Well, well, today, June 17th is our "official" 6th anniversary. Yep, it’s hard to believe but it’s been six months since we opened Big Blue and welcomed all train enthusiasts. When we (Mikey and Don) started to seriously talk about reviving what was once a top-rated train forum, we had some rather large misgivings. Mikey had some eight years on the old Gauge, Don had almost six and it was difficult to leave all that we built up over that time. We really didn’t want to abandon all the information that was there, plus the tutorials and all those great pictures, wow; but mostly we thought about not leaving behind all the friends we made there. The question was, could we save what we had, or did we need to start anew? We concluded that saving the old Gauge was out of our hands and we had hoped that our friends would all agree, so, we decided to start anew. We wanted to make our new forum, look and feel the same as it was, when all our long time Internet friends were members of that close knit forum. Well you answered the question, and you followed us in droves. All of our staff followed us, and most all, joined our new staff. Some old staff members that had left because of the many changes that happened over time even joined us. The first day that we were open to posting here, we had a phenomenal number of posts and it hasn’t stopped since.

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished, it feels uh, comfortable again. We have close to 300 members and we’re averaging 100 posts a day, not bad for a “new forum”. We appreciate your support and your confidence in what we’ve put together here, and we assure you, that we’ll never let these forums get into the situation that has befallen us in the past. No ads, no unreasonable rules. Our growth has been slow but steady, and we think we’ve given you what you want, the ability to post pictures and links, our own chat room, the return of the Big Blue colors but most of all, a friendly place, that feels like home. Now, for those of you that have a hard time with our color scheme, hang in there. We’ve asked Pat to see what he can do to add another color style so you can have your choice, white text on blue, or black text on white. It’s not as easy a task as it might seem and Pat’s been a bit preoccupied, but it is on his “to do” list. Believe us, we listen to you. Some things take longer than others, but this is your forum, we just make sure it runs smoothly.

Aside from thanking you from the bottom of our hearts for being here, we can’t ask any more of you beyond that. Keep these forums what we intended them to be, a family-friendly place where good friends can come to get away from other worldly things and to share their experiences and information on all aspects of railroading.

Don (ezdays) and
Mikey (ngauger)
Administrators and co-owners of Big Blue

My sons and I often go rail-fanning and wave to the train crews, etc. I just thought I should find out a little more about present-day train crews as well as those in the past -- as I realize that I'm a little confused about some modern-day train crew roles.

Today, there are usually two people staffing freight train engines. One is the driver on the right-hand side of the engine ... and, since we no longer need a fireman, is the other person a conductor who is in charge of the train and its overall operation?

In the 1960s-80s, during diesel power operation, would the conductor have ridden in the caboose with other train crew? And would the other guy riding with the engineer still be called a fireman or an assistant?

Going back to steam days, the engine would obviously be staffed by an engineer and fireman, and I expect the conductor and other crew would have occupied the caboose.

Thanks for any feedback or clarifying! I'm especially interested in modern-day train crew roles.

Rob

Hello Everyone---whenever I travel,I like to pick up a souvenir to help remember the occasion.The trip to Scranton's Steamtown with the Gauge members was one of those events---here's what I was lucky to find

Some times ago I purchased this older brass model at US-Ebay.



The HO-scale model represents a New York, New Haven & Hartford gasoline rail coach where ten coaches with #9014 to #9023 which were built by Brill in 1925.
That what is so fascinating to me is the very long hood overhang far in front to the front truck. I have got a few copies of pictures from a book and all my impressions are confirmed by these pictures.





The underbody has had a very simple detailing however the problem was the rear truck that could not turn or swing to move in curves. Look the primitive fixing of rear truck that is wide far from a correct modeling quality. In result the coach did run but only on straight tracks.





A more problem was typically for the model in original condition. A mounting plate for a coupler on backside was arranged however the rear truck was positioned at most back end of ground plate so that a rear coupler could not added to the model. Why a coupler adds to such a coach? (At end I mounted a small no. 158 whisker coupler.)

My wish list for modifying this model was not a very short one.
- First the model should run without restrictions; I think this is the basic requirement for each model.
- Second the model should have a rear coupler for moving a single car from station to station as an exception but model should be usable for small switching jobs in a small station without an own yard goat. Thereby a working front coupler is the next requirement.
- Third the model should get a more detailed under-floor after that what I can do. In a further step I planned also a completion by interior, a driver for the coach and a few passengers.
- Fourth the model must be digitalized because all my friends own digitalized layouts with the according model equipment. If I would let to run this coach so I must equip it after their requirements – and thus this model should be my digitalizing job. Part of this digitalizing job should be also a lighting of front and back lamps (also inside?) – all things that I never did before.
- Correct or nearby correct coloring and lettering is one of my basic requirements also.



First step was removing most of under-floor details for replacing and a repositioning.





Here two pictures of the new detailed under-floor.
The upper picture shows e lot of holes for the speaker which will be installed with the sound-digitalizing. And the frame did get a new fixing bridge for the rear truck, above at right side, lower picture in above-left position. Most brake parts have got a changed position and they are completed by a lot of small additional parts; a brake as I love to build it.





I modified the front truck so that the one side frame can turn and so I get an all wheel contact to the rails. I think that this is a really needed requirement for a well running motor car avoiding powerless track positions. The second picture shows also my solution for a four wheel power pick-up.
The rear truck is a Tenshodo power truck where all four wheels are equipped with power feeders however the two wheel sets do not swing in the truck frame. Thereby I must not invest additional work.



Here a picture that my friend has shot who colored the coach following my instructions. The rail coach moves from the paint shop back to my home shop, yet without lettering and yet with the need for adding LEDs to front and back lamps. Now I know that this was a mistake in the sequence of work steps. The housing did get a few small marks while adding the LEDs and the wiring.



A view inside: Speaker and decoder are glued in the bow of high roof and all wires are added. You see also that I added a big number of connectors so that I can remove or also add additional wiring. So I have got a free space for adding an interior without seeing all the electronic components through the windows.



One of last steps in the moment was the making of the correct lettering because I would own a model in date of origin of these rail coaches. However not one of the decal makers offer the right lettering so I must draw them by self – not the first time. I have straightened picture of a real coach and did set a cutout to background and then I have drawn the new letters in foreground until I was sure that the proportions of my own letters and digits are close enough for good model lettering. A professional decal maker did print my decals after and so I have got decals exact to real rail coaches of 1925.







A few more details must be added yet; the windows do not have glass in the moment and will try to add safety chains to the trucks.
Especially I will like to change the sound, the bell rings too fast and the chime sound isn’t that what I would like to have. And a friend inspired to me adding a white LED to the roof lamp at back.

Last weekend I was guest at the yearly held FREMO-meeting in Unna, Germany and there I could the model let run on a really big modular layout for a first time. Look three small videos of model and the interest of other guests for it. Click and enjoy!

First run
Shay meets rail coach
rail coach and visitors

Special thanks also to the members of the NYNH&H Yahoo-group for their friendly help and helpful information to my questions.

Yes you read that correctly. SD40E is a rebuilt SD50 downgraded to a SD40-2. NS is slowly replacing all the worn out SD40-2's with these locomotives.

#6303


#6307


More To Come Soon.....

In June, my family and I took a ride on the Cripple Creek and Victor Railroad, and I thought I'd post some pictures. This is a two-foot gauge tourist train that has been active since the 19650s. It runs from the center of Cripple Creek to the ghost town of Anaconda. This used to be a standard gauge line, but was converted to two foot by the current owners. Since I'm a narrow gauge freak, this was a really interesting and pleasant ride. We rode on Engine #1, which is a 1902 0-4-4-0 mallet produced by a German maker (Orenstein and Koppel). Engine #2 was also operating on the day we visited; it's a pre-war German Henschel 0-4-0T. Engine #3 (A 1926 0-4-0 Porter) was not operating on the day we visited.

The Cripple Creek and Victor Railroad's website is at: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cripplecreekrailroad.com/">http://www.cripplecreekrailroad.com/</a><!-- m -->. They have some nice pictures and a link to a 1995 article about the railroad (at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cripplecreekrailroad.com/buffs.htm">http://www.cripplecreekrailroad.com/buffs.htm</a><!-- m -->)

Following pages are just pictures of our trip...

So, I think I've agreed to join up. I haven't been hanging out here often enough as of late, so now's a good time.

I basically have two projects that relate to my layout...but I have a hard time getting around to them...because they are related to my layout and not rolling stock. So perhaps I'll be able to knock one out with the moral support here.

Option 1 (less likely)
The DSP&P depot at Pitkin, CO. It was for sale a year ago, but I couldn't find it on the net (so it must have sold). It was a residence and they were asking $500k+. I purchased a plan for it from John Maxwell's son a year or two ago. I purchased plans for two stations...both of which will be on my layout. Pitkin's was in HO scale and will eventually be a part of my future DSP&P On3 empire. The other was the rustic depot at Almont, CO on the D&RG's Crested Butte branch...in 1/8"=1' scale...which will be specific to my current layout. I initially made the mistake of thinking that the Pitkin depot was in 1/8" scale, and so I made a few "cut-o"s. Shortly afterwards, I realized it and fixed those parts. I paused as I waited for my LHS to order more siding...and I haven't resumed because: a) I'm thinking about starting over and b) I get more enjoyment out of building the rolling stock than structures.


Where I stopped.

Option 2 (probable)
Since I am slowly building a generic Colorado layout, I have an excuse to build something the DSP&P didn't have...a large, curved wooden trestle. I spent quite a bit of time learning how to do it right...generally following the RGS standards. I've learned that the majority of model railroaders do not build trestles that are anywhere close to correct in construction. The biggest errors are the the stringers are way too long and sometimes curved...plus the vertical members are way too tall (none should exceed a single story). These are simplifications, but many people adopt them just because they don't realize that they are simplifications. The research was fun...but in some respects, the simplifications make it more fun...but I'd be bothered if I used those now. I really don't enjoy all of the cutting and sanding of the 1/4" square members. I'd probably enjoy it if they were smaller (HO or N scale)...they'd also be fun if I had a band saw to cut the accurately the first time in seconds.

Staining the wood:

Most members are Pine...but a few are stained to similar colors. I'm using miniwax from a hardware store. The weathering is with india ink and alcohol.

A bunch of bent parts and jigs:


The tie spacing jig:


The bent member cutting/filing jig:


The stringer cut/file/assembly jig:


The prototype bent:


Where the deck will go on the layout:


A top view of the deck:


It is built to a 30"R IIRC...which has forced some compromises with the tie and stringer layout.

Finished building the kit, so the furnace is now for sale on ebay.

You can view several photos at the auction page here:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=330337673834">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0337673834</a><!-- m -->