Building the Potomac Line

[sailormatlac]

Great work Dave, I seriously thought you were a well-seasoned scratchbuilder. You won't regret adding the nut and bolt details, it really pays off, especially when you put a lot of effort on the wood work.

Definitively, a nice industrial setting. BTW, what is this strange B&O hopper? A kitbash? What the louvers are for?

Matt

[Puddlejumper]

Matt, that is an PRR H22 hopper. It is a Bowser kit that I kitbashed with to get an H22 with sawtooth hoppers. Originally built for coke service and rated at 50 tons, these cars had removable slats to enable the loading/unloading of these cars at docks designed for the lower sided gondolas that were the previous standard for hauling coke. At some point these cars began to be upgraded to 70 tons by changing the trucks and the slats were removed and replaced with solid panels for coal service.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lionel682/8336894241/

http://www.mountvernonshops.com/H22.html

I am a hopper lover, so I have one with slats, even though they were not used for coal. Would a fuel dealer have a need for coke?

Dave

[sailormatlac]

I have a cement plant that would need coke! ;-)

Very interesting prototype. Yep, hoppers are one of the nicest car type. Better when they are smaller because you can have more of them!

Matt

[Puddlejumper]

Here are some updated pics...



The end platform starting to come together. I plan on putting a handrail all around the platform.



Here are the steps. They will also get handrails on both sides.

Overhead view of the platform and steps. There will be a tool rack with long bars with hooks and picks on the end for helping to open/close hopper doors, or poke/break aggregate stuck in the hoppers, along with a selection of shovels and brooms for cleaning up the walkways after unloading a car. I also installed some wheel stops in front of the bumpers for redundancy in making sure the cars are stopped before rolling off the end...



Started installing the decking, I'm over half done.





So, that is where I'm at today. More in a few days.

Suggestions on constructing handrails would be welcome. Especially on whether I should use wooden railings or metal rails and stanchions in this application.

Dave

[Ralph]

Nice job on the staircase! That would have tried my patience!

[modelsof1900]

Dave, a very good looking coal deck!
However, does that correspond to the reality to have all around a railing? If it must be then, nevertheless, I would realize a very strong destruction, or?

[tetters]

Nice job on the decking.

[Puddlejumper]

Dave, a very good looking coal deck!
However, does that correspond to the reality to have all around a railing? If it must be then, nevertheless, I would realize a very strong destruction, or?

I only plan on putting a railing around the end platform where some tools, etc. will be stashed, and up the steps. The dock itself will have no safety appliances, caution and judgement are the words of the day.

Looking at this photo of L.E. White Coal Co. the end platform of a trestle is to the upper right and has wooden railings.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shorpy.com/node/5611?size=_original#caption">http://www.shorpy.com/node/5611?size=_original#caption</a><!-- m -->

And this photo of Hessick & Son Coal Co. shows handrails along the length of this single track trestle and around the end platform.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shorpy.com/node/5606?size=_original#caption">http://www.shorpy.com/node/5606?size=_original#caption</a><!-- m -->

I will not need a handrail the length of this trestle since the platform is between 2 tracks, but I will need one for my single track trestle when I build it.

So, I guess that answers my question, wooden railings it is! I find it interesting in that photo of Hessick & Son Coal, you can see chutes and other apparatus built under the track to collect and distribute the aggregate. The piers are poured concrete, you can see the lines from the wooden forms used to pour the concrete. At least 2 of the intermediate piers have had wooden extensions added. There is some sort of wooden bin built on several of the piers... Wish I had more photos.

Dave

[modelsof1900]

Dave, ok. All will be right what you will do.
I love the Shorpy old time pictuers. my favourite photo http://www.shorpy.com/node/8252?size=_original#caption - and maybe the idea for a new project. Five or six white and brand-new reefers in a model train! And all arched upward in centre!

[shortliner]

You mentioned tools for clearing out cars - not sure if the bottom left corner of this shorpy may give you help <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shorpy.com/node/14504?size=_original">http://www.shorpy.com/node/14504?size=_original</a><!-- m -->

[Puddlejumper]

Wow, Shorpy certainly has some great photos. I was not aware that the truss rod style cars would have been arched up in the center when new. It is quite obvious, that would be a neat feature to model.

Shortliner thanks for posting that photo. Besides the men clearing the hopper there is so much else to look at with all the different freight cars and loads. I definitely made the right choice to backdate my modeling era.

[Puddlejumper]

Since we're posting favorite Shorpy shots, here's mine.

http://www.shorpy.com/Buffalo-Pitts-stea...al#caption

[Puddlejumper]

Today I finished building the railings around the platform and up the stairs. Now, except for painting the wheel stops and the rail joiners, weathering, and adding details like tools, buckets, weeds, etc. I consider this trestle finished. Oh, and of course I need to dump some coal and other aggregates in those bins.









I will now spend some time on the yard itself before moving on to trestle #2. On the retaining wall in back of the yard will be bins for firewood. There will be a small building with a scale. Trestle #2 will resemble Steve's coal trestle in that it will be single track, and be at least partially covered to allow storage of salt. Well... maybe anyway. I might scratch offering salt and stay with weather resistant aggregates.

Does anybody know when salt came into common use as an anti-freeze for roads and sidewalks?

Dave

[Schraddel]

Dave,
my compliments! I am impressed, having seen modelled unloading trestles before, but never in this seize.
This guarantees a lot of traffic when you open the line.

Lutz

[ChuckC]

Since we're posting favorite Shorpy shots, here's mine.

http://www.shorpy.com/Buffalo-Pitts-stea...al#caption

BURRRRRRR That look cold