After weathering

As is my normal routine, after the ECLSTS I started the spring regrading and ballasting of the railroad. As of today the entire mainline is done, now I just have to do the reverse loops.

On a sadder note, my pet and companion of the last almost 8 years passed away. She is buried near the railroad and the house seams emptier without her here. So I am not working as hard on the railroad as I usually do, but I do believe it will be up and running on May first just like every other year.

I want to see the 2 PCCs I have, chase each other around the yard. And I also want to see the WM coal drag pulled by the Consolidation. So work will progress, even if its at a slightly slower rate.

Wayne Yancey completed the conversion of a USAT diner into a D&H prototype diner. Wayne made the required modifications, painted, and lettered the car.

Wayne chose to model the diner Champlain #43 for the excursion train. Passengers will now be able to dine in comfort while taking in the passing scene.

The major modification to the car body was addition of the vestibule end. As produced by USAT their diners do not have passenger entrance vestibules.

For the diner’s initial run it was placed as the headend car just behind the ALCO PA double A units. The car’s performance was all we had hoped for.

The diner completes a four car set that will be used as a D&H excursion train.

After much discussion and deliberation, it has been decided to move the E5 from the shop floor into storage. The enthusiasm, and therefore the effort, for the E has fallen off dramatically this year. The effort has fallen off to the point where almost no progress has been made on the E this year at all. I did not want to see another unfinished project added to the list of unfinished projects, and the E was supposed to get the shop crew inspired to get back into working on projects. Seeing her there week in and week out with so much still left to do on her is discouraging. We need a break from her. So this afternoon all her parts will be boxed up, and the locomotive and parts will be moved into storage. Then the shop will be cleaned and organized, and another unfinished project can be moved out of storage onto the shop floor. This decision was not made in haste, I have been mulling over this decision for almost 2 weeks now.

During November 2011 Bachmann introduced yet another upgraded version of their Anniversary 4-6-0. The major change is an up-graded gear box that has all metal gears. This is the first mechanical change to the Anniversary Big Hauler since it was introduced late in 2000.

Over the years, since first introduced, Bachmann has used five distinct gear box arrangements. Each version of the drive train, gear box and motor, was an attempt to improve the performance and reliability of the gear case and drive train. Bachmann owner’s have classified these gear boxes as Versions of the drive train. This reference to Version helps to identify the age and period that the locomotive was produced during it production that started in 1989. Version six is the latest in a long line of gear box upgrades/improvements. For now the Version 6 is being installed in the Anniversary 4-6-0. In time Bachmann may carry this latest version gear case/motor combination to the complete line of Big Hauler 4-6-0 locomotives.

This is the new gear case with all gears made of brass or phosphor-bronze. I can’t tell the difference between brass and phosphor-bronze so not sure exactly the type of metal used. When opened it was found that the gears were well lubricated. Running on the outdoor layout the locomotive is quiet with no gear noise.

In addition to this drive train up-grade Bachmann also redesigned the locomotive’s Pony truck.

The Pony truck is now all metal. Note that it pivots at its attachment point on the bottom cover and also pivots at the center of the truck. This new truck and its attachment is a big improvement over the Pony truck that has been used since these locomotives were first introduced in 1989. This new truck tracks well. Derailments of this truck should not be the problem experienced with previous versions of the Big Hauler.

The only visual cue that the Anniversary is a Sixth Edition is the metal Pony truck.

Bachmann made no changes to the external details of the locomotive. Its detail is the same as all previous Anniversary locomotives.

Tabulated Data for the Version 6 is exactly the same as previous Anniversary locomotives.

Length: 30 inches (tip of cow catcher to tender coupler face.)
Width: 4 3/4 inches (measured at steam chests)
Height: 7 1/4 inches (at top of turbo generator exhaust)
Weight: 8 lbs 8 oz (engine and tender)

On balance the mechanical upgrade should prove to further enhance the reliability of this locomotive.

1. It is our second railroad. We moved two years ago and just got started this past summer on the new railroad. This railroad will be six times as big as our first railroad.

2. railroad for videos for LSOL.com we are designing the railroad so that there are four distinct areas each having a different look and feel. This way we can shoot video and can make things look a little different.

3. Our Garden Railroad has several items that were handmade by our friends. We have custom buildings, unique rolling stock and a few custom painted engines. When we run our trains we are not only thinking about the train running, but we are thinking about the special people we have met because of our involvement in Large Scale Trains.

4. I love to run my passenger train at dusk. I have an eleven car Aristo-Craft Amtrak passenger train. As the sun sets, the lights in the cars come up. To be able to run this Amtrak passenger train was the main reason I wanted to build a Garden Railroad.

5. Having a Garden Railroad allows me to get outside. After working for years inside at a desk, looking at a screen, talking with disembodied voices on the phone there is something almost spiritual about digging around in the dirt with your family and friends. It can rejuvenate the inner soul.

Posting a lot of pictures. If you have any comments please e mail rsenek@gmail.com.

Of course one of the first things to happen was to have a shop built. After that the track laying started.

Of course the idea is to run a soon as possible. This was a temporary fix till new testle could be built.

My Brother came to visit. We spent two weeks building trestles. Sure appreciated his help.

This car was painted and decorated for the newest addition to the family. Evan was born Oct. 1, 2011.

The car is a Bachmann 1:22.5 box car with a Black Hawk helicopter for a load. Evan’s father is a Black Hawk pilot with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. So, we thought that Evan should have a box car with a model of the helicopter that his father piloted on two tours.

Custom decal set was produced by Stan Cedarleaf of Dewey, AZ. Stan does excellent custom decals.