Are we there yet?

Don’t you love it when there are kids in the back car seat? This may be Karma. When you were a child, did you keep asking, “Are we there yet?” In a similar vein, I and maybe you keep wondering if we are there yet. We have made a test run and moved the locomotive around the module. Though not in a complete circuit. There are still bugs to work out, but results are promising. Do to numerous circumstances, OSR work was otherwise sparse. This week should see work on the actual drive mechanism as well as more drive link testing. We will get there yet, omscaler

 

Not there yet

Last post omscaler said that a new drive unit was being worked on. This was in addition to a new drive linkage. At this point, neither is working. This is a typical scenario on The Very Small Railroad. You don’t have to love challenges, but it helps. The new linkage is challenging for a number of reasons. The design should be universal. That is it will work with any locomotive on The OSR. Second, it should work well. And last, it should be easy to use. Omscaler thinks he has number one on the drawing board. Then will come building and testing. The second consideration is believed to be in hand as well. Third will have to be used and tested. Still a-buildin’, omscaler

 

The first post of 2026

Happy New Year to all the Omega Scale Railway blog readers. This year is starting out very interesting in a number of ways, but omscaler does not comment regarding public media and news. Just the railroad, ‘maam. Now is a good time to reflect on what got done last year. Four new refrigerator cars come to mind. Also, the new turnout design. Omscaler learned how to make curved track. New tie marking method was done. All in all, a very progressive year. As of the end of 2025, a new drive linkage was being worked on. Also, an actual drive unit was in the works as well. Neither of these made it to the finish line. So, more work to do. Typical on The Very Small Railroad. Hoping for a good year for all of us, omscaler

 

Testing and adjusting

As this post is written, a trial run with a locomotive has been attempted. Somewhat good but not entirely successful. More work was needed. Overall, a working plan is in place. Good to have one. Also, the New Year is fast upon us. Have blog readers finished their goal writing? A goals list is very effective. Good to have one. Back to the OSR. Another thing that will be needed is terrain features and foliage. All new stuff for The Very Small Railroad. But first, we need that shake down process for the drive component. Still adjusting and testing, omscale

 

Curved track work

Last week saw steady progress on the Alto Pass Module. Omscaler had to relearn how to make curved track sections. The initial attempt was done using a Brother Scan n Cut CM-350. This machine has not been used for several years. The last time it was used was for making twin bay hopper car sides. This attempt was not successful. As readers may recall, the hobby laser was used to complete this particular project. On this occasion, several attempts were made to produce the desired track/ballast components. This trial was not successful either. The machine had trouble reading the lines of the drawing to be cut. The lines were drawn using a mechanical pencil. Apparently, a computer file of the appropriate type is needed. Omscaler, not having such, decided that in this case, the machine could not be used for Omega Scale projects. Fortunately, omscaler’s granddaughter was in town for a visit. She is very artistic and omscaler was able to give the machine to her. It now lives in Newnan, Georgia. An all-around win in this Christmas season. The final outcome for cutting curved track/ballast sections involved using the good ‘ol craft knife. Turned out to be simpler, faster and a better appearing result considering what was called for. More specifically, the track sections have ties and rails applied to them using special techniques. Once again, glad for a good outcome, omscaler

 

Three of five

Omscaler has put in three of five total turnouts. Last weekend was slow working due to gift wrapping and great grandson’s second birthday. This week should see all turnouts put in and all straight track installed. Next will be curved sections. As mentioned before, this is a new type of track making so we will see how it goes. Since this module is in the Shawnee Hills area, more scenery building will be called for as well. Anticipating even more fun, omscaler

 

Terrain installed mostly

As of this writing, all terrain except the corner module for the drive is on the modules. One thing that happened was that omscaler ran out of the ground cover he was using. A next day trip to the craft store brought in enough to do the job. The drive mechanism will have to wait until further development, but the sections are ready to put on. To be cautious, omscaler will work on the Mountain Glen turnout and test it before proceeding with the others. New track/ballast sections are needed. This is due to damage to the previously used tracks being removed. However, a lot of track sections are needed anyway. Something new is curved track/ballast sections. As omscaler has said before, “Always something new to learn on The Omega Scale Railway”. Participating in continuous education, omscaler 

 

‘Tis the season for...gremlins?

Well, not really gremlins. Just a large boo boo. Omscaler finished installing all five turnouts on the module. Some adjacent track was installed as well. If finally dawned me that I had seen a problem on the Union City Module. In this case the lower level of the ballast was obscured by the surrounding terrain. On the previous module omscaler went to the trouble of making sloping sides on the ballast sections. Once the adjacent terrain section was put in, it was about the same height as the lower part of the ballast. This made the right of way look a little sunken. Not too bad but still not correct. As stated, some track was put in when I realized the problem. Nothing for it but to remove the track and install terrain sections. Some, maybe most of the track sections were badly damaged. So, at this point, omscaler has back tracked and made terrain sections which will be added before track is laid. Humble and persistent, omscaler

 

Initial success

Omscaler is happy to report that the Mountain Glen turnout is in place and tested well. Next will be the four turnouts at Alto Pass. Still to come are curved track sections. Slow but sure progress. Omscaler hopes that everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Until next post, omscaler

 

Now for the next phase

Omscaler is glad to report that all turnouts are in place. All channels are built as well. The next part will be ballast and track laying. Omscaler has decided to build these parts around the turnouts first. This will allow for adjustments without having to reposition and reglue track sections. The end modules will need curved track. This is something that has never been made on The Omega Scale Railway. As said before, “Always something new on The Very Small Railroad”. Fortunately, omscaler has a working plan. Trying to go around the bend, omscaler

 

Another discovery

As readers recall, last week’s post referred to channel building. As part of that, turnouts should be installed as well. The initial test turnout installation revealed a discrepancy in the sub-surface turnout “chamber” height. At this point omscaler recalled having to build a platform under each turnout which were installed on previous modules. In order to simplify this process, it was decided to raise the height of the turnout chamber and eliminate the need for platform under the turnouts. Doing this called for adjusting the measurements on the dimension diagram sheet. This was done in a slow and meticulous manner. At the writing of this post, turnout building is moving forward. Until next time, omscaler

 

More slow movement

Last week saw definite forward progress, but omscaler was hoping for more. The drive cord has been installed but initial operation revealed the need for more fine tuning. At this point, the idea is that since correct motion was observed to go ahead with completion of sub-surface channel building. Then will come ballasting and track laying. Staying optimistic, omscaler

 

A refreshing mini vacation

Not to make excuses but omscaler spent a couple of days out of town visiting with family. As a result, not as much has been done on the OSR. However, omscaler always feels recharged after an out of town trip. So, this week should see some definite progress on the modules. As a side note, all the relaxation brought forth a new idea for making figures. If this works, a definite improvement in figure making should follow. All omscaler has to do is get prepared and do some testing. Keeping fingers crossed, omscaler

 

Slow freight train?

Last week, The Omega Scale freight train was moving mighty slow. The analogy here is that new module construction crawled to a halt. The problem? Weekend warrior syndrome was encountered after last Saturday’s off trail hike. Knee pain. Doctor trip. Medication. All these saw omscaler not doing any module work until this last Friday or Saturday. As this is being written, relief efforts are working and OSR work is expected to have resumed to near normal velocity. Until the next blog post, omscaler

 

The loop is incomplete

Yes. The loop is incomplete, but to be precise, the lower layers are complete. The top “channel layer” is nearing completion. Also, the drive unit is assembled but not connected. Part of what is needed is an indication of where all turnout throws will be installed. Most of these things should happen relatively soon. Omscaler believes that once the drive unit is installed, it will need to be tested. It will probably need to be modified to work well. Followed by more testing. All this is a common occurrence on The Omega Scale railway. See readers on the next post, omscaler

 

Convergent technology?

Omscaler thinks so. What is in the works as this post is written is a sub-surface drive unit. It is a lot more fun than omscaler ever thought it would be. Being a little sarcastic there. Sorry folks. What happened was that omscaler made a mistake by assembling parts in the wrong order. We continue to learn. Things are moving along correctly now. Still more work to do, naturally. Patiently progressing,

 

The thing about curves

Sometimes they are even. Sometimes they are not. We are trying to make ours even. The details are that the curve sections could form a circle if placed adjacent to each other. Each section is a quarter circle. At this point they are a half circle on each end of the Alto Pass module. Three quarter circle sections have been completed and are in place at each end of the main module. The last section is planned to have a drive mechanism installed. This will be challenging to do but will be worth it in the future. See readers in the next post, omscaler

 

Another Train Show under the belt

This past Saturday was the Coosa Valley Model Railroad Association 2^nd Annual Fall Train Show. Reportedly over one hundred dealers were set up to serve model railroaders. The permanent layout had many scenery improvements. There is still more to be done. It is a very large layout. However, the current work is of a very high quality. The next show will be in April. If readers could not attend this one, perhaps the Spring show? The Alto Pass module continues to be worked on. Until next post, omscaler

 

Layers done

As of this post writing, the base layers all are glued to the sub-layers. To inform readers, the modules are one twelve inch by eighteen inch module along with four six inch by six inch modules. The smaller modules will have curved track on them. This will form a loop of track. Alto Pass has one main track and one passing track and one short passing track. The shortest track was probably a helper “pocket” and short term storage. The next step will be to mark out the track and put in the sub-surface channels. Turnout equipment is needed as well. Just taking one step at a time, omscaler

 

A new discovery

As said before, the new Alto Pass module is underway. As omscaler was researching the GM&O South of Alto Pass, the town of Mountain Glen was noted. Also seen was a stub end turnout. The track appeared short in length. Further map research showed the town of Kaolin. Digging further revealed that historically, the town was the site of a kaolin mine. The information also stated that there was a track to Mountain Glen. This discovery will motivate omscaler to place a turnout and do some pickup of kaolin loaded boxcars originating at the mine. Always more fun on The Omega Scale Railway. Until next post, omscaler