I took the family to see the ships at the Stapleton Piers In Staten Island NY Last Saturday . I'll post a few random pics of what was there.    

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Thought I should share my latest complete project...An On30 Climax with added Backwoods Miniatures Detail Castings.





Hope you like it!

Yesterday I spent a good while getting all my e-mags ready for the layout in the new building. Since they go under the track, they have to go in before the track goes down.

First, here is a photo of an almost finished magnet. Just needs the wiring connections.

   

I did alot of experimenting a couple years ago to make the Kadee system work flawlessly. With the regular HO single coil kit, the coupler/spring/draft box had to be adjusted and maintained meticuously to get 100% operation. That was tough to do. The nost common flaw was the couplers not moving far enough to the side to uncouple. So, I decided that a stronger magnet would be more likely to function correctly, even with less than perfect coupler adjustment.

So, what I did was use the Kadee O scale kit. This has 2 coils, so more magnetizing force. I wire the coils in series and operate them at 24 volts.

As you can see, I added some extra steel plates on the sides to more strongly focus the magnetic flux. I also added an aluminum plate to each side for mounting purposes. Since these mags will be installed up through 1/4" of plywood, 2" of foam, and the roadbed, the aluminum plates extend down with a 90 degree bend at the bottom so they can be screwed to the 1/4" plywood.

Here is a photo of all the parts. The stuff on the left is extra stuff I fabricated, stuff on the right is factory. I threw the ridiculous factory "thru-the-ties" plastic mounting hardware in my scrap bin.

   

I cut the steel plates from some 1/32" sheet metal, then drilled holes in them to match the factory steel plates that come with the Kadee O-scale kit.

   

   

And a pic of the sheet aluminum. This was an aluminum "kick plate" for a door, got it at home depot. I scored it with a razor knife and snapped the pieces off, then drilled them and bent the 90 degree bend with the help of a vise and hammer.

   

A picture of the assembling in progress. I did have to buy longer screws to go all the way through the added plates.

   

Here's a photo of 15 completed e-mags, wired and ready to go. Well, I still need to cut the exposed threads of the screws off, just to make it easier to install the mags up through the hole in the foam.

   

Anyway, I had great luck with uncoupling using these on the old layout. And I'm glad I got all of these assembled up front, so once I start laying track, I won't have to stop and build magnets.

The only stupid question is the one not asked. That's what I'm told. However, I have a question that borders on stupid.

When I scan a picture, it goes to 'MY SCANS" in documents. The problem is, it comes out PDF. The only items I seem to be able to control are JPG. I don't know what all that is, but can I change a PDF to JPG? I have not had this problem before, that I know of. Maybe it is the scanner that is running things different. It is an HP deskjet F4480, 3-in-1, if that helps

If anybody knows and answers this, do it VERY SIMPLE, please.

Lynn

I enjoy reading articles about trains that have risen from the ashes, (or in most cases, from the rust,) and restored. Many of them won't ever run again, but at least they are preserved for future generations to enjoy looking at and marveling over. Here's an example of just such a locomotive:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.roanoke.com/extra">http://www.roanoke.com/extra</a><!-- m -->
Maybe we could start a special thread containing articles and photos of old trains and equipment we have seen in our travels, includung old depots and such, even if they haven't been restored. Articles in newspapers that we are providing links to, or magazine articles we are providing links to, are also welcome, because we aren't copying someone else's work, just providing a reference to it. Whaddya think???

Here's a link to an interesting article in today's Roanoke Times: <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.roanoke.com/extra">www.roanoke.com/extra</a><!-- w -->

The Toronto Railway Heritage Centre (aka John St. Roundhouse) is now officially open. My son & I visited it today and were really impressed. Everything looks so clean, newly-restored and well-organized.

In additional to having several heritage locos (namely a CNR Northern steamer and a GP7 diesel, plus a few other diesels), an operating turntable, a model train show, and an outdoor miniature railway, they also had two diesel cabs inside the roundhouse fitted with train simulators. There's also the restored Don Station, Cabin D (an old gatehouse or signal box, as they're called in the UK) and a few other sites.

I'll try to post some of my own pics in due course, but, in the meantime, I've posed links to a few news stories below. This is an awesome Canadian railway museum, highly recommended! In the future, they now plan to open on weekends.

Steam Whistle Brewery also operates in the east end of the roundhouse, giving out free beer samples!

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://spacingtoronto.ca/2010/05/28/john-street-roundhouse-park-now-home-to-railway-heritage-museum/">http://spacingtoronto.ca/2010/05/28/joh ... ge-museum/</a><!-- m -->

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Cheers,
Rob

I have 2 unique PC items available:

1st:

15 issues of the Penn Central Poast magazine. Issued to PC employees. Starting with issue #1 3/1/68 and ending with Oct/Nov 1973. All 15 issues are in great shape. Makes for some interesting reading. Sell as set only $20 postage paid.

2nd:

I have some Trainman Hat Badges - for use by trainmen in passenger service only. They are a "brass type" metal with Red Ruby logo. I have 7 of them for $20 each - postage paid.

I have numerous other PC items too.

Anyone intersted - send me a note.

I haven't changed my mind, the GCLaser Boathouse kit is going to be built for this challenge. It is one of the kits I designed for the company, but I had a completely different look in mind originally. The Boathouse will get the cedar shingle roof and siding, That I had first pictured in my mind's eye, when I sat down to do the design..... and each shingle will be hand cut and fit.