Due to a N scaler pointing out photos that may be copy righted that are listed under my user name EMD trainman, I have deleted all photos that were not my own which where Rio Grande railroads photos in all of my sections. I will no longer post any railroad related pictures other than my own G scale pictures in my G scale threads.
EMD Trainmans G scale on tour #2 Here we will continue on with my tour of my indoor G scale layout. Picture #1 Is the tracks rounding in front of my air tight fire boss wood/coal stove after running along side the long back wall. there will be many nice pictures to take here once the flourecent light goes up in the drop ceiling. Picture #2 The train tracks head off towards an angle going to the opposite side of the basement wall passing in front of my worn out dehumiditifier (run it til it breaks, lol) Picture #3 The train then rounds behind the sofa and heads towards the main tunnels which will take it thru into the main yard room Picture #4 The track now running in between the track and walls headed towards those tunnels Picture #5 Reminds me of those real Rio Grande Moffat tunnel pictures. The exposed wood will eventually be painted black that you can see inside the tunnel facia
EMD trainmans G scale indoor tour #4 Here is another continuation of the full tour, although it is not completed yet, there is still lots more to do. This is final chapter of my tour for now. Picture #1 is Track #3 which seperates off by itself and goes thru the door way of the yard room which we are heading to next. Note the long old dresser I kept, it came in handy for those heavy Bridgewerks transformers and is great for keeping those old train magazines, manuals, certificates etc in one area. Picture #2 Is how the yard room looks when you first walk in, only alot more brighter, the camera didn't get the full lighting. Picture #3 This end of the yard room tunnels out towards the shop area which is where the tour began. Picture #4 This end of the yard room is where the trains enter from the main basement area.
Train schedule to change 11/29/08 My train schedule on my layout will change on 11/29/08. This is the day where I will switch out my 3 sets of trains with the other 3 sets of trains. You will see pictures of my USA F3 ABBA in action pulling a very long string of 40ft box and tank cars, 2 USA GP-9 locomotives pulling a very heavy long load of coal for those who weren't good for Santa (Thats at least what I tell the kids), and 2 USA GP-30 locomotives heading up a flat service train
Looking at your tunnels through a wall, I am reminded of the house we owned before this present one. I was so bold as to suggest boring through Mount Laundry Room. Somehow, I escaped with my skin. And that construction idea went away in mere seconds. Boxcab E50
BoxcabE50 I have often thought about putting this up in the air about 4ft on home made tables, but I would not be able to get thru the laundry room or to my shop without some kinda of fancy draw bidge system. The family really wanted it up in the air, but was really not an option to me, so on the floor it went. This train is in my basment which is is still in the works of being fininshed. So since I don't have this on a main floor, going thru walls is no big deal, it's just a basement. Most people just use them for storage anyway.
How to choose what G scale is right for you There are many scale ratios in G scale, not everything is the same size and some manufacturers will look odd coupled together. Remember, just because it says G scale or Gauge one does not mean it's all the same size scale ratios. Scale ratios in G scale range from 1:20.3 to 1:32 scale ratios and everything in between. Some G scale purist or rivet counters will tell you the only true scales in G scale are 1:32 scale ratio and 1:20.3 cale ratio, but you have to make up your own mind what you want. So first thing is first, pick a scale ratio size, I like 1:29 scale because there are many choices in commercial models in this scale ratio. Then pick a budget, for me brass is out of the question which is another reason why I chose 1:29 scale, many plastic but great quality reasonable models in this scale available. Then know what trains you want to run because this will make a difference of what radius curve you will need on your layout. A 10ft or more minimum diameter is highly recommended for outside, but not all have this kind of room, I myself run 8ft diameter curves so I'm limited to what I can have on my layout. For instance I can't run the USA Passenger cars or the USA intermodal aerticulated cars as they need 10ft diameter minimum curves. The bad news is LGB of America is out of the picture for right now, so you might want to choose another manufacturer. Here is a list of G scale manufacturers and the scale ratios they make there models in USA Trains Ultimate Series 1:29 scale ratio USA Trains American Series 1:24 scale ratio Aristocraft 1:29 scale ratio Aristocraft Delton series 1:24 scale ratio Hartland Locomotive works 1:24 scale ratio Accucraft AMS products 1:32 scale ratio Accucraft AML products 1:29 scale ratio Accucraft Narrow gauge products 1.20.3 scale ratio (Other wise known as F scale) Bachman Narrow gauge products 1.20.3 scale ratio Marklin Trains 1:32 scale ratio MTH Trains 1:32 scale ratio LGB - 1:22.5 scale ratio If you do choose a 1:29 scale ratio G scale train to run which is probably your best bet unless you are a narrow gauge G scaler, here is a list of minimum diameter curves for Aristocraft Trains and USA Trains. Aristocraft Locomotives Lil Critter 4ft dia Center Cab Diesel 4ft dia Alco PA 4ft dia U25B 5ft dia 2-8-0 Consolidation 5ft dia 0-4-0 Rogers 4ft dia 2-8-2 Mikado 8ft dia SD-45 8ft dia USA Trains F3-A 5ft dia GP-30 5ft dia GP-9 5ft dia GP38-2 5ft dia NW-2 4ft dia SD40-2 8ft dia SD-50 8ft dia If you like narrow gauge 1:20.3 scale, have your bank account ready, but Bachman and Accucraft both make nice narrow gauge trains. Don't confuse the regular Bachman with Bachmans new 1:20.3 scale series, those are two way different train products. Now that you have chose what scale to run, now you have to make up your mind what couplers to use, unlike N and HO scale, knuckle couplers between manufactueres in G scale are incapatible with each other. Are you a Kadee coupler lover, then be prepared for alot of work, you need to buy a height guage and plastic shim stock to properly install these type couplers in the G scale world and then you are stuck using 10ft minimum diameter track as with body mounted couplers you can't go any tighter of a curve than this in G scale. You can always use the universal hook and loop coupler which is the only standard coupler in the G scale world. But if you like knuckle couplers like me and you want to run Arsitocraft and USA trains equipment together, I found it was easier for me to convert my Aristocraft rolling stock over to USA couplers, it was fast, easy and the match up height wise perfectly. The USA couplers are just about a bolt on replacment as with the other way around I found out by experimenting it was too much work. Now you have to pick out what track to use. The LGB track is now sold as Piko track, but to beginners I would highly recommend you use Aristocraft brass track. Piko track comes in many height profiles which may connfues you, such examples would be 250 and 332 height profiles. They do this to cater to those rivet counters who might say I need to run my 1:29 scale train on code 250 track to most accurate to scale. I use Aristocraft brass track myself which is ALL code 332 and this code is most reliable to operate on, especially outdoors. If you are worried about having brass track outside, don't worry, I known poeple to have Aristocraft brass track outside for 10 years without corrosion. Next you have to choose, are you going DCC, battery power or track power? Arsitocraft locomotives are more set up for DCC and battery power than the USA locomotives. The USA locomotives use alot more amps and don't make a good battery power operation locomotive. Aristocraft uses plug and play operation making DCC and battery power easy and fast to hook up. If track power is what you want and locomotives with alot of pulling power, than USA trains makes a great locomotive. USA locomotive uses traction tires and slide shoes making it a great puller and usually never loses contact with the track, but you better have some amps to back them up if you plan on running double and triple headers. Choosing the right transformer for track power is important also, like for the low am,perage draw Aristocraft trains, you could probably get away with a 10 amp MRC transformer, but restricted to how many cars you can pull. If you decide to run double and triple header USA locomotives with a string of 20 cars or more, you need brute force transformer power, I would highly recommend the Bridgewerks mag1000DL in this case as I own 3 myself, then you need to run 10 gauge wire to your track and attach it with hillmans rail clamp wire track clamps, this eliminates the need for multi feeds and gives your transformer lots of wire to carry those amps, I think it's even in the instruction from Bridgewerks to use 10 gauge wire with this transformer.
Hi hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving holiday. For me as a kid it was one of our family exciting holidays full of traditions. The one tradition that always excited me was getting my Lionel train set from the attic as I was only allowed to have it out from the day after Thanksgiving until December 31 before New Years. When I got much older around 16, I had it in my room all year round in the basement. I remember my sisters shared one room and when they got older, they never got along. So, Dad and I built a bedroom down in the basement when I was around 15 I believe. Today it's against a ordinance here in NJ to have a bedroom in the basement unless there is a radon detector installed and 2 ways to enter the basement and 2 ways to exit the basement. I only have one way in and out which is thru the inside of the house, I would have to install what they call bilco doors and knock out the basememnt wall and install steps to get out to the outside. So now it just gets used as a hobby room basiclly a yard for my G scale. For those who haven't followed along, I bought my childhood home in 2000 after my dad died in 1997 and Mom couldn't take living there alone no more.
EMD Trainmans USA F3 ABBA units I have done my switching around a little earlier this year, this took about 2 hours to properly and carefully transfer approximately 50 pieces of rolling stock from the floor to the shelves and the other 50 from sthe shelves to the floor. As I anticipated, not all of the larger rolling stock would fit on the wall shelf, so sll of my 55ft tank cars sits on a siding I made years ago and was one of the sidings I was able to keep after going all 8ft diameter curves. Now I would like to show off my USA Rio Grande F3 ABBA units #5521, #5522, #5523 and #5524 which are all fully powered. These units have served me well and have run every weekend for about 5 of the 8 years I had them. Now I can switch them off thank goodness to save some wear and tear which a couple of the units are showing signs of that already, I will definately have to put new trucks under these units soon. The bushings in the side frames are wore out due to alot of use, but they still go on strong. I bought these units new in 2000 when they first came out and are very strong pullers compared to my Aristocraft FA units which were replaced by my USA F3 units. In my opinion, the USA F units proved to be most popular F unit to date because of it's strong pulling power, very realistic appearance and all powered units. The Aristocraft Fa FB units were also all powered, but weak on pulling power. A USA F3 unit has double the pulling power thanks to USA traction tires and strong motors. MTH trains also makes F3 and F7 units, but the B units are not powered. LGB made F7 units, but the looks of the front ends were way off and also there B units were not powered, but did carry a sound unit. My F3 ABBA hauls a very long string of 40ft box cars and 40ft tank cars with a couple of 40ft ice reefer cars. Originally in real life, Rio Grande F3 ABBA unit numbers were #521, #522, #523 and #524, but were later changed due to dispatchers getting them confused with switchers which were also 3 digit numbers. They were bought new in 1946 by Rio Grande and then were in a horrible accident in 1965 in Colorado. You can see this accident on film available by Pentrax, it's the second half of the film called "Trouble at Troublesome" It has great footage of the after math. They were repaired after the wreck only to be scrapped anyway in 1966.
I just went throgh your write up and I am impressed,Is radio control catching on an at all? That is what I would like to do!! thanks Jim
bigpine Thanks for your nice comments. Radio control in the G scale world is very expensive. MTH Gauge one trains come thru standard with radio control, but look at thos prices. Aristocraft makes it a very easy option to add radio control yourself with their plug n play feature. Other than that with the other manufacturers, you are in for alot of work. USA trains is the hardest to find radio control for. This is due to they use alot of amps, especially in a multi unit lash up, so I use high voltage transformers which are 24 volts. Most accessories made today for G scale are meant to be used for 12 volt power. Lionel tried coming out with a O scale train comand system with a converter to make it usable in a G scale application and was sold as a kit. This G scale train command kit really never took off. I see alot of club members with radio control at the Large scale train shows, but again, they are runing Aristocraft locomotives. I myself wanted the same as you, to have radio controlled locomotives, but I'm at 16 locomotives now and there is now way I can afford that. So I basiclly cheated in a way. I run track powered transformers, so I bought the Bridgewerks Magnum 1000DL transformers which are 15 amp with 24 volts and fully wireless radio controlled. Some transformers are called "walk arounds" in which you get a long cord to plug into the transformer, mine are fully "wireless" and use a small remote key pad for throtle, stop, direction and emergency stop. I have 3 seperate tracks which are fully isolated from each other and use 3 transformers to run each track. I can successfully switch a locomotive from one track to the other by presetting the one transformer in the correct direction and amperage then I set the transformer on the track the locomotive is on in the correct direction and set the amps to make it go and the transition from one track to another is very suprisely smooth. For me running multi units makes it hard to use radio control also. Locolinc is the only DCC supplier I know of who actually has a system to run up to 4 multi units as one unit, the others only go up to 2 units. To answer your question, is radio control catching on? To G scale club members who need it to run on club displays, to G scale live steamers who find it esasier than chasing after the train. For the common person at home just wanting to run G scale trains, not really.
EMD Trainmans GP-30 flat service train Hi everyone. I got real interested in flat service trains when I read a article in model railroad magazine which focused on running a dedicated flat service train. I originally wanted to run a intermodal service train with USA articulated intermodal cars, but as I said in my past threads you have to plan what you want to run before building any layout. Unfortunately for me, the USA intermodal cars need 10ft minimum diameter curves to run on, so this left this idea out. Out of ideas of what kind of train to run, I stumbled across the article of running a flat service train, I really loved the idea and ran with. I have 2 Rio Grande GP-30 locomotives that pull a combination of USA center beam cars, piggy back cars, pipe load bulk head flat cars, a bulk head flat loaded with logs, a flat car loaded with pipes, a flat loaded with generators and depressed flat car. You will see a variety of flat type cars used on this train. The USA GP-30 locomotives look right at home pulling this flat service train. Lucky for me that USA did not make their piggy back cars prototypical or else they would be too big for me to run, can you imagine a 2 trailer piggy back in G scale, you would probably need 20ft diameter curves which is the biggest commercial curve you can buy. Running indoors limits you to space, especially in the corners, there is no way I can go bigger than 8ft diameter curves, leaving the USA intermodal cars and Ultimate series aluminum passenger cars out of the picture as a choice. I will agree on one statement made in the article, alot of people over look running flat cars which can be alot of fun. There alot more ideas for modeling with flat cars, imagine a skid loader unloading plywood from a center beam car on a siding for Mr. Smith's wood supply buisness or a crane off loading pipes at a siding for M&R construction company, or a crane off loading generators for the nearby hospital, the possibilites are endless if you think about it. I left pictures of my flat train for all to enjoy, feel free to use any of these ideas to model with on your layout.
EMD Trainmans GP-9 hauling heavy coal loads Hi everyone, I would like to show off my beautiful USA GP-9 locomotives in the Rio Grande road name. This paint scheme USA trains used is a as delivered to Rio Grande paint scheme, all GP-9 locomotives were later re-painted to famous all black with Rio Grande in orange paint scheme as Rio Grande thought the earlier paint scheme was too confusing and looked too much like a switcher paint scheme. I have 2 USA GP-9 locomotives that I run as a double header pulling mainly USA 70 ton hopper cars, there is however 2 Aristocraft 2 bay covered hopper cars and a 2 bay LGB hopper car in this string. There is 6 Rio Grande 70 ton hopper cars, 4 Southern Pacific hopper cars and 2 Union Pacific hopper cars in this string. The USA hopper cars already come with a coal load. I think the GP-9 looks right at home pulling a coal load, but in real Rio Grande railroading you would find SD-9 locomotives pulling coal loads out of mines as the 12 wheel drive was needed fr extra traction. Trust me, I would love to own SD-9 locomotives in G scale as I love EMD 12 wheelers, but Aristocraft failed to produce what was promised us so far, too bad, I would have bought 2 of them, retired my NW-2 lcomotives, put the GP-9 locomotives on the work train and the SD-9 locomotives on the coal load, just as Rio Grande did.
Very nice! I'm jealous of how much room you've got for laying rail, my parents would kill me if i did that in their basement.
EMD Trainmans original custom run ideas When I first got into G scale I bought commercial made models in regular railroad names. But then I read in many magazines of how people make up their own road names and even custome paint their equipment in a paint scheme they may like. I too pondered the thoughts of maybe developing my own short line railroad and custom paint everything, but this takes much time and patience of which I don't have. But I actually made a paint scheme up I was going to use if I decided to custom paint trains on a cheap no cost design program and it shows when you look at the picture of how cheap this program is. But even in a generic picture stage, I could imagine my locomotives looking great in this paint scheme. In the picture, it's hard to see, but I would have a Silver roof top, the rest of the locomotive would recieve a Conrail blue paint, then later would recieve a Atlantic Coast Line purple wide stripe down the side and over the nose of the locomotives. The fuel tank and truck frames would also be sliver. Maybe one day I might find a cheap G scale locomotive on ebay to play with as far as custom painting. I have attached a picture of my design for the one time I had the idea of making my own railroad short line.
Your custom paint post has me thinking- In the limited amount of exposure to G I've had, I don't see a lot of that being done. Seems like most folks are choosing RTR equipment. Is this really true? Perhaps one reason I enjoy viewing progress reports about the Winter Valley- The proto-freelancing Dave is doing. Boxcab E50
BoxcabE50, yes it is true, there are just a few people in G scale like Dave who customizes their own G scale equipment. Most G scalers do buy ready to run equipment only because they don't want to spend a whole lot of time getting to the point of running trains and most of the commercial ready products available have many road choices. You still see those who custom made their own railroad buildings, locomotives and rolling stock in Garden Railroad magazine, but they spent like 10 years to get maybe a two or 3 locomotives, a dozen rolling stock and another dozen building done. There is one club member who displays and runs his own custom made G scale train at the Large Scale train show, it consists of 2 custom locomotives and about 15 pieces of rolling stock which I must say is very detailed. This guy is so detailed, I watched him hand laying his own track, another words, he would lay the ties down, measure and bend the rails and then hand spike the rails on each tie. this guy is definately one of a few. I'm not making fun of him, not something I would do, but can appreciate the work that incurs doing such a project. some people need a outlet like this to get away from some kind of stress. Another point would be, by the time you made your own piece of rolling stock, some G scale manufacturer came along and made it later for alot less than what you have invested. I'm like you, there are very few G scale custom modelers, but when you see one, you stop and look. Dave does good work and he scratch built his cyliner hopper which is very nice. Dave is what you would call a "scratch builder" someone who makes a model completely from scratch. Then you have a "kitbasher" someone who takes a current model or models and makes one different model. Then you have a "customizer" like dragonfyre who takes a current model and paints it in a scheme of his choice. Then you have people like me who are "modelers", for me it's just because I have no patience for painting and I'm afraid of ruining a already great $200 locomotive. Then you have the resale value to think about if you want to sell one day.
I think for my first time painting a locomotive I did a good job, not perfect but practice makes perfect right? If I can't find Burlington Northern Equipment, I'll paint it. And since my Roadname in Aristocraft is a scarce name, I have to look for stuff to customize with. But customization is half the fun of it. Ya I wanted the official BN FB-1, but that wasn't to be. So I've got decals being made for the unit, along with the small tiny details like "Jack here" and "F". I'm going to attach those myself. When I get done most people will only be able to know it's not an official BN FB-1 because under artificial light, the paint I used is a shade darker then Aristocraft's paint codes. But as far as I'm concerned, ex-Southern Pacific or not, that' is 2072 no matter what anyone says. Kitbashing is going to be my next project as I'm going to add an Amber BN Style strobe and a front LED Light just under the nose, simply because I saw a PA-1 with a mars light and I thought it looked nice. Kitbashing and Customizing and Scratchbuilding are some of the funnest aspects, and RTR Layouts have their place as well. Your painted SD-70MAC's are so brilliant~ Did you paint them yourself or did you have them done professionally (Like my FA-1 Hockey Stripe is going to have to be)?
