One down and one to go

 Yes. We have just one locomotive and one tender to finish. Just a short while ago, the 0-6-0 shifter was installed on the layout module. We will do a “shake down” to check it out in short order. Initial running though short is promising. The upgrade on this particular locomotive was a little challenging. Fortunately, a modular design was used and that helped shorten the turn around time. Omscaler hopes that the same will hold true for the Mogul. As a point of information for readers, this is the closest to deadline a post has been prepared in a very long time. Late but not tardy, omscaler

 

Springtime!

So glad to be out of the cold. Today’s weather: perfect. Will it continue? Not likely. Anyway, enough about the outside, let’s get to the inside. All but one railcar is upgraded. We had a “surprise” repair to make on a flatcar. We think this was a fluke and will not be repeated. Both locomotives are in the shop for the same upgrades. After that, who knows? Seriously, omscaler has plenty to do here. It is a little hard to pick a direction but it will happen. A work holder was devised to help with the upgrades and will help us going forward. Omscaler is still taking votes on the next car or locomotive type to be built. Please make your voice heard in the comment section. Looking forward, omscaler

 

A stitch in time

 A stitch in time saves time goes the old proverb. I am finding this to be true as I “stitch” the car upgrades. The group I am working on now consists of four boxcars and one flatcar. Our new materials and techniques may be a little extra challenging on this flatcar due to small dimensions. The previous cars that were shopped did include a flatcar as well and this car works okay. However, omscaler had to fiddle with it a little more to get the job done. The covered hopper had to go to the scrap pile and a better design for this type will be made. See I told you this model railroad is challenging. All part of the fun here. Anyway, back to the workshop. Omscaler

 

And then it was seventy...

Yep. After the frozen came the toasty. I live in an odd place. The winters are most foul until it warms up. The summers have heat exceeded only by humidity. However, we at The Very Small Railroad persevere. Mostly due to air-conditioning. Keeps warpage to a minimum. As far as the specific work goes, There have been some interesting developments. We have developed components that let us eliminate about two parts of running gear and are much simpler to make as well as working much better. We have also decided to use a strong center beam on the rolling stock which helps when shoving cars. The improvement also lets us use a simple rod instead of a formed “J-hook” configuration. This saves time, material and effort. Initial trials have been very successful. We are hopeful for success with multiple car testing at this point. This is why we are upgrading all railcars and may do the same for locomotives too. On another train of thought (you thought you would get away without a pun), The Winter Train Show, hosted by Smokey City Rails, was last Friday and Saturday. I was accompanied by my youngest grandson. It was good to see some folks I had not seen for a long time. I have been informed that the April Train Show will take place in Gadsden, Alabama. I hope to see you there. Working the plan, omscaler

 

Brrr outside!

The outside temp is indeed cold. Omscaler is glad to be able to be indoors and work on The Very Small Railroad and this blog. The real railroaders, however, are also the “real snowmen ( or women)”. They work regardless. Tough people. They work with picks and shovels at times to un-ice turnouts. Rails sometimes need clearing from deep snow. The work never ends. That is why omscaler thought about giving them a little time on this blog. Here’s hoping that all the rail workers stay safe and strong. As we continue into the new year here, we have encountered a challenge ourselves. We are experiencing a lot of friction when we try to move multiple cars. Nasty little surprise it is. Happily we have a working plan to overcome this problem. It is what we do. Omscaler hopes to work on simultaneous projects this year in order to try to get more done. We will keep you posted. Omscaler

 

Happy Anniversary!

Yes! Happy Four Year Anniversary! “Whose anniversary is it”? the reader may ask. “Why”, says omscaler,”It’s ours”! This blog is four years young and you dear readers who have come along on this journey have been a big part of the success of this effort. You have my heartfelt thanks. The blog was in fact begun on Valentine’s Day, 2017. Work on The Omega Scale Railway was started Summer of 2015. Building The Very Small Railway has been as rewarding as it has been challenging. The building has indeed been slow and a study in patience but that is how we learn. And learn we have. We started not from the ground up but from the ”sub-surface” up. Even now we need trees and multi-story buildings. The sky is the limit. (Actually the ceiling.) A little Omega Scale humor. It is omscaler’s firm hope that the year 2021 is a landmark year for accomplishments on The Very Small Railroad. We will certainly try out best. Thank you again and working diligently, omscaler

 

Done and almost done?

Yep. The cabooses are finally complete. They were operable as of last post but lacked some of the details omscaler wanted to include to have a higher level of craftsmanship. So, the most challenging of details were indeed added. This effort did cause one particular detail to be added the day after last post. This effort was well worth the extra effort as the cabooses show forth a higher level of realism. Always a worthy goal on The Omega Scale Railway. The cabooses are GM&O numbers 2831 and 2835. Waiting to whistle off, omscaler