Large Scale Central

Little River Rail Road in Doc Tom's back yard

General Discussion
#201

Cross Bucks on the LRRR. The Black Gum road grade crossing just below Elkmont needed some sign-age to announce its presence deep in the Tennessee woods.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/CbuckA1640.jpg)

So, I researched cross bucks on the net and found official looking plans and dimensions. I scaled these to 1:20.3 size and printed them.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/cbuck2640.jpg)

My dear wife, Kit, then laminated the cutouts in plastic

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/cbuck2640-1.jpg)

The Tennessee road codes called for a post 10.5 feet from top to grade level with the cross buck placed at the nine foot level. This was done using .25 inch square wood strip and small nails.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/Cbuck3640.jpg)

The cross bucks were put in place much to the satisfaction of Boss Crumb who knows he is contributing to the overall safety of the roadways and railways of Tennessee.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/Cbuck4640.jpg)

Doc Tom

#202

nice touch Doc

#203

Those look great Doc. What font did you use?

#204
Doug Arnold said:
Those look great Doc. What font did you use?
Hi Doug,

I am glad you liked the Cross Bucks. Basically I used a PDF of the cross buck sign from the government site with out all the measurements attached. I printed this with the computer printer and then used a copier with reduction settings to get it to 1:20.3 scale. I cannot figure out how to upload PDF’s to this site…so here is the website I got the measurements and the actual picture I used to make the cross buck signs: www.trafficsign.us The PDF’s are under the “Rail Road and Light Rail” section.

I hope this is somewhat helpful. Thanks for your interest.

                                                                                   Doc Tom
#205

Thanks Doc, that will be great, I think that’s a great touch.
Isn’t it great to have Spring! It’s going to be in the mid 80s today.

#206

Doc
Thanks for the wonderful pictures.
I can’t seem to get anything to look that nice.:frowning:

Doug;
I’ll take the cool 60’s, it gets too hot in the work place when it reaches the 80’s.
No AC in there, just heat.
Rain again today.
David

#207

Rock Work on the Little River East Prong Tennessee has had a heck of a lot of rain. The Smoky Mountains were not spared this deluge. Bridge #2 on an unnamed rivulet feeding the Eastern Prong of the Little River suffered considerable damage to the rock fill maintaining the wooden abutments.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/RW1.jpg)

A logging train coming downgrade noticed the almost washed out bridge with rotting timbers. Boss Grump inspired the boys to get to work on the repairs before the Memorial Day weekend began in the mountains. Everybody pitched in with 2147 bringing a load of rock and the boys riding in style to the work site on the LRRR’s new Number 1 motor car. Jimmy Smith caught some mountain trout for a fry and Col. Townsend bought a case of beer for the men.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/RW2.jpg)

The work was done in record time and the boys headed off to Knoxville for some well earned carousing time.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/RW3.jpg)

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/RW4.jpg)

More wood needs to be cut to replace the aging timbers…some time. Doc Tom

#208

Looking good. That new rail car sure turned out nice!

#209

I like your shooting angles Doc. Very nice.

I standardized my couplers by converting everything to Kadees. Made my life a lot easier.

#210

Thanks Ray and Doug,

Encouragement helps keeping you plugging away. Hearing from you all is a big help as there are no other Garden Rail Road folks here in good ole Clarksville Tennessee that I know of.

I started taking the low angle pictures of trains when I was in HO. I try to replicate what a 1:20.3 rail fan would see and be interested in and shoot from that angle.

I too love the Kadee couplers as they work well and there are next to no disconnects when pulling these heavy models around. I did have to get used to their huge size when compared to the #5’s I used in HO scale. A good product from a good company.

Hope this thread is not getting too long. Let me know if I should start on another as I photo document the construction of this first experience with trains in the garden.

Doc Tom

#211

Keep it goin, Tom…it’s an enjoyable read following your progress…:wink:

#212

I, like you, don’t have any nearby gardeb railroaders, I think the closest one is 40 miles away. But the internet does keep us all “close” and someone always has an answer to the numerous questions I have.

This is a really great group.

Just keep adding to the topic you created at the beginning. I think it is a great way to show the development of the railroad, Do like I have done. If you need an answer to a question post it under the area where it would normally go and also post it in this topic. Although I tend to look at all emails I sometimes just look at a particular forum and not the others. Or even post it in chat. I’m just learning the ropes there but it’s a lot of fun.

#213
Doug Arnold said:
I, like you, don't have any nearby gardeb railroaders, I think the closest one is 40 miles away. But the internet does keep us all "close" and someone always has an answer to the numerous questions I have.

This is a really great group.

Just keep adding to the topic you created at the beginning. I think it is a great way to show the development of the railroad, Do like I have done. If you need an answer to a question post it under the area where it would normally go and also post it in this topic. Although I tend to look at all emails I sometimes just look at a particular forum and not the others. Or even post it in chat. I’m just learning the ropes there but it’s a lot of fun.


Thanks Doug.

Very good advice.

You are right this is the best group on Large Scale RR’s I found. Everything I have learned about this fascinating hobby has come from the Internet and reading books and Garden Railways Magazine.

Thank you to the Large Scale Central founders and moderators for a very informative web site.

Doc Tom

#214

Motor Car 1 gets a radiator and the motormen get to sit down. After studying the prototype gasoline powered inspection car from the1920’s, I decided to try and scratch build a model of the interesting low slung radiator.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/MC1-2.jpg)

I built it up from pieces of dowel and styrene strip and used an “n scale” wheel for the radiator cap

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/MC3-1.jpg)

My motormen needed to sit down on the job riding the rails in the Smoky Mountains. So I fashioned two seats out of scrap wood and made the leather cushions out of sculpey ( a very interesting clay material).

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/MC2-2.jpg)

My guys are pretty excited to be able to sit around for a while out of the view of boss , Mr Crumb.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/MC4-2.jpg)

Timmie, of course, still wants to mug for the camera. Even industrial photos of motor car radiators.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/MC3-1.jpg)

Doc Tom

#215

I really like how that came out.That’s one of the projects I want to tackle.

You probably said, but what motor block did you use? I’ve had trouble getting one and may just take one off one of my Eggliners!

#216
Doug Arnold said:
I really like how that came out.That's one of the projects I want to tackle.

You probably said, but what motor block did you use? I’ve had trouble getting one and may just take one off one of my Eggliners!


Doug thearisto center cab trucks are nice as well as the HLW motor blocks.

Tome I love the look of that rail car,

#217

Doug Arnold said:
I really like how that came out.That’s one of the projects I want to tackle. You probably said, but what motor block did you use? I’ve had trouble getting one and may just take one off one of my Eggliners!

Hi Doug, The mechanism or block is from my kids Playmobil steam engine. My kids are 30 and 26 so no tears were shed when I took it apart I believe it it is of LGB parentage as it runs very well and is very smooth. I gutted its wires and sliders and soldered on new power leads. The wires com up through the floor and will be wired to a low cost battery back of NimH batteries from Walmart that are rechargeable. Control will come from a “Critter Control.” It will have a reversing lever in the cab (electronic switch) and voltage to the block will be adjusted by a knob disguised as the headlamp on the front of the beast. It is meant to be turned on and adjust speed at track side and follow along to its destination when you put the 1:1 hand in to the cab and shut her down. As you can see in the comparison photos with the LRRR prototype the wheel base is too short but what the heck it was free.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/motorcar.jpg)

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/MC1-1.jpg)

Doc Tom

#218
Shawn said:
Doug Arnold said:
I really like how that came out.That's one of the projects I want to tackle.

You probably said, but what motor block did you use? I’ve had trouble getting one and may just take one off one of my Eggliners!


Doug thearisto center cab trucks are nice as well as the HLW motor blocks.

Tome I love the look of that rail car,


Thanks Shawn,

All that remains to do is put in its electronic “innards” and I will give it a whirl on my partially built layout.
Doc Tom

#219

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/chat/emoticons/good.gif)

#220

good stuff doc