Nice picture of loco 2509 crossing the trestle

While the gang was over the other night both Bob and Steve were taking pictures, so I don't know which one took this shot, but it's a beauty! Click on the picture for a larger view.

Bash-O-Mania!

In an earlier post I started the bash of the B Moore Showroom as I got a second kit for $6 and wanted taller buildings for the area behind the current downtown Hoovertown. Below is a picture of the structure as it comes from DPM. You can click on the pictures for a larger view.


Here's the front after modification. I've added two stories, removed the overhead door to replace it with walk thru door, and narrowed the entire face (notice the kit before modification is 5 windows wide and it is now 4 windows wide.)

I hated those funky little small side windows on each side, so I cut up the sides to add the two stories and remove those windows.

Here's the side with the windows removed and about 1/3 of the width also removed. There won't be any side windows now on the ground floor.

Here you can see all four sides after the modifications. Notice that the back was narrowed by removing the entire far right side of windows from top to bottom.

I've added the putty to fill any gaps and painted the sections inside (black and then gray on top of the black) and painted the outside brick red (red oxide primer). Next will be adding mortar and painting the window detail. Stay tuned for future posts with progress.

Expansion planning on the railroad

I've been working with expert railroad planner, Scott Perry about the future expansion of the railroad. I have NO experience in planning (as is obvious with the existing layout) and wanted Scott's input as I've seen his expertise first hand from being a member of the NCIOG (North County Interchange Operating Group).

I had been going about it all wrong in that I sort-of designed the future benchwork first, when it should be that I start with the purpose of the railroad and the industries it services. Here's some of Scott's comments on the planning process:

"Here is an industry diagram. I put in some of the industries, but not all. The ones I didn't put in didn't have another industry on the line to ship to. These can be added at will since all traffic to and fro is generated off line. Basically, the more of these types you use the more hidden staging you'll need. The industries I used keep all the traffic on the layout proper.

Here's a diagram.

This is a pretty busy railroad! Just the coal mine will generate two trains per ops session. Lots of back and forth. The asbestos plant sound like something you really want to build, so figure out a customer for it. An insulation company or a brake parts company would work. Worst case, ship it to the freight house. The coal distributor can sell gravel, too. A small cement plant is a great customer.

On the far right I always put the railroad as they consume a lot of goods; gravel, fuel, oil, sand, etc.

My rule of thumb is that every industry should have at least one supplier or destination on the railroad. This way more traffic stays on the board.

If you add the brewery or the bakery, you need to add a grain silo somewhere."

This is Scott's diagram that he furnished from the list of industries I provided to him. Click on the picture for a larger view.

This is an exciting process! This Friday the NCIOG group is meeting at the first time at my home for a planning session and we have a great start with Scott's input. Stay tuned for more!

New book for Richlawn RR Library

I picked up this out of print book on ebay which has lots of nice color photos and many of them dealing with coal. This is important because the Richlawn RR will be focusing on hauling coal.