B&M Operators

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