Friday Update

 Yesterday afternoon shortly after lunch, Rob and Glen transported 2 van loads of layout materials to the trailer for storage. Tom met us there. Any materials that should not be frozen [paint, glue, etc.] are being stored in members' basements or taken to the city yard on Saturday for disposal as hazardous material. Rob made the necessary appointment. We had a brief chat with the weldshop owner about bringing more items to the trailer next Tuesday night which will require accessing & resetting the alarm. 

Next Tuesday night's work session will be our last at the Devonshire location so strong arms and stable bodies are needed to move the remaining lumber and other items to Cliff's truck and vans if necessary. A sofa and chair are included in the move. PLEASE BE THERE AT 6 PM so the move can be done in daylight.

Chief Don says there is room for regular group get togethers at his business location at 80 Norwich Ave., just south of Len's Mill Store. Use Len's parking lot. Frequency of such meetings yet to be decided. Don is expecting some kind of update on the Wallace Building by Tuesday. 

The Wallace building.

 Although our move is on hold until we hear the status of the Wallace building after the fire, I would like to update what we have planned so far.

After some discussion on the benchwork layout and style, this is what we have so far. Benches will be mostly 2 x 6 feet, some may be 8 feet long, some may be much shorter. Theses tables will be made of 1 x 4 lumber topped with thin plywood, or paneling, and blue board. These will be supported with 2 x 4 legs. At the north, lounge, end there will be an area of benchwork designed to allow for a 4' x 8' table to roll underneath it. Aisles are mostly 3 feet wide and you will be able to follow your train as it circumvents the layout.

The bottom of this plan is the north or lounge end. The reason this plan was considered the best is because it gave us about the longest mainline possible and aisles that exit at opposite ends, helping limit congestion. The long bench on the right hand of this plan is thought to be the best location for our main yard. This yard will most likely be both ends of the mainline, which would allow for both point to point or continuous running. There has also been some planning done on having a return loop at each end of the mainline ( just before entering the main yard) to allow trains to run in the opposite direction back to the main yard (where they left) thus making the route twice as long.

But all these plans depend on the outcome of the damage investigation to the Wallace building. We are all hoping for the best.

Tuesday night at the Huff and Puff

 Well we huffed and puffed and blew all the walls down. Now taking things to storage and clean up on Friday. No news about the Wallace building but we will be having meetings at Don's office, from time to time, until we get a new location or news about the Wallace building. Below we see our members hard at work cleaning up. 

Friday work

 A bunch of us move lumber into storage. Still a lot to move, and 3 more days to move it.

Nice to see John W. Thanks to all those that helped.

All gone.

 All but the front wall has been taken down. Now we have to store what is left.

cleaning up lumber for storage.

all stacked along the walls with care.

More pictures of teardown.

 One of the benches is being taken apart by Jim and Cliff. Jeff, Rob and Larry M. Are also hard at work.  This picture shows most of the layouts benchwork is gone.

Rob has packed all the remaing buildings into totes. Piles of lumber and rubble are everywhere. 

Layout Demolition & Destination

Larry and Rob masked and at work taking the current layout apart on September 4, salvaging what they can for a planned move to a new location in the midst of a pandemic. The layout was initially stripped of buildings, trees, train cars, vehicles, track, control units, wiring, etc.with everything boxed up for future use. 

Another view where the former branch line and peninsula location of Lincoln stood. Some of the backdrops are standing vertically at the left side of the photo after being removed from the wall framing in the background. 

One more view of another layout area being removed bit by bit and things being boxed up before the table structures are removed board by board and sorted. Some of the layout wiring is shown at the bottom left to be reused after being pulled out through holes in the cross  pieces under the tabletops.

The second floor of the building on the left is to hopefully be the new layout home. As club members were meeting to discuss some of the details for setting up the new layout, word was received that the barn immediately behind the W.B.Wallace building was burning down as the photo shows. The Wallace building survived with some damage and we do not know if or when we will be able to locate there.

Club news

 All my posts about the club will be on Dave's Facebook page/group. No one ever comments on the blog, so as a transfer of information between us it is useless. Email is more cumbersome to work with, and not everyone receives them. There has been more exchange on the Facebook page than anywhere else. All the plans are on that page also.

Move meeting

 

Meeting
We made the first big decision, the layout is shut down. The tear down has started in earnest.

We had Don S. Tell us about what we know for sure about the Wallace building and a few of us will be going up to check it out. We will also take detailed measurements, and give anyone who wants, a floor plan. We can then start planing, with Don P., Mike L. And me tasked with planning. I do not think this should stop anyone else from coming up with a new track plan.

Some suggestions/requests were tabled all ready. Even though it was nice to see everyone joining in, with about 18 people there, it was sometimes hard to keep up with all the conversations.

1. We will need a 1 month overlap in both places for moving all the material, hopefully scrapping unnecessary stuff before we go. The target date is October.

2. Adopt Don P. and Jim F. Idea of a bus wire channel, in the front of each deck. Keeping all the soldering to the bus wires out in the open.

3. Strict adherence to keep the decks in sections so the layout can be taken down in sections next time. This does not mean each section will be the same dimensions, but they will be of a easily moveable size. Not sure but I guess there would be a definite joint in the deck, wiring, track and backdrop. All the joints will be a pain, but I guess it is the prudent way to go.

4. Rick O. Suggested he would like to have a space for a 4 x 8 layout, separate from the main layout. This could be used to run DC equipment and as a kids display if we have open houses. This was thought to be a good idea if there is room for it. We also need room for a lounge.

5. The main DCC control electronics should be easy to get at to work on, maybe on a roll out cart or shelf.

6. We may have to work on the lighting, but that is an unknown until we see it when it is dark out.

Pictures of the Wallace building

 Pictures

Things to think about.

 Things to think about if we rebuild.

DECKS
Single deck or double deck layout. (If like our "single " deck we could put another deck over it creating 3 runs.)
Lighting lower deck
Supporting upper deck
Height
Build in sections
Road bed, 1 foot square or 2 foot x 4 foot ceiling tiles, Styrofoam, other
Ballast

TRACK ARRANGEMENTS /PLANS
Single or double mainline
Branch lines
Multiple railroads, interchanging with each other, or single railroad
Helix with storage tracks, or long grades to change levels
Point to point or oval or dog bone, (ours is loop to loop/point to point)
Siding/train length(ours is 6.5 feet. )
In/out industries. (Coal/power plt., gravel/cement)

Card system
Delivery requirements, switch like for like, trains remain intact, one card to hold, as now.
Cards for each type of rolling stock, pulling all cars from industries, several cards to hold, as before (automatically corrects switch mistakes).
Other

WIRING
A channel for all bus wires in the front of the benchwork. (Easy soldering to bus wires)
Number of quad units.
Each bus run identified and separate from each other.
Use different feeder wire colours like orange/green, blue/white.

MISC.
Lounge area and how big/seating
Locked tool/equipment/programing room, (we have a door.)
Era
Blog, Facebook group or other platform
New name?

Wallace building.

 The Wallace building is located at the fair grounds. The fair board uses the ground floor, we my get the second floor, depending on the rent. The stairs is not as steep as at the club and it and the second floor are carpeted. There are windows that open and his and hers toilets. The size is good, lots of lights and plugs, and parking. Just waiting on a reply from the fair board. I have not seen the building but from all accounts it is quite suitable.

Items for sale

From Joseph

 I am still interested in buying a couple of the buildings that had price stickers on them. But for the club equipment, why not make a list of the items for sale, then we can have an auction night for those interested in buying anything. I am interested in the main controller (BD240?), cars, people, maybe some other items, but it would be nice to know what will be up for sale. I will be there this Tuesday and sorry I missed the last meeting.

Meeting and New Facebook page.

The Jonkers building was decided to be too small and above our budget.  Other options are being explored.

 Most of the buildings and scenery were removed from the layout, last night.

After the track was removed from the peninsula area of the branchline, demolition started.

Dave has set up a Facebook page, The Woodstock Model Railroad Club, for us to post our own modeling, please join.

Another fallen flag.

2020 has not been a good year.  We have been notified that we have until the end of the year to move out. In a hurried discussion we tentatively agreed that we may operate until the end of Sept. And then start to tear it down. This also means we have until then to find a new location, I do not think that we will be able to do that, but who knows.
People who have anything stored under the benchwork should remove it as soon as possible. We would appreciate it if you could not remove anything from the layout like rolling stock or buildings until we shut down.
If we don't find a new location we will sell all the clubs equipment when we can and divide the money.
Any ideas please let me know.

Top photo has the branch line freight headed into the tunnel. The second picture is the ore train being switched. The last picture is a meet between The ore train and the oil train between Lincoln and Jutland.

Jim's Baxter coal

Jim's Baxter coal detailing.

See some of you tonight.

Railroad open again

 I will be there around 6 pm. To wipe down and prepare the layout. Covid rules are in effect.

Here is the difference between men and women described in terms model Railroaders will understand.

Extreme Heat

Layout sessions down until July 14th due to the heat, unless the weather changes.

Tuesday night at the Huff and Puff

The first night back went well. Everyone wore masks, thank you! Social distancing was a little harder however. Four or five trains were run, with few problems. After being idle for months not too bad. I suspect that heat expansion could be causing some derailment problems.
Dave brought in a couple of his projects, see the motorcycle in the picture below.

As usual, great job Dave.

Scratchbuilt Structures

This is Baxter's Building Supply as scratchbuilt by Jim Fox. With
scratchbuilding, you work from a set of plans either bought or borrowed or made by the builder. Jim works in H.O. scale which is 1 inch = 87 inches so you need good eyes and good dexterity to make all the parts and assemble them to make a structure like Baxter's. Note the detail not only in construction but also in the colouring and weathering to make everything look realistic.

Here are the ends of the big reddish building above after Jim constructed them board by board just as one would in making a full size building. But remember this is H.O. scale or 1:87. No problem lifting the boards, though.

This photo shows the two ends above joined to make the whole building minus the side and roof boards. Look at the coffee mug behind to get an idea of the building size and note the plans Jim is working from under the building. 

The scene is being completed with the rail siding going into the building. Note the sections beneath the rail to hold the sand,  gravel, etc dumped from hopper cars. Note the ramp that joins the lower and upper parts of the Baxter property [see Photo1].

This is another one of the structures that Jim has completed. The idea is to show that this is anything but a new building and the roof patches with whatever was handy show this well. Note also the rust of time making its way down the roof from the smokestack. It looks like Jim has added a shade behind the window as another detail. 

Layout prepared for operations.

Glen and I went up on Tuesday to check out the layout. Trains were set up and all the starting positions were checked for proper rolling stock. After all was verified and corrected, Glen an a train from Wellington to Elsewhere, without any problems.

Covid rules.
                Face masks are required while operating or closer than 6 feet to someone else.
                 Practice social distancing.
                 Stay home if you don't feel well
Supplies are available for your use. Let's try and keep everything wiped down.

More Ontario & Western

Don Pearce is making the most of his pandemic stay at home time expanding his next generation Ontario & Western layout. There's always room for a good ole swimmin hole. 

 

In the days of yore, you could have farms within town limits and this farm looks like it is offering horses to rent for riding and maybe even riding lessons with few if any complaints from area residents. Almost always, the farm was there first. 

Things are busy today on the O & W with both freight and passenger trains vying for the trackage. Back in these days, passenger trains had priority over the freights, a long gone privilege in the modern times we live in. 

Don is now at the stage of adding card boxes to the layout fascia to hold the cards used in operating the railroad in a prototypical manner. Each rail car type [boxcar, tank car, flat car, hopper, etc.] has a card to show the details of load, layout destination, etc. and up to 8 or 9 of these cards make up the average freight train route. Passenger trains such as the one shown above travel through the layout from train station to train station at periodic intervals to carry passengers and mail.

New Industry @ Ontario & Western

Because of the COVID virus, Don Pearce is staying home as all of us who are not con-sidered essential are supposed to. Having a restless nature and a basement layout, Don is putting his time to good use and expanding the operational side of the O & W. The new pipe industry is shown in the upper part of this picture. Model railroading is not just running trains around and around, it's running trains with a purpose, moving goods from one place to another just like the real railroads. 

The trestle at Cougar Mountain

The trestle and scenery, on my layout, is mostly done.

A family of cougars enjoy the early morning sun, overlooking Stony Creek.

New trestle for my railroad.

Started building a trestle for my layout. Started by staining a bunch of wood strips of various dimensions. Glued up the roadbed beams and ties. Then I took a piece of code 83 flex track, and removed all the ties except for every fourth one, to keep the rails in gauge. This track was laid on top of the trestle roadbed, with the gauging ties in between the trestle ties, and taped it in place.

After adding the bents and bracing, it was installed on my layout to take a picture.

In The News: A short freight crosses the high trestle at Cougar Mountain (yet to be built). This mountain, which will rise several inches above, but behind the trestle. It will act as a partial view block, hiding the railroad behind it.

Works in Progress by Larry B.

My lighthouse was made using the lowest section of a brick chimney and a printed cupola by Dave H.

Distractions for Self Isolation

This is a classic shunting puzzle in British model railroad circles. Hopefully you can see the car colours clearly enough to see where the orange engine has to switch each car to its new lo-cation on the lower diagram.


Have a go!  I eventually did get it but I quit timing myself at 10 min. How did you do?












This is a screen grab that I had 
difficulties trying to crop so I left it as is.

The idea is to build your train from some of the cars in the upper diagram and leave the rest where they are in lower diagram. Give this a try, too. I didn't time myself on this one

Tuesday Night NOT at the Layout Again

What does one do in their self isolation situation?  First off, most model railroaders had stuff set aside that they always intend to build "some day". Some of the previous blogs are an example of that while others are simply showing projects already completed for home layouts so that the rest of us can see them. 
I am having fun setting up dioramas that show off some recent projects completed that will be going to the club layout as I don't have a real home layout any more. The left picture is showing some Rusty Stumps benches and Osborne picnic tables that have been sitting around too long. Both are laser cut wood kits that make up quickly and look good. The trees are from Woodland Scenic kits with both plastic and metal trunks and branches.
The right picture showcases a Sylvan kit of a 1957 General American Aerocoach tour bus that I drove around Canada and the USA as a 19 year old. The kit is painted exactly like the original including the name that I added in 1957. It was powered by an International Red Diamond 450 gas engine hooked to a 5 speed backward shifting transmission. The speedometer cable ran front to back and was usually broken which resulted in being clocked at over 80 mph near Windsor, fortunately by a friendly car driver at a rest stop. Trees are again Woodland Scenics.  

Lighting on the cheap.

On my home layout I decided to light the buildings. Why not use a string of lights from a dollar store. The ones I  had on hand take 3 AA batteries and have an off on switch. On my first try I soon found out they can only be hooked up a specific way, after you cut each lights wires to add longer feeders. The lights I used have 20 lights, wired in parallel.

To add longer feeders I needed to find a way to known the correct way to reconnect them. Looking at each light I noticed that anode + was narrow and the cathode - was wider.

The one on the right is the cathode, so all the dark wire feeders were soldered to this side and the light feeder was added to anode side.
The first area I lighted was the port town. Larger buildings had 2 or 3 lights and small ones had only 1light added.

Soon found out light escapes everywhere. I will have to go back and fix that. Will also have to figure out how to add a night light for overall lighting.

Works in Progress by Jim F.

Jim finished up some railroad buildings recently.