-=Western Maryland=- Belington WV

Like any hobby, things are always going on. So these pages will give me a free form way of posting whats new.

Buying Yet more Loco's.. I have a serious problem!.. But I Scored a very Mint Arnold GG1 in the very rare "American Railroads" PRR Livery, an Arnold S2 that will become a WM unit & a pair of Old Model Power Trolley's

I made great stride in adding features to the DB. Item tracking, Postal tracking added a routine to start tracking items modelers keep on hand.  I've heavily Modded the application/ qbasic program written by Mr. Roderick. Added the background exporting of the records it generates, the Train Sheets get separated into individual text files.

the Traffic generation inside the db was given up on, I had tried Mr Wayne Rodericks Traffic generation Qbasic File a while ago,, but the thought of retyping all my info was the hinderence.. I have made the DB export records for use in That App.. I may make a routine to export datas required by different applications.

Found a Kato F3A B&O #87 [11/1995 Run] it will head the Passenger Consist.

The Roundhouse is nearing completion. Bought a few more Items for the Yard.

Central Valley 150' Truss Bridge came in.. Some nice details!

The Roundhouse is more than 50% done. It is huge in any scale I will be installing the last 4 sections in the netx week.. then detailing will be slow.. Really how am I going to fill this huge ass thing with details! I can see that by the time it is "done" it will be well over 600 bills!

The database is now 80% to the first point I set.. I have the Car/Loco/Cabin Cards run time done [it does use a standard that I have correlated from other DB & Car Card systems.] and I have added a batch file to backup to servers & distribute updated db to other PC's.

One new module is done

One of the first new modular sections of the layout are nearing completion

2 more roundhouse additions are on the way bringing the stall count upto 12 and the total cost upto 99.96 so like most structures on the real roads it is by far the most expensive of the real estate; once all 21 stalls are up the total cost will be 175 bills! [but it would've been much higher had I not shopped around & I have extra stock for future structures]

I made a interface panel and a new basic programming/ testing board for DC & DCC. The board has 2 male plugs, the interface panel has 2 female connectors; when the board is plugged in it cuts all power & signals to the layout preventing a complete reprogramming of all decoders should an error occur when using the software. 

Bought Walthers Machine Shop kit & One more Roundhouse Kit.

The MRC PC to DCC interface cable arrived.. the cable itself is great, however the Software is a bit buggy, and caused several major decoder redo's.. It defaults to program on the main in several screens; every loco on the layout needed reprogrammed and 2 Digitrax decoders are completely bugged out.

Rebuilt some old bachmann F7B's with old Life-Like drives & fabricated chassis.

Purchased a second Bachmann Bi-Centennial Locomotive, it will have its original drive replaced with a newer unit.

GE44 Tonner: Is a bugger to program on an MRC Prodigy; web research showed that a large percentage of users modded their programming track with a Capacitor to get it to program correctly.... BUT In a stroke of real dumb luck while testing my programming track voltage I may have a simpler answer, Clip a 12v lamp on to the track do a ghost program on nothing,, then place the 44 on the track and Wolla!

I've got the basics of a few projects done, the GM50, Ge 44 Tonner, etc.. Added the last N&W caboose to the Bachmann Bicentennial train & Began getting more to complete a Bachmann Auto-Train set, I can't find the original Bachmann Auto Carrier! I'll also need to find some A-T Auto Racks of CN origin and fire up the printer to make decals...

Added 3 more PCC Street Cars to the stable.. I'm anxious to get them all painted and get the big city built.. though I'm not looking forward to the track work!

MRC is to  release its PC to DCC USB Interface Cable in early June..[It's mid June now n' It still hasn't come in :-S]. It is about the same MSRP as the other DCC systems interfaces.. It may save my Prodigy Based Layout! I have already began working on utilities for the DB to export Loco/Decoder Info into the needed formats used by the interface. If it's not out by the 17th though I will be replacing the Prodigy with an NCE system to begin the PC-DCC  switch

I am hoping to suppress my Loco and Freight Car buying until after the New layout modules are completed! Damn I have spent over $1600 in decoders since 2007! More work on the DB continues. Added a utility to store prototype loco info for those that like to have the info handy, comes in handy for visitors, also began utilizing some functions to export material to be used in web pages

6-2-09 The Bachmann 44 Tonner is finally available! They are sweet looking little buggers.

I bought and old Bachmann 4-8-4, an impulse really, hell it was only 20 bills. While it is nowhere close to new Life-Like Heritage models & others, it does have the potential with a little care.. I'll hopefully find some old WM Potomac references to start the rebuild.

Left to be done are the EMD/ Chessie GM50 GP40-2, the UP GTEL, the GE 44 Tonner & the Whitcomb Switcher.

The U50 arrived from the UK, and it didn't require the work that the seller advised. The Kato made internals were flawless. It received the usual reshaping of the wheels for code 55 track, lube & Decoder install. Painting went well, Until I refereneced photos & UP paint, the 'Armour Yellow' is just yellow, the same yellow for Chessie!

Well I am still a loco buying Junkie..and much to the Board of directors dismay MRC has released sound boards for short board Atlas Loco's. There is very heated debate on budget concerns for rebuilding the line and adding bells & whistles to loco's! The 1812 is not very loud I will try different methods of speaker placement or just stay with the decoder that has the seperate speaker in future installs

I have ventured into Resin Loco kits, a Whitcomb 65DE19a Center Cab Switcher from Randgust. This puppy is small. I had found that a few Altas chassis may work along with trucks with some major cutting, I did decide to stay with the method of using the Tomix TM-03 Chassis. I also placed an order for 3 sets of the Mine Ore Cars, for a small old mine I hope to build into one of the models. I may also get the Climax loco kit in the future. Overall very happy with the Randgust models, though after completeing a set I will have to figure a method to center the coupler boxes

I ordered a lot of detail parts to begin detailing the UP GTEL and some of my WM Geeps & SD's.

 131 Balwin VO-1000 Painted. I will be adding some details that were on the Reference Photo. Check the Model out under the Pictures/Roster button. Started life as LV 137. For those Bolt counting WM fans, Yes this loco was painted as it once appeared, with NO yellow handrails. The Yellow was only applied later in beginnings of the 50's, and like most other transition times, it was applied if a unit wasn't getting a complete re-paint.

 901811 Chessie/ Western Maryland ''Safety Slogan'' Cabin started. This was a startling revelation putting this together. As I finished this model up; it hit me... the Microscale decals are totally incorrect

Planning 

Make a Diner Car that will be named after a restaurant I worked in Sykesville, MD, "Harvest Inn" 20+ moons ago. This model may come from the MP Combine that gave parts up for the bashed Blue First Class coach.

I hope to begin drawing up the new layout. There are a ton of things I want to do differently. One feature I want to do; a totally plexiglass enclosed Engine Facility & then work on enclosing the seperate modules.

I'm hopin to add a few more EMD Loco's to the collection, I'm missing a GP30, SD45, and a few more WM SD40's.

I also want to paint up a few in some others Ficticious roadnames for shitz n' giggles. I like the look of the V&O, Allegany Midland & mixed with my future Shortline, will make a great set of projects for some GE loco's.

Continue workin on the Database

MP Passenger Cars: I began repainting the fleet. All but 1 is now Pullman Green/ Black Trucks [The previous green was a bit off] and the newest bashed Coach is Enchantment Blue/ Blue Trucks, It is a First Class Coach.

MRC Prodigy Express will be for sale soon. I'm switching to another system.

U36B This Old Bachmann piece received the chassis from the old Bachmann GP40 Model and had a motor function only decoder installed. It had already been used and some details were missing. Check Back later, I have a tempation to really fix this model up.

85' HD 8-axle 32' Deck Depressed Center Flatcar Kit [NS072]    I took the plunge, while RTR models are getting sweeter every year, many specialty cars are still in the realm of kits. These were previously Alan Curtis/ AC Models releases, now made by N Scale kits.... in the UK no less! I ended up having to fabricate missing & damaged parts, but it won't deter me from buying future models from them.

GP35 3577  I did the Red White Black 'Circus' Scheme. For my first multi-color paint job I'm not to dissappointed . I have quite a few decals for Circus Colored loco's

BL2 7182 [Chessie Era Number] has been started, the decaling and decoder have been done, all that is left is a new pilot for it and its brother BL2 81

FA2 304 [Original Life-like] Has had its decoder & couplers installed. a Pilot is being made for it also.

FA2 303 Has had its Sound decoder replaced [the last was a DZ125 with motor functions & a MRC 1810 with no motor functions consisted, the MRC is going to be repaired].

RS3 197 For those unfamiliar 197 had the short hood hieght strecthed to allow for a Steam Generator for passenger duties; giving it the Nickname of a "Hammerhead". It's quite an ugly mule!, it will serve on work train duites.

B&O E7A 1426 was completed in its 60's bland B&O Blue Freight Livery

What the Hell is up!  M.B. Klein has gotten aweful in order shipping. I used to place my orders every other weds at 5 am and have it the next day or friday. This last order has yet to arrive. Time to look for another vendor.

The Aerotrain arrives!  It is SWEET!, However the statements on the Con Cor site state rather unrealisticly that the loco/sets derailments are due to bad track,, Not so. The wheel sets on my set were way out of gauge and picked every turn-out, I hadn't seen wheels so far out of gauge since some old bachmann toys. I installed an MRC sound decoder [modified] into my unit.

I am a loco Junkie!  the Last SD50 bought by the B&O/Chessie will be quartered here for awhile :-D. #8595 [Atlas] was bought this week. It sports detailing and shortly it will get a Sound Decoder. A Bachmann SD40-2 was bought for a project I have in mind.

The Life-Like/ Walthers 2-8-4 Kanawha [Berkshire] Has had it's sound decoder installed. The tender will need tuned to produce a better sound. Fortunatly I am an old hand at audio tuning :-).  The motor doesn't kick in when the chuffs start, and adjusting the rate and sequence doesn't help. It still is sweet! Someday I'll get hooked enough to buy a Locsound/ESU sound decoder, for now though a 90 dollar decoder just doesn't sit well with me. It was a big glaring disappointment as far as Manufacturer & retailer assurances that the items we buy are inspected. Regardless much like helping a distressed animal; this one with all the repairing being done has become my favorite.

I'll have a few non-sound decoders for some of the other waiting loco's.  

Model Power Roller Lift Brige  Lately I've been revisiting plastic models. Originally I wanted to stay away from mass produced stuff, but the price and an area on the new layout warranted the buy. A great model of a Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge save for the method of lifting the bridge; the included method, a manual lever and a suggested electric motor, both used an included bawlky drive lever diminishing the over all look. After a few 5 minute modifications, it is a great lookin, lift bridge + the motor doesn't need to be "powerhouse". I will post the methods shortly. but click the picture for a short video of it operating.

Not alot happened last month, I'm planning on redoing the layout, This incarnation though I will & want to have as much buildings & other items on hand before I begin.

The Aerotrain is a'comin! The Final installment was made. After recent dealings with Walthers ding dongs & the 2-8-4; It was rejuvenating to talk too a REAL person that remembers who you are, she just brightened my days!

The Life-Like/ Walthers 2-8-4 Kanawha [Berkshire] was completely taken apart and reassembled to determine what parts would need to be fixed.. Turns out that what appeared as rough handling on the outside, along with a design flaw, allowed the worm gear assembly to rise up and away from the idler gears, While it was opened up it was milled for decoder installation, a DZ125 was used initially, but and MRC Sound Decoder will soon be installed

Kato F7A SP 6396 [Pre-DCC Chassis] I milled the chassis and it received an MRC1810 Sound decoder. It will hopefully get a detailing job sometime in the near future.

Bachmann GP50 [Second Gen] This was the first "toy" train to get a decoder, Like the GP40 I have, it is a smooth runner, unlike the GP40 though the shell is crisply molded enough to keep and I am thinking about super detailing it when the Kato gets done. The truck and chassis were modded to lower the trucks closer to the shell. I may post a page on how it was done.

the Life-Like FA2 that had a bizaar ending, will donate its runing gear to an off the wall project I have in mind for an F45 Shell/ chassis I have. It will be built as a trade in using "old" trucks"

Life-Like E7A NYC will be modded and come out as a B&O Freight Unit, I spyed a few prototypes that wore the Basic Blue and white livery.