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 Posted - October 21 2012 : 09:46:36 AM
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I am ready to begin actualy doing something with my benchwork. The modeled line is up for grabs still, double track NYC main, or a C&O/Chessie single track coal branch able to be run in two different eras, C&O early diesel or later Chessie system diesel. In the first picture, the wall/table your looking at is 24" deep by 100 inches long. That is the shorter side of the room, the other length is 110 but window table stops short, it is 24" by 6' butted up against the other table, so really its 6' plus 24". The door side table is 24" by 6' but its butts up against that far wall. An angled, narrow duck under spans between the two tables as can be seen in the pic. The track there now is just temporary, I plan to put a 2" thick pink foarm surface so I can cut and carve valleys and some bridges. I can use the same pink foam to carve upwards for mountains for the track to meander thru if I go C&O. I was thinking a coal mine tipple could possible be put in the left and right corners in the first pic. Cars could be shoved in and disappear behind trees to a short hidden staging track on both tipples, saving room for an exposed yard there. A passing siding would be nice and could possible be put on the narrow duck under area. I would like to use the roundhouse, fed by a 3way peck turnout. There is a small 4 track single ended yard next to it right now, that could stay or go, but I would want a small diesel service area on the lead from the roundhouse. The roundhouse isnt a "must have" but a diesel engine service area is. I have thought about selling the roundhouse, professionaly built for me, lighted, weathered suydam kit, but shipping it scares me. A 2 stall polebarn engine house weathered up would probably work better. Any help, espicaly if someone could draw something up in scale to see if it would work. If a few minor dimensions are off, thats fine as I can modifiy as I go. I just need something to look at and get motovation from, and that will acutaly fit my space. Min curve radius is 22" and #4 turnouts in the yards. Mainline turnouts are atlas wide radius. All track needs to be Atlas snap track, no flex please. I have loads of snap track and no desire to spend tight funds on track. Buying that Alco RSD7 really hit the train budget, wasnt planning on that purchase, kind of fell into it. If I do go C&O, and its leaning that way right now, I would probably sell the two Tenshodo NYC engines if someone is interested or has C&O diesel power to offer in trade, espicaly Alcos, NCE DCC or Alco DCC/Sound decoders. Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 10:22:56 AM
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cool...but why not flex track? Flex gives you smoother operation and less electrical connections to trouble shoot. The less track joiners the better...
caboose 1
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 10:56:05 AM
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Cost and I dont like laying cuves with it. Never had issues with sectional track and with all metal wheels on my cars, you get the nice sounds as they cross those joints. I also have a huge box of sectional track already. Nothing wrong with flex track, sometimes if I have a piece or two laying around, I will use it for long straight sections. In my small room, with a couple of power feeds to the track, I dont have power drop issues. Heck, I still use brass track. Grew up cleaning track from time to time, just part of the hobby for me. Or an excuse to run trains more often, more running equils less cleaning. Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 2:25:49 PM
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I like the layout! I'm going to be doing mine in brass track with mostly 18" curves because it's what I've got. I'm mostly using Tyco track because I have it on hand and am getting it CHEAPLY.
Love the looks of all of this. I'll be getting my benchwork started by Thanksgiving if all goes well, although it looks like my wife has to have surgery on her ankle as she tore both sets of ligaments. May make for VERY little time this winter.
I plan on running a track cleaning consist to help with my brass cleaning issues. I know I'll wear the track down a little but that shouldn't be a problem with code 100 track and plenty of it, right? I love the various track cleaning cars - so I figure running an entire consist ought to really buff it out.
Rus
Starting my Tyco and other favorites collection over again after 37 years.
My still in progress list of inventory and wantlist: tyconut.com
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 5:15:07 PM
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Mike,
Is that the C&O RSD brass you have sittin' in the 2nd picture?
That looks like a really NICE brass model, who made it again?
As for the track, I use whatever I have in nickel silver track.....As thats what the layout was made with when I got it (I'm re-locating track on it to suit my needs) but I have like 5,000 feet of nickel silver track! Whether flex, sectional, or what have you.....Then comes the brass track I have......I won't even go there! 
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 7:17:38 PM
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Yes, thats the C&O RSD7(DL600a) sitting in the back ground, its an old Alco Models brass import from 1968. They made several runs of them, later versions are even better, came with can motor and Samhongsa drive system. This one has the Kumata drive, but I have upgraded the trucks to later style copies of the Samhongsa trucks. Much better running, even with the original noisy open frame motor. Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 9:37:28 PM
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Mike,
NICE! the truck side frames look to be "Trimount" trucks, are they? The center axle if thats the case would not be centered on the truck!
I'm working on building a C&O made SD18......In Chessie System C&O paint......Made from a selection of ready made models, on a Athearn frame with Athearn "Trimount" trucks to boot!
I'll have to post pictures of the progress on it!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 9:43:53 PM
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Very familiar with the Chessie SD18's, the short line had one for awhile, those tri mounts are super sensitive to rough track in the real world. That engine we nicknamed the "speery test car" as it would find every bad section of track and derail that middle axle. Talk about a total b-tch to rerail! We would usualy totaly derail the truck and start from there. Trying to do the middle axle alone would usualy break rerailing frogs ect, to much binding from the other axles in the truck being on the rail. And yes, that alco is sitting on tri mounts!
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 9:55:06 PM
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Mike,
Now THAT is one HELL of A ALCO! Damn that thing looks long! Wit hthe extended long "short" hood........
I am gonna do up a RSD-12 in B&O that actually came from the C&O, when the B&O and C&O merged, BEFORE Chessie System in 72' I'm still working on this model as its a short version, with "C" type trucks! That are also "Trimount" trucks!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on October 21 2012 9:55:32 PM
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 10:00:07 PM
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Here is a revamped track plan for C&O coal operations, the two large curved tracks in the corners would be serving coal mine tipples or I may change one to a power plant and connect the tracks for a loads in, emptys out operation. The yard needs a couple more turnouts to be complete and get tied into the main. The passing siding is in, has a large radius turnout at one end but a #4 at the other end due to space constraints. Just before the turnout for the passing siding and before the turnout into the mine lead, there is a cobble stone grade crossing for the small mountian town area. I put an hour run time in each direction on the Alco's power chassis, the trucks are starting to loosen up finaly, required voltage to run has dropped quite a bit. Trucks were new in the package and quite stiff. Even a cleaning and relube didnt help, just had to run them in on the layout. None of the turnouts have switch motors, most will be ground throws with Tomar lighted switch lanterns once I get the foam base on the layout. For now they have a piece of electrical tape keeping them lined for the main. What does everybody think of the track plan so far? Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - October 21 2012 : 10:03:06 PM
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NICE pic! Did the RSD7s have a 3 chime on the short hood just ahead of the cab, or behind the cab on the long hood end? Which end was considered the front on the C&O? Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - October 22 2012 : 06:52:20 AM
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Mike,
Actually the RSD-12's had the horns just ahead of the cab on thew short hood. As seen in the picture, 3 chime yes I think the B&O may have changed the horns over time to the standard B&O 5 chime after they were repainted in B&O.
From what I know the C&O had the short hood as the front, and so did the B&O as seen in the picture. Look in the side sill stripe as you'll see the "F" destination of the front of the locomotive!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - October 23 2012 : 9:09:39 PM
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I got the brass Alco painted into the blue, black frame and trucks. Still debating how to paint the pilot faces yellow, not much to stick masking tape to in order to be able to spray them yellow. Right now they are blue with the rest of the shell. I baked the shell for 45min at 180' and will let it cure the rest of this week before doing anything else. I dont have the decals yet eitther. Cheers Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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