The Bear, sadly, has a propensity of starting new projects before the last is finished. With a look of earnest righteousness on his face, he will give all sorts of reasons for his actions, (really Lack of), including the legitimate one of stopping because of frustration because he couldn’t get a particular idea/technique to work and was in danger of making a pigs ears of the whole project. However excuses are by definition, just excuses!! :oops:

Now while I have to finish the car ferry and CISX500 the depressed centre flat car, I consider entering them in the challenge as cheating, because there is really so little to do to finish them!!! (Though I do have to get off my duff to do so!!)

   

Several years ago I came across this locomotive partially hidden under a pile of stuff on a vendors table at a train show. “Can’t tell you much about it” he said, “came as part of a job lot of brass locomotives. The body falls off and it’s got an N scale decoder even though I think it’s HO, and I don’t know if it works.”
On close examination I found a two digit number written underneath and upon gaining his permission to try the locomotive, took it to the DCC modular layout I was helping to exhibit and after placing it on the test track, found that the number, the decoder and the locomotive worked!!!

At the time I wasn’t sure about the provenance of the shell, neither were the other guys, except that it had to be a cast aftermarket one, I suspect that the previous owner had privately imported it, as well as the brass locomotives, because to my knowledge they haven’t be available over the LHS shelf here. No matter, apart for the overly Thick gloss black paint, lack of decals, glazing and lights, it ran very well and as I was in the market for an Alco switcher, the only possible sticking point could be the purchase price.

Going back to the vendor, I explained that it did run, so what did he want for it? Without too much dickering, I bought it for not much more than the price of the decoder, a very happy Bear. (Well you’ve got to win one every now and then!)

So the challenge for me is to fix the deficiencies noted above and add a completed locomotive to the Lachlan River RR roster.

On a railway related trip a few weeks ago, I picked up several rolling stock kits that 1) give me a bit more variety, and 2) are a better fit for my chosen era (roughly "between the wars") and location (southern Ontario).

From Just Train Crazy, I got 2 40'/50 ton general purpose gondolas. They are undecorated kits that will be lettered for CNR. I was looking for RTR Proto 1000 gons, but had no luck. Now I won't need them!

From Credit Valley RR Co, I got a Tichy 40' flat. This again is an undecorated kit that will end up in service for CNR.

From my local shop (Larkspur Line in Merrickville) I have ordered a pair of Central Valley flat cars. They'll be put to use by CN as well.

Lastly, in non-revenue service, a Walthers undec Russell Snowplow.

So... Six cars to build from kits, painting, decalling, weathering, and possibly adding a load to one or more.

That should cover it for now!

Andrew

Big Blue's latest Challenge is now open, and all are invited to participate. You'll find more information HERE.

Wayne

I bought this locomotive, a used Bachmann USRA 2-6-6-2, from a nearby hobbyshop in 2007.  It was DCC-equipped, which I promptly removed when I got it home.  It ran well, but since I had a lot of other projects on the go at that time, I put it back in its box, a project for a later day.
In 2009, I had some idle time available, so dug it out and decided to test its pulling abilities, as I felt that it probably would need some additional weight.
I assemble a test train and sent it east from Elfrida, and the loco and several cars disappeared into the tunnel.  As the track is on a 2.8% grade and also a couple of curves, the cars began disappearing more slowly, until finally they stopped completely.  This was not unexpected, and I could hear the locomotive still running, its drivers slipping on the rails.  When I walked around the peninsula to see how far it had gone, I was surprised to see only the front engine's drivers spinning, while those on the rear were motionless.  
I shut off the power and took the loco into the shop, figuring that the driveshaft to the rear engine had somehow become disengaged.  After removing the boiler casting, both driveshafts were revealed to be properly in place, but further investigation showed that the gears within the rear engine's gearbox were almost totally devoid of teeth.    It's my guess that the previous owner used a non-plastic-compatible oil in this gearbox, and while it sat in its box for two years, the oil did its damage.
The next day, I contacted Bachmann, only to discover that no parts were available for this locomotive.  My next avenue was NWSL, and after a lengthy back-and-forth discussing gear sizes, tooth counts, and pitch, I was asked by Dave, the tech guy at NWSL, to send the damaged engine in to see if he could come up with suitable replacement gears.
Time passed, and Bachmann released their C&O 2-6-6-2, a loco similar to, but not exactly the same as my earlier version of that wheel arrangement.  I contacted Bachmann and explained the situation, and it was suggested that I send them the loco and $45.00 to see if parts from the newer loco would work in the older one.  I contacted NWSL, and asked them to return the engine and bill me as required.  In due time, the engine arrived (at no charge), and the locomotive was re-assembled and sent off to Bachmann - this was, I think, in March or April of 2012.  
It didn't take too long for Bachmann to contact me with the news that the newer parts were not compatible with my older locomotive, and they offered me a replacement or the return of the wounded loco.  I perhaps should have accepted the replacement offered, but since it was literally half of the original (their recently released 2-6-0), I asked for my crippled 2-6-6-2 to be returned.  I was surprised when it arrived here, complete with my uncashed $45.00 money order.  While I was a bit nonplussed by their offer of a 2-6-0 for a 2-6-6-2, I certainly cannot fault their warranty policies, and wouldn't hesitate to purchase another Bachmann locomotive.
I get regular e-mail updates from Bachmann on their new releases and was shocked this past Spring to receive notice of the availability of parts for my lame loco - among them, complete front and rear engines.    
I quickly ordered one of each (who knows, perhaps the front engine was now in the same sad shape as the rear one, having spent even more time in the box).  This locomotive has racked up a lot of mileage, but most of it not under its own power.

Anyway, the parts arrived and the new rear engine was installed (the front one appears to still be okay).  So, this long delayed project is once again under way....I had re-started it a couple of months ago, but given the nine year lag since it was acquired, I prefer to call it a stalled project.  

The locomotive as-delivered is back-heavy, but there's very little room to add weight in the front end.  I did find a few spots, though:

In the smokebox and front sand dome...



...atop the rear of the front gearbox...



...and the front of it, too...



I also replaced the plastic steam pipes between the front of the loco and the rear cylinders, using lead-filled brass tubing:



The loco and tender, the latter the USRA "long" version, are too long to fit on the 90' turntable at Lowbanks (actually only 89' long because of limited real estate), so I decided to shorten the loco's boiler...



You'll also notice, above, that I substituted a Delta-type trailing truck for the bulky one which came with the model.  This required modifications to both the truck and the mounting system on the locomotive:



...which then allowed me to mount, what I believe to be CPR vestibule cab, much further over the boiler than the original USRA cab, thus helping to shorten the overall length.  The long tender will get a trimming, too, but that'll happen later.



I can't recall the origin of the new cab, but I think that it was in a box of garage sale stuff which my wife picked-up for a couple of bucks.

Much more to come!  

Wayne

A few shots of some of my favorite steam builds.

A completely rebuilt Erie R-3 2-10-2 ( back )
My scratch/bash CNJ 2-8-2 Super Mike ( middle )
and a reworked bowser L&NE L-1 2-8-2 ( front )
   

   

Our recent poll has 20 responses expressing an interest in participating in a new Challenge, and this one will be to get folks off their collective duffs to either:

1. Start a new project and (hopefully) see it through to completion.

2. Continue with a project already underway, and (hopefully) see it through to completion.

3. Re-start a stalled project and (hopefully) finish it without stalling again.

Your project can be anything model railroad-related: from as simple as adjusting coupler heights for more reliable operation, to scratchbuilding a brass locomotive, and anything between those extremes. The whole point of this Challenge is to get you back on track with whatever needs doing on your railroad.

You may enter any or all of the categories listed, and also as many times as you have projects, although I would suggest that you keep similar projects together. For example, if you're building a number of structures, or pieces of rolling stock, or doing various layout improvements, keep the related items together in a single thread.

In the interest of keeping things from getting too complicated, all entries will be grouped together, whether new projects, ones underway, or ones stalled, although you are encouraged to include that information in your opening post each time you register a new entry.

The Challenge will begin November 26th, 2016 (after many of you recover from the after-effects of Thanksgiving dinner) and continue until midnight April 15th, 2017. This should give you lots of time to finish a project, and perhaps start another, or even another after that. The aim is to get you through winter with a feeling of accomplishment. We don't want to leave anyone's duff undisturbed.

Registration opens on November 26th, 2016 and will remain open until April 15th, 2017 (although that last one better be for a really easy project). You may register by replying to this thread, and each time you wish to start another project, register it here so that it can be added to the list.

Your thread title should include your username, followed by 2016-2017 Get off yer duff Challenge and include the (Part I) etc. notation if you're doing multiple projects.

For example: doctorwayne's 2016-2017 Get off yer duff Challenge (Part I)

At the conclusion of the Challenge, there will be Members' Choice vote, open to all Forum Members, with prizes awarded for the top five different picks - in other words, no entrant may receive more than one prize, even if they appear in the top five more than once. In that case, prize awards will cascade down to the next position on the list until all five are awarded. Let's face it: all entrants could consider themselves winners simply for having their duffs prodded into action.

Such prizes are awarded at the discretion of Big Blue Management and may (our discretion), include luxury automobiles, all-expenses-paid vacations, cash, or Big Blue challenge certificates.

Wayne

Happy Thanksgiving.

Hey Folks,

I'm building my home layout now and getting excited as I see the bench work going up. When I was researching before I read that it's best to wire as much as you can before you cover the top with your plywood. This got me thinking about what I need to wire a DCC layout. Being I've only run DCC layouts with modular groups I've never done the entire DCC system myself. So here I am lost on what I need to get in place before I cover the easy access to the lower bench.
Some Background: I have used Digitrax for all other work with modular groups so I have a throttle (Duplex Radio) and I have the Digitrax Zephyr (older non plus) starter set. I know the Zephyr will not power the entire layout so I was thinking I could use that for a section of the layout like the yard and buy what I need from there. My issue is what do I really need to get this layout powered correctly. I need to learn about what I need to get done now. Like I need to run wires for power (done that), need to run a loconet for digitrax and what about extra wires for other accessories on the layout like lights or whatever. Should the loconet not be run along side the power wires? Should I drill new holes for the loconet? Do I need the loconet to just run along the layout or will it be best to follow the tracks like I did with the power wires?

I know this is a loaded post with a lot asked but I'm trying to show what I know of DCC at this point and learn what I can now before I make more work for myself later.

I can post a picture of the layout if you would like or you can see a work in progress of the layout in my other post (http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic...=46&t=9139).

For now I know I'm not placing the reverse track (in green on top of layout) so I'm thinking I'm not needing a reverse loop controller on this layout. I could be wrong, that's why I'm starting this post. I will get a new layout design done over this holiday if I can.

Please ask questions and post any ideas you may thing will help me get this correct.

Thank you and Happy Thanks Giving all!

Dave