Large Scale Central

Part the Second; Off the dirt

Track and Trestles
#361

Jim Rowson said:

Oh my god! The diddlebegger! I love it!

John you need to get better. The world needs a diddlebegger! Even if you don’t have a G track to run it on for a while…

Hang in there buddy.

I ran across that picture long before I started in G gauge, all references named it The Paycar. After many false starts, I weeded out the initials and found it was a personal railcar for the Paymaster of the San Joaquin Valley Coal Mine Company. It also had rights to limited customers on the SP.

The Paymaster also ran excursions and party runs…

Look close, the pilot drawbar is up and attached to the boxcar. Steam is up and the diddlebegger must have hauled it along.

The Payroll inspired the beggar term and it’s not a real doodle, but rather a playful diddle… well that’s my story

#362

Whether it is true or not, it’s a great story. Thanks John!

#363

Cool story John. And here I thought you were saying “biggerdiddle”, just diffrent.

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)

#364

Cliff Jennings said:

Cool story John. And here I thought you were saying “biggerdiddle”, just diffrent.

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)

I think that would be Uncle Ernie’s train, if you are old enough for a Who reference! (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)

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#365

That solid single pair of drivers, the look of maybe a steam tractor boiler, plus the overall configuration, made me think of NZ backwoods homemade locos. I’d never have expected that it was SP! Except that the wheel arrangement of the loco part is almost like the CP Huntington… huh. Thanks for showing us!

#366

Need a spoke Driver eh?, how about a shorty? Little John

Run in reverse…

#367

Jenny Lind “pay loco” is on my someday list

#368

That paycar would be an interesting project. Now for the big question, is there any record of what color it was?

#369

Posted Dec 5:

John Caughey said:

Well, I now have a value system for each cement pour, it equals one hour of nap. At first I was using the trowel to spread it out, but the mesh is more holiday than solid and pressure pushed it through. Now my mix is wetter and with an old stainless steel serving spoon I slop it on in a thinner layer. A pour is 4 scoops and 1 1/2 units water. Aprox. 2 sq. feet.

Once the base coat is complete, I can sculpt the terrain and final texture…

I’ve been taking it easy … mesh one day, cement a couple three times the next, then power napping the next.

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I’ve been adding tints without planning, does it show?

The yellow is tailings from a mine and the black glass will be from the assay smelter.

Sharp eyes will notice the quarry, it’s shape will be sculpted.

In 2012 I beat lung cancer, in January I scheduled my yearly Scan and ‘precancerous tissue’ was revealed. The Cancer Board ordered it’s destruction, in April, via a Cobalt coagulator … cut and cauterized methinks. After 6 months of wheezing, I scheduled a follow up and my doc ordered the scan that found the cancer … but he forgot to call me … 10 days later I go in to find out the results and we get a phone call 5 minutes after we leave … oh we found a lump, 3 days later I get a call from my oncologist’s scheduler and she has me scheduled of 6am the 19th for a Brain MRI and a PET scan. The next day I meet with my doctor and hear my battle plan

2 days before Thanksgiving I got the word, just before Christmas I get the cost. I hated chemo … oh boy!(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

I am concerned about The Contest tho’, it’s a priority.

Sure has been a bunch of filler since this last report from my pike… First a word from our sponsor(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif).

It seems I’m 2 fer 2. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)I’m currently getting an Imunotherapy infusion every 3 weeks. This is mop up duty to sweep up the few cells from the 1% that didn’t go with the 99.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

The Aneurysm is unchanged and not a threat, we are willing to let that dog lie. We’ll see what the brain doc says…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-embarassed.gif)

My Nurse Keeper has signed off on my going home…

As far as my railroad and mine plan it was the perfect time for a break.

First I rescued a book I forgot I owned … from a wet trash can…

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Then I drew in it!

Mental images are my plans.

I wonder how I will pull this off.

#370

That’s great you’re getting back into thinking about your mine & mill project John!

Mule train, On30, and the cutaway shaft and stope, wow!!

Maybe share a site pic or two of where it would go?

#371

Sure The Cliff,

At the beginning of the above post, where the first row of mesh is on the left. I will leave a generous circle around my Saguaro. The floating fill was always thought of as a ballasted deck iron trestle. On the right side will be the mine’s small smelter.

By the way, it’s On3.

See?

#372

Dude! Back in action again! Congrats on being too tough! Can’t wait to see the mine proceed. And of course, getting the rest of the railroad getting back in shape…

#373

Certainly glad to see you back in the saddle, John. I know the fight isn’t over, but cancer’s ass is on the mat and the count is at 9. I think you are an inspiration to us all. Don’t get back home and over do it, take your time to build your stamina up before you get out in the heat and tackle your RR empire. Heck, we’ll give you to at least Friday before we expect daily progress pics (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif). You know I’m just yanking your chain, you take it easy for a while.

#374

Dan Hilyer said:

Certainly glad to see you back in the saddle, John. I know the fight isn’t over, but cancer’s ass is on the mat and the count is at 9. I think you are an inspiration to us all. Don’t get back home and over do it, take your time to build your stamina up before you get out in the heat and tackle your RR empire. Heck, we’ll give you to at least Friday before we expect daily progress pics (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif). You know I’m just yanking your chain, you take it easy for a while.

Thanks, I think…

Are you going to match me pic for pic of our layouts progress?(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

I don’t expect too much to start, the 3 bronchoscopies each took a portion of my breath away, there is another one scheduled, but I keep dodging it…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)

Having permission to go home doesn’t mean it’s time. The ‘cleaning’ wreckers also trashed my steps, so I’m having a ramp built on one side and new steps on the other and a gate where the old stairs are. I have a pich’em up truck and can skip the steps unloading.

I have to move Mr Ornery, Rocky my 16 year old 22.7 pounds when shaved, cat. He has never gone into his transporter willingly and Handy Dan has stacked his wood where I need to park… no rush, but I have plans and that’s a start.

#375

welcome back, John!

being old is a bitch. but who wants the alternative?

above you mention napping a lot - i’m at about 15 hours sleep per day now.

#376

This is the hill I’ve been in and out several ways. I won’t copy it, rather use it as an example.

#377

Great to see you posting John. Keep up the fight! That mine idea sounds very cool.

#378

John, what’s your thinking on doing the cutaway workings? Exposed model with an overhanging ledge for rain shedding, or encased with a plex window, or having a protective door that you open for viewing, or…?

#379

Cliff Jennings said:

John, what’s your thinking on doing the cutaway workings? Exposed model with an overhanging ledge for rain shedding, or encased with a plex window, or having a protective door that you open for viewing, or…?

Naked cement and rocks, forced perspectives from the outside and cut away views inside the hill.

Unlike one of your projects, I know where I want to go, but I haven’t a clue how I’ll get there.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

I think it will be too heavy to be a sail.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)

#380

That sounds perfect! Really looking forward to seeing how you craft it, it’ll be great.

And I think we both know you’d finish it about 10x faster than me, haha!