I thought this video would be helpful for identifying derailment issues at switches.
Smoothside Passenger Car Trucks
I’m forever looking for replacement parts etc. I found KATO part numbers for my passenger car trucks. Parts 800033 and 800043 are the silver ones that match my ARR set. I found them available for purchase on https://www.n-scalemodeltrains.com. They are Boston and Albany Hobbies out of NH.
836 Candia Road
Manchester, NH 03109
(603) 305-5023
Kato catalog #800031 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Black w/o Coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800032 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Gray w/o Coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800033 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Silver w/o Coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800041 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Black w/ Semi-Automatic Knuckle Coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800042 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Gray w/ Kato Knuckle Coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800043 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Silver w/ Semi-Automatic Knuckle Coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800045 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Black w/ Fully Automatic Knuckle coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800046 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Black, Observation w/o coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800093 (Smooth Side Passenger Truck, Silver w/ Kato Magnetic Knuckle Coupler, 1 ea)
Kato catalog #800102 (Super Chief Pullman Truck, Silver, 2 ea)
Kato catalog #800104 (Pullman Passenger Truck, black w/ Fully-Automatic Knuckle Coupler, 2 ea)
Coupling Problem
I’m not sure what to do about this problem. In an S curve, the body mounted couplers are offset too far. I’m thinking a short, straight piece of track may be needed.
On the Move
It’s been a long time. Today I moved my table. It’s going to take some time to get it set up again. I’m excited to get back into modeling.
Photo Update
Updated Plan – Added a spur for a future train station
Here are some photos from this past weekend. My focus has been on laying track so the scenery needs a lot of work. I have a few more switches to wire up then I may begin filling in scenery.
I really like working with the curved turnouts, they add a lot of flexibility to my industry options. I find that using a curved turnout at the exit end of a curve allots the industry to be larger because space isn’t wasted by turnouts after curves.
All Aboard the Alaska Railroad
Sherry Ott, a freelance photographer, has some tips for taking photographs from trains. Check out the blog post here.
Well Laid Solder
Doing some wiring on the railroad today. I’ll attach the frog wires once the switch machine is in place.
A “container-boose”?
The Alaska Railroad has, in typical Alaskan ingenuity fashion, fabricated what appears to be a transfer car made out of a shipping container. These special cabooses are used in transfer service between yards or on short switching runs. As such, they lack amenities such as a bathroom and cooking or sleeping spaces. The ends of the car are left open and will include railings and chains to protect the rail-workers.
Source
Front-End-Friday
It’s a day late, I know, but here’s a couple photos of my newest engine:
This GP-38 will be used for light duty freight: a few box cars, a reefer, an open hopper, a couple tankers, log+lumber etc. I bought this Atlas engine on e-bay. It came with DCC+Sound and cost me $94, including shipping from Alaska.
Modeling Alaska 