Large Scale Central

1 Inch Scale and other "Ride Ons"

Other Scales
#61

The “Lake Wales Ridge” is the highest place on the Florida Penisula! Still not very high. Probably a 30 foot height difference on the railroad from the bridge to the lowest area… Pretty constant rise or downhill run.

I’ve asked questions, but didn’t get a lot of answers on how the Train Orders. However, they have told me they use car cards and dispatch with phone locations for orders using written orders. I know they also run two passenger trains with a clock during ops. Lots to learn, observe and enjoy. I’ll let you know what happened around the 3rd or 4th of January. That’s if we get home and back after Christmas.

Tied up in Troy, Alabama for the night. Headed north and slightly west.

#62

Ric Golding said:

The “Lake Wales Ridge” is the highest place on the Florida Penisula! Still not very high. Probably a 30 foot height difference on the railroad from the bridge to the lowest area… Pretty constant rise or downhill run.

Never knew that. Hills aren’t that noticeable in that part of FL. It must start there in Lake Wales and run up through the entire length of Central FL. The further north you travel on 27, the more pronounced the hills get. Interesting. I always thought the landfills were the highest parts of Fl…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#63

Ken Brunt said:

Ric Golding said:

The “Lake Wales Ridge” is the highest place on the Florida Penisula! Still not very high. Probably a 30 foot height difference on the railroad from the bridge to the lowest area… Pretty constant rise or downhill run.

Never knew that. Hills aren’t that noticeable in that part of FL. It must start there in Lake Wales and run up through the entire length of Central FL. The further north you travel on 27, the more pronounced the hills get. Interesting. I always thought the landfills were the highest parts of Fl…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Landfills in South Georgia and most of Florida known respectively as “Georgia Mountains” or “Florida Mountains”

#64

I wonder why?..(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#65

February in Florida, on the drive back down the trees have buds and even young leaves. Lots of color. February is when all the Live Steam Clubs in the Florida Live Steamers have their gatherings.

http://www.floridalivesteamers.com/

Check out the “Calendar” or “Calendar of Events”

At least one club has an event scheduled each weekend and there are Live Steamers everywhere. Hopefully, Don Howard will do pictures. He’s at the Manatee Central Railroad this weekend and here at the Ridge Live Steamers next weekend, February 25 -28.

Oh, in case you asked, Yes, we’re having fun.

#66

Try THIS backyard railroad - just up the way from us in Oregon…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5OG0tuNC8k

tac

Ottawa Valley GRS

#67

WOW . . . that is fantastic ! I really liked seeing the logging engine on the skid with the high lines rigged to the tree. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

#68

Yesterday did some exploring and got track time on the Central Pasco and Gulf Railroad at Crew’s Lake. There is just so much to explore when you include trains with fun and adventure.

You really can’t imagine what is out there, until you start looking.

#69

You’re having too much fun (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)Looking forward to hearing all the details in a few weeks.

#70

Daktah John said:

You’re having too much fun (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)Looking forward to hearing all the details in a few weeks.

Yes way to much fun

Ric rr that you have been going to are they 7.25 or 7.5?

thanks rich

#71

Rich,

The Florida Railroads are all 7.5 inch. We have a separate set of trucks for the riding car for the 7.25 tracks, like up at Finger Lakes in upstate New York, and then the drive wheels on the J&S Rail Bus are movable between the two gauges.

#72

A long time ago in a far away land (North Bay, Ontario), members of the Ottawa Valley GRS visited Rod Johnston’s Blackfly Junction Railroad.

Blackfly Junction Railroad

Rod originally started with LGB large scale trains. But when we visited, he new passion was 1" scale. I can remember walking past a large garage and workshop. As I stepped around the corner there was a CNR GP-9 sitting on the track idling. My heart skipped a beat. It was like being transported back in time when I rode freight trains with my dad through Algonquin Park. His trains were hauled by three GP-9s.

One of our members was so enthralled, with the help of the group he purchased an FA-1 project locomotive. I believe their is still a printed $50 share stapled inside the IPP&W Shops. After purchasing wheel chair motors from my brother and some marine batteries, he got the “Gray Ghost” running. So called because of it gray primer paint job. Unlike most tethered 1" scale locomotives, Peter wired it to run with an Aristo-Craft 27 MHz radio control system.

The Gray Ghost

The engineer shown is Peter’s young son Bruce operating on the Montreal Live Steamers railway. When I arrived he was sharing the trailing car with a young blonde. When I asked for a ride, he refused. They sure get wise fast nowadays.

A number of live steamers turned their noses up at the sight of the Gray Ghost. But Bruce got the last laugh every time he towed one of the stalled expensive live steamers back in.

#73

Pictures from the Ridge Live Steamers Winter Meet finally appeared on the website.

For those interested, you can find a link here -

http://www.ridgelivesteamers.org/pics/wm2016/index.html

#74

Holy cow! What does he use to haul that around? A tractor trailer?..(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#75

You know this 1" scale stuff could change a bodys’ way of thinking (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#76

Dave Marconi said:

You know this 1" scale stuff could change a bodys’ way of thinking (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

I thought of you when I first saw those, too…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#77

in for a penny, in for a pound (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#78

Vic Smith said:

Someone PLEASE explain to me why if you have the space and resources to do this:

Why wouldn’t you do this?:

The space is about the same, you could use the similar track, the costs probably the same, but you’re doing 1:1 railroading

I’ve never gotten the appeal of ride-on when Feldbahn is out there (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

and yes, I know I’m odd (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

A gent in Beatty, Nevada by the name of Charley started out doing a SE layout that somehow morphed to a 1:1 layout. You’ll have to dig through the thread in the link below to find out where this happened. http://www.7-8ths.info/index.php?topic=16681505.0

#79

Ken Brunt said:

Holy cow! What does he use to haul that around? A tractor trailer?..(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Halls it in a box trailer, with 11 cars pulled behind a Chevy Suburban. Empty of fuel and water, it is a lot of big hollow tubes. I’m not sure, but I think it was a 3/4 ton Suburban. Helped load it all, into this really big box trailer. Home railroad is the Central Pasco and Gulf in Pasco County.

#80

Learned to operate a coal fired live steamer this last Winter. It was a great day. One of the most impressive parts, is that the class was taught by this young lady. She is 14 years old and has been running this engine with help since she was 5 years old and by herself since she was 10.

http://www.ridgelivesteamers.org/pics/wm2016/photo180.html

This one was quite interesting. 2 1/2 inch scale on 7.5 track. Wood fired from furniture makers scrap. Fantastic steamer. The engineer is 12.

http://www.ridgelivesteamers.org/pics/wm2016/photo182.html

This one has me quite intrigued. It is a Conner Beam Engine, propane fired quite a puller for its small size. Built in Nashville, Tn. The Builder has passed now, but he put quite a number of these on local tracks and they’ve spread through out the hobby.

http://www.ridgelivesteamers.org/pics/wm2016/photo218.html

The owner of this unit is a member of the Ridge Live Steamers and has quite graciously let me learn and share the throttle with him most of the Winter. After learning on coal, I’m happy with propane. Not a whole lot different than running the #1 Gauge 2 cylinder Accucraft Shay. The vertical boiler is quick to steam and with gas and water can go all day.