B&M Operators

As most of you know, there are three locations on Dividing Creek that require extra care–South Portal, Alfrecha and, unremarked until recently, a spot just north of New Haven Jct. These spots mark where  one power system ends and another begins. Dynatrol being what it is, if one power district suffers a short circuit and a locomotive goes across the gap so that half the engine is getting power and the other half is not, the usual result is some smoke and sometimes the shell may experience some meltdown.

At a recent operating session, a train crew (who shall remain unidentified) was working at New Haven Jct. and a short occurred at Dividing Creek. The crew, not realizing a short had occurred, proceeded across the gap and, of course, the engine stopped. After a short interval, the smoke began, and there was a slight melting on part of the shell. No real harm done, a few minutes re-wiring and the locomotive is as good as new. Except for the melted spot. I may or may not replace the shell, the melted spot is hardly noticeable.

To digress, one of the nice things about Dynatrol is that when something like this happens, the wires from the trucks to the receiver are the first to go, hence smoke and melting. But the receiver is protected.

After this incident, several of us had a discussion on possible preventive measures. Carl came up with a solution and presented me with a relay-based circuit to install.

Briefly, I needed three two-color signals to wire into the circuit. Normally, the signal light would be green. However, if the Dividing Creek yard area suffered a short circuit, the relay would trip and the signal would go red. Hopefully, then train crews would know enough not to pass the red signal. Once the short is cleared, the signal returns to green. Fortunately, I did have four very old Walthers two-color signals to use at these spots. The accompanying photos show the new installations.

Thanks, Carl

Don Howd

The other night at Dividing Creek operations, the subject of what to do with cars that, for whatever reason, cannot be spotted. At the smaller stations on Dividing Creek, waybills for cars that need to be spotted after an operating session are usually placed in the rack provided. However, at Catherine Street yard, there may be a larger number of “off-spot” cars.

How to keep track of where they are until they can be spotted?  Ace Cutter came up with a pretty good solution. So, I’ve added two hooks with clips for the waybills for “off-spot” cars. The photos show my solution, based on Ace’s suggestion.

Don Howd

Some of you may have missed this latest project during the last operating session at Dividing Creek.

Long-time model railroaders may remember the “Dollar Car” series in Model Railroader from years ago.

I recently came across an article from the October 1968, yes, that’s 1968, issue of MR.

In the article, the late Jack Work describes how he scratch-builds a rail and tie car modeled after one on the Canadian National.

Well, I’ve had this article for at least since 1968, always intending, someday, to build one for myself. I finally did, except, unlike Jack Work, I started with a Tichy 40′ flat car kit and scratch built the cabin and the rest of the car from styrene. The tie load is removable. Enjoy!!

Don Howd

A few months ago, Bob Pierce asked if I would mind putting together a transfer caboose similar to one that’s been on Dividing Creek for quite awhile. I told him I would and here is where this tale begins.

I did a little research and found that Santa Fe apparently did not have any transfer cabooses. This prompted even more research and then nostalgia kicked in.

The original of this particular transfer caboose was the subject of an article in the August 1959 Model Railroader. The article was based on one built by the Rock Island.

My original model was totally scratch-built from wood and cardstock. It came out pretty well, so I entered it in the model contest at the Northeastern Region convention in White River Jct. VT in October 19, 1974, where it took a Merit Award (minimum of 87.5 points out of 125).

Over the course of time, I decided Dividing Creek could use a transfer caboose, so I built another one. This time, however, instead of scratch-building it, I used an Athearn 40′ flat car kit as a base for the styrene cabin and other details. I also used a Detail Associates All-weather diesel switcher window for the bay window. The railings on the deck are all brass or phosphor bronze wire soldered together.

I was able to obtain an Athearn 50′ flat car kit from Ebay to use a the base for Bob Pierce’s transfer caboose. I figured that a more modern railroad like Bob models would probably use a 50′ car rather than a 40′ one. I also used more yellow and a Kadee see-through steel roof walk for a more modern look.

Unfortunately, our motor vehicle accident on May 13, 2011 intervened, and I only worked on the latest edition of the transfer caboose sporadically. I finally got my act in gear and finished the car and gave it to Bob at the Tuesday operating session on July 5, 2011.

Which brings us down to sharing–part of my enjoyment of the hobby is sharing with friends–whether it is parts that someone might need, or building a model for a friend’s railroad. So, I have built a total of 6 of these transfer cabooses. Two are on Dividing Creek, and the others are on the New England Northern, Atlantic Shoals, Atlantic Coast & Eastern and now Sagebrush & Southwestern.

A few days ago I was doing some research on line. This is always fraught with danger. But I persisted and found out that talc is used a filler in making paper. Talc is so soft that adding it to paper protects machinery from damage.

The Atlantic Shoals serves a large paper mill at St. Andrews. The Dividing Creek serves a talc plant a Gassetts. Cue the light bulb!!.

What if Dividing Creek shipped covered hoppers of talc to St. Andrews?

Almost at the same time I discovered the talc/paper relationship, I was looking at the Bowser web site and found three really cool 70 ton covered hoppers, which I promptly ordered, even though I thought I told myself “No more rolling stock”.

Now Carl and I need to work out the routing so DC can begin talc shipment to the ASR.

Now for the commercial—I think Bowser might be overlooked as  a source of really good, very moderately priced car kits. It took me about an hour to build each of the covered hoppers. They are nicely done, and go together easily. The parts have only a minimal amount of flash and everything fits with no fuss. They make a wide variety of cars–in an equally wide variety of road names. The one exception is caboose kits–they are almost all Pennsy, CR, PC, but there are a few others, such as B&M, Cambria & Indiana, etc. All the cabooses are PRR prototype. They are generally all about $13.95 and best of all–made in USA. Try them, you’ll like them.

Don Howd

A short while ago, Harvey and Bob Sheaff presented me with two more vintage-read:ancient-passenger cars to re-furbish/renovate.

Harvey’s was a Bee-Jay (Walthers) “Pug” Combine. At one time in the dim past, Wathers marketed some of their passenger cars under the “Bee-Jay” brand. They were stamped steel sides and floor, cast underframe, formed plastic roof and cast detail parts. The box shows a retail price of $4.95.

For this car, I painted it New York Central two-tone gray and lettered it with HighBall graphics Delaware & Hudson decals. I also added Walthers cast vapor traps, Walthers diaphragms, Detail Associates handrails, steps and grab irons. A pair of Central Valley 4 wheel passenger trucks and KaDee couplers finished the job.

The second car from Bob Sheaff was and equally ancient Pennline all-plastic baggage car lettered for the New England Midland. I removed the decals and the weights stuck on the bottom. After cleaning and priming, I painted it NYC light and dark gray, after which I lettered it with the HighBall Graphics D&H decals. I had also removed the rudimentary battery box and air tanks. When the car was ready, I added a Bethlehem Car Works battery box, UC brake gear and generator. The car also received Walthers diaphragms, a Tichy brake housing and wheel, Detail Associates stirrup steps and grab irons. KaDee couplers and one ounce of extra weight (A Line) finished the work. I kept the orginial trucks, but up-graded them with Proto 2000 36″ wheel sets.

Once again, I really enjoyed working with the old kits and giving them a new life.

Don Howd

On February 15, 2011, Dividing Creek’s golden spike was hammered home, and the track work is essentially complete. There may come a time in the future when a new siding may be added or other track put in for operational purposes, but for now, I’m declaring the track work finished.

I know that most golden spikes commemorate the joining of main lines, but in Dividing Creek’s case the finishing spike came at the very end of a short industrial siding in Middlebury. When I realized what I had done, just for fun, I painted the spike head with gold gloss paint.

So instead of two locomotives meeting at the golden spike, any ceremony will come when the first revenue car is delivered to that siding.

Most of the buildings are finished, so from now on, scenery will be the number one priority.

Don Howd

Saturday, 1/8/11 was the first operating session of the new year on Dividing Creek, and by all accounts it went pretty well. There were enough operators to go around, although, I did have to handle yardmaster chores at Middlebury.

As we all know, the RailRun gift in 2008 was an apron for operators to wear during operating sessions to hold waybills and any other necessities. I use mine to carry an uncoupling stick, a mini-light and a paper towel for my fingers if necessary. At the Atlantic Shoals, aprons are required for all but yardmasters.

Well, for whatever reason, most operators did not wear an apron at Dividing Creek on the 8th. During the session, I noticed that the waybills ended up getting jammed into trouser pockets, with considerable bending and other wear and tear. Probably my error in not insisting on using them.

For some reason, it didn’t dawn on me that, in addition to being handy to hold the waybills while operating, using our aprons also saved the waybills from unnecessary folding, spindling, bending and mutilation.

No more–operators aprons are required on the Dividing Creek for all train crews. Yardmaster use is optional.

Don Howd