Replacing a Quadrant

Throwing the engine lead switch, there was an unusual “thunk” and then the lever moved a little too easily. Reaching underneath, I felt a new sharp edge rotating behind the fascia. A couple of the levers have needed replacement, but this was the first quadrant that broke. Fortunately I still have the drawing. The new […]

FeatureScript Changes the Game

Speaking of flat cars, what about their loads? Most of the time, these cars would have carried lumber or logs. Without a sawmill on the line, it is unlikely they carried logs in my town, but there is a photo of a flat car of lumber in Pembroke. I’d always imagined I would create lumber […]

Flat Car Safety Equipment

I needed a project to take to the North Shore Modellers’ night a couple of weeks ago. It had to be something relatively self-contained and unlikely to make a big mess. No taking big pieces of the layout and slinging scenery on them! So, casting about for a project, my eyes lit on the three […]

Standard Parts

As I’m working on a 3D model of a freight car, there are some parts that lend themselves to reuse. Brakes, stake pockets and pipe fittings are natural candidates for standardization. So, I’ve established an OnShape document of some standard parts that I can import and use on any other car I might design. John […]

Cattails Planted

The cattails are now installed, turning the small pond between the pasture and the cattle spur into a marsh. I left a couple of feet near the culvert free of weeds, as I reckon the section man would have dug up that area to keep the culvert free. The pond is about 40 scale feet […]

Coal Car Progress

For one reason or another, I’ve been absent from the railroad room quite a bit these past few months. This makes progress on physical projects difficult, but virtual projects can continue. The coal car, which I’m almost ashamed to say has been on my desktop for a year, is nearing completion. In thirty years of […]