Wellington Rework

With the new year approaching there has been some talk about the Wellington rework project. I proposed raising the track to Elsewhere and lowering the track to Wellington and combining both towns into one. this would help with the congestion in the main aisle as only 2 operators need to be there at any one time. Mike handed in a idea based on the above idea, but keeping both towns separate but on the same level, each with it's own turntable.

I'm wondering if 1 turntable could service both yards?

This was the first time I had run in a while so I jumped in as the switcher at Lincoln. There were 2 full trains worth of cars there? If no one is switching Lincoln, each operator should do his own switching there, so why all the rolling stock there? After fixing a problem with a turnout for the coal mine I noticed there was 7 hoppers there? If the largest quantity for hoppers to the coal mine is 3 and you remove all the rolling stock there when you deliver your hoppers, how could there be 7 hoppers there? Remember you remove ALL rolling stock from a siding you deliver cars to, no matter what the quantity is on your delivery card.

I see 2 advantages to Mike's plan. First it puts people working the 2 areas at either end of the aisle. Second having Elsewhere at the far end, it allows for a longer approaching grade.

Another Kind of Railroad Yard

Don Pearce and I had an interesting Friday morning visit chatting with and watching member Mike Lafond run his vintage 4-4-2
Black Rock RR passenger train around his yard at 23 Peers Place. Mike's yard is a figure 8 track running around his front yard. The track was built of 1/8 x 3/8" metal rails welded to laser cut metal plates or laid on hand cut ties. The trestles are either on pipe risers as shown or supported by conventional wood bents, all scratchbuilt to fit the topography.

Mike's engine that Don and I saw running started out as a Bachman product of "many years ago" and only the two domes and stack have not been redone. He located a chap making an updated
running gear which Mike has further improved, changing the whole power train for more power and reliability and adding detailing on all sides. The engine contains a large decoder controlled by a CVP radio control handset and powered by a battery system located in the tender; no cleaning of track needed here.

Mike scratchbuilds all his cars from polystyrene to a very high detail level. He brought a 3D printed truck frame to our recent
meeting at the layout that he will likely be using for additional
cars. Inside the pictured baggage car open door is baggage and the car also contains a railway worker sitting down on a bench having a rest. Couplers are vintage link and pin which do stay well con-nected but can pull the whole train off if a car derails, not appealing with trestles!! Needless to say, track levels are carefully maintained.

 
Passenger cars are fully detailed as well including full interiors with passengers in place. When asked about their weighting, Mike suggested lifting one and they are certainly not light weight. He also has constructed box cars so that freights can use the rails, too. While he thinks his neighbours might feel his yard is a bit weird, Mike and Laura enjoy sitting on their front porch while running trains.  Well done, Mike!!

Meeting Night

Mike brought in his 3d printed truck for a garden railroad coach he is building

The club now has 26 members, will try and get a short bio from each one soon. The need for a controller plug on the center of the fascia in front of Springbank was discussed. If you loose control of your engine you have to go to one end or the other to plug in. Sounds like a good idea. All of the quantities of rolling stock on the cards were reduced to 3 or less, and new, coloured cards will be made for the branch line to help keep them separate. The operation of the branch was also talked about, there is a need to make sure everyone knows how it operates. Discussion about changes to Wellington are ongoing. One idea is to lower Wellington 3 inches below the upper mainline and raise the lower mainline to connect to it instead of Elsewhere. Elsewhere would be narrowed to the front 3 tracks, maybe for the ore train and a passenger train. The yard in Wellington would be enlarged or maybe have 2 yards there. Some or all of the industries would be removed.

meeting started by Don sitting behind our new coffee table, thank you Larry

NEW INTERCHANGE

DOES ONTARIO SOUTHLAND RAILWAY NOW HAVE A DIRECT LINK TO UNION PACIFIC AND ELIMINATING CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILROAD.

All-inclusive Membership Pt.2

This is Ruby, a very recent addition to our membership
who, with her husband Leo, has jumped right into the thick of operating freight trains on our layout. Here she is operating an Intermountain CN locomotive heading up a freight from Wellington yard through the high line above Heron's Landing on July 19, 2016

This is Ruby's husband Leo checking the switch points
on the high line to make sure that her train goes down the right rail line. Ruby holds her Digitrax controller at the ready to start up her train when Leo is satisfied that all is well.

I couldn't resist adding this shot as Trent gets his long train rerailed while Rown and Grampa's Rock Island loco and Glen's CNR Geep wait patiently yet again for Trent to clear Springbank yard. Taylor, take notes!!

All inclusive Membership Pt.1

Here's Rowan and Grampa on Tuesday night, July 19; fairly recent additions to our layout membership. Rowan runs Grampa's locomotives while Grampa works hard at keeping speed and direction within reasonable bounds.

This is Tate, another junior engineer running his CSX "special" out of Wellington yard. Initially under mother Colleen's supervision and sometimes dad's, Tate has been with us for a while and can now switch on his own with the best of us. Both Tate and Rowan need to stand on plastic crates to see the action but this hasn't slowed them down any.  

Trent has added another recent new member by bringing girlfriend Taylor with him. She is actively learning the operational ropes of model railroading and recently bought a Windsor H.O. layout which the seller delivered to her. She is not afraid to ask questions of any of us about all facets of model railroading. 

Work night

There were 3 guests show up last night, all had just moved to Woodstock, and we're quite interested in our club. The meeting was held while I was showing our layout to Joseph, so I missed it. The only work done was some industries had signs added and the coaling tower was worked on. Our guests were given the opportunity to operate trains and help with switching duties.