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.
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- Category: Engineering Blog
Not a lot to report this quarter, unfortunately. As the image says, time to Re-Focus!
January saw another instance of water in the basement. This time only a half inch. Came up through the sump well. Whether a half inch or a foot, it takes the same amount of time to clean up, which includes bleach-mopping the entire floor.
I did get all of the benchwork built for a replacement helix to get from downtown Lewistown to the Milroy Secondary -- a.k.a. the Kishacoquillas Helix.
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- Category: Engineering Blog
This quarter was exciting for the division. Two open houses were held -- One in October for the NMRA MER regional convention, the second for The Model Railroad Open House in November.
Final grading (scenery) has been completed for half of the Lewistown Junction main line area -- specifically the stretch from Roundhouse Road crossing to the yardmaster's office. Roundhouse Road was modeled as a dirt road on the recommendation of a descendent of the local farm owner who recalls it was not tarred and chipped until the 1960s.
A first op session -- more of a "run" session -- was held on December 9th. John Frantz, Tom Jacobs, and Tedd Pounds put the Milroy Secondary through its paces and left a punch list for me to address.
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- Category: Engineering Blog
Perhaps unfairly, I didn't warn my constituents that The Belleville Epiphany was going to have a sequel...
The helix removal and nolix replacement will facilitate a design change for the Pennsylvania Midland, which interchanges with the Milroy Secondary at Reedsville.
I've updated the backstory of the Pennsylvania Midland, adjusting the route of the southern end of the bridge line. It now goes directly to Cumberland rather than Hancock.
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- Category: Engineering Blog
I'm pretty good with spatial relations and designing things in my head. Despite building a 24x32 railroad with a four track main line and yards terminating on corners, I haven't used CAD and everything has worked out just fine.
There's a helix on the Milroy Secondary (behind Milroy on the upper level) and I had planned to use the airspace above it to represent Belleville, on my fictitious Pennsylvania Midland Railroad (which, in my world, took over the Kishacoquillas Valley Railroad).
The space directly above the helix had to be kept clear, but I had allowed 10 inches on two sides of the helix for Belleville, and much more on a third side. But when it came time to design, I just couldn't come up with something that met my needs. And then it happened...
The Belleville Epiphany!
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- Category: Public Relations Blog
On December 9th I had three over to put the Milroy Secondary to a stress test. We ran for a few hours and documented a few spots to work on.
Above, Tom Jacobs is asking about how I established the heights of the levels.
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- Category: Public Relations Blog
The PRR Middle Division in HO scale held an open house on November 19, 2017, in support of National Model Railroad Month.
Above, Dave Wartell (left) and James Mattern relax waiting for trains to pass at Lewistown.
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- Category: Mechanical Department Blog
Equipment acquired from Paul Backenstose.
The PRR Middle Division in HO Scale has substantially increased its equipment roster through the month of October.
Over the years, the railroad has accumulated Pennsy locomotives and rolling stock as it has been produced, as well as limited run foreign road equipment. With operations now on the horizon, it was time to beef up the interchange roster.
I went to the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium on October 7th, knowing that Ken McCorry was selling off much of his 1950s equipment. I acquired eight freight cars from Ken.
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- Category: Public Relations Blog
The PRR Middle Division in HO Scale will open its doors to the public on Sunday, November 19th, from noon through 4 p.m.
This open house is in conjunction with The Model Railroad Open House, which organizes model railroad open house events throughout the month of November - National Model Railroading Month. This years schedule includes 180 events across five states.
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- Category: Public Relations Blog
Last night at the banquet for the NMRA MER Regional Convention, I was awarded two NMRA Achievement Program certificates -- Chief Dispatcher and Model Railroad Engineer - Electrical.
These join the Golden Spike and three Achievement Program certificates already earned (Scenery, Author, and Association Volunteer) for a total of five. Seven are required to achieve the mark of Master Model Railroader (MMR).
Progress is well along towards the Model Railroad Engineer - Civil and Master Builder - Cars certificates.
