Another one for the history books

Saturday morning at about 9:47 A.m., the last of four refrigerator cars was complete. This project marks another landmark effort for The Omega Scale Railway. This important railcar type brings closer the last of the types planned for The Very Small Railroad. Point of fact, only the stock car and the tank car types remain. However, the two gondolas and flat cars need a serious upgrade. Altogether, this shows how much there is yet to do here on the OSR. Currently, omscaler is laying out patterns for additional modules. One is planned to be Alto Pass, Illinois. The highest point on the entire GM&O. In steam days, helpers were always needed unless a very light train was moving through. Until the next post, omscaler

 

At the fifty-yard line

This post marks the completion of two of the four refrigerator cars that are planned. Since a better roof making method was used, the roof appearance is neater. Stirrup steps look better as well, but continue to be challenging to build. However, omscaler has had one of his “scathingly brilliant” ideas. We will see how this works for the remaining railcars. Pushing toward the goal, omscaler

 

Still creaking forward

As this post is being written, all that is needed to complete the first refrigerator car is six stirrup steps. As readers will note, normally there is a stirrup step at each car corner. Refrigerator cars came with one at each center door as well. Omscaler is using the last technique learned to make these as this will be a stirrup step closer to scale size. Moving toward completion, omscaler

 

Up on the roof, again

As hinted at, omscaler continues working on refrigerator cars. The first car is ready for the roof to be put on. Omscaler actually wishes he were further along, but we do what we can. Some parts that are from the original ten or eleven boxcars may be used. These are specifically the parts from the running gear. If they can be used, this will save time. Until the next blog post, omscaler

 

More refrigerator car work

At this point, all eight car sides appear to be complete. Next in the plan is attaching car sides to the car decks. This will be followed by car ends. The car sides look a little odd. There was a significant problem matching report mark and graphic applique colors to the color of the car side itself. More on that when pics of the cars are available. Omscaler is still advising hot weather safety. Stay cool, omscaler

 

I have said it before...

We are in some kind of heat wave here and working on refrigerator cars is what the doctor ordered, so to speak. When omscaler makes something new he always learns something new. Never fails. In this case, the decision was made to recut the refrigerator car sides. This turned out very well. The hinges that were applied did not look crisp and the laser cut hinge marks look much better. As this is written, the vertical door latches are being made and will be applied. Again to our readers in hot weather, stay cool (and hydrate), omscaler

 

The current roster

This post was thought of because someone had asked about The Omega Scale Railway and the equipment on it. Omscaler has decided that listing the current roster would be convenient for blog readers. Therefore, a list follows.

Locomotives:

# 33, 4-4-0, (American type)

# 45, 0-6-0, (switcher)

# 62, 2-6-0, (Mogul type)

# 2994, 2-8-0, (Consolidation type)

# 2998, 2-8-0, (Consolidation type)

 Cabooses:

#2831, #2835

 Boxcars:

# 4578, M&Stl, obsolete wood sheathed type

#162239, SL-SF, outside braced wood type

Sheet steel, PS-1 type: GM&O #’s 22039, 22045, 22054; ATSF #’s 234047, 234071; L&N # 15628; RI # 146301; SOU # 123376; WP # 220128

Fifty-ton Open Top Hoppers:

GM&O #’s 32018, 60501, 60503, 60504, 60506, 60511, 60517, 60523, 60525, 60529, 60537, 60541

Covered Hoppers:

NC&StL #’s 49202, 49225, 49231; SL-SF 83828

Flatcars:

M&O #’s 11013, 11025

Gondolas:

PM #’s 18948, 18963

Passenger Cars:

M&O # 101 baggage/mail, # 501 coach, # 502 coach, # 608 diner, # 705 sleeping

Note to readers: Three more car types are in the works and we hope to place them in service in the next two months. This is in addition to other OSR projects being worked on.

Your busy omscaler