Completing the Track Work into Shamokin

Well, the track plan has been decided on and now I am gluing the switch ties down to allow the passing siding from the main to the factory to be installed. We have the ties glued and weights on them to fix them in place. 

Glue is dried and the tops of the ties have been sanded. 

A look down the track to see where we have to connect to the trackwork back by the factory.

The first turnout is now built and the second is under construction. This is a little tricky as the turnouts are on a surface where the grade is ending and then flattening out. Also, I am standing on two stools and my head is pressed into the ceiling.

The second turnout is just about done, and I realize I have to extend the wooden ties by at least a couple to provide space for the ties of the diverging tracks to be placed. 

Now the track beyond the turnouts has been placed. You can see there are a lot of sweeping curves involved in smoothly blending into the tail tracks. The left most track is a future siding for a building flat that will be placed along the wall. 

An overview of the whole junction

 A distance shot of the town of Shamokin, less a few structures. Now, on to the wiring.

Modifying a tool

When trying to make the headlight lens for the RS 1, which is 1/4 inch in diameter, I found that the leather punch I was going to use put a big dent into the clear plastic as it had a sharp point on the male member.  So, I figured I could make a brass collar to surround the point and make the head of the punch appear flat. Using brass rod, I turned it to the required diameter, then drilled the center out to allow for the point. The whole assembly is here.

Then I glued to adapter to the punch using canopy glue so it would be easily removed, should I need the punch to be usable for heavier material. The punch is resting on the female member of the tool. 

 Here, you can see the punch point in the interior of the spacer. When I used it, it worked perfectly but the glue could not hold the spacer when the punch was withdrawn from the material. Not a problem as it was easily re-secured, and a second lens made. 

Finishing the RS1

Previously, I had added canvas shades to a GP9. The Alco RS1 also had canvas shades so I had to do another engine. You have seen earlier photos as I painted the engine. Here I have taken my cigarette paper and twirled it on a wire mandrel and test fit it to the cab.

The wire is 0.020 and painted black as we start. Then I glue the paper to itself and the mandrel. I use the glue on the paper to make cigarettes. 

Here is my brand of choice but any brand will work just fine. 

The cab shade mandrel has been fixed to the cab side by using canopy glue inside the cab. Next, I set the length of the shade and made a base using 0.030 wide styrene strips, painted them black and secured them and paper to the cab above the windows. I then colored the paper with Poly Scale aged concrete. 

Here is the engine now reassembled and ready for a little more weathering. 

The fireman is distracting the engineer telling him he likes the shades. He can thank Lee Turner for showing me how to do this.

Almost finished product. This is a Car Works model with a new drive using NWSL wheels and a Des Plaines tower. I really like the looks of it.  A new branch line shifter. The engine number was from an engine assigned to the Northern Division. 
 

Reaching out for Shamokin - Part 1

We have to add some ground to allow the tracks to reach from the branch line turnout back to the factory and team track. If you look at the lower center, you can see the Homasote patch to add the necessary base.

This is an overview of the additional base. Ed and Paul worked hard to get the sub-bracing in on a recent train night. They then cut the Homasote to match the hole they were filling. My job was then to level everything up and finish the installation.

This is where we diverge from the branch main and head back to the plant. The patch was necessary to allow me to add another two turnouts to form a passing siding and a switch to another plant that will be on the wall. 

The patch is set and now has been painted to match the rest of the cinder base.

An overview of the completed patch

The two turnouts have been located using the diagrams. They will be two Number 6 right hand turnouts in a row. I had to move the furthest one towards the rear as I had to deal with bracing underneath. 

 An overview of the prospective installation.