Making a New Start
- Thread starter C&S
- Start date
Turned out that we didn't get to operate trains for very long today, but did get through about half the timetable in an hour. As the stock was mostly at Bonneyville and no timetabled freight train was due to leave until the "afternoon" we managed to squeeze in an Extra by sending locomotive #4 as a pilot on the first Southbound departure from Cattewater. The engine was uncoupled at Hogwood and continued to Bonneyville alone, while the rest of the train made its scheduled trip to Southvale. Later #4 returned with an Extra bound for Clydes Creek, which was then without any general freight cars, apart from the pulp-rack.
As only one guest could attend I was trying to double as Engineer and Dispatcher, and consequently some mistakes in the sequence were made. The timetable with meets at both depots really does need someone separate to keep an eye on operations and keep them in the correct order, particularly when unscheduled extras are being run.
Here's a shot of #5 switching at Hogwood. The loco was running poorly today, probably due to dirty track or pick-ups. I may substitute #4 for these duties and keep the diesel for the ocasional Extra
#8 leaving Cattewater at the head of a mixed train - the combine is off-camera at the rear of the train.
Later in the day #1 crosses the trestle, bound for Southvale, with the daily timber train
I'll try and run through the rest of the timetable later in the week. At present I'm still trying to determine the optimum number of freight vehicles the line needs to run trains without repeating any cars during the same "day". The trick seems to be to pick the right waybills so that depots do not become clogged with cars waiting for a pick-up or unloading, given the shortage of space at the two depots. I would guess, however, that not all the available unused cars will need to be converted and run on the layout.
As only one guest could attend I was trying to double as Engineer and Dispatcher, and consequently some mistakes in the sequence were made. The timetable with meets at both depots really does need someone separate to keep an eye on operations and keep them in the correct order, particularly when unscheduled extras are being run.
Here's a shot of #5 switching at Hogwood. The loco was running poorly today, probably due to dirty track or pick-ups. I may substitute #4 for these duties and keep the diesel for the ocasional Extra
#8 leaving Cattewater at the head of a mixed train - the combine is off-camera at the rear of the train.
Later in the day #1 crosses the trestle, bound for Southvale, with the daily timber train
I'll try and run through the rest of the timetable later in the week. At present I'm still trying to determine the optimum number of freight vehicles the line needs to run trains without repeating any cars during the same "day". The trick seems to be to pick the right waybills so that depots do not become clogged with cars waiting for a pick-up or unloading, given the shortage of space at the two depots. I would guess, however, that not all the available unused cars will need to be converted and run on the layout.
This is as far as we got - somewhere around mid-day in the timetable/sequence.
The pulp-car has had the lettering added (from an old 0-gauge coal wagon transfer sheet), but the ladders at each end still need painting, I see.
Can't make up my mind about the unpainted figure; think she's a bit too "big city" for a rural spot like this. Also suspect the fashion/hair is wrong for 1941. Any fashionistas out there to advise??
vsmith
G Scale indoors, O Tinplate, Micro Layouts
Ya know, I need to stop reading this thread, every time I do I keep telling myself I need to get off my lazy a** and finish ballasting my indoor layout. Its just that the kitty litter ballast (high tech) needs to be stained and dryed which is a labor intensive job I'm not looking forward to.
Shawn
Hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing
Giles I was thinking have you ever thought about trying some of the rolling stock from Hartlands mini series. They would probably look great on your layout. They are great for kitbashing and inexpensive.
http://www.h-l-w.com/Products/mini_series.html
http://www.h-l-w.com/Products/mini_series.html
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
C&S said:
Feed the cat a lot of tea or coffee with out milk and then get it done for you!
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
C&S said:
Can't make up my mind about the unpainted figure; think she's a bit too "big city" for a rural spot like this. Also suspect the fashion/hair is wrong for 1941. Any fashionistas out there to advise??
Could be a film actress from a movie being shot nearby on location???
Shawn,
Yes I did think of the Hartland mini wagons and would have used them as a basis for my mining cars, however these ended up being a summer project while I was in France so I had to use what was to hand. The Hartland wagons are quite hard to get hold of in the UK and seem to only be available from time to time. Also, I'd already invested in a large number of Bachmann cars.
Mike,
Visiting film-star.......hmmm, interesting as a concept. She could, of course, be a cousin from the city down to see her old folks.
Yes I did think of the Hartland mini wagons and would have used them as a basis for my mining cars, however these ended up being a summer project while I was in France so I had to use what was to hand. The Hartland wagons are quite hard to get hold of in the UK and seem to only be available from time to time. Also, I'd already invested in a large number of Bachmann cars.
Mike,
Visiting film-star.......hmmm, interesting as a concept. She could, of course, be a cousin from the city down to see her old folks.
vsmith
G Scale indoors, O Tinplate, Micro Layouts
Well thats one way to do it, but i wouldnt recommend it unless you had absolutly no sense of smell....beavercreek said:C&S said:
Feed the cat a lot of tea or coffee with out milk and then get it done for you!
I have used the old school "Johnny Cat" dried clay style litter with great results. You cannot use the modern stuff, you have to get the older kind before they invented the "swell up and scoop out" kind of litter. I usually buy the cheapest stuff I can find, I used a small plastic tub, water and the appropriate acrylic paint color mixed in, then I used a kitchen wire strainer:
The next step should be done on a hot sunny day, dip batches of the kitty litter into the water stain, the dried clay litter absorbs the stain, just make sure all the litter gets wet then I take it up let as much water drip back into the bowl. The stained litter is then dumped onto a sheet of plywood and allowed to dry in the sun. sans sun, once your done use a lamp with a incandescent bulb in close proximity to allow the heat to dry the litter. its important to mix up the litter in order to make sure it gets completely dry. Once its dry I have another small plastic container to store it in. Installation on the track is in the same manor for smaller scales.
Results
Really, really no room, Shawn? Not even a lttle 0-4-0 and some Hartland or shorty style cars on a shelf with a turnout and two spurs at one end? Go on, you know you can do it!!! 
Here's a view of Hogwood to show how little room you need; the baseboard is only 2ft wide and with one less track could be little more than half that width. Looking at the depot, I must put it on the list for a rebuild - more height on the roof peaks, overhanging eaves and some Gothic trim would improve it no end, I suspect. Another job to get onto next month, after I finish the extensions to my HO layout.
Talking of future projects, my fairy godmother was working overtime today as I was given a Bachmann boxcar body and a reefer roof that can be adapted to finish it, plus an odd chassis and about 85% of the parts for a tank car. Just one set of bogies though, so It'll be a hard decision which one to build. I suspect it will be the boxcar initially, although this will need more bits fabricating to complete it; I'm keen to make it a ventilated car with a solid door and also a semi-open one with bars - like the ones that Bachmann produce for 0n30 scale.
Here's a view of Hogwood to show how little room you need; the baseboard is only 2ft wide and with one less track could be little more than half that width. Looking at the depot, I must put it on the list for a rebuild - more height on the roof peaks, overhanging eaves and some Gothic trim would improve it no end, I suspect. Another job to get onto next month, after I finish the extensions to my HO layout.
Talking of future projects, my fairy godmother was working overtime today as I was given a Bachmann boxcar body and a reefer roof that can be adapted to finish it, plus an odd chassis and about 85% of the parts for a tank car. Just one set of bogies though, so It'll be a hard decision which one to build. I suspect it will be the boxcar initially, although this will need more bits fabricating to complete it; I'm keen to make it a ventilated car with a solid door and also a semi-open one with bars - like the ones that Bachmann produce for 0n30 scale.
Shawn said:
Shawn, I do not wish to hi-jack Giles superb thread. So can I recommend that you look at this G Central Link, in particular my Post No. 8. If you still have no room for a layout, have you considered Z gauge?
JonD
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=51537&high=small+layout < Link To http://www.gscalecentral....&high=small+layout
Too busy lately to finish running through the rest of the timetable, so here's a view taken at the last operating day.
The boxcar being switched is a Scientific Toys 4-wheeler, now mounted on an LGB chassis. I also added a little height to the body to match the dimensions of the other Bachmann boxcars, plus new side doors, and a peaked roof. The moulded ladder rungs and grab irons were replaced with new ones from soft garden wire. I was lucky with the lettering which was originally AT&SF. After painting everything out but &S, all I had to add freehand was the C, which wasn't too difficult.
Shawn
Hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing
We are changing my 19 month olds room to the spare room (warmer in winter) I might be able to make some room in the new spare room for a switching layout. I have a small ON30 layout that I have been working on but a really like G scale. Ill have to see if I can come up with something. I really like what Giles has done and 2ft wide might be do-able.
Giles I love the boxcars.
Giles I love the boxcars.
I was printing some images from a free-to-use website (http://www.cgtextures.com/ < Link To www.cgtextures.com) for my H0 layout and one came out too big, so I tried it out beside the mill at the end of the trestle. It really helps the transition from a low relief building to the distant backscene, and makes the modelled structure look less like it's about to fall down the cliff. Here's a "before" shot to outline the visual problem......
.....and "after". The effect has been to separate the foreground and far distance with something in between, which I think does help the perspective.
.....and "after". The effect has been to separate the foreground and far distance with something in between, which I think does help the perspective.
Finally got the HO layout extension done, ready for Beckenham show on Saturday. Quite a relief, but I now owe SWMBO several days of house and garden work, so Cattewater developments will have to wait a while.
Meanwhile I looked out some bits from the spares box - mainly small loco details and two uncouplers - will take them to the show in case any G scalers turn up. If not, check out the Private Sales pages next week.
Meanwhile I looked out some bits from the spares box - mainly small loco details and two uncouplers - will take them to the show in case any G scalers turn up. If not, check out the Private Sales pages next week.