Reporting marks

One facet of railway equipment building is assigning and applying a reporting mark to each car, locomotive and caboose. The first planned rebuilt boxcar is SOU, 123376. This is the Southern Railway reporting mark with the car number. Part of the rebuilding was reassigning a new number. The old car was SOU, 23376. omscaler wanted to make the car more realistic and did a little research. The old number was incorrect for the car type series but a similar number was located in a historic roster of the actual equipment. Hence the addition of a one in the first position. The new car will be a Pullman Standard type one, known as PS-1. This car will be the first car identifiable as this type. More are planned as part of the general car upgrade. Moving forward, omscaler

 

Marching toward 2025

Around The Omega Scale Railway, November and December are next year planning months. At this point it looks like the list of goals may be complete, subject to revision. It also looks like there will be plenty to keep omscaler busy in the new year. Also, the actual number of original goals is less due to reaching them in 2024. However, new goals have been added. This past week saw making of more back stock parts. This time it was wheels. Some were already made. The final number desired is two hundred. (Yipes!) A building aid was made to help making the new PS1 type boxcar. This week will see more parts making as well as the boxcar. And what about you, reader? Do you make goals? Omscaler would encourage you to do so if you do not. Staying busy, omscaler

 

Thanksgiving is fast upon us!

Welcome back blog post readers and welcome new post readers. The next group of parts were underway last week. This time it is the “shoe”. A sliding pad that the rail equipment moves around on. Readers may not know it but no wheels actually turn on the railway cars and locomotives. Simplicity is key around here. Somewhere in the “archives” is a picture of a poultry transport car. How appropriate for this time of year. The picture is online and can be found by a search engine. Omscaler would put it on the blog but the size may not fit the blog format well. Anyhow, we hope that all have a great Thanksgiving and see you next post, omscaler

 

A tree makeover?

 

Yes, blog readers. Omscaler was unable to tolerate the deciduous tree in the McCorkle back yard. One thought that was communicated to the public at large was that the tree “looked like a Martian vomited on it”. Nothing for it but to remove the tree and rework it. The rule is, “If you ain’t happy with it now, you ain’t gonna’ be happy with it later.” (This rule can work for marriages as well.) Sadly, somehow this tree slipped by the excruciating quality process Omscaler runs around here. Thankfully the tree has been redone and omscaler is sleeping well once again. Also, last weekend a new phase was started on The Omega Scale Railway. Approximately fifty coupler hooks were made ready for installation. About ten were already made which were joined by about forty more. All were prepped and painted black. More back stock parts of different types are planned. Add to all this is that Eddie has a new set of hand trucks. This is a “reward” from the supervisor for his hard work. Furthermore, the oil barrels were remade too. No slouching around here. See you next post, omscaler

 

Tree one and two

The McCorkle yard is now hosting two very tall trees. Yes. We have a very tall pine and an unidentified tall tree in the backyard. The front steps have shrubs on both sides as well. Omscaler is thinking that the technique needs to be improved for both trees. This improvement effort will probably wait on other projects. These projects include sorely needed parts back stock and older railcar upgrades. It looks like a turnout upgrade is in the works as well. More details next post, omscaler

 

Only God can make a tree

 Once omscaler heard a poem saying, “Only God can make a tree”. Omscaler is sort of wondering if calling on the Divine is in order at this point. Methinks I am being too dramatic. However, the foliage project ran into last weekend with no acceptable results. Some pre-made foliage material was purchased at a well known hobby store. We will see if an installation will be completed as of this post. Until next post, omscaler

 

No oil shortage here

As seen in last post, Eddie was hand jacking a crate. This last post pic shows Eddie still hand jacking a crate but there are five oil drums on the freight house dock now. Four of them are fifty-five-gallon drums and one thirty-five-gallon drum. Also, the really big crate has finally been muscled to the rail car loading dock area. Another thing is that now there is a Steamer trunk out front of the end door. The work just keeps piling up. Currently, omscaler is working on trees and bushes. Hopefully, by the end of this week we will see an example. Until next post, omscaler