NEW PASSENGER TRAIN

Passenger now boarding! American 4-4-0 locomotive, Gulf, Mobile and Northern #33 leads Mobile and Ohio Railroad baggage mail #101, coaches #502 and 501, Dining car #705, and Sleeping car #608.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Done and done for the depot

 


It is expected that as of this post, the Union City, Tennessee, Union Station is complete. Omscaler is very proud to have this historic landmark represented on The Omega Scale Railway. This station will provide for passenger service to have a destination and departures between this town and Murphysboro, Illinois. Now, all that is needed to lay track on the Union City module. Also, to make a circuit, curved track sections are needed. The Very Small Railroad always has plenty to do. As a side note, omscaler enjoyed visiting the Gadsden Train Show this past Saturday. Looking forward to the next one. Still working and planning, omscaler

 

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Roof railing by any other name

As this post is written, all passenger depot walls are installed, and the main roof is now placed. The walls extend above the roof and omscaler is deciding what to call this extended feature. Research indicates that this is called a plain parapet. The reference photo shows some type of tiling running the length of the parapet. This is the current feature being made. After this and chimney installation, the next step should be the Spanish tile porch roof. Omscaler is not sure if this will be done by the time this post is posted. So, omscaler will keep readers posted. Working near the top, omscaler

 

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Walls are up

 All main walls are installed on the new passenger depot. Two measuring errors were discovered. Fortunately, they only required small extension sections. Omscaler felt like he dodged a bullet though. The main roof is prepped and ready to install as well. Further details readers will note is that final vertical attachment of walls still remain to be done. The Spanish tile porch roof is waiting as well. Downspouts will be done after that. We will need a chimney too. It is all about the details. Working and fine tuning, omscaler

 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Trial and error

Yes. Last week saw three methods used to make Spanish roof tiles for the passenger depot. Omscaler is not one hundred percent satisfied with the final decision but we think it is the best for appearance sake. First effort was making tile sections that were one sixteenth inch wide by two and a quarter inches long. This turned out to be very tedious and looked realistic. It was decided that if one eighth wide sections were used and overlapped even more, time could be saved. This result looked realistic as well. However, something seemed amiss. After careful study, the problem was identified. In both cases the appearance seemed too large. A third idea was tried and that is the method that will be used. It involves careful linear cutting at an angle. So now omscaler can move forward with actual usable roof components. This method is also faster and less tedious. Just the break we need. Hanging out on the roof, omscaler

 

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

We are having a groovy time.

As omscaler mentioned last post, we were pressing on. Or more literally, embossing on. We are making wide grooves in terra cotta colored cardstock. Does that mean we are “grooving on”? Not actually that much fun, but the results will be worth it. Readers may wonder what the time frame is for the project. Omscaler wonders a little “hisself”. Last week was unusually active in non-OSR activities. This week is shaping up so far to be more conducive to building. And so we will. Omscaler

 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Thank you Spain

Once again, omscaler has posted an enigmatic caption. This is due to the current structure being built. As readers may recall, it is the Union City, Tennessee, union station. The awning roof is made with Spanish tiles. Omscaler had a choice. To either make a simple roof or be more historically realistic. Omscaler decided to go for it. The tile roof called for learning a new fabrication method. Fortunately, a working plan and the necessary tool were at hand. So far the result is promising but not without drawbacks. We press on. Literally as readers will find out. Until next time, omscaler

 

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Dip, dip, brush, brush?

A non-dipping success. Curious readers may wonder what this is about. Let omscaler explain. Last week we laser cut window frames for both the passenger depot and Hull house. Saturday saw us working on a way to reinforce the frames due to their very light construction. The first trial was dipping them in clear PVA glue. This was problematic. Omscaler decided to revert to the previously used method of using a clear sheet of plastic. Then brushing on a thin film of glue. After this, the window frames were place in the glue. This was followed by brushing on more glue. As a side note, one frame received the above treatment except clear nail polish was used. The fumes from this contributed to the idea to use only glue. Now you, dear readers, have a idea about what goes into making window frames on The Very Small Railroad. Still sticking around, omscaler