B&M Operators

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

Some of you may remember a few operating sessions ago on the Dividing Creek that the Middlebury switcher, #23 (Athearn Baldwin S-12), was running erratically to the point where we switched motive power for the evening.

The initial thought was maybe the receiver pots needed adjustment. Well, I never got around to checking them. Truth be told, I am a little hesitant to mess with the receivers, short of re-attaching leads or, in one notable instance, cutting the receiver in half to install it in a Cary/Athearn Alco S-2.

Even so, during this last (1/8/11) Saturday operating session, I acted as Middlebury yardmaster and #23 seemed to be running ok.

Yesterday, looking forward to RailRun in a few weeks, I decided to clean and lube #23. As I was taking the shell off, I found that it seemed to be stuck. Further investigation showed that one of the wire leads from the receiver to the trucks was just about fried to a crisp! No wonder 23′s performance  was less than stellar.

So, in addition to wheel cleaning and lubrication, #23 also received a new set of wire leads from the receiver to the trucks.

Back on the rails, #23 ran nice and smooth. Is model railroading fun or what?

Don Howd

As construction on the Middlebury portion of the Dividing Creek progresses,(OK, sometimes the progress is glacial) I’ve begun to lay track for the second portion of the yard. Of necessity, there will be a short run around to (hopefully) help the crews access the new section. The first order of business was to construct the crossover. The first section of track went in, then the first turnout. It’s going to be out of reach for both a regular ground throw and the Blue Point style as well. So, control of the crossover will be by Tortoise switch machines. I sited both turnouts and drilled the holes for the actuating wire. Next step was to add the tail track from the first turnout. Done! As I was laying track, I also added insulated rail joiners and power leads to the tracks.

Yesterday (11/29/10) I went ahead and connected the power leads to the bus wires. Then turn on the power and attach a test light. Oh no, everything is shorted!!

What now? So, as usual, I started the elimination of possible sources. No luck. After about 15 minutes of this, it dawned on me. At the end of the tail track, I had installed a bumper. Not just any bumper, but a cast metal bumper. Except for cutting one rail ahead of the bumper, I did everything correctly. A couple of seconds with the old Dremel tool and , like magic, the short disappeared.

Next we install the Tortoises.

Don Howd

One last note on the Hobbyline (English) combine. I had intended to add stirrup type steps on the baggage end, but noticed that there were already passenger type steps there. After some careful thought (about 3 seconds), I decided to leave the frame as is.

Some research revealed that both the Reading and the Jersey Central did have similar combination cars, with the extra window and passenger type steps on the baggage end. The big difference is that those cars also had a passenger type door on the baggage end.

Don Howd

With five days to spare before the operating session at Essex & Lakeside, I’ve finished the renovation of the Hobbyline combine.

It was not without some glitches. The two-tone gray NYC scheme calls for stripes above and below the windows and I opted for 3″ stripes. I thought that one or two inch stripes might not show up as well. However, using 3″ stripes did not leave a lot of room on the letter board. Add to that the 1950s somewhat oversized rivets and there’s even less room. So, searching through my supply of decals, I couldn’t find a suitable size in white Railroad Roman or Gothic. I did find Gothic in silver and a size that would just fit. Biting the bullet, I went for the silver and it (if I may say so) turned out to look pretty good.

After the decaling was done, I added clear styrene for the windows and prism glass for the restrooms. Putting the shell on the frame completed the renovation.

First revenue trip (with his permission) will be at Harvey’s Essex & Lakeside on Novermber 16.

While I was doing the project, I did a little research and found the metal combine was probably marketed by John English circa 1953 for $2.95. The coach, I believe has the same ancestry. Somewhere along the line, English changed their name (or was sold to) Hobbyline and in 1955 cost $3.95. I found this information at a neat website called hoseekers.net. They have a ton of information, including kit instructions, plans, catalogs, etc.

This project was a lot of fun and I hope you all enjoyed the series as I described it.

Don Howd