Good Idea!

Whyte System

I found this link and I like it because it gives the Name associated with most all known wheel configurations. I was looking up the two locomotives believed to be built in Boston in the early 1850's that are sitting perfectly side by side 10 feet apart in 90 ft of water of NJ coast. They have a Very Rare 2-2-0 wheel configuration. I was looking for a picture of the "Pioneer" the only remaining 2-2-0 know (I think) in Bethlehem PA Museum. Perhaps manufactured by Cumberland Valley RR, but the Pioneer is only 3/4 size of the two engines 5 miles out to sea. There was no shipwreck, so these were lost cargo and therefore harder to trace. Anyway I like the link!
Here it is

Extreem Train's

Last night I enjoyed watching the TV show on the History Channel that Ray told us about.

It is hosted by a man from Maine and it is a very good show. Last night was all about the biggest longest fastest freight train in America today. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe. You have seen pictures of three massive BNSF 4400 HP diesels hauling a 7,000 foot long Double Stacked Container train! It is impressive. They have a web site and I will post the link to it. Last night you got to take the whole ride which covers 1,500 miles in 48 hours. The trip begins on an island off of Los Angeles and goes to the distribution house in Fort Worth, Texas where in just one hour the containers are unloaded to tractor trailer trucks that go out to the rest of the Country. Just for the fun of it, I will list a couple Trivia Questions that where on the show last night.

1. The trains travel across a huge ‘Lift Bridge’ to start their journey. There is a unique devise that connects the bridge track to the rails on either side. What is the name of that device?

2. A train that size could never travel through Los Angeles without causing major traffic problems and delays. What is the name of the ‘thing’ that solved the problem?

3. Ninety miles out from Los Angeles is Cajone Pass, elevation 3800 feet where one hundred trains per day go through there every day. The pass is being widened to expand capisity by 50 percent. What is the name of the Massive Tool that they are using to help do the job?

4. Last question is halfway through the trip they are in the Mojava Dessert with 130 degree heat and no place to break down. There is a giant facility there to maintain the trains and 26 locomotives go through every day. What is the name of this important maintenance shop?

Here is a link to the site for the TV series

Jack's New Place..details

Here is a shot of the "ginger bread" detail on the house. I started by sawing a shaped strip on my table saw and dressed it with a blcok plane. then I cut half at 45 degrees one way on the band saw and half the other. then I just glued them in under the eaves using a spacer to get them even.

I plan to attend next week, and I will bring the house!

Joseph Smith Collection-'Boston & Maine Railroad'

I am forwarding to you an absolutely phenomenal collection of 1,107 photographs of the B&M covering the 1930's through the 1950's! Pics include all aspects of B&M railroading including letters of dismissal and 'other' issues relating to the business. Click on photo to enlarge. The attached B&M collection is only part of a massive 13,842 record collection from Joseph A. Smith (1895-1978) and others. You may access 26 other railroad collections, including the MEC, Rutland, etc. by clicking on the "Main Page' block to reach the HOME page and "Popular Searches" section. This site could keep you busy for weeks!

Frank Judge CVRTC submitted by Tiny Lee
To view Click Here

Jack's New Place...

Old Jack who is the supervisor of the Winnegance and Fiddler's reach and his wife are finally getting their new home. She was tired of sleeping in the caboose!



I molded some resin windows last winter and had drawn up some plans. I finally got around to building the house this weekend.

I used 3/8" plywood, A/C I guess, found it at the transfer station. I think someone had just been installing a bathroom. I milled it to represent clapboards using a dado cutter in my table saw. laborious but looks pertty good. I sawed out the walls, then joined them using Red Cedar scrap which I also used for the trim and gingerbread.

I was inspired by a house on the Main Road (route 209) here in town. I haven't added the big front pourch they have though nor the "L" and barn. a scale house gets big in 1:20 scale even if you shrink it a bit.


Note: Click on 'Home' below to return to the regular Blog.

Scratch Builders and Kit Bashers

Here is a link I ran across, that you Scratch Builders and Kit Bashers that haven't already seen it, might like. Interesting water tower. A lot of detail parts, mainly 1:20 - 1:22. Some 1:24th.

http://www.tracksidedetails.com/watertower/watertower.html

Boy that looks Good

This is why we have different seasons in Maine, it lets you appreciate them more!

Great Times at the North Conway Station

Lot of Fun for Everyone Watch the Slide show
Number 7470 Watch the Slide show
From MGRS Member Tiny Lee

Enjoy the Scenery

These are pictures of Avia & I with the motor car from mp40 to mp18 miles from Portland. Thanks again of the Loan of the car Tiny. ~ RJ

A nice collection of pictures - See Slide show
Sent to us by MGRS Member Tiny Lee

More from the New Hampshire Boys

Those NH Boys are busy! And we love it in Maine. I am getting more good stuff from Tiny Lee and some of this friends in NHGRS. Thank you!
Here is one from Frank who said: Check out this excellent source for information and photos about the Mountain Division:
Maine Central Railroad Mountain Division

Frank also sent us EXCELLENT RR station site! Check out the detailed Maine Railroad Map listed in the menu.
Click here to see it.

Plus a link to the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club

Well here are some of the photos I took from the NHN plow extra on Saturday. A nice day for it. Sun was pretty good and plows provided some nice action! Thanks to Lenny for kicking it up to track speed where he knew the photos would be good!
Complements of Ian MacMillian Plowing Slideshow

A Trivia type question

I recently enjoyed a train ride on the Downeaster to Boston and back. My question is 'How many standard rail road ties did I travel over" It is a little silly I admit. But the correct answer should be the product of two facts. The number of miles of track the train travels on the Portland to Boston route and how many average railroad ties are in a mile of track?

Maine RR Trivia

The following statement pertains to What Railroad in Maine and name the two towns it referes to.

"While much of the right of way went through relatively open country, there had still been a number of difficult challenges for the engineers and construction crews to overcome." "Parts of the line near ? and ?, for instance, would have to literally be "floated" through bog land on unusual double length ties."

PS: You can use any source!

B&M article from today's Newspaper

Here is a scanned in article on the Boston and Maine RR in South Berwick in the 1800s. From the "Foster's Daily Democrat" 1/13/2009 for anyone interested. The scanning legibility may be less than optimal.

7/8 Scale site information

Hi everyone, this was passed along to me from Tiny. It is from John Foley the Vice President of New Hampshire Garden Railway Society. He said:

Please pass this information along to the guys in Maine that are interested in 7/8th scale.

"7/8th group" 7-8InchScaleTrains@yahoogroups.com

7/8th forum http://www.7-8ths.info/

The first is an email address. The other is a link to a forum site: Click here to see it

Cars of the 50's and 60's

I know this is a litte 'off theme' but I just received a great link and want to share it with you. We were talking about the late 50's and 60's with Scott and I know a couple of members even have 50 and 60 drive in theater themes. As teenager's we all wanted a cool car! So here is a little reminder, put on the sound and enjoy. Click Here.

First train on the new bridge

I installed the bridge and ran a couple of trains to get photos for the Garden Railway Article. On Saturday morning it was sunny and cold. I had run a hand powered plow along the track after the last icy snow at least as far as I could, so most of the track was open.

I took some nice atomospheric photos of my little Ruby, though the running with the passenger car was not too satisfactory...the car's steps rode up on the snow and de-railed it.

I ran my LGB Forney around with a short freight and that worked well.

I had some fun with making movies too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW8vKt5gYL4

No. Conway Turntable

Here is another series of pictures from Tiny Lee. There are lots of good shots of the turntable operation over at No. Conway. Take a look - Click here
Thanks Tiny.

Rail Car rides fron NH

Tiny Lee one of our New Hampshire members sent in some pictures he wrote: " Hi John, Here are pictures of 2006 CSRR Railfan weekend of two Railroad Track Cars, tall one is mine and my friend has the low roof car. We gave rides for two days in the yard. tiny

See some more pictures from the weekend - click here

SCGRR Barn Up-date

Here is a pic of the barn roof with a couple coats of gray paint.

Here is a pic of the Triangle hinges from "Craft Inc>com". Looks like the flash washed out the top hinge. Maybe it'll show better if you click on the picture to enlarge it.

Here is a pic of the barn front pretty much finished except for the white trim at the roof line. The triangle hinges on the loft door also visible here.

Winter project w/ Tractor

I thought some of you would get a laugh out of this. YES, I know there aren't any construction photos. I goofed again. This project has been going on for some time and I never thought of documenting it. So I'll just show photos of as much of it as I can.

The pictures didn't up-load in the correct order so here they are anyway.

This is the "Hay-loft" of my new barn.

Note: The clothes pin clamps holding the roof on . This barn is an experiment in different roof types. I started to do the entire barn in corrugated. That got OLD real fast. So I am experimenting to see which holds up better. Yes I also know the style of the roof does NOT meet standard building code for this type roof. Again it was a design on the fly, with I guess this will be OK, etc.


Here's the Tractor.

Another shot with the Tractor. I think it was out in the rain too long. That's OK, we'll use it to move the bales around.

Welcome NHGRS

We have a close relationship with NHGRS and even share some of the same members. We invite their members to visit our site and even make it easy for them to get back. Look for their Logo on the left hand side of the Blog. Click on it and you will go to their web site.

They have a very nice site. In fact if you want to see some great pictures of Carl's layout go to "Photos" and look for "Tiny's Travels".
Thank's Tiny.

Covered Bridge Done For Now!

Well I've done enough for now. I put it outside, connected up the track and posed a short train for the photo. It looks like a NEW bridge, weathering takes a while.

Perhaps I'll get a building article to Garden Railways.

From our Friends in New Hampshire !

Courtesy of Larry Goodhue: NHGRS on YouTube Video, East Coast Large Scale Train Show - (2007) Fowarded to us by our own MGRS member Tiny Lee.

Videos for East Coast Large Scale Train Show

I recently finished putting 8 videos on YouTube, taken at the East Coast Large Scale Train Show (ECLSTC) held on March 30 & 31, 2007 at the York Fairgrounds in York Pa. (The video is divided up into 8 parts, due to YouTube length limitations of 10 min max per video.) These videos shows "bits & pieces" from the Vendors and Layouts halls. Please note this video is NOT a complete tour, but just some random "bits & pieces" that I was able to film.
Please click on the Part numbers below to see each video.

Part 1 Vendors
Includes 2 vendors that I failed to identify, and Accucraft, Appalachian Gardens, Aristo Craft, Charles Ro, Colorado Model Structures, Hartland Locomotive Works, High Rails Overhead Roadbed System, and Kern Valley Railway (Hwt pass cars).

Part 2 Vendors
Includes LargeScaleOnline.com (LSOL.com), MTH, Mystic Mountain Arts (fantasy trains), Nicholas Smith, Ram Track (special loco lighting & sounds), St Aubin Station, and Wireless Micro Color Cam (onboard cameras).

Part 3 Layouts
* Layout 1, Susquehanna Valley GRS (in lobby)
* Layout 2, Model Contest Table
* Layout 3, Circus Trains.

Part 4 Layouts
* Layout 4, Potomac Valley Central.

Part 5 Layouts
* Layout 5, Central Connecticut G Gaugers.

Part 6 Layouts
* Layout 6, South Eastern Pa GRS, and
* Layout 7 The Aikenback Live Steamers.

Part 7 Layouts
* Layout 8, Warrior Run Loco Works,
* Layout 9 Washington Virginia & Maryland GRS, and
* Layout 10 Delaware Large Scalers.

Part 8 Layouts
* Layout 11, the New Hampshire GRS.
i'am a member of the nhgrs group as well as the maine group. the first part of the video is my part of a 88 modulales (16 foot curve). hope it transfer to you to post for others to enjoy.
Happy New Year
denneth "tiny" lee

Hi Blogger's we are off to a great start!

2009 has started out with a flurry of blogs. I think we all love to hear from each other and I hope more people keep joining in. Especially in the cold dark months of winter it is nice to keep in touch.

As our volume increases I do want to mention one thing about putting "Labels" on your blogs. If you look at Special Section you will see that each time you make a new label it appears as a separate entry. I am afraid the list will grow so large that it will not be useful. So as we start a new year I want to remind you that it is not a requirement that every blog have a unique lable, so you might consider leaving some of them blank. Or you might try to combine your blogs together under an existing lable when you can. You can choose an existing lable from the list by clicking on 'show all' and selecting one from the list. You can also have multiple lables seperated by a comma. This is not a big deal and I want you all to please feel free to make a new label when ever you want to, I do not want to hinder your creativity.
Thanks again. Enjoy and please keep up the execellent posts!!

Shingles...

I had a little time this afternoon to work on the bridge. I had found a blown down Cedar tree. I cut a section and brought it to my shop where I coverted some of it into shingles for the bridge. As the wood is still really wet, the sawdust is sticky and tended to clog the saw. with the lower wheel cover off, the chips fell free and I was able to make the batch I needed for the roof of the bridge. After a little counting and math, I figured I need about 1800 shingles.

I glued them on using clear silicone caulk. I used a 1/2" wide strip as a guide to get the shingles to line up in neat rows with a 1/2" exposure.

I did not quite get finished to clear the shop for paying jobs as I had hoped but I am close.

Covered Bridge Progress

I've made some progress on the covered bridge. First I added the siding on the ends (portals). I had to do this before adding the pieces that made up the gable, which had to be done before I added the roof laths.

I used scrap western red cedar sawn into 1/16"x 3/8" strips for the siding. the lower section, I glued on vertically. the upper horizontally, just for looks. A little trim makes the end portal look sharp too. I will add two more peices under the eves.

The roofing will be cedar shingles. Today I put laths down on the roof joists. I do it like real wood shingle roofing for the same reason; I want the air to get to the underside of the shingles to let them dry out.

I also cut a cedar tree that had broken in the ice storm for use as shingles. I started sawing them up into shingles on my band saw. They look pretty good, but I will let the wood dry a bit before cutting more...the wet sawdust clogged my bandsaw.

I like the looks of the Western Red Cedar and may just leave it to weather naturally. I will "weather" it with a little soot above the portals though.

WDW

The GWRGR crowd is having some wonderful weather here at WDW Florida.
Today Brandon got a NEW Engineers hat. Is seen here at the Epcot Christmas Tree Train lay-out. Will post as time permits. Thinking of everyone in the SNOW

All you want to know about "Scale"

If you can stand to read through all this, I think it is interesting. It is a good explanation of what different scale model measurements represent. When you are in the right mood: Click here and take a look.
This site also had a link to some small (6x10) G scale layout designs - click here

Greetings From Sunny Florida

The BBIG Report

BBIG stands for Barry Buckie, Ivan, and Gerry. The first week-end Barry and I got here (Dec. 20) we met up with Ivan and Gerry and went to the Tampa Model RR fair with the club we are members of down here (Florida Garden Railroad Society, Tampa division) Many vendors of all scales including the F scale exhibit that was at the Portland Narrow Gauge Convention.

The Tampa Division set up a G scale RR approximately 50' x 50' with 2 outside perimeter loops and an inside up and over figure 8, and several oval loops in the center. Many buildings, trees, and buildings from scratch built to bird houses. We arrived Friday evening and set up in about 2 hours. It was very well organized by several of the members and went together very smoothly.

We ran members trains Saturday and Sunday, we also ran trains for people to test before they bought a train from a vendor. We all had a great time and enjoyed the kids of all ages enjoying what we love to do. We picked up a few new members and answered lots of questions.

Sunday at 4 pm we started to clean up it took only 45 minutes to clean up. Everything went into a trailer and off we went on our individual ways.

Ivan has been building a New England farm and collecting stuff for his G & I Railroad in Buckfield.

Barry has helped one of his neighbors get a small railroad running around his cross bucks in his front yard. He also is collecting things for the PSRR and putting together a log cabin kit that he received for Christmas.

Happy New Year to everyone and we will post more when the BBIG gets together again.

Just for Ray

Here you go Ray. The answer to your question. (It's just trivia! and I have the answer to this one.) I see the quality of the movie degraded when published here. Sorry Deere's, NO Tractors!!

Communist...

"Nothing Runs like a...."
well "these colors don't run" but this old Massey Ferguson has seen two generations of play. I did have to replace the right front wheel though.

Nobody seems to know for sure...

Who is this? When was this taken? What is "The Rest of the Story"

SCGRR New Construction

Here are three of pics of SCGRR's new "Blueberry Bridge". It's a dual track Home-grown design to go over the "Blueberry" patch at SCGRR's expanson site. It will be part of "Phase III" of SCGRR.

The idea came from one of Carl's bridges, although it is different from his.

Covered Bridge Roof Framing

I had some time today to work on my covered bridge some more. I ripped up some strips of pine and cut some rafters. I made up a pattern and cut about 40 rafters. They are notched to fit over the frame of the truss. Next I made up a simple jig so I could glue up roof "A" frames with a notch for a ridge pole. when the glue dried enough, I notched two so they would fit over the cross timber at the ends of the bridge. I then used some scrap and clothspin-clamps to hold up these first two "A" frames at the end of the bridge. I inserted the ridge pole and erected the rest of the rafter "A"frames.

above are the rafters in place. Every thing is glued using TiteBond III. very few nails are used.

Here are the rafter "A"frames. the short "collar- tie" at the top holds them together and supports the ridge pole.

I only used the TiteBond to hold all the siding in place--no fasteners. We will see how long it holds. I think it will be indefinately, though a few may loosen up over time.

I use silicone to hold the shingles onto the roof, I have also used it for repairs on the siding of my 20 year old bridge which was glued with epoxy which seemed hold pretty well.

A little follow up to Ray's trivia question

As a boy I got to visit my Aunt and Uncle every summer in Wells River VT. They were so great, plus I got to ride the train from South Station to Woodsville every year! I did find the picture that I was talking about in reference to guessing at Ray's Ball Signal question (it mentions the Wells River line, which is how I came across it) . Any way it has two nice pictures and and a short explanation of the signals. Since I found it again and you cannot post a link in a comment, I thought I would share it here. If you are interested please take a look.
Thank you Ray, you come up with some very good questions.