Hoppers

This week a really nice "Golden loaf" flour hopper arrived. So, it is time for a test ride and a line up with all the other hoppers. This PS-2 Weaver hopper was available local and for some reason most European zero-scale modellers still do not appreciate the quality of Weaver cars, so I got it for a bargain. And because hoppers seldomly ride single, it is nice to have it here.
On the web, there is even a photo of the original hopper and although the original was shaped a bit differently, I do not mind Weaver to have improved the overall appearrance. Furthermore, this hopper was the Weaver club car of 2008. So without being an official member, the hopper is here to stay.

MTH Camelback running

This weekend I succeeded in making some good shots from the new MTH Camelback. Moreover, I also managed to blow the whistle button this time. In order to prevent the fire alarm from kicking in, the total time smoking was kept minimal, nevertheless it did smoke!

MTH Camelback

Today, a beautiful present arrived: a MTH Camelback engine with Protosound 1, #30-1142-1 from Reading railroad. Just look at it. Soon you will be able to hear its puffing and chuffing as well. The battery was a bit low, so the engine is now powered in neutral to charge itself and meanwhile it blows off steam. The green classification lights are lit as well.
Camelbacks are truely American hazardous steam engines, a unique design in many ways.
I choose this engine, since it very close to scale, has the protosound options that also function with European (230 V, 50 Hz) current, is a Reading engine and negociates the curves of 027 layout without issues.
The engine was purchased at Grzyboski trains. Just want to thank them for their service, charging realistic shipping costs and friendly assistance.

new additions

A few days ago some new Weaver Union Pacific cars joined my little layout. A crisp lettered boxcar with "bolster snubber springs" and a 40 foot tank car. The box car runs good on the 027 curves, the tank car required two spacer rings to elevate it a few millimeters and get it correctly through the 027 curves.

Weaver alco on 027 tracks

One of the last issues with the Weaver Alco engine running on 027 tracks was that it derailed the first car it pulls in a curve. To resolve this, I had to make a more flexible connection between the engine and the first car. As you can see, it works fine and the UP Alco has commenced its duties.

Lionel 1677

Today, a beautiful pre-war gondola arrived. It is the green Lionel 1677 that was produced from 1933-1935. A long lithographed car that was part of entry level start sets of that time. Some other cars of the same serie, like the 1679 Baby ruth box cars, the 1680 Sunoco and Shell tank cars and 1682 Caboose were much more common. The only exception is the truely rare 1678 Stock car of the same serie. Personally this green gondola is a outstanding beauty.

Alco running

Although the new FA-2 diesel engine doesnot have QSI, Protosound, Trainsound or whatever fancy hightech sound system, it does have an unique motor sound. Probably caused by the chain drive. Listen to the video and perhaps watch as well.

Weaver UP Alco #6540

About a month ago, I received a beautiful Weaver FA-2 Alco diesel engine in Union Pacific livery from Northern Saskatchewan. Although produced in 1990, the windows and horns were still not glued on yet. After it stood on the tracks and received some AC-current the lights lit up and the motor made a snorring sound, but the engine did not move.
After dissembling the hood, a missing gear wheel was directly appearent. After inspecting the box a small fragment of a plastic gear wheel was found.
Based on this fragment a new 8-teeth gear wheel from brass was made by drilling a center 4 mm hole. Then a circle was drawn on 3 mm distance of the hole with a ring and with high-school triangle 4 lines through the center and 45 degrees apart where drawn. On the eight positions where the circle crossed the line small 1.5 mm holes were drilled and afterwards the rough gear wheel was cut out of the brass plate. After sanding and soldering and sanding, the new gear wheel was mounted on the main drive rod, but unfortunately the motor did not run good. The chain tension was too high and consequently the torsion was too high.
In order to reduce the chain tension 1 mm was sanded from the plastic positioning plate for both main drive rods. The mounting holes for this plate were enlarged and after re-assembly the chain could move much more easily. The a special spacer was made from a K&S brass pipe of 4 mm internal diameter and 3 mm width. This helped to position the upper gear wheel precisly over the bottom gear wheel.
Now it finely runs! I must acknowledge my local Lionel train friend for giving me the repair suggestions that proved to be the right ones. The engine runs on my 027 layout, but does not like the Lionel 027 switches, because it touches the switch-house with the lower middle hood when it runs over the curved track of the switch. Furthermore, the couplers can not remain centered on 027 track, meaning that they will derail the first car connected in a 027 curve. This can be circumvented with a elastic rubber band over the open couplers, but it is not nice. What is nice of this engine is complete skirt: and not two single parts where the light shine through.

P&LE Boxcar

A beautiful Weaver PS-1 boxcar has joined us. It is a jade green NYC system Pittsburgh and Lake Erie boxcar made in a special run for P&D hobby. The doors can slide open, but sufficient force needs to applied to get them moving. A well-detailled little treasure train car that emerged locally. What a small fortune indeed. This boxcar was already suited for 3-rail operation and hence does not need to be converted to the right amount of rails.

Planting trees

One of the key difficulties of a layout on a folding table is how to deal with adding scenery, especially houses, mountains and trees. Today some detachable trees were planted on the layout, which can be easily unrooted and replanted when necessary. Small threads will keep the trees connected to their trunks while the table is in a upright folded position.

Long trains run by

This weekend we played with the trains and made some large consists and saw how the MTH switcher pulled it easily.
The house / crossing bell cover is progressing slowly as well, made some windows and doors. At last I got a new toy to play with: a sandblaster. So, I had to try it on an old pre-war passenger car. The first blast was not bad. Only thing left to do is to clean the garden, because everwhere lies fine white sand... Next time better and perhaps also smarter.

Reynolds Railroad Products

This weekend I found two old US 0 scale cars of a brand that is unknown to me "Reynolds railroad products - Athearn 0 scale kits" at a local second-hand trainshop named Wentink Occasions. One is a #0105 40' Refrigerator car of the Pacific Fruit Express and Union Pacific- South Pacific railroads. This reefer probably originates from 1946, because it states blt. 9-46 on the side. This car is full metal on the outside. The interior of the car is from wood and the exterior is metal plate. The tin plate strips start to rust a bit but the large metal plates shine like mirrors. It is a true beauty!
The other is #0302 40' UP box car. This box car has a plastic side panel, metal roof and front and back end. This box car probably was made in 1956, since it blt 3-56 is marked on the side of the car.
These cars are really nice. Obviously they are intended for 2-rail, but that is easily fixed with some Weaver replacement trucks and couplers. Another issue is that are from the wrong Western railroads, but I can not be to picky on what I find locally. They are rather heavy and the shiny metal really gives the cars a nice appearance. Some of the tin-plate strips are starting to rust, but that can be considered as natural weathering.