Blog
This blog is limited to articles; random photos or quick updates are posted to the FaceBook page.
Blog entries from August 2017 and earlier have been migrated from a former site and many of the images are incorrectly linked. These may be repaired over time.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
The Chief Engineer reports much better progress this quarter, especially in the Lewistown Yard. Ballast has been completed between the tracks, on the tracks of the main line arrival/departure yard, and the branch arrival/departure tracks.
In the image above, the four tracks at upper left are the main line tracks. In the distance above center is the main line arrival departure yard. Left to right, then, are 11 classification tracks. They have not been ballasted yet. Then two branch arrival/departure tracks, and finally a thoroughfare track.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
The Chief Engineer reports mixed progress this quarter.
All QC issues with trackwork and turnouts in the Lewistown Yard have been resolved. In one very frustrating scenario, a diverging route was generating constant shorts, with no visible sign of cause. Out of frustration, the rail was removed from the ties and manually replaced. Fixed the issue. Go figure!
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
The Chief Engineer reports substantial progress this quarter.
All QC issues previously reported on the Milroy Secondary have been remediated. The secondary is ready for another QC session.
All switch machines have been installed in the Lewistown Yard and are ready for cabling to be installed. There is one troublesome switch machine and two shorts remaining to be remedied.
- Details
- Category: Public Relations Blog
The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society (PRRT&HS) held its 51st annual meeting May 15-19 in Lancaster, Pa. The event was hosted by the Philadelphia Chapter. Attendance was over four hundred.
The event kicked off on Wednesday evening with several hours of movies. I live too close to warrant a hotel, but too far to warrant the extra trip in, so I did not attend the first night.
The event kicked into full gear on Thursday, with concurrent sessions running from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with breaks for lunch and dinner. There were 24 unique clinics with most presented twice, so it was relatively easy to work out a schedule.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
The PRR Middle Division in HO Scale has finally found a software solution to meet its needs!
Over the years, I've developed three specific needs for computer aided design (CAD) applications. However, each need previously required its own unique software, each with accompanying learning curves.
For my NMRA AP in Civil Engineering, I need to create a drawing of my layout. Heck, I want one regardless of the AP. I've been a registered user of 3rd PlanIt and have tried other free demos as well as open source offerings. I found them all clunky and with a cliff of a learning curve.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
The Chief Engineer recognizes that he has not been timely in his posting of quarterly construction updates.
2018 witnessed two surgeries and irregular work on the railroad. As for Q1 2019, there was no work on the railroad following foot surgery in December. However, work was completed in the car shops.
Q2 will yeild progress in the Lewistown Yard area, as well as cleaning up a few QC issues previously noted on the Milroy Secondary.
Here is the full Report of the Chief Engineer.
- Details
- Category: Public Relations Blog
I just returned from RPM EAST held in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This event is held in odd-numbered years to offset the RPM Valley Forge held in Malvern, Pennsylvania in even-numbered years. This was my first time at the Greensburg event and it did not disappoint. A "shout out" to Eric Hannsman, Don Coulter, and the rest of the crew that put this event together.
There were eight model railroads open for operating sessions on Thursday evening, though I did not arrive until Friday. There were 14 model railroads open on Sunday for open houses; due to time constraints, I did not make it to any of these either. So, that all said...
- Details
- Category: Mechanical Department Blog
The PRR-Pro group, its 32nd project, is building N8 cabin cars. The project began on January 1, 2019.
I am modifying and detailing six Bowser N8 kits. The models feature American Model Builder window glazing, Cal Scale trainphone supports, Precision Scale #31001 generators, xxxx markers, Tichy eye bolts, phosphor bronze wire, Kadee couplers, InterMountain wheel sets, and Mount Vernon Shops decals (of which I facilitated production).
References:
- Details
- Category: Public Relations Blog
A recent thread on the Atlas Forum asked "What model railroads inspired you?" It challenged readers to recollect before responding. Responses were typically in list form, but I'd like to share my list with justification, in no particular order...
Without a doubt, I can point to Bruce Chubb's Sunset Valley Lines as my original inspiration. As a teen, I was glued to the series in Model Railroader. It was my first exposure to the concept of "operations" on a model railroad.
Allen McClellan's Virginian & Ohio is probably on everyone's list. I was late to the party as I was not a Railroad Model Craftsmansubscriber at the time, or perhaps that was when I was at college and my hobby was boxed up. In any case, it was in the late 1980s or even the 1990s that I was enlightened by Allen's work. His "beyond the basement" approach opened up a whole new realm of possibilities.
