Another SCGRR Winter Project

Here is another SCGRR Winter project. This one is a non-traditional Water Tower. Everyone seems to make round ones. We thought we'd be different. It is a "Figment Tower"! That is a Figment of our Imagination!

The Plan!


The platform framing. 1/2" Nominal Western Red cedar. Bordered by 1/2" x 1/8" WRC.



The platform with decking material added. Decking is ~.085" thick x 1-13/32" wide. Not to any standerd board size. Just the width of the Balusters. Again, Western Red Cedar.

Oooops! Somebody parked a tractor on the deck. Must be checking to make sure it's sturdy enough. (Sorry, the picture is fuzzy if you enlarge it!)

The beginning of one of the four sides of the Tank. Western Red Cedar, Glue (Titeboond III) and pins used. The boards are .085 x 1-13/32" with scribed lines at 1/2" intervals to resemble narrower boards.

That's it for now!!



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Something a little different

I was changing the 'Video Bar' and I came across this. I think it is entertaining. I call it 'Old Toot Chases Train'. Click here to see video
Here is the video for Part-1
They are both very good quality video's and fun to watch.

Very Detailed 1/2 inch scale

******My daughter just sent me this to look at. She enjoys making miniature items. This is a little desk diorama she came up with. She has it on ebay. I am not trying to advertise it, I just thought it was pretty neat. It does remind me though we are planning to go to the Train and Doll house show in Augusta next month.

RailROAD vs. RailWAY

Being home today with a cold & VERY board, I thought I would search for an answer to the reason we use Railroad or Railway. What a surprise! So I am looking for ALL the opinions out there, just to see if there is an answer. Not Trivia but very interesting. Looking forward to some input. Mike

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.


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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.