Caught up with WPMA-19 as they were making a drop and pick up.

Bruce

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It’s been a while since we had a challenge. Mountaingoat Greg came up with an idea of making a small scale diorama in a reasonably small space. We wanted to make it viable in all scales, so i took his idea and thought of a 2 car challenge.

So here's the idea; Take any 2 cars, maintenance of way equipment, or any combination of 2 railroad items that are mobile. Snow plows?? Rail Gooses?? Hand Cars??? Anything at all that would normally be seen on the rails. Put 2 of them in your scene and then build around them. Post your intentions and progress in a separate thread, then at the end of the challenge, we'll have a vote to see who got the most done while doing what they said they would.

Be specific, but keep it simple so that you can keep your commitment. Also note that we are allowing you to enter multiple projects, just that you must finish one before you start another one.

Remember, the intent of this challenge is to create a simple scene, 2 main items and a few background or foreground items . Pick something, do it, and pick something else if you want , and do it as well.

The Rules:

1. Choose a scale... Yes, you are allowed to model in ANY scale!!!! Choose an area from the following list:

• HO and Smaller 12" X 12" or 18" X 18"
  
• HO and larger 18" X 18" or 24" X 24" (Larger is acceptable)

That's the headline of the morning paper.

   

I did write an article on this a few years back, a thread of my notes and research is here.
<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=2112">viewtopic.php?f=26&t=2112</a><!-- l --> The pics and research from the NTSB files starts on page 2.

I'm thinking about heading up here, might take my nephew. Then again, he is 3....

Anyone else going to head up that way this year? I'd really like to get a look at that U34CH.

Follow the link for details

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://urhs.org/blog/transportation-heritage-festival-2015/">http://urhs.org/blog/transportation-her ... ival-2015/</a><!-- m -->

I thought I would post these links to a very useful resource.
Ontariohttp://ontariomap.webs.com/
Quebechttp://quebecrailwaymap.webs.com/
Canadian Electric Railwayshttp://cermc.webs.com/

All three are produced by the same person and are updated occasionally.

I went searching for information on locos vs radius allowance and found some information here and there and got to thinking for quick information for people who may be looking for this info also. We can post opinions and facts of what and what not can be done with engines and the radius they can handle

Ok, fresh start for the Grande Valley in the "N"ormal scale.Here to start is a rather crude drawing of the layout in it's current state.The top of the drawing and both left and right sides are shelves attached to the walls.

The bottom is a currently un supported bridge that spans the room with it's only support at both ends (I will be adding legs for support but the is a duck under so the plan is to deside the best place for the legs and still allow access to the inside.

Vital statistics are 10'6" wide by 8'10" deep (doorway to enter room is about 1 inch from the lower lefthand corner of the layout).Height of the layout is 48" to the top of the layout deck.Three slelves are 18" wide fourth on the right is 18" at the top of the drawing widening out to 24".The 24" width is for a large grain elevator farm implement sales and service that will be close to 48" long with a 5 track grain car yard.



This layout will be both DC and DCC thanks to a high quality double pole double throw,center off toggle switch.

I was asked a question that I wasn't sure of the answer to.

Why are abandoned tracks sometimes pulled up, but other times left in place?

For instance in New Jersey, the local railroad line was abandoned east of Mount Holly in the late 70s by Conrail, and in 1984 the tracks were all ripped up between there and points east to Toms River (the old PRR "Back Road"). Almost all of the branches associated with this line are also totally removed. Only a few bridges and abutments give any indication that a railroad was ever there.

Abandoned by Conrail around the same time was much of the original Camden & Amboy alignment, the tracks of which are very visible running along Route 130 through much of central New Jersey. They only become completely removed through Hightstown. Similarly, the tracks that were once part of the CNJ's mainline to Atlantic City through the pine barrens is still there, rails and all.

Does the railroad have to remove the tracks if completely abandons the line (sells the RoW property)?
Does the railroad leave the track in place just in case of future traffic? To prevent people from building on the RoW?
Does the Railroad have to removed abandoned track for environmental reasons?
Does abandon track get re-used on other lines? Is it worth its scrap value?
What obligations do the railroad's have to their abandoned infrastructure?