April Fools?

Hello again readers! Spring has come in force with just a little coolness still in the air. The latest project completed was a new design for turnouts. Last week was building both a test model and a production model. Last Thursday saw a successful installation on the Union City module at the NC&StL interchange location. Friday saw omscaler fooling around with the idea of making turnout parts on the laser. Omscaler did a test cut on Saturday and was not happy with the results. These turnouts may continue to be made by hand cutting. Happy April Fool’s Day, omscaler

 

 

The current state of The Omega Scale Railway

Omscaler has decided to inform blog readers of the current state of The Omega Scale Railway. The purpose of this is to answer general questions readers may have. For information about how The Omega Scale Railway began, readers will please note the section on the right of the blog, “About The Omega Scale Railway”. The first module built was the Murphysboro, Illinois, module. Salient features here are the GM&O passenger depot, GM&O freight house, the Hull house, a bungalow, two shot gun houses, some chickens and a cow as well as railway tracks along with some trees. Next, we visit the Union City, Tennessee, module. Here we have the Union Station passenger depot and freight house. The depot serves both the GM&O as well as the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railways. Seen here are an interchange track and very small East and West yards. On the railway property are one shifter (switcher), one 2-6-0, Mogul, one 4-4-0, American, two 2-8-0 Consolidations. For passengers we have: one baggage car, one diner, one sleeper and two coaches. Freight cars: nine PS-1 boxcars, one outside braced wood boxcar, two flat cars, two gondolas, ten fifty ton open top hopper cars, four covered hoppers, one lone anachronistic wood sheathed boxcar and two cabooses. And to end our report, three automobiles. Still adding to the adventure, omscaler

 

Reflecting on a big project

 As blog readers are aware, omscaler has completed an extensive project. Specifically, rebuilding nine original boxcars to more realistic PS-1 type. This type is a Pullman Standard design with sheet steel ends and sides. It is distinguished by sheet metal extensions on the lower side edge which cover floor beams. The older boxcars were a very simple construction which was not rugged and as a result did not hold up very well. The original group was ten. One was taken out of service and rebuilt as a Frisco outside braced wood boxcar. Cars one through nine got the PS-1 attributes. Since one was a non-PS-1, this left nine to rebuild with a lone CB&Q boxcar being not rebuilt. Perhaps omscaler will redo it in the future. This project was a landmark effort in several ways besides the PS-1 configuration. The sides and ladders were laser cut. More accurate dimensions were adhered to. A new side frame making method was used. Also, a new stirrup step making method was used. However, some flaws were found. These will hopefully be overcome in future builds. Now, omscaler is taking the next step and moving on to other projects. Moving on down the line, omscaler

 

Only the lonely

This last PS-1 boxcar seems like a lone effort. Probably because it is the last in the planned series. The boxcar should be finished by the middle of this week. Omscaler is a little behind due to a family visit out of town over the weekend. Always good to get back home, though. See you in the next post, omscaler

 

 

The last three

As this post is written, the last three boxcars of the car upgrade project have been started. Omscaler is attempting, as far as possible to work on them together. The railroad name has already had to be reprinted at least twice due to being a little too large to fit between the ladder and the door. Now the application of the reporting marks and road name can be put on the cars. The wall to deck assembly will have to be done one at a time as there is only one assembly platform. This platform supports the car deck so the car sides will be the correct height. The reason for this is that the side floor beam cover gussets protrude downward below the deck. This gives us the correct appearance for the boxcar. As a further note, omscaler is strongly leaning toward redesigning the turnout as the next project. Then, undecided. Omscaler

 

Marching toward completion

As of last week, five of the nine boxcars slated for upgrades have been finished. As this post is being written, a Rock Island boxcar is set up for construction. Hopefully, it will go smoothly. Next will be three GM&O boxcars. Omscaler is considering making these with reporting marks only as this is the home road. However, checking the group of reference photos shows at least the road name as well. What is noted is that the ampersand is some of the pics is the standard font. Not the unusual ampersand seen which resembles a Cyrillic character. Omscaler does not recall any Russians involved with the early railroad. But, you never know. See you next post. Omscaler

 

In and out

As of last week, the picture of the L&N boxcar was taken down and the ATSF boxcar was put up. Seems like progress on The Omega Scale Railway has speeded up a little. At this point, the next ATSF boxcar needs a roof and running gear to be placed into service. Next, omscaler plans a Western Pacific boxcar. Then come Rock Island. GM&O will bring up the rear. Working away, omscaler