Ramblings of the Engineer - "The Blog" 

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Many authored by our Engineer, Dick Senges, and other notable Rochester modelers. 

March 4, 2010

Lot of train doens going on.  Steve Levine is hosting many Tuesday Night Gang events including many clinics.  Thanks Steve.  Also, Steve is enjoying the Friday night operating sessions.  Jack Matsik had another Train Sale last Sunday - hope all went well for Jack.  The annual Rochester Model RR Club Open House is coming up this weekend - March 6 and 7th - see the Train Events Calendar on the Home Page.   The Medina RR Museum is planning a great year of events including A Day Out With Thomas May 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16.   Ate lunch a couple of times in LeRoy at the D & R Depot restaurant - great food and god prices.  The Keuka Lake RR Gang is getting together periodically at Ned Spillers layout for operating.  Thanks Ned for hosting.

Progress is being made on the B & H RR part of my layout as there is a new Covered Wharf Shed in place.  I will have some photos soon.  The Hammondsport Power House will be completed soon also and be installed near the B & H R engine house on the layout.  Also, the small gazebo will be replaced by a large band shell type gazebo structure.  Mean while the large sawmill complex's boiler house is being populated with two Western Scale Models boilers and one large steam engine.  

February 4, 2010

The Springfield Train Show was super and very crowded as usual.  Weather was clear but cold.  Four buildings this year with plenty of stuff.  Bought a few items of course.  Met some new suppliers and saw some old ones.  Purchased a super little 1:87 scale band stand or gazebo that was laser cut and fully assembled with unbelievable detail.  Supplier was Robert Geller of Clark, NJ.  The band stand will go on the Hammondsport section of the layout.   RMR issue # 65 will be out this week. 

January 28. 2010

Great times at Steve Levine's house hosting the Tuesday Night Gang.  Three clinics were given - one on turnout construction by Dave Thompson, one by Matt Kovacic on cloud painting using acrylic paints and one on cloud painting using flat white spray paint and stencils by Dick Senges.

Stand by for the 65th issue of the Rochester Model Rails magazine to be issued soon.  Topics will cover Railroad Sites of Ontario and Wayne Counties in New York State, Lionel train layout wiring and sawmill dry rollway construction. 

January 6, 2010

Well it is the new year and lots of RR doens going on.  Steve Levine hosted the Tuesday Night Gang in December - a great time had by all.  Steve will be hosting again - twice in January - see the Train Evens Calendar for dates.  The NMRA is having their local winter event January 9th in Auburn, NY - clinics, contest, layout tours, etc. - details on the Calendar.  

The sawmill project is still afoot - now building the Western Scale Models twin cylinder large steam engine.  There are many parts to this kit and the instructions are 27 pages long! (BTW - Western Scale Models no longer makes products in HO or S scale.)   Then the boiler for the Boiler House is next.   This leads to the drive system which is expected to be completed this winter. 

Dave Armitage has almost completed the Covered Wharf Shed which will replace the current double track plastic Wharf Shed in the Hammondsport area of the layout.   Dave will then construct the 1894 Hammondsport Power House which has a 50 foot tapered square brick chimney.  Should look neat on the layout near the Hammondsport Engine House. 

And don't forget the Springfield MA Show at the end of the month.

December 26, 2009

Hope you all had a great holiday and a Merry Christmas.  Don't forget the TNG get together - Tuesday Dec. 29 at Steve's.

Many projects are in the works - a new powerhouse, covered wharf shed and engine house for the Hammondsport section of the B & H RR.  Added twelve new buildings to the layout.   Also, constructing a large 1:87 scale duel cylinder steam engine (Western Scale Models) for the boiler house to be part of the large sawmill complex.  Next project after that will be the boiler for the boiler house.   

December 24, 2009

Change of date for the next NMRA Meet - Auburn, NY.  Now January 9th.  See the Train Events Calendar for details.

December 5, 2009

Great times at the RIT Train Show and the NMRA NFR Lakeshores Division Meet .  Ray Howard and Ned Spiller (MMR) gave great presentations on soldering and tree making.  Thanks guys - great job.   Next NMRA event - January 9th - Auburn, NY - see the Rochester Model Rails Train Events Calendar.  

November 19, 2009

Great meeting at Ned Spiller's HO model RR last Tuesday.  Ned has done a great job in modeling New England RRs.  His layout is open for the Tuesday Night Gang again this Sunday, November 22, at 1:00pm.   Ned will be giving a clinic at the RIT train show ( NMRA - LSD Meet) Saturday December 5th on tree making.   

November 15, 2009

Great time at the Batavia Train Show.  Saw all the usual folks and some new ones.   Purchased some DVDs, a small decoder and a great model of a sawmill.   Saw a really fine model by Dave Armitage of the Big Shanty Depot of the famed Great Locomotive Chase and a nice sawmill by Rich Cobb.  Next big train show in three weeks at RIT.     

November 10, 2009

The Train Events Calendar is being set up for 2010.  If you have any events you want posted, send me an e-mail:   OCRR@frontiernet.net.

November 8, 2009

Went to the Syracuse Train Show Saturday.  A great day and good weather too.  Bought a bunch of stuff - doing my part to prop up this staggering economy.  Even purchased some Lionel FasTrack for my granddaughter.  Saw all the usual guys there of course.  Rick Hunter of Hunterline of Canada had a great assortment of Mt. Albert scale lumber, so filled up to augment my dwindling supply.

November 1, 2009

A new model railroad project was launched by Dick Senges along with several other RR folks.  It is to document the 1894 Hammondsport, NY, small Power House located near the Bath and Hammondsport RR's Engine House.  This Power House is unique in that it is still standing today, has a 50 foot tapered square brick chimney and a 24" x 26" stone building.   It is currently privately owned. 

The project will consist of detailed historical documentation, professional scale drawings, a professionally built 1:87 scale model of the Power House and an article in the Rochester Model Rails magazine.    The model will be placed in the Hammondsport section of Dick Senges' model railroad.    

October 25, 2009

The five modules of benchwork were installed in Sam Pennise's basement on Sunday morning.  A great job by Sam Pennise, Don Young and Ned Spiller.    The group then went to lunch - thanks Sam -  in Hammondsport.  The group went to the Power House and interviewed several town members about the history of the Champlin Power House.  Very interesting.  Then on to Ned Spiller's HO layout - very nice Ned - great job. 

Sam's On30 track plan will be re-reviewed by Dave Thompson and then on to sub-roadbed building.  The control will NCE DCC radio system.  The sub-road bed type is still under review.   

October 19, 2009

The basic benchwork for Sam Pennise's On30 model railroad is 100% complete.  It was transported to Hammondsport on October 19 and is expected to be erected this Sunday, October 25th.   This completes the benchwork phase of Sam's On30 model Railroad.  Next the finalization of the track plan and some track laying.  Roadbed is expected to be commercial Homasote or cork over plywood (with risers and cleats) and in the flat areas over pink foam.   The layout is in a train room measuring 14' x 18'. 

October 12, 2009

Great progress being made on the model RR front.  Helping Sam Pennise design and build benchwork for his new On30 model  railroad.  It will take up most of a room 12 feet by 18 feet in his current basement.  The layout will consist of a series of modules of  1" x 4" box design, some with foam top and some with open grid.  Legs (2" x 4") will be bolted on with some bracing.  Hope to complete in October.

The pop-up in the upper logging area is complete all except for the new buildings.   Expect to complete this scene soon.   One Tortoise and two Switch-Its need to be installed. 

Launched a new project research the Champlin Grist Mill in Hammondsport, NY.  Six folks are now on the Project each doing their respective part.  After the final research and documentation, a model will be built and an article with text and scale drawings will be published.  The building is expected to be about 24' x 26' with a 42' - 50' brick square tapered smoke stack.  Should look really neat when completed!

September 23

I noticed that the Best of Show at the Narrow Gauge Convention and also the NMRA winner in the Diorama category is the SierraWest Twin Mills at Deer Creek sawmill.  These various sawmill buildings can be seen in the Photo Gallery section of this website.   Articles on sawmill construction can be viewed in past issues of the Rochester Model Rails magazine.  Hope to finish this mill on my layout in 2010. 

The pop-up section on the upper logging area is coming along.  The Sculpamold is dry an will be painted brown soon.  Then a layer of dirt slurry (white glue, water and sifted dirt) to be applied on the pop-up and surrounding areas.  Yet to finish the two Tortoise installations and the NCE Switch-It stationary decoders.  when completed than a town to be installed on the pop-up section along with the small sawmill. 

Construction of the very large SierraWest Twin Mills at Deer Creek sawmill to resume soon.  

September 20, 2009

Back in Victor from a trip west.  Rode the 1880s train in Keystone/Hill City, SD - great 2-6-6-2 old logging loco.  Toured great model railroads in Rapid City, SD (Black Hills Railway Society); Deadwood, SD (Northern Hills Railway Society); and Ogden, UT (Union Station Museum - Wattis-Dumke Model Railroad).  Also viewed the railroads serving the largest copper mine in the world near Salt Lake City.  Will report on these in detail in the Rochester Model Rails e-magazine in future issues.

September 4, 2009

Currently working on the access hole in the upper logging area of the layout which was cut out earlier this summer.  Matt Kovacic and I replaced the two existing Peco turnouts with Micro Engineering code 70 turnouts utilizing the new access hole.  This upgrade will allow more efficient switching with the new NCE DCC system installed in March 2009.  Tortoise switch machines and NCE Switch-It stationary decoders will be installed later.

Now to make the popup section:  Hot glued a 2" piece of pink foam in the open area, completely sealing the hole.   When secure, cut a  hole in the foam, similar to a Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin top.  Removed the piece, hot glued a 5mm piece of Luan plywood on the bottom along with a handle (old drawer pull).   Painted it brown.   Now the popup foam piece fits perfectly gently sitting it in the hole from the top down.   Next step is to dirt slurry the top and install a town and re-install the small sawmill.    

August 25, 2009

Noticed in the September 2009 Scale Rails NMRA magazine the sawmill I am building is featured on page 26 - SierraWest's Twin Mills at Deer Creek.  Carl Lasky did a great job building the mill and won first place in Diorama Kit Class in CT.  Looks super. 

August 23, 2009

Had a great breakfast at Sweet Sue's on Routes 5 and 20 east of Canandaigua.  Then on to Diesel Days to ride the streetcar and also a diesel loco.  Interesting to note that the streetcar was from Philadelphia and ran from 69th street up the Main Line.  I used to take the streetcar from Broomall to 69th street and back in the 1950s - maybe it was on this car !   A fun day.  

August 18, 2009

Stand by for the September/October issue of the RMR.  Should be out by end of August.  Will contain some new stuff - The RR Exploits of Jim Hutton, the NMRA National Convention in CT, and a How to Model article about miniature kerosene RR lanterns.

August 16, 2009

Saw the speeders off this morning at the Victor tracks.  About 25 motor cars arrived early in the am and after briefing and a breakfast snack went off on their journey.   They will return later today to Victor.  See the next RMR for images. 

August 10, 2009

Went to the Victor Train Days last Saturday and Sunday.  A great day on Saturday but much rain on Sunday.  Great music on Sunday - Everheart band.  Victor town has published a great brochure listing about 23 Victor historic RR buildings along with images of each building.  Do you know that there is a very old (circa 1840) stone RR pump house in Fishers, NY - 2nd oldest in the US.

Next Sunday, 16th - the motor cars (speeders) will be in Victor 6:30am to 9:30am.  Coffee and donuts.   See the RMR Calendar. 

August 2, 2009

It's August already. WOW.  Summer is gong fast.  Don't forget about the Victor train rides this coming weekend (see RMR Train Events Calendar) and the Pageant of Steam in Canandaigua, August 5 - 8.   Also the local NMRA is having a picnic and the Medina RR Museum is running several Winery Train excursions in August.  

Also, the August issue of the RMR is out - see the Home Page and click on latest e-magazine.

July 19, 2009

Talked with two new model railroaders last week.  Bill Lauretti lives here in Victor, NY, and models in HO scale  - modern 1990's  railroads.  Also, talked with Bill Croce of Hammondsport, NY.  Bill is an ex NYC area train engineer and models in Fn3. 

Was at Clinton Springs today for the Finger Lakes Scenic Railway Victor to Clifton Springs event.  Great pig roast, local Museum tour, and super strawberry shortcake - with ice cream!   Live entertainment too.  The town is very well kept and offer events throughout the year.  Neat place to visit. 

Coming up are the Medina RR Museum Winery Tours and also the Canandaigua Steam Pageant in August.

July 12, 2009

Don't forget the big train doins in Clifton Springs and Victor, NY on the 19th.   Also Jack Matsik's HO scale train sale the same day.  See the Rochester Model Rails Train Events Calendar for details.

July 7, 2009

This summer is moving along very fast - don't they all.  This week some folks will be at the NMRA National Convention in CT.  Hope to hear some reports and see some images when you all get back.  The Micro Engineering replacement of the old Peco turnouts is going slowly.  Hope to get back to that task soon.    

June 29, 2009

I noticed in the latest August issue of MR mag on page 67 the author used Testor's Easy Lift Off to strip paint from a Bachmann 4-4-0 loco.  Anyone locally have experience with this stuff?   And he air brushed Future Floor Wax on the loco before applying decals.  Good idea? 

Ned - check out that Ball Signal article on page 42 of same issue. 

June 28, 2009

Cut down four basswood trees and cut the 3-4" straight sections into two-foot lengths.  Then re-cut the ends on the radial arm saw and hot waxed the ends.  Logs will be stored for a year and then cut into 1:87 dimensional lumber. 

June 25, 2009

While at the Kimberton Show this year I saw some really great looking lobster traps.  It appears that they can be purchased from:  Frenchman River Model Works, Builders in Scale and Bar Mills.  The guys at Kimberton mentioned a company "Emerson" but I have not been able to locate this company.  Suggestions?   Are there lobsters in Keuka Lake - maybe !

June 24, 2009

Received the NCE Switch - Its I ordered .  Installation appears easy as two wires to the track power (bus) and two wires to the Tortoise switch machine.  Two Tortoise (Torti or Turtles ?) can be run from each Switch-It.  And push buttons can also be hooked to the Switch-It.  Will report as to the success of the Switch-It installation.   Any of you guys here in Rochester, NY, have experience installing Switch-Its?  Suggestions? 

June 23, 2009

WOW  - This summer is going fast as do they all.  Much less train work going on since the good weather demands us to spend time outdoors to do maintenance, have fun, etc.  Like fixing the damage from a large tree falling on my house about two weeks ago -ouch !!! Logging 1:1scale is much harder !

Visited NCE in Webster, NY, the other day and talked to Larry Larsen.  He is doing just great and we are all glad for his recovery from his roof fall.  Larry - stay off that roof !

Speaking of roof falls, another Rochester model railroader had a similar fall, Pete McRae.  Pete spent a few months is a wheelchair and is now using a walker.  Pete - you too -  stay off that roof !!  And a speedy recovery.

June 22, 2009

Volunteered again at the Day Out with Thomas at the Medina RR Museum in Medina, NY.  Great time but got a heck of a sunburn - duh - Dick - stay out of the sun.   Right !    

Speaking of the Museum, they are now offering Winery Train Excursions  - check out the Train Events Calendar for the dates.  Marty and Linda - keep up the great work at the Museum.  

Many thanks to Bill Carr for volunteering at the Museum working on the DCC system.    Bill and I joke around about NCE DCC and have some pet expressions like:  "A little expertise is required" and "Needs Constant Engineering".  DCC does take some study and applying good DCC and electrical standards to make it work.   Ah the "W" feature - you want it to work ?

Speaking of DCC, I finally after four years of experimenting with NCE DCC, switched over this March with the help of some RR friends - thanks for the help guys.   Works great - love those Bachman Soundtraxx shays which are now my primary runners.  Those shays sound super MUed together.   Installed a special drawer which contains the NCE DCC controls and also a 6-pack of #1156 lights  - works great !  Also installed 7 UTPs around the layout for those not using radio.  And some new DCC wiring.  

June 21, 2009

Relative to the Oil Creek Railroad upper logging section, Matt Kovacic (thanks Matt) and I are changing out some turnouts - Peco Electrofrog out and Micro Engineering code 70 in - along with Tortoise and Switch-It installation.  Should finish this this summer which will allow much improved operations in the upper logging area.  This work is being done through a new pop-up hole which will be completed after the turnout work is finished.  

Tim Smith is still going strong with his train store in Webster, NY - Empire Northern.  Visited him and purchased some train stuff last week.

Jack Matsik is selling his complete HO scale collection.  See the Train Events Calendar for the next sale. 

Sam Pennise is making progress on his new On30 layout design and hopes to start benchwork soon.

The sawmill is almost three years old and not quite finished.  (see the Photo Gallery for progress images)  This fall I hope to start  placing the 20 buildings and installing the drive system, rods, pulleys, etc.    Once done I can super detail the inside of the "New Mill" and start the second story saw sharpening shop. etc.   Looking forward to completing the sawmill project. 

The Kimberton Narrow Gauge Module Show in Kimberton, PA, this year was a lot of fun and had great layouts and vendors.  See the cover of the May/June issue of the Rochester Model Rails.      Sam - I love Pat's Cheese Steaks !

Don't forget the Pageant of Steam in Canandaigua, NY, this summer in August - see the Train Events Calendar for the date.