tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49464789178909794482024-02-07T23:29:56.983-05:00The Fast Freight Line in N ScaleThe ongoing saga of the transformation of my N scale layout into a more streamlined, operations-oriented model railroad.Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-63789980764708423692022-04-26T15:43:00.004-04:002022-04-26T15:47:58.733-04:00Returning to My RootsGreetings, dear readers. It's been a minute, hasn't it?<br />
<br />
When last we spoke, I was trying desperately to clear my desk of lingering decoder installation projects so I could, in a word, get on with my life.<br />
<br />
Well, getting on with it I have been, and I'm happy to report that once again the whir of tiny gears and the flash of headlights have once again made their way into my sensory sphere.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, I've settled into a wonderful domestic relationship with a wonderful partner with whom we enjoy many mutual amusements. What started out innocently enough as "craft night" at the kitchen table, where we would have our kids over for dinner, then foist various birdhouses to paint or beads to string, or jars to fill with colorful sand etc... has evolved into an nearly full on return to the hobby.<br />
<br />
You see, Rhodana (my lovely soulmate) has discovered the joys of handmade soap. Let me explain.<br />
<br />
For Christmas a few years ago (2018 for those of you keeping a notebook) she received one of those kits you might find at Michaels or Ben Franklin, where you take a blob of meltable soap, melt it, then pour it into molds to make smaller blobs of soap, which can then be hastily wrapped (by me usually) for distribution to those acquaintances and relatives that you don't see until several day AFTER December 25th, so you have time to conjure up something unique and interesting... and conveniently at hand. Well this proved to be a most satisfying endeavor, and so it began.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAwfdB0PyEIK9e_YUmDopSGJTMa3HVXZixLI1G1iAw1TbXCvDIJvPofj_M0RZ2iwAZmSrjoC759klh1hyNV8V1CMrDVIPUk_4s1Ox1fYjC0vlmNWKX-g-LpoJZeYiCLwwzmKLRFy8RvI/s1600/20200109_190224%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAwfdB0PyEIK9e_YUmDopSGJTMa3HVXZixLI1G1iAw1TbXCvDIJvPofj_M0RZ2iwAZmSrjoC759klh1hyNV8V1CMrDVIPUk_4s1Ox1fYjC0vlmNWKX-g-LpoJZeYiCLwwzmKLRFy8RvI/s320/20200109_190224%255B1%255D.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
First she found a website for "<a href="https://soapchallengeclub.com/" target="_blank">The Soap Challenge Club</a>"in which soap makers of every stripe follow a monthly set of parameters and make their own crafty soaps. The entries are then photographically submitted, then the soapers enthusiastically vote for the ones that are the best, after, of course, they've cast a vote for their own first.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXwVNty4-Hvch-6vWBHpXrBJiAdNSFH5ysbzpo44kjJPZNhyphenhyphenF-2U5JLw6lX9STzj1Bfv66zwtkdY79bLsOJyHJh-OzXmhqFvE8Q-aj2iBsvw7maML8X1_I5wPB30WWupBrpM6Edj6QsM/s1600/rhodana-newbie-624x591.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="624" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXwVNty4-Hvch-6vWBHpXrBJiAdNSFH5ysbzpo44kjJPZNhyphenhyphenF-2U5JLw6lX9STzj1Bfv66zwtkdY79bLsOJyHJh-OzXmhqFvE8Q-aj2iBsvw7maML8X1_I5wPB30WWupBrpM6Edj6QsM/s320/rhodana-newbie-624x591.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhodana's First Major Award! Courtesy of Soap Challenge Club</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The result has been many industrious evenings around the kitchen counter watching her now blend together ingredients and whip them together into colorful, wonderfully scented and artfully crafted bars of home made soap. By Thanksgiving of 2019, she had produced a wonderful array of bars, plus shampoos, beard balms, shave soaps, and hand lotions, and set up shop at a local holiday craft show, at which her sales were wildly successful.<br />
<br />
So what does this have to do with me and my trains? Well, if one of us is going to be engaged in a wonderful, creative pursuit, then why not both of us? <br />
<br />
My re-entry also began last Christmas season, about the time I had all but given up on the idea of building a layout anytime before my eligibility for Social Security payments, my dear cousin John showed up at my mother's house with a storage tub that he thought I would know what to do with.<br />
<br />
It turned out to be the N scale trains we used to play with when we were kids back in the 70s. Suddenly, I completely forgot all those quizzical looks I would give to "old" guys at train shows foraging through bins of crusty Lionels and Flyer sets. I thought they were nuts, wasting money on those old broken down toys, mired in ancient technology, all soggy with nostalgia.<br />
<br />
The hook was baited by my cousin, but it was set by what was to be an exercise in morbid curiosity while scanning eBay. I wondered if that one locomotive that I simply had to have back in 1976 was even a thing anymore. I typed in B&O N scale Pacific, and within 10 seconds I was staring at the very locomotive that was the heart of my desire when, during my pre-adolescence I stood glaring at it through the glass at Lloyd's Hobby Shop in Towson. And not just one. There were several available.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUyRY3DfxeKvnt8lRsA5lRZiSy3DcwW6qNLTpsc-ojGzTSH0ZQ_xe5MVY38Fzhx_acTQzh7moNkqi4vaXqIBUXBgNQC4xwONaahzdWQd9ZSWoy4Ssco23Sm7GZP0RXcQljD00okDRhMs/s1600/President+Polk.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="1024" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUyRY3DfxeKvnt8lRsA5lRZiSy3DcwW6qNLTpsc-ojGzTSH0ZQ_xe5MVY38Fzhx_acTQzh7moNkqi4vaXqIBUXBgNQC4xwONaahzdWQd9ZSWoy4Ssco23Sm7GZP0RXcQljD00okDRhMs/s400/President+Polk.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rivarossi 4-6-2, President Polk.</div>
<br />
Ebay being eBay, most of them wanted a princely sum to add this fantastic beast to my fleet. But I knew better. When I was 12, I sure couldn't afford it when it was selling new for $39.99. I sure as h*ck wasn't going to shell out $90 for one now! Then I stumbled across a basket case Rivarossi Pacific. It was black, Santa Fe, I think, but it was available for ridiculously low price.<br />
<br />And so it began. Since that time, and especially with the advent of the COVID pandemic, I found myself with lots of idle time to monkey around with a new project layout. After a couple of fits and starts, I settled on a Hollow Core Door plan of my own design, which featured an upper and lower level consisting of a couple of loops with the idea being to just run trains and have some fun doing it. The very simple track plan involves a double track main line loop on the low line, with both track splitting behind the sky board to form some staging tracks, and a single track line on the upper level. This also splits behind the back drop, as well as diverging to an alternate route on the front of the layout, sort of a branch line.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Over the past two years, I've been steadily adding to it, playing around with scenery, lighting, and of course, vintage rolling stock. I call it my N Scale Hi Rail layout. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The moniker "N Scale Hi Rail" isn't new, I recall my old friend John Craft using the term back when we were building the WMRHS layout, using code 55 rail and trying for a higher level of detail than typically seen in N at the time... He was an S scale modeler, and the "scale" models were differentiated from the familiar American Flyer "toy" trains by designating the latter as "Hi Rail". The comparison works well, in my mind.</span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Hi Railers have different goals and standards, but still fundamentally enjoy the hobby. My goals for this project have moved around a bit, starting with the idea of using old school technology to run old school trains, but that just proved to be impractical. Some of that old crap was genuinely crap. So, the focus now is on the "Hi Rail" vintage trains, cleaned up and in some cases fixed up to work a little better, but keeping for the most part their original appearance and vibe. And different from the purity of the "collector", my goal is not to preserve corpses in formaldehyde in a look-but-do-not-touch mode, but rather to let these old models stretch their legs a bit, running loops for hours on my hollow core door. Still no DCC or fine scale track, still no high-falutin' time table or car cards. Just fun old trains run in circles for the amusement of an old guy fondly recalling the simplicity of youth.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57qhIJQE7cgHDbwIR20zLappVEkPFMso5G-gF1vq2-UXt4kIyba3cEOrz4AZ3W6zrP1cpxmFwtv7jJw48IswBpvhooWs0fn9g5pi7GP950oOeTTD9xI_D3yJRF6n8OkYGzkiyC546iT2_QzzYqBKzzC4ozkZjvxHdh5wyz9Kd5hzOKwoAWcBPk99d/s4032/20211229_225119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57qhIJQE7cgHDbwIR20zLappVEkPFMso5G-gF1vq2-UXt4kIyba3cEOrz4AZ3W6zrP1cpxmFwtv7jJw48IswBpvhooWs0fn9g5pi7GP950oOeTTD9xI_D3yJRF6n8OkYGzkiyC546iT2_QzzYqBKzzC4ozkZjvxHdh5wyz9Kd5hzOKwoAWcBPk99d/s320/20211229_225119.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Timeless Minitrix F7 A-B-B-A set, circa 1967 <br />makes the rounds on the Hi Rail layout</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #e7eaef; font-family: inherit;">I've arranged the scenery around the layout to represent the upper Potomac River valley between Harpers Ferry and Cumberland, Maryland, where the old Baltimore and Ohio followed the river's edge, while the newer Western Maryland straightened out the river bends via a series of magnificent bridges and tunnels. It's one of my favorite places on earth, which should surprise no one who has ever seen any of the model railroads I've built over the last 40 years... If I was Richard Dreyfuss, I would make Stickpile Mountain out of mashed potatoes....</span></p><p><span style="background-color: #e7eaef; font-family: inherit;">Thus, I have set about to collect as many vintage B&O N scale models as I can, ranging from tiny steam switchers to big 2-8-8-2s, from 44 tonners up to E-6's, E-7's and E-8's. Very few of my more recent purchases are less than 40 years old.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalQ2HsOKMX2O8tDDjnUSbTQai6avu9ArO6kCSV3mXd18NHO0qjRHIXtZ88kwqze7MLRblDgdbBQgl8RPX-5Rl1PKoKeXbj4GhlVRjnC1CII5iVsFqbL9Bx3erBrJ7xZvV3tw-9c_QDYB4hzKwyDZrsYbv2c6lwtpH5fHBgjK9PKHOybg_GcgKDuOf/s4032/20210609_230955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalQ2HsOKMX2O8tDDjnUSbTQai6avu9ArO6kCSV3mXd18NHO0qjRHIXtZ88kwqze7MLRblDgdbBQgl8RPX-5Rl1PKoKeXbj4GhlVRjnC1CII5iVsFqbL9Bx3erBrJ7xZvV3tw-9c_QDYB4hzKwyDZrsYbv2c6lwtpH5fHBgjK9PKHOybg_GcgKDuOf/s320/20210609_230955.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bachmann 4-4-0 from the White Box Era</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJhMTssYe3OxSmuvpvC-6YJH1L34-1hweTuk6xBv8BFh4cNEHu_BxzdtWbcw7z7pNR9BMyR6RfB74Z68-y7AWwnYRW8KM9AkImnlL2Qbx0Ckhi6pgIvHYxoZKLQiwj0iQPLgOy6bYQ0I8oeF6mDb48RAzy3sOzxBLXUSSqYQPtZOc_QNKgNUbpE09/s4032/20210703_002538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJhMTssYe3OxSmuvpvC-6YJH1L34-1hweTuk6xBv8BFh4cNEHu_BxzdtWbcw7z7pNR9BMyR6RfB74Z68-y7AWwnYRW8KM9AkImnlL2Qbx0Ckhi6pgIvHYxoZKLQiwj0iQPLgOy6bYQ0I8oeF6mDb48RAzy3sOzxBLXUSSqYQPtZOc_QNKgNUbpE09/s320/20210703_002538.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Con Cor E8, with a bit of custom paint</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>
Meanwhile on the upper loop, I can run some of my more scale models of Western Maryland gear, or more frequently, I run older WM models that were available in the 70s and 80s. But let's face it, with collecting old trains, in for a penny, in a for a pound, eh? I started accumulating all manner of curiosities. Some I remember having when I was a kid, and some I remember WANTING to have, but never quite having the coin to pull it off when I made my living cutting lawns and serving the evening newspaper...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N_5_xfva-RdLB8n701Q0ib_A-L9-26AYvJss50wDNMq9-SXZrrsNTaObcsPleaE3a9mBxSp9RrWDpQqVCBTQ0F0d1PqQqMqjudnj5yyi0ILWblBj9OmDmQuE_Xs8ywQ_17H4RtrEa1Va4THp6pDOa58ROvQCuO_T7mMoY2JJbESK1lmBNqi0Jo2p/s4032/20210708_014806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N_5_xfva-RdLB8n701Q0ib_A-L9-26AYvJss50wDNMq9-SXZrrsNTaObcsPleaE3a9mBxSp9RrWDpQqVCBTQ0F0d1PqQqMqjudnj5yyi0ILWblBj9OmDmQuE_Xs8ywQ_17H4RtrEa1Va4THp6pDOa58ROvQCuO_T7mMoY2JJbESK1lmBNqi0Jo2p/s320/20210708_014806.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing says 1970s model railroading quite like a Bicentennial engine!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>So for the last two years, I've been running old trains, usually after an evening of cleaning, oiling, and otherwise fixing them. And this has become my new passion in the hobby. The simplicity of a DC power pack, the nostalgic roar of those brass gears, and the heady aroma of ozone sparking out of those old 3 pole motors as they speed by has re-awakened my joy with model trains.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a lot to catch up on, and in the coming entries, I'll be sharing more of what I've been up to. If you'd like to follow along, you can visit the Facetoobs, and look for the group "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543086996404531" target="_blank">N Scale Hi Rail</a>" and thumb through the posts I've made, as well as those of some modelers who are similarly afflicted.</div><div><br /></div><div>And just in case you missed it, you'll be glad to know that the Cumberland Station model I completed in 2012 is now installed on a pair of TTrak modules I built, and are ready to go to N Scale Weekend in Altoona this September.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcjHgcue5zbLR4nrehYO_CmcO5per9AwxqplGwCiT-oD7tuGNn9hlwRw8_HAqRQHv_T-TwLmMRMRtycfdvXz1IbGg-h6x8cacABz3xVgoaJuqZbd9HK6J8OowXXEHZQMOfz3NT4I2Dgy2yLEijQtYuiUPC8cCsyCBi3yQeol71Cn0jvhtzRnVxPhh/s1636/20191027_143654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1636" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcjHgcue5zbLR4nrehYO_CmcO5per9AwxqplGwCiT-oD7tuGNn9hlwRw8_HAqRQHv_T-TwLmMRMRtycfdvXz1IbGg-h6x8cacABz3xVgoaJuqZbd9HK6J8OowXXEHZQMOfz3NT4I2Dgy2yLEijQtYuiUPC8cCsyCBi3yQeol71Cn0jvhtzRnVxPhh/s320/20191027_143654.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee's TTrak modular model of Cumberland</td></tr></tbody></table><br />See ya next time!</div><div>Lee<br /><br /></div>Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-59441822664494348532014-04-07T14:23:00.000-04:002015-01-22T14:28:16.665-05:00Work Schedule Update. Decoders, Couplers etc.New Year! It's now January 22, 2015... New update on loco work. Here's the latest.<br />
Finally, everything on the list below is completed. The final shipment should be going out in a couple of days.<br />
<br />
I'll be accepting new work again shortly. I have a couple of warranty jobs I'm working on, so contact me if you have some engines you'd like me to perform surgery on. I have updated my price list, feel free to check it out <a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/loc_akdiesels.php" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me at wm3798@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 530px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Model</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Loco </span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Number</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Decoder</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Received</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Installed</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shipped</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Santa Fe </td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">4-6-4</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">3460</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">Sound</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">4/18/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">7/8/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">7/9/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mikado</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UP</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">M-1</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8/15/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">10/25/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WM</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BL-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">81</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CN-GP</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8/15/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">4/7/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WM</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BL-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">82</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CN-GP</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8/15/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">4/7/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&O FA-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FA-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">4032</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DZ-125</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8/15/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">2/28/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&O FB-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FB-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5016</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DZ-125</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8/15/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">2/9/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&O FA-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FA-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">4019</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DZ-125</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8/15/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">2/15/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&O FB-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FB-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5002</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DZ-125</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8/15/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">2/10/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">WM</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">BL-2</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">81 (FB)</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">DZ125</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">3/13/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">10/20/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">WM</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">BL-2</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">82 (Speed)</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">DZ125</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">3/13/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">11/11/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">11/12/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RS-3</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&M</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1539</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CN-GP</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4/6/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">12/4/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RS-3</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&M</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1539</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CN-GP</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4/6/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">12/4/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SW8</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&M</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">802</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Z-2</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4/6/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">12/4/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PA1</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NH</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">762</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DZ-125</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4/6/2013</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">6/6/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bach 280</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B&M</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2360</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Couplers</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/27/14</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">4/14/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">LifeLike BL2</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">B&M</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">1552</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">CNGP<br />
Couplers </td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">1/27/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">4/7/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Atlas RS3</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">B&M</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">1545</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">CNGP</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">1/27/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">12/4/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Atlas GP7</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">Undec</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">xxx</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">CNGP</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">1/27/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">12/4/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Atlas GP9</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">BayColony</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">1751</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">CNGP</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">1/27/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">12/4/2014</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">12/17/2014</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Atlas GP10</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">Conrail</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">5863</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">CNGP</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">12/1/12</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">6/6/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92">6/7/14</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 25; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 530px;"><tbody>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Kato GP38</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">UP</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">2059</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">M-1</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">6/23/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">1/22/2015</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Atlas GP30</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">Chessie (C&O)</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">3022</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">CNGP</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">6/23/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">1/15/2015</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 14.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">Atlas GP30</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72">Chessie (C&O)</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">3030</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66">CNGP</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74">6/23/14</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81">1/15/2015</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 55.3pt;" valign="top" width="74"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.85pt;" valign="top" width="81"><br /></td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 69.0pt;" valign="top" width="92"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-89263561441811753642013-12-13T21:06:00.002-05:002013-12-13T21:07:46.365-05:00Decoder Work Update 12/13/13I've pushed the last couple of engines across the work bench I can push before I stagger headlong into the Christmas Season. There's family to see, highways to travel, and a million things that are going to be a higher priority than tinkering with little wires and blobs of solder.<br />
<br />
I do have a break from work for about 10 days, so it's possible I might fire off one or two easy ones, but I doubt I'll be able to do that, so I won't promise anything.<br />
<br />
You can check back at the <a href="http://wmrywesternlines.blogspot.com/2013/11/decoder-work-schedule-as-of-11142013.html" target="_blank">November post</a> for updates to the completion/shipping schedule after the first of the year to see how things are shaping up. I'm feeling good about the progress I'm making, especially on some older ones, such as this trio that first came into my life in the fall of 2011.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/DTiLnV5YyaZwZ6yVUITDwECrzDCIRux7X0B3iaIpV8QO=w829-h361-no" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/DTiLnV5YyaZwZ6yVUITDwECrzDCIRux7X0B3iaIpV8QO=w829-h361-no" height="139" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Their owner had requested a fairly complex installation to provide for rotating beacons. After a couple of months, I finally got the small LEDs I needed, then I took them apart to prep the frames, then they sat and sat and sat while I pulled myself through the muck of straightening out my personal life.<br />
<br />
Well, they're done! I had dreaded all the tinkering the beacons would require, but once I got the first one done, the rest of them went pretty easily. So they're in the mail tomorrow morning, heading home to Michigan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CCOMaaMC69I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
So, onward and upward, and into the New Year. I'm looking forward to finishing the remaining handful of engines soon, so I can feel better about accepting a few new ones to work on at a more leisurely pace. I'm also plotting and scheming about developing a new, albeit smaller, layout project. As always, stay tuned. Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel!<br />
<br />Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-24853229149611542492013-11-08T16:02:00.002-05:002013-11-08T16:21:16.224-05:00I'm Still StandingI want to thank everyone who has stayed in touch with me as I've made this transition in my life. By way of a brief update, the layout has been completely dismantled, parts of it are stored in the garage of my new home, part of it have been disbursed to friends and former crew members, and parts of it have, like so much historic railroad equipment, met the torch...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UARPsiUzhGtvvSA7L_ll5LaSDycV48dNRRPDFKIJeu8PPdFM8gzwLc2WUDo8GbH4d7oWaYeoM6-3LovKOPrAv6AGh341MoKCctwOrW_ZlfqSlJuWoA8andNwzeejx_lp7VsbC8z1_-w/w1181-h886-no/End+of+the+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UARPsiUzhGtvvSA7L_ll5LaSDycV48dNRRPDFKIJeu8PPdFM8gzwLc2WUDo8GbH4d7oWaYeoM6-3LovKOPrAv6AGh341MoKCctwOrW_ZlfqSlJuWoA8andNwzeejx_lp7VsbC8z1_-w/w1181-h886-no/End+of+the+Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was quite cathartic to set the old east staging yard alight... It performed admirably when it performed, but it was one of the many engineering nightmares I endured due to my desire to have 10 pounds of railroad in a five pound room.<br />
<br />
On the personal side, I'm doing quite well. My relationships with my kids are stronger than I think they ever were, and most of the rest of the people who care about me are happy that I'm happy in my new domestic arrangement. I think I've found someone quite special, and we are both enjoying life quite fully, as well as each other.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbX91cAhqzSUCnaVLrIt45NxN166-Kt3CqyHMRR51j3vrrdlr9ctMwAQUWlSvthMZZ78esrqmFIwxWz_GB2WafRx8d0Z41vnnEc5DpZWreb-w6p_tuoRIp_QAQvOn_QteatFuUmC7cFg/w1181-h886-no/20130915_182449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbX91cAhqzSUCnaVLrIt45NxN166-Kt3CqyHMRR51j3vrrdlr9ctMwAQUWlSvthMZZ78esrqmFIwxWz_GB2WafRx8d0Z41vnnEc5DpZWreb-w6p_tuoRIp_QAQvOn_QteatFuUmC7cFg/w1181-h886-no/20130915_182449.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For the several people who have sent me your locomotives to work on, I will continue to apologize for the delays in finishing them up and returning them to you. Between work at the ReStore, working on my old house to prepare it for what ever's next, and making sure that I don't miss a sunset, my productive workbench time is quite limited. However, one of the things I'm trying to do is keep all the promises I've made to everyone, and fulfill all my obligations as quickly as I can.<br />
<br />
To that end, I will be using this space to keep everyone posted on the progress of the work, so you will be able to see what I'm working on. I have a spreadsheet of all the projects currently on the hook, as well as those I've completed in the last year which I will be sharing with you. I'll post the information referencing only locomotive types and road names to protect the innocent, (which after all this time certainly is NOT me!!).<br />
<br />
Again, thanks for all your feedback on the column in N Scale, which will be continuing, as well as the support you've shown to me generally. I'll have the spreadsheet available shortly.<br />
<br />
<br />Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-83064328440817651852013-02-11T16:49:00.000-05:002013-02-11T17:24:17.707-05:00Beginning of the End, and a New Beginning.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQl-iX3OOSYFlRgZTpxdzF6z7XvQWz70kUdX8vJ7BWS3oMShrGwp7oHql6obZyCvoMoqLtxHlSmg6z4cgkND8ZJBlG-s7QoV7bhEL2ZBsujM6AcQGp3YzK1D-REV6dgklk68Qb1NBifM/s667/Last+Train+(50).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQl-iX3OOSYFlRgZTpxdzF6z7XvQWz70kUdX8vJ7BWS3oMShrGwp7oHql6obZyCvoMoqLtxHlSmg6z4cgkND8ZJBlG-s7QoV7bhEL2ZBsujM6AcQGp3YzK1D-REV6dgklk68Qb1NBifM/s400/Last+Train+(50).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last train on the Thomas Sub crosses the Cumberland Narrows at Hinshaw.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Starting on Saturday, February 9, I began the process of dismantling the Western Maryland Western lines N scale layout. I spent a few hours running two extras to clear all the rolling stock from the outer reaches of the railroad. The first was a move up to Elkins Yard, where a couple of dozen hoppers were left. These would be brought down the hill in two sections, with stops in Thomas and Luke to clear a few cars from those locations as well.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmutXbXBvkUw906tVf0jM7VjzGVo1jttJPKVCwLMskK0SNFWTjEaEwMJacwoo1B5f06nwusUvUPF3FGNbIrIJ4CIKc-EtRMNIuPEJBlmJibJMfQyrMtOXKEFqsSE4YtV-aeluw96XZvY/s667/Last+Train+(29).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmutXbXBvkUw906tVf0jM7VjzGVo1jttJPKVCwLMskK0SNFWTjEaEwMJacwoo1B5f06nwusUvUPF3FGNbIrIJ4CIKc-EtRMNIuPEJBlmJibJMfQyrMtOXKEFqsSE4YtV-aeluw96XZvY/s400/Last+Train+(29).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GP35 3580 ties up to a cut of hoppers in the first section of the last train from Elkins to Ridgeley.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQYb1zOPB9DoaX22bC5GlBP7B7NfUm4sGLXXjErEk2XDh9m4q5z7ZJsV85APlngx-vnJwd_nIlRE80d3ZpIW1u_Vpaq46VtS03kkkAQWr7oEpIhz897rMl5onZmqS5YxxlNTClOMIMww/s667/Last+Train+(34).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQYb1zOPB9DoaX22bC5GlBP7B7NfUm4sGLXXjErEk2XDh9m4q5z7ZJsV85APlngx-vnJwd_nIlRE80d3ZpIW1u_Vpaq46VtS03kkkAQWr7oEpIhz897rMl5onZmqS5YxxlNTClOMIMww/s400/Last+Train+(34).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGcVahBUo2XhtHr9obpzP5X0giBh9MX2PHQx6ZZTNwqViPFcauHDta6BavjhF5-tq_d7ygQFmsvlqWvQqL7FVzrB7Av41Ms_2jUwyso92QBv3IjJ0oewdhx76pb-CnQyqzBspvazOQD0/s667/Last+Train+%2847%29.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGcVahBUo2XhtHr9obpzP5X0giBh9MX2PHQx6ZZTNwqViPFcauHDta6BavjhF5-tq_d7ygQFmsvlqWvQqL7FVzrB7Av41Ms_2jUwyso92QBv3IjJ0oewdhx76pb-CnQyqzBspvazOQD0/s400/Last+Train+%2847%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first section waits for a clear signal at Kerens. Once clear, the train heads into the helix down to the main level.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KRMV2OHx9-b0eJR85MatfkR5JRghHfbw32WzV_Rc5eh7XykCK23ik7KBWj6fH-3qBXnjRlb98OvLas7J8JtT7hHkqwuKIQ_rc20-O4OBqzZhlW0pox_TH7mv8VFUmrcluEKiTY0cOFY/s667/Last+Train+(36).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KRMV2OHx9-b0eJR85MatfkR5JRghHfbw32WzV_Rc5eh7XykCK23ik7KBWj6fH-3qBXnjRlb98OvLas7J8JtT7hHkqwuKIQ_rc20-O4OBqzZhlW0pox_TH7mv8VFUmrcluEKiTY0cOFY/s400/Last+Train+(36).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First section arrives at Thomas, where another cut of cars will be added for the trip to Ridgeley.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowB5Mt7HgDkXnnaKLcLXezzh6ML7Cz-3YS7UVwj3hhhdQjHTpvsFHuDdnvQasmLoWn8wvmwPvdwWqHq8R9GV8ubD9aWVaDazHVl9cB3zU-GDi2I_6ICg9C17_zzDCLigR3tEZadUzRYc/s667/Last+Train+(38).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowB5Mt7HgDkXnnaKLcLXezzh6ML7Cz-3YS7UVwj3hhhdQjHTpvsFHuDdnvQasmLoWn8wvmwPvdwWqHq8R9GV8ubD9aWVaDazHVl9cB3zU-GDi2I_6ICg9C17_zzDCLigR3tEZadUzRYc/s400/Last+Train+(38).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switching Thomas required venturing out on the high bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUZWK5oGrTpNXDI4dmZ1kUlWnDEcV4gnq8nFcq8S8Hq63TaCczCFPU3AMPPY-xk90lH9IO3Je02z1hwxpTNUUHrNp0Wr-_5gciEKWlCpdIhs2hJ5VZrufTNRBLTShKYL_2w8Uve58vHI/s667/Last+Train+(53).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUZWK5oGrTpNXDI4dmZ1kUlWnDEcV4gnq8nFcq8S8Hq63TaCczCFPU3AMPPY-xk90lH9IO3Je02z1hwxpTNUUHrNp0Wr-_5gciEKWlCpdIhs2hJ5VZrufTNRBLTShKYL_2w8Uve58vHI/s400/Last+Train+(53).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blocking together the last section at Thomas.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUKXrp8KGgZKlBHLrIfOXbdEs8617YOG3ivxzt4kjfhzAXmLpfWQQpA68LmLJX_7tXZIdkkdOr0r0BGuaUfRyYMs0lg3Uq4Ei_VB6WD5N54Wb2f7R1Ts6V11IV6V_q1OSx8TIySa39Fk/s667/Last+Train+(54).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUKXrp8KGgZKlBHLrIfOXbdEs8617YOG3ivxzt4kjfhzAXmLpfWQQpA68LmLJX_7tXZIdkkdOr0r0BGuaUfRyYMs0lg3Uq4Ei_VB6WD5N54Wb2f7R1Ts6V11IV6V_q1OSx8TIySa39Fk/s400/Last+Train+(54).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down the mountain for the last time.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EwVUrzB-FGfg0fdaXnb2UwZpD2HF1ezmr0-9A0XGudXBLHbcpzUUDKsZRZcIUCNgyh-tj9K87MvsTkjJapium8tGP0gHJEexlDJvMeM2I8qMPF3qHgF-p2ZV1eSpYOB77axh0JxK5JA/s667/Last+Train+(55).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EwVUrzB-FGfg0fdaXnb2UwZpD2HF1ezmr0-9A0XGudXBLHbcpzUUDKsZRZcIUCNgyh-tj9K87MvsTkjJapium8tGP0gHJEexlDJvMeM2I8qMPF3qHgF-p2ZV1eSpYOB77axh0JxK5JA/s400/Last+Train+(55).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the high bridge then on to Shaw Siding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxPVtETt5rIGeuYVD6U9ViZNNORAfoT6T8oZcBqfNuKgKgjjPnsSRZOtRPw69gcR1Q4zCaoOy0LaQAwL8tHddGJ_v4QiunVnmSizVj-lZYBJE1bccmwKw663GKGtbfVKIHxnqSsWRi24/s773/Last+Train+(61).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxPVtETt5rIGeuYVD6U9ViZNNORAfoT6T8oZcBqfNuKgKgjjPnsSRZOtRPw69gcR1Q4zCaoOy0LaQAwL8tHddGJ_v4QiunVnmSizVj-lZYBJE1bccmwKw663GKGtbfVKIHxnqSsWRi24/s400/Last+Train+(61).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Shaw looking west along the Thomas Sub toward the high bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8_NU7YtYPrwQ7mFGB3lRyjq0Irxccop-KpIBYwcMZSxtGwsyYZkuWdhLOQ41EZqDO12lccJcqSfQfRYCCBJCFjZTDj-x4RLP6uqyylTrssm70TyZxdtsUKr3IfMvkg9Rs3nZ8377rCI/s667/Last+Train+(64).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8_NU7YtYPrwQ7mFGB3lRyjq0Irxccop-KpIBYwcMZSxtGwsyYZkuWdhLOQ41EZqDO12lccJcqSfQfRYCCBJCFjZTDj-x4RLP6uqyylTrssm70TyZxdtsUKr3IfMvkg9Rs3nZ8377rCI/s400/Last+Train+(64).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the TO office at Shaw. Once the train passes, the operator will pack up the paperwork and drive away for the last time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKNkcRUIsoxGD_3TbZUXwNWr_CeONRJbgiy6JoshbsnhM0KXUjYTHepQNNmCaupSJqHlo3F9ebBzeDfIz1G8B9C4_nZvj_rzLGw_N217RnpPup-vAoJKMCxPQTvqLKTIHCnhoBldaYZ0/s667/Last+Train+(65).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKNkcRUIsoxGD_3TbZUXwNWr_CeONRJbgiy6JoshbsnhM0KXUjYTHepQNNmCaupSJqHlo3F9ebBzeDfIz1G8B9C4_nZvj_rzLGw_N217RnpPup-vAoJKMCxPQTvqLKTIHCnhoBldaYZ0/s400/Last+Train+(65).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caboose clears Shaw.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkeKM4QaYRxHnKN5Ez9e4lV_PUQCsFed51XT2_UCaeb-xTn3EvGu8lPWMsKkVzV_wLJFclgM_xnQ5Y6fx1HwcBDJNMmzp8xQNfpP3rBKgEJorwyQKRAXLwR64O8V3J7fEHDiVW-VpOwY/s667/Last+Train+(68).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkeKM4QaYRxHnKN5Ez9e4lV_PUQCsFed51XT2_UCaeb-xTn3EvGu8lPWMsKkVzV_wLJFclgM_xnQ5Y6fx1HwcBDJNMmzp8xQNfpP3rBKgEJorwyQKRAXLwR64O8V3J7fEHDiVW-VpOwY/s400/Last+Train+(68).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then Maryland Junction, after retrieving a flat car from the paper mill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ke65_fLGlU/URbbr5BpCGI/AAAAAAAAS0E/9RfX7mf9j3c/s667/Last+Train+(43).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ke65_fLGlU/URbbr5BpCGI/AAAAAAAAS0E/9RfX7mf9j3c/s400/Last+Train+(43).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing Wills Creek on the steel bridge, which will eventually be installed on a traveling module.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGiYFVS55-HRzRL7yG_pvLbAHffQFZcKv5_2K88qWwcdwpeErcDy_2AENx8lzVpF5wWdFq7dMQJYqJpVV2Dk3aHbzYcwqe7qlo6ljiOzG1G5jn-jeY0Kbm4NtQWj6ZZQHOgT_J9ZycXo/s667/Last+Train+(70).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGiYFVS55-HRzRL7yG_pvLbAHffQFZcKv5_2K88qWwcdwpeErcDy_2AENx8lzVpF5wWdFq7dMQJYqJpVV2Dk3aHbzYcwqe7qlo6ljiOzG1G5jn-jeY0Kbm4NtQWj6ZZQHOgT_J9ZycXo/s400/Last+Train+(70).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at Cumberland Station.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdrAG666EiH27-UZRKJyCRxSfcpAJ_PNXkwjEe9N9iVCsSol-fuOanNs3hHpmF8tn3n2YVI7DIA-Jz2ffRmKXwW1mlA8gJ4Yw9-WtuqHitgh9NOoZvqYs9hbe7_Wz3seCItH4QSxG5mA/s667/Last+Train+(75).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdrAG666EiH27-UZRKJyCRxSfcpAJ_PNXkwjEe9N9iVCsSol-fuOanNs3hHpmF8tn3n2YVI7DIA-Jz2ffRmKXwW1mlA8gJ4Yw9-WtuqHitgh9NOoZvqYs9hbe7_Wz3seCItH4QSxG5mA/s400/Last+Train+(75).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The concrete overpass at Greenwood.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGFdw_CF8nGwDfhOQL3LqXVjMTpVtBo7jk49pT_Wn-DlPadYOtaEKL2knL_MuAaZGeukggPTdmAKAaSNSGzGijM8Fu2Y8BEr44WD_3r5D3pxTr7hWqBjYbqLbi6RnMwdlHIdKTgIrmkA/s667/Last+Train+(76).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGFdw_CF8nGwDfhOQL3LqXVjMTpVtBo7jk49pT_Wn-DlPadYOtaEKL2knL_MuAaZGeukggPTdmAKAaSNSGzGijM8Fu2Y8BEr44WD_3r5D3pxTr7hWqBjYbqLbi6RnMwdlHIdKTgIrmkA/s400/Last+Train+(76).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally to the yard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A short time later, the final train from Connellsville appeared on the "new" line along the Youghiougheny River. Led by Laurel Valley locomotives 1803 and 1802.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S7tEV5uLWX8/URbckQ1OovI/AAAAAAAAS3c/7SXICVzwrr8/s667/Last+Train+(82).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S7tEV5uLWX8/URbckQ1OovI/AAAAAAAAS3c/7SXICVzwrr8/s400/Last+Train+(82).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerging from the east portal of Pinkerton Tunnel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gyTNSJubZ97RQ0Msc7eDLWiXIvIbZ3pm2CY5907Xph8z9G0jEKbNFZLp6kTm7ZT90aQZIpZiN6q8jmXLXQlHaBcDblNpVk1aLY14uTaML2yaUm_MJEMZPVePXaT0v6N4Tw5zAFfuVHs/s667/Last+Train+(85).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gyTNSJubZ97RQ0Msc7eDLWiXIvIbZ3pm2CY5907Xph8z9G0jEKbNFZLp6kTm7ZT90aQZIpZiN6q8jmXLXQlHaBcDblNpVk1aLY14uTaML2yaUm_MJEMZPVePXaT0v6N4Tw5zAFfuVHs/s400/Last+Train+(85).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing under the high bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4yaB7IIwmxdIbPKxvA5MkuA1gJamlXQbL5Zdkk-1mGX6MsWTzRVgVHENLoX2-NG5NGUZce-Z6Z2d78b4TgTfq2CC4zEpoKjv4mt1UMuLvPHOYtez0_GhhA96BJCKPewX6xp7QBFQvtk/s667/Last+Train+(87).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4yaB7IIwmxdIbPKxvA5MkuA1gJamlXQbL5Zdkk-1mGX6MsWTzRVgVHENLoX2-NG5NGUZce-Z6Z2d78b4TgTfq2CC4zEpoKjv4mt1UMuLvPHOYtez0_GhhA96BJCKPewX6xp7QBFQvtk/s400/Last+Train+(87).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Thomas Road Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhKTeT9T20o/URbc54bn_7I/AAAAAAAAS4k/6cTN7aIpj4s/s667/Last+Train+(93).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhKTeT9T20o/URbc54bn_7I/AAAAAAAAS4k/6cTN7aIpj4s/s400/Last+Train+(93).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconic bridge at Casselman Crossing, subject of at least one N Scale magazine article.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_L_V7pg1PfZ7NhfuHRg-8wIAfz2uYwMA0VEj9c8TLvEiau4W38-wZimX9G74Tj30GoU177vcQ-Ef249MAofi7DQXvJH5sqSs0QLpuDQfFVsPm9vVVtl5gqXSOiIbPaSSX4gYRnylcEM/s667/Last+Train+(94).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_L_V7pg1PfZ7NhfuHRg-8wIAfz2uYwMA0VEj9c8TLvEiau4W38-wZimX9G74Tj30GoU177vcQ-Ef249MAofi7DQXvJH5sqSs0QLpuDQfFVsPm9vVVtl5gqXSOiIbPaSSX4gYRnylcEM/s400/Last+Train+(94).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casselman Crossing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2S3iYLi53oNABud8bL5RRc_PLrvqVN7d9DlB4yMHx-DqHQE_G3lCBDyjES06B4cH4OLxgtxm78ntt90VrhOhUOY3J6TE5SZVxffOU0da_gTyuB_PrHQRyz9RfLP2U5KktApiM094qwE/s667/Last+Train+(101).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2S3iYLi53oNABud8bL5RRc_PLrvqVN7d9DlB4yMHx-DqHQE_G3lCBDyjES06B4cH4OLxgtxm78ntt90VrhOhUOY3J6TE5SZVxffOU0da_gTyuB_PrHQRyz9RfLP2U5KktApiM094qwE/s400/Last+Train+(101).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Maryland Junction along the Potomac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw3WJFoOXZMf7-Q-MBsKpBHTSq7a7wLolfzEVJrIRA6nRnDZic5tJ2upoMqq2Dlk0Nlr65I5xCoCEmO_5ZLBXE6mKOmLCyWebSsLOAgtdEYhGGBUUsa9stun980GEW0kmJW4eqYx79To/s667/Last+Train+(103).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw3WJFoOXZMf7-Q-MBsKpBHTSq7a7wLolfzEVJrIRA6nRnDZic5tJ2upoMqq2Dlk0Nlr65I5xCoCEmO_5ZLBXE6mKOmLCyWebSsLOAgtdEYhGGBUUsa9stun980GEW0kmJW4eqYx79To/s400/Last+Train+(103).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading through Cumberland on the way to Ridgeley Yard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqcil1cK-iczfg-GCxZ6ac-6jzuekOrD5ubo6e81FNyeQOMoYK0aDLq2D1JmneHKfFu8BiwecDwTnhVbtyPp4A7oDxWgADFuHgYX3txH4uczFwSEO-8piLN9MiDHYf8gfGOVmf_wchK8/s667/Last+Train+(104).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqcil1cK-iczfg-GCxZ6ac-6jzuekOrD5ubo6e81FNyeQOMoYK0aDLq2D1JmneHKfFu8BiwecDwTnhVbtyPp4A7oDxWgADFuHgYX3txH4uczFwSEO-8piLN9MiDHYf8gfGOVmf_wchK8/s400/Last+Train+(104).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at Ridgeley. All the rolling stock that remains is now in the yard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMwHRFJdETb1JCNim-oSpdDNCds8D92M6r2xJV1aRi5qnP9BmOHQk5NMy0nrHgPU8QEfS8uYAidGn8NrxdvoGTDio2_7gy1_TCwdTDl-qHifdYzLZHaDqMKG6EVGjPSu5mrsRmL2NaFk/s667/Last+Train+(108).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMwHRFJdETb1JCNim-oSpdDNCds8D92M6r2xJV1aRi5qnP9BmOHQk5NMy0nrHgPU8QEfS8uYAidGn8NrxdvoGTDio2_7gy1_TCwdTDl-qHifdYzLZHaDqMKG6EVGjPSu5mrsRmL2NaFk/s400/Last+Train+(108).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final work on Saturday was to remove the bridges, including Casselman Crossing, to pack them up for their new owner.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On Sunday, 2/10, the crew came down to Cambridge to help cut out the peninsula and move it to its new home in the Baltimore area.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YwJyVPiNQ73ZiRSGyUE1Gn7MZ4e6aaqKmXLtexB3hxbSo0N-DGvqY8VnVjUxL2zw8VVP1dZ6GqjvfgEIjVESdRiDVk65uJbdBqzaDLzbU9BDJcXyC-vB2NQa2uI13-ozuFUhtv5jH6A/s667/2013+Weeklies+002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YwJyVPiNQ73ZiRSGyUE1Gn7MZ4e6aaqKmXLtexB3hxbSo0N-DGvqY8VnVjUxL2zw8VVP1dZ6GqjvfgEIjVESdRiDVk65uJbdBqzaDLzbU9BDJcXyC-vB2NQa2uI13-ozuFUhtv5jH6A/s400/2013+Weeklies+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Here's how it went down... We got started around 10:30 a.m. We dismantled North Junction to make room in the doorway, then the cutting began...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gzbyC0f2qE/URlLQEJa70I/AAAAAAAAS78/HgdY4ZaoK7M/s667/2013+Weeklies+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gzbyC0f2qE/URlLQEJa70I/AAAAAAAAS78/HgdY4ZaoK7M/s400/2013+Weeklies+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSJuCXgrFDr9KhV-M_IYicvoF1l9u72Wwux2X7_Abd2Ei__cmy56rUajDYD5CK0aMBuukbn1n4STqCOdQCwFuycm3nO7ed9PJ0BBSeRapbyuJ59rezKvD01kTDJRpETWml5AfTRPKfOM/s667/2013+Weeklies+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSJuCXgrFDr9KhV-M_IYicvoF1l9u72Wwux2X7_Abd2Ei__cmy56rUajDYD5CK0aMBuukbn1n4STqCOdQCwFuycm3nO7ed9PJ0BBSeRapbyuJ59rezKvD01kTDJRpETWml5AfTRPKfOM/s400/2013+Weeklies+008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the move, Ed inspects the cuts, and verifies that all of the electrical connections were severed.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68UmS6hZ3Ko6-dpCVPWVMzbl2A9Dw2SZTnuyreCDkYjPwxuWAd-3swhbngnn1H3eGK7ecQKT-bTWLqC5-RAc7IC0fS6lqE5kb4eZ7AnUqF2hFADwGiB28f8c8fT0dxGB4WsXKjwUnq7A/s667/2013+Weeklies+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
While I was hacking away at foam and sculptamold, Ed and Tim worked on
boxing up the remaining rolling stock on the layout. The last car to
officially turn a wheel on the railroad was a B&O bay window caboose
of no fixed prototype.<br />
<br />
Work on detaching the several layers of track and wiring went on for about an hour.<br />
<br />
Brian
(Rock GP40) showed up around 11, then we went to lunch to power up
before attempting to move the behemoth down the steps. Plaza Tapatia
was the weapon of choice, with ammunition provided by a couple of 32 oz
Dos Equis Grandes.<br />
<br />
There were no photos taken of the actual
move. It was all hands on deck. We got it out of the room easily
enough, and then turned it over to slide it down the steps, but the 64"
wide bulbous end (Andy calls this the "Scrotum") simply wouldn't make it
through the opening. We had to heft it back up the steps twice to trim
portions off. Finally we removed the high bridge and the entire
subroadbed that had supported the Shaw siding, and this allowed us to
get Elvis out of the building.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68UmS6hZ3Ko6-dpCVPWVMzbl2A9Dw2SZTnuyreCDkYjPwxuWAd-3swhbngnn1H3eGK7ecQKT-bTWLqC5-RAc7IC0fS6lqE5kb4eZ7AnUqF2hFADwGiB28f8c8fT0dxGB4WsXKjwUnq7A/s667/2013+Weeklies+010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68UmS6hZ3Ko6-dpCVPWVMzbl2A9Dw2SZTnuyreCDkYjPwxuWAd-3swhbngnn1H3eGK7ecQKT-bTWLqC5-RAc7IC0fS6lqE5kb4eZ7AnUqF2hFADwGiB28f8c8fT0dxGB4WsXKjwUnq7A/s400/2013+Weeklies+010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We loaded the main section into my girlfriend's pick up, and all the remaining bits and pieces from the surgery into the cab, and headed across the great waters of the Chesapeake toward Eric's house near the airport.<br />
<br />
Once at Eric's, we found the path to the basement to be relatively straight, but not without challenges. We had to move the picnic table over to the steps from the car port so we could gain enough height to heft it over the railing and into the house. We had to remove both the exterior door and basement door from their hinges to provide enough clearance. Again, there wasn't a stray set of hands to work the camera, so you'll have to take the word of the witnesses.<br />
<br />
With only inches to spare, it fit over the railing, under the carport ceiling, through the two doors, and down the steps. Due to bad planning, Eric ended up at the bottom of the steps by himself as the full brunt of the peninsula went down the stairway. Imagine standing out in center field by yourself trying to field a fly ball that happens to be as big as a submarine.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we recovered, got it down the narrow aisle next to Sunnyside, and spun into position at rest on a temporary table.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R2f4_hsrT9E8VgT2exyoQitFCfVc1wChlCTNaFk2Swbt_IwVIQQiKCHaozJmitg32BO3LpcUjajr1uMl7MbZw38O44s77zakcdkZM0FbJkG1R4-49MXMOospBRxpRhQ6fkZSOAl1qZA/s667/2013+Weeklies+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R2f4_hsrT9E8VgT2exyoQitFCfVc1wChlCTNaFk2Swbt_IwVIQQiKCHaozJmitg32BO3LpcUjajr1uMl7MbZw38O44s77zakcdkZM0FbJkG1R4-49MXMOospBRxpRhQ6fkZSOAl1qZA/s400/2013+Weeklies+012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The next challenge for Eric and the crew is to work out the elevation changes of the peninsula and marry them to the existing shelf layout along the wall in the background.<br />
<br />
I appreciate the hard work and ingenuity that went into this move, and I'm now anxious to get the rest of the layout moved along to be stored or incorporated into another layout or three. I also appreciate Eric generously offering to make a home for this favorite piece of work. I'm looking forward to helping to tie in the scenery, and to running some Laurel Valley power up the Yough Valley once again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4eogosWARmS_67I4wrDQEp6SDQUgVBrrtzHfD8XL-MlXog2BpBXyKcTxwk6phPCm9aa22f77_yrKn7PGlXYXXGXxV3NqlQbWFVhXN5wp7YfKaE7BhJXwT44QkkufZbfYjGkt7SvsiZo/s667/Last+Train+(88).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4eogosWARmS_67I4wrDQEp6SDQUgVBrrtzHfD8XL-MlXog2BpBXyKcTxwk6phPCm9aa22f77_yrKn7PGlXYXXGXxV3NqlQbWFVhXN5wp7YfKaE7BhJXwT44QkkufZbfYjGkt7SvsiZo/s400/Last+Train+(88).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
LeeLee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-23493773612714882762012-12-19T15:14:00.002-05:002012-12-19T15:14:43.407-05:00Update: In transition.Presently there are two Laurel Valley GP20's holding fort on the layout. All of the other locomotives have been boxed up or sold. The staging yards have been cleared out, the engine terminal is officially closed, and the lift bridge across the aisle has been permanently removed. There's probably still about 200 freight cars scattered around the layout. At some point I'll go down there and do a clean up detail to box up what's left.<br /><br />I've started pulling some of the structures, some for re-use, some for sale. At present, I believe I'll be using the Cumberland Station as the focal point of a OneTrak module following the BanTrak standards, and some of the other signature structures will be boxed up for further consideration. Various scenic elements will also be salvaged as completely as possible, pending arrangements for reasonable storage.<br /><br />Offers for various parts of the layout, assuming they can be salvaged intact, will be entertained. It is possible to pull the yard in its entirety as a single unit, assuming it can be maneuvered down the stairs and out the door. (It's 14' and change long x about 30")<br /><br />The sections that can't be salvaged will be stripped of track and other valuable components, which will be set aside for future use or sold as needed.<br /><br />The good news is that like my relationships with my kids and other people in my life, all of this is an opportunity for renewal. <br />
<br />
As has been previously discussed, there were many shortcomings that I discovered as construction and operations progressed, and I'm hoping some lessons learned should I ever feel compelled to take on such a large project again.<br />
<br />
The biggest problem was my desire to fit 10 pounds of layout into a 5 pound room. It would have been far more prudent, and probably in the end more satisfactory to acknowledge the limitations of the space available, and design something that was more manageable. That would include time and budget, as well as construction and ops.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I expect that by Spring 2013, the layout will be fully dismantled and dispensed with. Going forward, I expect to continue to enjoy the hobby by helping out with the basement empires of a couple of close friends, possibly getting more active with the local N trak tribe, and at the very least, building dioramas to keep my fingers in the pie.<br />
<br />
I'll also continue to write my N Scale Approach column for N Scale magazine, and I'll look forward to hearing from you about your model railroading projects.Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-32223311387840451642012-08-07T23:02:00.001-04:002012-08-07T23:06:23.216-04:00End of the LineIt's been several months since I last posted progress on the Western Maryland Western Lines layout, and simply put, there hasn't been much to post.<br />
<br />
Sadly, I've reached a point in my life where I have to put the toys away, and re-think my overall approach to life. In the last few months, my marriage of 27+ years has unraveled, mostly by my own efforts, but the details of that aren't important.<br />
<br />
What is important is the realization that all of the time and effort that went into building the layout was spent at the expense of my family. I had always prided myself that since I was a kid, I've always had something to run a train on. I bought our house with an eye specifically on that grand attic room that held so many possibilities. Mostly, it turns out, it became a place for me to hide from the grim reality that there were some major holes in my personal life.<br />
<br />
I'm still very proud of the work that went into it, and all the recognition I've gained through my years of posting progress on the various internet forums, and my writings here and in print in N Scale Magazine. In recent months, though, I was becoming more and more aware of the down side of having such a complex design. Time spent on maintenance began to outstrip time spent enjoying the layout, parts of it that I really enjoyed building had become a bit dusty and tired, and it got to be harder to find the energy to commit to renewing things and putting right the things I knew were wrong. Quite frankly, I was thinking seriously about giving up on it for some time, and seeking out something a little simpler and more satisfying.<br />
<br />
There's a life metaphor in there somewhere.<br />
<br />
As of this writing, the layout still stands, fully populated with numerous trains. Thousands of dollars of rolling stock, locomotives, structures and details, all sitting dormant in a dark room in a house I no longer live in. My son doesn't want me to remove it, at least not yet. He doesn't show much interest in operating it anymore, but I suppose it gives him a reminder of the time he and I spent in there. He's now 16, so he'll only be around for a short time longer.<br />
<br />
Maybe there will be an opportunity to have the guys over one more time to run a few trains, but I have a feeling the next time the crew comes down to Cambridge, they will be wielding sawsalls and wire nippers; storage tubs and bubble wrap.<br />
<br />
I don't know if I'll ever attempt to undertake such a fully operational model railroad again. Sharing a small house with a roommate means it certainly won't be happening in the near future, and a desire to get out and live life more fully means that time for such an effort will be limited. Fortunately I have several good friends who have been able to balance life with their layouts, so I'm sure I can always find time to grab a throttle and a handful of car cards. I'll also be glad to lend a hand to install a few switch machines or some scenery.<br />
<br />
But I need to streamline my own life, scale it back, and make sure that I'm working as hard at making my life, and the lives of those I love, as satisfying as my experience with the layout was.<br />
<br />
So if anyone wants to own a chunk of the Western Maryland, let me know. I could probably use the money.Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-68482521229676132652012-06-02T18:29:00.000-04:002012-06-02T18:29:03.989-04:00More than I can chew?It's been a little over a month since I really spent much time working on the layout. Yes, it's spring, and many of life's distractions tend to crop up this time of year. Things like peeling paint on the house, yard work, and given my occupation in the building materials business, work work.<br />
<br />
But I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed again when it comes to this little project that I've been working on for lo these many years. Sure, I'm making gradual progress building scenery, and there's always a twinge of excitement when I add a new piece of rolling stock, but right now, there's just something missing.<br />
<br />
I suppose one of the shadows cast over the layout right now is a feeling that it will simply never be done. Not in the sense that there is always going to be a little project here or there to tinker with or update... But the whole thing will just never be in a state of completion. There's a growing list of wiring issues, there's the whole urban landscape in Cumberland to engineer and install... After close to 7 years, some of the earlier installations of track are starting to show their age.<br />
<br />
The design is still satisfactory, the operation scheme is sound (although I'm still waiting to feel "ready" for a full on ops session - I built the yard going on 3 years ago, and the guy that's supposed to be my yard master has yet to see it in person), and I'm generally happy with the results of what I've done so far scenically. But man. All those trees I need to do! All that track that needs cleaning after laying dormant for months at a time! All those locomotive wheels that need burnishing!<br />
<br />
It's enough to make one's head spin.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it would be easier to deal with if I lived a little closer to the core group of guys that I operate with. As noted previously, I'm a good two hours away from just about everyone in my crew. I understand the challenge of getting down here, because it's a challenge for me to make the sessions that take place in Baltimore. We've all got other things to do. This compounds my frustration, because I feel like if they're going to make the trek down here, I have to have everything in tip top shape, adding pressure to get those electrical ghosts busted, or that odd piece of fascia cut and installed.<br />
<br />
So I close the door, crack a beer, and turn on the ball game.<br />
<br />
I've got a small group scheduled to visit on Sunday afternoon, and I'm in no way ready to run a full schedule of trains, but it will still be nice to have them over, maybe have some help getting a few things done, and otherwise pal around for a few hours to get the train room feeling a little more like an escape instead of a mandatory chore.<br />
<br />
Or maybe we'll discuss how the damn thing can be dismantled and sold for parts. Nah. Before I know it, fall will be back and I'll have the itch again. As much work as the layout can be, at least it doesn't have any hard and fast deadlines.Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-70919926566965702342012-04-26T00:11:00.002-04:002012-04-26T07:16:46.142-04:00Farewell to the Atlas Forum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_892648b4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_892648b4.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With the announcement that Atlas Model Railroad Co. will be shutting down its widely popular internet forums, I can't help but reflect on what an impact that particular discussion group had on my participation in the hobby.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first project I posted on the Atlas Forum at any length about was the Chaffee Branch,
which was supposed to become a part of my final layout design. The
forum challenged me to build better models, take better photos, and put a
lot more thought into what I was doing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_288eb21c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_288eb21c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As work on renovating the train room commenced, I switched my focus to the "Temporary Rig" layout, a simple 3' x 8' test bed that kept me entertained for a couple of years. Looking back at that work, I can see how much my work needed improving.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Early_Construction_%289%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Early_Construction_%289%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_33349751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_33349751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_33349751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Concurrent with that, I began constructing the Maryland Junction section of what would become the current permanent layout out in the garage.<br />
<br />
After boring you all to tears with the glacial progress, I finally had the train room done, and was ready to move the work upstairs...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Gradually, from this chunk of foam and lumber, the layout grew into a functional model railroad, although a lot of it was still temporary construction, due to the fact that my son shared the room with me for a few years...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Layout_Pics_062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Layout_Pics_062.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Note the twin bed and the tasteful Ravens banner over the yard lead...<br />
<br />
Still, it was fun to have a few guys over to run trains and drink beer, most of whom were encountered here on the Atlas board.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Ops_Session_2-15-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Ops_Session_2-15-09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Ultimately, the boy moved into other quarters, allowing me to finally build out the footprint that I had designed almost 7 years earlier...a task which has kept me occupied for almost three years now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zP2Aet0pR2M814jNF-LqsrSxKwhml36U_-cLfcWRXDr8LCLS0DJwEmykEvSdgf1ifNWxrv0E7ecmXpFrfGMSo3llMQE8L0dNzKLhy3ynqol1rDX7WjLc70ZdonYhbsiANAXEEy0TJro/s733/Thomas+Sub+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zP2Aet0pR2M814jNF-LqsrSxKwhml36U_-cLfcWRXDr8LCLS0DJwEmykEvSdgf1ifNWxrv0E7ecmXpFrfGMSo3llMQE8L0dNzKLhy3ynqol1rDX7WjLc70ZdonYhbsiANAXEEy0TJro/s400/Thomas+Sub+050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYS17Qj7hVPtlZcMUZg64jwWyShkW6ywh5hORzY_7EeK44-3HU-hv_-qKqR6SQTcN91BhpR1cJknh0KH3AtGtbkmYMAmc4b8IBSTg2f_kY0nTk16WxsU0mkjVVf29eRWqcouAfvZBzHk/s733/Ridgeley+Yard+East+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYS17Qj7hVPtlZcMUZg64jwWyShkW6ywh5hORzY_7EeK44-3HU-hv_-qKqR6SQTcN91BhpR1cJknh0KH3AtGtbkmYMAmc4b8IBSTg2f_kY0nTk16WxsU0mkjVVf29eRWqcouAfvZBzHk/s400/Ridgeley+Yard+East+%283%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-HNVMcCA0BTM1Jg5kr9ht8gfVHXVxe3rhlqJJoEy-0lzigNEvsGG5ycJvz1sAGCDV2fu4GD31PkgAKH2TKsLS2JmtGMoiYRcTLGqTnk7LNXYrwovEnLBUKzCWVwm0SvW4zKxm14q8EY/s733/ReconstructionPh2+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-HNVMcCA0BTM1Jg5kr9ht8gfVHXVxe3rhlqJJoEy-0lzigNEvsGG5ycJvz1sAGCDV2fu4GD31PkgAKH2TKsLS2JmtGMoiYRcTLGqTnk7LNXYrwovEnLBUKzCWVwm0SvW4zKxm14q8EY/s400/ReconstructionPh2+096.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Along the way, I got to share the experience with some truly gifted modelers, and some genuinely awesome people. Many of whom I'm proud to call friends...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRffs4Ev7AZyUzon4jSv7q0tVkZ31Nz1eYla0IM0n2oT5BeE1tJT7DtNx1PCBNhMKXPML7ge_Y6der8IclCsyitJD88bjbZofd6PFnGhdd8mryuQNZVuiG3xkz_v7CpbvxSIZt3N1QPtw/s733/Reconstruction%252520Ph.3%252520115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRffs4Ev7AZyUzon4jSv7q0tVkZ31Nz1eYla0IM0n2oT5BeE1tJT7DtNx1PCBNhMKXPML7ge_Y6der8IclCsyitJD88bjbZofd6PFnGhdd8mryuQNZVuiG3xkz_v7CpbvxSIZt3N1QPtw/s400/Reconstruction%252520Ph.3%252520115.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Randy Gustafson (Randgust) and Brian Carhart (RockGP40).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nl818yMLwmg/TcgcUT0TlpI/AAAAAAAAQOY/SiBTWQL7Evg/s733/Vollmer+5911+%288%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nl818yMLwmg/TcgcUT0TlpI/AAAAAAAAQOY/SiBTWQL7Evg/s400/Vollmer+5911+%288%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Dr. Dave Vollmer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/5528_1211633376790_1407439221_597083_1261643_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/5528_1211633376790_1407439221_597083_1261643_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Bernie Kempinski</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Max_Lee_Jerry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Max_Lee_Jerry.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Max Magliaro and Jerry Britton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33fU6fZt51LnCf9UuZaUTniPMxa9zH2-N6z52IF8bvdqgWIlBdz8F8w2DQ9o3CbS_C5awkIsvJAGYRHpzx2NGiZBBW_ArWum_OsS_TIVdq09gYEy3DTJGMXVNjgICjB3DszYHKI8Hdyk/s733/New+Weeklies+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33fU6fZt51LnCf9UuZaUTniPMxa9zH2-N6z52IF8bvdqgWIlBdz8F8w2DQ9o3CbS_C5awkIsvJAGYRHpzx2NGiZBBW_ArWum_OsS_TIVdq09gYEy3DTJGMXVNjgICjB3DszYHKI8Hdyk/s400/New+Weeklies+024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with David K. Smith, Dave Foxx, Phil Hoffman (KCSphil) and Tim Alder (sizemore).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKg7LWU0aYRlEuvnc8h3JN1BxdrzzxIdYYVx3gfttwI34Hm0uyAv4ASe4HUoGfkzuRncOswhnc4154UUTlcZHAFtYtyR2dpJE_91DvAfkdGcTdhC1sb96FsOcz0afL4kbU9oaDTcqoPQ/s733/RailBQ2011+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKg7LWU0aYRlEuvnc8h3JN1BxdrzzxIdYYVx3gfttwI34Hm0uyAv4ASe4HUoGfkzuRncOswhnc4154UUTlcZHAFtYtyR2dpJE_91DvAfkdGcTdhC1sb96FsOcz0afL4kbU9oaDTcqoPQ/s400/RailBQ2011+062.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Dave Vollmer, Eric White (eric220), Ed Kapuscinski, Bob Bufkin, and Carl Tweedale...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I could go on...<br />
<br />
The friendships I've developed starting from the Atlas board and on to the other lists I hang around on, have been extremely valuable to me both as a model railroader, as well as personally.<br />
<br />
There have been some mighty good seeds sewn in the fertile soil Atlas provided. I think we'll see the quality of work, both by the manufacturers and by us, continue to improve and increase thanks to the community that was fostered on the A-Board.<br />
<br />
Atlas spawned
most of the other on-line groups by being so open to the discussion of so many things. The very
notion that we could critique any manufacturer's goods, including their
own, with such abandon was astounding.<br />
<br />
For a long time, before we
all started to migrate to our own modeling strata, Atlas was the go-to
place for straight talk about the hits and misses of pretty much every
product imaginable. <br />
<br />
Would Atlas be doing add on parts and lower
ride heights without the forum? Would ESM, Fox Valley or Exactrail be
hitting the markets they're now hitting without the threads on Atlas
that pushed the envelope?<br />
<br />
While it's true we had our Skip, Fran
AND Fun on Atlas, we also had Max Magliaro and Randy Gustafson, both of
whom are outstanding modelers and problem solvers. It will be interesting
to see how the groupings work out as people look for other opportunities
to share genuinely useful information and techniques.<br />
<br />
I haven't spent much time on there in the last year or so, but there's no way I'd be doing the level of work I try to do now were it not for the Atlas Forum. Godspeed, and I hope to see some of you out there in the ether somewhere.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD4D8y-Ui2xZ8UhX8uyweFdjH8nU-SRmNaeGw7w9tGsDC906me4MbXwvpJjbYXEhmK0QYpLTnyz-PAv9j2HMcghWRCbcPG1bSblzrIzoY9ax1yfCTSJSmaXH3Wj-RaxFMWe9_1n8NFVw/s733/Chlng041612+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD4D8y-Ui2xZ8UhX8uyweFdjH8nU-SRmNaeGw7w9tGsDC906me4MbXwvpJjbYXEhmK0QYpLTnyz-PAv9j2HMcghWRCbcPG1bSblzrIzoY9ax1yfCTSJSmaXH3Wj-RaxFMWe9_1n8NFVw/s400/Chlng041612+%284%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-65743519523009391072012-04-10T18:06:00.000-04:002012-04-10T18:06:09.213-04:00Rome RevisitedBack in November I posted about the long journey that has been subjected to my model of the Cumberland, Maryland WM depot, which had languished for more than half a decade while I sputtered along doing other things.<br />
<br />
Well, I'm happy to report, it's getting very near completion. If you've been following along at home on <a href="http://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php" target="_blank">the Railwire</a>, or any of the other on-line street corners I hang out on, I apologize for the repetition. But here's a brief history of the project.<br />
<br />
First off, in 2000, I traded in all my dreams of a 1970s era Conrail layout for an Atlas Western Maryland SD35. As validation of that decision, in January of that year, <a href="http://mrr.trains.com/home/magazine/current%20issue.aspx" target="_blank">Model Railroader Magazine</a> published plans for the WM's Cumberland depot, and in N scale, no less. Immediately I began doodling a track plan that would require the services of this venerable old stack of bricks.<br />
<br />
In 2003, I bravely filled a cart with brick sheet from Plastruct, and photocopied the plans several times to create cutting templates. I busily scribed and snapped out dozens of window openings, then brick pilasters, and finally, glued together a stack of Evergreen Styrene strip to piece together the distinctive cornices of the building. In addition to the MR drawings, I had a couple of old photos I had taken while in The Queen City back in 1989. A few evenings and several #11 blades later, I had come up with this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_c541b474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_c541b474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I had the exterior walls assembled, built a dormer and a chimney, and even the nifty vestibule from the waiting room to the platform. I shot it all with a color that I thought was pretty good, then put it all aside to work on other projects on the layout.<br />
<br />
Long story short, I went to retrieve it from the storage box I'd put it in, since I was now getting to the point where I was going to be ready to install the station on the layout. As discussed in November, the windows were a big hang up. After a couple of conversations on-line, and couple of files sent back and forth via email, the problem was solved by Rob Madson (a.k.a Lord Zox on the 'wire) who was just then tinkering with a Silhouette SD digital cutter. He created beautiful windows from cover stock, in full color, no less, and self-adhesive! It was a brilliantly simple solution to a problem that had dogged me for years.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdOSOeTrbDEB6cVtG8DruOX4N2x7wKmBsF7WMLsDrnQRY0zLwU3kKXetVdAk_q801ZhLPj6UhZPYzscZFgzfwV3qXHyKiPiUPS7OOfzZhNK0zwgP2r7VGgFnUrX1UJ-ZPUWplKjy6KWo/s625/Cumberland+Station+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdOSOeTrbDEB6cVtG8DruOX4N2x7wKmBsF7WMLsDrnQRY0zLwU3kKXetVdAk_q801ZhLPj6UhZPYzscZFgzfwV3qXHyKiPiUPS7OOfzZhNK0zwgP2r7VGgFnUrX1UJ-ZPUWplKjy6KWo/s320/Cumberland+Station+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I quickly had the exterior walls finished with the windows, then turned my attention to installing some interiors and LED lighting, which ended up taking a couple of weeks. The interiors ended up being pretty elaborate, made necessary by the large windows. The station would occupy a prominent location, highly visible from the aisle, so all that glass demanded to be fed with interior details. Using some scrap styrene vertical window blinds, I whipped up a series of partitions based on the floor plans from the MR drawings, aided by a digital copy of the building's original blueprints.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EyR4mfsDa1E/T1WMgH2eI3I/AAAAAAAAQNI/XFcUXwtE1Oc/s625/cmbsta3512a+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EyR4mfsDa1E/T1WMgH2eI3I/AAAAAAAAQNI/XFcUXwtE1Oc/s320/cmbsta3512a+%284%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />In addition to wanting to show off something through the windows, I needed to repair some pretty serious warpage that had taken place while in storage. The full wall to wall floors helped pull the walls back under control. With the interior partitions situated, I made with the soldering pencil, and started adding lighting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi3UnPOSAmyQN69XhhrEWPjy2u43UTosqK7QTLMiy4lChMvwJRl2MMOp9X7kijWXesgomEIkdTkwkt1cNPbobKy4SZRUmnDUYuTmKr_Fa1KKKU-loddE0yMRGuMhHAsYQLC3PiQ3GUak/s625/cmbsta3912+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi3UnPOSAmyQN69XhhrEWPjy2u43UTosqK7QTLMiy4lChMvwJRl2MMOp9X7kijWXesgomEIkdTkwkt1cNPbobKy4SZRUmnDUYuTmKr_Fa1KKKU-loddE0yMRGuMhHAsYQLC3PiQ3GUak/s320/cmbsta3912+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
While I'll never win any awards for neatness, I was pretty happy with the results. By poking the LEDs for the first floor through the ceiling, I had the anodes and cathodes sticking up far enough above the second floor ceiling that all the wiring could be confined in the attc, keeping that colorful rat's nest out of the view shed of the interior. When I had it all rigged up, I dimmed the lights to see what I had...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQGprIYhFWTjwdpRyadLnFaCqq8DZzYjFNU9xytwZeTODHSjeMCeYf4Tw-qJ_4eTpS3WZw0pR_Cjcg5VwjVrXikgPzASrlKQnY_QNv0Ze1SaHk62EBkHQeGjyuVeK4opnVAUxedVjk_A/s625/cmbsta3912+%2820%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQGprIYhFWTjwdpRyadLnFaCqq8DZzYjFNU9xytwZeTODHSjeMCeYf4Tw-qJ_4eTpS3WZw0pR_Cjcg5VwjVrXikgPzASrlKQnY_QNv0Ze1SaHk62EBkHQeGjyuVeK4opnVAUxedVjk_A/s320/cmbsta3912+%2820%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
At this point, I felt like I was on to something. Gradually I added the last few major details, including the roof...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr69MAaQA6QSGoqRF2CUY0AI2NmhJzkpgparKzjQGuq6rf7i1b1IosMP9OsdXxxKnh7Q5HLZWBpgelRL2CqnNNKBP_6WcSbYxEza1NnJZMb6kdbd4PMAekSsy7aibSnLncKUwdxjFEzTg/s625/cmbsta31212+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr69MAaQA6QSGoqRF2CUY0AI2NmhJzkpgparKzjQGuq6rf7i1b1IosMP9OsdXxxKnh7Q5HLZWBpgelRL2CqnNNKBP_6WcSbYxEza1NnJZMb6kdbd4PMAekSsy7aibSnLncKUwdxjFEzTg/s320/cmbsta31212+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And the platform:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVITbSIL6B6nEhtPGcAZaK22awii6o1gO-1Y2obBND8KZVKAqz0DaJbMGyNPSknObFs5zJ78epvZ6upEQPBi_TZtRUyc3MM-sQE2SjGH5Tj-iXIi4pre29DKb68Gm29bVChECrOunMkfk/s625/cmbsta32112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVITbSIL6B6nEhtPGcAZaK22awii6o1gO-1Y2obBND8KZVKAqz0DaJbMGyNPSknObFs5zJ78epvZ6upEQPBi_TZtRUyc3MM-sQE2SjGH5Tj-iXIi4pre29DKb68Gm29bVChECrOunMkfk/s320/cmbsta32112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Then I got stuck again. Dormers. There are a dozen dormers on the roof of this thing. Years ago, recall that I had build up a dormer, well, the face of the dormer anyway, and then set it aside. It wasn't a bad little dormer, in fact, it looked mighty good! But the idea of building a dozen of them from scratch was indeed a daunting consideration.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmcEYWIhborEWan2rqeaSzq2Eu-GI2al-qOOCNW3uS4ZeePbyZeE56s57fkT53wF5foNYyaXOVQcgNn8iULxCF4iM2v2STTTh7by1TzIZhHbi0tfLMXQv8jd3H56ZG77ffIpx4DhTjOY/s625/cmbsta31312+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmcEYWIhborEWan2rqeaSzq2Eu-GI2al-qOOCNW3uS4ZeePbyZeE56s57fkT53wF5foNYyaXOVQcgNn8iULxCF4iM2v2STTTh7by1TzIZhHbi0tfLMXQv8jd3H56ZG77ffIpx4DhTjOY/s320/cmbsta31312+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are no fewer than 25 separate pieces used to construct this dormer. Scratching them all out was out of the question.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Resin casting seemed like a logical thing to try. I had bought a resin casting kit some years ago in anticipation of this very project. But alas, time had taken its toll on the kit, and all of the resins and mold making material had long since turned to rock. Once again, one of my colleagues on the Railwire, David K. Smith, provided the solution. I sent the master dormer I had built up to NZT Products' world headquarters, and a few days later, I received a package in the mail that contained 12 perfectly identical dormers, sloped at just the right angle to give the roof its signature appearance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVrGzTcpaw1VLe2qE_jcBzcmAetzq5gkXOhO86JQuywdjvF6PDBFXJHxPnctuMWq0bN5plhEJqId12Tb-WUJmn1DYn5kZToBmO_zyKFKx8G0qy_iZ769ipKSOJ04GUWvZrfwRb3klyrs/s625/cmbsta40612+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVrGzTcpaw1VLe2qE_jcBzcmAetzq5gkXOhO86JQuywdjvF6PDBFXJHxPnctuMWq0bN5plhEJqId12Tb-WUJmn1DYn5kZToBmO_zyKFKx8G0qy_iZ769ipKSOJ04GUWvZrfwRb3klyrs/s320/cmbsta40612+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now I was in the home stretch. I painted up the dormers, finished the chimneys, and built up the shed roof over the platform, and finalized the installation of the interior exterior lighting..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4hkaLLQw_jWuf7K-BFbz1jf6HhBwzVBKPq1HcKtG_lg8AD0zQVZDVrNnAbiHAThH_FlMOY3JyRqMd9IWt0Zcly1hTRbQL1zYkq-7WXO2oCAMkfpLW47VQRR5AHr-4M5mp24rQAVjFVY/s586/cmbstafin+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4hkaLLQw_jWuf7K-BFbz1jf6HhBwzVBKPq1HcKtG_lg8AD0zQVZDVrNnAbiHAThH_FlMOY3JyRqMd9IWt0Zcly1hTRbQL1zYkq-7WXO2oCAMkfpLW47VQRR5AHr-4M5mp24rQAVjFVY/s320/cmbstafin+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally, I positioned it on the layout, and popped a couple of pictures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoeN2camyldVi9GIoN-trjGLGGAzbjUD4TeBJ_cRGEJqvs_ek2RI8KL6Cos7RLm84Y3iCmtxO1Qla2zb_5ARPFaipbsakAPhFdjr772sjAsMkV-nHmPx9rgyr1JOz6qouk2hTkYD-UTQ/s625/cmbsta41012+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoeN2camyldVi9GIoN-trjGLGGAzbjUD4TeBJ_cRGEJqvs_ek2RI8KL6Cos7RLm84Y3iCmtxO1Qla2zb_5ARPFaipbsakAPhFdjr772sjAsMkV-nHmPx9rgyr1JOz6qouk2hTkYD-UTQ/s320/cmbsta41012+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMT8ISkg-u8tq_Z3JHwYY6vLhBfe2VeHXhEP6JEDZ9HMsDZAp-VRpQJji3Z8mQC0dTRhY8I59BihbOHxQw5mon99viY97pDtXa4yjxJqlOHKezGnIX0sE3Cp4M5zm7v5sBcj6K4mK2bk/s625/cmbsta41012+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMT8ISkg-u8tq_Z3JHwYY6vLhBfe2VeHXhEP6JEDZ9HMsDZAp-VRpQJji3Z8mQC0dTRhY8I59BihbOHxQw5mon99viY97pDtXa4yjxJqlOHKezGnIX0sE3Cp4M5zm7v5sBcj6K4mK2bk/s320/cmbsta41012+%284%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now I'm freed up to work on the details around the station, including the dramatic flood control channel of Wills Creek directly in front of the station.<br />
<br />
So anyway, I'm happy to report to you that I've finally finished a project!<br />
<br />Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-61511403848143784942012-04-09T02:04:00.000-04:002012-04-09T10:00:55.012-04:00Living in the Modular Age...So I picked up some of Walthers' N scale modular bits and pieces that were being clearanced out at $2.99 a pack. These have been out for a while, so I'm sure more accomplished modelers than I have already commented on these kits, but having recently completed a structure using them, I feel the need to publish a couple of observations.<br />
<br />
First, I should clarify that over the years that I've built a number of structures using Design Preservation Models' modular wall system, and despite the limited variety that's offered, I've had a lot of fun working with it. Here's a couple of modest examples:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-59ekVNMZ8-0/Tgf4RVuLl_I/AAAAAAAAPJU/dpd3aCHtJzo/s735/Yard+Scenery+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-59ekVNMZ8-0/Tgf4RVuLl_I/AAAAAAAAPJU/dpd3aCHtJzo/s400/Yard+Scenery+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The commissary at the west end of Ridgeley Yard</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Cover_Shots_027a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Cover_Shots_027a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Westvaco Paper Warehouse at Luke</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_tsOv533kzin0vwNG45VfbaWUfg4Oi5LPjEsw25Kx_EOnT_nJnUWI5ixRyo2sy1WstkTet9NJfX3zB4EnELeCpm3TOMQwE5XDwJQd-KS8kIaIhlpFHgWt-50ZeCuQvP8rZLc8BFe21M/s640/Vehicles+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_tsOv533kzin0vwNG45VfbaWUfg4Oi5LPjEsw25Kx_EOnT_nJnUWI5ixRyo2sy1WstkTet9NJfX3zB4EnELeCpm3TOMQwE5XDwJQd-KS8kIaIhlpFHgWt-50ZeCuQvP8rZLc8BFe21M/s400/Vehicles+%284%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Department of Public Works at Ridgeley</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Delmarva_Club_12-05_018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Delmarva_Club_12-05_018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hudson Motors Assembly Plant office, Delmarva Model Railroad Club</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
...among others.<br />
<br />
Generally, the parts need a little work to put them together, but they're certainly "vanilla" enough be adapted into a variety of situations.<br />
<br />
I think the size of the panels, the brick pilasters used to join them, and the variety of window/door arrangements are at the very least adequate. The main feature I've come to appreciate, though, is the spacing of the loading dock doors. Run in a simple alternating pattern, you can line up 40' boxcars and align them to the loading doors without uncoupling the cars.<br />
<br />
<b>So let's take a look at the Walthers' Modular system.</b><br />
Again, there's a reasonable variety of doors and windows, but I can't help but wonder if they didn't design these things to be used by HO modelers. The windows are modeled as double hung (top and bottom sashes that slide up and down in tracks along the side) but they're enormous. The doorway openings are excessively tall, and even with the transoms, the doors appear much taller than they need to be.<br />
<br />
While it's not unusual for a brick industrial building to have larger windows, they're not typically going to be double hung windows. You'd be more likely to find large steel framed fixed windows, perhaps with a smaller section that's hinged so it can provide ventilation. This would be a more typical arrangement, shot in Columbia, Pa:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBfw1QlPG3b5RfeeG0VX52ENjH6IwTu3NsI1sW3-OpPb0D9PrCgS2niQde4p4XiMUegOgj8exyo7CjcAxRuK8k7qob8sc03rmXROEmppv6FrK5mlLdWfdnrPhSIIeL3YLqmitDxxVsWc/s760/Yorkies+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBfw1QlPG3b5RfeeG0VX52ENjH6IwTu3NsI1sW3-OpPb0D9PrCgS2niQde4p4XiMUegOgj8exyo7CjcAxRuK8k7qob8sc03rmXROEmppv6FrK5mlLdWfdnrPhSIIeL3YLqmitDxxVsWc/s400/Yorkies+009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
These are clearly double hung windows, but they measure approximately 3 feet wide by 6 feet tall, compared to the Walthers' windows, which tip the scales at a whopping four feet wide by 9 feet high. Now, back in the day, I worked in a huge loft industrial building in Baltimore, which sported large banks of 4' x 8' double hung windows, three windows across.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoexYGEOzUIbgxm2zMS9s0-bQOhJzJ7naVdLWROdFaXuEC5w2aN07E1ZWYeo0QX7h6ZnzZW96Qm3j-NOU9NnMS9jQBj8OJKaiv1GmYm_EBLsu8WMZ0KSPuZq8Fj8Lm1SwZa6mxkTClwI/s735/100_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoexYGEOzUIbgxm2zMS9s0-bQOhJzJ7naVdLWROdFaXuEC5w2aN07E1ZWYeo0QX7h6ZnzZW96Qm3j-NOU9NnMS9jQBj8OJKaiv1GmYm_EBLsu8WMZ0KSPuZq8Fj8Lm1SwZa6mxkTClwI/s400/100_0494.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Candler Building in Baltimore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
... But there were a LOT of them...and the building was HUGE and constructed in poured concrete with a "curtain wall" exterior, in other words, the outside wall isn't a load bearing wall (other than bearing its own weight). The design used by Walthers', as well as by DPM, features individual windows with large expanses of brick and pilasters, which is more indicative of a load bearing wall, where the exterior wall is carrying the weight of the floor systems, roof system plus whatever's sitting on them. From an engineering standpoint, this type of architecture is limited in how high it can be built, so I always gasp when I see model building stacked to 15 or 20 stories, because it just doesn't look right.<br />
<br />
The dimensions between the floors of the modular kit are also a bit suspect. While the first floor of a brick industrial structure will typically be 14 to 18' to accommodate trucks backing into the loading docks, and 20' to account for freight cars on an interior siding, the upper floors drop back to a lower height, perhaps 10 to 12 feet. Walther's maintains the same floor heights all the way up, making the building more massive than might be realistic. This is due to the interchangeability of the wall panels to serve as any floor's exterior. DPM solved this problem quite simply, but it plum evades Uncle Wally.<br />
<br />
I don't like the way the wall segments are broken down. There are double wide sections offering dual windows on either side of a cast in brick pilaster, but no arrangements that are two stories tall. Therefore, when you combine sections to make a two story (or more) building, you're going to have a lot of horizontal seams that you have to deal with. (DPM provides 2-story upper walls, eliminating this problem, and the single story sections designed for your first floor feature some brick trim across the top to justify the break in the brick work.)<br />
<br />
While the pilasters provided are cleverly designed to help lock the wall sections together, like the wall sections themselves, these parts only rise one story tall. This leaves the modeler with even more horizontal joints in the brickwork that are a little trickier to line up and disguise than they need to be. A trim set providing two story pilasters would allow for faster assembly, and also would strengthen the overall construction by spanning the joints in the walls.<br />
<br />
I'm not crazy about the two cornices that are offered, either. The peaked one just doesn't look right to my eye, and ends up creating a building that screams out "I built this with the Walthers' Modular System" more than it says, "Yeah, that's a plausible big industry". I also don't like the angled brickwork that runs up the gables. I'm sure this condition exists somewhere in nature, but I feel like a stepped parapet, or some other "false front" treatment would be more generic when it comes to masking a pitched roof. The straight sections are nice, but there aren't enough of them in the kit if you're going for a large building, especially one that's not a background flat. Same goes for the single story pilasters. I used the system to build a flat behind my station, and came up two pilasters short. DPM gives you an abundance of joinery in their offering, which again adds flexibility in terms of how you "cut up" your facades.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrijlb3vc7MFFIqEUDEFgSjDyyNLl9J3dIC8gVvU1u7owlzWLXsYouaVAVLRcE6V2Wd1wscCaU8cqNojl0Qo6udLz09rcS9pin5a0L3Qa_VA9dpIUg6sBKh8FMUbIYnteDNGprCPzwSA/s735/socmb4412+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrijlb3vc7MFFIqEUDEFgSjDyyNLl9J3dIC8gVvU1u7owlzWLXsYouaVAVLRcE6V2Wd1wscCaU8cqNojl0Qo6udLz09rcS9pin5a0L3Qa_VA9dpIUg6sBKh8FMUbIYnteDNGprCPzwSA/s400/socmb4412+%281%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unpainted structure behind the Cumberland Station is (obviously) whipped up from Walthers' Modulars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The big killer, though, is the loading doors. Since the architecture featured has the appearance of an early to mid 20th century building, you'd expect the doors to be logically spaced to receive 40' boxcars. No dice. If you put the loading doors, which are single wall sections, side by side, they're way too close together, and if you hop scotch them with brick blanks, they're too far apart. They're too far apart for 50 footers, too, so pretty much anything you roll up to the loading docks is going to have to be uncoupled and spotted at the doors. Not too big an inconvenience, I suppose, just one more thing on the stack of other small things that I regard as shortcomings of this system.<br />
<br />
Now, just to prove that I can be a little bit fair minded, I'll say I really like the brick detail in the walls, the interlocking pilasters are a neat trick (although I'd like it better if they had some 2-story pilasters), and the system can work well for a large industrial complex, which Walthers has shown through the various industry kits they offer that utilize the system. I also like that the system is cast in a reasonably opaque material, since I like to install interior lighting. Although, all the joints and seams that result from the assembly design create a little more work when chasing down light leaks... It should also be noted that the roof detail kit offered in this line is outstanding, with a variety of vents, tanks and equipment that really enhances the typical "top down" view most of us have when operating our trains.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimo2H6otQEx0vKidWihr6GjsG5BGzEGvFaX_eK2qC8zk91wvybtTVQgD_7gNu6SGJM0Z1Kg1e1TTd_wz1pPsWmWBRo0h83eGiBIwEu3Pk1GZbxdynq2HkKY3zdHYweC438e2qtZNEtg8/s735/cmblts41812+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimo2H6otQEx0vKidWihr6GjsG5BGzEGvFaX_eK2qC8zk91wvybtTVQgD_7gNu6SGJM0Z1Kg1e1TTd_wz1pPsWmWBRo0h83eGiBIwEu3Pk1GZbxdynq2HkKY3zdHYweC438e2qtZNEtg8/s400/cmblts41812+%284%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I guess the biggest beef I have with the Walthers' system is that for all its various parts, it lacks the flexibility that is offered by the less extensive line provided by DPM. With its giant windows, multiple small parts, odd door spacing and tall upper floors, you don't want to crowd too many of these together. The parts also don't lend themselves to other types of buildings, such as offices near the factory, or structures you might find in a downtown area. Also, lacking compatibility with other kits make the parts harder to kitbash into other configurations such as I've enjoyed doing with DPM parts.<br />
<br />
I'm sure I can find other things to make with this system, but I'm afraid the attempt to make it too interchangeable makes it less flexible for multiple uses on a single layout. The proportions seem to lend themselves to larger industries, but using the tiny sections to create a massive building would be time consuming and potentially maddening, and without using some additional bracing, it would end up getting wavy due to all the joints in the walls.Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-62164285393731277022012-03-12T01:13:00.000-04:002012-03-12T01:13:27.640-04:00Test BedInnovation comes when ideas can be played out in real time to determine what's practical and where the limits of that practicality might be. My gradually evolving scenery work for the City of Cumberland on the layout is based partly on experience gained on previous layouts, but also on some experimentation with new techniques on other parts of the layout.<br />
<br />
For instance, having been traumatized as a child by a complex day/night lighting scheme on our Christmas Garden, devised by my overly artistic father and my diabolically technical older brother, I can't accept a cityscape that doesn't include a vast array of lighting. When the room lights go down, the city streets have to be properly lit, buildings should have the appearance of being "lived in", and generally, the skyline should attract "oohs and ahhhs" from onlookers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEUDNQ9pIkp1GAAH4aIQglPdlTqzm0JH7l2YG4ZBv08-hmLcngz8R1pADD_QNJavMOOyBrh2k03PCBMiu8n7v2T4KVpl4XRdoZxroXpCDmQ8PuP09HFAHHBs2Y8IIoACG3-vTzfrXTxE/s640/Headlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEUDNQ9pIkp1GAAH4aIQglPdlTqzm0JH7l2YG4ZBv08-hmLcngz8R1pADD_QNJavMOOyBrh2k03PCBMiu8n7v2T4KVpl4XRdoZxroXpCDmQ8PuP09HFAHHBs2Y8IIoACG3-vTzfrXTxE/s320/Headlight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
No, it's not enough for the headlight of a train to wash over the landscape as it passes. There has to be more.<br />
<br />
In the past, I've lit my scenes as cheaply and easily as I could, using old strings of Christmas lights snipped apart and wired into a 12 volt circuit supplied by the power pack. Exterior lighting was provided by commercially available streetlights, purchased when funds allowed, or salvaged from older layouts. The look worked, but often suffered the pitfalls one generally encounters when dealing with incandescent lights. Heat would build up, bulbs would burn out, and there's always the issue of size.... When I built this switch tower, for instance, all I had at my disposal was an old street light which used grain of wheat bulbs...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_79644d99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_79644d99.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
Not too bad in a dusky setting, but when the house lights come up...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Penn_Central_Turn_035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Penn_Central_Turn_035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
... well, let's just say there have been a few prurient jests from the operating crew...<br />
<br />
Recently, however, I've discovered the joys of LED lighting. I've been putting LEDs into locomotives for a few years, and I've read with interest about other uses for them. I even experimented with <a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Roundhouse_041.jpg" target="_blank">lighting a round house</a> I was building using old LED light boards pulled from locomotives I'd installed DCC into. I generally liked the results, and started looking for ways to do more. When I discovered a good source to purchase large quantities of them on-line for a very reasonable price, I decided to finally take the plunge. The first thing I dabbled in was simple interior and exterior lighting for the back shop building at Ridgeley.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kg6kuqUDqRjrjmNoVKe-43FmiOA8N68PPlFMr__apBMyTVfxQvZXM7mutK4bOl3KGvk6mvNxBN3F1ZHlqSo9iVJEMquwx7_lOGFF2XBWf-Fy-T426VUcEQrXDtcv8gTBDnSxQelA7kE/s640/Reconstruction%2520Ph.3%2520103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kg6kuqUDqRjrjmNoVKe-43FmiOA8N68PPlFMr__apBMyTVfxQvZXM7mutK4bOl3KGvk6mvNxBN3F1ZHlqSo9iVJEMquwx7_lOGFF2XBWf-Fy-T426VUcEQrXDtcv8gTBDnSxQelA7kE/s320/Reconstruction%2520Ph.3%2520103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I strung a couple of bare wires through the rafters inside the building, and drilled some holes over the roll up doors, soldered a few connections, and bingo.<br />
<br />
But an urban setting needs more finesse than a big old shop building. Exterior lighting consists of small fixtures next to doorways, lampposts with relatively small globes or overhead "cobra" street lights. Interior lighting has to be softer, and some rooms should appear to have no lights at all. Then there's all those other lighting situations, such as bill boards, alleys, passenger platforms, and more.<br />
<br />
LEDs are available in a variety of sizes and colors, including the latest surface mount types, which are absolutely tiny. I haven't started working with these yet, but I'm keen to try. In the mean time, I'm using 3mm and 1.8mm sizes in a couple of colors with a fair amount of success. I also accidentally purchased 100 5mm super bright white LEDs, which have worked out in a couple of situations.<br />
<br />
The first project I tackled using this variety pack was the freight terminal for Cumberland. Its location under a highway bridge gave me an excuse to go a little overboard, since it both needed a little extra lighting to get noticed, but it's out of the way enough that if I didn't like it, I wouldn't have to see it much. Anyway, here's how it ended up:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-V0PTZabVJVGIoVYbjHINogO4kAUOFke9Acou6yGfEnKLvGpWsZEiOlV2O4DIIE-t8RC75_qo1mIyH8Bf715aYprWg-VgwdRCuROww9mCM81WFJPsjUaFDWIH1l8tel23fkym4mH7E8/s720/New%2520Weeklies%2520153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-V0PTZabVJVGIoVYbjHINogO4kAUOFke9Acou6yGfEnKLvGpWsZEiOlV2O4DIIE-t8RC75_qo1mIyH8Bf715aYprWg-VgwdRCuROww9mCM81WFJPsjUaFDWIH1l8tel23fkym4mH7E8/s320/New%2520Weeklies%2520153.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I used 1.8mm for the exterior light fixtures to represent soda-vapor lamps, the interior of the main warehouse is some of those 5mm uber brights, which has a bluish cast similar to fluorescent lights, and a 1.8 mm white is in the office annex.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy7ijt2VSYbMWjqM707gkGB2P6LQAM7VRBGp6xeELoftnNght6PI1940IkAdrhgqN4GyJrfdITZIIUnTQjUPmpAJEZiy3tOpE6kcZz7fivsuUJfGVtKfUp9Wv1UuIivEDsWyaxeA3oPE/s640/CMBFRT2%2520%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy7ijt2VSYbMWjqM707gkGB2P6LQAM7VRBGp6xeELoftnNght6PI1940IkAdrhgqN4GyJrfdITZIIUnTQjUPmpAJEZiy3tOpE6kcZz7fivsuUJfGVtKfUp9Wv1UuIivEDsWyaxeA3oPE/s320/CMBFRT2%2520%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can also see two exterior lights on the rear of the building in white. These will wash the background buildings as well as illuminate the track-side of the warehouse. You can see two pairs of old code 80 rail running front to back. These carry the juice, as well as the roof structure. The lighting is all tied to a "pigtail" made from phone jack cord with a modular plug at the end. The idea is to be able to unhook the power to lift the building out, should it need to be repaired at the work bench.<br />
<br />
This project gave me the confidence to try my hand at a more conventional city building, but I'm not quite ready to start building the downtown blocks in Cumberland. This will involve some other techniques I've developed for creating a realistic urban landscape on a hill, which we'll discuss later. So I looked across the room to the little section along the wall I call Greenwood. There will be a cluster of small town buildings here, and they will make an ideal test bed for some of my lighting ideas. Let's take a look.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rf792fzM4DOE2zo21cvgfTyCOyJLhmgthWEf0K9M_BZ0KUpQynDIJo3LKAMnt_WCHXQDNWdtHOvVBF3XmeLaK2CCJhf9-HyZR6pt-e-fs1IzNPNj5c8uruypt_OOBPHCXzAC_JGgD8w/s640/Hardhat%2520%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rf792fzM4DOE2zo21cvgfTyCOyJLhmgthWEf0K9M_BZ0KUpQynDIJo3LKAMnt_WCHXQDNWdtHOvVBF3XmeLaK2CCJhf9-HyZR6pt-e-fs1IzNPNj5c8uruypt_OOBPHCXzAC_JGgD8w/s320/Hardhat%2520%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I started with the DPM building that I modified to resembled the fabled "Hard Hat" bar in Newport, PA. I wanted to realistically light the bar area like the smokey dive that it is, as well as a couple of apartments upstairs. Street lighting was also going to be tricky here, given the close quarters I was working in.<br />
<br />
Using a smattering of LEDs, I think I have the inside and outside done to my satisfaction. First, let's look at the front side.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cfmoYZuEF8YFfFgQYk2amnlWvlzYHkEjwCBTR8aRKarIjdqZGLr-tybT3DI5fzkSNjGI4EPN2wHqef-bjjDcuFqE2lSP4LQXJUzNnRERmWrlkIpGvSg-aAUKazLPnYUe6U_kPMAtrrM/s640/Greenwood%25201%2520%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cfmoYZuEF8YFfFgQYk2amnlWvlzYHkEjwCBTR8aRKarIjdqZGLr-tybT3DI5fzkSNjGI4EPN2wHqef-bjjDcuFqE2lSP4LQXJUzNnRERmWrlkIpGvSg-aAUKazLPnYUe6U_kPMAtrrM/s320/Greenwood%25201%2520%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The streetlight is a 1.8mm yellow LED that I filed down to be shaped more or less like a cobra head lamp mounted on a pole. If you look closely, you'll see that I simply used the anode and cathode of the LED to form the arm that extends over the street. They actually extend past the pole and into the building, where thay are wired in to the building's lighting circuit. I painted the extension between the wall and the pole black to minimize the attention they get. To get the streetlight to look more realistic, I painted the top and sides of it with black paint, then over that I brushed a coat of silver acrylic paint. This eliminates light leaks from the top and sides, and reflects all of the light down to a pool on the pavement. I used a blue 1.8mm LED in the upstairs apartment to give the effect of a TV running, probably with the Late Show on...<br />
<br />
Around back, I wanted to make sure the Hard Hat's patrons would feel safe walking past the alley, so I added a wall mounted fixture over the kitchen door.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6yPt-snBa3IxvLTXoXbTFYs2NAr5dh8UnGAWwQxKqIC92or7lP192QpeT61WemZUtAVuarWIb3DR8SDsFh48GukkSDgIkeKSLm740FuPJm9_pqsue3C21mdtboUk7klvcgBq_KQIYo8/s640/Greenwood%25201%2520%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6yPt-snBa3IxvLTXoXbTFYs2NAr5dh8UnGAWwQxKqIC92or7lP192QpeT61WemZUtAVuarWIb3DR8SDsFh48GukkSDgIkeKSLm740FuPJm9_pqsue3C21mdtboUk7klvcgBq_KQIYo8/s320/Greenwood%25201%2520%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The building behind it represents a business that might not be open as late as the bar is, so the lighting is dimmer inside, accomplished with those dreadful amber light boards from older Life Like locomotives. They're perfect for this application, though.<br />
<br />
So, I'm now pretty satisfied with the method and outcome of lighting structures with LEDs. Next step will be to do the secondary benchwork to support the several blocks of Cumberland, and get started on arranging the structures. Stay tuned!Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-57052211544932252872012-01-13T15:39:00.002-05:002012-01-13T15:39:43.508-05:00Real Estate Market Heats up in Cumberland...That title ought to drive the search engines a little nuts...<br />
I'm starting to get excited about building out the Cumberland section of the layout. Urban scenery presents a fair amount of challenges, and for me one of those is getting some unique flavor out of the buildings. Design Preservation Models and Walthers Cornerstone are good models to start with, but frankly, I get weary of seeing the same buildings on everyone's layouts... You can personalize them a little with some paint and other details, but the variety has become a little limited, especially if you're planning a reasonably large urban area.<br />
<br />
<br />
Fortunately, over the years, I've never thrown anything away. I've done a lot of kitbashing, so there's gobs of leftovers, everything from whole wall sections to sprues of windows and doors. I also keep a good stock of strip and sheet styrene, so in a pinch, I can fabricate whatever I might need.<br />
So I dove head first into the parts bin... and came up with this:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH81FtpKjwlmC9szM0Pfs75kr-oi_Fh2HMbHO1fdNIJj87Ld0ZX-vd5wjdO1LIYffXbTGQlB2sokkxNPMWftcA74EhZ-QEqFPGkhcs5wGVprx2735TB24P7jG9LL0a0iVUzSgIToulxw/s512/BaltoStCMB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH81FtpKjwlmC9szM0Pfs75kr-oi_Fh2HMbHO1fdNIJj87Ld0ZX-vd5wjdO1LIYffXbTGQlB2sokkxNPMWftcA74EhZ-QEqFPGkhcs5wGVprx2735TB24P7jG9LL0a0iVUzSgIToulxw/s400/BaltoStCMB.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I should first explain that I had some help from my friend Paul Hutter, who lives in Cumberland, and who went on a mission to get some pictures of buildings along Baltimore Street, the old main drag through town. He provided some outstanding examples, several of which are far beyond my modeling capabilities... But with a little smoke and mirrors, and plenty of stuff accumulated over decades of model railroading, I don't think I'll have a problem breaking up the monotony of the usual DPM parade...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22350%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20src=%22http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Cumberland,+MD&aq=0&oq=Cumberland+&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=52.020054,135.263672&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Cumberland,+Allegany,+Maryland&ll=39.652865,-78.762518&spn=0.003118,0.008256&t=h&z=14&output=embed%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Csmall%3E%3Ca%20href=%22http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Cumberland,+MD&aq=0&oq=Cumberland+&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=52.020054,135.263672&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Cumberland,+Allegany,+Maryland&ll=39.652865,-78.762518&spn=0.003118,0.008256&t=h&z=14%22%20style=%22color:#0000FF;text-align:left%22%3EView%20Larger%20Map%3C/a%3E%3C/small%3E" target="_blank">Downtown Cumberland</a> has some magnificent examples of late 19th/early 20th century architecture, and many of the main street buildings are very well preserved. Here's the pair I'm simulating...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32la2WcPx1i0xvskepun8eK-QQWcqykHPZGwYuMfDoKnRHMLNp_8tX7eHwee5cD0Jv-uh7-NmSJMIh_lnloVrWSqrV2fNX1HoURTtva9P6BF1WLnkPG5xP8chokwifkwvYUeMeQ-fpPY/s640/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32la2WcPx1i0xvskepun8eK-QQWcqykHPZGwYuMfDoKnRHMLNp_8tX7eHwee5cD0Jv-uh7-NmSJMIh_lnloVrWSqrV2fNX1HoURTtva9P6BF1WLnkPG5xP8chokwifkwvYUeMeQ-fpPY/s400/057.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltimore Street, Cumberland, Maryland. Photo by Paul Hutter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I love the faux stonework on the one on the right, and the bold arch of the hobby store building is awesome. I'll be trying to get the flavors closer as I paint and further detail the buildings, but obviously, I'm not trying to build inch for inch replicas. While DPM structures are pretty versatile, they're also quite "vanilla". While they offer several footprints, and a some halfway decent larger buildings, the window patterns, the details and the overall styles of the models are pretty similar. Like today, architects of that era often pulled their details from a catalog, so in a sense, this approach can be prototypical. But in larger towns that found themselves in a "boom" of prosperity, you'd be more likely to find the kind of bold architectural statements such as the ones shown above.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I scavenged parts for a couple of kits, rounded up some DPM modulars for the side walls, and otherwise filled in textures and shapes to get close to the flavors shown in Paul's shot. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bpzpv5uHpk/Tw0BzJKlVeI/AAAAAAAAP4Y/8m03ozmiDyg/s576/BaltoStCMB%252520%2525281%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bpzpv5uHpk/Tw0BzJKlVeI/AAAAAAAAP4Y/8m03ozmiDyg/s400/BaltoStCMB%252520%2525281%252529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm still working on them both, I'll come back and drop in a more finished view when they're ready.<br />
<br />
Bear in mind that my main street will be about 3' long, so there will be quite a clutter of buildings once it's done. My goal is to do a couple key buildings that capture the essence of Cumberland's streetscape, then use the usual suspects to fill in the blanks.<br />
<br />
I'm giving most of the attention to the facades, because as you can see, the buildings are pretty much cheek by jowel. These will back up to the curved skyboard that encloses the Thomas sub helix, and will be placed closer to the rear of the scene. I like their three story elevations, and the arched windows.<br />
<br />
To make the facades, I started with half of an old Heljan engine house to get the big single arch. I clipped out the pockets designed for the door "hinges" and simply shortened the opening as such. I used the doors to build up the arched windows, adding some strip styrene to fill in the gaps. A couple of Gloor Craft dual windows sufficed for the second floor. The first floor is all scratched out of strip styrene, with a couple of door and window frame castings to finish it out. I used DPM Modular walls cut in half to make the side walls, and blank sheet styrene to make the unseen rear of the building.<br />
<br />
I just started the second building this evening, but I'll be adding the storefront next chance I get. You may recognize the twin arch windows as coming from the back wall panel of the Walther's Union City Roundhouse. (Recall that I accumulated about a half dozen of these kits to build the bones of my 22 stall roundhouse at Ridgeley, so odds are, you'll be seeing these windows again!) <br />
<br />
There are several "signature" buildings on the street that I want to include, which will help viewers familiar with Cumberland to feel at home. This big bank building, for instance:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_6yrznceeK6IdHwNZ9xDRRzfFlIgaK_kFRsg6grWlXf9IL6TS0nVGppJV0BuX9vHEu5IQwxJxGWRqMJq2VTr3LBxusycsvVYwVGJroRk-f_GIDIIs8v35lpP5lrOo39DghVaEJf-c1E/s912/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_6yrznceeK6IdHwNZ9xDRRzfFlIgaK_kFRsg6grWlXf9IL6TS0nVGppJV0BuX9vHEu5IQwxJxGWRqMJq2VTr3LBxusycsvVYwVGJroRk-f_GIDIIs8v35lpP5lrOo39DghVaEJf-c1E/s400/060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Paul Hutter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Having the first floor squared and the remaining stories rounded on the corner make this immediately stand out. It will be fun to experiment with different materials to see if I can get that effect to work in N scale.<br />
<br />
Another would be Peskin's, which I assume was a department store. The variety of window styles, and the big Art Deco sign board give evidence of both the building's original vintage as well as one of its commercial revivals.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TD4YX2GwIyA/Tw0FSMNfv5I/AAAAAAAAP50/0vDa-_-iyeg/s640/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TD4YX2GwIyA/Tw0FSMNfv5I/AAAAAAAAP50/0vDa-_-iyeg/s400/054.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Paul Hutter</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The more modern buildings to the left and right will add more authenticity to the scene. Afterall, a downtown isn't a static thing. There are always buildings being built, torn down or remodeled as the fortunes of the neighborhood ebb and flow. My 1970 era could be considered the end of the mid century boom for Cumberland, but before the hard times that followed the closure of several major employers later in the decade.<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to working with the Townbuilder Series from NZT Products and Stonebridge Models. It will be nice if they move beyond the plain vanilla styles offered by DPM and Walthers, and provide us with some more interesting downtown buildings for our towns. Afterall, in our smaller scale, we have room for a wider variety of buildings.<br />
<br />
<br />
That is all for now...<br />
LeeLee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-76441060296275690632011-11-22T07:24:00.001-05:002011-11-22T14:57:30.585-05:00Rome Wasn't Built in a Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Mecca_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Mecca_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I was in MB Klein's old store in Gay Street, Baltimore when I heard a dad say that to his son. Obviously the boy had eyes bigger than his dad's wallet, and Dad wanted to emphasize to the boy that model railroading is not a hobby for people seeking instant gratification.<br />
<br />
As I look back through the enormous volume of photos and other bleatings I've posted over the years, I can't help but notice how many projects have gone unfinished. My adult A.D.D. certainly has something to do with it, but it's safe to say that there are projects that were aborted due to bad planning, or a change in direction of my thinking, or the discovery of the proverbial "better mouse trap." Having a lengthy to-do list has never bothered me. After all, I've been working on my 100+ year old house at the same time I've been building my layout, and my wife will be the first to tell you that I'm forever adding to THAT list.<br />
<br />
So, while the yard on the layout remains to be ballasted, several main line turnouts remain to be wired, and the base scenery on some sections is still a dotted line, I've undertaken the design, layout and construction of the major city on the WM Western Lines: Cumberland, Maryland.<br />
<br />
The focal point of the scene will be the grand WM station there, constructed in 1913, and still in service as the terminal of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_4e66daa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_4e66daa2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since I'm modeling 1970, the train sheds won't be there, and the building will have it's well-worn and threadbare appearance from that era. The last passenger train passed its doors in 1956 or so, but the building carried on as a freight agent's office and as home to the CTC dispatcher for the Connellsville sub. This is how it looked in 1989 before being refurbished for the tourist trains.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Cumberland_Station_1989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Cumberland_Station_1989.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I started building a model of the station based on plans published in <i>Model Railroader</i> in the mid '90s, but got hung up on the windows. The model is currently in the capable hands of David K. Smith, of <a href="http://www.nztproducts.com/" target="_blank">NZT Products</a>, being studied to find the best solution. In addition to the MR drawings, I have a copy of the original blueprints of the building, so we're in the process of reconciling the original designs to the "as built" arrangements.<br />
<br />
A key element of the scene will be the concrete channel in front of the station that was constructed in the 1950's to help control flooding along Wills Creek. I've started framing up that area, including the interesting steel beam bridge that crosses the channel just west of the station.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_be14f3d0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/mURI_temp_be14f3d0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OcwanDa6oPnilHUxo6xVTprZRoEX7CUXKiZID7ybvX0q9UMjF44zy25arwwZ4qAKQLqDeLuwz_20xV1kp_NUNd9dD_xEjfZVoOC3_7NxHW2-x-A8Y0_kioIrdXUjx188oMKX04Emb5Y/s1600/Cumberland+1119+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OcwanDa6oPnilHUxo6xVTprZRoEX7CUXKiZID7ybvX0q9UMjF44zy25arwwZ4qAKQLqDeLuwz_20xV1kp_NUNd9dD_xEjfZVoOC3_7NxHW2-x-A8Y0_kioIrdXUjx188oMKX04Emb5Y/s320/Cumberland+1119+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You can see the station location, with the stand-in building, the creek channel in front, and the buildings of Baltimore Street, the main drag through town. The industrial site on the left side of the creek isn't prototypical, there's a neighborhood there, but I wanted to add some more switching opportunities, so that will be the PPG Plate Glass plant, worked through a switch back located on top of the flood wall. The other industrial tracks behind the station are also foobed in for my era, but there is a newspaper plant back there, a freight house and a couple of other players to be named later to provide more traffic for the railroad. I'll also be adding the Queen City Brewery farther back and on the same side of the creek as the station. I'll have to build that last, since I'm going to need to have access to the hole back there to build the rest of the town.<br />
<br />
To try to capture the essence of the downtown, I had a friend who lives in Cumberland, Paul Hutter, take some photos of a few key buildings in town. I'm going to try to model a couple of the more prominent ones then sprinkle in the usual Heljan and DPM kits around them to fill in the blanks. The plan is to build a supporting frame, then construct the city block by block in a way that it can be dropped into place fully detailed, lit and ready to just plug in.<br />
<br />
With budgets remaining tight, I don't expect this section to get finished any time soon, but alas, Neither Rome, nor Cumberland, were built in a day...<br />
<br />
<br />Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-54127396333911497972011-10-19T22:38:00.001-04:002011-10-19T22:41:18.327-04:00Quick Progress ReportSorry I've been remiss in keeping this updated. Fact is, I haven't had much time in the train room. I'm still busy with fixing up other parts of the house, plus work, plus this, that and the other...<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm taking this week off to burn off some vacation days, and since the wife is back to work (FINALLY) I have some unsupervised play time. Here's what we've been up to lately...<br />
<br />
<br />
Put in some time on the layout today, mostly on adding fascia around the front side across the windows.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxlVR8ePJ-qJOy_ugvXuQhsFee9xEayDz2CfrkOSi4jirxotLGy2F12_2XtbN9PyaPCL4NEP6ZzQC_D1ILymXcXizNFV9F2pSlTXx78WXtvJ6zdXuplvrl2Rydyqr21hHM0T3iHfHenU/s1600/Fascia+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxlVR8ePJ-qJOy_ugvXuQhsFee9xEayDz2CfrkOSi4jirxotLGy2F12_2XtbN9PyaPCL4NEP6ZzQC_D1ILymXcXizNFV9F2pSlTXx78WXtvJ6zdXuplvrl2Rydyqr21hHM0T3iHfHenU/s400/Fascia+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
If you disregard all the rubbish below that narrow green band of masonite, you can see the progress. The most interesting (read Pain the Arse) part of the project was figuring how to make the helix look a little better, yet still keep it accessible for emergencies.<br />
<br />
This is what I came up with.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4frD44BHV66ongLEX6FkEIPHaFmCi4SRWIEQrBofhrsLEOTKJ5IT243YdXT1y2Ufu-nvxdiJuPnq6dhLbgvPJ3BGornxsYDfsq2muGAu76BjV2Wla8cA7rl-_sLYqh-LaqqHs3XS-m4/s720/Fascia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4frD44BHV66ongLEX6FkEIPHaFmCi4SRWIEQrBofhrsLEOTKJ5IT243YdXT1y2Ufu-nvxdiJuPnq6dhLbgvPJ3BGornxsYDfsq2muGAu76BjV2Wla8cA7rl-_sLYqh-LaqqHs3XS-m4/s400/Fascia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The portal on the left is the Connellsville sub going into the top of the helix. I cut the portal out of sanded plywood and added some trim pieces. The whole section from left to right was supposed to be one solid piece of plywood, but somewhere between the attic and the garage, I lost a half an inch, so I opted to just cut it in two and use some foam to fill the gap.<br />
<br />
I'm going to make a "half dome of foam" to stick some scenery there next to the upper helix track, which is now, by the way, ballasted. If nothing else, I can use this as a photo backdrop for rolling stock shots.<br />
<br />
The primary access for the helix remains up the middle... the blue tub you see there slides out, leaving plenty of room for even us full-figured railroaders. And I'm going to have to go under there tomorrow, because I've got three more bike cable/click pen installations to do to get the A/D tracks fully functional.<br />
<br />
So at this point, I've got about 6' of fascia to do around the Cumberland area, and another 4 or 5' on the front edge of the yard. Inch by inch, it's getting done!<br />
<div><br />
</div>Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-30851570424149309962011-09-11T23:09:00.000-04:002011-09-11T23:09:39.054-04:00How fleeting the summer has been...Here we are just past Labor Day, and the only thing I can report is that I don't have much to report! Since our camping trip back in July, I've been busy tending to lots of other business, some of it pleasant, some of it not so much.<br />
<br />
For those of you living on the east coast, you know that in a one week period we had a little earthquake followed by a not so little hurricane, followed by a three day gulley washer thanks to a tropical storm named after me.<br />
<br />
You'll be pleased to know that the railroad survived all of these catastrophes more or less unscathed, although I did have to go up and right some of the rolling stock that tipped over in the quake.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytyp_iLch-4/TlQYsmTeLvI/AAAAAAAAPhQ/gihAmoSxZWQ/s1600/Earthquake%2521+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytyp_iLch-4/TlQYsmTeLvI/AAAAAAAAPhQ/gihAmoSxZWQ/s320/Earthquake%2521+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This was the worst of it. There were a couple of other cars knocked over in the yard, but nothing major down in staging, which I was worried about. At any given moment there's upwards of 150 cars stowed below decks, and I had visions of a major catastrophe down there.<br />
<br />
After the shaker, Hurricane Irene came through, and the major effect there was the power going out for about 18 hours, which meant another weekend without getting some decoders done that I owe people... No juice, no soldering! Tropical Storm Lee had more impact on the west side of the Chesapeake and on up into Pennsylvania and New England, so other than a couple of stray showers, that left us alone.<br />
<br />
A few weeks earlier, I finally completed a project that had been put off for quite a long time, a wagontop B&O caboose for the <a href="http://brrm.net/">Brunswick Railroad Museum</a> in Brunswick, Maryland. They have a little N scale layout in the front window of their gift shop, and Tom Simpson, one of their directors as well as an old high school bud, asked me to whip something up for them. I'm going to see if I can help build a more B&O appropriate layout for the front window. The shot below was taken on my layout before I shipped it up to Tom to ride around on the Unitrak loop they've got there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOu7B_dVw0_xtLsCOxDNGYAF2rZ7LadaSyom43FB7ITyOf-JSR3IEXr7woFjAGpyVQUwes80bsHo-04HzjcyF9ZOergNdkeMCtuZnJnzxWAaQ69d1xI_FZrSsXtarOU1DniKCupt1yds/s1600/Rolling+Stock+711+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOu7B_dVw0_xtLsCOxDNGYAF2rZ7LadaSyom43FB7ITyOf-JSR3IEXr7woFjAGpyVQUwes80bsHo-04HzjcyF9ZOergNdkeMCtuZnJnzxWAaQ69d1xI_FZrSsXtarOU1DniKCupt1yds/s320/Rolling+Stock+711+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
One other thing that I did get done was some work on a few commercial vehicles and pick up trucks thanks to a generous gift from one of my crew members. He had stockpiled a bunch of cast pewter kits in anticipation of a layout that now likely won't be built, so he sent them along to me. So I started tinkering.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAWsoT2BMeM/TkCmjgyCH9I/AAAAAAAAPew/Q7qw9Ao0HK8/s1600/Vehicles+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAWsoT2BMeM/TkCmjgyCH9I/AAAAAAAAPew/Q7qw9Ao0HK8/s320/Vehicles+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_tsOv533kzin0vwNG45VfbaWUfg4Oi5LPjEsw25Kx_EOnT_nJnUWI5ixRyo2sy1WstkTet9NJfX3zB4EnELeCpm3TOMQwE5XDwJQd-KS8kIaIhlpFHgWt-50ZeCuQvP8rZLc8BFe21M/s1600/Vehicles+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_tsOv533kzin0vwNG45VfbaWUfg4Oi5LPjEsw25Kx_EOnT_nJnUWI5ixRyo2sy1WstkTet9NJfX3zB4EnELeCpm3TOMQwE5XDwJQd-KS8kIaIhlpFHgWt-50ZeCuQvP8rZLc8BFe21M/s320/Vehicles+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There's more, but they're in varying stages of completion. There's a whole gang of Chevy cabs that I thought would look good on one of the open auto racks, but that will strictly be for photos. The cast pewter models add way too much weight to the car to be practical for running. It might work on an N track run that's relatively flat, but the grades on the WM Western Lines would definitely cause the experiment to end badly.<br />
<br />
That's all the news that's fit to print for now. With the weather cooling down and outside projects tailing off, I'm hoping to spend some more time in the train room finishing a bit more of the many projects that I've started. But I'm not in a big hurry. I understand that if you finish everything on your "to do" list, you die!Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-982798330417457102011-07-22T03:22:00.003-04:002011-07-25T15:32:18.621-04:00Spending some time with an old friendTo provide a foundation for this post, I should explain that in 1959, my dad bought a brand new Plymouth Belvedere right off the showroom floor. He had been home from the army since about 1954, and had a good job as a freight clerk for the Baltimore and Ohio. Since he was as yet unmarried, and still living in his parents' house on Highwood Drive in north Baltimore, he could afford to splurge a little. I should note that the car was Fire Engine Red, with a white convertible top.<br />
<br />
When dad was in the Army, he was stationed in what was then known as West Germany and he reached the rank of Corporal as an MP "protecting the beer halls for democracy" as he used to joke. It was a small joke he would cast out with a twinge of melancholy, as this was during the Korean War, and many of his friends from high school and the neighborhood were drafted and sent to more dangerous places, some of whom never returned.<br />
<br />
While stationed overseas, Dad became fast friends with John Simons, of Cleveland, Ohio. After his service in the Army, John went on to attend seminary and become ordained as an Episcopal priest. While he became an upright man of the cloth, he was also a gregarious man of great humor. Long story short, after Dad left the service, he remained in touch with the Rt. Rev. It wasn't long after the big Plymouth was in the driveway on Highwood that Dad got the call from his old friend to invite him to his parish in Parma to serve as Godfather to his new son. (John and his wife Nancy remained close to my parents, although both John and my dad have passed.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyMtpKTXpCdPdeT1mcviCetqEMkm366_7hjmHhPPUleUQpGwtzm-Si1TX9uZXZIqClsDMbRpx01wrAXvuhB6GJVGPNA0Mropqdk373bL-djrubshW7d6TQffkTNhVW_8kesKYADfSYnQ/s720/elvis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyMtpKTXpCdPdeT1mcviCetqEMkm366_7hjmHhPPUleUQpGwtzm-Si1TX9uZXZIqClsDMbRpx01wrAXvuhB6GJVGPNA0Mropqdk373bL-djrubshW7d6TQffkTNhVW_8kesKYADfSYnQ/s320/elvis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In so extending this invitation, the reverend set in motion a chain of events that led to today's adventure. You see, my mom, Barbara, was John's parish secretary. Imagine if you will, being a young woman of 26, and looking out your office window to see a long, red automobile sweep into the drive, tail-fins glistening. With the top down, you see a splendid young man with wavy blond hair step out, and he politely greets you with a pleasant smile, sparkling blue eyes, and a strange accent that, at least in northern Ohio, might as well have been from South Carolina. (Dad didn't really have an accent, at least not to our ears, but then we grew up in Baltimore, too!) His face was tanned from the long trip up US 40 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He must have seemed quite exotic.<br />
<br />
So, anyway, one thing led to another, Barbara was swept away in the big red convertible, and they settled in Dad's home town. Naturally, as we children came along, there evolved the annual ritual of traveling up to Cleveland to spend a week or so each summer with the cousins. By the early 70's, Interstate 70 was gradually being completed, and we would speed along in a series of Plymouths, each gulping down more gasoline than the last.<br />
<br />
Back in the days before the mind-numbing omnipresence of television, and this ridiculous modern philosophy that children need to be entertained every moment of the day, we did what came naturally. This usually involved squabbling over who would sit next to the window, or complaints about the comparative proportion of this half a sandwich vs. that. But for the most part, we would just press our noses against the glass and look out the window (provided, of course, that you were the one that won the window battle!)<br />
<br />
Traveling west from Baltimore on I-70 in those days was a good illustration of why Maryland has long been referred to as "America in Miniature." From the big city with the harbor and industry, you traveled to the Beltway, that most modern of conveyances that provided a gateway for massive suburban development. Once on 70, you found yourself in rolling country dotted with dairies and horse farms. Once you reached Frederick, you could see the first line of the Blue Ridge reaching up into the sky. I remember imagining that it was really an enormous tidal wave ready to crash over the little town below.<br />
<br />
After a couple of ridges, there was the broad Cumberland Valley, a tremendously fertile farming area marked by huge barns, hay stacks, and silos. The silos always made this elementary school boy think of giant Thermos bottles for some reason. Past Hagerstown, the more rugged ridges of the Alleghenies began. I knew my favorite part of the trip was close at hand when the two westbound lanes climbed high above the eastbound traffic, which afforded an excellent view of the railroad tracks that ran next to the highway just to the left.<br />
<br />
How often it happened I can't recall, but I do have vivid memories of coming around that certain bend in the road just before Hancock, and seeing the headlight of an oncoming train. I had no idea at the time, but this was the Western Maryland Railway. I suppose my dad called this to my attention at some point or another, but at that age, I would have had no idea what he was talking about anyway.<br />
<br />
There was a long siding there just east of Tonoloway Creek, which snakes down from Town Hill just east of Hancock. My guess is that this was an important passing siding between Hagerstown and Maryland Junction, the two major terminals of the WM, so it wouldn't be unusual for a westbound drag of empty coal hoppers to be holed up in the siding to wait for the passage of a hot Alpha Jet going east.<br />
<br />
As the 1970's wore on, and the Chessie System asserted itself as the new landlord over the WM, I noticed that I didn't see those headlights much anymore. The main line was cut just west of Hancock in 1975, and all the WM's through traffic was diverted over to the B&O tracks at Cherry Run. The line from there to Hancock remained in place to serve a couple of industries with local switching. The long siding at Tonoloway became little more than a storage track for some of Chessie's decrepit fleet of poorly maintained freight cars.<br />
<br />
With the passage of a few more years, business dried up for the shippers in Hancock, and the purpose of the line was called into question by Chessie's management. In rapid succession, an application was filed with the ICC to abandon the route, followed shortly by an approval. The scrap train was on hand before the ink was dry. As a final insult, the handsome Hancock train station burned to the ground in a fire of suspicious origin.<br />
<br />
As we got older, the trips to see the relatives became fewer and farther between, but I still had occasion to travel that way on business, or to go to a wedding or funeral. But I still experienced the anticipation of possibly spotting a headlight, even after I knew there was no possibility of there being one. Still, this remained a special place for me, and when I learned it had been converted into a "Rails to Trails" project, I knew that one day I'd have the opportunity to take a closer look at this stretch of railroad that so intrigued me as a child.<br />
<br />
Today, well, Yesterday was the day.<br />
<br />
My son and I embarked on a camping adventure earlier in the week after Laura and my youngest, Julie, went to Disney World thanks to the huge volume of Girl Scout Cookies that was peddled by her troop. After spending the night in Brunswick, Maryland, we headed to Hancock for our second night. So Thursday morning, we struck our tents, loaded the bikes back on the rack, and headed to downtown Hancock for lunch. I decided to ride on the rail trail going east, then cross over to ride the C&O Canal towpath back to town. The round trip was about 17 miles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2aROhlcEoL9TxO8phVNrfMoxMda_eUOV4cwyIztXYM9dK5NchfPOsAHZnK4_dwugcbNPSYH5GmWP1CarflgpIYYQltKN966hgLT-AaghrR6IUnaWdPKXYB5CpPajs9oSC0iMyY5ayL4/s640/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2aROhlcEoL9TxO8phVNrfMoxMda_eUOV4cwyIztXYM9dK5NchfPOsAHZnK4_dwugcbNPSYH5GmWP1CarflgpIYYQltKN966hgLT-AaghrR6IUnaWdPKXYB5CpPajs9oSC0iMyY5ayL4/s400/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbxDZRQvuYjlBrHFHZ1aP1QpxAbR1OAPdO6oLdb6O3QrWO5E2igvMKRIzBargjSB5MY5Mz3Q40MYUfzUMWgJEVvVildxmeX_RTZayBXIwWuTt7u-_bQ_hkUoIiQl3tp_R1h500Sb0HtQ/s640/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
I managed about 8 miles out of 22.5 on the WM Rail Trail out of Hancock. If you're a low level bicyclist like myself, this trail is a dream. Fully paved, barely a grade (Thanks to the outstanding 20th Century engineering of the WM), and absolutely bucolic surroundings... save for the roar of I-70 most of the way going east. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbxDZRQvuYjlBrHFHZ1aP1QpxAbR1OAPdO6oLdb6O3QrWO5E2igvMKRIzBargjSB5MY5Mz3Q40MYUfzUMWgJEVvVildxmeX_RTZayBXIwWuTt7u-_bQ_hkUoIiQl3tp_R1h500Sb0HtQ/s640/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520103.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbxDZRQvuYjlBrHFHZ1aP1QpxAbR1OAPdO6oLdb6O3QrWO5E2igvMKRIzBargjSB5MY5Mz3Q40MYUfzUMWgJEVvVildxmeX_RTZayBXIwWuTt7u-_bQ_hkUoIiQl3tp_R1h500Sb0HtQ/s400/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few hours after dark with an extension ladder and some wire cutters would net a treasure hunter quite a few glass insulators...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAf_uaxv_UdmCUDRlGse0E75zVFrzECumzTSGyGE0kCxg_hDeLQ8PttKwcO5hWJebGF4kxdGxdoNzS1ZGHYTCrV7JSmkVPWTdp5vkLMmlV66PFTiF4wKB1Hz0AkrcWUU4HoLpu18tqcHI/s640/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAf_uaxv_UdmCUDRlGse0E75zVFrzECumzTSGyGE0kCxg_hDeLQ8PttKwcO5hWJebGF4kxdGxdoNzS1ZGHYTCrV7JSmkVPWTdp5vkLMmlV66PFTiF4wKB1Hz0AkrcWUU4HoLpu18tqcHI/s400/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520104.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original WM era mile markers, sections of rail driven into the ground, have been restored.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttcw3d1EqdaY3GPIzJNyw2hd4XrllSSn6-n7mae7BLgVSYv30rORS0TFjqGsvpYDroSnbDM30_skaM7xsdBqhCug-3ZDwhRlMTcygLLzsSsbJ390xHPhhJVTZHtPM9_gjoJ9fiPrc1Vw/s640/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttcw3d1EqdaY3GPIzJNyw2hd4XrllSSn6-n7mae7BLgVSYv30rORS0TFjqGsvpYDroSnbDM30_skaM7xsdBqhCug-3ZDwhRlMTcygLLzsSsbJ390xHPhhJVTZHtPM9_gjoJ9fiPrc1Vw/s400/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another bag of rocks has been harvested for the layout...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX_QrpxLecKltH_cDp3Hc7dd6_LS9Q-9PcNtP0P2J_81ZgDAEBbphdOmb-4IqSVLJXjMtGsLm-nTlRSq_Uv7FYnSN7YexLBUB9nD3SplGS3ozZQvptekxWJuFOjAiyprhwmhgLcM09pg/s640/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX_QrpxLecKltH_cDp3Hc7dd6_LS9Q-9PcNtP0P2J_81ZgDAEBbphdOmb-4IqSVLJXjMtGsLm-nTlRSq_Uv7FYnSN7YexLBUB9nD3SplGS3ozZQvptekxWJuFOjAiyprhwmhgLcM09pg/s400/More%252520Summer%252520Fun%252520113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Apart from one couple I encountered going west, this was the only other "hiker" I came across on my ride. After I switched over to the canal for the trip back, she reappeared with her fawn. I'm definitely heading back up there as soon as I can to ride the rest of the route.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/WM__58_F7A+B+B_74-01-06_left,_Frostburg_SNOWING,_400_rest_scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/WM__58_F7A+B+B_74-01-06_left,_Frostburg_SNOWING,_400_rest_scan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Charlie Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
While I would have probably enjoyed it more to see some speed-lettered diesels barrel through with a fast freight one more time, I have to say it was nice to get up close and personal with this stretch of right of way that was responsible for a whole slew of childhood memories. And maybe, just maybe, for the rest of the stuff you've read about here...Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-33866487151747280012011-07-09T10:54:00.000-04:002011-07-09T10:54:29.251-04:00Dream BigSo I've whipped up a tentative train schedule now that the layout is more or less complete. <br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Train descriptions:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>FIRST CLASS – FAST FREIGHTS</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>AJ-1/3 <span> </span></b><i>Alpha Jet fast freights originating at Allentown from west bound cars consolidated from the L&HR, CNJ, and Reading.<span> </span>Interchanges to the WM at Lurgan, near Shippensburg, PA.<span> </span>After being switched at Hagerstown westbound Alpha Jets would typically run through to Rook Yard near Pittsburgh, then on to Bellevue, Ohio for further classification.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">On the layout, AJ 1 & 3 starts at east staging, entering the layout at North Junction.<span> </span>At Ridgeley, set outs for local traffic and cars bound for other points on the railroad are made, and cars are picked up that are bound for the interchange with the N&W at Connellsville.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQvJPcod9GPrhe67dMEKvQnlINwYKbYOiihhRyvbEn4OWnzySSwrAUQ7Gj4Hupo_uF555Hr27pCIzFKHNN58LIb4h5O04Qzr5zAwc9yGDYqxc_JeGl_nYGbjRxxCoHLpna6qhLeztUxc/s800/New%252520Weeklies%252520010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQvJPcod9GPrhe67dMEKvQnlINwYKbYOiihhRyvbEn4OWnzySSwrAUQ7Gj4Hupo_uF555Hr27pCIzFKHNN58LIb4h5O04Qzr5zAwc9yGDYqxc_JeGl_nYGbjRxxCoHLpna6qhLeztUxc/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>AJ-2/12</b>:<span> </span>Alpha Jet fast freights originating at Bellevue Yard on the N&W (former NKP) via Rook Yard, to Connellsville, Ridgeley, Hagerstown and Lurgan on the WM, destined for Rutherford Yard, and eastbound connections at Allentown (CNJ, L&HR, NH).<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">On the layout, these trains originate in West Staging, entering the layout at Greenwood, proceeding east to Maryland Jct. then on to Ridgeley for classification to continue east to Lurgan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>GRAIN EXTRA</b> – <i>(Seasonal) Eastbound grain from the Great Lakes and Midwest for shipment to Port Covington for storage and/or export.<span> </span>Connection from NW at Connellsville, through train to Baltimore. </i><span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Sweet_Spot_NW_012webP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Sweet_Spot_NW_012webP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On the layout, follows main around Ridgeley, pausing for a power change and fresh caboose.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>SECOND CLASS – FAST FREIGHTS with Intermediate Switching</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>BT-1</b><span> </span><i>Originates at Port Covington (Baltimore), westbound to Connellsville to P&LE (Dickerson Run) to Pittsburgh, Youngstown and Cleveland.<span> </span>From there, it followed the Nickel Plate to Toledo, Ohio, its terminus.</i><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">On the layout, BT-1 starts at east staging, entering the layout at North Junction.<span> </span>At Ridgeley, set outs for local traffic and cars bound for other points on the railroad are made, and cars are picked up that are bound for the interchange with the P&LE at Connellsville.<span> </span>The train may also do pick-ups and set-outs at Maryland Junction.<span> </span>If volume permits, it may also pick up cars bound for the Laurel Valley, which would be set out at Rockwood Jct.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>WM-6</b><span> </span><i>Eastbound counterpart to BT-1, operating from Dickerson Run Yard on the P&LE through Connellsville and on to Baltimore via the East Sub.</i><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">On the layout, the train originates out of West Staging, entering the layout at Greenwood.<span> </span>It proceeds east on the Connellsville Sub as far as Maryland Junction, where it may do pick-ups and set-outs of traffic from the Thomas Sub.<span> </span>Proceeding east, it enters Ridgeley Yard to be reblocked for the trip east to Baltimore, via North Jct. into East Staging. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>NW-12</b><span> </span><i>Technically East bound from Roanoke, Va to Hagerstown on the Norfolk and Western.<span> </span>Primarily traffic bound for the northeast via the Reading at Lurgan, and timed to connect with AJ-12 at Hagerstown.<span> </span>Also carried traffic to go through to the N&W connection at Connellsville as well.</i><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">On the layout, the train originates in East Staging, entering via North Jct. and terminates at Ridgely Yard (a westbound move on the layout).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>NW-11</b><span> </span><i>Technically West bound from Hagerstown to Roanoke.<span> </span>Reverse move to NW12, with connections from the Reading and other points via AJ-1.</i><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Originates at Ridgeley, then departs for East Staging via North Junction (eastbound move).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>WEST BOUND GRAIN EXTRA (MT)</b> (Seasonal)<span> </span>Empty grain hoppers being returned to the Midwest via Connellsville and the N&W.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">On the layout:<span> </span>Originates from East Staging.<span> </span>May pause at Ridgeley for a power/caboose swap.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>THIRD CLASS TRAINS – Local Freights and Traveling Switchers.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Luke Digger:</b><span> </span>Originates at Ridgeley Yard.<span> </span>Turn to Westvaco Mill at Luke and return.<span> </span>Departs westbound, works at Luke, then returns eastbound via Williamsport Jct.<span> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Cover_Shots_020_A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Cover_Shots_020_A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Handles all Luke traffic that originates from the Main line via Ridgeley.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>West Local:</b><span> </span>Originates at Elkins and moves eastbound toward Ridgeley.<span> </span>Switches Thomas, Shaw, and Cumberland, and provides pick-ups and set-outs at Luke, and transfers through traffic to Ridgeley for connections.<span> </span>Typically carries wood chip loads from the west into Luke.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>East Local:</b><span> </span>Originates at Ridgeley and works westbound toward Elkins.<span> </span>Also switches Cumberland, Maryland Junction, Shaw and Thomas as needed.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Union Bridge Traveling Switcher:</b><span> </span>Originates Ridgeley, operating eastbound to North Jct. and East Sub (staging.)<span> </span>Switches NC industrial tracks and PC interchange as needed.<span> </span>Return train (from East Staging to Ridgeley) uses the same symbol.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Elkins Mine Run:</b><span> </span>Handles delivery of empty hoppers to mines along the Thomas Sub, pulling loads and staging them at Thomas if space permits, otherwise returning loads to Elkins.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Coal Extras</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>(Train Symbol = Road Number of Lead Unit)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Connellsville Sub:<span> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>GREY TRAIN:<span> </span>Eastbound. </b>Originates at Somerset, PA on the Laurel Valley, also picks up at Blue Lick at Meyersdale (all off layout).<span> </span>Consists of Laurel Valley and WM hoppers, usually with Laurel Valley power through to Ridgeley.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>FAIRMONT EXTRA:<span> </span>Eastbound</b>.<span> </span>Originates Fairmont, WV(B&O) via Bowest Jct. and the Connellsville line.<span> </span>Consists of WM and B&O hoppers.<span> </span>May include B&O power through to Ridgeley.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>ELKINS EXTRA:<span> </span>Eastbound.</b><span> </span>Originates at Elkins, with coal from the WM’s local lines in WV, as well as cars from Thomas.<span> </span>WM hoppers, WM power through to Ridgeley.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Eastbound from Ridgeley:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>ALLENTOWN EXTRA:</b><span> </span>Eastbound.<span> </span>Originates Ridgeley, with cars bound for Bethlehem Steel at Allentown.<span> </span>Usually includes cars from Fairmont.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>PHILADELPHIA EXTRA:</b><span> </span>Eastbound.<span> </span>Originates Ridgeley, with cars bound for Philadelphia Power electric generation plants.<span> </span>Soft coal from the Grey Train, WM and Laurel Valley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEn_p-wOYlUAT47D11riV2UX8cbRiiHLS0NN4TrGk2Uu2q6gTONsZ-1q6n8MEtjOuAY7yeDHmG-VUoUl2F4hMLl9b0n-id_NYrLlmLrEGdLGgOw5T-LcQQ2MTWDMCMDFHeTh6npXkZmk/s800/Laurel%252520Valley%252520Article%252520041web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEn_p-wOYlUAT47D11riV2UX8cbRiiHLS0NN4TrGk2Uu2q6gTONsZ-1q6n8MEtjOuAY7yeDHmG-VUoUl2F4hMLl9b0n-id_NYrLlmLrEGdLGgOw5T-LcQQ2MTWDMCMDFHeTh6npXkZmk/s400/Laurel%252520Valley%252520Article%252520041web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>BALTIMORE EXTRA:</b><span> </span>Eastbound.<span> </span>Originates Ridgeley, with cars bound for Baltimore Gas and Electric generation plants.<span> </span>Soft coal from the Grey Train, WM and Laurel Valley</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>PORT COVINGTON EXTRA:</b><span> </span>Eastbound.<span> </span>Originates Ridgeley, with cars bound for Port Covington for export.<span> </span>All 55 and 66 ton cars due to limitations at the rotary dumper.<span> </span>Cars from the Thomas Sub.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Westbound from Ridgeley: (loads)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>PITTSBURGH EXTRA:</b><span> </span>Westbound.<span> </span>Originates Ridgeley, coal for US Steel and other manufacturers via Connellsville/PLE connection.<span> </span>Small numbers of cars may be added to BT-1.<span> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Laurel_Valley_Article_239webcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Laurel_Valley_Article_239webcrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Train also includes ore loads from Port Covington.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Westbound from Ridgeley: (MT)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>FAIRMONT EXTRA:<span> </span>Westbound.<span> </span></b>Originates Allentown (East Staging) proceeds through to West Staging.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>GREY EXTRA: Westbound</b>:<span> </span>Originates Philadelphia and Baltimore, combined at Ridgeley.<span> </span>WM Power into Ridgeley, LRV power west to Rockwood Jct. (West Staging)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>ELKINS EXTRA:<span> </span>Westbound:</b><span> </span>Originates Port Covington, Baltimore, Allentown etc.<span> </span>Combined at Ridgeley with cars for Shaw, Thomas, Elkins and points beyond.<span> </span>Also includes westbound ore movements bound for Pittsburgh.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I either need more staging, a bigger yard, a longer main line run, fewer trains or more freight cars... The eyes might be a little bigger than the stomach, not sure yet! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-65106406448718599292011-07-07T21:12:00.000-04:002011-07-07T21:12:45.980-04:00Arteries in Place, Time to Get the Blood Flowing...So, now that the primary infrastructure of the Western Maryland Western Lines layout is in place, and the ceremonial last spike and first trains have been dispensed with, it's time to get down to the business of operating a model railroad.<br />
<br />
This means the uproariously fun activities of inventorying the rolling stock, updating the car cards (these are actual cards that represent each and every piece of rolling stock on the layout) and preparing the multitude of waybills for each car.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TDc1fIJxAHQPGA63gzlhENekTyCU298n9x5cEhBM_PJNA_1V7Sj9WElUvmCwBHx-e41dy9QXCZjRI0ijC6B6e2C3iFWkt25YGiBOGgLt3SGuT8M9kKTlFZz2onDPkoci8wzVPuwnGiw/s1600/Operations+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TDc1fIJxAHQPGA63gzlhENekTyCU298n9x5cEhBM_PJNA_1V7Sj9WElUvmCwBHx-e41dy9QXCZjRI0ijC6B6e2C3iFWkt25YGiBOGgLt3SGuT8M9kKTlFZz2onDPkoci8wzVPuwnGiw/s400/Operations+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car cards and waybills begin to make sense of the mayhem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I use a simplified 4-cycle waybill in my operations, wherein each car card is matched to a slip of paper that dictates four different destinations for the freight car in question. The waybill slip is turned at each destination, revealing where it will be headed next. Some of them are easy, such as some of the coal hopper fleet. When loaded, they head east, when empty they head west back to the mines in the mountains.<br />
<br />
One of the challenges of organizing the operations on my layout is to keep the "bridge" traffic as interesting as the on-line and local stuff. The Western Maryland earned it's bread hauling coal, but it was the through traffic as part of the famed "Alphabet Route" that provided much of the butter. At the west end, trains came to the WM from both the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie and the Norfolk and Western at Connellsville, while to the east, priority freight arrived from New England and the northeast via the Reading at Lurgan, and from the WM's own terminal at Port Covington in Baltimore.<br />
<br />
On the real WM, Hagerstown was the nexus of the eastern routes, while Ridgeley Yard near Cumberland worked the traffic coming and going from the west. Between the two yards lay the Cumberland Extension, a largely unpopulated route designed to little more than shuttle trains back and forth with virtually no on-line traffic along the way.<br />
<br />
Coal traffic, meanwhile, was concentrated at Knobmount Yard, just south of Ridgeley, where coal drags from both the Thomas Sub and the Connellsville "New Line" came together to be weighed, marshalled and otherwise readied for distribution to the WM's many coal-consuming customers.<br />
<br />
On the WMRY Western Lines, I had to pick and choose my operations focal points carefully. Initially, my primary yard was to be Hagerstown. This was driven by the relative importance of this yard compared to Ridgeley, as well as the desire to model the massive engine terminal there. But I really needed to also account for the coal traffic at the west end, since I clearly don't have room to model both Hagerstown AND Knobmount. So I compromised, building the large yard and engine terminal in the mold of Hagerstown, but naming it Ridgeley to be more reflective of the overall traffic flow.<br />
<br />
A side benefit of this is the geographic proximity of Ridgeley Yard to Cumberland is a reasonable facsimile of reality on the layout.<br />
<br />
Having spent the last few evenings riffling through the paperwork, the overall operations scheme of the layout is starting to come into focus. I'm planning a little shake down session in a couple of weeks, so I expect to have a bit more to report once that's under my belt.Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-50229691050014629542011-06-27T20:35:00.001-04:002011-06-27T20:48:07.136-04:00A quick follow up...For those of you who missed the earlier iteration of the N scale WMRY Western Lines, here's a view of the same spot now occupied by Ridgeley Yard, circa 2004/5.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Layout_Pics_062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Layout_Pics_062.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yup, there's Andy's bed and his toybox about where the dispatcher's desk is now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9EntZIeEE0UlR-mzrwGHJVXvq5yBf7BOZiMY7zCFKdCwUTZUYfnZcIA7DTPaf264XdCIJaZh9-qcAYYU2kJq5X5JPT8eQEJrKccii0a4fQR5bFgZSL05P5OCWypOgKIv-MM6RpOZtKU/s640/Yard%252520Scenery%252520%2525283%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9EntZIeEE0UlR-mzrwGHJVXvq5yBf7BOZiMY7zCFKdCwUTZUYfnZcIA7DTPaf264XdCIJaZh9-qcAYYU2kJq5X5JPT8eQEJrKccii0a4fQR5bFgZSL05P5OCWypOgKIv-MM6RpOZtKU/s400/Yard%252520Scenery%252520%2525283%252529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man, was it that long ago? </div>Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-50429669304599404412011-06-27T13:31:00.001-04:002011-06-27T13:32:36.831-04:00Golden Spike Special!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHvOkuHYd0hjUNm2UK8iypws3c3jVhK1lBo6yLUQpPczoCkqmsUkU5YAlm5HIfXfrzCLshji1tWrYYq_zpefn1dKFpDDAfJEK20QQ8_D6Cc5f_7EqCulRsUi_ANEYskn1nkIqxlk-eUM/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHvOkuHYd0hjUNm2UK8iypws3c3jVhK1lBo6yLUQpPczoCkqmsUkU5YAlm5HIfXfrzCLshji1tWrYYq_zpefn1dKFpDDAfJEK20QQ8_D6Cc5f_7EqCulRsUi_ANEYskn1nkIqxlk-eUM/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmdg-FZ409tCoHZlAlLKvvbkPFj5NqE0sSnGTrgjjZ37n-W8JQKes2ioCCUZ50RLSqJkuBKMwY-WogpNPzzxYF74RBgdcOcJbg3b5ZBCHFBlO9lduM7akTcT_90qqScaiUATZuVRgemY/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>To celebrate the recent completion of my main line trackage, we held a special ops session today for the "Golden Spike Special" made up of cars provided by a number of friends and fans. During the past week cars have been arriving in the mail, including one shipped from a friend serving in the military that's based in Germany.<br />
<br />
Today we welcomed a few more traveling cars from modelers who have been following the progress on my layout through my blog, including a couple collected at the Hershey N Scale convention this weekend. The highlight was Bryan Bussey's (of Eastern Seaboard Models) magnificent Conrail OCS full dome, shown above just ahead of the PRR full dome Eric220 provided. (Eric's layout is based on a "What IF?" contemporary PRR that spans coast to coast...) Sadly the roster shot I took of this car didn't turn out very well, but we did get a peek inside at the neatly set tables and other details:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmdg-FZ409tCoHZlAlLKvvbkPFj5NqE0sSnGTrgjjZ37n-W8JQKes2ioCCUZ50RLSqJkuBKMwY-WogpNPzzxYF74RBgdcOcJbg3b5ZBCHFBlO9lduM7akTcT_90qqScaiUATZuVRgemY/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmdg-FZ409tCoHZlAlLKvvbkPFj5NqE0sSnGTrgjjZ37n-W8JQKes2ioCCUZ50RLSqJkuBKMwY-WogpNPzzxYF74RBgdcOcJbg3b5ZBCHFBlO9lduM7akTcT_90qqScaiUATZuVRgemY/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR99zFHYqylMaUdcsadkNyb6gpy5vAcTT4Ksfx1IzgrQL9we-XNtCRt92cmDqA5oRXaxVbopeo699k5kgu-eqh1otaKY341Okd8EgD0VAqcMjxK8AVWBvG180GjFMxlS7z2kSna8z0K8/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
Remember, this is N Scale!<br />
<br />
<br />
Also had cars from Dave Foxx, Mike Delamaiz, Bob Bufkin, and David K. Smith. Sizemore (Tim Alder) was well represented, having painted the F-unit on the point. Phil Hoffman brought along some Spanish prototype cars, but they were unable to be included due to some compatibility issues. According to Phil, this was in keeping with Spanish rail operations... <br />
<br />
While the layout wasn't built with passenger traffic in mind, we managed to get the Golden Spike Special around the layout in reasonably good order. We didn't ever really reach "track speed" owing to the numerous photo and video run bys requested by the crew. Here's a couple of highlights:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR99zFHYqylMaUdcsadkNyb6gpy5vAcTT4Ksfx1IzgrQL9we-XNtCRt92cmDqA5oRXaxVbopeo699k5kgu-eqh1otaKY341Okd8EgD0VAqcMjxK8AVWBvG180GjFMxlS7z2kSna8z0K8/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520008.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR99zFHYqylMaUdcsadkNyb6gpy5vAcTT4Ksfx1IzgrQL9we-XNtCRt92cmDqA5oRXaxVbopeo699k5kgu-eqh1otaKY341Okd8EgD0VAqcMjxK8AVWBvG180GjFMxlS7z2kSna8z0K8/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Potomac from Ridgeley into Cumberland.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtF-y4pB680veTnIJarHz3jwCByfQ-CEaBrBglovLIc4A51bZomDW_QBRcRRbghh9KObcdZnNAgIFMQ6QGBC_lpzKA04c9nka4TCTe39hePB-UiTsvuZLOSyib6Zu4xPR6mMl6OO1nck/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtF-y4pB680veTnIJarHz3jwCByfQ-CEaBrBglovLIc4A51bZomDW_QBRcRRbghh9KObcdZnNAgIFMQ6QGBC_lpzKA04c9nka4TCTe39hePB-UiTsvuZLOSyib6Zu4xPR6mMl6OO1nck/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing a freight holed up on the long siding on the Connellsville Sub.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuWUoQgFU0EAyjJUDRtsbmNq37TL4s3mCwQUDz32o41LhXSyqryDIff-R2IUA6pNe8oeHkXB3hbHKPLTDfaXGaS33TAzjgnQNRJzboBCJl91tySrcAfbrGZjBggiaIDiDnTWGQWlYw3c/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuWUoQgFU0EAyjJUDRtsbmNq37TL4s3mCwQUDz32o41LhXSyqryDIff-R2IUA6pNe8oeHkXB3hbHKPLTDfaXGaS33TAzjgnQNRJzboBCJl91tySrcAfbrGZjBggiaIDiDnTWGQWlYw3c/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the river into Greenwood, en route to Connellsville.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunOPNuyPgu4SOKu_aeqbeysp9A5yCOznNQ0tKFUzepSI_XTUiJxeeEpllz2oyMRGaTA3D1P2hXUhVKnyyDxO25N_P-iz_Kvy7GoGPtHICQhPQe836wUaQdYOMzl5ZHNrrlIWCpXqNNRc/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunOPNuyPgu4SOKu_aeqbeysp9A5yCOznNQ0tKFUzepSI_XTUiJxeeEpllz2oyMRGaTA3D1P2hXUhVKnyyDxO25N_P-iz_Kvy7GoGPtHICQhPQe836wUaQdYOMzl5ZHNrrlIWCpXqNNRc/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Returning to North Junction at the east end of the layout. Note that the KCS has spotted the Spanish cars near the scrap yard. I'm not sure what this means.<br />
<br />
The train then headed west again, this time working its way up to Thomas via the Thomas Sub. Here it is leaving the main at Maryland Junction:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAQcCo3vDETAKkIAvehdR6etPSUZ_Xv6CAaiDMRjR4EcAtASAxKJZyX1vjkZASkV0pK4oXMjN-2EbJJOm-Y2ubHPIdfrOsJkCbq8aYHgYbKyU41BmdqtxGEY7iijoxOhctah8VTB5u8M/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAQcCo3vDETAKkIAvehdR6etPSUZ_Xv6CAaiDMRjR4EcAtASAxKJZyX1vjkZASkV0pK4oXMjN-2EbJJOm-Y2ubHPIdfrOsJkCbq8aYHgYbKyU41BmdqtxGEY7iijoxOhctah8VTB5u8M/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa28ua8kpTRMUWDDO_u9DUtabA3b3dzMvvbn2eSteR1zMxzTIixY_SNx23cSFGtmdX9ADEG6SSjZKuDHSguheg8bwD4JlbAY2x2E5CSqBfnSQPlhyu1qHCZPXawpdBxzJL7ucW4NTV6o/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa28ua8kpTRMUWDDO_u9DUtabA3b3dzMvvbn2eSteR1zMxzTIixY_SNx23cSFGtmdX9ADEG6SSjZKuDHSguheg8bwD4JlbAY2x2E5CSqBfnSQPlhyu1qHCZPXawpdBxzJL7ucW4NTV6o/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz2rIS-nu3RtZu8o9k4vzWWIy_R3DSO9EypkvLnBgRgbeTC9-Pd9365ZZECW6CLdb48HUkmF0qObERb3d1NfTE54mHMuJbWz8mA50ZGyLyUFRrzUCuSOO3dLMussoDmGi5cofhpFPdio/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<br />
Restricted clearances made Thomas the end of the run, so the engines turned around, and pulled the train back down to Ridgeley.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz2rIS-nu3RtZu8o9k4vzWWIy_R3DSO9EypkvLnBgRgbeTC9-Pd9365ZZECW6CLdb48HUkmF0qObERb3d1NfTE54mHMuJbWz8mA50ZGyLyUFRrzUCuSOO3dLMussoDmGi5cofhpFPdio/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz2rIS-nu3RtZu8o9k4vzWWIy_R3DSO9EypkvLnBgRgbeTC9-Pd9365ZZECW6CLdb48HUkmF0qObERb3d1NfTE54mHMuJbWz8mA50ZGyLyUFRrzUCuSOO3dLMussoDmGi5cofhpFPdio/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3a0yAMChOB0/TgfTCO8OuDI/AAAAAAAAPGU/K4Lp2ugZ7GU/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Here it is drifting downgrade at Shaw as the sun starts to fade.<br />
<br />
While we didn't get to run many trains, we had a great time. It was good to see the layout back in action, although we naturally found a few things to add to the "to do" list. Thanks as always to the crew, who have been such a great support through this whole project.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3a0yAMChOB0/TgfTCO8OuDI/AAAAAAAAPGU/K4Lp2ugZ7GU/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3a0yAMChOB0/TgfTCO8OuDI/AAAAAAAAPGU/K4Lp2ugZ7GU/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
At this point I think it's appropriate to offer a word of thanks to all the people who have had a hand in making today possible. As most of you know, the economy has really taken a toll on my family, and being able to keep working on the layout has been a blessing beyond measure. I guess to some extent it's been a good hiding place, but it's also been very therapeutic, and a good way to mark progress on a lot of things, not just the trains themselves.<br />
<br />
Anyway, for all of you who helped out, my gratitude knows no bounds. <br />
John, whose layout and approach to the hobby has been an inspiration since the first day I washed up on your doorstep... what is it, 8 years ago?<br />
Dave Foxx, Phil Hoffman, Ed Kapuscinski, Brian Carhart, Bob Bufkin, Carl Tweedale and Tim Alder, my regular crew, who were instrumental in making the jump from the old layout to the new, and who have contributed countless hours and 6 packs to the cause.<br />
David K. Smith, who puts it all into an image that's worth a thousand hours of labor saved... and whose creativity and innovations continue to push me forward.<br />
Jerry Britton, for getting out of N Scale, and showering me with surplus track. There needs to be bronze plaque on the layout somewhere for you, Jerry. Literally, the layout expansion would not have happened if not for your kindness.<br />
Bryan at ESM and Craig at Bluford, who helped me pull off the hopper car project last year that financed much of the project.<br />
Eric Payne, Dave Vollmer and so many others who have asked the right questions at the right moments to make me think my way out of various corners, whether they involved scenery, operations or what have you.<br />
Thanks also to Victor Miranda, who helped dig me out of a couple of steam loco situations along the way.<br />
Jason, Mike, Gary Hinshaw, Phil, Tim, Ed, John, Bob, and so many others who were happy to dip into their junk boxes to pull out whatever salvage I needed to finish this project or that. I've got plenty of leftovers that I hope one day to "pay forward".<br />
<br />
So, onward and upward. Now that most of the railroad is in place, I suppose it's time to start editing those old car cards and way bills!Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-4311629092597005742011-06-25T11:57:00.000-04:002011-06-25T11:57:08.433-04:00Nearing the Finish LineIt's the Saturday before the Sunday when the operating crew will show up for an initial shake down run. The train room is still somewhat in disarray, there's still a few nagging problems to work out, and only a few hours remaining to get it all done.<br />
Since last we chatted, I've gotten 99% of the yard at Ridgeley installed, with switches wired and mechanically connected.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYS17Qj7hVPtlZcMUZg64jwWyShkW6ywh5hORzY_7EeK44-3HU-hv_-qKqR6SQTcN91BhpR1cJknh0KH3AtGtbkmYMAmc4b8IBSTg2f_kY0nTk16WxsU0mkjVVf29eRWqcouAfvZBzHk/s400/Ridgeley%252520Yard%252520East%252520%2525283%252529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East end yard throat</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBd0ZL137L6PZDwVZzwyHnGhtsJCmK_pEx7yi4vhjFgYPPPLnTXj0DLojH3RBk-_SN6lylTg3txWjyoH7vc8VWqFL4CQa6r-Dhap19AWZflGf398D-NvY0l9Ghpl35GfqHU4Rv8q13H4/s800/Ridgeley%252520West%252520End.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBd0ZL137L6PZDwVZzwyHnGhtsJCmK_pEx7yi4vhjFgYPPPLnTXj0DLojH3RBk-_SN6lylTg3txWjyoH7vc8VWqFL4CQa6r-Dhap19AWZflGf398D-NvY0l9Ghpl35GfqHU4Rv8q13H4/s400/Ridgeley%252520West%252520End.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West end yard throat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'd like to get the yard tracks and surface painted before show time, but that will be a time consuming and messy process. I'll probably do it anyway, dragging the compressor and air brush in from the garage to shoot it with some burnt umber acrylic. That will go faster than brushing it all on. Then while the paint's drying, I can do the stuff I have to do, like clean the debris off the floor, put away the various tools, and otherwise make the train room and the crew lounge a little more hospitable.<br />
<br />
I'm really looking forward to this session, it will be the first opportunity to try out the systems that I've put in place, and the first peek at the finished track plan for my regular crew. I'm hoping the feedback I get doesn't involve any major upheavals.<br />
<br />
Part of the fun will be running a "Private Varnish" special around the layout, wherein members of my crew, plus a few other fans are sending or bringing representative passenger cars from their layouts. The first two arrived earlier this week:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1IT9hs1Pbsak8NHU3XioArGl-qvC3zoEzJ1JP0b9PooqIRubg9FhEktBY-Mgt03lGJwgsSuxPYOakw9EQKtk0GnOmcqQ46qQc6f3Isa7YRVNehwPLOQV7hZPuE3qCfyIoCTDYAn6wbQ/s800/Test%252520Train%252520%2525282%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1IT9hs1Pbsak8NHU3XioArGl-qvC3zoEzJ1JP0b9PooqIRubg9FhEktBY-Mgt03lGJwgsSuxPYOakw9EQKtk0GnOmcqQ46qQc6f3Isa7YRVNehwPLOQV7hZPuE3qCfyIoCTDYAn6wbQ/s400/Test%252520Train%252520%2525282%252529.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The car on the left is an SNCF (French National Railways) coach that was shipped in from a fan in Germany, and the other is a Pennsylvania Railroad full dome (yes, it's a foobie!) from a fan who's layout is based on a contemporary "What If" version of the PRR that spans the continent. I'm expecting a few more to arrive Sunday afternoon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look for a full report of the festivities sometime next week.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-13874531603154075312011-06-14T23:47:00.001-04:002011-06-14T23:47:40.509-04:00A little honey, then a little vinegar...Tonight the layout ran remarkably well. At one point, I had three trains of 20+ cars orbiting, plus a little passenger special I threw together to start warming up for the onslaught of visiting varnish in the next couple of weeks, which I ran down the Thomas Sub from Elkins, then around the full layout through both staging yards and back up the hill. This included 85' passenger cars with body mounted couplers going up the 24" diameter twist on the Thomas Sub.<br />
<br />
The only upset I had was at the end of the evening, when I went to retrieve the coal train from West Staging, which I had hoped to run back up the Thomas Sub to park in Elkins... Earlier, when I put it into the staging yard, I overshot the exit turnout by less than an inch. No problem, I figured, I'll just nudge her backward enough to push the slack in, and that will clear the frogs for Track 2. Well, as the Orioles were going down in flames in Toronto, so too were my dreams of a flawless night of operating trains. Somewhere in the darkness, one of the hoppers popped over the railhead, leaving the train coupled, but inoperable due to a trip pin snagging on something.<br />
<br />
I left it, and came down to share this with you.<br />
<br />
Before I can do anything tomorrow night, I'll have to pull the other two trains that are down there out by their tails and run them up the hill to get them out of the way. Then I can inspect the train to see where the problem was. I suspect it was a car with body mounts pushing a truck mounted car out of alignment.<br />
<br />
As I contemplate going through this process yet again, I can't help but accept that I'm starting to get good at clearing things out down below when problems arise. I did install work lights, so I can see pretty well down there. To pinpoint a flange or a knuckle, I've got a couple of nifty pens with LED's on the end, which are better than flash lights due to their small size and concentrated beam of light.<br />
<br />
The process does remain time consuming, so I can only imagine how disruptive a wreck in staging would be during an ops session.<br />
<br />
I suspect that the best solution will always be to have me serve as the west end dispatcher, so I can carefully monitor all traffic going in and out of there. At least until someone else steps up and takes an interest in doing that job.<br />
<br />
For comparison, the East End ran flawlessly, but I wasn't really taxing it very much. Recall that each track can hold two trains, so I had to do some "valet parking" maneuvers, pulling the second train forward after the first had left, and remember which tracks were occupied to prevent unfortunate rear end events from taking place.<br />
<br />
There were two instances where cars derailed in East Staging, one was a passenger car that suffers from a high-low coupler issue and likely dragged a coupler pin, and the other an empty coal hopper that was probably underweight coming down the helix that got bunched up.<br />
<br />
Still, despite it all it was a good run, with a variety of locomotive consists, train lengths, and car types. I was overall pleased with the performance of the railroad, including the West Staging yard. One highlight was a trip by the grain train, headed up with an A-B Intermountain F unit consist, which went through in the opposite direction of typical traffic flow. When I noticed this was going on, I panicked that the old Atlas c80 flappy paddle remote turnouts would wreak havoc, and that climbing the inside loop of the helix would create undue stresses with horrifying results... neither came to pass. The train rolled through the yard smoothly, just in the wrong direction.<br />
<br />
It has been suggested that I reverse the flow of traffic through the yard to put the outbound trains closer to the aisle, and this may be a simple solution. But I think longer trains will have problems climbing the helix with 2 fewer inches of radius... I'll try some experiments when I have plenty of patience on hand, and plenty of beer for when the patience runs out!<br />
<br />
That's tonight's report. More to come as the end of June approaches.Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-9523445937689353382011-06-10T08:12:00.001-04:002011-06-10T08:15:36.488-04:00Decisions, DecisionsDuring our last segment, I was lamenting about the operational snags that I had encountered in the new west staging yard. It turns out there were two primary problems.<br />
<ol><li>One of the locomotives involved had a wheel gauge problem, as well as a dragging coupler trip pin, which was creating derailments going IN to the yard.</li>
<li>Another train that was stored in the yard had been jostled off the rails while parked, causing some cars to separate, and others to snag on the outbound frogs.</li>
</ol><br />
The track problems occurred when I went in with the "big hook" to collect the derailed rolling stock. I have a length of trim with a nail in the end that I use as a grappling hook to reach the farthest corners of the netherworld. (My primary argument against expensive, fragile add-on detail parts on rolling stock.) This had snagged on a piece of track and pulled it right out of its glue. I was able to repair it, but once the yard is installed overhead, this area won't be accessible at all. I suppose with a little more caution, and perhaps a different tool, I can avoid this problem in the future.<br />
<br />
So, all of the problems go back to "Human Error," something I'm profoundly good at. So for now, I'll be adding some bracing to keep the table more stable to minimize the jostling effect, and checking and double checking the maintenance of the fleet to prevent tracking problems.<br />
<br />
This doesn't address the primary design flaw, which David K. Smith has brilliantly solved with this drawing:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/images/west_staging_2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/images/west_staging_2.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's no easy task to implement this design, being as it exists below the engine terminal and yard complex, so I'm perpetuating the debate, to paraphrase The Clash, "should it stay or should it go?" It's got me stymied, and is holding up progress on building out the yard, and basically discouraging me from going into the train room at all.<br />
<br />
Le sigh. I guess I should give myself a little more time to think about it, but the time draws nigh to, as Grandma so colorfully put it, "shit or get off the pot" ...Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946478917890979448.post-28891033827838623922011-06-05T10:04:00.001-04:002011-06-05T10:20:10.127-04:00Houston, we have a problem.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
After months of successfully running trains through the west staging yard, the last couple of days have presented amazing challenges that are causing me to re-think this whole side of the layout.<br />
<br />
Well, at least the bits that are under ground and virtually impossible to reach.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if a heat kink has developed (the layout is in the attic, and it got hot as hell last week), or there's debris that's fallen on the track, or if my haste in laying the recycled c80 flex I used down there is rearing its ugly head... But it's turning out to definitely NOT be ready for prime time.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><br />
It's been exacerbated by the installation of the yard office desk, which makes the distance between the aisle and the exit throat unmanageable without extraordinary effort.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/lower_levelweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/lower_levelweb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The problem is on the right side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This is the "as built" drawing, and you can see how far back the turnouts are from human contact, and this is made doubly challenging because the vertical clearance is only about 6".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZah8WtiLrm2pzgFduOSlqxnVviXDqncyyuYD4E1tTAJ-mwhlqlMjypbKdHI-frMRra-KzH7mK66JYUqh60y5MvOaJzsyuTsEduAdvtc8G4G0oc742kD_WmXfSnIIHJJcRqkKHSm261Q/s640/New%252520Weeklies%252520182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZah8WtiLrm2pzgFduOSlqxnVviXDqncyyuYD4E1tTAJ-mwhlqlMjypbKdHI-frMRra-KzH7mK66JYUqh60y5MvOaJzsyuTsEduAdvtc8G4G0oc742kD_WmXfSnIIHJJcRqkKHSm261Q/s400/New%252520Weeklies%252520182.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>That view pretty much illustrates the problem.<br />
<br />
In retrospect, I should have brought the helix around another 1/4 turn, and placed the turnouts closer to the front edge, as I did on the east end in the original construction.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Layout_pictures_206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Layout_pictures_206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Why I didn't take this into account is beyond me. And I'm afraid that in the present condition, an easy solution is too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lee Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03046574521128827883noreply@blogger.com0