December 22, 2009

Ralph Hiess, Wayne Shortman

Work

Tonight Wayne and Ralph came over and we worked on the Lehigh Valley.  We put in all of the ground throws and pulled the wire for the new Hex Frog Juicers.  I also showed off the latest acquisitions to the railroad.  I roll out a vintage Helium car as well as a vintage Borden’s butter disk milk tank car.  I also show the new Howe Trust Float Bridge that will be going into service in January 2010!  It was a productive night!

December 9, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Tom Callan, Ted DiIorio, Ted Pamperin

Work

Sad day on the railroad for me, we demolished the High Line over 30th Street yard to staging and 30th Street west of the hump that was caused by the water damage in October, 2008.  Here is looking to a redesigned 30th Street and the new High Line and Staging coming in 2010!

November 29, 2009

Work

There were a few sessions during November but I captured few on film.  Most of my crew helped get the railroad ready for its last run of 2009.  We worked on the Lehigh Valley’s 27th Street yard and went from a few complex turnouts to a nearly completed yard.  All that is left to do is the new pier and installing the Hex Frog Juicers!  I will be ready for 2010!

October 24, 2009

Work

Tonight I worked on the new transfer bridge for 28th Street.  I started off by laminating a sheet of planking to the 1/8” styrene sheet.  I next mapped out the position of the rail on the bridge and installed the code 70 rail.  I had to pre-drill all of the spikes so that they could go into the styrene.  I then built the switch points and the switch throws.  I ended the evening by attaching the bridge girders and gluing them on with canopy glue.  I let the whole thing dry over night.

October 18, 2009

Work

After a great operating session at Ted Pamperin's C&O layout I decided to rail the wooden 305' Car Float. I decided that this would also be a transfer float with three tracks. When all is said and done it should hold 18 cars. That would be four more than the styrene Car Float that I built last year.

October 16, 2009

Jay Held

Work

I started off tonight by going to Lowe's and picking up two more sheets of the white back Masonite. I was able to get Lowe's to cut it for me so Jay and I would only have to use the table saw outside at a minimum. Jay and I had a few complex cuts to make but at the end of the night all of the Valance was completed.

October 14, 2009

Ted DiIorio

Work

Tonight was a light crew with just Ted and I. We got three sheets of the white backed Masonite and installed it as the Valance.

September 29th, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Tom Callan, Neil Henning, Ted Pamperin

Work

It appears that I forgot to post this up date in 2009!  So here I am in October 2010 posting this construction update!  It looks like the original valance that I later replaced with a slightly shorter valance.  Sorry for the LATE posting!

September 16th, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Ted DiIorio, Ralph Heiss, Ted Pamperin, Wayne Shortman

Work

First work session after DragonCON 2009!  Tonight I had a good crew.  Craig came over and replaced the power cord on one of my shop lights so it could reach the outlet.  Then Craig replaced one of the points on the High Lines first double cross over.  The Teds, Ralph and I finished up most of the Valance supports tonight.  Ralph also cutout the generation one photo backdrops that I printed on photo satin paper.  Craig pointed out that one of the buildings was out of scale.  I think the effect is well worth the time to develop.   More to follow as I get ready for the October 2nd Operating Session!

August 27th, 2009

Phil Monet

Work

Phil came over tonight.  He worked on finishing up the double crossover double slip at 27th Street.  With this turnout now completed most of the remaining turnouts can be made with my Fast Tracks jigs.  The remaining hand laid turnouts at 27th Street are a No. 4 Double Slip, 2 No. 4 left hand turnouts, a diamond and one No. 4 “Y”.  I worked on mounting the florescent light fixtures in to the valance at 28th Street. 

August 26th, 2009

Tom Callan, Ted DiIorio, Neil Henning, Ted Pamperin, Wayne Shortman

Work

Tonight started with a Lowes run.  Since the Clifton Home Depot seems to have been carrying the worst potato chip shaped plywood I have seen in years Lowes was tonight’s supplier!  I picked up a ½” sheet and a ¾” sheet.  Neil, Wayne, Tom and I cut up that plywood into usable strips.  We also cut up some Homasote.  With the plywood now in the basement it came time to build the valance over 28th Street.  Neil started on putting ties down on 27th Street getting ready for the next Phil session.  Ted DiIorio, Ted Pamperin, Tom Callan and Wayne worked on getting the Valance put up tonight.  Also cut tonight was the plywood cuts to replace the sections of the layout in the mechanical room.   This should be done fairly soon!  Until next session!

August 12th, 2009

Phil Monat, Ted Pamperin, Wayne Shortman

Work

Tonight Phil came over and continued to work on 27th Street.  There was much progress tonight.  Phil finished the double cross over portion and started work on the double slip.  Wayne came over and ran the cleaning train over the High Line and 30th Street Yard.  Ted Pamperin and installed the florescent lighting fixture inside of St. John’s Park Terminal’s mock up.  I installed more florescent lighting in the Active staging yard and distributed the waybills for Friday’s operating session.  There is just a little more cleaning up to do and I’m ready for Friday.

August 9th, 2009

Work

I spent a couple of hours today working on the Valance system for the railroad.  I got the railroad room vacuumed and I move the saws out of the model space and I’m getting ready for Friday’s operating session.

August 6th, 2009

Tom Callan, Neil Henning, Ted Pamperin, Phil Monat, Wayne Shortman

Work

Tonight Phil came over and continued to work on the Lehigh Valley’s No. 4 double cross double split turnout.    Phil made great progress on the turnouts tonight.  The rest of the crew helped me cut up a 4’ x 8’ sheet of ½” plywood into 2 ½” strips to start construction on the valance system.  We got the sheet cut up and Tom, Ted and I worked on building the first portions of the valance.  Wayne started staining the new ties I had put down at 28th Street last week.  Neil helped Phil at 27th Street by spiking down the rest of the tracks off of the turnouts Phil is working on.  It was a great night and we had a blast.

July 31th, 2009

Work

I worked on a photo realistic street printout.  It’s printed on satin paper and It will need some more work but I think it will work just fine. 

July 29th, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Tom Callan, Ted DiIorio, Ralph Heiss Neil Henning, Wayne Shortman

Work

Tonight we got a ton of work done.  Neil was able to connect the two new turnouts I built over the past two weeks at 27th Street.  Wayne, Tom and I cut up some new Masonite to allow us to build the mock up for the St. John’s Park Terminal building.  Craig and Tom got the construction completed tonight.  No the next issue is how to light it and Terminal Stores.  Ralph and Ted worked on putting down the sub surface for the cobble stone streets and sidewalks.  It was a great work night.  Thanks guys!  My next deadline is my next operating session which is on August 14!

July 27th, 2009

Work

Tonight I finished up the single cross over going on to the Lehigh Valley’s 27th Street Yard.  I also had to replace some of the ties to match up better with the previously places double cross over.  With some help from my wife Janice I put down some blue painters tape to show that sidewalks on the 28th Street portion of the layout.  Hopefully we will start putting down Masonite to bring the street up to rail height.

July 24th, 2009

Phil Monat

Work

Phil and I worked on the layout tonight.  Phil continued to work on the double crossover double slip switch.  I completed the work started by Craig last Friday night and I replaced all of the flex track sections on 28th Street. This was a project to lengthen the sidings on the west side of the yard.  I broke off one of bumpers and put some more tries done to re install the bumper.  I like the look of it and I may just do it to the rest of them!  We had a productive night!

July 22nd, 2009

Work

Tonight I need to complete the double crossover for the Lehigh Valley for the Phil Monat work session on Thursday.  So I spent the night finishing the turnout.  I took a couple of hours but it is done!

July 17th, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Ted DiIorio, Ralph Hiess

Work

It’s Beer night at the New York Harbor Railroad.  I had a rough day and I started drinking a few beers (9).  So I did not get much work done but a good time was had by all.  I did work on my double cross over for the Lehigh Valley’s 27th Street Yard.  A few more beers and it was a fun night.  We did get work done and most of it good!  I need to blow off some steam and step away from the Layout!

July 16, 2009

Tom Callan, Jonathan Jones, Phil Monat, Tom Schwinn

Work

Tonight’s session went well.  Phil Monat, Jonathan Jones and Tom Schwinn came down to the layout.  For both Tom and Jonathan this was there first time down to the layout.  Phil began by working on the double cross double slip at the Lehigh Valley’s 27th Street Yard.  I started off the night by removing the Shinohara double cross over and began work on my Fast Tracks double cross over.  Phil once again blew me away at the speed at which he works.  The turnout progressed well and I look forward to having him back and finishing up the rest of the dreaded turnout.   

Jonathan and I worked on putting a mock up of Terminal Stores together.  Jonathan drew a quick set of plans and then we cut them from the available Masonite.   The structure measures 79” on the 28th Street side and 77” at the edge of the bench work, which is about mid building. Terminal Stores mock up is 10.25” tall and 10” wide.  It really completes the scene!  I can’t wait until the styrene shell gets built and is affixed to the mock up.

June 24th, 2009

Work

Work began today on construction of the New High Line Structure.  I began by cutting out sections out of 1/8th inch styrene sheet.   I also made a drawing study as to what I need to do about the four curved sections of the elevated structure.  In looking at the prototype the curves are made up of a series of straight sections.  I decided that a ten degree turn per section would give me the most clearance for the 70 to 80 foot RPO cars that will travel the High Line.  I made a pattern and cut out the pieces.  I then began edge gluing them with MEK and allowed them to set for 2 hours before moving on.  I needed to cut the supports that will be under the styrene decking so I cut out inch wide strips that will be glued at 90 degrees to the decking.  This is when the mosquitoes attacked and I called it a night!

May 20, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Neil Henning, Ted Pamperin, Wayne Shortman

Work

Tonight there is a lot of housekeeping tasks needing to be done.  Starting things off there was a broken Blue Point turnout that needed to be replaced.  The Achilles heel of the Blue Point is the cross piece that actually throws the switch.  It is made out of plastic and it an operator pushes too hard the tab breaks.  Craig and Wayne effected repairs on the switch by replacing it with a new one.  Neil spent part of the night repairing cars that took a plunge off the High Line.  Neil also found a problem on the approach to 30th Street Yard.  There was a guard rail that was too tight.  Neil was able to fix it now everything is ok. Ted and I spent most of the night discussing that revamping of 30th Street yard.  We came up with an interesting plan and I hope to get some feedback.

I spent the past couple of weeks reworking a turnout just outside of Terminal Stores.  Jerry Dziedzic had found a flaw that had escaped everyone had missed and I spent a few hours on the issue and that problem is now fixed.  Now every locomotive makes it in to Terminal Stores! 

The next operating session is June 5th!

April 29, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Tom Callan, Scott Dunlap, Neil Henning, Ray Louis, Ted Pamperin, Wayne Shortman

Work

DCC Night!
Tonight Ray Louis and Craig installed SoundTraxx decoders in three locomotives.  Added to the fleet is Erie 304, which is an Alco HH-660 (Atlas) and is sporting a new Micro Tsunami decoder.  Also added to the fleet where a pair of New York Central Alco RS-1s sporting Atlas form factor Tsunami decoders as well.  They sound great!  Craig also brought down a B-11 New York Central 0-6-0 switcher fitted with a SoundTraxx DSD sound decoder.  Craig also brought down a New York Central EMD SW-1 for work at St. John’s Park Terminal.
It was also car shopping night since I acquired a ton of new rolling stock.  Five New York Central Pacemaker box cars where add to the fleet tonight.  Ralph Heiss found a 1947 New York Central freight schedule that shows a Pacemaker terminating at 30th Street yard at 7:00 AM during the operating sessions parameters.   Neil and Ted Pamperin worked on the cars most of the night. 
Tom and Wayne ran the cleaning ops for tonight.  With the operating session on May 1st the railroad needed the work. 

March 18, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Tom Callan, Ted DiIorio, Ted Pamperin

Work

Tonight we broke out the table saw and cut new fascia for the High Line.  I had spent a week building and installing the new double cross over for the High Line.  I got it put in last night (Tuesday night) and Craig and I put in the actuators.  Ted DiIorio and I put in the wooden sleeves and it’s all done.  Tom and Ted built the sub structure that will hold up the National Reefer and Nabisco 2 sidings.  This caused me to make a run to Home Depot to pick up a heavy duty hinge.  At the end of the night High Line is operational again and I’m on step closer to finishing the track work for the High Line.  April 3rd is the Next Op Session!

February 25, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Tom Callan, Ted DiIorio, Neil Henning, Ted Pamperin, Wayne Shortman

Work

Tonight was shop the cars night.  The crew and I went on a mission to eradicate all non Kadee couplers on the layout.  We successfully went through the car fleet and replaced all of the Accumate, EZ Mate and McHenry couplers with Kadee number five whisker type couplers.  Craig, Tom, Wayne, Ted DiIorio and Ted Pamperin hit every car.  I also gave out a couple of kits for the guys to take home and build for me for the Operating session next Friday.  Neil came over the 29th Street Freight House that he has been working on for me.  He did a fantastic job with less than perfect instructions and plans.  Neil is a great modeler that can make anything look great.  Thanks to everyone that came over tonight.  I feel that the layout is closer to being ready for primetime.

February 22, 2009

Work

This weekend I got a little work done on the railroad.  I started by putting together about six car kits and putting Kadee #5 couplers on three more RPOs.  I also got a chance to get to the local Wal-Mart and pick up a new T-8 compliant florescent lighting fixture for the 30th Street Yard area.  I did some work on 28th Street as well.  I replaced the screws on one of the Blue Points that would not tighten down.  I also painted all of the actuators based on which side of the yard they controlled.  Yellow for West and Black for East is the new scheme.  I need to pick up some dry transfer numbers to letter an ATSF flat car and the new data only stock car that Ralph picked up for me a couple of weeks ago.  It’s just a little less than two week to the next and last shakedown (until the 27th yard comes online) and just a few days away from my next work session.  Until Wednesday the 25th!

February 17, 2009

Work

Tonight I got a little work done on the railroad.  Ted Pamperin had asked if I could power the Programming track so it could be used during an operating session.  I had picked up a double pull double throw toggle during the weekend and tonight I wired it in.  Now with a flip of a toggle powered track or programming track.  I have been meaning to do this for some time so I finally got around to it.  I also added three more cars to the fleet as stand in cars, until I can get more age appropriate cars. 

February 16, 2009

Work

This weekend I was part of the Model Rail Cast pod show (#51).  I had a blast as always.  Today I had a day off from work today so I did a little work on the layout.  I made a quick trip to the Model Railroad Post Office hobby shop and picked up some #5 couplers and some Kadee taglo trucks for my centerline cleaning car.  I also picked up a double pull double throw toggle to switch from programming track to standard power for Team Track four at 30th Street Yard.  I kept it simple tonight and installed the Kadee trucks on the centerline car and ran the cleaning train with an alcohol mixture instead of the “Goo Gone” to clean the High Line and the 28th Street ladder.  I also cut and fitted that bench work that will support that Nabisco and Merchants sidings.  This has to be a removable section so it is being made of Gator Board.   So far so good, I need to print out the building foot prints so I can cut the next section that will be elevated off the bench work and support the sidings.

February 11, 2009

Ted DiIorio, Neil Henning, Ray Louis, Ted Pamperin

Work

It was a great work session tonight.  Ted DiIorio, Neil Henning, Ray Louis and I inspected and corrected every turnout on the High Line. It should see much improved service during the upcoming March 6th Operating Session.  Neil and Ted DiIorio also work the rest of the night on 28th Street.  The major issues with the three way turnout and double diamonds that plagued the February 6th Operating Session was address and repaired.  Ted Pamperin worked on correcting the major short falls of 30th Street yard.  Most of the problems where repaired and the most difficult task was replacing the PC throw bar for the Yard Lead.  It required that the Tortoise switch machine be reseated and a new throw wire installed.  After about twenty minutes of me trying to get the job done Ted took over and expertly installed the switch machine.  At the end of the evening 30th Street, 28th Street and the High Line returned to fully operational status.   Next session will be car re-shopping!  All of the cars need to be checked for weight, couplers (Kadee #5 only on my pike), metal wheel sets and wheel gauge.  A real big thank you to the crew tonight for hammering these bugs out. 

February 2, 2009

Neil Henning

Work

Tonight Neil and I attacked a few annoying issues on the railroad.  At the top of the list was the enormous frog Craig had built on the Morgan Post Office curved turnout.  The frog is nearly 3 inches long making impassable by any of the locomotives in the fleet.  Neil and I installed a micro switch in the caboose ground throw to deal with this issue.  It’s ugly but it will have to do until the Post Office and the 30th Street portion of the High Line is rebuilt.  Next on the hit list was the water damage to 30th Street yard that got a whole lot worst.  I had to decouple to layout section and manhandle them into a better alignment.  This is a temporary solution that will be address when the High Line over 30th Street is rebuilt and full access to 30th Street will allow a permanent repair to be done.  This past weekend I picked up a large section of ¾ inch Gator Board from Ted Pamperin.  Neil and I cut some in to platforms for the High Line Meat Plants and the Nabisco siding.  They look great and more important the High Line stations are now completely defined.   Neil also helped me install a backdrop on the lift section.  After Neil left I spent a sometime getting all of the remaining unstained ties stained.  I really close to getting the ballasting started!  Until next time!

January 29, 2009

Tom Callan, Neil Henning

Work

Tonight’s work session was a basic run the railroad and find the bugs run.  Tom Callan and Neil Henning went over the High Line and 28th Street, again.  We found and fixed a few more issues and the layout should be ready for the 6th.  Neil and I put in a locator pin and tabs for the car float at 28th Street.  This should make mating the float to the bridge easier.  I built three more of the Springfield reefers and Neil took the last three cars home to put together.  Neil and I also put in the last of the actuator covers so now no one should get sliced up working the layout. 

January 28, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Ted DiIorio, Neil Henning, Ted Pamperin

Work

Well this is the last work session before the shake down on February 6th!  I started off the evening by putting together a couple of cars that I picked up at the Springfield train show.  I picked up sixteen new cars thirteen of them being refrigerated cars.  I got one done and most of a second when Ted Pamperin came down and we attacked the cars on the High Line and the High Line itself.  It turnouts most of the issues we came across where tight trucks and I replaced the frames on two more CB&T cars with Central Valley frames and two more cars recovered!  Neil started working on getting the Morgan Post Office turnout up to snuff.  Ted DiIorio came by and started working on checking the trucks on the cars in active staging.  Craig stopped by latter in the session and took over the Post Office switch from Neil.  Neil started running the High Line looking for trouble.  Ted Pamperin and I spent most of the night fixing cars and track issues at 28th Street.  At the end of the night, the Post Office switch is sort of repaired with track one being operational but it look like it will need much more work and including a micro switch for the massive frog Craig built.  Not a big issue since the High Line will be replaced with a much more realistic looking structure.  Another great night and good work from the crew.

January 22, 2009

Work

With the Springfield train show coming up this weekend I decided to do a little work on the layout tonight.  I started off the night by wiring in the two approach turnouts to Terminal Stores.  This would be the turnout that is located on the pier and the wye turnout that selects the New York Central or Erie tracks from Terminal Stores.  I then began cleaning the turnouts at 28th Street when I noticed that there was a break on the three way turnout.  It just needed a little soldering and it was all fixed.  While running the rails I notice that the Erie 308 locomotive continued to derail just east of the wye.  I installed a guard rail and that problem was solved.  I then started checking out the High Line and I have always been unhappy with one curved section.  Well out it went and the new curve is wider and smoother as well.  My new cleaning car now traverses it without derailing!  Next on tonight’s agenda was covering up the very sharp ends of the turnout actuators.  I cut up some of the older wooden dowels that I had used as the actuators into one and a quarter sections then drilled out one of the end.  A little Gorilla glue and now I should not cut myself on them.  I need to do thirty four more and I’m done.  I also bought at Home Depot some hardware to lock up and lock down the lift bridge.  I think it came out well.  Well I need to spend some time on clean up.  It’s off to Springfield on Saturday and then on Wednesday the 28th it's a work session.

January 14, 2009

Craig Bisgeier, Ted DiIorio, Neil Henning, Ted Pamperin

Work

It was a big night on the railroad tonight.  Ted Pamperin came down and worked on the turnouts on the High Line coming out of staging by the Post Office and he was able to put in the rest of the Caboose ground throws.  There is still some work that needs to be done on the main lead switch but it’s pretty much done.  Neil and Ted DiIorio worked on putting in the rest of the High Line and except for one (which needed fascia) they finished off all of the High Line turnouts.  Great work guys.  Craig came down and put in most of the remaining power drops for the High Line.  There is one industrial siding left to be built for the High Line, Nabisco 2 and National Refrigerator,  which where across the street from the High Line.  The turnouts are in I just need to build the module for them.  I spent the night putting in ties on all the new turnouts and looking for parts for the guys tonight.  With tonight’s work the High Line is nearly ready for a shake down.  I will tie in all the new drops tomorrow night then start running the daylights out of it.  That’s all the news for tonight’s work session.  Next work session January 28th at 7:30 PM.  I will be at the Springfield train show the weekend of the 24th looking for cars for the layout. 

January 6, 2009

Work

I spent tonight working on the Railroad.  I started off by tracing out the wiring of the double cross over at Terminal Stores.  I had a few repairs to make since it seems someone was a little heavy handed last time under that section of the layout.  I was able to trace all of the leads and then able to transfer that to the first double cross over on the High Line.  It worked perfectly.  I then began adding actuators to all of the completed turnouts on the High Line behind 28th Street.  I got everything done up to the curve.  I also started putting ties under the new turnouts we put in on Sunday.  I’m getting closer to a working High Line and the next Operating Session on February 6th.  I’m hoping for some warmer weather to cut some more fascias for the High Line.  I also need to make a run to the Model Railroad Post Office on Friday to pick up more Blue Points to finish installing them on the High Line. 

January 4, 2009

Work

Happy New Year!  This was the first work session of 2009.  Jay Held came down today and got to work on lifting up one of the crossovers on the High Line so I can cut in the slot for the Blue Point switch machines.  Craig came down and I appreciated him coming over even when he was under the weather.   I had a senior moment when I had instructed Craig to put in a new cross over on the High Line in the wrong spot.  Once I realized what I had done Craig fixed it up for me and was also able to put in a double cross over in as well.  I put in an additional cross over on the High Line as well by the Morgan Post Office.  Tom Callan came down as well and he was able to put in the power feeders for the rest of St. John’s Park Terminal.  Neil Henning put in all of my remaining Blue Points on High Line.  Turns out I need at least three more Blue Points.  Tom and I ran the remainder of Cab Buss cable that I had and we were able to put in three more UTP panels.  Last but not least Tom, Craig and I put in the new RB02 wireless base station.  So now the railroad is truly Radio Equipped!  I will be spending some time before the next work session wiring up all of the installed Blue Points.  Until January 14th and the next work session.