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 -->

I posted several structures that have been collecting dust in my office on ebay to sell. These are buildings I picked up a while back, but eventually plans to use them got scraped.

Click here to view the listings.

Going to build this.. Maybe in O or G
A fan house for ventilating tunnels and mines

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/displayPhoto.pl?path=/pnp/habshaer/pa/pa1600/pa1650/photos&topImages=135637pr.jpg&topLinks=135637pv.jpg,135637pu.tif&title=3.%20%20EXTERIOR%20VIEW%20OF%20HILLMAN%20FAN%20HOUSE%20LOOKING%20NORTH%20The%20airway,%20with%20sloping%20concrete%20roof,%20is%20in%20the%20foreground.%20Two%20periods%20of%20construction%20are%20evident.%20In%20the%20center%20of%20the%20wall,%20to%20the%20left%20of%20the%20window,%20is%20a%20cover%20over%20the%20air%20velocity%20indicator.%20The%20building%20houses%20a%2035%20foot%20diameter%20cast%20iron%20and%20wood%20Guibal%20centrifugal%20fan.%20The%20curve%20of%20the%20fan%20housing%20with%20its%20iron%20roof%20are%20in%20the%20middle%20ground,%20and%20the%20rectangular%20upshaft%20chimney%20is%20in%20the%20background.%20The%20brick,%20metal,%20and%20concrete%20building%20was%20designed%20to%20be%20fireproof.%20The%20metal%20upshaft%20chimney%20of%20the%20New%20Fan%20House%20is%20to%20the%20left.%20%3Cbr%3EHAER%20PA,40-WILB,5-3&displayProfile=0">http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/displayPh ... yProfile=0</a><!-- m -->

Over the last two months the NCE Powercab and the Bachmann EZ Command i had quit. I suspect my grandson got hold of the Powercab and used it as a hammer. The Bachmann I have no idea. And they are long out of warranty.
So, I am considering going back to dc permanently. I have an MRC Tech 4 260 but would like to have walk around to, but I can find nothing online.
Anybody know where I can find walk around throttles for dc? I run ho and the throttles would need to be rtr. I don't play with electronics, they bite back.
Thanks.

Loren

...getting into your bird feeder was a nusance?

E-mailed to me by a friend.

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Same as always - No prizes, nothing but bragging rights...

Scene:
Steamtown, USA Park Ranger telling us about that "item" behind him....

Challenge:
Post below what you think he's saying..... Please keep it "PG rated"!!!! - ( sorry Brakie )

My entry:
........and this is what you get when you win

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