Dinner in the Diner

Yep. Another cliche’. However, in spite of this, omscaler is indeed working on the dining car as this post is written. “What’s left?” Readers may ask. Well, I will tell you. After the dining car comes the two coaches. This will see all the walls attached to floors. Then the roofs will be done. While I was on holiday, I took a short side trip to visit “Downtown” Gurley, Alabama. Looks like there used to be a depot. Just one track now. A period firehouse is across the tracks. Also, lots of Victorian houses immediately adjacent. Omscaler hopes all had a great holiday. Until next post, omscaler

 

Looks like I’m floored!

 

Yep. So far, all the floors are custom cut for each passenger car. And, surprise, surprise! Each car excluding the baggage car has glazing. The placement of window supports and internal side doors made it necessary to recess floor areas to allow a correct fit of the floor itself. Omscaler will work on the floor installation to the side walls and then end walls. Roofs coming soon (we hope)! Fitting and placing, omscaler

 

Wheel after wheel

Let’s see, two coaches, eight wheels each, sixteen. One baggage car, eight wheels. One diner, twelve wheels. One sleeper, twelve wheels. That’s a lot of wheels. They all had to be made, naturally. Total: forty-eight. Fortunately, about ten were already in back-stock. Omscaler will take all the breaks available. These are installed on trucks and side frames are done as well. Next should be installing trucks to center beam/coupler units. A working plan is in place for this. Then will come passenger car floor, body and roof assemblies. Omscaler is looking forward to the next steps. Passenger car building bound, omscaler

 

What’s taking so long?

Well, a number of things. As I write this post, I have just returned from a long drive out in the beautiful sunshine on this fine Fall day. Not too productive but very energizing. A stop was made at a train watching spot in the next town over where a very long intermodal and regular freight train was observed. Then after visiting downtown Birmingham, the return home. As far as the passenger cars, center beams are mounted on all five cars. It was determined that fifty-two wheels would be needed with only ten already made. So, the rest were made. Now we need passenger truck side frames. Two of one length and the rest in varying lengths. After this, window mounting. Maybe car floors next? Continuing the good work, omscaler

 

Moving passenger cars along

Before we begin this week's post, let me put in an aside. This past Saturday was the Fall Smokey City Rails Train Show in Helena, Alabama. Omscaler really enjoyed this show. As a point in fact, the last one was not attended. So this may have made the experience more enjoyable. Saw a number of folks that I had not seen in a while. A notable appearance was made by the Redstone Model Railroad Club of Huntsville, Alabama. Their modules were very crisp and well made. The Smokey City folks will have another show in February just to give readers a heads up. As far as the passenger cars go, window inserts have been cut out and are ready to install. Many running gear parts are also ready. Truck sides and wheel attachment are next. We are slowly nearing completion. Still moving along, omscaler

 

Did I say doors?

Yes. We had good progress on passenger car building. Reporting marks. Car numbers. All ready for car side doors. Omscaler was getting ready to take care of business when to his horror, a glaring omission was detected. Not enough room was allowed to make door openings. “How did this happen?”, readers may wonder. Omscaler thinks that due to trying to make cuts for the prototypical number of windows, the allowed room was exceeded. Nothing for it but to go back and redesign the car sides. Make a new set of reporting marks and get it right. So that is what we did. After redoing the work, center beams were cut. And still more to be done, omscaler

 

Doors and floors

 As usual, omscaler has put up another cryptic remark. But don’t worry dear reader. I will explain. So far, last week showed good progress on the passenger car project. Reporting marks (railroad name) and car numbers were applied to each car. Next will be door installation and then putting sides on floors will be done. However, a side journey into running gear building may be done before floors. We shall see, omscaler