Snowbound?

  Wow the forecast is for a possible foot of snow!  I guess we will  have to wait and see.  The tracks have been clear (outside) for a long time.  I was thinking maybe winter is all over. I should know better than that.  But, I am lucky because  I can still run trains in my basement.  I love puttering around my cluttered workbench and having the trains available to tinker with.  Today I took a little video.  Nothing special.  I have been adding power pickup to my passenger cars.  Still waiting for LED lights to arrive but if you look close you might see the incandescent bulbs which now light up from track power.
To take a look, please click here:

Trolly Update

   The trolley car is finished. I took the clamps off and the roof stayed in place.  After being told a canvas roof is not right for a Maine Two Footers, I decided to install a metal roof. The color was to be Red Lead primer but is a little off. I remember Red Lead to be more orange.  I plan to run the car as an excursion car.

John F

From New Hampshire

I forgot to mention 7/8 scale (See note from Scott on "What is the Difference" post below).
John Foley is one of the biggest advocates of 7/8 scale and we are pleased to show you a creation that John is working on.  Forwarded to us from NHGRS member and MGRS member 'Tiny' Lee.
Thank You, John we love to follow what you are up to:

From J. Foley (NHGRS)

As Norm Abrams said on This Old House program "you never have enough clamps."

I am building the Ferd's bagal Trolley using clamps to hold the pieces in place until the glue dries. The attached photos show the roof and all the clamps.

John F

Surviving Steam Locomotives in the USA

This is an amazing database if you want to do some research.  There is A LOT of information within this link:  http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/

How did that Happen?

I have heard the old saying about pulling yourself up by your own boot straps but this is pretty darn clever.   Please click here and enjoy:

In Between the Rails

  Here is a quick one (not recommended for anyone to try). But kind of fun to watch.  Click here to take a safer look: 

What is the Difference?

You will have to forgive me because I may not be stating the question correctly, but I think it was " What is the difference between 2 foot and G scale?  That does not sound quite right but I will try to answer anyway.

There is a club called Maine Narrow Gauge.  They model Maine 2 foot Railroads and I believe the scale is called On30.  Which is O scale trains on HO track.  O scale is 1:48 and HO is 1:87.

G scale I usually think of as 1:24.  But there are several other scales all called G scale.   They range from 1:20.3     1:22.5    1:24    1:29   and   possibly 1:32.   As far as I know the track is all 1.77 inches between the rails or more commonly called 45mm.    (I don't usually think in millimeters).

I just pasted this in from the web.  It is a good breakdown by manufacture.

• Accucraft has five scales - Fn3 is 1:20.3, Gauge 1 is 1:32, their ½" scale is 1:24. They also build 1:29 scale North American models in live steam and electric under the AML brand, as well as British live steam and electric models in 1:19th scale [also called 16mm] and Isle of Man live steam and electric models in 1:20.3 scale - the Isle of Man uses three foot gauge track, the same width as the dominant US Colorado narrow gauge.
• Aristo-Craft is 1:29, “Classic” series is 1:24
• Aster is 1:32, 1:30 for Japanese prototypes and 1:22.5 for European and Japanese narrow gauge.
• Bachmann's "Big Haulers" series is to 1:22.5, while their "Spectrum" Series is to 1:20.3 scale
• Hartland Locomotive Works products are engineered to fit with 1:24 scale Narrow Gauge equipment and 1:29 Standard Gauge equipment.
• LGB is 1:22.5
• Märklin "MAXI" is 1:32
• MTH Rail-King is 1:32
• Piko is 1:27-1:29
• USA Trains “Ultimate” Series is 1:29, “American” Series is 1:24

Standard track in the United States is 4ft 8.5 inches between the rails. (Don't send me the Roman Chariot story)  Narrow Gauge is anything less than that and I believe ranges from 3ft 6inches to 2 ft.

This might be a WAG.  But I think if you model standard gauge equipment on 44mm track that is called Gauge One or Gauge 1.  I found a club in England and Whales  that uses track 1.75 inches between the rails and they call that Gauge 1.    But, I will leave it all open to discussion.

From Scott -   To build a narrow gauge layout in which 45 mm track is intended to represent a span of two feet between the rails, the scale of the trains would be 7/8” inches to the foot.  That’s just short of doll house size.  Looks great in the garden, but there are very few parts available.

Welcome to Bruce & Anne from New Hampshire

MGRS is happy to welcome Bruce Belles as a new member.  He and his wife Anne live in New Hampshire. He was introduced to MGRS by his brother-in-law Mike Silsby.  Bruce grew up in Philadelphia and remembers trains and trolleys there as a child.  Bruce said he has been up to see the Mall Train Show the past two years and he sounds like he has lot of interesting train stories to share.  We look forward to meeting them soon and welcome them to MGRS.

A tragic B&M train wreck from history

Bruce  Belles posted this as a comment and I moved it to a posting.  This event happen right across the river from where Bruce lives:  The story follows:


Built in 1913 by the American Locomotive Co. in Schenectady, N.Y., #3666 was just one of many similar engines on the B&M’s roster. This class of power operated primarily in passenger service. Nothing unusual happened to this particular locomotive until Sunday evening September 10, 1939. To continue, we quote from an April 1972 Magazine
Mr. Menut: “Train 2013 left Boston at 1:30 pm behind engine #3666, a local to Portsmouth, N.H. After a short layover at Portsmouth, the #3666 was turned and backed its train of deadhead equipment (now called Train 2021) to North Berwick, ME where the #3666 ran around the train and waited for the arrival of connecting Train 1044, a local passenger train leaving Portland at 6:35 pm for Boston via the Western Route. Passengers from points in Maine destined to Eastern Route points transferred at North Berwick to the waiting train, now numbered Train 2024 in the time-table… a Sunday-only local from North Berwick to Boston.”

Now we quote briefly from a piece in the Portland Press Herald of September 11, 1939:

“As Train 2024 headed for Boston, it passed over the century-old wooden bridge across the Piscataqua River between Kittery, Maine and Portsmouth, N.H. About half way across, the bridge timbers beneath the trestle suddenly gave way and engine #3666, her tender, and the first car of the train plunged into the cold, black 60-foot deep river. As the air brake hoses between the cars parted, the brakes went into emergency, stopping the remaining passenger cars before they could follow the other equipment into the river below. Engineer John Beattie of Somerville and fireman Charles H. Towle of Portland were drowned. There were just 12 passengers on the train, including 3 children and 2 women, plus the conductor, brakeman and a baggagemaster. All were safe in the rear cars and were taken by HANDCARS to the end of the bridge where they transferred to a bus to complete their trip. Fireman Towle’s body was found shortly after the accident, but Beattie’s body would not be found until several days later, far upstream at Dover Point.”


While a new bridge was being constructed along-side the old one, a caisson at the new bridge site had dragged its anchor cables and the cables in turn pulled out several bents of the bridge span so that it was unsupported at the time #3666 ran over it.”

Engine #3666 and the coach were never recovered, and to this day lie in their watery grave at Portsmouth. They have not remained there in peace however, being the subject of several attempts to remove them.

Feb 23rd 1893

On this date in history Rudolf Diesel patented the DIESEL ENGINE.

This is Great! From Doug Johnson

Doug sent me these pictures and I never saw them before.  If you appreciate great detail and excellent photography then Click here and enjoy.  Well worth the look!  Thanks Doug.

 

Oh Boy, the postlady came!

  I get excited like the dog when he hears the can opener running!  The postlady is leaving a small box.  Oh Boy, I know its got to be something good!   I bought a roll of LED lights and an inexpensive soldering iron which hasn't come yet.  But I ordered some electrical pickup passenger car trucks from ana.kramer.   Well the box from Al Kramer was the first to arrive.  Requiring instant gratification I tore open the box and they were just what I hoped for.  With a screw driver and some black tape I had a car lite up faster then you can say "Thank you Scott Gould, why haven't I done this before?"    If you have the battery powered Bachmann style passenger cars, these may be what you want.  All I did was replace the old truck with the new one.  I used my old wheels and coupler and (don't laugh) I attached the wire leads into the battery box with some electric tape for now.  What I wanted to see was how good the pickup worked and I was very happy.   I just used one electric pickup per car, but it has 4 pickup contact points per truck.  Two wheels on each side about 2 inches apart work great!   dirt, gaps, switches, crossings and insulated joiners all work without interruption. And now, NO batteries Required.

  The real learning and fun begins when the LED's arrive and I get into page 7 of the Newsletter.  I hope to learn about capacitors, regulators, resistors and one more that I can't think of right now.  But the LED's should last longer, run cooler, look brighter and take a lot less current, all things that make me want to use them!

In Rememberance

This Locomotive - Typical Pacific Class Passenger Engine was built for the Maine Central Railroad by the American Locomotive Company in 1924 and made its last run June 15, 1954.  It is here preserved as a monument to Steam which powered Maine Central trains for 92 years.

Pretty cool looking engine

 

  This is the Iowa Interstate QJ 2-10-2  cruising along looking and sounding very good.  I am not sure what QJ stands for,  if you know leave a comment.   To watch her go, click here:

Here is the ANSWER to my Question (Thanks Tiny & Mike)

Decorah Eagle Cam

Sorry not about trains. But it is America's symbol.
I posted the link because my wife and I enjoyed this a lot last year.  Well, they are back again and the cycle is starting once more.   The first egg was laid less than 48 hrs ago. Save the link below, very interesting:
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Here is my layout version:  Just to keep it related to G-scale.

Great Day for a Train Show !

     Wow, if you picked a Saturday in mid February and told me it would be beautiful, I would have said you were dreaming.  But, it was!  The National Guard Armory in Augusta was the place to be.  The parking lot was full and the Lion's Club members looked very happy.  As you entered the main room the first place you saw was Carl with three tables.  Many MGRS members were gathered around.  I had a nice talk with several members, some I had not seen in quite a while.  Lots of trains and items were on display and the spirits of all seemed cheerful.  I am ready for our Spring Meeting and all I have heard is good things about our choice of location this year.  Looking forward to seeing many of you there next month!

Carl said he was doing well and he had in fact also collected some dues an signed up a new member.

Spring is in the Air!

That is what it feels like.  Yesterday, I saw a sap bucket on a tree!   Plus baseball is just around the corner.
Tomorrow there is a train show.   I am getting in the mood for trains.  In  fact I just watched Bill and Robin train video from last year. It was good!   If you want to see it again click on the picture below:

Update from Eric

 Here is an update and a picture from Eric Schade:   I have been working on the boiler for my Modified Ruby coal fired locomotive.  She will be a representation of the SD Warren Paper company engine #2 which is being restored in Boothbay.

Greedy

  My greedy little mind has been churning away, thinking of ways to profit from an opportunity.  I call it free enterprise, but in any case here is the situation.   Lets assume we could (there were 4 available) obtain a brand new unopened, ready to run Thomas G scale train set for $198.98.  Total cost.

• I doubt the Mall would let us do this, but visualize a self service raffle box where there is a stack of little envelopes for people to put in a dollar and write their phone number or email on the envelope and drop in a box.  5 weeks later we open it up and notify the winner to come pick up the prize!

• We probably could have a stack of free handouts, that would direct people to our web site were thay could click on a raffle page and buy tickets on-line.  That would require a lot of work by someone to manage the raffle and it would reduce our net proceeds considerably, but still make a profit.

• If we raffled it off at our Annual Meeting we could probably break even and still have some fun and add a little more excitement to the day!

Lots of possibilities,  Ahhhhh,  greed the  'good old'  motivator. 

Nice Newsletter

JAN - FEB  IRONHORSE is now ONLINE ~ Click on the Current Newsletter Icon on left hand side of Blog to view.  

Thank you Scott and Mike for the very good information on LED's.  You definitely inspired me to try using and learning a lot more about them on my own layout.  Lots of great info!  Thank you.

The "Rest of the Story"  OK, I went on Ebay and bought a string of LED lights (Thank you Scott).

Have not looked at eBay for a long time,  I saw what I think is a good deal for someone who wants a Thomas train set.   Item Number 90068.     Free shipping, Buy Now,  New Bachmann, G-scale, track, train and transformer, under $200.