https://bigbluetrains.com/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:35:37 +0000 MyBB https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9933 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:55:55 +0000 zzrguy]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=9933 Hey guys, I have a YouTube channel and I upload videos about twice a week too. I've been doing this for a little over a year, so there's a lot of content to catch up on. I'll post links to my previous builds below, and I'll start with the new build that's coming up.
Feel free to ask me any questions about why or how I did something, or if you have a trick that works for you on doing it.

HO Hotraks module build
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNYyj...gkF_KXx3QD

Long Island Ntraks module build.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNYyj...BWc0vWZMy5-]]> Hey guys, I have a YouTube channel and I upload videos about twice a week too. I've been doing this for a little over a year, so there's a lot of content to catch up on. I'll post links to my previous builds below, and I'll start with the new build that's coming up.
Feel free to ask me any questions about why or how I did something, or if you have a trick that works for you on doing it.

HO Hotraks module build
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNYyj...gkF_KXx3QD

Long Island Ntraks module build.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNYyj...BWc0vWZMy5-]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=8976 Wed, 31 Jul 2019 12:44:30 +0000 ezdays]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=8976 Out Arizona Way for a newspaper in Ohio. The idea was that I got the paper every week giving me an idea of how folks lived in that area, and I would write an article for that same paper so those folks would see how life was around my area. It’s been a good ten years since the owner passed away and they stopped publishing the paper. I also used to write a monthly article, Along the Lines,  about trains for a publication in Tahachapi, CA. Yup, that town near the Tahachapi Loop. That too went belly-up with the downturn in the economy around the same time. I do have a blog here where I posted about a dozen of those articles. I do miss writing both articles, and although this sub-forum has been tagged for blogs about railroads, it’s been dormant for a few years, and so, we have decided to widen its scope. Rather than use the Hobo Camp thread to post short stories, as I’ve been doing occasionally, I’ll just post some old and some new ramblings of an old man here. Feel free to comment. I guess I could post things in one or more social sites in hopes of getting a few thousand or million, “likes” or “followings”, but that’s just not my bag. I see where there are people becoming millionaires by posting stuff on social media such as, youtube, but it’s too late in life for me to think about all the complexities of being a millionaire, so I choose Big Blue members as my target, forgoing the chance for fame and fortune.

Again, feel free to comment or even open your own blog and add your own stories. We still have the Hobo Camp forum for daily chit-chat and personal updates, blogs are more for story-telling. My stories are about what it’s like living in a place that once was a vast desert, I would hope others would start a blog on what it’s like living in their part of the world.]]> Out Arizona Way for a newspaper in Ohio. The idea was that I got the paper every week giving me an idea of how folks lived in that area, and I would write an article for that same paper so those folks would see how life was around my area. It’s been a good ten years since the owner passed away and they stopped publishing the paper. I also used to write a monthly article, Along the Lines,  about trains for a publication in Tahachapi, CA. Yup, that town near the Tahachapi Loop. That too went belly-up with the downturn in the economy around the same time. I do have a blog here where I posted about a dozen of those articles. I do miss writing both articles, and although this sub-forum has been tagged for blogs about railroads, it’s been dormant for a few years, and so, we have decided to widen its scope. Rather than use the Hobo Camp thread to post short stories, as I’ve been doing occasionally, I’ll just post some old and some new ramblings of an old man here. Feel free to comment. I guess I could post things in one or more social sites in hopes of getting a few thousand or million, “likes” or “followings”, but that’s just not my bag. I see where there are people becoming millionaires by posting stuff on social media such as, youtube, but it’s too late in life for me to think about all the complexities of being a millionaire, so I choose Big Blue members as my target, forgoing the chance for fame and fortune.

Again, feel free to comment or even open your own blog and add your own stories. We still have the Hobo Camp forum for daily chit-chat and personal updates, blogs are more for story-telling. My stories are about what it’s like living in a place that once was a vast desert, I would hope others would start a blog on what it’s like living in their part of the world.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=8280 Thu, 29 Dec 2016 03:46:03 +0000 Rob55]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=8280


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk]]>


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=8240 Tue, 29 Nov 2016 23:27:11 +0000 Brakie]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=8240
While switching cars this afternoon I glazed upon My old Athearn BB SW7 and thought of the first two I bought both was undecorated.

I had went to Hall's hobbies and seen these new releases from Uncle Irv and ask Charlie if he had any undecorated and he did so,I purchase two, a spray can of Flo-Quil "Engine Black" and two packs of Champ NYC Diesel Switcher decals. I went home and spray painted both shells in my "paint shop"-a single car garage. I then return the shells to my work desk to let them dry. After a long school week and a operation night at the Columbus HO club-the only week night I was allowed out during school, my dad said "Be sure you do school work first and be home by ten so,by 6:30 my home work was "finish" and off to the club I went. What Dad didn't know I would finish my home work in my first period study hall. :o
What he did know I wouldn't be home until around 11 pm but,he knew where I was at. Oddly he finally told me to be home before curfew-11 pm..

Anyway back to the SW7s.The following weekend after my Saturday morning trip to Hall's I decaled both switchers in the new scheme-black bodies, white frame (decaled), white pilot safety stripes, yellow grabs and handrails with emblem on the cab.. I numbered these two switchers after my two favorite prototypes-8880 and 8888. I freely admit these two engines never mu'd together except at the Portsmouth yard on the club's layout. Around a year later I did a SW7 cow/calf set lettered for C&O 6600 A and B. I used a drawbar between these units.

Some times I miss those simple projects and the joy of knowing they are unique locomotives or freight cars..Today,I do very little of those projects and when I do I cheat and use Accurail unlettered cars with data.]]>
While switching cars this afternoon I glazed upon My old Athearn BB SW7 and thought of the first two I bought both was undecorated.

I had went to Hall's hobbies and seen these new releases from Uncle Irv and ask Charlie if he had any undecorated and he did so,I purchase two, a spray can of Flo-Quil "Engine Black" and two packs of Champ NYC Diesel Switcher decals. I went home and spray painted both shells in my "paint shop"-a single car garage. I then return the shells to my work desk to let them dry. After a long school week and a operation night at the Columbus HO club-the only week night I was allowed out during school, my dad said "Be sure you do school work first and be home by ten so,by 6:30 my home work was "finish" and off to the club I went. What Dad didn't know I would finish my home work in my first period study hall. :o
What he did know I wouldn't be home until around 11 pm but,he knew where I was at. Oddly he finally told me to be home before curfew-11 pm..

Anyway back to the SW7s.The following weekend after my Saturday morning trip to Hall's I decaled both switchers in the new scheme-black bodies, white frame (decaled), white pilot safety stripes, yellow grabs and handrails with emblem on the cab.. I numbered these two switchers after my two favorite prototypes-8880 and 8888. I freely admit these two engines never mu'd together except at the Portsmouth yard on the club's layout. Around a year later I did a SW7 cow/calf set lettered for C&O 6600 A and B. I used a drawbar between these units.

Some times I miss those simple projects and the joy of knowing they are unique locomotives or freight cars..Today,I do very little of those projects and when I do I cheat and use Accurail unlettered cars with data.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7782 Mon, 07 Dec 2015 17:10:30 +0000 Brakie]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7782
I'm still pondering about backdating Slate Creek to 1955/56 and using a steam engine.. A United Class B2 2 truck Shay perhaps a 0-6-0T switching the veneer and planning mills? The crew would be kept busy switching out loaded cars for empties. Maybe a sawdust load out would be needed for additional switching? The rough lumber arrives from the unmodeled saw mill on the backside of the mills- maybe by conveyor belt?

I would need to buy some 50 era cars and my thoughts is Accurail kits.

Slate Creek Lumber Company-a division of Diamond Forrest Products. Sounds good enough.]]>
I'm still pondering about backdating Slate Creek to 1955/56 and using a steam engine.. A United Class B2 2 truck Shay perhaps a 0-6-0T switching the veneer and planning mills? The crew would be kept busy switching out loaded cars for empties. Maybe a sawdust load out would be needed for additional switching? The rough lumber arrives from the unmodeled saw mill on the backside of the mills- maybe by conveyor belt?

I would need to buy some 50 era cars and my thoughts is Accurail kits.

Slate Creek Lumber Company-a division of Diamond Forrest Products. Sounds good enough.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7419 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 01:07:45 +0000 AF350]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7419
There are 6 kits some box cars some reefer cars, 4 flat cars and 2 sets of sides of box cars. Following pics show some of what is planned for working on in between older projects already started.


  hnpkitflat.jpg (Size: 43.22 KB / Downloads: 3218)


  hnppartialkitssides.jpg (Size: 60.11 KB / Downloads: 3200)


  hnpkitsos.jpg (Size: 70.99 KB / Downloads: 3199) ]]>
There are 6 kits some box cars some reefer cars, 4 flat cars and 2 sets of sides of box cars. Following pics show some of what is planned for working on in between older projects already started.


  hnpkitflat.jpg (Size: 43.22 KB / Downloads: 3218)


  hnppartialkitssides.jpg (Size: 60.11 KB / Downloads: 3200)


  hnpkitsos.jpg (Size: 70.99 KB / Downloads: 3199) ]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7383 Wed, 25 Feb 2015 12:40:05 +0000 River Witch 14]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7383 floor,all I can say is OMG!!!
The degree of planning,construction,modeling skills and all other facets of model railroading shown in both layouts and individual projects is simply awe inspiring.
I have seen pictures taken of a layout and I have to say to myself "wow,that looks so real" and then realize that it is a model . But that just shows me the degree of modeling skill
involved in achieving this.
What I have also noticed is this-virtually every modeler excels in one or more aspects of the hobby, be it track work,scenery,structure building detail work on motive power and rolling stock.
The one thing I try not to do is to compare my layout to other layouts. To my way of thinking every layout is unique and for me to try and compare my layout to another would be
fruitless.
I guess the bottom line here is this-all you modelers deserve a lot of credit for what you are creating. My hats off to all of you.
Keep up the good work. ]]> floor,all I can say is OMG!!!
The degree of planning,construction,modeling skills and all other facets of model railroading shown in both layouts and individual projects is simply awe inspiring.
I have seen pictures taken of a layout and I have to say to myself "wow,that looks so real" and then realize that it is a model . But that just shows me the degree of modeling skill
involved in achieving this.
What I have also noticed is this-virtually every modeler excels in one or more aspects of the hobby, be it track work,scenery,structure building detail work on motive power and rolling stock.
The one thing I try not to do is to compare my layout to other layouts. To my way of thinking every layout is unique and for me to try and compare my layout to another would be
fruitless.
I guess the bottom line here is this-all you modelers deserve a lot of credit for what you are creating. My hats off to all of you.
Keep up the good work. ]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7380 Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:02:19 +0000 Brakie]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7380
60 years is a long time to be in a hobby and where to start isn't a easy question to answer. I suppose I could start with my mentor but,I shall leave Dad for another installment.

I will mention I come from a family of railroaders that includes both Grandfathers,my Dad,all his brothers,and my uncles on my Mother's side.My Mom worked as a clerk typist and a aunt worked as a secretary and as many of you know after graduating high school I followed the family tradition and hired out on the PRR.

One of the biggest influences on me was the Columbus Model Railroad Club that was located in the basement of the A & P store on the corner of Rich and Third streets.This store building started life as a interurban station.

I started visiting this club in 1960 and would return every "visitor night" which was the second Tuesday of the month..After several visits I was allowed to run trains across the layout..I was hooked and of course being 12 years old I was to young to join by 4 years...I suppose they got tired of seeing me as a visitor because at the age of 15 I was handed a membership application- around 10 months before my 16th birthday.

Now I turn to a place that I went every Saturday morning without fail..Frank P. Hall Hardware store 185 S. High Street. You see in the basement was a well stocked hobby shop and a gathering point for the faithful every Saturday morning since that is when Charlie Lewis (the owner) would reveal new models..There was lots to see and the discussions on model projects and layout progress was the highlight.Young modelers was most welcome to join the conversation. I kinda wish I could revisit one of those Saturdays.

I must mention back then my mode of transportation was my Schwinn bicycle or a city bus-some times a trackless trolley.

Part 2 will have model trains and such.]]>
60 years is a long time to be in a hobby and where to start isn't a easy question to answer. I suppose I could start with my mentor but,I shall leave Dad for another installment.

I will mention I come from a family of railroaders that includes both Grandfathers,my Dad,all his brothers,and my uncles on my Mother's side.My Mom worked as a clerk typist and a aunt worked as a secretary and as many of you know after graduating high school I followed the family tradition and hired out on the PRR.

One of the biggest influences on me was the Columbus Model Railroad Club that was located in the basement of the A & P store on the corner of Rich and Third streets.This store building started life as a interurban station.

I started visiting this club in 1960 and would return every "visitor night" which was the second Tuesday of the month..After several visits I was allowed to run trains across the layout..I was hooked and of course being 12 years old I was to young to join by 4 years...I suppose they got tired of seeing me as a visitor because at the age of 15 I was handed a membership application- around 10 months before my 16th birthday.

Now I turn to a place that I went every Saturday morning without fail..Frank P. Hall Hardware store 185 S. High Street. You see in the basement was a well stocked hobby shop and a gathering point for the faithful every Saturday morning since that is when Charlie Lewis (the owner) would reveal new models..There was lots to see and the discussions on model projects and layout progress was the highlight.Young modelers was most welcome to join the conversation. I kinda wish I could revisit one of those Saturdays.

I must mention back then my mode of transportation was my Schwinn bicycle or a city bus-some times a trackless trolley.

Part 2 will have model trains and such.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7349 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 16:39:40 +0000 River Witch 14]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7349 finances are in the toilet and you really don't like running trains (would rather work on scenery and details then run trains). After giving this a lot of thought I came to my senses and said
to myself again-"are you out of your mind?" You have labored on this layout for over six years and you would sell it? Not likely. It's true-I don't think I could ever sell it even if things
in my personal life suck and they do. I have invested too much time,effort and money into this layout just to get it to this point.
I'm curious-have any of my fellow modelers ever been in a similar situation? ]]> finances are in the toilet and you really don't like running trains (would rather work on scenery and details then run trains). After giving this a lot of thought I came to my senses and said
to myself again-"are you out of your mind?" You have labored on this layout for over six years and you would sell it? Not likely. It's true-I don't think I could ever sell it even if things
in my personal life suck and they do. I have invested too much time,effort and money into this layout just to get it to this point.
I'm curious-have any of my fellow modelers ever been in a similar situation? ]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7328 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 04:48:53 +0000 River Witch 14]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7328 straight to form an arch?]]> straight to form an arch?]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7303 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 02:57:21 +0000 River Witch 14]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7303 In the first scenario using the original plan as a guide I removed both tracks at the food distributor and pallet factory making them both
truck served. Lumber is still brought in by rail and then transferred to trucks. I also removed the track just above the coal dealer track. I realize that with this
change I give up the use of boxcars and reefers at food dist.


In this next scenario,I left one food dist. track in place which lets me use boxcars and reefers and as described above the other tracks are still removed.

To tell you the truth,I like both changes and if I were to make one of them it would depend on if I wanted more or less switching,but the more I think about it I would probably opt for keeping the
food dist. rail served.
Just some ideas for possible changes. Would like to hear some of your thoughts. ]]> In the first scenario using the original plan as a guide I removed both tracks at the food distributor and pallet factory making them both
truck served. Lumber is still brought in by rail and then transferred to trucks. I also removed the track just above the coal dealer track. I realize that with this
change I give up the use of boxcars and reefers at food dist.


In this next scenario,I left one food dist. track in place which lets me use boxcars and reefers and as described above the other tracks are still removed.

To tell you the truth,I like both changes and if I were to make one of them it would depend on if I wanted more or less switching,but the more I think about it I would probably opt for keeping the
food dist. rail served.
Just some ideas for possible changes. Would like to hear some of your thoughts. ]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7301 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 01:34:10 +0000 AF350]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7301
I will be assembling my first laser cut craftsman type structure kit.

I bought an O scale version from the NMRA division 6. It is a station that is still in existence in Grove city Ohio sw of Columbus. Will try to get some pics of the original station if I can as the historical society wants to move it to a new location.

Here are a few pics of the as yet unassembled kit and 2 pics of the prototype I found on line. I will up date as I progress.


  gcts6.jpg (Size: 53.26 KB / Downloads: 3104)


  gcts5.jpg (Size: 51.66 KB / Downloads: 3139)


  gcts3.jpg (Size: 66.78 KB / Downloads: 3133)


  gcts2.jpg (Size: 78.06 KB / Downloads: 3127)


  gcts1.jpg (Size: 74.43 KB / Downloads: 3114) ]]>
I will be assembling my first laser cut craftsman type structure kit.

I bought an O scale version from the NMRA division 6. It is a station that is still in existence in Grove city Ohio sw of Columbus. Will try to get some pics of the original station if I can as the historical society wants to move it to a new location.

Here are a few pics of the as yet unassembled kit and 2 pics of the prototype I found on line. I will up date as I progress.


  gcts6.jpg (Size: 53.26 KB / Downloads: 3104)


  gcts5.jpg (Size: 51.66 KB / Downloads: 3139)


  gcts3.jpg (Size: 66.78 KB / Downloads: 3133)


  gcts2.jpg (Size: 78.06 KB / Downloads: 3127)


  gcts1.jpg (Size: 74.43 KB / Downloads: 3114) ]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7274 Fri, 02 Jan 2015 09:54:27 +0000 River Witch 14]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7274 Now,on this site and others that I was on I often saw many switching layouts labeled as either Time savers or Inglenook puzzle layouts,especially those layouts that
were linear in their design-be it a straight layout,L-shaped or one with an island added to it. I think this way of thinking is a load of crap.
I did a search for both Time saver and Inglenook and what I found was this- both types of these switching layout puzzles have a specific set of guide lines that need
to followed. These include the track plan,number of switches to be used,number of cars to be used and track capacities.
Now if someone designs a layout that either follows a prototype location or a fictional one and they contain some of the elements of the two types of puzzles that I mentioned
then that is what the modeler was trying to achieve. That's his decision. If we look at his track plan and make some suggestions that may or may not improve operation
fine,but I feel that to label them as a puzzle layout be it Time saver or Inglenook is not right. I will admit that to some extent that a switching layout is a sort of puzzle in that we need
to figure out how to get cars in and out of sidings without fouling other tracks,but I think this is as far as the puzzle thing goes.
Well I think I shot my mouth off enough on this topic. I will now go and put on my flame proof suit and see what happens.]]> Now,on this site and others that I was on I often saw many switching layouts labeled as either Time savers or Inglenook puzzle layouts,especially those layouts that
were linear in their design-be it a straight layout,L-shaped or one with an island added to it. I think this way of thinking is a load of crap.
I did a search for both Time saver and Inglenook and what I found was this- both types of these switching layout puzzles have a specific set of guide lines that need
to followed. These include the track plan,number of switches to be used,number of cars to be used and track capacities.
Now if someone designs a layout that either follows a prototype location or a fictional one and they contain some of the elements of the two types of puzzles that I mentioned
then that is what the modeler was trying to achieve. That's his decision. If we look at his track plan and make some suggestions that may or may not improve operation
fine,but I feel that to label them as a puzzle layout be it Time saver or Inglenook is not right. I will admit that to some extent that a switching layout is a sort of puzzle in that we need
to figure out how to get cars in and out of sidings without fouling other tracks,but I think this is as far as the puzzle thing goes.
Well I think I shot my mouth off enough on this topic. I will now go and put on my flame proof suit and see what happens.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7250 Thu, 18 Dec 2014 12:57:06 +0000 River Witch 14]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7250 that only metal on these trucks are the screw or rivet that holds the cab to the frame and the wheel axles.
To me it just seem odd that the word "metal" in the product name would indicate more metal than just a screw and axles.
The only trucks that I have that are actually metal were made by Imex.
Perhaps I'm missing something here.
Let me hear your views.]]> that only metal on these trucks are the screw or rivet that holds the cab to the frame and the wheel axles.
To me it just seem odd that the word "metal" in the product name would indicate more metal than just a screw and axles.
The only trucks that I have that are actually metal were made by Imex.
Perhaps I'm missing something here.
Let me hear your views.]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7216 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:16:44 +0000 River Witch 14]]> https://bigbluetrains.com/showthread.php?tid=7216 I have all the rolling stock I need for now,enough motive power,I'm satisfied with the industrial areas (these areas had been re-worked many times because I was
not happy with them) and the scenery elements work as well.
So,all this being and and I stated this in a blog 3 years ago it is now time to have some fun and run some trains. I have a system in place for
switching etc.
But wait- here's my problem,After all the time and effort I have put into my layout ,running trains seems to me to be not that important.
So now my question is this-has this ever happened to anyone else and what if anything did you do to work through it?
Because right now my layout is saying to me-"here I am,run some trains" and I'm saying "whatever".
I would like to know your thought on this issue and how you handled it.
Thanks
BobS]]> I have all the rolling stock I need for now,enough motive power,I'm satisfied with the industrial areas (these areas had been re-worked many times because I was
not happy with them) and the scenery elements work as well.
So,all this being and and I stated this in a blog 3 years ago it is now time to have some fun and run some trains. I have a system in place for
switching etc.
But wait- here's my problem,After all the time and effort I have put into my layout ,running trains seems to me to be not that important.
So now my question is this-has this ever happened to anyone else and what if anything did you do to work through it?
Because right now my layout is saying to me-"here I am,run some trains" and I'm saying "whatever".
I would like to know your thought on this issue and how you handled it.
Thanks
BobS]]>