O Scale Trains Magazine

Transcription

M
AG
A
ZI
NE
O
Scale
Trains
Jan/Feb 2010 u Issue #48
US $6.95 • Can $8.95
Display until January 31, 2010
Celebrating
the art of
1:48 modeling
!
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WOR E’S
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BRIDGES & SIGNALS
3-RAIL & 2-RAIL TRACK
The
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N , HO, and O Scale Track, Layouts & Accessories
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Celebrating
the art of
1:48 modeling
Issue #48
Jan/Feb 2010
Vol. 9 - No. 1
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
Joe Giannovario
[email protected]
Art Director
Jaini Giannovario
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Managing Editor
Mike Cougill
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Advertising Manager
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O
Scale
Trains
Features
4
Cover: Yes, that is a copy of John Allen’s famous engine house
at Gorre on his Gorre & Daphetid RR (pronounced gory and
defeated). The model is made of cardstock. The engine house
resides on Jim Gore’s On30 Jemez & Rio Grande RR. Jim
describes how he built the model starting on page 4.
Centerspread: A painting by Larry Fisher inspired this scene on
Ray Grosser’s O Scale railroad. Ray scratchbuilt the bridge even
to the extent of cutting his own scale lumber. Ray’s article starts
on page 34.
Starting Over, Part 1 — Joe Giannovario
17
The Engine House At Gorre — Jim Gore
The old OST layout is gone and a new one takes its place. Joe will
detail the design and development process.
Yes, John Allen’s Gorre! Jim gives us insights and details on building this
well-known structure out of cardstock.
Flag Pole Uncoupling Tool — Ted Horvath
34
A Humpback Bridge — Ray Grosser
38
Newark & Marion Freight House — Harold Russell
43
Bashing A U30C Into A BQ23-7 — Ed Reutling
52
2010 O Scale National Convention
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.
oscalemag.com.
12
29
Contributors
Ted Byrne Gene Clements
Carey Hinch Martin Brechbiel
O Scale Trains Magazine, ISSN 1536-9528, USPS 24457, is
published bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, September and November by OST Magazine, PO Box 289, Exton
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PO Box 289, Exton PA 19341-0289.
Follow along with Capt. Mix as he scratchbuilds an interesting
CB&Q early diesel locomotive. This is going to take a while!
NMRA 75th Anniversary — Ken Jaglinsky
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Building A Center Cab Diesel, Part 1 — Capt. Tom Mix, USMC, Ret.
27
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MAGAZINE
Ted’s designed a clever and simple way to hide the uncoupling tool.
Inspired by a painting, Ray added this unique feature to his layout.
A small freight house for any layout drawn by Harold.
He’s at it again. Ed shows how he did this unique conversion. It’s not as
difficult as you might think.
If you go to the 2010 Convention check out Jerry Guth’s SP layout.
Departments
7
9
11
15
23
46
49
56
56
57
58
The Art of Prototype Modeling — Mike Cougill
Neville’s Workshop —
The Modern Image — Gene Clements
Reader Feedback
Traction Action — Martin Brechbiel
Product News & Reviews
Modelers’ Showcase
Buy-Sell-Trade Ads
Events Listing
Advertiser Index
Observations — Joe Giannovario
Jan/Feb ’10 - O Scale Trains • 3
Building a Center Cab Diesel - Part One
Capt. Tom Mix, USMC Ret.
Here’s an overview of the locomotive Tom will be describing in coming issues. Tom’s model was built to P48 standards but it is
easily adapted to O standard.
Ever since I got into building railroad models I have always
concentrated on steam engines and freight cars from the
1920s and ‘30s. I never considered having a diesel on my
steam road. Diesels are ugly; they sound wrong, and have
no visible moving parts. Even with today’s sound decoders
that can bring a model engine to life, a diesel is still a rather
boring, moving steel box that rumbles along with an occasional air horn blat. But a steam engine has the fascinating
movement of side rods and crossheads and that wonderful
sound of a steam whistle along with the chuffing and assorted
sounds of air pumps, generator whine; the sound of the fireman’s shovel on a steel deck, clank of the water hatch and
much more. However, I am afflicted with that common sickness among scratchbuilders, that of seeing a drawing of an
engine, either steam or diesel, and studying it with a “How
would I build that?” frame of mind.
I follow the CB&Q railroad and have been a member of
the Burlington Route Historical Society for many years. I
have a good collection of books, photos and drawings of that
road’s equipment. I have seen photos of a Burlington center
cab diesel and then I ran across an excellent drawing and
article in the July 1984 Railroad Model Craftsman. The drawing was by Marty Feldner and F. Hol Wagner, Jr. wrote the
article. That drawing, in O Scale by the way, really perked
the question of “How would I build that?” There are no commercial trucks (that I know of) for engines like this and with
those narrow hoods, would there be a motor small enough
to fit and still be powerful enough to pull our heavy O Scale
cars? More studying and research found that there are suitable motors, and the trucks would have to be scratchbuilt, but
gearboxes are available and wheelsets are out there for both
O Gauge and Proto 48.
Etched material is available for the deck and there are
commercial brass shapes of all kinds. My growing interest in
building this particular center cab cascaded into setting aside
my current steam projects and concentrating on the construction of one of those boring steel boxes with the wrong sound
and no visible moving parts. See, I told you there really is a
sickness with scratchbuilders!
4 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’10
This series will be of how I built this engine but I’m sure
that there are builders out there who may have ideas that are
easier and simpler than my methods. For those following this
series, especially first time builders, I want to talk about working with brass based on my experiences of soldering, milling,
turning, filing, and yes, occasional swearing, while learning
about this wonderful material. Moreover, who knows, you
too may become afflicted with that common sickness among
scratchbuilders.
Understanding Brass
The main understanding of brass is its hardness. There are
several degrees of hardness from easy machining to a softness
that is easy to form.
C360, Free Machining Brass, is the one that you will use
the most because of its easy workability. It comes in many
sizes of flat bars, rectangular, square, and rods. It works very
well for drilling, especially when drilling and tapping small
holes such as down to 0.037” or a #63 bit for 00-90 screws.
C360 is easily machined in a lathe or mill and has no problems with soldering.
C260, Cartridge Brass, is softer, usually comes in sheets,
and is easy forming. You can also get this in stamped flat bars
rather than extruded flat bars like C360. C260 is also used in
tubing both rounds, square or rectangular. One trick in using
C260 sheets when you will be bending for a locomotive boiler, or in the case of this diesel, the cab and hoods, is to hold
the sheet and flex it. You will note that it will bend more easily in one direction than the other. Then you will know which
way to bend or roll. C260 does not mill very well as sometimes the mill leaves a ragged cut. Drilling and tapping small
holes in soft brass, like C260 will almost guarantee to break
either the bit or tap even while using a fluid. These small bits
and taps are cleverly designed to break right at the surface
making it impossible to remove. Usually the part cannot be
saved so a lot of work up to that point is lost.
C770, Nickel Silver, comes in thin sheets up to a thickness
of ¼” and possibly thicker. I lived in Denmark for many years
and found that in Europe nickel silver is popular and used
more often than brass by modelers. I learned to use this mate-
rial while living there and like it very much. It solders more
easily than brass, is easier to form, and holds paint better than
brass. Rivets show very well such as in tender sides. It can be
a bit tough to machine but I use a lot of it especially when
constructing components that will represent steel in a model
such as steam engine crosshead guides. I used it on the trucks
as wear points for vertical movement of the axle journals.
After painting, the wear of that movement will make it appear
that the journals are moving against “steel” rather than brass.
If you are building this engine, you might consider using
nickel silver for the cab and hoods.
Sources
OnLineMetals.com: This company takes small orders, is
prompt and their prices are reasonable. Their site also gives
information on materials, their structure and composition and
how it is used. They sell many materials: aluminum, steel,
brass, nickel silver, plastics and shapes like pipes, rods, tubes,
bars.
SmallParts.com: They carry much of the same for materials, but they also carry fascinating things like gears, universals, fasteners of all kinds, sealers, bearings, pulleys and belts.
The list goes on. If you click on their site, you will be there for
an hour or so checking out what they have. 
Specialshapes.com: This company has many brass shapes
such as channels, H shapes, angles, flat bars, sheets, rods,
etc. They also carry brass screws and washers in 00-90, 0-80,
1-72, 2-56, at a much more reasonable price than what you
see in the small packets at hobby shops. Be careful of their
larger flat bars such as 3/32 and 1/8” thick sizes, as they most
likely will be stamped and soft. Not good for drilling and
machining.
Motor Man [www.micro-loco-motion.com]: I have been
experimenting with precision and coreless motors for power
rather than the common brush and magnet motors we have
used for years. These small motors are quite powerful and
what is nice is that often they use less than 1 amp under load
which means one decoder having both sound and power
can be used rather than two decoders for the same purpose.
Motor Man has many sizes of coreless motors and many are
gear head motors.
Goldmine-elec.com: Truly is a gold mine for electronics.
For the motor that I used, check this site. When you open, on
the left is a column, click on motors, then DC motors, scroll
down to Item # G16026 (if in stock). This is a German Faulhaber. It is used, but to me they look brand new. Cost is $7.95.
I bought mine while on sale for $4.95. Note there is a plastic
shroud covering the motor that has to come off. You will
invent some new swear words getting that shroud removed. I
found the easiest way was to make several saw cuts through
the plastic at the gear end and carefully pry with a small
screwdriver. This motor is powerful for its size and best of all
it will fit in the narrow hood. I bought three of these motors
and on the one in the diesel, I ground off that gear. If you
want sound in your model, check the speakers also sold in
the “Gold Mine.” I bought a flat speaker, not quite 1½” dia.,
8 ohm, for a package of two for a $1.00.
P&D Hobby Shop [www.pdhobbyshop.com] sells gearboxes for the trucks. You can buy these with the 36” wheels
(O gauge) and tower as a complete set. I bought the gearboxes and transmission shafts with worm gears and the plastic
universals. However, the geared axles with 36” P48 wheels
This close-up view of the side shows the fuel tank detail.
This view of one hood shows Tom’s attention to the tiniest details.
Even the cab has additional details.
came from Protocraft. These are a drop-in for the P&D gearboxes. I made my own tower of brass with Delrin chain and
chain gears from Grandt Line that I had on hand. This chain
and gears are identical to the ones sold by P&D.
The Irish Tracklayer [www.irishtracklayer.com] has a good
variety of brass parts for diesels and steam. The hood’s door
hinges and latches and the etched brass numbers came from
this site.
Precision Scale Co. [httt://psc1.virtualfocus.com/] has an
enormous amount of brass castings for whatever you might
want to build. A few of the parts on this model came from
PSC.
Protocraft: If you are considering moving to Proto 48
check the Protocraft catalog. Not only do they carry P48
wheelsets, both geared and plain of several sizes, but they
also have castings for trucks, track, and the tools for working
in P48. Their e-mail is [[email protected]].
Now, with all of this out of the way let’s talk about this
Burlington diesel. In addition to the drawings, information
and photos in the RMC issue, The Burlington Route Historical Society sells a CD with four of their back issue Burlington
Bulletins. Cost is $25, and includes shipping. One of these
Bulletins, #6, deals with all the center cabs used by that road.
They were from Mack Trucks, Porter, Whitcomb, Midwest,
Cummins and GE. making for six models total. The 1928
Mack was a 30 ton (and quite ugly). The 1930 Porter was a
45 ton, the single 1931 Whitcomb, #9120, was a 60 tonner,
and the three 1933 and ‘34 Midwest locos, numbers 9121,
9122 and 9123, were 65 tons. All of these in Bulletin #6 have
drawings and photos so you can build another model rather
than the 65-ton Midwest that I built.
This diesel can be either O Gauge or Proto 48. I build
in P48 which means this will scale out using the prototype
drawings for all measurements. However, O standard gauge
(1.25”) will require compensating for the extra width in the
trucks and wheels. Right here you should note that when
I discuss the measurements in building this engine I will
use a material’s thickness such as 0.012” sheet or 1/8” x
2” bar stock. But, when it comes to that material being cut
or shaped into a component on the engine, I will use the
prototype measurements. It will be four feet, not one inch.
I never understood when reading construction articles, why
the author used a regular rule for the measurements of a window or loco cab instead of a scale measurement. It is easier
to visualize the prototype when laying out a part when you
measure 10 feet rather than 2 ½ inches. An O Scale rule is so
much easier to use than converting all those measurements.
To build a model such as this diesel you will need a lathe
and a mill with the mill also used as a drill press. You will
have to solder both thick and thin brass. William Kendall
wrote an excellent article in OST #40, An Introduction to
Soldering. I use a resistance-soldering unit that I have had for
more than 30 years and I couldn’t build without it. For heavy
components, I also use a torch like the one in William’s article. In the next issue, Part Two of this series covers building
the Commonwealth trucks.
u
The Art of Prototype
Modeling
Michael Cougill
The Curve
I’ll get to the new name shortly. Right now I want to talk
about “The Curve.” I’ve referred to the one curve on the layout several times in different articles and columns. As you’re
all nauseatingly aware by now, it is a 36” radius curve going
to the staging cassette on one end of the layout. I usually photograph this stellar piece of railroad engineering in a way that
minimizes just how sharp and kinked it actually is. Well, time
to come clean and show the beast for what it is.
Photo 1, taken from the end of the layout, illustrates the
lovely kink near the end of “The Curve” as it enters the staging cassette. The excuses (reasons) of how this sorry state
of affairs came to be are many, but mostly come down to
plain laziness on my part. When I laid it out, I grabbed the
wrong template. I made up two of them to test how wide a
radius I could use in this space, one 36” and the other 48”.
Guess which one I grabbed? I didn’t realize the mistake until
track work was well underway, and given that I had already
spiked each and every tie, I didn’t want to do it over. As if that
weren’t enough of a sin, I also got the alignment and flow of
the curve off when I individually hand laid all those wonderfully spiked ties to begin with. The track started to drift quite
close to the wall and I just laid the ties in whatever radius was
required to avoid going outside. Oh yes, rest easy folks, your
editor is on top of things.
So what’s a guy to do? I’ve thought of yanking it all out
and doing it properly several times, but all that lovely scenery
and rock-hard ballast
just seem to banish all
thoughts of that kind.
Furthermore, “The
Curve” as I’ve taken
to calling it now, is
a great way to test
new rolling stock. If
a car can negotiate
this fine example of
trackwork, then everywhere else on the
railroad is a cakewalk.
It also reminds me of
a similar industrial
spur that the Pennsy
had in Richmond. It
came off of the westbound freight main
and snaked its way
between two buildings to reach a scrap
yard some distance
away. I remember
seeing an SW7 and two or three 52’6” gondola cars squealing their way around it at a snail’s pace and just clearing the
adjoining structures. If the prototype can do it why can’t I?
So, “The Curve” will remain as is for now. It’s used as an
industrial lead, not as a through track, therefore slow orders
and equipment restrictions are the rule of the day, until the
Head of Maintenance gets bored and has to come up with
something for us to do.
The new column name
I decided it was time to shake things up a bit with the
column, so now it’s the Art of Prototype Modeling. The term
“finescale” is a bit imprecise as it could also refer to simply
modeling to more refined standards in traditional NMRA
gauge. The column’s emphasis is still on P48, but with a tighter focus on prototype modeling, since that’s really what the
“P” in P48 stands for. Now that the layout is essentially done,
I’ve been doing a lot more freight car modeling and discovered the joys of prototype research. So that’s where I’ll be
headed from now on. However, it won’t be freight cars only.
Prototype modeling embraces structures and yes, I’m going
to say it, scenery too. This aspect of the hobby has opened
up new areas of enjoyment and the learning curve has been
a smooth, constant radius so far, unlike certain other curves
previously mentioned.
Best regards,
Mike
u
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Tote Tray for Scenery Materials
While working on the layout I needed
a tray to carry the scenery material to the job.
I made a tote tray out of scrap
wood in the workshop.
1
Photo 1: The basic tray is made with flakeboard
for the bottom (18” x 23”) and 1x2s for a frame.
The center piece is a 1x4 with a slot cut out for a
handle.
3
2
Photo 2: I added some additional wood scraps
to make compartments. One block was drilled to
hold brushes and other round tools.
Photo 3: Here's the tray loaded and ready to work
on the layout.
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How can we help you? Custom machine
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Prototype Pre-fabricated Track
It makes you wonder if the prototype railroads may have
taken an application from model railroading and applied the
process to their track maintenance procedures. I’m referring to
pre-fabricated turnouts and track sections much like the sectional, flextrack and ready to install turnouts commonly used
in the hobby today. Take a look at Photos 1 and 2.
This turnout was transported to the location after being
built at the factory. Being too long to be transported as a single
assembly, it was cut into multiple sections and loaded into a
gondola car equipped with a special bracket that allows the
sections to be secured for movement. After being unloaded at
the site where it will be installed, the sections are pot welded
back together to form a complete turnout.
You will also notice a section of pre-fabricated track which
was built onsite. While not shown in the photographs, a maintenance flatcar loaded with 39 foot long track panel sections
and some ballast cars were stored on a yard track and will be
moved to the site once the rebuild project begins.
This project takes place at the north end of the yard ladder
at Amory, Mississippi. Its purpose is to correct an engineering
problem. Originally designed and built sometime around the
turn of the 20th Century, the yard tracks have seen numerous
modifications and repairs. The No. 10 turnouts that are in
place are now substandard due to increased car lengths and
weights. Number 2 track was the first track off the north ladder
and created an “S” curve that was acceptable for cars up to 50
feet long, but not for the cars in use today. Numerous derailments have occurred at this location and a “Terminal Order”
was issued, restricting speeds to 5 MPH under the control and
visual observation of a crew member.
An upgrade to modern engineering standards was necessary to correct this problem. The plan consisted of removing
the turnout from the lead and replacing it with straight sections of panel track on the north ladder lead. The new turnout,
a number 16, would be cut in just south of the turnout for
the North lead on track one. The Number 2 track would then
be shortened and tied into the new turnout, creating a much
greater radius that meets the requirements of modern locomotives and freight cars due to their coupler systems.
1
While this project involves yard tracks, it is no different
than the mainline being blocked. Time is critical for train
operations and the North end of the yard would have to be
closed down to rail traffic to complete the project. Mainline
movements would require protection since Track 1 parallels
the main line. A schedule was made to give the maintenance
crews the maximum time needed for the rebuild that would
least affect yard engine as well as mainline operations.
Starting at 7:00 am, a “Stop Order” was issued to all mainline traffic covering the milepost location of the construction.
Although the mainline was not affected, traffic could only
proceed on the verbal authority of the foreman in charge of
the project. Cranes on either side removed the old track and
turnout as the rails were cut. Afterwards, the old ballast was
removed and the roadbed prepared for the new track and
ballast. Once the new track sections were installed and everything tied back together, the ballast cars were unloaded over
the repaired sections so the ballast tampers and regulators
could go to work bringing the new track up to grade and into
alignment. The final touches were to dress up the area, remove
all debris and install the new hand throw on the turnout.
The project was winding down at 5:00 pm when we came
through on a loaded coal train. (Sorry I didn’t have the chance
to take any photographs.) As far as I know, this project corrected the derailment problem.
John Armstrong covered the “S” Curve scenario in his book
Track Planning for Realistic Operation in Section 5 Operating
Reliability through Standards. Derived from prototypical engineering data, John covers the “S” curve and locations where it
can be found lurking on even the best planned layouts.
Just as on the prototype, if we make the transition from an
earlier era’s equipment to the longer cars of today, we may
also find that we now have a problem “S” curve that will not
handle the longer cars. The solution may be a re-design of the
effected track area. I would recommend that all railroad modelers have a copy of Track Planning for Realistic Operation in
their libraries. Not only is it a valuable tool, but it will also
explain why prototype scenarios are built the way they are.
Keep ‘em on the rails until the next time.
u
2
Starting Over: Pt 1
OST Builds A New layout
It’s been a bit over 5 years since I started building the Coal
Creek Railway and it was just not working for us. I’d made several
design choices which I now regard as mistakes.
• I built the layout too high (54”) for short people like Jaini and
me. The height made it very difficult and uncomfortable to work
on the layout.
• I built tracks too close to the wall which made it nearly
impossible to scenic.
• I designed the layout without a firm idea of what the scenery
would look like or where structures would be placed. As a result it
sort of “just growed” and looked it.
• There was too much mainline track crammed into too little
space and too little track in the yard.
• I built the benchwork too deep to reach across without having to stand on a step stool or step ladder.
With all of these flaws in mind I began to design a new layout
from the ground up and I am going to share that process with you
over the next year. It will entail more than just designing a new
layout as I will describe some of the research I’ve done and how I
found sources of information.
I started the process with a list of “Givens & Druthers” as recommended by John Armstrong. First the Givens:
1. The new layout will be based on a real prototype, the
Abingdon Branch of the N&W. I will model from Bristol, VA to
White Top, VA.
2. The minimum radius will be 44”. This will work just fine for
small steam and the Geeps.
3. No track will be closer to the walls than 6” from the centerline. This will help make sure there is room for scenery and my
hand if I need to get to a derailed car.
4. No benchwork will be deeper than 30” unless there is
access to it from 3 sides. No more step stools.
5. The benchwork will be between 36" and 48” high, give or
take a couple inches.
7. The maximum train length will be 96”. This is about perfect
for the Abingdon Branch which ran very short trains with doubleheaded locomotives.
8. Room space is 14’ wide by 22’ long with access at the right
end of the room.
9. My modeling workbench has to fit under the new layout.
Now the Druthers:
10. The new layout will be double-deck to get a longer run.
Max grade will be 4% (which is almost what the real grade was).
11. I will model two time periods: 1948 and 1968. This will
allow me to run small steam and GP-9s.
12. I will use Atlas O track and switches for speed of construction, plus I had a design tool based on Atlas products.
Armed with this list, I began to doodle benchwork configurations trying to find an arrangement that would utilize my space
efficiently. Periodically I get an email newsletter from Model
Railroader (it’s free to subscribers) and one of them mentioned
that the MR website has an online database of trackplans. I logged
in and started looking. MR sorts its plans by square footage. My
room is a bit under 308 sq. ft. Nearly all the track plans in the MR
database that are less than 300 sq. ft. are all designed for narrow
gauge O Scale. I picked the next sort which was 300-600 sq. ft.
and the first plan that popped up looked intriguing. In January of
1999 MR published a plan for the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore
Lines by Max Schwanda. It’s a walk-in design with a long central
peninsula that then wraps around the walls. Mr. Schwanda’s room
was 12’ by 30’ so he had length where I had width but I felt sure
this was the place to start. Using Mr. Schwanda’s plan as a template I flipped it over to fit my room, shortened it by 8 feet and
expanded the width by 2 feet. Compare this new design (Figure
1) with the old design (Figure 2).
You can see that the new design provides much easier access
for track laying, scenery and maintenance.
Figure 1. Benchwork arrangement for the new layout
Figure 2. Old layout benchwork
Research
Now that I had an idea of how the benchwork would fit the
room I had to come up with a trackplan and, for once, I wanted a
trackplan that reflected a real prototype.
I knew quite a bit about the Abingdon Branch as it has been
the subject of several articles in both model and prototype magazines. I planned to start the design at Bristol since this is where
the engines on the branch were serviced. I then picked several
locations along the branch that would be developed into vignettes
along the wall. These included Abingdon, Alvarado, Damascus,
and Creek Junction, all located in Virginia. I decided to “terminate” the railroad at White Top, VA which was the highest point
on the branch. White Top had the distinction of being the highest
point (3500’) east of the Rockies with regularly scheduled passenger service. In reality, the line continued from White Top another
35 miles or so ending in West Jefferson, NC. The N&W, unlike
other railroads, names its branchlines based on where they start
rather than where they end, hence the Abingdon Branch.
I dug out what reference materials I had on hand and started
searching the Internet for more data. For modeling purposes, the
best article was written in 1975 by Tony Koester with photos by
Jim Boyd published in the September 1975 Railroad Model Craftsman. Little did they know the whole line would be scrapped just
two years later.
Back in 1957 O. Winston Link published a photo essay titled
”Mixed Train” in the July issue of Trains. The Abingdon Branch
was again the subject of a Trains article in June of 1984 written by
Lloyd D. Lewis which included a general history of the line from
1900 to its demise in 1977. I discovered that the nickname for
the branch, the “Virginia Creeper”, predated the N&W operation.
The line was originally built as the Virginia-Carolina Railway and
that led me to a publication titled The Virginia Creeper by Doug
McGuinn.
I also scoured other N&W books for photos and clues about
the line. These included August Thieme’s The Norfolk & Western...
As I Knew It, Mallory Ferrell’s Norfolk & Western Steam’s Last
Stand and O. Winston Link’s The Last Steam Railroad in America
which devotes and entire chapter to the Abingdon Branch.
As for modeling plans, thank goodness Bob Hundman, publisher of Mainline Modeler, had grandparents who lived in Abingdon. His fond memories of the town led him to publish many
plans over the years including the Abingdon passenger station,
the freight house, pedestrain foot bridge, the Bristol depot and the
depot at Green Cove.
I also did extensive research on the Internet. I started with a
Google search on “Virginia Creeper” and discovered the line from
Damascus to White Top has been turned into a bike trail managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Virtually every bridge and trestle
between those two points still exists and there are photos of many
of them on a website dedicated to the biketrail [www.vacreepertrail.us]. I found a website for the town of Damascus and one for
White Top. The depot at Damascus is gone. The depot at Green
Cove, just before White Top, is the original while the depot at
White Top itself was rebuilt by the Forest Service in 2000.
I found topographical maps at the MapTech website [www.
historical.maptech.com/index.cfm], and I found a trove of N&W
photographs online at Virginia Tech [imagebase.lib.vt.edu/browse.
php?folio_ID=/trans] with over 12,000 photos. I found 3 photos of
the same end of the Damascus depot and one photo showing an
end and the rear of the White Top depot.
ed the walls a very pale blue-white. Once that was done we
addressed the floor covering. Previously, I simply painted the concrete floor. After standing on that floor for many hours I decided
we needed something easier on the feet. I opted for commercial
grade carpeting installed over a foam pad.
The second major issue with the room was lighting. Originally
I had 9 incandescent flood light fixtures. As you can see in Photo
1, this resulted in hot spots of light and lots of shadows between
the fixtures. I decided to install Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs),
but not just any CFL. For about two years now I’ve been using an
Ott-Lite lamp at my workbench and I really liked the clean white
light it put out. I called Ott-Lite and found they made CFLs with
an Edison base. Since I already had pots in the ceiling I opted to
add 29 more, basically one pot every 2 feet around the periphery
of the room and down the center over the peninsula. CFLs use
much less energy than incandescent bulbs, about 75% less. The
38 CFLs I’m using now consume 15 Watts less energy than the
9 flood lights I had before. They don’t heat up the room either.
The downsides are cost and warm-up time. Ott-Lites cost about
double what a run-of-the-mill CFL would cost in a big-box home
improvement store but the quality of light is spectacular. As for
warm-up time, it takes about a minute before the lamps come up
to full brightness. I can deal with that.
Next time... a plan evolves.
u
Photo 1: The old lighting system during construction of the original
layout. Notice the hotspots on the wall from the flood lights.
Figure 2: A portion of a topo map from green Cove to White Top.
Check out the horseshoe curve!
Last but not least, I joined a mailing list at the N&W Historical
Society and posted a few questions about the line. Several people
replied with answers and leads to answers. This would prove to be
one of my best decisions.
Prepping The Room
Jaini and I tore out the old layout right to the walls. We repaint-
Photo 2: The new lighting system during construction of the new layout.
The Ott-Lites provide even, bright, non-glaring illumination.
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Hard Coal Scarcity
Let me take this time to say how
much I enjoy O Scale Trains and how
much I enjoyed talking N&W steam
with Mr. Giannovario at the Baltimore
O Scale National. 
I’d like to comment on Ed Bommer’s
B&O coal trestle article. It’s a fine article
and I enjoyed reading about this really nice model. However, I take issue
with the suggestion that folks along the
Virginian, N&W and other bituminous
coal roads heated their homes with anthracite coal. A family friend, who for
many years ran a fuel business here in
Lynchburg, refutes that notion also saying: “You couldn’t get anthracite coal,
everyone burned bituminous!”
I can attest that after years of pouring over photos taken along the Virginian, N&W and C&O, it’s extremely
rare to see a hopper from one of the
anthracite roads in a train, let alone
seeing one on a local coal trestle. It may
seem logical that people might have
preferred the clean burning anthracite,
but the soft coal was much more readily
available and probably cheaper since it
didn’t have to be shipped as far. I most
respectfully suggest that Mr. Bommer is
mistaken on this point. Thanks for listening and keep up the great work on the
magazine.
Ed Burnett, Lynchburg VA, via email
Drillbits & Drill Bits
I am glad to see that somebody else
out there knows the correct terminology
for the drills we use. I was pleasantly
surprised when I saw [Joe’s] reference
to the use of a twist drill on page 51 of
issue #44. I maintain there is no such
thing as a drillbit.
Bernard Brock, Santa Fe NM
Joe replies: Bernard is correct. There
is no such thing as a drillbit. There is,
however, such a thing as a drill bit. The
“bit” is the cutting device that fits in a
drill. The typical metal cutting bits most
hobbyists use are called twist drills.
There are other types of metal cutting
drills. Bits designed for drilling wood
have names like auger bit or Forstner bit.
Crossing Gate Electronics
Regarding Ted Byrne’s PoweringUp
article on grade crossing detection and
how to actuate the crossing signal realistically. That is a very interesting solution that he describes. I faced a similar
dilemma when I had to give up the
DC-only crossing detectors I had used
and find something that would determine the directionality for either DC or
DCC operations. The infrared detection
system offered by John Parsons of MRMatix ([www.mrmatix.com], P.O. Box
6763, Longmont, CO 80501) proved to
be just the answer for me. His system
can operate lighted and motorized type
crossing signals, and John was very
helpful in working out a wiring modifi-
cation for the particular crossing signal I
wanted to use.
Charlie Morrill, via email
Danielson’s Trees
#47 was a great issue. I was mpressed
with the trees on the feature layout --but no mention was made of them. Their
source and construction methods, etc.
would have been wonderful
Donald P Wilkinson, via email
Duane Danielson replies: Ninetynine percent of the trees are from Scenic
Express modified by me and repainted
to more proper colors. I think they are
the EX200 series with about 15 in a pkg
for $29. I have over 3000 trees so far.
Sweeper Correction
I am quite pleased with how my Double Truck Double Brush Trolley Sweeper
article came out in issue 47. Thank you.
The following corrections should be
noted:
• Figure 1 on page 12: There should
be a box around the left ‘33’, as there is
around the right most ‘33’.
• Second paragraph, second sentence on page 13 should read: With DC
this would give pole reverse but with
DCC, the forward direction is determined by the connection of the orange
and gray leads to the motor. 
 Thank you, again. 
 Bill Brandt, via e-mail
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Plus we give you
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Scale. The 2nd Edition
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For too long O Scale
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The
Engine
House at
Gorre
Jim Gore
The engine house at Gorre. It’s all cardstock!
For those of us of a certain age (and even some who are
younger), John Allen has been an icon for longer than most
of us are willing admit. His Gorre & Daphetid (G&D) has
been the exemplar for model railroad realism and operation.
I had the chance to visit John’s layout once. Unfortunately,
I shipped out to Vietnam a week before the scheduled visit.
When I returned, John had died and the G&D had burned to
the ground.
In the September 1948 issue of The Model Craftsman, John
introduced us to his engine house at Gorre. It was build of
the common scratchbuilding materials of the day: Strathmore
bristol board, stripwood (if you could get it), and celluloid
from old film (for the windows) – total cost 98 cents. I am still
amazed at the results, although I get a chuckle over John’s
suggestion of using an ice pick to create scribed siding on the
bristol board. Over the next few years John won regional and
national honors for that structure while introducing another
concept – ageing or weathering of structures. John’s structure
was meant for shortline or secondary service, but it was a
beauty! After examining the drawings John provided for the
magazine, this is a building with a lot of character and (as
my wife puts it when she sees a new house) lots of potential.
However, it is pretty small but ideal for narrow gauge.
Although there have been several kits released over the
past 60 years to honor or reproduce that engine house (most
notably the Fine Scale Miniatures version), the most recent
offering is unique. Made entirely of cardstock, by Clever
Models, it harkens back to John’s original and certainly challenges the builder to step into the “shoes of the master” as it
were. Indeed, the Clever Models kit doesn’t rely upon stripwood at all, it’s all cardstock! With all of the wonders of CAD
design and the artistic ability to create textures, colors and
weathered patterns, this model is contemporary in its production but reprises some old construction techniques and
disciplines.
I had the pleasure of working with Thom Miecznikowski
of Clever Models in testing his version of the G&D Engine
House and suggested a few design changes and additions.
Thom discovered that, unlike their other models, the number
of parts and details for the engine house would require over
50 printed pages and be pretty costly. So, Clever Models has
opted to offer the model on DVD, bundled with some options
and a model of John’s water tower at Gorre. I’ve been receiving the various pages via email, printing them out on my own
printer, and doing test construction. I thought I would relate
my adventures to the readers of OST.
Getting Into Cardstock Modeling
Paper and cardstock models are not new. The art has
been practiced in Europe for several centuries. Probably one
of the most famous paper and card modelers was Joseph
Merrick in the late 19th Century. If you are an aficionado of
European model railway magazines, you already know the
wealth of cardstock models available. Examine some of the
well-known layouts in the United Kingdom and Europe and
you will see many incredible card and paper models, rivaling
the best of the craftsman kits. Of course European modelers also have other media that we American modelers are
less familiar with. (Anybody tried an etched-brass structure
kit recently?) For some reason, in the 1970s, we gave up on
cardstock models (it was thin cardboard, after all) and turned
to wood, plastic, plaster, and various resins. With the advent
of new CAD software, the days of single color artwork on
cardstock are gone. The new purveyors of cardstock models
can truly call them craftsman kits as they contain a multitude
of detail and color variations (weathering) already printed. All
you have to do is add those detail parts make it more threedimensional.
Cardstock
First, you must print out the pages on appropriate paper.
Clever Models use 80 lb cardstock for their kits but I decided
to go with what was available at the local office supply store.
After some experimentation, I decided to use 65-lb ultrawhite cardstock for all of the sides and ends, as well as those
parts which will require bending. For the large (and flat) struc-
The kit arrives as a DVD
but you must print out
about 60 pages by the time
you’re done. This page shows
the exterior side of the end
wall. The window openings
are cut out and windows
and frames from other
pages are added in layers to
give a 3-D look and feel.
Here’s that same end after the various pieces have been
layered on to give dimension. An interior wall is also laminated.
This layering gives the wall considerable strength and integrity.
tural parts like the fascia, windows, window and door frames,
etc. I used 110-lb cardstock (ultra-white if you can find it, but
I have found that the standard white works well enough). You
can use just about any home printer. I have both inkjet and
laser printers, and both seem to work just fine. Set the printer
settings as if you were going to print a photograph so that any
“grain” is minimized. Also tell your printer that you are using
cardstock so that it eases up on the feed-roller tension a little.
Although I have never experienced it, I am told that some
printers might make the print a little green or yellow. You may
have to adjust your printer’s color settings.
Obviously, since it is printed from a PDF file, these are
not laser cut parts, so you will need lots of #11 blades. I used
over 20 blades to complete the model. At the first sign of
dullness, replace the blade. This is especially important when
cutting out the openings for all of those windows (and there
are a lot of them). The other valuable tools include a good
metal straight-edge (or two). A square is quite nice to have for
some parts and a self-healing cutting pad.
Planning
Despite the fact that it’s cardstock, you have invested in a
craftsman kit; treat it accordingly. If this kit were not provided
on DVD, it would cost well over $100 for the 60+ pages of
printed parts and options. Most model kits tell you to take
the time to read the instructions before commencing. Since
I was experimenting with this kit, there were no instructions,
but it did teach me something very important about card-
This is a page with a
set of interior beams.
They must be folded and
the tabs appropriately
glued in order to create
the set of seven interior
supports.
stock craftsman kits. Take the time to study all of the pages
of parts and visualize not only how the parts are to be folded
and cemented together but how you want it to look when
completed. Ask yourself: “What is my order of construction?
Which of these parts need to be sandwiched in multiples for
the best effect?” I spent a week jotting down notes before I
lifted the first #11 blade. Six weeks later (about 1.5 hours per
day), I completed the project.
Adhesives
Although it may not sound correct, I used CA glue
(medium viscosity) for cementing the parts together even for
the large building sides. If you draw a bead of CA along the
wall edges just 2 or 3mm inboard, as well as along the edge
of each window or door opening, and place a few dabs in
between, and then quickly put weight on the piece, the CA
will spread sufficiently. Don’t use white glue (or any other
water-based glue), it will warp the parts and cause the ink
to run or discolor. After trial and error (a whole lot of error),
I would not recommend spray adhesives either. The solvent
in the cement soaks through the cardstock and discolors
everything. That’s the nice part about the kit; if you make a
mistake, just print out another piece and start over (I did that
a few times too).
The opposite side with the interior laminations. The structural beams are all individual pieces. I used a piece of Kappler’s
O Scale 12x12 as a gluing surface when creating the beams.
They are just slightly larger and the “jig” can be removed when
the tab has been glued and the sides aligned. The gussets are
double pieces with their edges painted using a black magic
marker with the backs painted with a Floquil Rail Brown marker.
Making the Model Dimensional
There are four methods to creating a realistic cardstock
model: layering, edge-painting for contrast, weathering, and
detailing.
The trick to any of these kits is creating three-dimensions
out of two. Think, for example, of a window. The realism of a
model window is the fact that the mullions, frame, glass, and
the sill are all on different planes. With a printed cardstock
model, the same thing applies. Clever Models provides those
layers in the form of extra windows, frames, mullions, etc.
When all cut out, they can be layered to create the window
on the wall. A typical window, then, would have a sandwich
of an inside set of mullions, a layer of clear plastic, the exterior mullions, and then the exterior frame with perhaps another
frame placed on top of that, all completed with a layer for
the lower sill. So, for this model, the walls are layered with
fascia strips (to your chosen thickness) with doors and windows often made of four or five layers, to give them true three
dimensions.
Of course, the edges of the layered parts must be painted
to remove the white color of the cardstock. Besides, covering
the white of the paper, the edge color can be used to create
a little contrast to make the layer even more noticeable. In
addition to the old standbys from Floquil (I use their acrylics)
I have accumulated quite an array of acrylic paints from the
local arts and crafts stores. Some of my favorite colors are
driftwood, blue-gray, and a variety of browns (Railroad Tie
Brown is a particularly useful soft contrast color), in addition
to whites, and yellows.
I choose a color that is slightly darker than the printed
color. This gives a little shadow to the part and adds to the
dimensionality. I use a black permanent marker with a fine
point for the edges of things like tarpaper and some hinges
to really increase the contrast. Whenever possible, the colors
should be painted from the reverse (white) side of the part.
Use the side of the brush to apply the paint. With the bevel
of the cut coming towards you, misapplications of the paint
(“slop”; it’s a technical phrase) tend to be on the white side,
where they won’t be seen. The exposed edge of a folded part
must also be painted. In that case, I use the tip of the brush
but dilute the paint by dipping the brush in “wet water” (a
drop of dish detergent in a small bowl) before dipping into
the smallest amount of paint. When dragged lightly along
the folded edge, the paint tends to run quickly into the fold.
You might think that the water would warp the parts but most
acrylic paints are so thick and set so fast that this doesn’t create a problem.
Weathering
Once completed, cardstock kits can be weathered just
like any other kit. Before adding the clear plastic windows (or
even before cutting out any parts), a light coating of Dullcote
(or similar) will give the surface some tooth for weathering
powders and will protect the colors from fading. Obviously,
you can’t use washes (especially alcohol washes) to any great
effect. However, some controlled streaking can be done with
very dry washes (several times) of acrylic paints and weathering chalks can be used with great results. With brick buildings, I even outline a few bricks with my fine-point black
marker to indicate grime and mold.
Details
Of course, we all want to add those details that personal-
The sides of the engine house are created by placing two
appropriate sides together and joining them with overlays of
material to represent the outside braces and inside beams
(you can make out the joint, here, on the inside view). Is the
building too short for K-27s or K-36s? Just print out another
side and make the building three courses long!
As I began to create the box of the structure and add the
supporting beams, I added Kappler scribed material for the
floor (you could also use Clever Models’ wood underlayment
laminated to sheet plastic) and laid some On30 track.
Before the final wall went up, I created some interior details.
With all of those windows and skylights, somebody is going to
peek in and see if there is any action going on inside. I used all
kinds of details and figures from my various junk boxes.
John Allen’s original structure had brick stacks and metal
vents extending into the enginehouse. I liked circular ones
instead, so Thom designed new ones for me. Cardstock does
a remarkable job of resembling sheet metal. This vent is composed of seven pieces which are cut and folded.
Although John Allen’s structure was designed for the
warmer climates of southern California, my layout is set in the
high mountains of New Mexico. I wanted some doors and Thom
Meicznikowski was kind enough to design some for me.
John Allen’s cupola had windows, so that’s what I added.
Clever Models also provides a cupola with slatted vents,
instead. I still have no idea why John added that piece of stripwood along the base of the cupola, but I did too.
ize the structure and give it that used appearance. In the case
of a structure that might appear overly two-dimensional,
I think the external details are particularly important. For
example, even though you could add an additional layer
to represent a door-knob, I added something a little more
dimensional. Those pins that seem to be everywhere on the
latest shirt that you bought work just great for an O Scale
doorknob (I think I have enough to populate every door on
every O Scale layout on the planet). I always keep a good
supply of Grandt Line (or other suppliers) lamp shades
The roof is Clever Models’ roof underlayment laminated to
around. One really good way to give the 3-D look is somethe roof sheets, with the skylights cut out. I liked some of the thing sticking out from the flat surface. So, a lamp or two
Rusty Stump’s skylights better, so it’s easy to add them in the over loading doors and entryways gives a good appearance.
appropriate place (at each end, in this view). Eventually it will be Another nice touch is a gutter and downspout along the edge
covered with cardstock shingles, except for a few holes to reveal of the roof. I have used soda straws carefully cut in half for
that very nice underlayment.
gutters with plastic rod for the downspout. Clever Models
The holes in the shingles have to be repaired. The underlayment is nicely exposed and an unlucky employee gets to climb
the ladder and make the fix.
Now it’s an engine house and ready to go! It will soon be
installed on my On30 Jemez & Rio Grande.
It is indeed remarkable that John Allen produced this realistic and dramatic model for less than a dollar. The Clever
Models’ version is as realistic and it does challenge the skills
that craftsmen must possess. Many current day craftsman-kit
aficionados ask me why anyone would bother to regress back
to old techniques and materials when so many new (and
easier) kits are available? Once you have completed a few
of these cardstock beauties, it becomes much easier and less
daunting to challenge that box of sticks or to scratchbuild that
structure you’ve always wanted. I view these cardstock models as the best of modern computer aided design with incredible artwork combined with some tried and true techniques
that may have been lost or pushed aside. So, why do I want
to bother with cardstock structures? Quite frankly, my most
common response is like that of most mountain climbers,
“Because I can and because it’s there!” u
All of those nifty detail parts make the scene come to life
and tends to convince people that maybe cardstock isn’t so
bad after all
even sells a cardstock set of gutters, but you still have to do
a little painting and weathering and create the downspouts.
A few stacks of various stuff (standpipes, smoke stacks, etc.),
is also a good touch. Some scrap stripwood to create a frame
around an inset door or a wooden ramp outside a loading
door also help to create the illusion of form and function.
Finally, add a little clutter along the base of the structure to
give more dimensions and make the entire scene come alive.
No matter how well I do (and I suspect there may be others like me), there will be a gap somewhere that just won’t
go away. Even though paper/card is a very forgiving medium,
sometimes (usually due to my own ineptitude) things just
don’t quite line up (or the CA dries too darn fast before alignment). That’s the time to get a little creative. In Howard Zane’s
scenery world, it’s HIWAB (hide it with a bush). My HIWAB is
“hide it with a board” (or two or three).
Traction Freight
There are passengers and then there is freight…and more
opportunity! When last appearing here, I made a less than
oblique comment about discussing traction freight trailer kits
and moving freight under the wire. The vast majority of modelers hear the words traction and trolleys and immediately
jump to the conclusion of running a passenger operation,
picking up and transporting commuters or residents out and
about town. And while perhaps many modelers do run a passenger trolley about their layout in some configuration, so
much more could be done to interchange with one’s other
modeling interests, be it steam or diesel driven. This of course
does not refer to those heavy mainline boxcabs and electrics
common to the PRR and other lines.
Consider in your mind’s eye the remarkably tight radii
that accompany driving down the street and making turns
and now image a trolley following the same route. Ok, that’s
simple and easy to visualize and accept, particularly for those
that have ridden such. But now consider taking 36-40’ freight
cars around the same curves! To facilitate getting around that
corner you could maybe relieve the corners of the freight car
to have a rounded end and if that wasn’t enough, you could
permit the coupler to pivot or use a radial coupler that would
swivel through the arc as defined by the end curvature of the
car. Now you can run freight cars through your cityscapes,
wrap right around the blocks and navigate directly up to the
doorways of warehouses and businesses to make deliveries
with none of those nasty expulsions from steam or diesel
powered locomotives.
Traction freight cars were built and used by such luminaries like the Northern Ohio Traction & Light Company, Union
Traction, the Cincinnati & Lake Erie, and the Western Ohio
Railway. Of course, just about any configuration of regular
freight car translated across to traction freight cars, e. g. , flat
cars, gondolas, boxcars, reefer cars (even billboard reefers),
and the list goes on. There were even standard designs generated by the Central Electric Railway Association (CERA) to
address increasing freight business and to decrease maintenance and repair costs. Thus was borne the Standard Freight
Trailer, or CERA box trailer, as described in the Electric Railway Journal in 1926. For a good introduction into the use of
traction freight and freight cars, I can recommend that you sit
down with a copy of Not only Passengers: How the Electric
Railways Carried Freight, Express and Baggage. This happens
to be Bulletin 129 of the other CERA, the Central Electric
Railfans’ Association, and copies can be located with minimal
effort. And of course back issues of both Traction and Models
combined with Trolley Talk are both invaluable resources; the
former published plans of an array of box trailers, and even a
paper model that could be cut out and assembled.
So, what are the options for traction modelers? Unsurprisingly and unfortunately, very few options indeed exist for
today’s O Scale traction modeler. A few short decades ago
you could order as many as 6 different types of box trailers
from All-Nation; those kits still surface periodically but with
decreasing frequency. One of the 36’ box trailers that I’ve
managed to acquire is shown in Photo 1. All-Nation also
1
had offered a stake side flat car trailer with and without a
load, and a gondola. Midwestern Train Hobbies produces
(produced?) two traction trailer kits; a flat car and a stock
trailer. While the flat car provides an outstanding entry point
for scratchbuilding a vast array of possibilities, the stock
trailer can provide a reasonable representation of an actual
prototype car, albeit one that will have to have all of the
appropriate details added to it as these kits come with very
little, if any, detail parts. The stock trailer is patterned after
the #651-79 series of cars that ran on the Interstate Public
Service Company in Indiana that were built in 1924. After
that lengthy list of possibilities, there seems to be precious
few other options except to scratchbuild such cars for your
layout or to score a vintage car off eBay (Photo 2). But before
2
embarking on that exercise, note that LaBelle (who continues
to make some outstanding wooden O Scale trolley kits) also
makes three different box trailers in HO, including the CERA
box trailer, a standard design one can build in as many as 16
different configurations. One could probably scale up such
kits with reasonable assurances of success. I think it’s entirely
possible that we’ll head off in that direction in some future
installment!
u
More Laser-Cut Kits from B.T.S. !
McCabe Lumber Co.
MoW Speeder
Company
House
This company house
was inspired by one
from Pickshin, WV. The kit includes the piling to build it for
a level surface or for a sloped location. Interior partitions are
included as are positionable doors and windows. This kit consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood, and detail castings.
#17237
$ 54.95
Approx. Size - 31' x 35'.
An old boxcar body, a
truck chassis, and
some great planning on
the part of the crew
provided the main
ingredients for a
unique and handy
speeder.
The body kit consists
of laser-cut basswood, plywood, cardstock, and brass, urethane, & white
metal detail castings. And the driver, load, and decals are included. The
fully-assembled mechanism is American Made by David Hoffman. It
features a sheet brass frame, lost-wax brass end steps, NWSL gears and
wheelsets. Scale 27’ long over footboards. On3/On30 versions also
#18280
$ 239.95
available.
Green Springs Depot
Handcar Shed
West of Bellevue, Ohio stands Green Springs
Junction on the NKP. Over the years, the original
depot was modified with large doors in the
baggage room. This kit consists of laser-cut
basswood, plywood, and cardstock, self-adhesive
shingles, and detail castings. The doors are
positionable, and floor and interior partitions are
included. Approx. Size - 24’ x 52’
#17162
Track gangs needed a place to store their
handcars when not in use as well as all
their tools and supplies. Sheds with tracks
quickly answered the need. This kit
consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood,
and cardstock, and detail castings. The
footprint is approximately 18’ x 20’.
$ 109.95
#17503
$ 49.95
McCabe Water Tank
Willet’s Supply Co.
Willet’s Supply Company represents a small
trackside firm dealing in just about anything!
This kit consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood,
and cardstock, and detail castings. Approx. Size 45' x 24'
#17435
$95.95
At the McCabe Lumber Company, the
water tanks were unsophisticated, open-top
20,000-gallon tank based upon several
different prototype tanks. The standard
gauge version of the tank is shown in the
photos. The bents of the On3/30 version
are a scale 30" shorter in height; details
and the tank are the same as the standard
gauge version. The base of the tank has a
scale 18' square footprint. See-thru 'water'
is included. Laser-cut wood with plastic &
metal detail castings.
#17490 O
$ 99.95
#17489 On3/30
$ 99.95
Junior’s Shiner
A perfect little mobile home fit for the
1930’s to the present time. The kit
includes venetian blinds and color awning.
Laser cut wood and styrene with metal
detail castings. Approx. Size - 34' x 22'
#17405
$ 49.95
www.btsrr.com
Shipping - $5.00/order in the US
304-823-3729
All Scale Catalog - $5.00
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OST 01-10:Layout 1 11/3/09 4:46 PM Page 1
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Please mention code 3694 when ordering
Etched brass numbers SP-style, MSRP: $15.
Deichman’s Depot
O Scale
3518-1 Conrail (Svngs Bond) SD-40 DC/DCC $407.95
2004100-2 D&H U23b DC
212.45
20-2779-2 NS U30C w/P2 AC/DC
404.95
7345-1 Beacon Feeds PS4427 Hopper
57.75
7374-2 WM 40' Airslide Hopper
50.95
7768-2 Reading Fishbelly Hopper
44.60
7766-1 WM 55T Fishbelly Hopper(Pt. of Balti.) 44.60
7780-4 PC (MOW) H21a Hopper
55.20
9383-2 Kimberly-Clark 70T Cov. Hopper
55.20
9052-1 ASD 36' Wood Reefer
55.20
9053-2 Libby's 36' Wood Reefer
55.20
9062-2 Dubuque 36' Wood Reefer
57.50
9088-2 Great Falls Beer 40' Wood Reefer
67.95
9091-1 Flaharty Dairy 40' Wood Reefer
82.95
9122-1 Harding Butter 40' Reefer
65.95
9196-1 Borden's 40' Wood Reefer
57.75
9403-6 NH 50' PS-1 DD Box
55.20
9855-2 Schmidt's 50' PS-1 PD Box
59.45
9280-5 Trusweet 17,600K Tank
66.25
9286-3 ADM (Leaf) 17,600 Tank
66.25
9287-2 ADM (Molecule) 17,600 Tank
66.25
9693-3 PRR (Delivery Scheme) USRA SS Box 50.95
3002009-1 WP 53'6" Wood Express Reefer
67.95
Deichman’s Depot
110 Ivyside Dr, York PA 17402
Ph: 717-755-1108 • Fax: 717-840-9650
[email protected]
www.deichmansdepot.com
finally a
TOUGH
sUper GlUe.
© 2009 Gorilla Glue Company
Another Special Tool from
fOr THe TOUGHesT jObs On planeT earTH®
1-800-966-3458 Made in U.S.A.
East Gary
Car Co.
Dept OST
3828 St. Joseph Ct
Lake Station IN 46405
They’re Back!
Former Indianapolis Car Company sides
are now available from new tooling.
Parts #100 & #200
$3.00 each
More brass numbers coming soon!
Field parts for your interlocking tower: pipe
carriers, crank stands and cranks. Visit our
web site for details.
Orders under $50 please add $4.50 for postage and
handling. SASE for updated list.
The Irish
Tracklayer
2682 W. Palo Alto Ave
Fresno CA 93771
www.irishtracklayer.com
VALLEY MODEL TRAINS
Dimensions: 9-3/4 x 4-3/4 x 4-1/2"
Dock Adds 2" to Length
135 NW Greeley Avenue,
Bend OR 97701
479 - 2 per pack
4 x 3 x 2-3/4"
489 Loft Barn Kit O.............................................42.98 36.55
479 Long-Bell Lumber skid shacks 2/ O42.98 36.55
Crow River Products Resin and Metal Kits.....
308
www.sumptervalley.com
[email protected]
Tel: 541/382-3413
Fax:541/389-7237
Footprint with
loading dock
3" X 10"
Use in the yard,
on a dock or
industry.
308 Fixed Boom Crane O.....................65.00 58.50
Includes utility tank
shown on right - For use
with Derricks, ClamShell Derricks or as
Logging Donkeys
Hours:
Mon. thru Fri 8:30 AM - 5PM
and sometimes on Saturdays
O111
323
323 3-Drum Steam Hoisting Engine O .....80.00 73.60
O111 Utility Tank O....1 ¼”L X 2 ½”H ........net
8.00
Main Street Heritage Resin Kits.....
505
503
5 x 9-1/2" w/ boardwalk
5-1/2 x 8" w/ sidwalks
505 The Weekly Record O ...................66.95 61.60
503 Bill's Place O..................................62.95 57.90
Evergreen Hill Design O Laser Cut kits
Footprint: 9" deep (including both decks) 11" wide
(including stairs) 8" high (including fire barrels)
2007 Dollar Bros Motor Express Kit O
2007 Dollar Bros Motor Express Kit O 169.95 144.50
lots of detail
parts
2005
Includes
pool table,
cues, balls,
stove, radio
2011
2005 30's Gas Station O (4 x 6.25”) ......59.95 50.99
2011 Pool Hall with table O (5.25 x 6”)..69.95 59.50
Add $8.00 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
Visit our website to see hundreds of HO and O Scale Craftsman Kits
489
valleymodeltrains.com
484
484 Elevated Warehouse Kit O.......................79.95 67.98
6 x 4-1/4 x 6"
Check our website for latest
O Scale Listings
Custom Run Items
valleymodeltrains.com
Specializing in O Scale 2-rail
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● We buy or consign brass model
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Credit Card Orders Welcome
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American Model Builders O Scale Laser Kits
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Sumpter
Valley
Depot
Atlas..SP 2 bay hopper car, large lettering...$63
SP and SINCLAIR 8K tank cars..$63 ea
SP double sheathed box cars...reserve
WP 40' "Rides Like a Feather" box car...reserve
WP 52' mill gondola, feather logo..reserve
MILW and RI "MDT" steel reefers...$55 ea
Golden Gate...Sleepers..Erie, DLW, SF, MILW..$119
Coaches..PRSL, RG, Erie, DLW, MILW, RDG..$109
Head end cars..Erie, DLW, MILW, NYC...$119
Weaver...50' flat w/trailer..UP, Erie, SP, SF..reserve
RPO & Baggage..Erie, CNJ, SF, PRSL..$75-$90
Locomotives
Atlas..U-23, GP-15, RSD's, Dash-8, RS-3..$159-$299
RS-1's, GP 7/9, F-3's..$399-$449. SW's..$199-$359
GP-35's, SD-35's, SD-40's, D8-40b's..$329-$449
Alco Century's..PRR, EL, CN, ACL, L&N, BRC..$329-$449
3 rail scale diesels..fixed pilots, k-d couplers..inquire
3rd rail, Sunset..Greenbrier..$999. O-1..$899
SP Mogul..$749-$849. AM-2 $1499. MT-4..$1095
Wvr/Wms brass..PRR K4, A5, B6, others..call
Weaver..SD-40, C628/630, E-8, Sharks..$199-$399
MTH..Premier and Railking Scale diesels..$199-$429
K-line..GP-38..CNJ. RS3..Rdg, NYC, WM, SP, PE
E's..NYC, SP, CN; F's..PRR, NYC, Amtk....$249-$429
Passenger & Head End
Golden Gate..Sleepers..Pullman, PRR, N&W..$109
Coaches..$100-$109. Baggage, RPO, Combine..$119
Aluminum streamliners..NYC, SP, SF, PRR..call
Atlas..Industrial Rail..SF, GN, PRR, PRSL..$49
60' coach, Comb, Bag, RPO..$69. Horizon cars..$89
CALIF ZEPHYR 80' domes and sleepers..$129
MTH sets..AMTK, UP, SP, Septa, NYC..$249-$329
Weaver..60' baggage or RPO..PRSL, Erie, CNJ
SF, PRR, NYC, NH, UP, CN, N&W, B&M..$60-$90
Box Cars
Pecos River..SOU, KCS, NYC, SF, SP, T&P..$35-$45
Atlas..40' Woodside..30+ roads!!!...$47-$55
40' Steel..Rebuilts, or AAR..20+ roads..$47-$55
40' & 50' Trainman, 1970's (refurbished)..$30-$35
X-29's..$50-$62. HyCubes..60'..$69. 40'..$35
50'..Siide or plug door..$50-$60 60' auto parts..$52
Weaver..40' PS-1, 50' modern, Steelside, Outside braced
40+ roads..Old ones our speciality..$25-$40
Refrigerator Cars
Weaver/Crown..30+ roadnames in stock..$25-$40
57' Mechanical..15+ roads..no sound..$35, sound..$50
Atlas..53' xprs..$65.
40' steel..$45-$55
36' & 40' woodside..oldies, newies, custom..$50-$125
40' plug door..Trainman, 1970's refurbished..$30-$35
K-line..Woodside..same detail as Atlas..$40-$60
Covered Hoppers
Weaver PS-2 & AC-2..old & new..30+ roads..$25-$40
Centerflow or Grain..old and new..25 roads..$25-$40
Atlas..3 bay PS-2..$35. ACF 2 bay..$55-$65
New Trinity 5161..$66-$70 Cylindrical 40'..$45-$55
Airslides and PS4427's... .20+ roads......$45-$55
Hopper Cars
Atlas..3 bay..WM, SOU, BN, NH, Rdg, RG..$35
Ore cars..CN, UP, DMIR..$25. H21a 4 bay..$50-$58
2 bay. usra or Panel side..10+ roads...$50-$60
Weaver..2, 3, 4-bay..30+ different roads....$25-$40
Tank Cars
Weaver...40' & 50', new & old, 20+ roads...$27-$35
Atlas..33K..Propane, Delta, CNTX, Union Tex..$52
17K..Trusweet, ADM, GATX, SHPX, Stauffer, more..$65
8K..Navy Gas, Woburn, Staley, Taylor, more..$52-$59
11K..Beacon, SHPX, UTLX, Anchor, Dow..$55-$65
Flat Cars, Stock Cars
Atlas..Double stacks..$129-$289. Pulp flats..$49
Front runner..$45. 89' flats..$60-$65. Trailers..$29-$35
Trainman 50' flat w/pipe load and stock cars..$30-$35
Wvr..40' & 50' flat cars, Stock cars..20+ roads..$25-$40
Gondolas
Atlas..52'..15+ roads..$30-$35. 40' composite..$52-$59
Wvr..LV, RI, SF, UP, NW, Rdg, B&M, MEC, PRR..$28
Atlas Track..2 rail, 3 rail, 3 rail steel
Industrial Rail..Locos.cars.trolleys.sets.track
Dealers..request our wholesale list
www.PublicDeliveryTrack.com
e-mail us: [email protected]
Drexel Hill, PA • Paso Robles, CA
610-259-4945 • 805-226-0320
Never Been?
Now’s the time to
come!!
If you’ve never been to a National Convention of the
NMRA or to Milwaukee Wisconsin, now is the time to
come and visit us in July 2010. We are planning a, rip
roaring Midwestern, good time for all, both model railroader and general interest attendee alike. Our goal as
a committee is to have the best attended convention in
NMRA history! On Sunday we are going to kick off the
week with a Beer and Brat Fest (a Milwaukee favorite) at
Ziegler Park, just a stone’s throw away from the convention site and hotel. I can hear the Um-pah-pahs now!
Some of you may have not felt comfortable attending
a national convention because you don’t know anyone
else. Never fear, at Brat Fest we will match you up with
three other attendees who model in the same scale, or
maybe even the same prototype, or are fellow freelancers. You may get to know some interesting people, get
new ideas about the hobby, and have a great time.
I challenge the other regions in the Midwest to consider chartering a bus or taking AMTRAK to Milwaukee
as a group in order to lower an individual’s transportation costs and to increase the fun factor. So will there be
a bus originating in Indianapolis?
Bring your spouse, significant other, your family or
a friend along. They don’t have to be NMRA members
and you don’t have to railroad every minute. There are
lots of fun things to do in Milwaukee. We will have
garden, shopping and sightseeing tours as well as general interest clinics for non-rails. There will be a special
event every evening consisting of a dinner cruise aboard
the Edelweiss, a dinner social at the Milwaukee Public
Museum, the Ladies Luncheon at the Wisconsin Club,
a Sunset Zoofari at the world renowned Milwaukee
County Zoo, a dinner train trip on the East Troy Electric
Railroad and a Milwaukee Fish Fry at the Historic Turner
Hall. You can also find adventure at the Harley Davidson Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Eisner
Museum of Advertising and Design, the Mitchell Park
Domes, Discovery World and Pier Wisconsin, the Betty
Brinn Children’s Museum, and on the Schooner Dennis Sullivan. There will be free musical entertainment
at River Splash and Jazz in the Park, or you might take
in one of our ethnic festivals or Bastille Days. We also
have the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team at Miller
Park with its retractable roof. If you feel lucky, take a trip
to the Potawatomi Casino. All of these attractions are in
walking distance or a short bus ride from downtown.
Not enough to do in Milwaukee? Downtown Chicago is
a short ride via AMTRAK.
Besides all the great ideas and information that you
can gain at the clinics and demonstrations, there will
be several layout and industrial tours for you to choose
from including tours of Kalmbach Publishing and William K. Walthers. Come and see what it’s all about.
We’re looking forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
Ken Jaglinski – Vice Chair
u
CHICAGO “O” SCALE MEET
March 12-14th, 2010
NEW LOCATION!!!
Westin Lombard Yorktown Center
Show registration – write or email
70 Yorktown Center
MARCH MEET – 2636 Hallquist Ave.
Lombard, Illinois 60148
Red Wing, MN 55066
(630) 745-7600
1-800-937-8461 Ask for the Chicago O Scale Rate
WWW.MARCHMEET.NET
BUY, SELL, TRADE, CLINICS, LAYOUT TOURS & MORE!
Considered the best O Scale show of the year------Limited tables available--------Register early for your preprinted badge
Flagpole Uncoupling Tool
Ted Horvath
It is fair to say that Kadees® are the couplers
of choice for O Scale operators, and that many of
these folks prefer manual uncoupling to the buried
magnet & trip pin approach. I also favor manual
uncoupling because it simulates the prototype’s
reality, and does not limit uncoupling to specific
locations. However, layout design, with respect
to benchwork height and depth, must take into
account the Giant Hand reaching down with an
appropriate tool. The subject of uncoupling tools
comes up regularly on Internet forums, and in
those discussions people advocate a variety of
things, including coffee stirrers, screwdrivers,
tongue depressors, and purpose-made tools such
as offered by Micro-Mark. Clearly, no one particular tool suits everyone. The flagpole uncoupling
tool described here works well for me and I hope
some readers will find it useful.
Start with a 12”-13” length of 3/16” diameter
metal rod. I used zinc-plated steel rod (from
TSC) but brass or aluminum would work equally
well. Grind the tip to a sharp angle, say 10º, all
the way through to the other side of the rod
(Photo 1). This will produce a nice rounded point
for easy insertion between the couplers’ knuckles.
The rounded outside face of the tapered portion
seems to help the tool to rotate and spread the
knuckles.
When not in use, the uncoupling tool doubles
as a flagpole, which can be located wherever convenient and handy for operations. The base is a
0.75” square of 0.031” brass with a 3/32” hole
drilled in the center. Solder a 1.5” length of brass
tube, with an inside diameter just large enough
for the metal rod, centered over the hole (refer
back to Photo 1). Mount the base to the layout
with a small screw inserted down through the
Photo 1
Photo 2
brass tube. Photo 2 shows the flagpole next to a
cardboard mock-up for a proposed industry on my
layout.
Obviously, several flagpole uncoupling tools
could be positioned on the layout so that one is
always within reach. A 3/16” diameter rod scales
out to 9” and is most likely too thick for a prototypical flagpole, but I have found that a 1/8” diameter rod does not open the couplers’ knuckles as
well. Also, a 3/16” rod is easier for me to aim and
rotate with my fingertips. Even oversized, this
“flagpole” adds a realistic touch to the layout.
Good luck and happy modeling!
u
1:50 scale die cast construction and transportation replica models from SpecCast.
We offer the highest level of quality and detailed features.
“You can see the difference” and so will your customers.
CON 008
1:50 Schield Bantam C-35
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CON 012
1:50 Northwest
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CON 011
1:50 Military LeTourneau
Super C Tournapull
with LP Carryall Scraper
38021
1:50 Red and Silver
White WC22 Dump Truck
38019
1:50 John Deere
White WC22
with Vintage Van Trailer
38013
1:50 Chicago Nortwestern Railroad
White WC22 Stakebed Truck
39501
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A Humpback Bridge
Ray Grosser
A painting by Larry Fisher* of a Soo Line FA-1 going under
one of the humpback bridges north of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, was the inspiration for this bridge on our new O Scale
Nostalgia Trip railroad. The bridge pictured was one of many
around the country and there are still a few around here and
there. They seemed to last forever but toward the end of their
life span, they required more maintenance and in snow country, they were prone to drifting snow around and in the cuts
they spanned.
We had to add some scenery to the outside edge of our
curved track in order to get enough real estate to make the
1
bridge look reasonable. I prefer to have a whole bridge with
scenery on both sides of the cut rather than a half bridge at
the edge. Doing this on our layout is easy as we have the
edge trim secured to the stringers with drywall screws. I just
removed the old trim, added some 1x3 pieces to the ends of
the stringers and put some Styrofoam over the top to make
the topography. It was then covered with Sculpta-mold to
make the surface a bit tougher (Photo 1). Running the train
through the area really fired up the desire to get the bridge
under construction (Photo 2).
2
To get started I decided to cut all my own lumber. I used
basswood to make all the structural components. I do not
have a modeling saw, so I used my 10-inch table saw with
a carbide tipped blade that I found at Lowe’s (Photo 3). This
blade is thinner and smaller than a regular blade so I had to
make a new blade guard. For that I used some pine, thinned
down in a planer to get the correct thickness, and then I
5
3
6
traced the existing blade guard to the wood, cut it out and
sanded it carefully to fit the opening in the saw’s table. After
mounting the blade in the saw, it is a simple matter to turn
on the saw and raise the blade up through the new blade
guard (Photo 4). (Editor’s note: Use common sense and caution when doing this. If the new blade guard is loose or unsecured, it can come off from the force of the blade’s rotation
and cause an injury.)
4
end result appears as an old timber that had been treated
with creosote. Normally the upper parts of the bridge might
have been built with untreated oak, but that turns black in a
short while when left out in the elements, so I used the same
stain on the rest of the timbers but I had it thinned out 3-1 to
get just a thin grey finish.
Once I had the measurements for the bents completed, I
was able to take them off the layout and finish them on the
workbench. However, these were the only parts I was able
to make this way (Photo 7). The bridge would not only be
humped in the middle, it is also skewed over the track on a
7
I decided to build the bridge on site rather than on the
workbench. This takes on a life of its own once you get started (Photo 5). I had to run that train through at least 24 times.
(Yeh I know, it could have been done in one pass, but there is
something about an O Scale train with all metal wheels running over track with a slight gap every 39 scale feet.)
After measuring the height needed to clear everything, I
started with the two bents in the center. All the other bents
would have to be installed in line with these two. The round
pilings were roughed up with a razor saw blade, cut to length
and then stained with Ebony colored stain I got at Lowe’s
(Photo 6). If you apply the stain and wipe off most of it, the
curve. This presented way too many variables for my worn
out brain to calculate so as previously mentioned, I built
things on site once the bents were completed (Photo 8). I did
not have any small nails, so I used railroad spikes. They don’t
look too bad from a galloping horse or a rocking railroad
caboose.
10
8
Once all the bents were constructed, I put them in place
and began the work of setting up the deck girders. The whole
project turned out to be a cut-to-fit job (Photo 9). Several times
I cut pieces twice and they were still too short. The skewed
bridge is easier to look at than it is to build. I found several
photos showing skewed structures like this and they appeared
to be going in several directions at once. It makes for an interesting scene because nothing is square with anything else.
9
I did make an error when fitting up the handrail pockets.
In an attempt to try to get them to look like ones in the Fisher
painting, I actually measured wrong (Photo 10). The model’s
are close to eight feet apart while the painting’s appears
closer, but I decided to leave them. Realizing that installing
scenery under a decked bridge would result in problems, I
managed to catch myself before I put the deck on the bridge.
It was really starting to come together and with the
approaches cut out of two inch blue Styrofoam we were able
to just glue them on to the scenery base and start the roadways. This shaping of blue Styrofoam is always done in the
barn or on the driveway with the wind blowing. The fastest
way I have found to remove blue Styrofoam and shape it onto
scenery is to chuck up a wire brush in a right angle grinder
and chew away.
Photo 11 shows the completed bridge with #74 passing
while the local farmer replaces several rotten deck boards
and a few broken off hand rail stanchions. The next project is
to build some fences to keep the horses off the tracks.
u
* Larry Fisher’s painting reproduced with permission of the artist.
11
Jim Hackworth
Buy⁄Sell⁄Trade
MODEL TRAINS
(and Subsidiary JH Consulting)
2631 Edgevale Road, Columbus OH 43221-1113
Phone: 614-4514517 Fax: 6144514557
Email: [email protected] • Web: www.jhmtrains.com
AOCC*
Gem PRR B6 0-6-0, C/P or N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $575.00
WSM PRR J1a, 2-10-4, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,550.00
WSM PRR M1, 4-8-2, C/P, Nice, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,150.00
USH NYC J3a De-Streamlined 4-6-4 w/Centipede tender,
C/P Ex, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,275.00
USH C&O 2-8-4, C/P, Runs good, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,275.00
USH PRR M1a, 4-8-2, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,175.00
MG NYC J3a, C/P, NOB From Tony Ambrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,395.00
USH NYC S1b, 4-8-4, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,250.00
MG PRR J, 2-10-4, C/P, Icken Gears, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,895.00
USH NYC H10, 2-8-2, Mint, N/P, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,275.00
USH PRR L1, 2-8-2, N/P, LN, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,175.00
Gem PRR A5 0-4-0, C/P, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $475.00
Atlas EMD GP9, F/P UP, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250.00
OM N&W C630 High Hood, FM Trucks, New, OB . . . . . . . . . $1,195.00
OM NKP GP35 N/P, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $950.00
Consignments
AOCC*
USH B&O C16a, 0-4-0, C/P, OB.......................................................$675.00
PRB PC&F 62’ Boxcar, F/P UP, OB.................................................$250.00
OM PRR PAPB Set, Late Run, F/P, New......................................$2,875.00
OM #0445 C39-8, C/P, OB..............................................................$1,195.00
OM NKP War Caboose, C/P, Wtd, OB............................................$295.00
CB J&L Tank car, C/P, OB...............................................................$295.00
Scale Mod Ind Roundhouse Kit.........................................................$159.00
PRB 60’ Greenville Boxcar, F/P GT, New.......................................$ 295.00
Atlas EMD F2/3, AB Set, Both Pwd, F/P SRR, OB.........................$650.00
RY Models (Yoder) Brass C&O Woodside Caboose LN, OB........$375.00
USH PRR N5 Caboose, New w/Trucks, N/P, OB.............................$250.00
OM PS2-CD Covered Hopper, C/P ATSF, OB, LN........................$319.00
PRB SP Gunderson D.Stack Set, LN, OB......................................$1,395.00
Sunnyside PRR N5c Caboose, N/P, OB ...........................................$309.00
MG PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, NOB......................................................$250.00
Alco PRR N6a, C/P or N/P........................................................each $225.00
*All Offers Cordially Considered
Layaway Available
LSASE for Complete List
Shipping Cost Based On Location
Ohio Residents Add 6.75% Sales Tax
Estates⁄Liquidations
Collection Reductions
The Newark & Marion Railway
(Pennsylvania Railroad) Freight House
Drawings, Text and Photos by Harold Russell
This freight house was located in
Marion, NY on the southeast corner
of Walworth-Marion Road (Buffalo
St.) and the intersection of the Newark and Marion Railroad. Farmers
and small manufacturers of the
region wanted to get their products
to market. To do this, they would
take their products to the freight
house where the agent would log in
the shipment and collect the shipping fee. The Marion Canning Company, Comstock Cannery, and a
Birds Eye frozen food plant shipped
processed produce in addition to
fresh produce grown in the area.
The town had large cold-storage
facilities, an ice house and a large
fertilizer plant.
Some History
The Beebe syndicate built the
eight mile Newark & Marion Railway in 1905. The Beebes were
noted as the builders of electric
railroads in Upstate New York and
in the tradition of the electric railroads; the N&M’s construction featured light rail and flimsy bridges.
The railroad was essential to Marion’s produce traffic but encountered financial difficulty in 1917.
After this, the branch was operated
by a group of local businessmen
until May 1930 when the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased it.
The railroad was distinctive
because for a time it ran down the
center of north Main St. in Newark.
It stopped for a red traffic light and
even stopped for crossing cattle.
The light construction of the line
limited it to 2-8-0 locomotives
and freight car weights of 210,000
pounds. The diesels arrived in 1954.
The railroad featured one round
trip train per day - sometimes less
when traffic was light. Newark
had many canneries. In spite of
this, twelve to fifteen cars of raw
produce such as apples, beets,
The southwest corner of the
freight house. The platform
ramp was sloped to allow easy
access by hand trucks. The
end door allowed trucks to
unload if the door on the east
side was being used.
The roadside view of the freight house. The office occupied this end
of the building. At this point the railroad had a passing siding which
served cars being loaded or unloaded as well as a runaround for the locomotive. The platform at this end could be accessed by a set of stairs.
Note that the roof overhang
on the platform’s side is much
greater than the opposite
side in order to protect goods
on the platform. The window
above the end door provided
marginal light for the freight
end of the house and at the
same time a measure of security. Curiously, both are off
center.
potatoes and spinach were shipped southward to large cities served by the Pennsy. The
railroad ceased operations in 1984. Some of the roadbed remains today.
We owe the website of Newark, New York [www.cgazette.com/towns/Newark/history/] and Bill Caloroso’s book Pennsylvania Railroad’s Elmira Branch for information
on the Newark & Marion Railway.
Modeling the Freight House
The Marion freight house was small and is suitable for easy modeling. The building
can be modeled easily using commercial board and batten siding and roofing. Stripwood will most accurately represent the platform, stairs and door bumpers. Grandt
Line, among others, sells windows and doors that may be suitable.
The east side of the building as well as the south end had a large freight door to
serve trucks with bumpers located at the bottom of the doors. The railroad side, with
one freight door, had a platform from which freight could be easily transferred to waiting cars. There is evidence of boarded up doors and windows and these could be a
subtle modeling feature.
The floor of the depot’s freight section was at platform level with a small elevated
office located at the north end of the building. A short set of stairs enabled the freight
agent to access the different levels. The intermediate vertical trim board on the building’s sides indicates that at one time the office was enlarged. The freight house siding
shows evidence of last being painted Pennsy red. Under this there is evidence of it
once being gray. The building had composition roofing and a red brick chimney.
There are ample opportunities to add neat details to your model. One could expect
the platform of a busy freight depot to have boxes of freight, one or two hand trucks
and a scale. A bench could be located outside the office doors. The grass would be
neatly trimmed with perhaps a flower patch. The truck side could have a gravel driveway with dirt peeking through at the tire tracks. Some shiny black spots could indicate
leaking oil from the trucks. u
9"
3"
ROADSIDE
60'-7"
TRACKSIDE
19-'0"
20'-2"
9"
3"
SOUTH SIDE
60'-7"
NORTH SIDE
5'-7"
Custom Building, Repair & Painting Services Available
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Steam
Sunset 3rd AT&SF "1950" 2-8-0 FP L/N, 2-Rail, Oil Tender, Lights, Road # 1950 .............$695
Pecos River AT&SF 4-6-4 CP EX, Original 1930 Version, Pro Paint, Lights, # 3450 .........$825
Weaver AT&SF Hudson "Blue Goose" FP New, 2-Rail, Road # 3460................................. $1,095
Max Gray AT&SF 4-6-2 CP EX, Pro Paint, Pittman Can Motor, Road # 3437 .....................$825
Overland C&O F-19 4-6-2 CP EX, Pro Paint, Road # 494, "George Washington" ........ $1,595
C&LS C&O H6 2-6-6-2 FP New, 12 VB Tender, Road # 1477................................................. $3,795
Kohs & Co. C&O H8 Allegheny 2-6-6-6 FP New, Weathered, Road # 1628 ...................$5,895
USH C&O K4 2-8-4 Kanawha UP L/N, Can Motor, KTM Japan, Great Runner ...............$1,195
Westside C&O T1 2-10-4 UP L/N, Can Motor, KTM Japan .....................................................$1,795
PSC #17161-1, CB&Q S4a 4-6-4 FP Mint, Road # 4002, Upgraded ....................................$2,595
PSC #17171-1, D&RGW L-76 2-6-6-2 FP Mint, Black Boiler, Road # 3351 .........................$2,495
Key D&RGW L-105 4-6-6-4 FP New, Postwar Mod, Black Boiler, # 3700 ........................$3,695
PSC #16857-1 D&RGW L-131 2-8-8-2 FP L/N, Black Boiler, # 3600.....................................$3,895
PSC #16857-2 D&RGW L-131 2-8-8-2 FP L/N, Green Boiler, # 3607 ................................... $3,795
PSC #17247-4 D&RGW M-68 4-8-4 FP New, Green Boiler, Road # 1804.........................$2,895
Max Gray Erie K5 4-6-2 UP New, Unassembled, Spoked Drivers, 1 of 10 ....................$2,695
Custom Brass Little River 2-4-4-2 UP L/N, Can Motor, Test Run ........................................$1,795
US Hobbies L&N M1 "Big Emma" 2-8-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Road # 1970 .........................$1,195
OMI NYC J1e Hudson 4-6-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Cockerham Drive, Road #5336 ..........$2,295
Kohs & Co. NYC J3a Hudson 4-6-4 FP New, Scullin Disk Drivers, Road # 5425 ........... $3,795
WSM NYC J3a Hudson 4-6-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Original Version, Road # 5405 ......... $1,095
WSM NYC J3a Hudson 4-6-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Original Version, Road # 5414 ......... $1,095
WSM NYC J3a Hudson 4-6-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Fully Streamlined, Road # 5447 ......$2,295
WSM NYC J3a Hudson 4-6-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Mod Strmlng, PT-4, # 5451 ...............$2,295
USH NYC J3a Destreamlined Hudson 4-6-4 CP EX, PT-4 Tender, Road # 5447 .......... $1,095
Key NYC K3q 4-6-2 FP New, Single Window Cab, Road # 4675.........................................$2,250
PSC NYC S1b Crown Niagara 4-8-4 CP New, Pro Paint, Road # 6021, Exquisite..........$4,095
Sunset N&W Class J 4-8-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Coal, Lights, Road # 600 ..........................$1,195
PSC #15699, N&W Class S1a 0-8-0 UP L/N, Road # 200-244................................................ $1,595
Overland NP Z8 2-6-6-4 CP EX, Coal Version, Weathered, Road # 5130 .......................$2,295
Gem-Heike PRR A5s 0-4-0 CP L/N, Complete Rbld, 1 of a Kind Model, #94................$2,895
SS/3rd-Heike PRR E6s 4-4-2 CP L/N, Complete Rbld, 1 of a Kind Model, #1092.........$2,695
Sunset-Heike PRR H9s 2-8-0 CP Complete Rbld, 1 of a Kind Model, #1145 .................$2,595
Key PRR H10 2-8-0 FP L/N, Pro Details, Weathering, Road # 8014 ...................................$2,495
Overland PRR HH1 2-8-8-2 CP New, OMI # 139, 1 of 10 Produced ...................................$2,595
US Hobbies PRR I1sa 2-10-0 UP New, Late Run, New Correct Steel Driver Tires ........ $1,295
Key PRR J1a 2-10-4 FP L/N,210F84 Tender w/Antenna, Road # 6498.............................. $2,795
Westside PRR J1a 2-10-4 UP New, 210F84 Tender w/Custom Antenna, ....................... $1,695
Kohs & Co. PRR K4 4-6-2 Prewar Version FP New, 130P75 Tender, Road # 3863 .........$4,195
PSC-Heike PRR K4s 4-6-2 Postwar CP L/N, Complete Rbld, 1 of a Kind, #1329 ........... $2,795
Westside PRR M1 4-8-2 UP New, Last Run, Full Backhead .................................................. $1,495
Max Gray PRR M1a 4-8-2 UP Mint, Late Run, 210P75 Tender .................................................$995
Overland PRR M1b 4-8-2 FP Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna, # 6753...........................$2,295
Max Gray PRR N1s 2-10-2 CP New, McCafferty Paint and Weathering........................... $1,695
Westside PRR Q2 4-4-6-4 UP New, KTM Japan ....................................................................... $1,995
SS/3rd PRR S1 Duplex 6-4-4-6 FP L/N, Deskirted, Lightly Weathered, # 6100 ............$1,195
Overland P&LE A2 2-8-4 FP New, W/Decals, OMI 0159 ........................................................ $1,995
Overland RDG T1 4-8-4 UP Mint, W/Decals, OMI 0150......................................................... $1,595
Weaver-Heike RDG G2sa 4-6-2 CP L/N, Complete Rbld, Exceptional, #112 .................$2,495
PSC SP AC-9 2-8-8-4 FP New, Coal Version, Road # 3800 ....................................................$3,295
PSC SP F-4 2-10-2 FP L/N, PSC # 16915-1, Postwar, Road # 3679 ........................................$1,795
PSC #17347-1, SP GS-4 4-8-4 Postwar Version FP New, Black, Road # 4436................$2,695
PSC #15839-1, SP MT-4 Crown 4-8-2 FP New, Gray Boiler, No Skyline, Ser. 4 of 9 ......$2,495
SS/3rd SP MT-4 4-8-2 FP New, 2-Rail, Daylight Scheme, Skyline, Road # 4352........... $1,495
PSC #16467-1 SRR PS-4 4-6-2 FP New, Green/Black, Road # 1401 ................................... $1,695
USH SRR USRA 0-8-0 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Green & Gold, Road # 6531 ..................................$795
Sunset SRR USRA Lt 2-8-2 CP EX, Pro Paint, Black Boiler, Can Motor, Road #6296........$995
OMI #0167 SP&S Z-8 4-6-6-4 UP New, Oil Version, Road # 910-911 ................................$2,695
Sunset UP Early Challenger 4-6-6-4 CP EX, Cockerham Drive, Pro Paint, #3939.......$2,395
Sunset UP "9000" Class 4-12-2 UP New, Postwar Version ....................................................$1,195
US Hobbies UP C Class 2-8-0 CP EX, Can Motor, Oil Tender, Road # 329 ..........................$795
PFM UP C-57 Class 2-8-0 FP L/N, Lights, Road # 739, Samhongsa ................................... $1,595
Key UP FEF-2 Oil Version FP L/N, TT Gray, Silver Stripes, Road # 825, Rare ..................$2,495
USH UP FEF-3 4-8-4 CP EX, Pro Paint, 2 Tone Gray, Oil Version, Can Motor.....................$995
SS/3rd UP MK Class 2-8-2 FP Mint, Never Unwrapped, Short Vandy, #2260 ...................$795
USH UP TTT Class 2-10-2 CP EX, J. White Drive, Lt Weathering, Road #5078............... $1,895
USH UP TTT Class 2-10-2 - Custom Rebuild CP EX, BL FWH, Sweeney Stack,
Larger Tender, # 5305 .................................................................................................................$2,195
C&LS WM M-2 4-6-6-4 FP L/N, Hinged Smokebox Front, Road # 1208 ..........................$3,195
Westside WM 3 Truck Heavy Shay UP L/N, Late Run, Can Motor, Full Backhead ......$2,095
Diesel
OMI #0356/0356/0358 ALCO FA-1/FB-1 Units UP New, Per Unit ...........................................$595
Car Works B&M ALCO S-1 Switcher CP EX, w/DCC and Sound, Road # 1161 ...................$650
PSC B&M EMD SW-1 Phase 1 CP EX, Low Stack, Black w/Red Nose Stripes, # 1112.......$625
OMI #0304/0305 EMD E8 A/B Units UP L/N, Per Unit ...............................................................$595
OMI #0292/0293 EMD F3 A/B Units UP New, Per Unit ..............................................................$625
Oriental EMD GP-9 Phase III UP New, Samhongsa Korea........................................................$825
OMI #0393-0397, PRR ALCO FA-2/FB-2 - A-B Units CP New, w/Ant., Tower Drive ...... $1,595
OMI # 0201A PRR ALCO DL600B High Hood UP New, w/Antennas, 2 Available ............$695
OMI # 0425, 0426, 0425 PRR BLW RF-16 Shark Nose A-B-A Units UP Mint, .................$2,995
SS/rd PRSL Budd RDC-1 - Two Units FP New, 2-Rail, Powered & Dummy Units,
# M402/M405 .....................................................................................................................................$795
Atlas O P&LE EMD GP7 Units FP L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Pwr & Dummy Units ..............$575
Atlas O SRR F3 Phase 1 A/B/A Units FP L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Freight Scheme ..........$895
OMI #0322 UP ALCO PA-1 UP New, 2 Available ...........................................................................$750
Hallmark UP EMD FT A-B Units CP EX, Yellow/Gray, Lights, Crew, Road # 516/516B....$795
OMI # 0354 UP Standard Turbine UP Mint, , Round Tender ...............................................$2,695
Atlas O WM F3 Phase 1 A/B, CP L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Fireball Scheme, # 51A/B.......$695
Kohs PRR GG1 Brunswick 5 Stripe, FP New, Clarendon, Fixed Cplr, #4840, Rare .......$4,995
Kohs PRR GG1 Tuscan 5 Stripe FP New, Clarendon, Drop Cplr, #4911............................$5,195
Rolling Stock
PSC GN HWT Empire Builder 9 Car Set FP New, PSC # 16981 .............................................$7,595
PSC Harriman 72' 72-D-3 Diner UP New, PSC # 15477 ..............................................................$425
Custom Brass PRR B60 Baggage Car CP EX, CNJB # 702-O .....................................................$295
SS/rd PRR BM54, P54 Commuter Cars FP New, 2 Rail, Baggage, Combine, Coaches
Price Each ...........................................................................................................................................$250
Sunset 3rd PRR B60, P70, Baggage, Coaches FP New, 2 Rail, Price Each ...........................$275
P. Co. PRR X-42 Mail Storage CP New, Pro Paint, Shadow Keystone, Road # 2541 ........$350
PSC REA Steel 50' Express Reefer CP L/N, Late Version, PSC # 15519, Lg. REA Herald .$295
Overland GPEX 47' Pfaudler Steel Milk Car UP New, OMI # 0700.........................................$295
Div. Point N&W CF & CH Class Cabooses FP New, Several Versions Available ................$395
W&R NP 24' Wood Caboose FP L/N, 2nd Run, Version 3, Interior, Road # 1644 .............$435
Overland Palace Poultry Car UP L/N, OMI # 0055, W/Trucks .................................................$575
Kohs PRR N5c Cabin Car FP New, Version 2, "Buy War Bonds", # 477009, 1 of 10 ..........$675
RY Models PRR GLca Fishbelly Twin Hopper UP New, AB Brakes ........................................$275
Overland UP CA-1 Wood Caboose UP New, OMI # 0797 .........................................................$225
Kohs & Co. VGN Class C10-1 Caboose FP New, Road # 309.....................................................$595
C&LS WM "NE" Steel Caboose FP L/N, Round Heralds, 2 Versions Available ..................$435
International Harriman 65,000 Gal. Water Tank UP New, Model # IH-03, W/Spout .....$395
Various Craftsman Structure Kits UP T. Yorke, Stoney Creek, Others...................................Call
Various Freight Cars - Brass, RTR, Kits FP Pacific Ltd, PSC, USH, Atlas, etc..........................Call
Bashing a U30C into a BQ23-7
Ed Reutling
I like the unusual. As a rule, the routine mass marketer
doesn’t make the unusual, especially in 2-Rail. If I want an
unusual model, I’ll have to somehow make one from something which is available or, in a worse case scenario, I’ll have
to scratchbuild what I want. In this case, there is a diesel
body which is close enough: the MTH GE U30C. For the real
modeler, there are obvious discrepancies, but, until a B23-7
is introduced by the mass market producers, we’ll just have
to accept close enough, or sell the kids to fund an accurate
custom built model. I was aiming to at least have the winged
radiator and the fresh air openings on the rear of the hood as
close enough.
My friend Greg Elems, searched through his magazine
library and found the plans from an older magazine, and was
kind enough to send me a copy that I had rescaled to 1/4” =
1’ so that I’d have some good information to go by. I laid a
cutout of the cab on the dummy U33 shell I purchased and
began imagining where I’d need to cut to approximate the
B23-7 (Photo 1).
Upon removing the cab and some of the hood, it was time
to cut the frame to the correct length. I simply cut the cab out
one of the photocopies, and used the paper pattern as a guide
1
(Photo 2). Remember now, some of the hood cuts were done
at the existing seams of the U33, which might not line up
exactly with what is needed to replicate a B23-7 hood. These
are some of the close enough scenarios I mentioned before.
2
After cutting the frame, the next chore is to deal with the
3-Rail pilot. I determined that by removing the amount of
frame material shown in Photo 3, the rise on all the pilot steps
would be the same with the correct number of steps and with
the pilot close to the correct height. Photo 4 shows the fitted,
but not finished pilot. Photo 5 shows how it all fit together,
along with the filled in 3-Rail coupler hole. At this point in
time, I forced myself to get the Ambroid Proweld out and glue
up the frame and pilot.
The Cab
The cab, in this case is pretty much just a box with tapered sides
and a beveled and tapered front. The rear walls are simply flat.
3
6
4
7
5
8
I cut 0.060” styrene for the bottoms of the sides, the
rear sheet, and the two pieces of the wedged lower front. I
checked the fit and sizes of all five pieces, and glued them up
and then the two tapered portions of each side. Note that I
haven’t made any window cutouts yet (Photo 6).
Cut the two windshield sections of the front, then put them
in place first and then cut out the windshield openings and
side/rear window openings (Photo 7).
It is time to fill the voids and also smooth off the ridges
(Photo 8). Note, the red scratch filler is a Spot Glaze used
in auto body work. I personally prefer it over green or white
putty. The cellophane tape, blue putty, and styrene add-ons
are a part of the molding process. I usually finish with 600 grit
wet/dry paper which makes everything ready for a nice finish.
At this point, the article will probably depart from how you
will work, because I finished my kitbash with a cast urethane
body. You will see the change of color and also that true to
form, my castings quite often have pin holes which need filling. You are now here (Photo 9).
9
The Drive
I didn’t use the drive from the Weaver C425, but I’m sure
it could be used. I just set them together, for comparison
(Photo 10).
Finishing
One part of the finishing process is an attempt to do some
window glazing on thick cast walls, but not have them look
three scale inches thick (Photo 13). Notice that I attempted to
model the rubber seal which holds the glazing in the frame.
Well, it didn’t work with my limited casting procedures. I do
think, for a single model, that if I would have added #20 wire
or similar to the castings, or just to the styrene cab, it would
work. Photo 14 shows the glazing cut to fit the window opening, and Photo 15 shows the added-on frame in place.
As for the rest of the finishing process, it is straight forward:
strip the original paint, add grabs to the cab and rear of the
hood, then repaint and decal.
For once in a lifetime, I actually painted a loco and decaled it as it was in real life. Even the road number is correct. As
usual, I bought the specially made decals from Eric Ethridge
[[email protected]]. If anyone is interested in a replacement cab similar to mine, I can make duplicate castings.
u
13
10
14
Now back to the serious part of powering the loco. I started
with a stock size 0.060” thick K&S brass sheet for the deck,
and to fasten the truck bolsters, the motor cradle and the center chain tower. No matter which Weaver chain drive I chose,
there would be that dreaded drive shaft through the fuel tank
which never bothered me (Photo 11). Two #43 holes were
drilled to line up with the original mounting lugs under the
long hood, and two others for mounting the front pilot. Photo
12 shows the large amount of room for additional electronics
if one chooses to include them. Maybe one day I will modernize and add Dallee sound and a speaker. We’ll see.
11
15
12
NEWS: Brewer’s Coaling Platform
FOS Limited Model Railroad Structures, PO Box 1321
Pawcatuck CT 06379 • www.foslimited.com
Brewer’s Coaling Platform can be used to serve your
shortlines, branchlines or logging sites. The kit features laser
cut walls, door and windows as well as metal and plastic
detail parts. The 2” x 10” platform is made from scale lumber and easily assembles with templates and laser cut jigs.
It retails for $39.95. Pre-order today and receive 5% off, by
using coupon code COAL. Please type this into the promo
code box upon checkout. Kit began shipping October 15th.
For more info and photos please go to: [www.foslimited.
com]
NEWS: Micro-Mark #84519 Digital Level; MSRP: $34.95
Micro-Mark, 800-225-1066 • www.micromark.com
Carpenter levels are just too large and inaccurate for
machine set-up, and too clumsy for measuring model
railroad track grades and superelevation. So, MicroMark
encased a high precision digital level in a compact housing that’s only 2 inches square by 1 inch deep. At the
press of a button, the large LCD reads the relative angle
between machine surfaces or the percent of grade from
level. Embedded magnets attach it securely to cast-iron/
steel surfaces for hands-free measurement. The measurement range is 0 to 45 degrees/100%. The accuracy is 0.05
degrees/0.01%. The Hold button remembers the last reading. The housing is made of durable CNC-machined, satinfinish alloy. The level includes a battery and auto shut-off
battery saver.
NEWS: Industrial Steam Crane/Shovel; MSRP:
$129.99/$89.99
Model Tech Studios, PO Box 1497, N Hampton NH 03862
603-964-5995 • www.modeltechstudios.com
NEWS: Camp 12 On3/On30 Engine House; MSRP: $49.95
Sidetrack Laser, www.sidetracklaser.com • 503-449-5361
Sidetrack Laser has designed a Backwoods Engine
House for your O Scale Narrow Gauge Locomotives. Perfect for any backwoods scene, this single stall shed has
roll-up fabric walls, a detailed workbench and takes locomotives up to 9” long. The kit features laser cut structural
components and details, as well as corrugated metal roofing, fabric walls and cast detail parts.
NEWS: Catalog of Scale Plans; MSRP: $2.00
Underground Railway Press, PO Box 814OS, Brevard NC
28712
The 35th edition of the URP Catalog of Scale Plans
includes plans for motive power, rolling stock and structures
for mainline, logging, shortline, narrow gauge and traction
railways.
The O Scale Industrial Steam Crane/Shovel kits have 12
main superdetailed sections making for fast overall construction. The primary construction is plastic with metal
and lasercut detailing. The cab is able to rotate on the tracks
and the crane boom or steam shovel may be adjusted as
desired. Each kit includes a fully illustrated manual with
many images. The kits are also available built and weathered at [www.finishedmodels.com].
NEWS: 34” and 28” Turntables
Millhouse River Studio, 541 River Road, Niagara Falls, NY
14304, 716-830-5267 • www.studiozphoto.com/Millhouse.
html
Millhouse River Studio has announced the availability of
a beautiful O Scale turntable available in two sizes: 34” and
28”. The turntable is constructed with cabinet grade Baltic
Birch plywood and can be used for 2- or 3-Rail operation.
Atlas nickel silver track is also installed and wired on the
bridge and in the pit. The 3/16” aluminum welded bridge is
controlled by an industrial timing belt gear drivetrain which
is powered by a 24VDC gear motor that produces 200+
lbs. of torque for smooth operation with even the heaviest
locomotives. The bridge comes complete with girder detail
applied to the aluminum bridge sides and laser cut/etched
wood decking is installed and stained with a wash to give it
a nice weathered look. Bridge bogies come with sealed roller
bearings for lifetime trouble free operation. Pewter details
are included, such as control cab, lattice girder electrical
arch, bridge bogies and railing stanchions. The depth of the
turntable is 6.5” and the corners can be cut off the top for
tight installations. The 34” model is $1,100 plus shipping, the
28” model is $950 + shipping. Either table may be ordered
weathered for extra cost.
NEWS: O Scale Scenic Accents® & Woodland Classics
Woodland Scenics, PO Box 98 Linn Creek MS 65052
573-346-5555 • www.woodlandscenics.com
Woodland Classics are ready-made
trees with classic
appeal, an economical price and
designed to mix
and blend throughout your layout for
superior realism.
The colors of their
original patented
foliage compliment
each other and their
other tree lines, turfs
and foliages. Foliage
textures and colors vary according to tree variety.
The painted tree trunks are finely detailed, flexible and
represent a multitude of realistic shapes and branching forms.
Woodland Classics vary in structure, textures, shapes and
densities. These variations mirror nature’s contrasts and highlights and reinforce Woodland Scenics trademark mixing and
blending of the Landscape System.
The actual trees will vary in size and shape and no two
trees are alike within one package. For the sizes suitable to O
Scale prices range from $10.99 to $19.99 per package with 2
trees per package and 10 varieties.
Woodland Scenics is introducing two new O Scale Scenic Accents. These scale figures, accessories and animals
have been sculpted and hand-painted in fine detail. Scenic
Accents scaled figures add color, detail, personality and life
to any layout, project or diorama. Best of all, they are economically priced! The new O scale Scenic Accents are:
A2757-Depot Workers & Accessories-The conductor
reviews the passenger manifest at the check-in podium while
two workers maneuver dollies loaded with luggage and shipping crates. Additional standing train schedule, luggage and
crate included. SRP $22.99
A2758-Park Benches-Set of six benches ready for your layout
residents to sit and enjoy the park, wait for the bus or place anywhere else you would find seated pedestrians. SRP $14.99
NOTHING
*
* Is what happens when you don’t advertise. To advertise in OST contact [email protected].
Review: Trains to Victory America’s Railroads in World War II
Donald J. Heimburger & John Kelly, Heimburger House
Publishing Co. 7236 West Madison Street, Forest Park, Illinois
60130 • www.heimburgerhouse.com
Reviewed by Bill Davis
Like many modelers when it comes
to railroads, I have
an interest in the
late 1930s and early
1940s. This is in
part because it was
the beginning of the
period of change
we call the transition period. However, it was also the
time when trains
were the way most
Americans traveled
and how their goods
were shipped. This
was never more
obvious then during the war years from 1941 through 1945
when the movement of men and machines were at their
highest. So with this in mind, I knew I had to have a copy of
Trains to Victory, the new book on the war years from Heimburger House Publishing.
This book tells how the railroad industry was used to
haul the men and the supplies needed for the war effort. To
tell the story, Don Heimburger and John Kelly have gathered
542 B&W photos and an additional 285 B&W illustrations.
They also have included a 32-page color section with advertisements from the period and some photos. I would have
liked more color photos, especially those by Jack Delano,
but what is here is a good representation of the times. Finally, there is the beautiful 4-color dust jacket. All this information is contained in a beautifully done 380-page hardcover
book. I found the quality of the reproduction of the pictures
and illustrations to be exceptional. From a historical standpoint, the book tells in words, numbers and pictures just
how monumental a task it was for both men and machines.
This is a very complete study of the period.
There are 13 chapters that cover the various operations
the people involved for the railroads had to handle for the
task of getting men and equipment to their destinations.
Unlike WWI when the government took over the railroads,
this time the railroads prepared in advance for the coming
war, by creating their own organizations. So even when
the government required certain conditions, they were
prepared. One of the amazing things about this time is that
with less equipment, the railroads moved more tonnage and
personnal than ever, especially when compared to the WWI
era. Because of this, they pressed every piece of equipment
they had into service to meet the need. This was especially
true when moving oil which was a huge operation.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book is all the personal stories of the people who rode the trains as well as the
railroad workers, their families and how the war affected
them. These stories gave the book a wonderful touch. Another section of interest is how women were brought in to work
in jobs they wouldn’t have been allowed to do before the
war, and how they were so willing to sacrifice their own
needs for the war.
In spite of all the shortages caused by the war the railroads managed to add a lot of new equipment. The chapter
titled Built with Pride for the War Effort tells the story of the
new locomotives, steam and diesel, as well as the freight
equipment. This chapter has an extensive photo section and
plans for a couple war emergency boxcars. The last part
of the chapter tells about the troop trains and the special
equipment built for troop movement. There are plans and
interior layouts for these special cars as well as information
on interior and exterior colors. All the information needed
by modelers. One thing I didn’t know is that the troop cars
weren’t built until the men were returning. That explains
why so many survived into the late ‘50s & ‘60s.
Many of the military camps had their own railroads and
equipment for both training troops for railroad work and
moving equipment. There are many great pictures of these
operations. The huge railroad operations at Fort Eustis are
especially well covered.
Now I must admit that I have very little interest in foreign railroads however, I found this section of the book
very interesting. We built and sent a tremendous amount of
equipment to keep the railroads of the world running. Also,
to operate these railroads there were many units of railroad
men who volunteered for the service so they could use their
skills to run these railroads. There are many pictures and
stories of these operations in this section. Seeing American equipment with foreign design lines and couplers was
unique to say the least.
Once the war was over there was the monumental task
of getting our equipment and men home. After all, once
they were back in America, how do you get them all to their
homes throughout the country? How do we move the many
wounded troops to hospitals and recovery centers and then
home? How do you get all the equipment back? All this is
extensively covered.
Lastly there’s the future! The world had changed and
the railroads wanted to let people know they were changing too. They rebuilt their equipment, purchased new and
modernized in hopes of a continued bright future. However,
the days of railroads being the main mode of transportation
were nearly over.
The last chapter gives the statistics of what our railroads
had done and as that chapter is titled They Succeeded Magnificently, after reading this book I have to say they did!
As a modeler, I found this book to be a great asset. It
helped me understand what happened and how those years
changed the railroads and the world forever. The wealth of
pictures will help me to more accurately model the equipment and operations of that time. If you are interested in this
period I highly recommend this book. It is an enjoyable read
with a wealth of photos and information not often found
in one book source. I know I’ll be referring to this book for
many years to come.
Long-time readers of OST will remember Mike Culham’s series on
building a small O Scale railroad. Mike was apartment dwelling
at the time he wrote that series. Since then he has moved into a
single family home and has rebuilt the Great Central Railway once
again. Here is his plan and some photos.
Engine 43, a leased RGS C-19, pulls a mixed freight across Main Street in the small town of Pajarito, New Mexico,
on Jim Gore’s On30 Jemez & Rio Grande. Sure hope the lineman is a railfan!
A Sunset SP Mogul pulls a string of reefers across a trestle in Yosemite National Park. The layout, Mount Marlborough Scenic Railroad, was built by Dan and
Armando Vargas, Images of the Past. We covered their recreation of Grand Central Terminal in OST #37. Photo by Scott Mann.
2010 O Scale
National
Convention
Why Attend? Up to 300 trading tables, clinics, tour of the California State Railroad Museum, videos, convention car, contests, six O modular layouts
on site, about 40 home and club layouts open for visiting ,fly into/out of a major western city and drive a Grand Tour between there to and/or from the
convention and visit dozens model and real railroads, national parks, and other attractions. Convention sponsored and managed by O Scale West.
Where:
Santa Clara, California (San Francisco Bay Area)
When:
June 30 - July 3, 2010
Location:
Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Room rate: $109 plus tax for 1 - 4 occupancy
Registration:
$35, $40 after May 31, registration includes spouse and children under 18
Table Rental: 30" x 72" tables are$45, $50 after May 31. Electrical hook-ups are free
Banquet:
Fri. July 2, $50 per plate including gratuity and tax, sign up by June 20
Tour:
Wed. June 30, California State Railroad Museum, Sacto., $60 per person, incl train to/from Sacto. and admission, sign up by June 1
Web Site:
www.2010oscalenational.com
E-mail:
[email protected]
Telephone:
650-329-0424, please call between 9AM and 8PM Pacific time
A free newsletter with registration information will be available on the website for download after February 1, 2010. To receive a hardcopy, send an
LSSAE with 2oz. of postage to: 2010 O Scale National, 876 Boyce Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003.
2010 O Scale
severalNational
freight cars. Random mixing ensures at least one such
car isConvention
in each train. As a result the layout runs smoothly and
reliably.
The mountains seen behind the engine terminal were
on site, about 40 home and club layouts open for visiting ,fly into/out of a major western city and drive a Grand Tour between there to and/or from the
made
by dipping bed sheets in plaster, then draping them
convention and visit dozens model and real railroads, national parks, and other attractions. Convention sponsored and managed by O Scale West.
over plaster screen. Jerry preferred a specific kind of plaster
Where:
Santa Clara, California (San Francisco Bay Area)
RodJuneMiller
When:
30 - July 3, 2010
for this work, and unfortunately he was unable to locate it
Location:
Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Room rate: $109 plus tax for 1 - 4 occupancy
Photographs
by Anne Bothwell
when he recently completed the last section of scenery.
Registration:
$35, $40 after May 31, registration includes spouse and children under 18
The30"
Grand
Tour
is a$50
setafter
ofMay
do-it-yourself
driving
There are many model scenes that are typical of Jerry's
Table Rental:
x 72" tables
are$45,
31. Electrical hook-ups
are free routes
Banquet:
Fri. July
2, $50 per
plate including
gratuitycities
and tax,and
sign upSanta
by June 20
between
several
major
Western
Clara,
sense of humor. There is the diesel salesman being eaten by a
Tour:
Wed. June 30, California State Railroad Museum, Sacto., $60 per person, incl train to/from Sacto. and admission, sign up by June 1
CA where
the convention will be held. The routes include
vulture, and the kangaroos all the way from Australia looking
Web Site:
www.2010oscalenational.com
layouts,[email protected]
operating preserved railroads, railroad museums,
for my house.
E-mail:
Telephone:
650-329-0424,
please
call between
9AM and 8PM
time
national
parks and
other
attractions.
ToPacific
participate
in the
The layout is located approximately 17 miles south of
tour, fly into one of the selected cities, rent a car, and drive
Gardnerville,
NV and approximately 30 miles south of CarA free newsletter with registration information will be available on the website for download after February 1, 2010. To receive a hardcopy, send an
tour
toto:the
OfBoyce
course
itPalo
is possible
to
son City, home of the NV State Railroad Museum and the
LSSAEawith
2oz.route
of postage
2010convention.
O Scale National, 876
Avenue,
Alto, CA 94301-3003.
reverse that and take a tour route after the convention, or,
rebuilt (and running!) Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Specdrive one tour route before and another after the conventacular Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park are less than
tion. More information is on the convention’s web site at
100 miles away. There is a motel about 3 miles away and the
[www.2010oscalenational.com]
convention web site has contact information for it.
Jerry Guth’s completely finished 24’ by 64’ SP layout is
All the layouts on the Grand Tour will have contact inforone of the layouts on the 2010 O Scale National Convenmation for the owners available on the convention web site
tion’s Grand Tour. Some of these layouts have never before
[www.2010oscalenational.com], early next Spring.
been open for visiting. Jerry’s layout is in a purpose-built
layout building. He lived in this building while he built his
house, and after moving into the house, he began construction of the layout, which took about nine years. Jerry joked to
me that he built the layout in order to have a place to put the
buildings he loves to build.
Jerry is a long-time model railroader who lived in Southern
California where he was very active in a round-robin group
that operated on way freight (or peddler) oriented HO layouts. When he moved to Western Nevada, his original plan
was to build in On3, but he changed his mind and built in O.
He told me that if he had known he would end up in O when
he built the building, it would have been 30 feet wide instead
of 24.
Jerry is a superb modeler. The scenes in the photos that
accompany this article are typical of the quality and realism
of his modeling.
The track plan is a large convoluted loop. There is one
The bridge is a model of the SP bridge over the San Lorenzo
reversing loop. There are two towns, Wrights and Coyote,
River at Santa Cruz, California that was destroyed in the 1906
where way freight switching is done, and a division point,
earthquake. The bridge is all basswood and built just like the
Carcass Flats, where there is an industrial area, an engine terprototype with pillow blocks etc.
minal, and a yard.
There are 92 buildings on the layout, 32 at Wrights which
includes18 industrial spots including the mine; 27 buildings
at Coyote with 12 spots, and 33 buildings at Carcass Flats
with 14 industry spots. All the industries are named for Jerry's
friends.
There is about 950 feet of track and 66 turnouts all handlaid. The minimum radius is 72 inches, and most curves are
84 inches minimum radius or larger. The minimum turnout
size is number 6. The maximum mainline grade in one section is 1.9%; the other mainline grades are 1%. The short
branchline grade to the mine is 4%. Train control utilizes a
Lenz DCC system using Lenz throttles along with CVP wireless throttles. All engines on the layout have been converted
to DCC. Turnouts are air-operated except for one town, built
The engine facility. All of the structures are built from
before the decision to use air, that has solenoid-operated
SP
plans
and all are scratchbuilt except for the roundhouse and
turnouts. The mainline is signaled.
yard
office. A reefer block is departing eastbound.
Jerry installed Masonite® track cleaning pads underneath
Why Attend? Up to 300 trading tables, clinics, tour of the California State Railroad Museum, videos, convention car, contests, six O modular layouts
Jerry Guth’s SP Layout
Jus
Trains
Golden Gate Depot
Info (302) 453-0465
Orders (888) 453-9742
IN-STOCK
K-Line Circus ’09
18” Heavyweight Car
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Fax Orders (302) 368-6447 NYC 21” 6-pk 575 2-Pk 259
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DISCOVER P70 20” Coach 4-Pk 399
LIRR, PRSL, PRR 12#
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No Deposit on Reservations Heavyweight 20” 4-Pk 399
MC
2-Pk 199 1520W F-3 Texas Special Set 285
1464W UP 50th Anniversary Set 320
18” Aluminum Coach or Shop Car 119
15” Aluminum Advertising Car 85
Gold Unit Replica Tractor Set 38
PRR 20” Head-End Set 359
NYC. PLE H-10 2-8-2 1245
Wab, IC, B&O, MR, Sou, NH, RG, CP
GG-1 Girls Freight Set
335
Steam Girls Freight Set
379
GG-1 Girl’s Passenger Set 335
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Most Orders over $200 Free Ship
89
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2-car add-on $80 Full Set $395
PRR GG-1 Congressional Set 410
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N&W 4-8-4 J Class Steam 259
GG-1
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Buy both PRR & SF get $300
GE ES44AC Evol Hybrid 699
Die-Cast Shell
Combo Flat w/Boxcar & wagon
45
Wood Gondola w/Cicus Equipment 48
22250 Dining Dept Billboard Reefer 65
FA-1 AA 225 B 80 ABA 299 UP 3GS21B Genset Switch 539
Combo Flat/Stock Car w/Wagon 38
Die-Cast, 3 smoke units
Scale Dining Woodside Reefer
59 B&O, LV, L&N, NYC, PRR, RI,
Buy both diesels get $50
SF, WM, LNE, GN
K-Line 2009 Product
Pullman 12-1 Sleeper 109
PRR & Pullman
Broadway Lmt 18” 4-Pk
Broadway Lmt 18” 2-Pk
PA-1 AA 225 B 80 ABA 299 Op. Wind Turbine 3-Pk
F-7 AA 205 B 70
425
222
185
SF, PRR, RG, UP, D&H, NYC, CP
ABA 269 Ethanol Tank 3-Pk, Sound 216
Am, ACL, B&O, Burl, C&O, GN, Ethanol Tank 3-Pk
152
Lack, NH, PRR, UP
PRR Op. Stock Car Sound 120
Shark AA 219 B 75 ABA 289 Can National Coal Train 639
B&O, D&H, PRR x 2, NYC, Demo
Santa Fe 2900 Class 4-8-4 1345
Virginian 2-10-10-2, EOB 1899
UP FEF 3 Versions 1199
In-Stock 2 or 3 Rail
NYC J3a Super Hudson
Southern FM Trainmaster 359
Coaling Tower $195
Reserve
Southern 18” Alum 4-Pk
21” SP Daylt Alum 5-Pk 575 Southern 18” Alum 2-Pk
SP Articulated Diner Set 575 Scale Smoking Caboose
20” Diner/Observation 2-Pk 249
MR, Southern
Scale
MR 4-6-4 J6a Baltic, 2#
999
CP 4-4-4 Jubilee TMCC
999
SP 4-6-0 M-6, M-9 Mogul DEAL!
2-10-4 “Colorado” 2 Heaters Call Troop Sleeper 6#
1938 Dreyfuss Hudson EOB 1175
SP AM-2 Cab Forward, EOB
1675
E-7 AA 245
B 105 ABA 345
Stourbridge Lion Set
ACL, B&O, Burl, C&O, NYC, UP,
Prr Tuscan, Sou, MR, Tex Spec
Dash 9 Power 149 BNSF, CSX,
Anthracite Coal 2-Car
NS, SF, UP, CNW, Amtrak, Con, SP
GP38 139 Dmy 80 BNSF, Chessie, Wabash FM, Legacy
Weaver Models 2009
NH, NS, SF, GT, AK, GM&O, DTI, PC
BL-2 Powered 139 BAR, B&M,
21” Alum 2-Pk 259 Coach 132 C&O, C&EI, GM Demo, FEC, Monon,
Milw Rd, Grt Northern
RI Red/Black, WM-Fire, MP
FM Trainmaster 155 CP, JC,
N&W GP7, Legacy
REA or B&O Express Troop
MR, NYC, Rdg, SP, Wabash, N&W NH EF-4 Rectifier TMCC
2 or 3 R $70 3/$200 3#
NW-2 155 B&O, Con, LV, NYC,
PRR, UP, MR, GN, Monon, JC
18” Aluminum Business Car 119
1245
DMIR, B&LE, CB&Q DEAL!
425
222
59
85
Troop Kitchen 4#
85
Troop Hospital 4#
85
Any 6 for 489 Delivered
MOW Troop Cars 50 2/$95
Monon, N&W, CB&Q, C&O,
GTW, Erie, WM, L&N, Lack
Wartime Gondola $25 or 4/$90 4#
N&W, MEC, Sou, LN, B&M
TMCC/EOB 999
95
415
419
315
NYC, SF Black Mesa
SF SD-40, TMCC
323
21667 Red River Co. Boxcab 78
Rotary Dump w/Conveyor 499
21639 Pan Am Railways Boxcar 37
50,000 Gallon Water Tank 113
U33C
Power
149
CSX,
D&H,
MR
21640 UP Modern Steel Reefer 35
Sunoco Industrial Tank
52
21643 PRR Die Cast Gondola 48 SF, SP, UP, NH, PRR, Reading, WP
Standard O
PRR 16 Wheel Flat w/Transform 62
UP Bathtub Gondola 3-Pk 139
21645 SP 43’ Alum Mod Hopper 59
Husky 2-Pk Maersk, UP
159
22414 Linde Box w/Alum Tank 47
CA-4 Heritage Caboose
70
22447 Wabash DC 2-Bay Hopper 42
DRG, SP, CNW
Rutland Milk Car w/Platform 111
Mtn View Creamery Milk Depot 87 SD90 Power 149 BNSF, CSX, Northeast Cab N&W, Wab 67
Demo, NS, BN, Con, Amtrak, SF SF Wedge Plow Flatcar
67
Gargraves
UP, MP, CNW, MKT, RG, SP, WP SF Idler Flatcar w/Load
56
Genesis
Power
&
Dmy
219
O Gauge
ATSF Water Tank Tank
52
37” Flex Tin $5.55 Cs 50 259
SF Tool Car
60
37” Flex Stainless Phantom Case 305
WP Heritage 60’ Box
63
42, 72, 100” Tin Switch Man 34 Rem 53
Freight $60 SF Tool , N&W 3-Bay
Above w/DZ-2500 TMCC $59
DRGW DS Box, DT&I Reefer,
RC Uncplr #107 $23 Op. #108 $28
DRGW 40’ Flat, B&M Coke Flat
369
Gantry Crane Track $20 Stainless $22 Die Cast Scale Hudson
Katy or MP Heritage Hopper 60
NYC, B&O, GN, SF, JC, CP
90 Degree Crossing $19 DVD 9
Wabash PS-4 Piggyback Flat 73
Now with Wood Ties
Circle 032/ $39
063/ $62
089/ $90
New Haven I-5
385
In-Stock
042/ $45 054/ $59
072/ $67 080/ $85
096/ $92 106/$99
Call on DZ Products
Transformers
Lionel ZW 425
180W Brick 75
MTH Z-4000 385 Z-1000 Brick 59
80’ Alum 5-Car
$549 DCS System 255 Legacy #990 299
PRR, NYC, NP, GN, L&N,
TMCC Cab-1 68 Command Base 68
AK. CNJ, CN, GTW, N&W TMCC Command Set
125
TPC 300 124
PRR O-1 2-Unit Electric, TMCC 899 UP Gray, SLSW, KCS, LV 4-Pk 299 TPC 400 165
Mikado WP, UP, SF, MR 699
TMCC, Railsounds, Odys
GG-1 Scale Electric
255
PRR x 5, PC, CR
EF-4 Rectifier 165 NH, CR,
N&W, VGN x 2, PRR Blk
2-8-0 Rdg, NYC, B&O, WM 389
TMCC, Railsounds, Fat Boy, Cruise
72’ (18”) Streamline 4-Pk 195
72’ Madison 4-Pk 239 2-Pk 120 UP FEF w/Legacy Grey only 989
60’ Amfleet 3-Pk 155 Amtrak x 2 NYC F-12e 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler 575
MTH 2009 Vol II
2 or 3 Rail Steam
NYC 4-4-0 Empire State
639
Pass Set $222
MTH 2009 Vol II
Diesels Power 359 Dmy 169
R-11 Subway 4-Car 449 2-Pk 175 KCS 5pk 335 2pk 137 Vista 75
GP38-2 B&M, BN, CP, D&H
2111 Reading GP-35, DC 3# 250
Alco PA ABA 639 ABBA 755
Orient Express 2-3-1 Pac. 999
Southern, DRG, UP B 139
Black, Green, Brown re-run
FT ABA
NYC Mohawk 2 or 3 Rail 999
L-3a, 3b, 3c L-4a, 4b
639
N&W J Passenger Set
1079
2-Car 137 RPO 77 Vista 77
N&W J Express Mail Set
1079
NH East Wind EP-3 Pass Set 819
Princess Coronation Steam 1079
London, Midland, & Scot, British
LMS 4-Car 365 Bag/Pass 95 GP-7 359 Dmy 169 BAR, Erie
2-10-0 Russian Decapod
899 GP-9 359 Dmy 169 C&O, UP
Erie, Pitt Shaw& N, W. Md
4-6-4 Royal Hudson
899
BC, Southern, CP-Royal Tour
NJ Transit ALP46 399 Dmy 189
Santa Fe 2-10-0 Decapod
Railking
ABBA 755
Erie, NYOW, Seaboard, MoPac
Zephyr 4-Unit Sets 2 types
FEC SD70M-2 Twin-Stack
UP SD70ACe Twin Stack Set
Maersk GP-60M Twin-stack
649
649
649
649
L-4a Mohawk Freight Set 1079
DMIR 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone 1299
Yellowstone Freight Set
1399 F40PH 3-R Power 389 Dmy 169
Alaska, Amtrak, CAR, VIA
4-6-0 Camelback Steam
819
Premier Passenger Cars 5-Pk 335 Amtrak Superliners 335/172
JC, NYO&W, Reading
2-Pk 137 Full Vista 77 RPO 77
0-6-0 USRA Steam
Atlas 2-Rail
2008 DAP
MTH
UP M10000 Diesel Passenger 649
M1000 Coach $85 2#
899 2113 Savannah & Atlanta 250
Scale Diesels Pwr 259 Dmy 129
2114 WM GP-35, DC
FM
VGN, Chessie, JC, SP
2115 NKP GP-35, DC
250
GP-35 also in PRR, CNW, GA
Sharknose AB $488 A 145 RS-11 LV, Conrail, NH, SP
VO1000 Autotrain, PRR, NKP, CNW
NYC, PRR, B&O
MP15DC Am, NS, G&W, BNSF
F-3 ABA 425 B&O, MR, Wab, WP
PRR Modified P5a
PRR FF-1
2235 MR Hiawatha Power B 250
$489
SW-1 259 JC, RI, C&O, GN
Brill Trolley w/PS2.0
199
NYT, Pitt, Phila Sub Trans, MTA
SW-1 Switcher 259 CNW, MR,
Scale Diesels Pwr 259 Dmy 129
$599
7890 Ann Arbor RS-1, DC
Other RS-1:
299
NH, RI, C&O
519
Erie, VGN 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex 1299
N&W 4-8-4 J-Class 999 2 #’s
Diesels 2 or 3 Rail
7805 Jersey Central SD-35
NJ Transit ALP44 389 Dmy 169
3GS21B Genset 389 Scale 399
CSX, BNSF, NS, Army, UP, NRE AEM-7 Electric 389 Dmy 169
Diesels 389 Dmy 169 Scale 399
Amtrak x 3, MARC, Septa
Amfleet 4-Passenger 277 2-Pk 142
Septa, MARC, Amtrak x 2
ES44DC KCS, CSX, CN, NS
B&O GE I/R Box Cab 399
GP-7 GN, L&N
7822 CSX SD-35, DC
4-6-4 Royal Hudson
899
BC, Southern, CP-Royal Tour
GP-9 Buff & Pitt, CN
ES44AC 399
Dash 8 Conrail, CSX x 2, UP
60’ Flat w/Trash Containers
57
739
NH x 3
European
RS-3 Erie, LV, NH, SP&S
Dash 8, DC Und, UP, BC, SP 299
FP45 Maersk, MRL, SF, MR
385
Demo, CP, UP
169
Dummy for above 195
Specialty Set
AA16 NOHAB 3-R 399 2-R 449
GN, Denmark, GM Demo, Norway, VO1000 Power
259 NP, UP, 7840 BNSF Patch Job -8, DC 299
Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary
Burl, Patapsco & Black Rivers 7841 BNSF Patch Job Dmy 195
2008 Vol II RailKing
Am. Freedom PA Passenger 599
Scale Size Diesel 255 Dmy 129
GE Evolution Hybrid Set 449/479
GN 2-8-8-2 R-2 Freight Set 1399
7848 GE Demo Dash 8, DC
NYC J1e Hudson Passenger 999 TRAXX F140 AC2 399 2R 449
CNW E-4 Streamlined Pass 999 Demo, SBB Cargo, Veolia, Europe
C628 D&H, LV, N&W, SF
SP Cab Forward Freight Set 1389
Erie Triplex Freight Set
SD45 MR, GN x 2, SF, UP
299
RailKing – Scale Size
U30C Chessie, MR, PRR, SP
GP-35 PRR, NYC, GN, AK, GMO
275
7823 Penn Central SD-35, DC 275
SD70Mac AK, BNSF, CSX
Dash-8W CN, CSX, SF, UP
275
East Carbon x2, Gen. Am., Joe Trans
EP-3 Electric
1389
C&O M-1 Stm Turbine Pass Set 899
PRR P5a Beer Train Set 819
th
64’ 19 Century Coach 76
LIRR, B&O 3-Pk 225
2009 Dealer Appreciation
0-8-0 Steam Switcher
359 GP60M SF, DC
IC, Sou, NYC, NKP, NP, PLE
GP-9 USCG, FEC, PRR, SP
255
All Atlas Rolling
Stock $25-$40
299
Limited Quantities
UP DDA40X Diesel Loco
MP-15AC CP, CSX, MR, UP 255
649 RS-11 DW&P, NYC, NP, PRR 255
20-3279-2N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 1150
R142A MTA Sub 5-pk 369 2-pk 125
ScaleTrax -INSTOCK
10” 3.00
SD70ACe BHP Billiton, KCS, UP
BMT 2500 Subway 3-Car 399/269
SD70M-2 NS, CN
250
O31 or O54 Curve 3.00
O80 4.45 1 ¾” 4-Pk 7.75
30” Rigid or Flex 8.65
ITAD $23
90, 45 or 22.5 Xing 16 Op. Track 16
Remote Switch O31, O54 or O72 $38
999 Switch #4 $44 #6 $51 Bumper 13
UP Pass 5pk 335 2pk 137 Vista 40 O72 3.75
R40 Subway 4-Car 445 2-Car 175 Engineering Version Orient
K-Line 2-R Shay $499
Lackawanna, PLC
www.justrains.com
Just TrainsTM Free Shipping over $200 on all Korber
302 One Stall Diesel Shed w/Shop
Orders (888) 453-9742
Made in USA
www.justrains.com
69
901 Action Machinery 6 x 8
917 Gen Lt & Power Sub Station
25
32
959 Midland Supply 8 x 6
35
960 John’s Cutlery
25
304 3-Stall Roundhouse, 30”D 189
304A Xtra Stall or 304B Extender 45
902 Jaybar Company 6 x 8
27
921 JLC Manufacturing
305 Sandhouse, 16 x 6
65
45
966 Lehigh Engineering 6 x 8
903 Skyline Steel 6 x 8
25
25
950 American Flag Co. 14 x 9
306 2-Stall Diesel Shed 25 x 11
306A Extender
12.5 x 11
6x8
69
69
27
967 Shoe Co. 7 skylts 20 x 9 x 11 69
905 Blackshear Refrig. Transport
307 3-Stall Trolley Barn 23 x 11
308 Quincy Mining Co.
310 Mitchell Textile Co.
59
95
47
39
908 Shanahan Freight 20 x 8 x 9H
911 Perfect Tool Co. 8 x 16
953 Joe’s Pickle Factory 14 x 9
69
954 Buck Island Canning 8 x 12
59
135
912 Roller Bearing Co. 9 x 28
969 Gen Lt & Pwr Office 6x13x12 65
55
55
P56 Cut Stone
957 Lewis & Sons Machine Shop
315 Grain Silo, 7 x 19 x 22 H
P81 Random Stone 10
89
P83 Concrete 10
915 Quaker Foods 9 x 12
49
75
955 RJK Tool & Die 9 x 14
3115 Grain Silo, 7 x 34 x 22 H
968 Freight Terminal 8 x 15
13
25
D929 Roof Top Water Tank D30 12
49
85
P57 Double
956 James Company 13 x 8 x 9H
55
New Modular System Kit
74.95
Unlimited configurations 24 walls
320 3-Stall Roundhouse 26” Deep 159 916 General Light & Power 48”L 175
958 Mill Works 11 x 7 w/Tower
49
Just Trains (888) 453-9742
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.
FREE O SCALE LIST: List of O Scale shows for
2009. Send LSSAE to Bob Retallack, Dept OST09,
2224 Adner Ct, Columbus, OH 43220.
WANTED: Small N&W custom-built or scratchbuilt steam. Especially looking for N&W 4-8-0
by Bill Lenoir. Also 2-8-0, 4-6-0. Also looking for
N&W brass parts, e.g., pilot, cylinders, domes,
tenders, etc. Contact Joe Giannovario, [email protected] or call 610-363-7117.
WANTED: Ambroid special run 50’ Milw. boxcars, Hallmark comp gons, Sunset WWII emergency boxcars, PRB WWII comp gons, Lobaugh
50’ reefers, WWII era boxcars what have you?
Mail only. Jim Seacrest, PO Box 6397, Lincoln, NE
68506-0397
FOR SALE: Brass and die-cast parts for All Nation/
Babbitt steam locomotives, frames, drivers, rods,
valve gear, boilers, cabs, tenders, and details. Also
restoration and repairs available. Some complete
kits available on a limited basis. Some older
kits and built up kits also available on a limited
basis. Write and include $1 for a catalog. Babbitt
Railway Supply Co., 715 Barger St, Mayfield KY
42066. Call 270-247-0303 between 8 am and 8
pm CST, or email [[email protected]].
WANTED: The O-Scale 2 Rail Club is a modular
train club looking for members or those to follow
this standard and start a club. We are using a portable 2’ x 4’ foot table format. Follow the modular
standards for placement of the two track mainline,
wiring, and table height. Visit the web site at:
www.oscale-2rail-club.com Request a free PDF
of the O-scale 2 rail club standards guide from:
[email protected]
FOR SALE: New Sunset 2-Rail engines: 2-Rail UP
Big Boy, $1500; 2-Rail UP Challenger $1500,
2-rail UP 4-12-2 $1500, 2-Rail B&O EM1 2-8-8-4,
$1500. Email: [email protected], or call
505-898-6956.
WANTED: Steam/Diesel era, DM&IR, Soo Line,
DSS&A. Frt., pass., MoW, cabooses, NO ORE
CARS. Joe Fischer pass. & head end cars. What
have you? Mail contact only. Jim Seacrest, PO Box
6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397
WANTED: LTD AMT Steam/Diesel era GN, NP,
C&NW, CM&O engines, passenger cars, freight
cars, MoW, cabooses, What have you? Mail only
please. Jim Seacrest, PO Box 6397, Lincoln NE
68506.
FOR SALE: Ft. D.D.M.& S. decal sets. Will do 2
locos and several cars. $18.50 per set. Call Mike
at 515-353-4292 or email bluffcreektrains@wccta.
net.
FOR SALE: Sunset, mint condition B&M 4-8-2,
NP 4-8-4, PRR K4 and P70 coaches. Also many
books: PRR, NYC, Reading, WM, B&M, CB&Q,
NP, C&NW and others. Contact Ed Jarolin, PO
Box 782, Sundance, WY 82729, 307-283-1029 or
email: [email protected]
WANTED: Car Works Alco HH660. call Frank
503-452-2336, or mail to: Frank Hillman, 10007
SW Balmer Cir., Portland, OR 97219-6374
WANTED: GN brass PFM E-6, 4-6-0, Oriental
25’ caboose, Oriental 60’ combine, GHB Brill
250. Call Frank 503-452-5336 or mail to: Frank
Hillman, 10007 SW Balmer Cir., Portland, OR
97219-6374
FOR SALE: Exceptional brass Midland
Reproductions full-length Budd dome kit. Contact:
[email protected], or 302-379-1302.
TRADE: Have Precision Scale Southern Pacific
SD-7 Black Widow, Road# 5324 w/can signal
lights. Would like to trade for PSC SP SD-9 Black
Widow w/small Emergency signal lights. My
SD-7 is new in original box. I can provide photos.
Bill Gruner, 541-464-8579, or email [shipguy@
cmspan.net].
FOR SALE: All engines F/P, MINT & TRO. SP
AC-12 #4294 PSC $4950; SP 2-8-0 Glacier
Park Models #2811 $2200;SP MT-5 #4370 PSC
(latest run) $2750; SP P-10 PSC (Skyline Casing/
Deskirted) w 120 C-8 Tender Soufie Drive, $2500;
P-8 PSC w 120 C-8 Tender Cockerham Drive
$2500; ATSF Pecos River Brass - Heavyweight
Chair A/C (#3050-3069) and R.P.O w/o Skylight
(#57-59/70-79) U/P $400 each. Reasonable offers
considered. Bruce Antell 650-347-4402 Office,
[email protected], 50 S. San Mateo Drive, Ste
105, San Mateo, CA 94401
Events
To ensure your event listing makes it into the proper issue, please note the following deadlines for publication:
Jan/ Feb issue: November 1 of the prior year. March/April issue: Jan. 1. May/June issue: March 1. July/August issue: May 1.
Sept. /Oct. issue: July 1. Nov. /Dec. issue: Sept. 1
January 2010
1-3: Baltimore MD
Baltimore Society of Model Engineers Open
House Two model railroad empires occupying 2500 sq. ft., operating trains and trolleys
in HO & O scale, static model displays;
railroad heralds; and railroad artifacts. And
for our youngest visitors, Thomas the tank
Engine models. Located at 225 W. Saratoga
St, 3rd floor walkup. Questions about this
event info or our organization should be
directed to Jim Berg at: 410-859-4376 (day),
410-519-9837 (eve). Contact jtmcberg@
gmail.com
March 2010
12-14: Lombard IL
Midwest March Meet 2010. New location! Westin Lombard Yorktown Center, 70 Yorktown Center, Lombard IL
60148. Call 800-937-8461 and ask for
the Chicago O Scale room rate. Show
registration write to March Meet, 2636
Hallquist Ave, Red Wing MN 55066 or
call 630-745-7600. By email contact
[email protected].
June 2010
30th to July 3rd: Santa Clara CA
The 2010 O Scale National is being
held in lieu of the 2010 O Scale West.
The hotel room rate is $109/night plus
10% room tax, for up to 4 people in
the room. Registration is $35, $40 After
April 30, 2010. Vendor tables (72”) are
$45, $50 after April 30, 2010. A banquet will be held at 7:30 PM Friday outside the hotel. For more details, contact
the O Scale National Convention, c/o
876 Boyce Ave., Palo Alto, CA 943013003 or call Rod Miller at 650-3290424 between 9:00 AM Pacific Time
and 9:00 PM Pacific Time. Email: rod@
rodmiller.com.
July 2010
11-18: Milwaukee WI
NMRA National Convention & 75th
Anniv. The National Model Railroad
Association (NMRA) will be celebrating
its 75th birthday in 2010. As part of the
festivities the National Convention will
be held in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the
birthplace of the NMRA. We are planning a, rip roaring Midwestern, good
time for all, both model railroader and
general interest attendee alike. Dates
for the convention are Sunday July 11th
to Sunday July 18th. On Sunday the
11th, we are going to kick off the week
with a Beer and Brat Fest (a Milwaukee Favorite) at Zeidler Union Square
Park, just a stone’s throw away from the
convention site and hotel. Contact Ken
Jaglinski, Vice-Chair. Contact [email protected]
51
Irish Tracklayer
25
Public Delivery Track
26
AAA Turntables
16
JD’s Trains
21
Rails Unlimited
10
Allegheny Scale Models42
Just Trains
53, 54, 55
RGSRR Hobbies
10
Atlas O
JV Models
10
Scale University
34
15
IFC
Bachmann22
Keil-Line10
Scenic Express
Baldwin Forge & Machine 10
Key Model Imports
14
SceniKing9
Brummy’s Ballast
33
LaBelle Woodworking Co. 26
SMARTT6
BTS24
Micro-Mark25
SMR Trains
Bullfrog Snot
10
Millhouse River Studios
9
SpecCast32
Chicago O Scale Meet
28
Model Building Services
33
Stevenson Preservation Lines 10
Model Rail Scenes
25
Sumpter Valley Depot
10
Sunset⁄3rd Rail Clever Models
9
Custom Signals
14
Mt. Albert Scale Models
Deichman’s Depot
25
MTH Electric Trains
East Gary Car Co.
25
Get Real Productions 33
26
8
IBC
Underground Railway Press 33
Mullett River
27
UpBids.net33
57
NCE Corp
37
Valley Model Trains
26
Golden Gate Depot
BC
O Scale Realty
25
Wasatch Model Co.
28
Gorilla Glue
25
O Scale Trains
14
Weaver32
Guide to Modern O Scale 16
P&D Hobby Shop
14
Woodland Scenics
Hackworth Model Trains
37
Pieces of the Puzzle
16
Howard Zane
10
Protocraft16
Advertisers Index
2010 O Scale National
28
Joe Giannovario
OST Reader Poll
Last issue I posed a poll about what is important to you, the
O Scale Modeler. The response to the poll has been great with
nearly 500 respondents at this point in time (late November).
So here are the results (with comments) which I will share with
all the major importers and manufacturers.
1. Model is dimensionally accurate - Models should be built
to the correct overall length, width and height of the prototype
modeled: 97% said this is important in any model they consider buying.
2. Accurate castings and details - Models should have the
correct details for the prototype modeled and these details
should be of fine quality: 91% said this was important.
3. All wheels sets gauged the current NMRA standards Manufacturers should use either the older 0.172” tire design
or the newer 0.145” tire design, but keep the 0.177” Check
Gauge for maximum track compatibility: 82% responded this
was important. The message here is don’t invent something
new that isn’t universally compatible.
4. Drive wheels sprung - Axles or journal boxes sprung on
either steam or diesel: 61% said this was important. In most
people’s experience springing is inadequate.
5. Drive wheels equalized - Axle to axle or axle to frame
equalization on either steam or diesels: 64% said this was
important. Many people felt that equalization doesn’t work
well and drives up model cost.
6. Drive wheels sprung and equalized - Applies to both
steam and diesel: Only 47% thought this was important.
7. Ease of maintenance/disassembly - Screws and fasteners should be easy to reach with typical modeler’s tools: 96%
replied this was important.
8. Factory painted and lettered - Prototypically correct lettering and numbering: 60% replied this was important. The
prevalence of factory painted models makes customizing or
correcting errors difficult.
9. Constant intensity lighting: 57% said this was important
and frankly I am baffled by this.
10. Directional lighting - Headlight dims or turns off when
in reverse: 56% said this was important (see question 9).
11. LED lamps - Use low power LEDs rather than incandescent bulbs: 63% said this was important. LEDs would almost
never have to be replaced.
12. Lighted class lamps on steam engines: only 49% said
this was important. Many modelers would like a switch to turn
them off.
13. Factory installed Command Control System - either
DCC, or DCS or TMCC: 45% said this was important indicating that the many O Scalers still run straight DC control.
14. If Command Control equipped, do you want sound:
56% said this was important. So, if we’re going to get a command system factory installed make it with sound.
15. If not Command Control factory installed should there
be sound trigger cams on the drivers: 47% said this was
important.
16. Should locomotives be Command Control ready - fac-
tory installed wiring and sound cams: 71% replied this was
important. Questions 13 through 16 taken together indicate
that O Scalers would like to choose their own control systems.
17. Smoke units in either steam or diesel locomotives: 23%
said this was important which makes it pretty clear that smoke
units are wasted on O Scalers.
18. Low current, high torque motors - Motors that draw 1
amp or less are available for use in O Scale models, they just
cost a bit more: 85% said this was important. Other than cost,
there is no reason we can’t have high performance motors.
19. Slow speed operation for switching - Slow smooth
operation at 1 smph or less: 95% responded this was important. In other words, skip the high speed gearing and build for
operations.
20. Dual motors in articulateds - Does each engine need its
own motor: 40% said this was important, the rest said it was a
waste of money.
21. Dual motors in diesels - Do you prefer the so-called
China Drive or a single horizontal motor driving both trucks:
79% voted for the single horizontal motor configuration.
Recently there has been a great discussion online about this
question and the consensus was that the typical China drive
(low-cost vertically mounted motors driving spur gears on the
wheels) did not allow for smooth slow speed performance and
was not able to be modified by the modeler.
22. Written Warranty - Know what your rights are as an
owner. Put the warranty in the box, not on a website: 79% said
this was important.
23. Minimum radius stated on the box - Put this information where it can be seen before purchase: 81% said this was
important.
24. Minimum radius no greater than 60” - Most O Scale
locomotives should run on track with a radius no greater than
60”: 60% said this was important.
25. Limited quantity - Are you interested in “collector”
models of 100 pieces or less, or subtle variations in units: Only
7% said this was important.
My take on these responses are that O Scalers (i.e., the
2-Rail modeler) do not care for the concessions made by manufacturers to the 3-Rail market. They’d rather have really good
slow speed operation than electronic gimmicks. Ditch the
smoke unit and lighted class lights. Spend the money on better
motors and gearing.
Command Control is growing in O Scale but mostly as
a user-installed option. However, O Scalers gripe that they
pay the same price for models without any electronics as the
3-Railers with all the goodies. That will change soon.
Happy New Year!
We start our ninth year of publication with this issue. This
past year was rough on the hobby in general but we’ve weathered the worst I believe.
I am especially pleased to have Tom Mix’s scratchbuilding
series begin this issue. I think it’s a high water mark for the
hobby akin to the Mel Thornburgh articles in the 40s and 50s.
Keep Highballin’u
O Scale Trains mth 02-2010.qxp
11/9/2009
1:44 PM
Page 1
SWISS
KROKODIL
Available In 2 and 3-Rail Versions
Tuscan
Swiss Crocodile Electric
20-5637-1 Hi-Rail Wheels $899.95
20-5637-2 Scale Wheels $899.95
For American modelers, the Crocodile (spelled
krokodil in German) is perhaps the single most recognizable European locomotive, having been
imported as a Märklin model in several scales
since the 1930s. Like the Lionel Santa Fe F3, the
Märklin HO Crocodile was a top of the line model
that many boys of the 1950s and '60s dreamed of,
but few actually owned. If you were one of those
boys (or even if you weren't), this new Premier
model offers the chance to own the most detailed,
smoothest running O gauge model of this iconic
mountain goat ever made.
This full 1/45 O scale die-cast model arrives in 2010
as a die-cast model equipped with M.T.H.'s ProtoScale 3-2 technology, capable of running on 2-rail or
3-rail track. Premier Line engines, like the Crocodile,
are as prototypically accurate as we can reasonably
make them, and feature a large number of added-on
details. It comes equipped with elaborate lighting
features including cab interior illumination and our
full Proto-Sound 2.0 digital sound system.
FEATURES INCLUDE:
•1:48 Scale Modern Diesels
•Equipped With Proto-Sound 2.0 Digital Sound
•Superbly Detailed Die-Cast Metal
Construction
•Locomotive Speed Control In Scale
MPH Increments
•Full Digital Sound Including Operating
Horn & Bell
•Operates On AC or DC Power
•Available With Hi-Rail or Scale Wheels
•Operate On 3-Rail or 2-Rail Track
SEE IT IN
ACTION
ACTION
ON THE WEB
www.mthtrains.com/europe
©2010 M.T.H.Electric Trains 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046

O Scale Trains Magazine

Transcription

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