The Big Day is here!

Merry Christmas to all! Wow, Christmas, 2018. What a great day. I remember Christmas as a child. It was always a big deal. I remember one year Christmas fell on Monday. So Sunday night there was a special Christmas Eve church service. I remember when I and my family arrived before the service. Decorations were up in the sanctuary. There were special Christmas lights. The air practically crackled with anticipation. What did this anticipation come from? Sure, kids like me were expecting toys, candy and goodies the next morning. But, still there was something about the atmosphere that was beyond that. It was an almost transcendental electricity. People had worked. Musicians and singers had practiced. Cooks had cooked. People had put stuff on layaway at stores. But here we were. In the middle of a synergy that in spite of hustle and bustle had a Spiritual quality that seemed almost tangible. We had come to a Birthday Celebration of an Individual who came to give us gifts rather than receive them. How could you not be moved by such a day? It was a time to pause and Worship God and Savior. Doing this actually built up the worshiper. Strange but true. So this is how we did Christmas when I was young. Yes, there were large train layouts in toy stores. Animated displays in large department store windows in town. Lights, parades, Santa Claus! It was all good. The most wonderful time of the year. Like in the song. So, here I am, your omscaler, wishing you and all a merry and blessed Christmas.

Winding down and up?

It looks like we're in the final stretch for year 2018. things that are not done yet need to be evaluated for  scheduling in the frenzied next few weeks or put into next year. Speaking of which, now is the time to set goals for 2019. Some people even do this in November. I have done this before but I was so involved with the project that I did not begin this process. However, now is definitely the time. Naturally, goal setting for me includes personal goals as well as where we would like to go with The Omega Scale Railway. As far as what the OSR is going to do, I have that in hand. But, for me goal setting also involves dreaming and imagining where the OSR might go. The future seems unlimited. This is a good feeling to have and I think it is basically realistic. As said before, onward and upward, omscaler

I was right

I was right, there were adjustments to be made. I am referring to the previous post. I stated that the new coupler design was going to need final adjustments. This exercise became even more fun than I at first thought. I discovered that when I fitted the coupler to the car, I needed to adjust the car truck as well. And I needed to adjust the car/track retainer position as well. And I needed to adjust the wheel backplate as well. I also needed to adjust the car center beam as well. And I needed to test fit the coupler a couple of times. Then I needed a personal adjustment. Then I had to adjust my attitude. Then I went and adjusted myself to my relaxing chair to let things settle down. I finally got everything adjusted (I hope!). Yours staying loose, omscaler

The feeling of success

Sometime after midnight, Tuesday morning, November 27^th, a successful coupler test was performed. This phase of the project started with a paper mock-up of a coupler pair about 1/20th scale in size. I closely studied an animation and a diagram of the Janney coupler. I did this hoping to make a prototypical looking Omega Scale coupler. Next I made a simpler flat cardstock mock-up of the same. I began to realize that as I reduced the size of the coupler, the mechanism was going to be difficult to impossible to replicate. When I made a test coupler as near as possible to scale size, my fears indeed came to fruition. There was nothing to do but scramble back to the drawing board. So back to the drawing board I went. Nothing new here. Done it many times. Fortunately, little time was needed to get it right. So now we have the much sought after coupler design. There will be adjustments. That goes with the territory as well. It's all good, omscaler

Being thankful

As I sit here this Thanksgiving Day evening am being thankful. I am not hungry. I am not cold. I am not wet. I am not lonely. I am not poor. I have a place to sleep. Some cannot say these things. As we are in the Holiday, I hope things get better for everyone. Speaking of better, the coupler project is moving forward at a slow pace. I feel it won't be long until results are positive. Nevertheless, this component has to be right. We will keep working. Recently someone asked me to do an article on The Omega Scale Railway. I was pleased someone was interested. As I stated in this article, I have not seen any other 1/384 scale railroad modelers. Actually, not other 1/384 modelers of any sort. Online search efforts have not turned up such. Maybe this will change in the near future. Happy Black Friday, omscaler

An opportunity

That's right, an opportunity not to whine and complain. How about pouting? Pouting seems like it always helps. Well, maybe not. Anyway, in case you the reader is wondering. The critical coupler project is, as I predicted, an uphill battle on a metaphorical mountain railroad. A really steep mountain railroad. We are, as I predicted, running behind. Oh well, what is life without a little drama. Really? Like the man said, “What this country needs is a good five-cent nickel.” Nevertheless, we are gonna' get this right. It's too important. Hope all looking for a great Thanksgiving. I know I will be giving thanks when I get this coupler done. Being thankful, omscaler

Trucking along

Yes, trucking along means I need more trucks, I also need more wheels, I need more floor frames. I need flat cars, hopper cars, gondolas, covered hoppers, cabooses (cabesi, cabeese?), I need more locomotives and track. I need to give the whip a crack? Wow, it seems like the turnout rework was a lot of work. Who knew? Well all this is simply a sign of growth. Plus, the needed repairs on failed components already in service. This is what it's all about. Acting just like a real railroad with a lot of problems. Isn't it great? See you next week, omscaler

It's almost Halloween, am I being haunted?

Yes it's time for spooks, goblins, wraiths and monsters. As I write this, the dread day is fast approaching. I know the readers of this blog will see this after the fact. This will work in the reader's favor. Helping to keep them safe from aforementioned hazards and all. But the question remains, is The Omega Scale Railway haunted? I am beginning to wonder. I have had several occurrences of equipment failure that seemed monstrous in retrospect. Particularly, repairing the damaged places on the rolling stock. Nevertheless, we persist. I wonder if the failure is indicative of an opportunity to learn better construction methods? I have upgraded assembly components for this purpose. As for the previous remark, readers seeing this post after Halloween will realize that the fact they are seeing this after Halloween means that they have survived another year. A cause celebre` no doubt. Presently I have finished the needed repairs and will start on the next project. I will keep doors and windows locked October 31^st and hunker down to wait for the witching hour. (Creeeak...) What was that! Yours trepidatiously, omscaler

Ahh, Fall at last

If you are like me, you are ready for less humidity and more sunshine. The weather is great as I write this. This is the kind of day a locomotive engineer would enjoy. Soon leaves will turn and scenery will be more colorful. And now for a confession. Omscaler finds it hard to stay inside and work on days like this. A hike would be more appropriate. Oh well, it's either too hot or too cold, too dry or too wet. Human nature. I bet this is a good day for a hike on an old railbed. There are a few around. It's all about balance. We shall see. The work on The Omega Scale Railway continues. Albeit with some distraction. Until next week, omscaler

A little music please   

Yes, back in the old days vaudeville performances, at the conclusion the conclusion of an act, the performer might say to the conductor, “Maestro, a little traveling music please”. So now we can travel better to other sections of track, typically called a siding. Whew, the battle wasn't long, but it was intense. You're right, I am being dramatic. But anyway, we got it. As again. Onward and upward, omscaler

Quest for perfection?

Yes, dear readers, you now see omscaler's Achilles heel. “I want what I want.” one man said. Well, maybe it's not that bad. Or maybe it is. What I want is a reliable turnout. What is in place on the Murphysboro module does work, but not up to our usual standards. It now looks like more work is needed to produce the type of better operating turnout that should be the minimum standard. And that my dear reader is exactly what we will do. We do have a working idea and by the time readers catch the next blog post, we will have what we need. So, good luck to all out there who work to improve what they produce. Yours sincerely, omscaler

Captain Applesauce to the rescue

Yes, readers, Captain Applesauce is the name of the Apple Festival mascot. He presides over a number of festival relate activities. From the accounts I saw online, the festival was a great success again. Kudos to the folks in Murphysboro, Illinois. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, as they used to say. The Omega Scale Railway is making very slow progress. Some equipment needed a rework. Fortunately, the upgrade was indeed just that. Improved construction methods are being used or designed. I strongly dislike these delays but as I have related before, they will save time and trouble down the road. I must be diligent for all our sakes. See you next time, omscaler

Looking for a report

As previously mentioned, the big Apple Festival was recently held in Murphysboro, Illinois. I also stated that I would be unable to attend. I had hoped that blog readers would come forward and relate their experience at the festival. So far, no response. I am somewhat surprised. Given that this festival has such a storied history. Oh well, I will try to get some reports for next blog post. As far as The OSR is concerned, upgrades continue. Keeping you posted, omscaler

The Big Event

It's finally here! The big Apple Festival, Murphysboro, Illinois. A very historic family friendly event.

Unfortunately, omscaler was unable to get away. I can hardly wait for the media reports of this event. In the meantime, work on The Omega Scale Railway continues. Once again, slowly but surely. A little side note. Murphysboro back in the day was home to two milling companies. Two competing railroads served each one separately. That is the GM&O worked the one on 1^st Street, now 17^th Street. The IC was on the one by the renovated IC Depot. Now used by the Jackson County S.T.A.R.T., program. It's nice when old historic basically sound structures can be re-purposed. If you are at the Apple Festival make sure you check it out before you leave town. Back to the milling companies. Initially, grain was delivered by boxcars. Grain cars did not come into use until much later. Anyway, what they did was use “grain doors” inside the boxcar door way. These were wood and corrugated cardboard (boxboard back in the day). They came up part way leaving about a two foot gap to the top. The grain chute was place over the grain door and the grain loaded. Upon arrival, the door was crowbarred out and the grain spilled into a lower level augur to be uploaded into the milling storage bin, usually a massive structure. Now you know how the did it. See you next time, omscaler