Category Archives: Information

Downloads, Information, Layouts, Site seeing, Sites of interest, Web

Site seeing – January 30 – The PowerPoint and PDF edition

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Edward Traxler is someone I’ve read about for a while. Only recently did I visit his website. Where I found today’s interesting set of resources.

Site 1: Edward Traxler’s The Deep River Railroad – PDFs and PPTs page

It’s just what the name says folks. A few really good clinic presentations and PDF files for building all sorts of interesting things. Plans for loading ramps, piers, and links to other resources for the interested.

Site 2 – as for site 1 – Building cardstock models the modern way

Also on Edwards site is a great tutorial on building using cardstock (thicker grades of paper). Both a PDF and PPT file are available for download and there is an overview on the page in the link above also.

1:48 (US O Scale 1/4"), Atlas O & HO Scale, Information, O Scale

Atlas TrainMan releases O scale 20′ ISO Containers

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As of August 5, 2016 Atlas TrainMan are shipping 20′ ISO shipping containers in 0 scale (1:48) in four paint schemes. The containers are sold as a two pack for $24.95 US. Each container livery has eight numbers (four packs of two containers); theoretically that is 32 containers available with individual numbers. Reality may depend on your location and stocks available to non-US residents.

The details from the Atlas site are as follows:

  • Scale length, width and height
  • Prototypical paint schemes & lettering
  • Non-opening doors
  • 20’ based on corrugated design with logo panels
  • Accurate painting and lettering for steel 20-foot containers
  • Two containers will fit end-to-end in the Atlas O Gunderson Twin Stack cars.
  • Eight road numbers are available per road name. Each item number is a 2-pack, with two road numbers. Four 2-packs per case

You can visit the Atlas page by clicking this link.

About, Information, Manufacturers

Industry news – Atlas buys BLMA models

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I got a media release from Atlas this morning announcing that effective immediately they had acquired BLMA Models.

The email is copied in part below:

FOR RELEASE ON JANUARY 6, 2016

Atlas Model Railroad Co. Agrees to Purchase BLMA Models Inc.

HILLSIDE, New Jersey: Effective immediately, Atlas Model Railroad Co., has agreed to purchase BLMA Models Inc., of Fullerton, California. Founded in 2000, BLMA manufactures quality HO, N, and Z scale rolling stock and accessories. Upon completion of the acquisition, Atlas will own and release all current tooling, inventory, and will continue with production plans outlined by BLMA, prior to the sale.

Craig Martyn, Founder and President of BLMA Models, stated:

“What started as a hobby business 16 years ago has turned into something larger than I ever expected. The experiences, knowledge, and most importantly, the friendships gained through developing BLMA have been life changing, and I will be forever grateful to the many that supported my endeavors.

As to the changeover process Atlas stated that:

Paul Graf, Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Model Railroad Co, stated:

“BLMA’s reputation for detail and prototypical accuracy is compatible with Atlas’. The HO and N rolling stock will fit seamlessly into the Atlas Master line of product. The details and accessories are a perfect complement Atlas’ existing product line.

“We have known Craig since he first entered the market, and have had a good relationship with him and BLMA through the years. We are happy that Craig will be able to work with Atlas over the coming years as we incorporate the BLMA products into Atlas’ line, as well as bring some of BLMA’s planned new products to fruition. We plan to make the announcement of the first product from BLMA’s existing products as soon as the purchase is completed.”

On January 6th, 2016, BLMA will stop selling product direct, in preparation of shipping the inventory to Atlas. During the transition, BLMA will process open orders for pre- ordered rolling stock, though Atlas will physically fulfill the orders. These models include:

  • N scale GSC 60’ Flat Car (Run #2)
  • N scale ACF 52’ Gondola (Run #3)
  • N scale Trinity 31K Crude Oil Tank Cars
  • HO & N Trinity 5660 Covered Hoppers
  • HO & N Trinity 64’ Modern Reefers – Tropicana
  • HO & N Bx-166 60’ Box Car – BNSF

In the coming years, Craig will work as a consultant to Atlas, ensuring a smooth transition, assistance on development and help with marketing. Atlas expects to release many popular BLMA items with all-new numbers, paint schemes, and more. Furthermore, Atlas will develop and release items already scheduled internally by BLMA.

For further information, please visit www.atlasrr.com or www.BLMAmodels.com

Interesting times.

Information, Site seeing, Sites of interest, Switching, Web, YouTube

Site seeing – January 4

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I’m sure we’ve all got a an industry that we think we just cannot model. Today’s site seeing adventure amazed me on two fronts:

  1. How small an unloading facility can be for gravel/stone hoppers, and
  2. Just how much a track mobile can move when it wants to.

Site 1: Rock Hoppers being unloaded

Watch the video. Look at the modelling possibilities…

https://youtu.be/UjNHHe99J9E

1. Small, HO Scale, Information, Layout Design, Layouts, Operations, Personal Layouts, Switching, This Site, Web

Site update – January 1 – Happy New Year edition

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I’ve added a new Modelling section – My 12 Foot Layout.

This will provide a Work-in-Progress report of what’s happening in the layout build process. For now there’s a front page. It provides my overall thoughts and a photo showing the proposed design (already laid out in track).

As I stated on the page there’ll be more coming in the future including:

  • Track laying,
  • Building construction,
  • Detailing,
  • Operations design, and
  • A session report or two

Looking forward to getting this underway this month.

1. Small, Information, Layout Design, Medium, Operations, Site seeing, Sites of interest, Switching, Web

Site Seeing: December 14

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After I reblogged Rails West’s San Fernando Valley Branch post on December 7th I took a look around the web to see if there were other sites that had information on this very interesting branch line. Luckily I found one. I could not find a SPINS book in my stash of SP paperwork to cover the area however you could certainly find this information from many of the online dealers (found at the last link) today.

There’s a week’s worth of information here and I hope you enjoy reading through it all.

Site 1: Burbank Branch Industries, 1981

Bruce Petty’s website has some really fine information (including lots of photos) of the branch in the early 1908s that would of interest should you decide to model the branch or one just like it. It includes the names of the industries served and the car lengths of the spurs.

Site 2: San Fernando Valley Freight Station Photos

Another of Bruce’s pages this time with photographs of the freight stations along sections of the line. Nice if you wanted to model any of these buildings specifically.

Site 3: Bruce’s layout page

Bruce has a model railroad covering a portion of the branch that was featured in the 2007 Great Model Railways (Kalmbach Publications). Take a good look around and take a look at some of the links on the page for the modelling articles there. Really goo stuff.

Site 4: CLIC, SPINS, ZTS: Zones, tracks, spots Identification

Some solid information on the different forms of track and spot identification. Main site is in German but the page is written in English.

Site 5: An overview of SPINS and the TOPS system that underpinned it

A great site with a huge range of detail and links about the SPINS system and the TOPS system. And yes UK modellers that is the same system BR purchased from the SP in the 1960s.

1:48 (US O Scale 1/4"), Information, O Scale

Site seeing – August 22nd

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Over on Gene’s P48 blog I’ve made mention of the build he’s had going on for some time. In fact the list of articles for the Wilson Reefer build is can be found by following this link to Gene’s website. You can skip to the last part and see the painting directly using the link below.

Site 1: Reefers in Paint

With Gene’s build being complete the paint is now going on. I’ve really enjoyed watching the build and some of the techniques that Gene has used.

Design Updates, Information, Publishing, Site seeing, Sites of interest, Web

New article and download available

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Been a busy modelling weekend in Ballarat. I’ve added a new page to the modelling articles section about my rolling stock standards. You can find the Rolling Stock Standards page here.

I wrote this after reading Dennis Storzek’s excellent article from 1982 (I recently found a copy in a bargain bin in one of Melbourne’s bookshops) for the club I belonged to at the time. I’ve reworked the document over the last couple of days to allow you to use this for your club (if they do not have a modelling standard) or for yourself if you need one as I do.

Grab the PDF here. The document is copyright, but released under a Creative Commons license. Read more about that in the PDF. Happy modelling and let me know if you come up with any improvements.

About, Class 1, Information, Site seeing, Sites of interest, Web

Why I carry a camera on every trip out and about

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You never know what you are going to capture with your camera. Sometimes you’ll get a photo, and unprecedented access to things that you might never have believed would happen. Other times you manage to get a great series of photos just before a major event happens in the life of your chosen subject, after which event, things are never the same.

Just after we cam be back to Australia from the United States in 2006, my wife asked me why I bothered to take all of these photos of trams and trains. I told her that it was simple: “Today’s photo is tomorrow’s history”.

Over on the Rails West blog there are two recent posts that follow in just this theme.  Zip on over for a 1979 trip through the SP’s Hardy Street shops in Houston Texas.

Click the link to take you there: A trip to the Roundhouse…(Part I).

About, Information

Kidney stones – I must have rocks in my head

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Wednesday morning, 1:00 AM and a call to the ambulance because I thought my appendix had ruptured. Unfortunately I was not that lucky. The result, after 3 days in the hospital, is I’m stabilised, but have further surgery to get through (in just on 4 weeks) to hopefully break up the kidney stones .

For the next few days I’m going to be taking it easy, I’m still quite sore, but expect to see more posts in the next couple of days.

Thanks for reading the blog and I’ll be back with you again soon.

Regards

Andrew Martin