Good Evening Folks.

Gosh it's been sometime since I've posted anything on this forum.  Life has a way of getting in the way...I guess.  During my absence I've had a career change. (for the better) and sadly my layout became nothing more then a glorified shelf space.  That has all changed recently as a few weeks ago I started re-organizing and just doing some long overdue house keeping.  I was happy to see that even after years of neglect my layout after a thorough track cleaning sprang to life and even though I forgot some of the numbering for my turnout programming, everything operated just as I remembered.  Progress is once again being made on the Kootenay Branchline and the CP Geep 9s along with the addition of some 0-8-0 steamers has come back to life.  There are a number of projects on the go.  Some exactly how I left them.  All of which I hope to share in the days ahead with the awsome members of this great forum.  Here's Hoping all is well with you and yours.  Now let's get to work.

   

   
One of the track plans that I am considering for the Port Able Lines subsidiary, the Penvan Railroad. I don't have space in my apartment for a permanent layout and I want a layout that I can take to train shows.

The back story is that the line's biggest customer, the Rikol Auto Parts Corporation closed (which was responsible for about 5,000 car loads per year) and Conrail was not interested in serving the final 3 customers. The city of Penvan bought the track for the industrial park and named the Penvan Railroad as the designated operator. The Penvan Railroad was later bought by the small short line company, Port Able Lines.

It's 90x18 inches so that I can fold it up into a 45x18 inches with 22.5x18 inch wings  so that I can store it out of the way and transport it to train shows. At 45inches long, it will fit in the back of my car much easier than if it was 48 inches.

The buildings will be removable and I plan to store the cars, locomotives, and DCC controller inside of the framework for the layout. I will either set the layout on a table or attach removable legs.

All 4 turnouts are Atlas Snap Track Code 83 18 inch radius and the minimum radius is 18 inches as well.

The drill lead is 27 inches long, so I can fit 2 cars and a switcher. I will only have 3 cars maximum dropped off at the interchange for an operating session

The parking lot/loading dock on the right side of E. D. Ibble Foods is elevated so that the overpass acts as a view block along with the trees.

I added a yard/sorting track to the plan for car storage and to make switching easier. I'm going with the story that it was once part of the passing siding for the industrial park.

Hardley-Able Manufacturing has 2 car spots, one loading dock and one overhead crane.

E. D. Ibble Foods also has 2 car spots, one loading dock and one covered loading dock for tank cars and covered hoppers as well as a loading dock.

Reece-Eichel Salvage and RU Ready Mix share a track with an underground cement loader and clearance for forklift operations when unloading flat cars of lumber.

My car flow chart is figured for 2-3 car loads operating session (15 cars per week maximum):

Customer                                        In/Out
Hardley-Able Manufacturing         4/1
E. D. Ibble Foods                             4/1
RU Ready Mix                                  3/0
Reece-Eichel Salvage Yard            0/2

Total                                                11/4

Approximately 650 car loads are handled annually.

this seems to be my mornings anymore

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
   

Photos of these CNR Wood Cabooses have been published before on different forums. As Sylvan Scale Models recently announced a Limited Re-Run of its kits, I thought I should publish new photos of the cabooses I built with earlier kits.
 
   


   


   


More fun to come.

I just got through giving my paint supply its yearly shake and found that I now have only 15 cent testors left used up the last 10 cent bottle a while ago , but still have several 10 cent pactra's left, I'm thinking that some of them are like 40 + years old .    what's the oldest bottle you have left ?

While coming home from my grandson's basketball game last night, spotted WPMA-29 switching at T&T Freezer.

Bruce

   

Hello Everyone,
I initially posted this thread in the wrong place sorry if I offended someone.

I model the late 50's and I needed a loader for my "Wilson Lumber" scene.
Since I couldn't find one, I kit bashed a model that I bought at a local hobby shop.

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
           

As Don (ezdays) and I have said many times, We are doing our best to keep Big Blue Trains ad free. 

Remember, Big Blue is solely owned by Don and myself, and we have been true to our word. No ads of any kind, no click through links (bitly), no sponsors either or mixing in with other hobbies. We are supported by our members' generous donations and sales of cups, shirts and other custom products through our online shop. 

We have also held an occasional auction of custom decorated cars and other unique items, and, it's been a few years, but we've had a few fund drives as well. We do what we can, but try to give something back in return.

Please visit the Big Blue Zazzle Store, we have placed many items for sale with different versions of the new logo on them.

If you think of something you don't see here, let me know and I will try to find it to add to the store.

We also are aware that some of the items are costly, but there are some easily affordable items listed too.
Any funds that are are made from sales are exclusively used to keep Big Blue going.

Thanks - From Don and I

Some shots from inside one of the warehouses in Whiskey Point.

Bruce

   

   

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
   

Here's something that I just saw in the news. Can't keep a MRR down:

Octogenarian sat on burglar who tried to steal his model railway collection