wax brass bandsaws, edgers, rollers, etc., combined with urethane,
white-metal and laser-cut components to complete the mill. The footprint of the mill building over the loading
docks is about 118' x 85' with the jackslip extending out into the mill pond another 60' – it stands about 54'
above the mill pond. More photos are on our web site along with information about the other kits in the series.
This is a very Limited Edition kit available direct only from B.T.S. The mill is due to start shipping in March
2005 with the interior coming later.
#18300
O Scale
Slatyfork Sawmill
$ 850.00
#18301
O Scale
Sawmill Interior
$ TBA
Shipping: $5.00 in the U.S.
$6.00 in Canada
Actual Cost elsewhere
Call in your order today!
Shown above is the HO version of the sawmill. All McCabe kits are sold direct only from B.T.S.
P O Box 856
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: 304-637-4510
Fax: 304-637-4506
Web: www.btsrr.com
E-Mail: bill@btsrr.com
Full Catalog - $5.00
Celebrating over 25 Years of Service since 1979
Glenn Davis
By Stanley Harper II
Several months back, I was talking to Brian Scace on the
phone. We were talking about a great friend of ours who passed
away back in 2003. Somehow in the conversation, obituaries
came into play. I thought it sad that so many people I knew
in O Scale had passed on, but were never mentioned in the
train magazines. Maybe they weren’t the most famous of modelers, but they left their mark with people in the hobby. Brian
stated that he really didn’t like the idea of obituaries, per se,
in the magazine (too depressing), and I suggested that I would
rather write an article about a person who influenced me in O
Scale. Brian thought the idea was great, so I’m submitting my
first influential person to the readers of this magazine. There are
many kind people who took interest in my modeling development, but I want to start with this gentleman first.
Glenn Earl Davis was born on April 11, 1923, in Putney,
Vermont. His parents owned a general store across the street
from their house, and the mainline of the Boston and Maine
circa 1957
and Central Vermont was less than a mile away. Glenn spent his
childhood in Putney, and became fascinated with railroading
and photography at an early age.
Although money spent on his hobbies was limited by the
Depression, he used to travel down to Brattleboro to visit an
elderly gent who had a model railroad in his basement. At the
time, the models fascinated him but, as he admitted to me over
the years, they were very crude by today’s standards. Glenn
tried his hand at a few cars as a teenager, and in 1937 his parents had saved enough to present him with a Lionel 700E Hudson for Christmas. Glenn kept his modeling and photography
interests all through high school, graduating in 1942.
Around this time (I’m unsure of the date), Glenn spent a summer up in Maine on one of the two-foot gauge railroads. I’m not
sure which one, but I believe it was the B&H Railway, in Brighton, Maine. He actually spent the summer living in one of their
boxcars.
Glenn joined the Navy after a brief stint with a machine tool
manufacturer back in Vermont, and shipped out to the Pacific
Theater aboard the USS Miami. The Miami, a light cruiser, saw
action in six major sea battles, and Glenn told me many stories
of Kamikaze attacks on the fleet. One story that stands out is
how the Miami had just rotated duty with her sister ship, the
Santa Fe, before the aircraft carrier Franklin was hit.
In 1946, Glenn left the Navy and returned home to Vermont, taking a job as an inspector for the Vermont State Motor
Vehicle Department. A year later, he transferred to the newly
created Vermont State Police. He rose through the ranks, retiring as Major in 1978 (promoted to Lt. Colonel after retirement).
Immediately after retirement, Glenn was appointed President,
General Manager, and CEO of the Green Mountain Railway
Corporation, retiring in 1991.
While working for the State Police and for the Green Mountain, Glenn would take his vacations in Florida, often visiting
Bill Lenoir and other modelers he knew in the Tampa area to
swap trains and stories. Often, he would bring his mother along
to see friends of hers in the Deland area, while he visited Lefty
Gateman and other O Scalers in that part of the state. When
I met Glenn, he and his wife, Beverly, had bought a mobile
home in the Deland area as a place to hang their hats when
they came down on vacation, usually in the spring and fall of
the year.
I got into O Scale after just one trip to Lefty’s house. He was
finishing up some Southern Crescent cars that impressed me
so much I knew I was hooked. Lefty hosted Tuesday night gettogethers that included Lefty, myself, Dewayne Roberson, and
Chuck Jakobsen. One night in October of 1980, there was a new
face (to me) in the crowd. Glenn and I hit it off pretty well. I
found him to be very knowledgeable, and an excellent modeler.
Over the years, we became great friends. He found my first
brass steam locomotive on his travels back and forth to Vermont.
When Glenn was up north, we kept in touch by calling each
other on every Sunday, and when he was in town we planned
lots of trips to area train shows and to visit other modelers. He
was always very helpful with my questions about railroading, O
Scale or prototype.
Our friendship went beyond the hobby. In 1992, I went
through a nasty divorce and a job loss. I’ll always be grateful for
Glenn and Beverly, who stood by me during that really rough
time, and helped me get back on my feet again. In 1995, my
present wife and I, with Glenn and Beverly’s help, were mar-
ried at a bed-and-breakfast in Glenn’s
hometown of Putney. It was a wonderful
trip, and I got to go to my first O Scale
National at Teaneck, N.J.
Also in 1995, Glenn and Beverly
sold their properties in Vermont and in
Deland, and bought a house only three
miles away from me in Glenwood, Florida. We were in touch all the time; Glenn
would come over and do modeling
projects in my shop, or we would grab
breakfast before heading out to a show
or on a hobby shop run. We traveled
together to Pennsylvania to a fall Eastern O Scale meet, and took in the 1999
and 2000 Nationals. It was at the New
Orleans National in 2000 that I started
noticing Glenn’s health starting to slip
a little. Meanwhile, Glenn and Beverly
would spend summers at a friend’s cabin
in Vermont, and we stayed in touch by
phone.
Glenn had a nice two-car garage that
was fully air-conditioned. I encouraged
him to build a railroad in the garage, and
a couple of fellow O Scalers from the
Jacksonville area even drew up plans for
it. Unfortunately, he never got the chance
to build it. The last time Glenn was over
at my place for a modeling session, he
had just gotten two Atlas RS-1s painted
up for the Rutland. He was very pleased
with them, and we tested them out on my
test track. Glenn was 80 when he passed
away.
It’s a good thing that there is such
a nice group of modeler down here in
Florida, because, after Glenn’s passing, I
found myself losing interest in the hobby.
Luckily, that was short lived. Glenn was
a good modeler, straight shooter, and a
great friend. He had a way of motivating
you with wit, wisdom, and a dry sense
of humor always showing through. Of
his great lessons in life passed on to me,
probably the most important was to get in
there and do it, and enjoy yourself doing
it. Enjoy your hobby; after all, model railroading is fun.
(Ed. - Although Stan and I really
don’t go back too far, it feels like we do
because of a common friendship with
Glenn. Glenn really typifies the idea of
the O Scale Influence, a quiet steady kind
of guy who pointed out a lot of potential
pitfalls and solutions to me. Although we
originally met in Bellows Falls, back when
Glenn was still with the Vermont State
Police (I think he was the acting Colonel
at the time), our friendship really flourished in the '80s.
My house was one of Glenn’s obligatory stops to and from Florida, where we
would run both my stuff and his, and talk
about what was new in O Scale and railroading in New England. We weren’t limited to railroading and modeling, though.
A couple of times, he visited on board
ship if we were in port somewhere and I
couldn’t get away.
When I would visit family in the Berkshires, Glenn, my father, and I would
meet in North Adams for lunch. Then, it
was off to some point of interest, whether
it was the Hoosac Tunnel or following the
roadbed of B&A’s North Adams Branch
or a look-see at the old Yankee-Rowe
Nuclear Power Plant as it was being decommissioned. Of course, there was the
obligatory swapping of O Scale loot from
trunk to trunk, delivery of model projects
to each other, and the discussion of some
new undertaking. Ah, they were good
days! -BRS)
◆
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The Freight House
Errata for #17 & #18
We did not properly credit the photos
that appeared in the Granville Island Museum article in issue #17. The Cover; Page 28:
top and left images; Page 29: bottom; and
Pages 32-33: double spread were photographed by Tony Hurley.
The layout diagram used in Mike Culham’s article in issue #18 was incorrect.
The corrected layout plan is included in this
issue’s article.
Nickel Plate Models
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The finest in modern O Scale Brass. 2 or 3-Rail operation. Machined
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Your choice of gear ratios, wheelsets, detail parts, etc. Custom built
to your specs. Kits $650 - $800. Custom built, painted and lettered
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PO Box 1231 • Hesperia CA 92340
ph 760-244-9222 • fax 760-244-9322
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It is Fall 1942. The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal rages. The U.S. Loses 9 ships.
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NEWS: Kit – Universal Supply Co.
Brennan’s Model Railroading Products, PO Box 520174
Independence MO 64052
816-252-4605 • www.brennansmodelrr.com
Universal Supply, Inc. is a limited edition plaster craftsman kit.
This three story factory kit is the fourth in Brennan’s Model Railroading Products ultra-realistic kit series. In addition to Grandt
Line windows, doors and stairs, the kit features Tichy lamp reflectors and nut bolt washer castings, Evergreen styrene detail parts,
Berkshire Valley roof vents and full signage. The complete, illustrated, step-by-step instructions are an excellent introduction to
plaster kitbuilding and a primer in kitbuilding techniques for the
beginner. It sells for $129.95 plus $5.95 shipping.
NEWS: Kit – Soo Line Boxcar #669
Chooch Enterprises, Inc., PO Box 1200
Maple Valley, WA 98038
425-788-8680 • www.choochenterprises.com
MSRP: $100/kit, $10 for #669A decals
Chooch Ultra Scale II has announced a new Soo Line boxcar,
a flat kit because of the extreme detail and delicacy of this model.
The Soo Line cars were essentially unmodified throughout their
entire lives, the only changes being to the brakes, trucks, and lettering scheme. The cars were built with K brakes, upgraded to AB
sometime around WWII. The only thing that differentiates the 1913 built car (with wood buffer blocks) from the others is the
striker casting. While originally equipped with “T” section Bettendorf trucks, such as the old Chooch offering now available from
Proto-craft or the plastic truck available from San Juan Car Co., these boxcars received a variety of newer design cast steel trucks
after WWII. By the end of their service lives many of the cars lost their A end lumber doors, the end being sheathed solid, same as
the B end. More about this car is mentioned in the decal instructions.
Special thanks go to Bill Yancey for creating the patterns for this kit and to Dennis Storzek and Ken Soroos of the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society for their hard work on making this project possible.
REVIEW: Deck Girder Bridge
AtlasO, 378 Florence Avenue
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlaso.com
MSRP $99.95
reviewed by Brian Scace
Here’s a nice addition to AtlasO’s line of trackage. It’s a simple girder deck bridge, something that’s been a little lacking in
our world of truss bridges. Admittedly, a through-truss has more
sex appeal, but deck bridges are cheaper for spans that don’t have
clearance constraints underneath. Railroads like ‘em for that reason, and so should we.
This bridge is 20" long and comes with a nicely detailed deck
with track already laid. Tie spacing is appropriate, and the track
gauge checks out using my handy-dandy NMRA gage. All you have
to do is attach the deck to the structure, using the clips provided or
gluing it in place, and weather ‘er up a bit.
The deck is designed so that you can clip the railings off one
side, place it next to another one similarly modified, and you have
a double track span. This bridge is also just screaming to be used as an approach span for a through-truss bridge. All you have to
do is mount it on an abutment on one end, and mate it to your truss bridge on the other, using a stepped pier.
So, who’s gonna be first to leave the deck off and make a street overpass out of one of these? Better hurry up if you’re going to
beat me!
VALLEY MODEL TRAINS
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1001 General Store w/signs 5 1/2" x 9" ....69.98 64.40
1003 Freight Station..5 1/2" x 9 3/4"........59.98 51.00
Brennen’s Model RRing O Scale (plaster)
USI
USI Universal Supply Inc...10” x 12”.......net 129.00
Model Tech Studios O Scale (laser cut wood)
402std
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American Model Builders O Scale (laser cut)
488
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DSL Shops O Scale (cast resin building front)
O206
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O206 building front
In the world of electronics morons,
I’m leading the parade. Simple DC circuits are fine, but throw in a couple
of circuit boards with those bizarre
little black boxes (the knowledgeable
apparently call them “chips” for some
unknown reason), and things get rapidly
non-intuitive to me.
AtlasO and Custom Signals have
joined forces to bring us a two-rail signal
system for the electron challenged among
us, marketed by AtlasO as the “21st Century Signal System”. The first offering is a
single head G-type signal, most familiar
to me as a New York Central standard on
the lines west of Buffalo during the transition-era. Because the prototype had no
moving parts to maintain, this style of
signal head became popular nationwide,
so chances are pretty good that this head
saw service on your favorite railroad
(Okay, you Pennsy guys don’t know what
I’m talking about!) sometime from the
’40s to today. They’re still pervasive.
The mettle of the product is, of course,
best tested by putting it in the hands of
the ignorant. Being the natural choice,
the folks at Atlas sent me a box. Included
in the kit were enough signals, detector
boards, control boards, and those little
tin sheds for four complete installations.
Most important was the little instruction
book. By turning off my brain and having
blind faith in this little sheaf of wisdom, I
was able to complete installation of one
signal in about an hour. The only thing I
messed up on was the placement of the
signal itself. I originally put it in the middle of the detection block, and it needs
to go at the beginning of the detection
block to properly drop to red as the locomotive goes by. Of course it does.
Here are some of the nifty things here.
First, you don’t need to use AtlasO’s track
system to use these signals. They work
just fine on my standard ol’ flex-and-handlaid railroad, built before the Dead Sea
was even sick.
The system is powered up from a
fixed voltage tap on one of your power
supplies. Wiring is straightforward. The
relay shed contains the control board.
This is convenient, but you don’t need
to use the relay shed if you don’t want
to. Simply snap the board out and attach
it under the railroad if you want to use
an earlier-era relay box, such as the ones
from Life-Like.
The LEDs are nice and punchy,
viewed straight-on. There’s enough of a
diffusing effect to that you can see the
signal aspect from the side, which is
handy. These can be wired to operate as
a stand-alone installation, with a timing
circuit raising the signal to yellow, then
green, after appropriate periods. You
can daisy-chain them together for single-direction ATC-type operation. The
timing circuit is then disabled, and each
signal installation controls the adjacent
ones appropriately. Instructions are also
provided for “approach” lighting, where
the signal remains dark until a train is
detected. Also, you can run this system
in a bi-directional CTC-type operation.
Each of these installations is covered in
the instruction book, which (thankfully)
is written in simple language, rather
than Geek.
Although not mentioned, here is a
real plus. Custom Signals stuff and AtlasO
stuff is compatible. This is good, because
Custom Signals makes multi-head installations that are prototypical for interlockings and permissive installations. Also,
these guys (along with Steve Horvath
at AtlasO) are the signal gurus who can
tell you how to integrate this system into
CTC panels and all that other cool stuff
that is possible with these components.
Currently AtlasO is working with them to
bring out a single-target head, which
should be out this year, in addition
to the G-type. If you always wanted
signals, but ran screaming into the
night when your friend with the tape
on his glasses started talking through
his nose about “detection circuits”
and “logic-cascade” this, that and
the other thing, you can send him
and his pocket-protector packing. I
can do this, and so can you.
12-3/8" wide by 11-3/4" tall by 1-3/4" deep
REVIEW: Signal System
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlaso.com
MSRP $269.95 four-pack, $69.95 single
O206 The Riverside Apartments building front.99.98
Add $6.00 S&H in 48 States • Others pay actual postage
cost • N.Y. residents add 8.25% sales tax.
(prices are subject to change w/o notice)
www.valleymodeltrains.com
REVIEW: On30 Climax
Bachmann Trains, 1400 East Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19124 USA
215-533-1600 • www.bachmanntrains.com
MSRP: $275
reviewed by Bobber Gibbs
The new Bachmann On30 Climax just might prove to
be the best locomotive that this company has produced in
its growing line of winners in various scales. First, where
the Bachmann Shay was a much lighter T-boiler geared
engine at only ten tons, the Climax is a 28 ton Class B
workhorse that just looks right hauling a string of logging,
mining or freight cars up and down grades and around sharp
curves.
It is almost exactly the same length and width as the Shay,
and they weigh about the same and run at about the same
speeds. The Climax is about two scale feet longer than the typical Bachmann freight car and has directional lighting in forward
and reverse. It is DCC ready and will probably prompt me to
purchase the new Bachmann DCC control system in the near
future.
Where the Shay will negotiate my 12" radius curves while
turning to the left only, the Climax marches around without
hesitation in either direction whether turning to the left or right.
While it does get around a 12" curve if the trackwork is perfect,
the recommended minimum radius is 15 inches.
The Climax starts to creep at about 1 volt, and although the
top speed is a bit too fast, it looks good and runs steadily at
about six volts. It is quite pleasing to operate at slower switching
speeds and easily hauls everything I can put behind it on my 16
foot oval of test track before it starts pushing its own caboose.
A few years ago, when Bachmann Trains announced that
they were going to produce On30 trains with Colorado Southern livery, I wrote a letter to them and suggested that they would
make a lot of modelers happy if they also provided painted but
unlettered models. Coincidently or not, after they introduced
their first freight car line, they did start to produce unlettered
equipment and it was very easy to put my own choice of number on my unlettered Climax.
After running in the Climax for three hours, I tested it by
hauling a string of loaded ore cars up and down some steep
grades and did not notice any surging or bucking. It should
work well on a typical logging or mining run.
The Climax is available with steel cab or wooden cab, with
different smokestacks, in a number of roadnames or unlettered.
Three fuel loads are included so you can choose between a
wood load, coal pile or oil tank. All the choices can be seen at
the Bachmann web site.
My only criticism is that the coupler pockets have three levels but the Bachmann knuckle coupler will only operate in the
bottom level (or HO level) that is compatible with all the Bachmann equipment. For those who prefer the 26” height that was
common for many narrow gauge railroads, including the Denver & Rio Grande and Colorado Southern, it will be a bit of a
chore to adapt the higher coupler pockets for knuckle couplers
but I know that someone has probably already figured it out.
In summary, the Climax has now become my On30 road
engine of choice on my logging district and the Shay has been
relegated to yard switching duties and light operations. You will
probably be very favorably impressed with this locomotive and
you have to wonder what Bachmann will do for an encore after
this one.
REVIEW: City Building Fronts
Elfin Models, 934 Volz Dr
St Louis, MO 63126
314-962-9852 • www.elfinmodels.com
MSRP: $25 to $75
Every now and again, you find something you can call “the Deal of the Year”. This is right
up there. Elfin Models is relatively unknown in our world, but has been around in the 3-Rail
world for a while. They sell built up building fronts, made mostly from the Ameri-town line
of flats.
What’s the difference between a “front” and a “flat”, you may ask? Elfin takes these flats
(a single wall meant to be applied to a backdrop, giving the illusion of a complete building)
and paints them up, weathers them a little to knock the shine off, and mounts them on a
simple three-inch deep plywood box. The box is painted black and comes with a lightbulb
installed, so you can light up these puppies at night.
Within three weeks after I called, I had a box of these fronts on my doorstep. Assembly
was clean, tight, and square. The paint was nicely applied with no drizzles, weathering was
just my style, and there was enough detail and signage applied so as to allow me just to
plunk them down on the railroad. Voila! Instant city street scene, ready for some sidewalks,
figures, automobiles, and other religious artifacts. Price? About $30-35 per three-story building. That’s a deal!
You can also get the flats, painted up and ready to go, without the lightbox for less than
$26 each.
REVIEW: GP60
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlaso.com
DC/DCC-ready MSRP: $419.95, TMCC MSRP: $449.95
reviewed by Carey Hinch and Brian Scace
The AtlasO Electro-Motive Division GP60 with standard cab
represents the initial release in a series to include the wide-cab
“M” version and cab-less “B” version. O Scale Trains Magazine
was fortunate to have on hand a 2-Rail Train-Master Command
Control equipped locomotive (Carey Hinch) and the 2-Rail DC
version (Brian Scace) for this review.
The EMD GP60 was introduced in October 1985. This locomotive produced 3800 horsepower and superceded the 3500
horsepower GP50. The Santa Fe Railroad received an order of
20 GP60 locomotives in 1988. These high-output engines were
initially assigned to the hot “Q” trains of the late 1980s and early
1990s. At the time of merger with Burlington Northern the Santa
Fe had 39 standard-cab GP60s on the roster.
Carey’s input: I was able to acquire a 2-Rail TMCC engine
for my personal railroad in the initial shipment from Atlas. My
locomotive represents a GP60 as purchased by the Santa Fe in
1988. The cab number is 4823, which indicates a locomotive
from a later second order. The original 4700-series numbers
changed to the 8700-series with the BN and AT&SF merger. My
GP60 came equipped with details that could be associated with
later production GP60s.
Some early details that were applied to Santa Fe GP60s, as
delivered, are not present on the Atlas model. The rotary beacon which should be forward of the air conditioner on the cab
is missing, but the ditch lights indicate this locomotive could
have been updated in the early 1990s and therefore the beacon
would have been removed. The blower side of the long hood
has a safety-plate applied over the blower housing walk area.
This detail was not present on early Santa Fe locomotives. This
could again represent some upgrading by Santa Fe. The dynamic brake housing is squared on both sides of the flare ends. This
would represent a later model like the Southern Pacific GP60s
delivered by EMD. Atlas has tried to produce a model that can
be painted for several railroads and still carry the same basic
details. A noticeable detail change compared to earlier AtlasO
diesels was the reduced size of the ditch lights. Atlas has shrunk
the housings to a more acceptable size.
Using Train-Master Command Control for my 2-Rail layout
has been a good choice. I eagerly wanted to hear the GP60
come to life and pull a 12-car Coalveyor train around my 2.3%
grades. I was surprised to find that Atlas has used the same
generic EMD sounds as in their GP35 locomotives. The sound
is good at all throttle inputs with little or no distortion from high
volume settings, however, I can close my eyes and it’s a GP35
pulling the coal train. This was disappointing for such a great
looking modern diesel.
Atlas has equipped this TMCC locomotive with the EngineerOn-Board electronics. The EOB is a speed control technology
with selectable 32 or 128 speed steps. When in EOB mode, one
360˚ turn of the Cab-1 remote throttle equals four speed steps
for the locomotive. It takes a few turns to get the locomotive
moving at a reasonable speed (One note about my GP60; it had
been “broke-in” and run for over three hours before I performed
this review). Slow performance is very good for a TMCC locomotive, while in EOB mode. While in standard TMCC mode,
slow performance is not as controllable and the locomotive can
be jerky.
A somewhat noticeable “whine” emanates from the locomotive during slow EOB settings. This was discovered to be the
EOB high-frequency pulses being sent to the DC motors. The
whine diminishes as speed increases. The overall EOB performance is exceptional. I ran my GP60 in both EOB modes to see
if it would pull 12 Atlas Coalveyor gondolas smoothly up and
down my 2.3% grades. It performed this with ease. This locomotive is heavy and tractive effort is exceptional.
Brian’s input: Our DC version was also in the same paint
scheme and details. In straight DC operation, the throttle
response was smooth. The starting speed was acceptable, and
although the high end was a bit frisky, there was an acceptable range for prototypical speed control. This is a common circumstance for modern cross-over (engineered for both 3- and
2-Rail) drives with two nose-mount can motors and spur-gear
drives. It’s the price paid for all the room needed for electronics,
speakers, and the like. For those folks who want slower speed
ranges, AtlasO makes unpowered units, ready for the drive of
your choice. Most of you will find the stock drive to be useable,
however.
The ditch lights came on, steady, at higher speeds. If you are
a DCC type, I would imagine that you can wire them into an
output on your favorite decoder to control them. By the way,
the straight DC version is actually touted as DCC-ready; certainly there’s room in the carbody for whatever decoder you
prefer.
The fit and finish are what we expect from AtlasO, and the
detail level and finesse are quite impressive. Check one out.
With the choice of TMCC, DC/DCC-ready, or unpowered versions, you folks who model the Modern Image should find a lot
to like here.
REVIEW: Two-truck Shay
K-Line , 6909 Dodson’s Crossroads
Hillsborough, NC 27278
www.k-linetrains.com
MSRP $799.95
K-Line is well known for their three-rail offerings, ranging
from some of the old KMT stuff up to scale-sized Hi-Rail gear.
They have offered two-rail conversion trucks for their full-sized
freight equipment and generic passenger cars for some years.
This is their first locomotive offered in 2-Rail, a model of a pretty
off-the-shelf standard gauge 50-60 ton two-truck Lima Shay, and
here is what I saw.
The model is of die-cast construction, with no visible seams or
flaws. The paint, lettering, and finish on our sample were smoothly applied. There are quite a few details added on, and the model
is robust and handle-able.
The model was initially offered in Hi-Rail, so there are a
couple of compromises to be aware of. There is a lot of empty
space between the end steps, which was originally engineered
in to accommodate the huge Hi-Rail couplers. When Kadees are
applied, they do look a little lost in all that air. Also, the steps
are very thick in cross-section, again a nod to the robustness valued in the 3-Rail world. Although I didn’t take the model apart
(I had to return it after the review!), it appears that the casting
that comprises the end beam and steps can be simply unscrewed
and replaced with a new assembly to fill in that void and lighten
up the treatment of the steps. Otherwise,
this model eyeballs pretty well, to this
novice in the Wonderful World of Shays.
Browsing through Eric Hirsimaki’s Lima
book, I found several pictures of likely
candidate prototypes. The proportions
are nice; it looks like a Shay.
In operation, I thought the upper
end of the speed range a bit fast. There
is plenty of room at the lower end of
the range for controllability, however,
and the low-end performance is quite
smooth. Our sample had no fancy conReview: Diesel Drive Conversions
Accurate O Scale, 38623 Orchard St
Cherry Valley CA 92223
951-845-5237 • www.accurateoscale.com
Cost: varies by project
I’ve been known to roster some relatively bizarre motive
power. One of my locomotives is an old GE Ingersol-Rand boxcab that was built up by Fred Icken. For it’s time, it was a nicely
detailed and accurate model, and still holds up surprisingly
well. Since it was an outside-third-rail model, it lived over at
John Armstrong’s for years and was somewhat famous for actually being louder than his old All-Nation EL NW2.
Meanwhile, there seems to be a lively interest in Diesel drive
conversions out there as of late. Folks want to convert over some
of the better 3-Rail stuff, slow down the now-common “powertruck” designs (You know, the frisky ones with spur gears and
can motors on their noses over each truck.), or replace some
of the older brass drives that loosen your fillings when you run
’em. Also, there is the growing interest in converting drives from
NMRA standards to Proto48.
Jerry Snow, of Accurate O Scale, has been advertising his
trol systems installed, just good ol’ conventional DC operation,
and there appears to be plenty of room in the bunker area for a
decoder or other electronic gadgetry to suit. By the way, a positive aspect of the three-to-two rail heritage is the fact that the
coal load lifts off elegantly to expose an area designed for slide
switches and the like. There’s plenty of potential for the electronics noodlers among us to exploit, without having to perform circuit-boardectomies, first.
I had no contact issues on my less-than-stellar switchwork.
Coupler pads are provided to mount Kadees; pad height gaged
out fine, with no additional work needed. I spent some time batting cars about, using a Controlmaster 20 and a variety of brass
and plastic freight equipment. This engine has no bad habits I
could find, and the pistons, gears, and crankshafts exhibited all
the sex and violence that makes us like Shays.
I am impressed with this as a first shot at 2-Rail from a longtime Hi-Rail manufacturer. The model is good out of the box, and
can be made excellent without a lot of rewinding, first. Operation is solid and capable, though I’d like to see all the crossover manufacturers bring their top speeds down a bit. I like the
approach; mechanically well thought out, simple and robust,
and proportions worth detailing up to ones level of neurosis. The
price is reasonable, paying for a model rather than for wizardry.
K-line has announced a personal favorite as their next offering in
our world, a Boston and Albany Berkshire. Oh, I can hardly wait
to get my lunch hooks in one of those, and see what I can make
with it!
drives (“Due to Extreme Whining!”) for quite a while, here at
OST, so I figured it was time to check him out. Accurate O Scale
makes a line of trucks, drive components, and maintains a brass
list. Their Diesel drives can be had in both NMRA O Scale and
in Proto48. Pricing varies from project to project, but you’re not
going in this blind. Component prices and conversion rates are
spelled out on the webpage.
Being somewhat merciless, my evil mind decided that the
afore-mentioned boxcab was about as painful a conversion as
any. Although there is plenty of room in the carbody, the short
truck spacing creates a bit of a challenge in laying out the joints
in the drive. Here’s what came back.
Jerry used an end-tower layout that transfers power through a
ball-bearing cog/belt tower mounted on one truck. The second
truck is powered by a propshaft under the frame. All the universal joints are a Delrin-like industrial plastic. The gearboxes
are all closed-type, so there is no risk of picking up stray ballast
or other stuff and jamming up the gear train, something that
always worries me about exposed gearing (Sometime, I’ll tell
you the story of the PA-1 and the Arttista casting of a cat. The
cat won).
A can motor is mounted in a brass cradle, secured with a
screw-tightened strap, allowing replacement if ever required. A
machined flywheel occupies the opposite end of the motor shaft
from the driveshafts. Pickups are mounted in the trucks such
that current flows through all eight wheels, making this a surefooted little monster over insulated frogs. Everything used in
this drive is of nice quality, and installation is straight, true, and
solid. The drive has a nice speed range, and is very controllable
for those switching tasks you would expect from a 1930s-era
boxcab. Also, the drive is flexible enough to get around in all
my tight industrial trackage, using those old #2.5 Atlas switches
from the 1970s. No binds, stalls or other anti-social behavior
here. When all is said and done, the result is a nice smooth
drive that is a pleasure to bat cars with. The only thing left is for
me to hook up the headlights. Very cool.
Navigational Hazard?
Thank you for the incredibly good coverage you gave Mr.
John Armstrong in OST #17. None of the other train hobby magazines were half as informative or instructive (which I’m sure he
would have liked) in their coverage of his life and layout. He
was truly the dean of “O” Gauge, and his well-thought-out concepts were an inspiration to all gauges and scales in the hobby.
He was more than a hobbyist; he was an artist who happened to
use model trains as his medium of expression. I’ll always regret
missing a last chance to see his Canandaigua Southern at the O
Scale National in Washington this year.
Each of your issues gets better and better. If I ever lose the
thrill of getting myself down to The Whistle Stop Hobby Shop in
Pasadena to get my current issue, I’ll subscribe. By the way, as
long as we’re on the subject of the magazine, please feel free to
add as many advertisements to your magazine as will fit. Jaini
does a superb job of integrating content with advertising. The
ads are informative and convey much current information that
can be immensely important to the modeler. Unlike some magazines, yours has a professional cast to it that makes it stand
out in what seems to be a more crowded arena. Even the front
cover of #17 is outstanding. Rather than cluttering it up with
really unnecessary copy, you allow it to achieve artistic excellence on it’s own merit. Less is more. Despite having said that,
how about publishing more often?
Jeb Kriigel said in his article about the Granville Island
Museum (OST #17) that John Keith-King is almost obsessive in
his attention to detail. If this is so, then please forward to John
my suggestion that one of his details is not only incorrect, it’s
potentially downright dangerous. The centerfold photograph
is beautiful, but it reveals this potential hazard clearly. Imagine one morning or evening, a thick fog enshrouding the area.
The only aid to navigation to be seen in the mist to keep those
fishing boats from foundering on the surrounding rocks is a
marker buoy placed on those same rocks. Unfortunately, that
single visible marker is either the wrong color, or it’s placed on
the wrong side of the channel. When a vessel is returning to a
port, or shoreline, it keeps the red light markers to it’s starboard
side (right side-for you landlubbers). All is not lost however.
Mr. Keith-King only needs to paint the top of this marker green;
replace it’s bulb with a green one, and his fleet will enjoy safe
sailing in all weathers.
I’m not nit-picking. My own railroad (directly influenced
by Mr. Armstrong) is a Hi-Rail one, so you can imagine my
tolerances are quite broad on the topic of scale fidelity. But
endangering one’s fishing fleet, well that’s another matter.
Best regards, Thomas Meleck, Calif.
Sign the Fall of Civilization Is Nigh?
It all started innocently enough. After 10 or so issues of
delicious 2-Rail O Scale modeling, news, pictures, layouts,
information, ads, et al., the dreadful embryonic organism
silently began its remorseless existance. Oh, it sprouted
forth, weakly, quietly, in Issue #12. Turning to page 40, my
eyes riveted upon the words “Confessions of a Hirailer”.
How charming. Someone is going to tell us how they got
the 2-Rail religion and cast off that middle (third) rail, never
to be stained nor tainted again with track high enough to
reach the waist of an O Scale railworker. But wait, this is
not a guest columnist, this is not a confession at all! He is
enthusiastically telling his story that he doesn’t “play” with
his trains, he “runs” them! At the end of this narrative, my
stomach stiffens and turns, as he tells us to “stay tuned”,
because “...a lot of information is headed your way”. This
is NOT a guest column at all! This guy is gonna take up
a full page of my (our) 2-Rail “bible” every issue with O
GAUGE information? I check the cover to make sure I’m
not reading [that other O gauge magazine]... but I’m NOT!
I’m reading O Scale Trains! I urgently swallow a mouthful
of tummy regurgitation and drop the magazine to mop my
now transudating brow. After an adult beverage, I resumed
reading the publisher’s “Observations”. In the first paragraph, he pulls a “McGreevy”, outing himself as a card
carrying TCA member! I replenish my adult beverage (no
need for new ice, it’s still new!). He (the publisher) goes
on to say that the 3-Rail community is part of us. I sleep
poorly, despite the Dewars. Issue #16 arrives with a 3-Rail
layout as the main story! Issue #17 comes with a 3-Rail
layout ON THE COVER!! Remember a magazine named
O Scale Railroading? How long will it take for this journal
to become “O Gauge Trains”? It’s impossible to wring my
hands and guzzle scotch simultaneously. Next, you’ll be
telling me that major league baseball players inject them-
selves with steroids!
Pete Trunk, East Brunswick, N.J.
Joe G. responds: Ah Pete, there’s nothing quite like a reformed 3-Railer. I said
from the beginning that OST would feature 3-Rail trains if they met our standards.
It’s about the quality of the modeling, not
the number of rails. I believe that Gary
Patterson’s Cherel Valley RR fit that bill.
And while the cover shot on #17 showed
some (gasp!) Gargraves track, you have
to admit the Museum’s layout is spectacular. As for Hobo, he’s writing about his
transition from Hi-Rail to 2-Rail scale, one
step at a time, providing a guide for those
who might follow. Finally, try drinking a
better class of scotch (I prefer Black Label
myself. Scace likes Desmond & Duff);
you’ll sleep better at night.
More Modern Stuff, Please
In the “Givens and Druthers” department, the construction and small-tomedium layout articles are my favorites.
O Scale history has been covered completely in Railroad Model Crafstman
and, as a younger O Scaler (54 yrs old), I
really don’t have all that much interest. I
am an operator and a builder so you can
guess my interests. My layout is set in the
late '60s, so the new column The Modern Image should be right up my branch
line. I do like all of Neville’s stuff.
Brian Scace mentioned in Jan ’05
Learning Curve that he can save precious
time by not installing DCC decoders right
away. Yes, installation does take time but
don’t let this scare people away from
DCC. The only programming that needs
to be done is the address, which can be
just two digits. Later on, you can do the
fancy stuff. I have yet to use the speed
curves. My Weaver and Red Caboose
Diesels start moving on step 7 of 128.
Enough rambling for now.
Richard Cooke, Marquette MI
Brian replies: Thanks for the feedback. Regarding DCC and “Givens-andDruthers”, the list given in #18 Learning
Curve is my own. The point, here, is to
think about “G&D” in a temporary layout
situation differently from in a more permanent one. It is presented only to get
folks to think about their own list, which
I hope will be different than mine! The
point of the column was not to discuss
the merits of control systems, but to motivate folks to think about building, even if
life’s circumstances aren’t presently ideal,
rather than armchairing it until circumstances are ideal (they never will be; suddenly it’s too late!). Now that you bring it
up, though (the price to pay!), I’ve found
that DCC really didn’t work for me; what
with my heavy steam era stuff it wasn’t
robust enough. I also really didn’t want to
learn all the nuances, as it’s a pretty open
architecture. I was spending too much
time trying to un-nut the system after I
jabbed the wrong button, and found it
pretty non-intuitive for my mechanical
mind. I used Locolink, which is a simple
and highly bomb-proof radio command
control system, on my previous railroad.
On this temporary one, conventional
DC made the most sense for me. In two
years, perhaps DCC decoders will be
more robust. I’m sure I’ll revisit the control issue again then, because the technology will have improved quickly in just
those few years. The lesson here is that
the best control system really is a pretty
personal choice. I strongly agree with
you; don’t be afraid to try any of these
systems. Don’t be afraid to choose what
works best for you personally. That’s what
the “G&D” list is all about, after all.
Building A Market
I believe O Scale Trains Magazine is the
right direction for the growth of 2-Rail O
Scale modeling. Despite any criticism from
others, Joe Giannovario took a big step
and was brave enough to give it a shot at a
time when 2-Rail O Scale comes up short
in popularity of model railroading. This
may have helped a great company such
as Atlas to keep their 2-Rail vision alive.
It is people like Joe and his staff who are
the pioneers of this hobby segment along
with the product makers themselves who
deserve recognition. It is also our duty (the
consumers) to convince our local hobby
shops and HO scale friends of the presence of this magazine while we have mail
order to keep us alive.
The one thing we must do as O Scale
consumers and modelers is coordinate
with O Scale Trains and let them know
what we are in the market for, and maybe
they can coordinate with product manufacturers if there is enough
of us. Here is one very good
example that I believe we
are in desperate need of,
1:48 scale vehicles. These
are extremely rare and the
market is flooded with 1:43
scale vehicles. Why should
we have to settle for something that insults scale size
fidelity as we strive hard
for realism. Do not get me
wrong, 1:43 scale vehicle
replicas are very authentic
with lots detail and some
are sold at a very reasonable
price, but I cannot appreci-
ate putting something near my locomotives and rolling stock when knowing it is
out of [scale]. N, HO, and S all have their
exact scale counterparts for model vehicles so why can’t we? Companies such
as Model Power or Boley may be good
canidates to break the ice.
Jack Zunino, Jr., New York
Joe G. replies: The only way we’re
going to get true 1:48 car models is if
we talk to the manufacturers and importers and let them know that’s what we
want. I’ve always been puzzled by the
fact that there are 1:24 scale models but
not 1:48. And, now I see more and more
1:64 offerings. In the meantime, scour
swap meets and Ebay for the old Revell
1:48 Chevy and Ford trucks. They can be
bashed into many different styles.
Atlas Switch Machine Fix
The inspiration for this letter is my
work on six Atlas #5 switches and switch
machines. I swear I have put in 20 hours
of bad words and glued fingers before I
finally solved the problem of spring tension at the points. The first two switches I
got and put machines on, I wrestled with
for many hours to get sufficient tension
so the points would make positive contact and not leave a 1⁄64" gap from vibration. I frittered and fiddled because there
is a little too much slack in the [switch
machine] mechanism.
On my fifth and sixth machine [installations] I put a small (1” x 3⁄32”) piece
of heavy electrical tape on the inside
of the throwbar where the slider makes
contact (see sketch). It worked perfectly.
The spring tension is just right on both
sides and cars can still spring through the
switch when necessary.
Vince Morris, Canada
Place tape here
Mar/April ’05 - O Scale Trains •
www.overlandmodels.com
Telephone: (765) 289-4257
O
3808 W. Kilgore Ave. · Muncie, IN 47304 · U.S.A
MODELS INCORPORATED
VERLAND
info@overlandmodels.com
Fax: (765) 289-6013
I did this project and article not only because I needed a
steam loco service site for my layout, but also to meet what I
see as a need for a simple scratchbuilding beginner’s project.
It seems like some of us are reluctant any more to try building
things from sheet and strip stock. Here’s an opportunity to jump
in and try your hand at some easy scratchbuilding. There’s nothing complicated here, and you’ll only a minimum of tools. A
beginner should be able to complete the sand house and associated components in a week or two of enjoyable evenings. If a
part is made wrong and doesn’t fit, don’t be afraid to toss it and
make another.
The required tool complement is minimal. A 12" cork backed
steel straightedge, an X-Acto knife, a few #11 blades, 150-grit
sanding block, small square, a pile of straight pins, white glue,
CA glue, liquid plastic cement, needle nose pliers, pin vise, and
some 0.030" drill bits are all you need. The sand house and
coal bunker can be made of styrene or basswood. I like basswood because I think it suits the look of a wooden structure,
but there are plenty of modelers doing incredible wood structures in styrene so take your pick.
The project started with an article I’d filed years ago from the
July, 1952 Model Railroader, a diminutive space-saving sandhouse without the usual outside sand bunker and loading tower.
The prototype was located in Waukesha, WI in the Soo Line yard.
There was a roundhouse, turntable, sandhouse, bucket-coaling structure, and cinders pit where the steamers dropped their
ashes. Adjacent to the sandhouse was a standpipe that could be
swung out and over the track to water a tender. I decided to omit
the bucket coal loading structure. Instead, I used a wood-sided
coal bunker and a coaling conveyor.
In a discussion of coal conveyor usage at the Yahoo Soo His-
tory Group site, someone suggested coal conveyors were not
typically used in the steam era because they took too long to
coal up a tender. That said, another rail pointed out page 41
of John Armstrong’s excellent book Track Planning for Realistic
Operations. There, in the “Service Trackage” chapter, was a picture of an Erie Berkshire being coaled from a conveyor and coal
pit on an adjacent track. If the Erie could use conveyors to coal
their Berk behemoths, then I felt comfortable using one to coal
my 2-8-0. The beauty of conveyor coaling is the space you save
and, in the process, you still adhere to the prototype.
Sandhouse
Since there were no drawings in the July, 1952 MR article, I
made my own from the photographs. I eyeball scaled the sandhouse and make no guarantee that it’s a carbon copy of the prototype. I “guestimated” the wall height at 14 feet and scaled
the rest of the structure from there. The front wall and one end
wall feature exposed studs for the sand bin walls. Though there
was no picture of the back of the sandhouse in the article, I presume there were exposed studs on that wall as well. I chose to
omit the exposed studs on the back wall as my sandhouse is so
close to the backdrop you’d never see the exposed studs. If you
choose to model the exposed studs on the rear wall, make the
cut-away rear wall a mirror image of the front wall.
If you have the room, you can run a service track behind the
sandhouse to spot gondolas or boxcars laden with coal and sand.
Dried sand was shoveled into the sandhouse, perhaps through
windows in the rear wall or roof. Coal may have been dropped
into a pit where a conveyor or arm-strong labor would have shoveled it into the iron buckets that fed the tenders. In those days,
section crew labor was often cheaper than machinery. My coal
comes in by truck and is dumped into the wooden bunker.
In the Soo sandhouse, compressed air
blew the sand from inside the house up
through a pipe emerging from the roof of
the sandhouse and into the locomotive
sand dome or box. It’s a unique delivery
system that negated the need for a sanding tower. Compressed air was obtained
from the loco being sanded. An air line
ran from the sand house to the loco’s air
supply. When not in use, the air line was
draped on hooks attached to the exposed
front wall studs. Now that we know how
everything works, let’s get started.
I began construction with the exposed
stud wall portion of the front wall. It’s
built separately, and then attached to
the inside front wall. See the drawing
for dimensions. I cut my scale 3" x 6"
studs on a Northwest Short Line Chopper. (Handy darn thing. I didn’t have one
until recently, and now I wonder how I
ever got along without it.) I glued the precut studs and a matching bottom sill onto
1
⁄8" scribed 1⁄16" thick Northeastern scale
lumber to make the front wall and one
end wall. Note these exposed studs are
notched 1⁄32" x 1⁄4" at their tops to inlay the
siding into the studs and make the front
wall siding look thinner than it really is.
I cut the main walls from 1⁄16" thick 1⁄8"
scribed Northeastern basswood sheet.
Buy this stuff in six-inch wide sheets so
you won’t have to butt-glue the sheets to
get the wall height you need.
When cutting basswood and scoring styrene, I always use a cork backed
steel straightedge ruler and a sharp #11
X-Acto blade. Mark your outlines with a
well-sharpened pencil and then make the
cuts with a series of light strokes. Let the
straight edge guide your blade. Keep the
knife blade vertical while you’re cutting.
Lightly block-sand and square up the cut
edges.
The scale six inch wide corner trim
boards are replicated with 1⁄16" x 1⁄8" basswood strips, which are built up into complete corners before they are attached to
the walls. These built-up corners reinforce
the walls and provide nice clean corners.
See the corner drawings for details. I use
gap-filling CA glue throughout the basswood part of construction. A bottle of
CA kicker spray makes quick work of the
glue joints. I cut window openings in the
end walls to accommodate Grandt Line
#33722 windows. Since the prototype
structure wasn’t heated, I thought windows would be nice in the summertime
when it must have been pretty warm
inside. In the wintertime it made no difference and at least let in some wintry
light.
Before the walls went up, I cut a floor
from 1⁄8" thick basswood. You could also
use Midwest birch aircraft ply. Note the
corner post and stud wall notching. It’s a
good idea to dry fit the walls to ensure
your measurements and cuts are correct.
Errors are better found here than when
you’ve got the walls and floor coated
with glue. Satisfied that everything fit, I
glued the built-up corner trim posts to the
end walls and then glued one end wall to
the floor using a small square to ensure
the wall was glued square to the floor.
The back wall went up next, followed
by the opposite end wall, and finally the
front wall. It was beginning to look pretty
neat. Inside the front door, I glued scrap
interior walls of 1⁄8" scribed basswood.
The roof panels were cut from 1⁄32"
basswood sheet. Again, you could also
use Midwest birch aircraft ply. I installed
interior bracing and a ridgepole before
I attached the roof panels. In the photos you can see the beam I installed
between the front wall and the ridgepole.
This beam anchors the sand pipe, which
comes through the roof. When all the
parts were lightly sanded and fair, I glued
the two roof panels to the structure.
I masked off the roof surfaces, then
sprayed the walls with Testors Gray primer. I followed the primer with a coat of
Ace Hardware’s Red Iron Oxide primer.
That’s right, folks, Ace spray paint from
an aerosol spray can. It has a nice railroad looking color and you cannot beat
the price. Practice on an old newspaper
and don’t get too close with the nozzle.
I applied my paint in several passes. I
know guys who spray their rolling stock
with this stuff. Ace’s black and gray primers work well, too.
I couldn’t tell if the Soo sandhouse
had corrugated or asphalt shingles. I’d
been wanting to try Plastruct’s #91519
corrugated siding, so I bought a pack at
Walthers’ Terminal Hobby and was not
disappointed. It comes in very thin sheets,
nicely done with very small corrugations perhaps three scale inches across.
The sheets look great on my sandhouse.
I used Walthers Goo cement to attach
these plastic panels. The panels can be
butt-joined or overlapped. I butt-joined
mine and had virtually invisible seams.
The sand delivery pipe was installed
at this time. I used 1⁄16" brass rod for the
pipe coming out of the roof. It extends
two inches above the roof where it bends
into an arc and mates to a length of 3⁄32"
O. D. (~16 gauge) solid copper electrical
wire. The insulation slips over the brass
rod and is held in place with a drop of
CA glue. The other end of the wire was
stripped back about 3⁄4" and filed to a
taper to simulate the sand delivery nozzle. The whole thing is painted flat back
except for the delivery nozzle, which I
painted silver.
I brush-coated the roof’s corrugated
sheets with Floquil’s Old Silver solvent paint to simulate faded galvanized
sheeting. To simulate rust buildup, I
dry-brushed the corrugations with Delta
Ceramcoat Terra Cotta acrylic paint. I
followed this with a light smudging of
Floquil Grimy Black. The roof was then
over-sprayed with a heavy dusting of
Badger Model Flex Rail Brown and then
a dusting of Floquil Grime. I wanted a
roof that had seen many years of service.
All that was left to do now was drape the
air supply hose onto hooks set into the
front wall studs.
I simulated the air hose with solid
copper insulated wire (gauge unknown
- but it has a 1⁄32" O. D). Hooks were bent
up from 0.020" brass wire and CA glued
into 0.020" holes drilled into the studs. I
bent the wire from hook to hook to simulate the drape of the hose. The hose is
painted flat black. The hooks are Floquil
Old Silver.
I sprayed the entire structure with a
coat of Model Master Lusterless (flat) to
flatten the sheen of the Ace Red Oxide
primer and then an overall dusting with
Floquil Grime. That done, I glazed and
installed the two windows and the sandhouse was complete.
Coal Bunker
I built my coal bunker much like I
imagined a section crew might have. It’s
a three-sided structure with staggered
lengths of 1⁄16" x 1⁄4" basswood strip to simulate heavily creosoted 3" x 12" boards.
It doesn’t make the section crew happy,
having to shovel coal into a conveyor to
coal the tenders, but it makes me (the
brass hat) happy because I don’t have to
build a coaling tower.
I cut the bin boards to length, laid
them out on the bin drawing, and
attached the posts to the pinned down
boards. A little variation in post height
makes things more interesting. I didn’t
edge glue the boards. Rather, I let the 1⁄8"
square posts hold the boards in line just
like the real thing. With an X-Acto knife
I cut away some of the board edges and
made random cuts into the boards and
the posts.
After assembly into a three-sided structure, I painted the bare basswood with an
alcohol thinned wash of Delta Ceramcoat’s acrylic black paint. The thinned
paint soaked in and highlighted the cuts
I’d made in the wood, giving the timbers
a weather beaten look. When the acrylic
paint had dried, I dry-brushed streaks of
Floquil Grimy Black to simulate paint
nearly weathered away.
A chunk of pink insulating foam was
carved into the shape of a sloping coal
pile and glued it into the bin. The pink
foam was painted with acrylic gray.
When the paint had dried, I coated the
foam with a thick layer of white glue onto
which I sprinkled Highball Products HO
Scale six-inch sized coal. Highball Products coal is neat stuff and the HO coal
looks right to my eye. It has a nice coallike glint to it. I set the bunker aside and
turned my attention to the water standpipe.
Water Standpipe
In the MR article photos, there was no
evidence of a water tower. Perhaps the
Soo yard standpipe used Waukesha city
water, or the water tower was simply out
of sight. The prototype standpipe stood
hard against the bucket coaling structure adjoining the sandhouse. The fireman would swing the standpipe out and
over the track to water his tenders. When
not in use, the spout was swung back
against the coaling structure wall. In that
photo I spotted something I hadn't seen
before, a pipe extension right above the
shut-off valve that allowed the fireman
to swing the delivery pipe over the tender. I’d never thought of that, but without
that pipe handle, how would the fireman
have been able to rotate the standpipe?
Needless to say, the pipe handle is on my
standpipe.
I built the standpipe from 1⁄16" brass
rod, a balsa base, and some wire insulation to replicate the elbows and valve
housing. Short lengths of styrene tubing
were used at the threaded elbow ends.
For the shut off valve, I used an Intermountain brake wheel.
There are ready-to use standpipe castings available. But, in the spirit of this
scratchbuilding project and the fact that
none matched the Soo standpipe, I made
my own in a matter of a few hours. See
the drawing for assembly notes.
Coaling Conveyor
After deciding to use a coal conveyor,
I must confess I did check the Internet
to see what was commercially available. To my surprise, I found only one O
Scale coal conveyor kit. Manufactured by
K & P Brick & Building Co., this kit is a
nice looking vintage loader and, at $22
for two conveyor kits, the price is right
enough. But it was too small to reach the
bunker of my tender. It would be great
for loading trucks and gons but not suitable for my coaling conveyor. I needed
an overall conveyor height of at least 20
feet. What to do?
It turns out, after more research, that
Walthers has an HO conveyor kit available as part of their Cornerstone kit series.
This kit builds up into a pair of conveyors, one large and one small. I purchased
a kit at Walthers’ Terminal Hobby Shop.
After studying the parts, I made up drawings, which are included in this article.
I built several versions in styrene and
basswood. The article drawings depict
what I think are the most prototypical.
I used basswood for the conveyor belt
(board-and-batten siding with 3⁄8" batten
spacing). The rest of the model is styrene.
However, you could build the entire conveyor with basswood or styrene stock
sheet and strip.
There are two conveyors shown in the
drawing. The shorter conveyor is suitable
for truck and gon loading. The longer,
higher, conveyor is what you’ll need to
coal those tenders. There’s nothing critical about belt width or conveyor length.
Walthers’ belts scaled out to 12" wide. I
made both 12" and 18" scale widths. You
could go to 24" width, depending on the
material you’re loading.
After cutting all the Frame A and B
parts for each conveyor from styrene strip
stock, I pinned the parts to a copy of my
drawing. For this purpose, I used a small
sheet of ceiling tile—just like we did back
in the old stick-and-tissue model airplane
days. You don’t have to use any protection over the plan. The plastic glue won’t
stick to the paper. When the parts were
all pinned down and aligned, I dabbed
each joint with a drop of Plastruct Plastic
Weld glue. Let these glued up parts sit for
an hour or two and the assembled frames
should pop right off the paper.
While the frames were curing, I cut a
couple of conveyor belts from Northeastern Scale Lumber 3⁄8" spaced board-andbatten stock. You’ll have to butt-glue the
ends. I backed up the underside of the
belt with a lengthwise strip of 1⁄32" x 3⁄8"
basswood. Being cross-grain to the belt
stiffens it quite a bit. The battens simulate
the conveyor belt cleats. The ends of the
conveyor belt should be radiused.
The conveyor sides are cut from
0.030" thick 1⁄4" wide styrene, or 1⁄32" x 1⁄4"
basswood. I added a top flange of 0.030”
x 0.060" styrene and then vertical 0.030"
square stiffeners at 15⁄16" intervals. That
done, the bottom flange is then added.
The motor chain belt housing is added
next. I cut mine from a sheet of 0.060"
styrene sheet. It stands off the conveyor
side with a small hidden piece of 0.030"
styrene.
The sides are glued to the conveyor
belt using slow setting CA glue. Make
sure the sides are flush with the bottom
of the belt and the sides are square to
the belt. It’s easy to develop an inward
cant to the sides. The Plastruct motor
is then attached to the underside of the
belt. Align the motor shaft to the chain
belt housing. I added pillow block bearing covers at both ends of the conveyor.
These covers are cut from 3⁄64" styrene rod
and set into the lower sides where the
conveyor end bearings would be located. The pins should project about 1⁄32"
from the conveyor side. I added a pair of
0.030" square styrene strips crosswise on
the underside of the belt where the conveyor rests in Frame B. Location of this
pivot point varies depending on the conveyor length you’re building.
Now’s the time to remove Frames A
and B from the building board and glue
Frame A to Frame B as shown on the
drawing. This joint should be a 90° corner. When the joint had cured, I drilled
0.045" axle holes into Frame B and glued
in 3⁄64" styrene rod axles. Cut the axle
lengths to suit the wheels you use. I used
Grandt Line #32 popcorn wagon rear
wheels on my conveyors. These scale out
to 36" diameter. Don’t mount the wheels
yet, unless you’re going to airbrush them
the same color as the conveyor. Jerry
Roy, O Scale buddy and modeling mentor, cranked up his Badger airbrush and
painted the four conveyors I’d built. In
exchange for a great painting weathering
job, Jerry earned himself two conveyors
for his layout (A fair price indeed considering the quality of Jerry’s air brushing).
The Grandt wheel rims were brushpainted with Model Master’s Steel paint.
This added a nice touch to the finished
conveyors. The belts were painted Floquil Black. Weathering was done with
Model Flex Steel and Rail Brown paints,
followed by a dusting of Floquil Grime.
These conveyors are simple to build and
look very nice. Why not give them a try?
I got to where I could build a pair in six
hours or so, and it took Jerry three or four
hours to paint and weather all four units.
They do look nice on the layout. I use the
smaller conveyor at my feed mill for loading bulk grain into trucks. The taller unit
is just getting dirty in the service yard.
(NB: All drawings are ©2004-2005 by
Tom Houle and may not be used commercially without the expressed written
permission of the author.)
◆
Resources:
Grandt Line, 1040 B Shary Court, Concord,
CA 94518, 925-671-0143, www.grandtline.com
Northeastern Scale Lumber Company, 99
Cross Street, Methuen, MA 01844
978-688-6019, www.northeasternscalelumber.
com
Bill of Materials
Northeastern Scale Models Basswood
- 1/16" x 3" plain sheet
- 1/16" x 6" 1/8" scribed sheet
- 1/16" thick board-and-batten siding
(3/8" batten spacing)
- 1/16" x 1/8" strip
- 1/8" square strip
- 1/16" square strip
Evergreen styrene
- 0.060" plain sheet.
- 0.030" plain sheet
- 0.060" x 0.125" strip
- 0.060" square strip
- 0.030" x 0.060" strip
- 0.080" x 0.125" strip
- 0.030" square strip
- 0.030" x 0.250" strip
- 3/64" rod
Plastruct
- Corrugated siding #91519
- Motor #M-2
Grandt Line
- Popcorn wagon wheels #32
- Attic windows #3722
Highball Products
- Coal #132
Intermountain
- Brake wheel
K & S Brass
- 0.060" brass rod
- 0.020" brass wire
Paints
- Ace Hardware Red Oxide Primer spray
- Floquil solvent Grimy Black
- Floquil solvent Old Silver
- Floquil solvent Dark Green
- Floquil solvent Santa Fe Yellow
- Floquil solvent Grime
- Badger Model Flex Rail Brown
- Floquil Polly Scale Pacemaker Red
- Model Master Steel
- Model Master Clear Lusterless
- Delta Ceramcoat acrylic Terra Cotta
Finished side and end sandhouse walls and roof panels.
Assembled sandhouse walls. Be sure the walls are square when assembling.
Rear view of assembled sandhouse.
Photos continued on page 52
Two roof panels in
place. You can use
1
⁄32" basswood or ply
sheet.
Sandhouse walls
sprayed with Ace
Hardware Red Oxide
primer. Neat color.
Coal
bunker
walls.
Water standpipe.
A unique
easy-to-build
model and not
commercially
available.
Conveyor Frame A and B assembly with old
fashioned straight pins and ceiling tile.
Conveyor components ready for assembly. Can
be basswood or styrene.
Two
conveyors,
one suitable
for loading
truck/gons
and the
other
tenders.
With news and information on Proto48
Making Grab Irons
We have talked about making ladders,
so now we should touch upon another
basic detail. Making your own grab irons
is one of the easiest ways to improve the
realism of your models. Most commercial
models are made with oversized wire or
plastic grab irons. Some even have caston blobs that are supposed to be grab
irons.
What is a scale grab iron? If you were
to measure a steam-era grab iron on a
freight car, you would likely find that they
are 3⁄4" in diameter. That reduces down
to 0.0156" in diameter. You can readily find 0.015" brass, phosphor-bronze
and steel wire available from suppliers
like Details Associates, Tichy and others.
While 0.015" wire may seem too delicate
to some, it is quite durable. You can use
phosphor-bronze or stainless steel if you
want a more robust wire grab while not
giving up scale size. I have used these
harder wire types for Diesel handrails.
They don’t bend as easily, so they can
stand up to harsher handling, but it does
require more effort to fabricate. Prototype grab irons come in various shapes.
The most common are the straight and
the drop. You can find more exotic, such
as drop-style on one end and straight on
another. Try to find a good photo of the
car you are modeling. Look closely at the
grab irons.
Railroad trade organizations like the
American Association of Railroads (AAR)
established standards for interchange
cars. The length and exact position of
grab irons vary somewhat, but generally
you will find two grab irons on the left
side of house cars (reefers, boxcars and
stock cars). Early in the 20th century, only
one grab iron was required. If you look at
car photos or drawings from the 1920s or
earlier, you will find a single grab iron on
the side. Early house cars and gondolas
often used ladders made from grab irons
rather than the more traditional-style ladder. If you model in the post-Depression
era, cars should reflect the change in
AAR standards. You only need a few simple tools to form grab irons. I use a couple of small pliers, small machinist’s vise
and a wire cutter. You will need a good
measuring device to accurately scale the
grab irons. I like to start the fabrication
with some fine sandpaper to clean the
brass wire. I like to blacken my grab irons
before painting, to act as a primer. Measure the length of the required grab iron.
Make your first bend using needle-nose
pliers. Form a sharp right angle. I like to
insert the partially formed grab iron into
one of the holes. Mark the location of the
second mounting hole on the wire using
a pencil or marker. Grasp the wire with
the needle-nose just inside the mark.
You’ll have to account for the wire diameter and bend radius when you bend. I
allow about 0.010" for bending. Bend the
wire by pushing down with your finger.
Be mindful of the orientation so you don’t
end up with the ends going in different
angles. Test fit the grab. It may take a try
or two to get the hang of it. You can buy
a bending tool, for example from Micro
Mark (part number #83139), that allows
you to make repetitive bends to the same
length. The tool is really handy but a bit
pricey. I find that, with practice, I can
bend a bunch of grab irons to a same
length very quickly.
The drop-style requires one more
step to the forming process. I use a
small machinist’s vise to hold a straight
grab iron. I insert a small strip of styrene
underneath the wire as a gage to position
it uniformly above the vise face. Using a
hard flat object, like a blank cutting tool
or a file, I push the wire over forming the
“drop”. The styrene gage will ensure that
the drop portion is parallel.
I like to install the grab irons before I
close up the body on boxcars or reefers.
Secure the grab in place with a dot of CA
adhesive. I like to blacken the wire using
a “Q-Tip” as an applicator. The finishing
touch to grab iron installation is to simulate the tab and bolt-head, used on the
prototype to mount them to the carbody.
I have used two different part sources for
these details. The hopper photo shows an injection molded part
made by MacLeod Western (http://www.macleodwestern.com).
The part numbers are N-46 and N-47. They come on a sprue
with a mounting pin on
the back of the individual
part. I cut the mounting pin off using a sharp
single-edge razor blade.
Glue the part to the body
with the elongated end
of the part touching the
wire. Another source is PB-L. They sell a part made
for S Scale that will work
as well. It comes without
a mounting pin, so it is
easier to use. They can be
found at http://www.p-bl.com/PBL2002/main-wsltm.html. The part number
is PBL-111. Both sites allow you to order via the Internet, so
give them a try.
Proto48 News
There are a few new developments that are worth mentioning in this issue. San Juan Car Company is making good progress on their new Southern Pacific drop-bottom gondola. The car
will set new standards for finely detailed and accurate models
in 1⁄4" Scale. The ends and sides have detail inside and out. The
Improved Dreadnaught ends are beautiful, with full rib details
on both sides and only a 0.018" wall thickness. The car will be
offered with two different ends. That allow accurate modeling
of the B-50-20 and B-50-23 classes. They are planning to do a
steel-sided version at a later date. The kits will be sold in both
traditional O Scale and Proto48.
San Juan will be releasing a new pair of trucks along with the
B-50-20 version. It is the much needed American Steel Foundries A-3 Ride Control truck. The truck is being made with a twopiece sideframe, so that the correct “C” channel shape can be
replicated. This design feature is a first in model railroading.
They are going to use an engineering plastic bearing insert, so
the truck should be smooth rolling and long-lasting. San Juan
Decals is doing a very accurate lettering set for the kits, based
upon artwork developed by Charles Givens, recognized Southern Pacific expert. Look for the kit to be released in the lateSpring timeframe.
Chooch Enterprises has several new projects in the works.
First up will be an AAR War Emergency 53' 6" flat car used by
19 different railroads. This will be followed by a NP 42' wood
reefer and NP 4700-series single sheathed 50' auto boxcar.
Smokey Mountain Model Works is working on a urethane
model of the B&O wagontop boxcar (class M-53), planned for
release this year. The kit will feature a single-piece body with
custom injection molded hardware and decals. The kit is scheduled for release in 2005. This is a classic car that ran all over the
country, well into the 1960s.
◆
Jim Hackworth
Buy⁄Sell⁄Trade
MODEL TRAINS
(and Subsidiary JH Consulting)
2631 Edgevale Road, Columbus OH 43221-1113
Phone:614-4514517 Fax:6144514557
Email: jhmtrains@msn.com • Web: www.jhmtrains.com
NEW SERVICE: We can now offer custom painting, finishing and repair.
Call, fax, or email for details.
WSM PRR Q2, 4-4-6-4, N/P, OB, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,200.00
WSM PRR J1a, 2-10-4, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,950.00
WSM PRR M1, 4-8-2, Kleinscmidt Dr, C/P, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,750.00
USH PRR K4, 4-6-2, Kleinschmidt Dr, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,695.00
USH NKP 2-8-4, C/P or N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ea $1,350.00
MG PRR 2-10-2 N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,775.00
USH C&O 2-8-4, C/P, Runs good, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,375.00
MG NYC J1e, 4-6-4, Nice, N/P, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,375.00
MG NYC J3a, 4-6-4, Nice, N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,375.00
CB PRR GG1, C/P Tuscan 5-stripe, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,300.00
USH PRR M1a, 4-8-2, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,375.00
USH NYC L4b, C/P, Kleinscmidt Dr, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,195.00
MG B&O 2-8-8-4, C/P, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,450.00
AN B&O 4-6-0, C/P runs good, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $525.00
USH PRR K4, 4-6-2, N/P NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $975.00
MG Prr E6, 4-4-2, N/P NOB, can motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,175.00
MG SP MT4 w/Icken Gears, C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,895.00
USH NYC H10, 2-8-2, Mint, N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,475.00
OM NP A5 4-8-4, C/P, Mint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,895.00
SS PRR I1 2-10-0, long tender, N/P OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,150.00
OM Alco S3, N/P. OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $675.00
OM BL2 w/Type B pilot, N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $895.00
Layaway Available
Consignments
PSC PRR X28 1-1/2 dr boxcar, N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225.00
Weaver PRR M1a, 4-8-2, f/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $695.00
MG SP GS5, 4-8-4, C/P, Lites, Nice, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,595.00
OM #0277 GP38 w/0 dynamic brake, new, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $895.00
OM CSX GE AC4400, Just Out, F/P new . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,795.00
USH B&O 0-4-0, N/P, NOB, w/tender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $525.00
SS N&W J 4-8-4 Rebuilt w/Sound, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,500.00
WSM PRR M1/K4 Tender Only, C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $295.00
PRB GP15, F/P Chessie, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $675.00
GEM PRR A5, 0-4-0, N/P, OB, Ex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $525.00
USH PRR I1, 2-10-0, long tender, ptd by Bill Wolfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,450.00
OM CSX SD70M #700, F/P, OB, LN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,775.00
Custom Built PRR GG1, Ptd Green, 5-Stripe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $575.00
OL GN 2-D-2 #5001/5002 Set, C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,495.00
KTM #705 Panel Hopper C/P NYC, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $179.00
OM #0011 UP Ca-11 Caboose, N/P, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $295.00
CB PRR P70 Coach, C/P, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $395.00
PL#300 PRR R-7 Reefer, C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $295.00
Priester C.Built Morrell Reefers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . each $159.00
MG #120 TT Flats, C/P PRR w/USH RB Tks(25 available) . . . . . . . . each $129.00
MG PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250.00
Alco PRR N6a, C/P or N/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . each $225.00
CB PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $295.00
Lionel 13 car NYC Smithsonian set, F/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL
Sunset 14 car Congressional set, C/P, Lites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL
Custom built 5 car Kettle Valley set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL
LSASE for Complete List
Shipping 6% - $6.00 Min., $12.00 Max
Ohio Residents Add 6.75% Sales Tax
Estates⁄Liquidations
Collection Reductions
H o w To: Get Started in 2-Rail
Scale
Realistic • Accurate • Affordable
Come Discover Modern O-Scale Models at These 2-Rail O-Scale Meets
February 24 - 26, 2005, San Francisco, CA area
15th Annual O Scale West Meet
LSSAE for information to:
O Scale West, Dept. OSK
876 Boyce Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003
Sept 30 - Oct 1, 2005, Oklahoma City, OK area
Southwest O Scale Meet
George B. Wallace, Dept. OSK
11937 Stratford Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
June, 2006, Teaneck, NJ area
2006 O Scale National Convention
Robert Lavezzi C/O New York Society of Model Engineers
341 Hoboken
Carlstadt, NJ 07072
June 15- 18, 2005, St. Louis area
2005 O Scale National, Dept. OSK
P.O. Box 4357
St. Louis MO 63123
September 23 - 24, 2005, Indianapolis, IN area
Indianapolis Midwest "O" Scale Fall Meet
James Canter, Dept. OSK
1203 Rotherham Lane
Beech Grove, IN 46107-3323
Look for 2-rail O scale at
your local train shows
2-rail O scale modelers exhibit, and at many shows,
set up operating 2-rail O scale layouts.
Visit www.oscalekings.org for links to many 2-rail O-scale sites.
This ad runs twice a year, so check it in 6 months for meets that have been added or changed dates.
For an illustrated brochure please send an LSSAE #12 envelope to: O Scale Kings, 304 Christopher Place, Union, MO 63084-2931.
Ad sponsored by O Scale Kings and the above listed 2-rail O scale meets.
The Original EMD “E” Passenger Units
The EA, E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5 & E-6
P.O. Box 1848
Rogue River, OR 97537
* Visit our website at http://
www.keyimportsinc.com
Next to the PA’s the Classic EMD “E”
has the prettiest nose in town and
that’s the way Key Imports
will build them big and
beautiful in “O”
scale. All units
are painted and
lettered starting
with the original
EA on the B&O
#51 (A/B) and the
Santa Fe E-1 #2 (A/B), the E-3, 4, -5 and the E-6 beginning with the AT&SF
down to the Union Pacific and a dozen roads in between.
Most are A/B combinations with a few exceptions.*
Back in 1785, Robert Burns wrote these
lines from his poem, To A Louse, “O wad
some Power the giftie gie us, To see oursels
as ithers see us!”. Now, this column is not a
poetry lesson, but, to this old hobo, the concept of seeing ourselves as others see us is a
real eye opener. Take our model railroading
for example.
When was the last time you invited someone to look at your models and critique your
modeling? Sure, you have guests over, and
they give you lots of compliments. We have
just completed the busy holiday season and
everyone knows the part the trains play, with
lots of open houses, train-laden mantles, and
the circular layouts with that one large tree
in the middle. Hi-Railers traditionally like to
show-and-tell and are more open about sharing their modeling ideas.
But what about the serious scale modelers?
This question is for both 3-Rail and 2-Rail hobbyists. Would your layout stand the real test?
Try taking some photos of your layout. Look
at the photos. You will be amazed at what the
camera lens actually records. You may even
see some things and details that you missed,
simply because you were working too close to
the subject. You may need to tweak or adjust
some things, because the camera doesn’t lie.
Share those photos with people who are not
model railroaders; they are the most objective.
Try it. Share them with your wife, girlfriend,
or significant other. Get some feedback. You
might be surprised at their reaction and comments. Just think about it for a moment.
Consider some guidelines to help you
become a better modeler. Think of your layout as a story. Each scene around the layout
should be an active part of the story. Certainly
the trains are the main characters. All of the
signs, structures, vehicles, and people should
convey a certain time period. It should all
make sense. For example, if you are modeling
1944 and have a freight train stopped at the
station, a 1955 Corvette in the scene will not
be appropriate. A scene of the 1930s would
not have a Pacific loco pulling a consist of
piggy-backs and double-stack containers.
Sometimes this requires research to find out
what would be correct for the specific time.
Certainly, details are important and they
do make the difference. But more importantly,
they need to be the right details to convey the
overall story. Spruce trees belong in a logging
scene with a Shay locomotive; they would be
very much out of place in a scene from the
deep South. Amtrak passenger trains do not fit
in with steam coal drags of the ’30s and ’40s.
Nor do bikini-clad sunbathers belong in a
beach scene with a coastal Daylight of 1940
in the background (Even though the Daylights
ran well into the '50s, the bikini didn’t hit the
beaches until 1963).
Look closely. Examine what you do. Stop
and think, “Does this fit? Does this convey the
look and feel of the era that I am modeling?”
Many of us model things that we have seen
in our lifetime. These are things we know and
can identify with. That is the easiest. Modeling what we have not seen with our own eyes
is the real challenge. A few of us remember
steam. Most of us, though, have to rely on
photos, documents, and books to get it right.
And it is a matter of getting it right. Modeling
correctly is not a matter of nit-picking or rivetcounting. It is a responsibility that we have as
serious scale modelers. It is an opportunity to
become better at modeling. We have come to
realize that Scale Modeling is an art.
Check out the ties and rails on your rail-
Stevenson Preservation Lines
T-BONE MODELS
O Gauge Kits and Parts from past
Master Modelers
Catalog 2002-1
Price: $1.00
Baldwin Model Locomotive Works
Lobaugh
Adams & Sons
Lenoir
Kansas City Kit
Hines Lines
Alexander
Pearce Tool Co.
Bob Stevenson, 2326 230th St. Boone, IA 50036
Schomberg Scale Models
PO Box 88
Schomberg, Ontario
Canada L0G 1T0
“O”
Scale
CUSTOM PAINTING & REPAIR
Dealer for Pacific Limited
Sunset & Weaver‑
T-Bone Models James Christensen
32264 Cleveland
Cottage Grove, OR 97424-9381
email tbone@epud.net
541-942-5237
Send SASE for information
road. Are they all clean and shiny? Should
they be weathered? Would rail joiners and
tie plates be appropriate details? Today, solid
ribbon rail is a modern aspect of railroading.
Before 1960, most railroads used sectional rail
with staggered joints. Track manufacturers do
not make sectional track that is prototypical;
all the joints are flush at the end. This leaves
an opportunity to assemble your track in a
more prototypically correct manner. Proper
planning will prevent problems and a greater
level of detail is possible.
Consider the ballast. Is it scale-sized? Do
your ties fit snugly into the ballast? In prototype railroading, the ballast is a bed to hold
the ties in place; it is not a solid foundation.
The next time you see a train at a crossing,
stop and watch the ties and rail under the
weight of the wheels. You will be surprised at
the allowable up-and-down movement.
Take a look at the telephone poles, line
poles, and telegraph poles that you have.
Don’t settle for placing just the poles. Try
stringing thread to simulate lines. Yes, it is a
lot of work and effort, but you will be amazed
at the finished result.
In conclusion, look around for opportunities to add details. Shipping boxes, crates, and
barrels will highlight any station scene. Storm
drains and manhole covers will bring realism
to your streets. Trashcans near buildings add
a lot of interest. Detailing is really fine-tuning
the scene. Go back and take some more photos and share them again. Look at the “before”
and “after” scenes and you will come to realize that there really is an art to scale model
railroading. Stay tuned! More great ideas are
just ahead. ◆
905-939-0694
O Scale Detail Parts and
Whitehall
Hobbies
Specializing in Brass Locomotives
1431 Windrush Circle, Blacklick, Ohio 43004
Voice: (614) 861-0018 - Fax: (614) 861-3034
JWTrains@aol.com
Key NYC E7 A-A, latest run F/P, new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2595
Key SP E7 A&B, latest run F⁄P Daylight, new, never run (pair) . . . $2495
Key PRR E7 B unit, F/P Tuscan, buff stripes, new, never run . . . . $1250
PSC SP AC-9 2-8-8-4 Coal 222 R-1 Tender F⁄P - Black Boiler New . . $3195
Photos are available
on request.
—————————
Ask about new unlisted
items. We carry nearly
every imported brass
line.
Kohs NYC J3a 4-6-4 F/P #5437, builder's photo edition, 1 of 10
with white tires and running board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3500
Key UP FEF3 4-8-4, unptd, coal version, rare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2495
Key D&RGW L95, 2-8-8-2, F/P #3400, grn boiler, new, never run . . . $3600
PSC C&O T1 2-10-4, C⁄P, like new condition, reduced . . . . . . . . . . $1600
PSC D&RGW L-131, 2-8-8-2, FP Rd#3600, black boiler (one of a kind),
boiler tube pilot and tri-color herald w/D&RGW spelled out.
new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3895
OMI UP DD40X F⁄P Road# 6931, like new w⁄Cockerham drive . . . $2250
OMI UP FEF-3, F/P #835, w/triple stacks, new, never run . . . . . . . $2550
Kohs & Co., PRR GG1, F/P #4913, 5 stripe, gold leaf and Tuscan,
new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2800
Key PRR J1 2-10-4, F/P Rd #6170 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3250
OMI UP FEF-3, F⁄P, Road# 844, new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2550
PSC DM&IR M4 2-8-8-4, F/P w/black jacket, Worthington FW s/n1 . . . . . $5000
PSC NP Z5 2-8-8-4, F/P Rd# 5006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3295
Fine Arts NYC passenger cars,‑never out of box, CALL (only 4 left) . . ea $800
Key UP Challenger, 4-6-6-4, FP Rd#3977, oil version, two-tone grey,
silver stripe. New, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3650
Key PRR F3 A-B, latest run, F/P Brunswick Green, new never run . . . . . . $2495
Key UP Challenger, unptd, coal version. New, never run . . . . . . $3195
PSC NYC F12e 4-6-0, 5000 gal. tender, F/P, new, never run . . . . .$1195
OMI N&W J 4-8-4, F/P #611, Excursion Version, new, never run . $1650
Key PRR E8 AA, FP Brunswick Green, gold stripe. New . . . . . . . $2695
Westside NYC J3a 4-6-4, C/P #5447, streamlined, Boxpok . . . . . $2095
Key PRR FP7 A-B, latest run, F/P Tuscan 5 stripes, new, never run . . . . . $2495
Key C&O FP7 A-A, latest run, F/P, new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2595
Key C&O FP7 A-B, latest run, F/P, new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2495
Key C&O FP7 A-B,-A latest run, F/P, new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3850
PSC SP GS5 4-8-4, latest run, F/P Daylight Rd #4458, new, never run . . . $2995
Key B&A K3n 4-6-2, latest run, F/P Rd #506, new never run . . . . . . . . . . $2550
Trail of the Frisco Flyer
June 15-18 • Collinsville, Illinois‑
Sponsored by the Big Bend Railroad Club, Inc., PO Box 4357,
St. Louis, MO 63123 at the Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Dr., Collinsville, Ill., just east of St. Louis. For more info contact Paul
Metzler, convention chair, 314-968-6847 or send email to
[BBRC2005Oscale@swbwll.net]. Visit the convention website for
schedule details: [http:// www.geocities.com/bbrrclub/].
Guest speaker for the banquet will by noted railroad
photographer Joe Collias.
Buy–Sell–Trade
Buy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information.
Additional words are $0.25 each. Subscribers are permitted one free ad
per subscription cycle. All B-S-T ads are prepaid. You may send ads by
postal service with a check or money order. Ads sent by email or called
in must use a credit card. See our contact info on page 2.
FOR SALE: PACIFIC LIMITED First run USRA box cars arrived in the following road names: Southern Pacific, Milwaukee, C&NW, Clinchfield,
Ann Arbor, RDG, D&H, NYC, RF&P, CNJ, Maine Central. SASE Listings.
Ph: 727-391-3135, John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL
33708-3752
FOR SALE: O Scale brass etched C&O and N&W, round, oval and rectangular number plates. Ten different builder’s plates like Lima, Baldwin,
Alco,and Rodgers. Geo Washington Cameo, cylinder stars, 2 superheater and B&O Capitol Dome logo and much more. Call 304-736-7765
evenings, or go to www.candoplates.com. Wilbur Epperly, 1115 Main
St, Barboursville, WV 25504-1504
FOR SALE: INTERMOUNTAIN BUILT-UP CARS - Gondolas: CB&Q, C&O,
NYC, SP, MoPac, PRR, SL&SF; Box cars, refrigerators, hoppers, tankers,
$39 plus $10 shipping. SASE for three pages of listings. Phone: 727391-3135, John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 337083752
FOR SALE: KEYSTONE MODEL WORKS: PRR H-25 quad hoppers; PRR
gondolas, PRR drop-bottom gondolas; PRR scrap tin gondolas. Scale
versions only at dealer cost. Much more brass, SASE for three page list.
Ph: 727-391-3135, John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL
33708-3752
FOR SALE: Seven (7) brass locomotives, incl. two Erie K5s, and 135+
freight cars, many brass. SSAE for list. Ph: 607-547-9610, Joseph Ranker, 408 Christian Hill Rd, Cooperstown, NY 13326-6501
FOR SALE: PECOS RIVER BRASS painted cars... $189, tank cars,
Clinchfield cabooses, Airslide covered hoppers, 50’ grain cars, Santa
Fe TOFC flats, Santa Fe flat cars, Pullman-Standard covered hopper.
Listings SASE, Ph: 727-391-3135, John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St.
Petersburg, FL 33708-3752
FOR SALE: INTERMOUNTAIN BUILT-UP gondolas: C&O, NYC, CB&Q,
MoPac, PRR, Frisco, Espee; box cars: B&O Sentinel, B&O Timesaver,
EJ&E, Monon, NC&StL, Western Pacific. SASE for lists. Ph: 727-39143135, John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708-3752
FOR SALE: OMI #0246 E7A, $750; #0520 ATSF FT A-B freight,
$1500; #0521 FT A-B, passenger, $1500; Key Samhongsa SP PA3PB3, f/p red/grey, set #90, $2600; PRB #4706 ATSF peaked roof
caboose, $275. Ph: 404-237-6265, D Michael Kelly, 2836 Hermance
Dr NE #5, Atlanta, GA 30319-2700
WANTED: Looking for O Scale SP equipment. Call Dave at 805-6853527.
WANTED: Overland Super Liner and Super Liner II cars. Also, gear
boxes, castings, basket case brass, etc. Phone: 619-593-0886, Albert E
Espinosa, 316 E Camden Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020-4504
An old P&E caboose
passes through
Selinsgrove on Pete
Trunk’s Philadelphia and
Erie layout.
An SP TOFC train has just passed.
The caboose is a brass model from
Overland. The cars and trailers were
built by Juerg Luetscher, Wallisellen,
Switzerland, from Red Caboose and
Berkshere Valley kits. All the models
are weathered to represent operation
in desert regions. The photo was
taken on Juerg’s modular layout, the
“Orange Empire”.
Advertisers Index
Paper Creek Model Works
55
PRR Brass
16
22
Public Delivery Track
21
Just Trains
61
Rail Photos Unlimited
30
Keil-Line Products
16
Rons Books
21
Brennan's Model Railroading 15
Key Imports
55
Russian River RR Co.
30
BTS
27
LaBelle Woodworking Co.
16
San Juan Car Co.
11
Central Locomotive Works
30
Middle Division
31
Scale University
29
Scaled World
26
Schomberg 56
AAA Precision Turntables
15
Hackworth Model Trains
Accurate O Scale
30
House of Duddy
9
Allegheny Scale Models
59
JAK Tool & Model
AM Hobbies
30
AtlasO
IBC
54
Custom Signals
9
Model Tech Studios
11
Diecast Direct
9
MTH Electric Trains
IFC
Digistar
25
NCE Corp
22
Stevenson Preservation Lines 56
Dominion Models
16
Nickel Plate Models
29
Suncoast Models
25
Eagles Nest Miniatures
26
Norm’s O Scale
13
Sunset⁄3rd Rail
14, BC
Ehobbytools.com
31
O Scale Kings
55
T Bone Models
56
Get Real Productions 13
O Scale Realty
55
Valley Model Trains
35
Gorilla Glue
21
Old Pullman
31
Weaver
26
Great Scale Model Train Show 15
Overland Models
41
Whitehall Hobbies
57
Guide to Modern O Scale
P&D Hobby Shop
17
Woodland Scenics
30
57
Website: www.alleghenyscale.com • Email: oscale@alleghenyscale.com
470 Schooley’s Mountain Road, Suite 8-117, Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840
Voice - (908) 684-2070 • Fax - (908) 684-8911
Steam Locomotives
USH AT&SF Texas Type 2-10-4, UP, Late Run, L/N..........................................................$1,350
WS C&O T1 2-10-4, UP, New..........................................................................................$2,000
PFM GN E-6 Class 4-6-0, FP, Glacier Park, New..............................................................$1,250
ORI GN R2 2-8-8-2, UP, Vestibule Cab, New ..................................................................$2,450
OM NP Z-8 4-6-6-4, UP, New..........................................................................................$2,650
PSC N&W Z1b 2-6-6-2, FP, New - No. 1462 ...................................................................$1,395
SS NYC K-5 Pacific, UP, L/N ...............................................................................................$875
WEAVER PRR A5 0-4-0, FP, New ........................................................................................$475
WS PRR J1 2-10-4, UP, New ............................................................................................$2,000
PSC PRR K4 4-6-2 Modernized, FP, L/N...........................................................................$1,175
WS UP Big Boy 4-8-8-4, UP, New....................................................................................$2,750
SS UP Early Challenger 4-6-6-4, CP, Cockerham Dual Drive...........................................$2,750
KEY UP Challenger 4-6-6-4, FP, Gray, Silver Stripes, New...............................................$3,150
KEY UP FEF-2 4-8-4, UP, Coal, 1 of 10 ............................................................................$2,795
OMI WM H-9a 2-8-0, UP, New ......................................................................................$1,250
OMI WM I-2 Decapod 2-10-0, CP, New ........................................................................$2,295
Diesel Locomotives
KEY AT&SF EMD F3 A-B, FP, Ph 2, New, 1st Run.............................................................$2,750
KEY D&RGW EMD F7 A-B, FP, New, 1st Run ..................................................................$2,350
KEY GN EMD F7 A-B, FP, New, 1st Run...........................................................................$2,250
OMI N&W C36-7, UP, New................................................................................................$850
KEY NYC ALCO PA-PB, FP, Lightning Stripe, New...........................................................$2,695
KEY NYC EMD E8 A-A, FP, Lightning Stripe, New, 1st Run..............................................$2,495
OMI NYC FM H-12-44, CP, Lightning Stripe, New..........................................................$1,245
KEY PRR ALCO PA-PB, FP, Brunswick 5 stripe, New .......................................................$2,595
CLS PRR ALCO RS-11, UP, New ......................................................................................$1,195
KEY PRR EMD E8 A-A, FP, Brunswick 5 stripe, New, 1st Run ..........................................$2,595
KEY PRR EMD F7 A-B, FP, Brunswick Freight, New, 1st Run ...........................................$2,095
KEY SP ALCO PA-PB, FP, Daylight, New..........................................................................$2,695
KEY SP EMD E9 A-A, FP, Black Widow, New, 1st Run .....................................................$2,495
KEY UP EMD E9 A-B, FP, New, 1st Run ...........................................................................$2,295
KEY UP EMD F7 A-B, FP, L/N, 1st Run.............................................................................$2,000
KEY WP EMD F3 A-B, FP, New, 1st Run...........................................................................$2,795
Rolling Stock
PSC AAR 40’ 50 Ton OB Box Car, UP, L/N, Previously Painted ..........................................$175
OMI Baldwin Scale Test Car, UP, New................................................................................$225
PSC DM&IR Wood Caboose, UP, New ...............................................................................$350
PSC GATX 6 Dome Wine Car, FP, New...............................................................................$350
BCRK GN X580/X683 Wood Caboose, FP, New .................................................................$400
PLTD GN Truss Rod Box Car, UP, New...............................................................................$395
HILL IGA Wood Reefer, FP, Billboard Scheme, New...........................................................$375
CNJB Jones & Laughlin Tank Car, UP, New.........................................................................$395
OMI LV Steel Caboose, UP, New ........................................................................................$275
PLTD MDT Composite Reefer, UP, New .............................................................................$350
OMI NKP Wood Caboose, UP, New ...................................................................................$325
W&R NP 24’ Wood Caboose – 1700 Series, UP, New ........................................................$355
PSC NYC 18000 Series 30’ Wood Caboose, UP, New.........................................................$375
CNJB NYC Pacemaker Caboose, UP, New..........................................................................$350
CNJB NYC 19000 Series Wood Caboose, UP, New ............................................................$295
PLTD P&LE - NYC USRA Design Steel Box Car, UP, New...................................................$375
OMI Palace Poultry Car, UP, New ......................................................................................$395
PSC PFE 50’ Wooden Ice Reefer, UP, New..........................................................................$325
PSC PRR K7a Stock Car, CP, L/N.........................................................................................$285
PLTD PRR X-23 Work Car with Panel Door, CP, Gray Scheme...........................................$295
PCO PRR X-42 Mail Storage Car, UP, New .........................................................................$395
PLTD Seaboard 1932 ARA Box Car, UP, New, 56” Herald .................................................$350
PRB, SP Greenville 70’ 100 Ton Gondola, FP, New ...........................................................$275
PSC NYC Standard 70’ Heavyweight Coach, UP, New .......................................................$425
PSC NYC Standard 70’ Heavyweight Combine, UP, New ...................................................$425
PSC PRR B70 Baggage, UP, New.........................................................................................$400
PSC PRR B70 Baggage, FP, New..........................................................................................$450
PSC Pullman HWT Dining Car, UP, New ............................................................................$425
PSC Pullman Standard HWT Observation, UP, New...........................................................$450
PSC Harriman Passenger Cars - Various Styles, UP, New....................................................$445
Events
A current list of events is now available at our website [http://www.oscalemag.com]. If you have
an event you’d like listed, we have a submission form at the website (the preferred method), or
you can mail the info to our office address given on page 3.
March 2005
4-20: Carldstadt, New Jersey
The New York Society of Model Engineers, Inc., will be holding its
79th Anniversary Exhibition of both its HO and O Scale railroads for 3
weekends in March at the Society’s headquarters, 341 Hoboken Rd, in
Carlstadt. Time: Friday evenings from 7 to 10 pm, Saturdays & Sundays
1 PM to 6 PM. Admission: adults $5, children $1. For more info contact
Andrew Brusgard, 908-686-4856.
5: Wind Gap, Pennsylvania
Eastern “O” Scalers Swap Meet at the Plainfield Fire Hall, 6480 Sullivan Trail – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Adm. $5; (spouses & children
under 14 are free), $16.00 for the first table (includes one admission)
and $12.00 for each additional table. Dealer’s set-up Friday evening
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday morning 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Info/reservations, SASE – EOS, PO Box 1781, Bensalem PA 19020;
(215) 639-3864. Bring an index card with your name, address etc., for
a $1.00 off your admission. Contact eostrains@att.net
18-20: Arlington, Illinois
Chicago Midwest O Scale Meet sponsored by Hill’s Hobby & Collectors’s Shop at the Arlington Park Sheraton Conference Ctr, 3400 W
Euclid Ave (hotel 847-394-2000). Sales, display layouts, tours, and
model contest. Registration $15, spouse & under 18 free. Vendors
tables $45 until 12/31/2004, $50 after that date. Info: SASE for
dealer confirmation. March Meet, PO Box 333, Park Ridge, IL 60068;
show message center 847-823-1719.
20: Old Greenwich, Connecticut
33rd Annual Spring Train Meet Westchester Model RR Club at the
Greenwich Civic Center. Admission: $6 adults, $4 seniors, $8 family
(kids under 12). Call Ron Rosenberg (914-967-7541) or Doug Kadow
(607-326-7317) for more info. Operating layouts, railroad antiques,
trains of all scales, memorabilia, gifts, books and lots more.
April 2005
2: Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford Model RR Club Swap Meet and Open House O Scale swap
meet (9:00am to 2:00pm) and open house (layout open 10:00am to
2:00pm). Admission: $5.00, kids under 12 free. Dealer tables $12.00
(includes 1 admission). Located at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Main
and Grove Sts. Stamford, Ct. Exit 8 Ct. Tpke. Contact Jim Mardiguian
718-347-3159. Contact dlwh2466@hotmail.com
3: Hudson, Massachusetts
Metrowest O Scale Train Show Metrowest Model RR Society’s New
England 2-Rail and Hi-Rail O Scale trainshow at the Hudson Elks Hall,
99 Park St, Hudson, MA, from 10 AM to 4 PM. White Elephant table,
sales, and exhibits, operating layouts, model display area, door prizes
and food on site. Six foot vendor tables $15 before March 1st and $20
after (helpers must register). Setup 6:30 AM to 10 AM. Admission $4,
5-12 $1. Contact Larry Grant at 508-337-6661.
3: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Hamilton Society of Model Railroaders Open House. Operating
O Scale 2-Rail “Algoma Eastern” model railway. Located at 131
John Street South, Hamilton Ontario Open House Sunday 11:00am
- 4:00pm Adults $3.00 Seniors and Youths $2.00. Steam & Diesel
locomotives pulling freight and passenger trains of the 1950s - 60s era.
Hand laid point to multiple loops, single track with passing sidings. Contact Bill, 905648-1570 or Ken, hamiltonoscale@hotmail.com
10: St Paul, Minnesota
Twin City Model RR Musuem/Circus Train Noon to 5 PM, $3 admission, under 5 yo FREE. TCMRM, 1021 Bandana Blvd. E, Ste 222, St
Paul, MN 55108, 651-647-9628. Contact paulgruetzman@usfamily.net
16-17: Timonium, Maryland
The Great Scale Model Train Show & The All-American High-Rail & Collectors Show - Maryland State Fairgrounds, Fri: dealer setup 5 pm to
11 pm; Sat: setup 7 to 9 am, sales & exhibits 9 am to 4 pm; Sun: setup
8:30 to 10 am, sales & exhibits 10 am to 4 pm; $6, kids under 12 free,
family max $12; 8’ tables $55, free electricity (bring your own cords).
Info: ECSMRA, 5236 Thunder Hill Rd, Columbia, MD 21045; Howard
Zane, 410-730-1036; email: hzane1@hcomcast.net; www.gsmts.com
May 2005
7: Merchantville, New Jersey
Cherry Valley Model RR Club O Scale Swap Meet held at the Grace
Episcopal Church, 7 E. Maple Ave. Merchantville, NJ. Admission $4.00
(spouses & children under 14 are free), tables are $16.00 for the first
table (includes one admission) and $12.00 for each additional table.
Info/reservations, SASE – CVMRC PO Box 192, Maple Shade, NJ
08052, Harry Hieke (856) 625-5506 between 6 & 9 pm or Dave Richter (215) 639-3864. Contact harrystrains@verizon.net
13-15: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
17th National Model Trolley Meet held at the National Guard Armory,
Rt 1 and Southampton Rd. Hours: 6 pm to 11 pm Friday, 9 am to 10
pm Saturday, Fan Trip on Sunday. Dealers, model layouts, clinics, photos, books and videos. Admission: $20 per person (spouses & children
under 18 free). Registrar, Charles Long, 17 Lanfair Rd, Cheltenham, PA
19012. Contact webmaster@eastpenn.org
21: St Paul, Minnesota
Twin City Model RR Museum Model RR & Hobby Sale At the Education
Building, Minnesota State Fairgrounds. From 9 AM to 3 PM, admission
$4, under 8 free (includes admission to the Model RR Museum at Bandana Square if you get your hand stamped). Contact paulgruetzman@
usfamily.net
June 2005
15-18: Collinsville, Illinois (East of St. Louis)
Trail of the Frisco Flyer — 2005 O Scale National Convention at the
Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Dr. Info: Paul R. Metzler (club president,
convention chair), Big Bend Railroad Club, Inc., PO Box 4357, St. Louis,
MO 63123, 314-968-6847; Email: BBRC2005Oscale@swbwll.net or
www.geocities.com/bbrrclub/. All checks should be made out to: O
Scale National 2005 and mailed to: Forest Trent, Registrar, O Scale
National Convention 2005, 304 Christopher Pl, Union, MO 63084.
25-26: Timonium, Maryland
The Great Scale Model Train Show & The All-American High-Rail & Collectors Show - Maryland State Fairgrounds, Fri: dealer setup 5 pm to
11 pm; Sat: setup 7 to 9 am, sales & exhibits 9 am to 4 pm; Sun: setup
8:30 to 10 am, sales & exhibits 10 am to 4 pm; $6, kids under 12 free,
family max $12; 8’ tables $55, free electricity (bring your own cords).
Info: ECSMRA, 5236 Thunder Hill Rd, Columbia, MD 21045; Howard
Zane, 410-730-1036; email: hzane1@hcomcast.net; www.gsmts.com
August 2005
6: Denver, Pennsylvania
Eastern “O” Scalers Swap meet at the Denver Fire Hall, 4th & Locust
Sts. - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Adm. $5; (spouses & children under 14
are free), tables are $16.00 for the first table (includes one admission)
and $12.00 for each additional table. Dealer’s set-up Friday evening
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday morning 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Info/reservations, SASE – EOS, PO Box 1781, Bensalem PA 19020;
(215) 639-3864. Bring an index card with your name, address etc., for
a $1.00 off your admission. Contact eostrains@att.net website
September 2005
3: Merchantville, New Jersey
Cherry Valley Model RR Club O Scale Swap Meet held at the Grace
Episcopal Church, 7 E. Maple Ave. Merchantville, NJ. Admission $4.00
(spouses & children under 14 are free), tables are $16.00 for the first
table (includes one admission) and $12.00 for each additional table.
Info/reservations, SASE – CVMRC PO Box 192, Maple Shade, NJ
08052, Harry Hieke (856) 625-5506 between 6 & 9 pm or Dave Richter (215) 639-3864. Contact harrystrains@juno.com
Jus
Trains
Atlas O Gauge
Orders (888) 453-9742
Info 302 453-0465 Fax 368 6447
* M-F 10-6 Sun 12-5*
313 Newark Shopping Center
Newark, DE 19711
Free Shipping over $180
Most orders shipped within 24 hours
MC VISA DISC. AMEX
Weaver Models
Brass Little Joe 2R/3R 735 Cmd 835
MR x 2, Sou. Shore
DC Pacific 2R/3R 649 Cmd 779
CN U4A
2-R/3R 939 TMCC 1039
VO1000 w/ TMCC 319 WM, LV, BO
Tinplate Steam Era Canopy
$329
I-5 4-6-4
TMCC 939
Baldwin 2-8-0 3R 459 TMCC 499
PRR , NYC, B&M, LV
Pullman-Bradley “Am. Flyer Cars”
2 or 3-Rail 4-Car $415
2-Car $215
Pullman, LV, Rdg, CNJ, NH Blk,
BAR
Diesel Locomotive 2R 259 Cmd 309
RS-3 or RSD4/5 CN, L&N, NKP, Army
Alco RS-11 Sou , MEC Orange, CVT
C424/425 2R 389 TMCC 415
EL, RDG, DH, BN, CP, NW Dmy 209
GP60M/ B 2R 389 TMCC 425
SF, BNSF (Warbonnet or Heritage)
Dummy 209 Pwr & Dmy Set $625
Erie- Built 2R 349
TMCC 389
K-Line
Lionel
Close-outs
DC Hopper 4-Pks 155 WS Reefers 44
All Bungalows $11 Most Houses $11
Bakery, Toy, Candy Store, Market 16
Tavern, 5&10, Hardware, Estate 16
2-Rail Axles available for all Diesels
GP-9 2R 339
TMCC 389 RS-3
14093 Sgl Signal Bridge 21 Double 25
Southern, CNJ, WMD 299
Undec, B&O, Erie, Milw, SF, SP, WM F59PH NC, Metrolink, Sounder 299 22931 Cantilever 25 22934 Walkout 25
Dash 8 2R 369 3-R 389 Dmy 195 F40PH
22944 Semaphore 21 24101 Color Sig 22
Cal Train, Tri-Rail 299
8-39B: BC, P&W, SP, GE
245
Amtrak F40PH 2 # Our Run
279 14142 Amtrak Superliner 4-Pk
8-40B: Und, UP, BNSF (patch)
GP38 VRE, SF, UP, PRSL, LIRR 299 14173 Drawbridge 65 SF Tugboat 89
14199
Swing
Set
29
#41
Army
115
SW’s
2-R 269
TMCC 329
LIRR 18” Alum 4-Pk
$339
24511 CB&Q FT AA w/RS
189
Rdg, BNSF, NJ, NYC, WP, Pitt/Shaw F-7/3 AA 4 motor, TMCC, Cruise 419
289
Custom SW
B&O TMCC 299 B&O, GN, MR, NYC, PRR, Rdg, SP, UP 28218 Lehigh Valley C-420
24137 Mr. Spiffs & Puddles (69.95 ) 25
B-Units $109
ABA $515
Alco RS-1 2R 339 TMCC 375
24140
Bowdish
Homestead
(149.95)
49
C&O, CNW, NH, SF, Arbor, M&E, NP Texas Spec F-3 AA, Cruise, Cmd 425
Maiden Rescue 25
Barber Shop 75
RS- 1 JC, MR, RI 349 A&EC 366 Tex Special 18” (4) 339 ( 2)179 (6) 509
SF ABA F-3 Black F-7 Red/Silver 499
2004 Volume II
GP60 2R 369 3R 389 Dmy 189
Plymouth Switcher
79 PRR, UP, 31989 Overland Freight Express 669
Und, SF, RG, NS, Demo, VT
MR, Peabody, NYC, ATSF, Coke, SP, 31736 Canadian Pac. Grain Train
GP-35 2R 335
TMCC
Sou., Hooker, Timken, Strasburg, NHV
NYC, PRR, UP Dmy 185 P/D 555
Hiawatha P/D 2R 559
3R 569
355
Dmy 185 3-R Pw/Dmy 525 2-R 510
2003 Locomotive of the Year
Rdg, BN, SP, Sav & Atl, WM, NKP
CN, C of GA, E-L, PRR, Burlington
SD-35
Dmy 185 TMCC 375
2004 Volume I & II
E-8/9 AA
419
PRR, SP
Passenger Sets
18” Heavyweights
4480C PRR Broadway Lmt 6-Pk
4880G PRR 15” Madison 6-Pk
229
Third Rail Brass
SP P-8 & P-10 4-6-2
DMIR Yellowstone 2-8-8-4
2R 55 3R 52 669
899 H21a Hopper 8 #
1699 N&W, PC, Virginian 8# 399 3-R 4643F/G/H MR
4680R/S/T PRR
999 USRA Dbl Sheath Box 2R 46 3R 43
4681D/E/ F Rdg
4690E/F/G UP
999 B&M, FEC, M&St.L, NYC, TB&H, Rut 15” Aluminum Passenger Car 6-Pk
999 40’ 1937 AAR Box
2R 50 3R 47 4633A GN, 4670N NYC, 4688G SP 449
699
4681 Reading (4) 309 (6) 459 (8) 599
Erie, NH, Pere Marquette, SP,
1199
C&O, GM&O, UP, WM
GN +$3
Bombardier Commuter Car 4-Pk
1199 70 Ton Cov’d Hopper 2R 55 3R 52 4636A/B Cal Train 4636C/D Metrolink
C&O Greenbrier, 4-8-4
B&M R-1, B&O T-4 4 -8-2
Burlington Hudson 3 Versions
SP M6 or M9 Mogul
SF 2-10-2
3 Styles
N&W K-2a 4-8-2 Streamlined
PRR E44 Electric Dmy 699 TMCC 849
Flying Scotsman A-3 (1/43)
1499
Gargraves (USA)
37” Flex Tinplate $4.25 Cs 50
Erie, GN, L&NE, NPR, SP, Boraxo,
C of GA, CB, NH, UP
NE-6 Caboose
199
37” Flex Stainless Phantom Case
239
42, 72, 100” Tin Switch Man 27 Rem40
RC Uncplr #107 $20
Op. #108 24
Circle 032/ $38 042/ $43 054/ $53
063/ $56 072/ $ 62 080 / $75 089/ $79
DZ-1010 Crossing Gate Set
69
DZ-1020 Crossing Signal Set
49
DZ-1200 Station Announcements 82
DZ-1220 Trolley Stop & Control 69
DZ-1260 Water Tower Animator 34
DZ-1265 Fueling Station Animator 36
2R 63 3R 59
P&LE, Shaw, M&E, NPR
40’ Steel Reefer 2R 50 3R 47 IC,
Lack, NP, SF, ART, BAR, MDT, PFE
40’ Wood Reefer 2 # 2R 55 3R 52
Atlas, Phenix , Merch.,, Nash, ART,
Banana, College Inn, Eatmor, Williams
36’ Wood Refrig. Car 2R 55 3R 52
Krey’s, Nuckoll’s, Selecto, Swift, NKP,
Cudahy, Pluto, Sou Star, Page, Pearl,
Fox Beer, Westcott, Crown, Meyer
Kornblum, Rath’s, Wilson 2#/Name
4636E/F Sounder
4636G/H Tri-Rail
4636J/K VRE
18” 365 21” 429
2-Rail Kits for Passengers $20/car
EP-5 w/Cruise Horn 149 RS 249
NH 15” 4-Pk 225 18 ” 4-Pk 250
NH 21” 6- Pk 450 EV Caboose 40
Berkshire
whis 599
Cmd 699
Shay whis 579
Cmd & RS 699
2-Rail Shay Available @ $699
W.MD Fireball Plymouth Set 129
D&H 2-Bay Exclusive 38 4/140 Del
B&O 4-Bay Exclusive 38 4/140 Del
Voltmeter Car 44
Op. Milk Car 75
Incredible Woodsides 3R 44 4 /172
8K Tank Car
2R 53 3R 49
NW,
PFE,
5
Heinz,
McLhaney,
Peacock,
Navy, NE Alcohol, Shipper’s, Staley,
Oppenheimer, Roberts, Chateau, Nash,
Wolf’s Head, Bakelite
DD29-31 Hotel Station Importer 99 33K Tank Cars 2R 53 3R 49 CNTX Century, Robin Hood, Merchants,
DD25/26 Wrong/Right Side 5 kits
119 ACFX(white), Cal. Gas, GLNX, Wanda A&P, Carnation, Columbia, Doggie,
IGA, Kingans, Libby’s, MC, Hennery,
DD202 Rainbow Beverage 5” x 36 ” 65 17K Tank Car
2R 59 3R 56
DD3 Palace Hotel, DD8 Fireworks
59 ACFX , Dia., Hooker, Simpson, Stauffer Monarc, N. Refrig, Rath’s, Wilson, Miller
Beer(2)
DD32 Apartment Building
59 11K Tank Car
2R 55 3R 52
Now in 2-Rail for $47 or 4/$185 Del
Background Flats 50” L x 2” D 129 Gulf, Pyrofax, Shipper’s, Shell, Sunray,
Gold Line Smoking Caboose
47
Pillow Fact ., Urban Housing, Fish
Fueline, CA Disp, Spencer, Col. Sou.,
BW: SP, UP E/V: CNJ, Rdg, WM, PRSL
Mkt
Hooker, Solvay, Tank, Warren
Woodside: PRR, ATSF, B&M, C&O,
DD36 2-Stall Engine House
139 USRA Coal Hopper 2R 46 3R 43
IC, NYC ,B&A, RG, VA
DD38 Rocky Flats Station
59
C&O, Lack, NH, NYC, P & Shaw
Off-Center: SF, Clinchfield, UP
BN City Trailers #3 2R 240 3R 235
4-Bay DC Hoppers 38
4#/149 Del
89’ Intermodal Flat 2R 63 3R 59 Sou, E-M, FM, MR, RG, SP, Hooker,
Theatre w/Op. Marque
99 Del. Erie-West, FEC, SF, WP, TT, P&W,
UP
Silver Dollar Café, Melissa’s Deli 30
RG, Southern, Tex Mex, MEC
2-Bay O/B Hopper 38
4 # 149 Del
Interlocking Twr
34 45’ Pines Trailers
23.95 4/92 ATSF, B&O, C&O, PRR, Peabody, CBQ
Sur-Sweet
42
BN, CC&P, FEC, RG, Seabd System
DC 2-Bay Hopper 38 4#/ 149 Del
Phoenix Fuel Oil 37 Water Tank 37
MR, Erie, C&O, Rdg, PRR, LV, NYC
3-Stall Roundhouse 30”L
152
Crazy Ken Auto 42 Lumber Yard 48
Clinchfield 2-Bay 4-Pk $139 8 # $264
24” Motorized Turntable
125
Pumping Station 49 Speeder Set 28
40” Bridge 95 Dble 125 Add-on 32
Ford DC 2-Bay $42 3-Pk $119
Trackside Struct. Set 40
Type G Signal 3-R 45
4-Pk 169
Gold. Valley Depot 49 Xing Gate 24
Downtown Deco
Walthers Cornerstone
Rte 66 Motel 69 Motel Cabin 20
Dave’s Super Service Station $40
www.justrains.com
Golden Gate Depot
PRR P70 ABS Coach 4-Pk 359
8# for $699
2 or 3-R
Century, Robin Hood, Merchants
*Atlas 2-Rail Track*
US Prototype Track System,
Code148
7024/5 #5 Turnout (36”)
42.95
7021/2 #7.5 Turnout (40.5”)
47.95
Wye Switch 39.95 Switch Machine 8.75
36" Radius Full Curve 3.70
Half 2.55
40.5 Rad. Full Curve 4.35 1/3 2-Pk 5.15
40” Flex Track 8.75
Case (18) $149
10” Straight
2.60
Case (48) $119
4 _ ” Straight 2.00
1 _” 4-Pk 5.25
Crossings: 90 or 45 Degree
11.40
We stock Entire Line in 2-R
Type G Signal 2-R 52
SD-35
Dmy 185
4-Pk 195
DC 349
CSX, PC, SP, N&W Pwr/Dmy $525
Erie- Builts 3R 359 Dmy 185 PD 529
569
Alco PA AA NH, RG 575 ABA 689 NYC, PRR, UP
MR
0-8-0 Steam NP, B&A, CB&Q 529 $559
FA/FPA NYC, CN AA 499 ABA
Atlas Engine Sale
SW DMIR, Rdg, Susquehanna
199
309 615
CSX, PC, SP, N&W Pwr/Dmy $545
15” Madison 4-Pk
$159
RG, SF, MR, Reading, UP
Reading G1/G2 w/ cmd
675 Dash 8 3-R 349 Conrail, Susq, Amtrak
Aluminum
53’ Evans Box 2-R 52 3-R 48
2-Car 80’ 149 SP, GN, PRR, CNW
4610 B&O 21” (4) 365 (6) 549 (8 ) 729
Lou. Pac., Mtn Pine, Ogden, UP, BC
4610F B&O 15” Columbian 4-Pk 309
50 Ton War Hopper 2R 48 3R 44
4630-40009 SF 21” Business Car
99
PRR K-4 4-6-2
cmd 729 GA, L&N Alton, Arbor, B&O, C&O
4630A/B SF 15” 4-Pk 309 6-Pk 449
PRR Exclusive 8# 49 4/190 8/370
In-Stock
4630J,
K
SF
21”
Bi-Level
2-Pk
2
19
War Bonds 2 New # 2 or 3 Rail
Y-3 2-8-8-2 Virginian
TMCC 1395
60’ Auto Parts Box 2R 52 3R 48 4630L SF 18” Midnight Chief 4-Pk 329
UP Challenger 4-6-6-4, TMCC 1495
4630M, N SF 18” 2-Pk 179 All 8 for 669
CN, C&O, WM, RDG, UP
PRR Q-1 4-6-4-4, non or skirted
1399
4630S SF 21” Bi-Level 4-Car
429
Mercury Cars in stock
985 50’ PS-1 Box Car 2R 55 3R 52
4630P,Q ,R 21” Super Chief Streamliners
K-3 4-8-2 w/QSI N&W, RG
875 GB&W, WP, DSS&A, N&W , MR +$2
(2) 189 (4) 365 (6) 549 (8 ) 729
PRR T-1 Duplex 4-4-4-4, QSI
1149 E/V Caboose
2R 59
3R 56
21” Alum 6-Pk 529 4-Pk 365 10/ 879
PRR N-1 2-10-2, QSI
895 Chessie Sa fety red or yel, RG, SF, Rdg
4633B/C GN Empire Builder
4670L/M NYC Empire State
Cruise Control & RS Reserve Now Std Cupola Undec, NS
Budd Cars
Pwr 449 Dmy 299 40’ Re-Built Wood Rfr 2R 55 3R 52 4688E/F Southern Pacific Daylight
Berkshire
Ham,
Hardy,
MDT,
Oak,
PFE
Amtrak, B&O, B&M, CN, LIRR, NH,
4680 PRR 21” (4) 365 (6) 549 (8) 729
Middle Div. PRR H21a 2R 63 3R 59 18” Alum 4-Pk 339 6-Pk 509 (8)
NYC, PRSL, SP, Rdg, SF, CNW
Rolling Stock Buy 4 get 1 Free
2-Rail Offerings
K-Line Shay, DC Powered
679
Undec, Lack Coal , Pac. Lumber
Steam Passenger Sets
825 HO Challenger Ret $700 Sale $275
Rdg, WC Plymouth Set
109 HO Veranda Ret. $500 Sale $225 Woodside Reefers for $47 4/$185 Del
Merchant’s Dispatch WS Rfr 5-Pk 229
NW, PFE, Heinz, McLhaney, Peacock,
Swing Bridge 175 Lighthouse 69
15” Interurbans 175 18 ” Bus. Car 109
Save up to 73% on Scale Buildings Oppenheimer, Roberts, Chateau, Nash,
Fall Fair Days Product
Alum FEC, SF, B&O, SP, PRR 2-Pk 207
18” Alum StationSounds Diners
207
Railsounds Boxcar or Tender
75
Speeder Shed 24 Op. Lumberjacks 45
Op. Zoo, Gas Station, Firehouse
109
Rolling Stock Convert to 2-Rail
PS-2 Covered Hoppers 41
2-Pk 82
Clinchfield, B&M, N&W
Offset 2-Bay DC Hoppers 44 2-Pk 88
GN, GB&W, B&O
PS-1 Box B&M, IC, SF, TP&W
41
Flats w/piggyback trailers 62 2-Pk 123
PRR, GN, SP, C&O
Husky Stacks 62
2-Pk 123
BN, SP, CSX, TTX
New Cabooses 63
E/ V BN, SF
B/ W C &NW, PC, Sou, NYC, CP Rail
Cylindrical Hoppers 44
2-Pk 87
Gov. of Canada, Canadian National
31714 Amtrak Acela Set
1649
31720 FEC Champion Pass Set
929
51008 Burlington Pioneer Zephyr 929
38092 Pickering Lumber Heisler
999
SD 40 JC 355 SD-40 T2 SPSF 355
18” Alum. 4-Pk
SF, B&O
389
Double Door Box Car 45 4/175Del
PRR, UP, GM&O, Erie
PS-4 Flat Car 37
4/145 Del
E/V Caboose Seabd, CN, Burl
64
Slag Car 3-Pk US Steel, Republic 119
Hot Metal Car 3-Pk USS, Republic 132
Log Car 3-Pk Pickering, Cass Scenic 95
K-Line Blow-Outs
4603A Amtrak 21” Alum 2-Pk
125
4603B Am 21” Alum Horizon 2-Pk 125
Both Sets $229
4603C Amtrak 15” Horizon 2-Pk 99
4603D Am 15” Alum 2-Pk
99
Both Sets $179
Making F40PH w/TMCC for $279 2#
PRR F-7 ABA w/Horn
200
Each unit powered B&O AB 149
4680E PRR FOM Alum. 15” 4-Car 195
4601A AFT 4-Car Display Set
175
4602-20003 Alaska 16” Business Car 69
C&NW 21” Bi-Level
4-Pk 299
2-Pks 169
All 8 $549
4688A SP Daylt 15” Alum 2-Car
99
Spirit Of 76 Blow-Out
2401-1776S RS-3 w/RS, Smoke 225
7601A 3-Pk (DE, PA, NJ ) one 3-Pk 60
7604A 3-Pk (GA, CT, MA ) any 2 =115
7607A 3-Pk (MD, SC, NH) any 3 =160
7610A 3-PK (VA, NC, RI) all 4 =195
7601-7611 NY Box $20 Caboose $23
Complete Set ($850) for $425
Op. Swing Bridge, Speeder Shed 105
Auto Showroom 115
Grist Mill 62
MRC Transformers
AH501 Pure Power 130W
145
AH601 Dual Pure Power 270W 225
AG990 Power G 10 Amp DC
169
MRC312 Sound Station , 18 sounds 59
MRC6200 Trainpower 6200, 3.6 Amp 79
MRC444 Control Master 20, 5 Amp 159
SD35 TMCC JC, ACL, WM, VMV 315
SD35 DC 275
B&O, PRR, WC,
N&W, Con, GA, L&N, MRL
RS-1 TMCC PRR,LIRR, SF,
315
RS-1 DC
JC, MR, RI
299
Dash 8
CB, UP, Susquehanna
275
AEM/ALP MARC, Septa, NJT
159
GP35 TMCC Und, GMO, EMD, WP 325
GP35 DC BN, SP, N&W, Rdg, NYC,
Demo, GM&O, WP, Undec HN 335
GP35 Dummy N&W, SP, BN, GMO 185
40’ Airslide Hoppers 42
4/159
PRR, CSX, Brach’s
PS-1 50’ Box Car
50
4/189
2# per Road RG, B&M, WM
Ext. Vision Caboose
50
2/95
Burl, DM&IR, Chessie, SF
USRA Single-Sheathed Box Cars
46
CRR of NJ, Rdg, WM
Sunset B&O S1a 2-10-2
1049
Sunset NYC Mohawk 4-8-2
975
Sunset Q- 2 4-6-4-4 Skirted 1195
Sunset Erie 0-8- 8-0 Camelback
995
Sunset Burl O-5 2-10-4
1049
44 Tonner
SF, SP, PRR
275
All Weaver Rolling Stock is Available
Weaver G1/G2a Reading 4-6-2 595
Pullman Bradley Cars 399 2-pk 205
CNJ, LV, Pullman, Rdg,
1614S Hiawatha Smooth Cch/Par
Atlas Track
245
Remote Switch , Steel or Nickel 44.95
O36 O45 O54 O72 Wye
#5 Double-Slip Switch
119
O72/O54 Curved Switch or #5
55
7.5 (O81) High Speed Switch
58
40” Rigid
11.00 Case (12)
$1 25
40”Flex/Concrete 12.00
CS
$135
10” or O54 2.95
Case (48)
$135
O27 Curve 3.30 3 Circles (24 ) 75
O36 Curve 2.95 2 Circles (24 ) 68
O45 Curve 3.30 2 Circles (24 ) 75
O63 Curve 3.70 2 Circles (32) 114
O72 Curve 4.35 2 Circles (32 ) 132
O81 Curve 5.10 1 Circle (16 ) 77
O90 Curve 6.00 1 Circle (16 ) 102
O99 Curve 6.90 1 Circle (16 ) 104
Amtrak 21” Coaches
40
2/75
Korber Models
304 3-Stall Roundhouse, 30”D 189
304A Xtra Stall or 304B Extender 45
305 Sandhouse, 16 x 6
39
315 Grain Silo, 7 x 19 x 22 H
69
902 Jaybar Corporation
23
903 Skyline Steel
23
905 Blackshear Refrig . Transport 49
908 Shanahan Freight Company 67
912 Roller Bearing Company
79
916 Gen. Lt & Power, 12 x 48
93
917 Gen Lt & Power Sub Station 32
950 American Flag Co. 14 x 9
59
953 Joe’s Pickle Factory 14 x 9 59
969 Gen Lt & Pwr Office 6x13x12 59
USA Made Family Operated
Build A Library
For those of you who subscribe and buy only O Scale Trains Magazine, I thank you for your patronage, but you are missing a goldmine
full of information to be found in other publications. To wit:
One of my most prized possessions is a complete set of Model
Railroader from Vol. 1 (1934) to the present. I know a lot of you
don’t bother to buy MR or Railroad Model Craftsman because of
the paucity of O Scale articles (and hence one impetus for the birth
of this magazine) but that’s a short-sighted view, especially for older
issues of MR and RMC. There is a wealth of information contained
in those older issues and many of the articles up through the 1950s
are O Scale specific.
In addition to MR and RMC, I also have a collection of Mainline
Modeler. I was a charter subscriber, but let my subscription lapse in
the early 90s. I re-subscribed and am filling in the missing issues. If
you are interested in narrow gauge railroading then you must subscribe to Bob Brown’s superb Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette.
The Gazette is one of the finest model mags out there.
I am a nut about old magazines, books and photos. As an N&W
modeler, I have an extensive library about the N&W and belong to
the N&W Historical Society. You should join the historical society
for your favorite railroad. You will be amazed at the wealth of information available. Mainline Modeler and Model Railroading magazines list most all of the historical societies extant.
I also collect photos of N&W steam and, both revenue and nonrevenue equipment. No matter how much you read about your
favorite railroad, there is nothing quite like poring over old photos
to see exactly how the road puts its equipment to use in daily work.
Here’s an example. A few years ago I wanted to scratchbuild an O
Scale model of the N&W GKd 70 ton gondola based on an article
in a 1945 MR. The article showed the gon with unique N&W sixwheel trucks that were not commercially available. There was no
way I could scratchbuild those trucks without a lot of effort. Then,
at a swap meet I found a photo of a GKd with what appeared to
be very early Buckeye six-wheel trucks. At the time, Quality Craft
Model had a white metal casting of the more typical six-wheel
Buckeye truck. Based on the newly found photo, I determined I
could modify the QC trucks to be an almost exact match to the
trucks in the photo. The result was the model shown in OST #14.
In-service photos are always preferable to plans and drawings. You
can never be sure that a locomotive or freight car was built exactly
to plans. But, if you have a photo, then you have documented proof
to build a model from.
Whenever I go to a flea market I always scour the book bins
looking for old engineering texts from the turn of the last century. Almost all civil engineering in the “oughts” and “teens” of
the 1900s was railroad related. Here is but a sample of what I’ve
uncovered on these forays:
Structural Details or Elements of Design in Timber Framing,
by Henry Jacoby, John Wiley & Sons, 1913. The foldouts are
worth hundreds of times the few dollars I paid for this book.
Included are: Roof Truss for a First Class Freight Depot of the
Northern Pacific Railway, and Cross-Section of the Central
Ave. Freight Depot in Cincinnati of the C.C.C & St.L. Rwy.
Movable and Long-Span Steel Bridges, G. Hool and W. Kinne,
Eds., McGraw-Hill, 1923. This is just about everything you
want to know about steel bridges (and then some). Skip the
math; the photos and drawings are priceless. I paid $2 for the
book. What a deal!
The Design of Walls, Bins and Grain Elevators, M. Ketchum,
McGraw-Hill, 1919. Another $2 book that contains great
drawings that can be adapted to models.
The Internet as Library
In the “good old days” before the Internet, I had to go out looking for these books at flea markets and swap meets. Now, with the
Net, I can “look” for these old volumes online without leaving my
office. Just a few years ago, I finally completed my MR collection
finding a Kalmbach-bound Vol. 2 on Ebay.
My library of books, magazines and photos is a real treasure
for me. I derive satisfaction from the “hunt” for the material. When
I look for an article in the all-time magazine index at Trains.com
[www.trains.com], if it was in MR, I’ve got it at my fingertips.
But, I can’t own all the books, magazines and photos I’d like
to. I have neither the room nor the money. I do, however, have the
next best thing: access to the Internet.
I can find out almost anything I need to know about railroads,
model or prototype, by judicious use of search engines. For example, when I reviewed the MTH ATSF 4-6-4 a few issues back, my
paper resources led me to believe the model had some incorrect
details. I jumped on the Net, plugged in my search terms and found
a photo of the prototype in a public park that showed me the details
on the MTH model were, in fact, correct. Didn’t take but 10 minutes to find what I needed.
Here’s another way to use the Net as an information source. I
needed drawings of a specific engine to do a review of a model.
I do not have a drawing of this loco in my personal library. I posted
a note on the Yahoo OTrains list and in less than 30 minutes I had
the information that the drawing I needed could be found in the
Gregg Train Shed Cyclopedia #23, a book that is now out of print.
Not to worry! There are thousands of used booksellers on the
Net. I started at Amazon.com and within a few minutes had located
and purchased a copy of TSC#23. It was in my hands in two days.
If you are a serious modeler (in any scale), I cannot stress strongly enough the necessity of building up your personal library. You
will learn amazing things about this railroad hobby of ours, and,
isn’t that one goal of a hobby – to expand our knowledge of the
subject matter? I know I enjoy reading old magazines almost as
much as building O Scale Models... almost!
Which reminds me. I cut my “Scratchbuild An N&W Steam Era
Caboose” article from this issue in order to make room for Tom
Houle’s steam service facilities article. I could have split them both
but thought you’d appreciate them each as a whole. Lemme know
if you agree or not.
Meanwhile, keep high ballin’
◆
A FEW GREAT FREIGHTS FOR YOUR FLEET
Atlas O 60’ Auto Parts Box Car - New Road Names!
(Item #7561)
Features Include:
• True 1⁄4" scale dimension • Die-cast floor
• Undercarriage detail • Accurate painting and lettering
• Separately applied ladders, brake wheel, end safety
platforms and door handles
• Die-cast sprung 70-ton roller bearing trucks with
rotating bearing caps
• Sliding doors
(Item #7538)
(Item #7554)
®
NEW R
O
NAME AD
S!
Additional Features:
• Scale 33" wheels (2-Rail)
• Kadee®-compatible couplers (2-Rail)
• Minimum diameter curve: O-45 (3-Rail)
(Item #7560)
(Item #7562)
For more product information,
visit www.atlasO.com
VISIT YOUR
LOCAL HOBBY
STORE TODAY!
3-RAIL
2-RAIL
ITEM #
ROAD NAME
ITEM #
SINGLE DOOR VERSION - NEW ROAD NAMES!
6538
Canadian National
7538
DOUBLE DOOR VERSION - NEW ROAD NUMBERS!
6554
Union Pacific†
7554
DOUBLE DOOR VERSION - NEW ROAD NAMES!
6560
Chesapeake & Ohio*
7560
6561
Western Maryland*
7561
DOUBLE DOOR VERSION - LIMITED EDITION
6562
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern 7562
*CSX Licensed Product †Union Pacific licensed product
Two road numbers are available per road name except for Canadian
National and Reading Blue Mountain & Northern which have one.
For the NEW 2004/2005 Atlas O Scale Locomotive
& Freight Car Catalog, please send $5 ($7 outside
the US) to the address shown below.
Atlas O, LLC. • 378 Florence Avenue • Hillside, NJ 07205 • www.atlasO.com
ATTENTION CB&Q FANS... YOUR WISHES ARE ABOUT TO COME TRUE
GTON
BURLIN -4A
S-4, S NS
HUDSO
#4002 S-4A OIL OPEN CAB
One month after the stock market crashed Burlington
ordered 12 Hudsons from Baldwin Locomotive Works.
Nothing could stop the “Q” (CB&Q) from obtaining these
graceful and attractive Hudsons, not even the Great
Depression. So coveted were these Hudsons that five
were saved and remain on display around the country.
#3007 S-4
COAL OPEN CAB
You too, can own this fine example of locomotive engineering and art. Sunset
Models is bringing you 4 versions of the Burlington S4, all with operating mars
light and train control boxes.
CB&Q Locomotives Slated for Production:
- #3007 Illinois Railroad Museum S-4 Coal, Elesco FWH
- #4000 LaCrosse, WI S-4a Coal, Elesco FWH
- #4001 S-4a Coal w/All Weather Cab, Worthington FWH
- #4002 S-4a Oil w/ Open Cab, Elesco FWH
#4000 S-4A
COAL OPEN CAB
A unique and rare model, the Sunset built CB&Q S-4 is a limited
production (less than 20 of each) in O Scale for under $1100.
Ready to run on your 48" or larger O Scale track.
Featuring:
- Super Brass Detailing, like on models costing thousands more.
- Ball Bearing Gearbox and "Quiet Drive" Mechanism
- Huge 9000 Series Pittman Motor with Coasting Flywheel
- Working Mars Light, Directional Lighting, With Lighted Markers and
Classification Lights
- Kadee Coupler Pre-Installed
- Operating Hatches and Vents with Cab Apron
- Fully Detailed Cab Interior with With Crew Figures, Painted Handles and Dials
and window glazing.
#4001 S-4A
COAL CLOSED CAB
SUNSET
NCODELS
.
THIRD RAIL DIVISION
OFM
SODELS
UNSET IM
INC.TM
SouthFourth
FourthStreet
Street· ·Campbell,
Campbell, CA
CA · 95008
· fax
408-866-5674
· www.3rdrail.com
3737South
95008· ·408-866-1727
408-866-1727
· fax
to 408-866-5674
· www.3rdrail.com

US $5.95 • Can $7.95 - O Scale Trains Magazine

Transcription

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