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railman28
Fireman
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Posted - 09/04/2019 : 10:45:46 PM
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Andre!!! What's you doing?
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5388 |
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
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Posted - 09/05/2019 : 09:15:01 AM
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Hi Bob!
Thanks for asking.
I'm saving up my hobby funds for my next major purchase: A second complete NCE R/C DCC system. Amid that, I've also got to spend some of my hobby funds for some motorcycle upkeep things (about $200-$300 worth) in advance of riding season that's only a few weeks away.
SO... I'm avoiding my model railroad train hobby for now so as not to be tempted to spend on items that will prolong the saving mode.
Typically, I use my V scale interest to piddle with as I await for such funds/etc. That said, I'm in the process of putting in the last few miles of track to replicate the St. Louis & North Arkansas railroad as it was from about 1903 to mid-1906. (The StL&MA morphed into the Missouri & North Arkansas when it started their final expansions in 1906.) SO, as per the prototype, "my" virtual St.L&NA/M&NA runs from Seligman, MO, to Leslie, AR, some 121 miles or so. I used track charts and all the data I could get my hands on to make this as accurate as reasonably practical. I also intend to share this route project with those interested among my V scale friends.
So, there you have it!
Andre
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Edited by - OK Hogger on 09/05/2019 09:18:00 AM |
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railman28
Fireman
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Posted - 09/05/2019 : 1:51:47 PM
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Understand the need for mature fiscal management. I played with track plans and CAD drawing in such times. But, basic scenery (paper towel, plaster of Paris over a lactic of cardboard strips) was cheap too. A lot cheaper than foam That's for sure and with a cheap drop cloth, a lot easier to clean up.
Bob
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5388 |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
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Posted - 09/06/2019 : 6:10:56 PM
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A little care on the fiscal side also helps prevent expensive mistakes, extravagances and unthought out purchases.
Mike
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5736 |
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
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 Posted - 09/26/2019 : 7:33:20 PM
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Hi All!
Wife and I have just returned from a short stay at the Cumbres & Toltec town of Chama, NM. We both just love the atmosphere that can be had at the C&T. Amazingly, in addition to her love of the Rocky Mountains, my wife loves the steam engines and the steam experience!
While enjoying the action, I did snap a few photos, however, I don't go to the C&T to futilely try to take the "perfect" picture (long ago gave up), and now I mainly just soak up the atmosphere and watch (and listen) to the action. IF a photo presents itself and I can do so without missing action, I'll snap a quickie. Here's some of the quickies from our trip.
Not exactly "Early Rail"... but the sounds and smells of steam are trans-era!
Andre
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
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Posted - 09/26/2019 : 8:18:07 PM
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Andre, those are beautiful photos. Thank you for posting.
As for not being EarlyRail, it’s your own thread and you can post anything you want if it inspires your modeling, even a photo of an SD70MAC.
Mike
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5736 |
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railman28
Fireman
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Posted - 09/26/2019 : 10:44:43 PM
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Andre, It's a beautiful Railroad. A Great Ride. Back in the 70's I chased A Freight special from Chama to Cumbres Pass but Last fall was the first time I rode her and rode the whole length. Another freight special. What a spectacular Gem she is. Now that they will have restored passenger cars and a ten wheeler running around I think I will visit more often.
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5388 |
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
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Posted - 09/26/2019 : 11:53:07 PM
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Thanks you two for the input!
Mike:
Don't think you will ever see me posting a pic of an SD70MAC!
Bob:
Yes, it's our favorite place to go for steam. It will be so cool to have the T-12 running! We first visited the C&T back in '92. We soon rode the length of it. We've ridden it several times. Our favorite thing to do is simply savor the atmosphere of the region and operation. A typical day for us is to eat a good breakfast somewhere, then strike off for the yard for the departure of the eastbound. Once it leaves out, we love to pace it climbing to Cumbres. Once it's left Cumbres headed for Ozier, we then head back to Chama and eat lunch, then mosey back up the pass and over toward Los Pinos to pick up the westbound train. We even enjoy waiting up there! After the trains are finished for the day, we will often hike along the right of way around Cumbres and explore. We also like to stroll about the yard after everything is tucked away for the evening. We typically go up to Chama every year or so. Love it!
All fer now.
Andre
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Edited by - OK Hogger on 09/26/2019 11:54:22 PM |
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
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Posted - 09/28/2019 : 12:55:21 AM
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A Frisco historian friend of mine just uploaded this heretofore unseen (by me, at least) picture of the construction of the tunnel at Winslow, AR on the Frisco railroad. This picture would have to date back to 1881-1882. (The tunnel was completed and opened for service in 1882.) See that train? That's on the temporary switchback (with 4+% grades) that was used during the construction of the tunnel! This is a RARE picture, guys!
All fer now!
Andre
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
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Posted - 09/28/2019 : 08:36:21 AM
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Andre,
It’s always exciting when a new old photo turns up.
I expect the locomotive we see pulled only a few cars at a time up a 4% grade.
Mike
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Nobody living can ever stop me, as I go walking that freedom highway -- Woody Guthrie |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5736 |
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
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Posted - 09/28/2019 : 09:55:35 AM
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Hi Mike!
Yes it is! Such a find often fires up the imagination.
I suspect the older/lighter engine was being used for construction purposes. I have read in historical accounts that once the line was open south of the tunnel to Van Buren (river port town), then the larger engines w/helpers were used to move through-tonnage over the switchbacks while the tunnel continued to be bored.
Andre
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Edited by - OK Hogger on 09/28/2019 09:57:09 AM |
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railman28
Fireman
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Posted - 12/01/2019 : 2:02:32 PM
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What's you doing?
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5388 |
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
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Posted - 12/01/2019 : 5:45:15 PM
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Hi Bob!
Thanks for asking!
Well, I'm hip deep into my "riding season" and I have been doing a lot of dual sport riding in the mountains of OK and AR. Wife has also been riding some with me (she rides the XT225 I purchased the past April.) That so, my model trains haven't been the top priority.
However, what HAS been priority has been the saving of my hobby allowance in order to make a large (to me) investment in NCE DCC components.
Among all the other things vying for my hobby funds, I finally saved back enough that I was ready to go forward and order the stuff. I have ordered:
1 completely new NCE DCC R/C Starter System that includes an R/C cab (hand held unit).
1 5 Amp power unit to power same.
1 Fast acting circuit breaker for the system.
2 Additional R/C cabs (hand held units).
Total has come to nearly $1100, a fair chunk of change. However, this will allow me to replace my 12+ year old NCE DCC R/C unit currently being used on my Ozark layout that's in the out building as well as give me the ability for 3 operators.
The older system will be brought in here to the house to become the power/control for my future KC Lines shelf switching layout here in this computer room. Waste not, want not.
I did host a regional get-together a couple weeks ago. There were 6 of us, total. I handed the throttle to one of them and a switch list to the other, and they ran a train and worked the Gravel Turn.
They enjoyed it a bunch, but the grade bit them on the hiney.  They tried to switch the rock plant and bit off more than the single unit could handle, so they had to regroup and come up with another plan. Welcome to mountain railroading!
Anyway, once the new system arrives and I have it installed and proofed, I will be inviting those two back down for a shake down run with three operators. I figure they'll each run a train on the layout, and I'll take the third throttle and work the stages/through trains.
Probably gonna' be one of those "cluster****" deals... but it ought to be fun and we've gotta's start somewhere in learning how to operate this new layout! 
All fer now!
Andre
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railman28
Fireman
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Posted - 12/02/2019 : 5:09:28 PM
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Let the Good Times roll. Did you get see Big Boy roll by? The NCE system should be a good bet. I've not heard of a unhappy owner.
Bob
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
| Posts: 5388 |
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masonamerican
Fireman
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Posted - 12/24/2019 : 3:53:23 PM
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A NCE system sounds like a great system and a sound investement. Well isn't everything Model Railroady a great investment
I have myself a Roco system (similar to Lenz) which works great. It has Wifi capability using a Iphone but haven't much used that as I like the feeling of control using a controler knob.
Håkan
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Country: Sweden
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