Finally, ordered one and got it today.  The first thing I did was to look and see all those new metal gears in the trucks.
The detail is exquisite !  Runs great, nice and slow.  I had a few minor derailments at first but, that was more indicative of my track laying abilities than the engine  itself.  I'll have to put in a work order to get road crew out and
have them gauge the track.

Another thing, I run strictly DC and was wandering if both headlight and back up light were supposed to be on all the
time.  It doesn't matter what direction I'm going, both lights are always on.  Any suggestions ?

One more thing:  Has anyone posted any pictures from their Facebook web-page ?  I'm rebuilding my entire layout and
would like to put up a few pictures of the progress.

Thanks for any advice.

Ken

Wow !  I think I'll just stick to my matchsticks and bamboo skewers.

Can't wait to see it finished...both projects !

Ken

Sorry to create such a controversial chain on a pure 'fantasy' subject.  If there is any misunderstanding on naming
fictitious locations the I suggest those with any questions read the book "Model Railroading with John Allen".  It's
about his construction of his railroad the 'Gorre and Daphetid' .  Pronounced 'gory and defeated' as explained in
the book.

Model railroading is a hobby (or so I thought) and not a scale reproduction of history.  It's supposed to be fun.  If
you wish to produce a specific location or model a specific railroad, be careful.  There might still someone out there
who will call you on your bluff and say, "I was there, and it wasn't like that."

I hope I don't get a call from the Disney foundation saying that Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and
Sneezy are all on strike due to the negative publicity.

Ken 

Love them steamers !  I like the way the piping really stands out against the 'brass' fittings.  As far as
prototype goes...I didn't give the 'brake' light a second thought.

Ken

I saw that one a little different on another railroad: "Lye Cheaton Steel".  The guy that built it may
have been into 'Heavy Metal'.

Once I add a port, I'll probably go with 'The Phanta Sea RR'.  Then again, I may have to Wayton see...

Ken

First I arranged a few mine structures, then put cardboard silhouettes for a rough idea of what I wanted.



With that, I started to add rock castings from molds.



I figured approximate location for mine entrances and used 'matchstick' entrances.



I filled in the spaces between the rock molds with more plaster and added scenic material.



I added a 'second' layer of bluffs and hills higher up and 'beyond' the back of the first piece.



You can tell the smaller tufts of trees seem to be a lot more distant into the scenery that the larger 'puff ball'
trees on the earlier pieces of scenery to the left.  I'll also have to 'blend' the two pieces together and rearrange
the trees with the smaller ones to the back to create a 'forced perspective'.  I still have to add a meadow beneath
the bridge.



That's about for now, thanks for looking.

Ken

To quote a fellow railroader:

      "Great pics, keep 'em coming."

Actually, they're going to charge the giant with 'Illegal dumping trash on their 'right of way' ".  It's been tied up in the
court system for some time now.  Every time the giant gets subpoenaed he has to "go upstairs".

A while back when I posted a few pictures of my layout, someone (It was Len) made a comment about the giant pencil
in the junk pile.  Here's the photo:



Anyway, because this person (did I mention it was Len), word got back to the RR owners and they sent out a crew to clean up the place a bit.



So now, thanks to this person (Thanks Len) there's a happy giant somewhere waiting patiently for his pencil.

Looks like you're on the home stretch.  Can't wait to see the end product, before and after weathering.

Ken

Sweet !  I haven't been able to 'conquer' the finesse needed to master my airbrush.  Do you have a stencil or decals
for your railroad logo ?

Here we go...
Pic 1  All my Bachmann geared steam engines.  Shays on the Mainline coupled together, they can pull every piece of
rolling stock I own...at the same time.



Pic 2  All my Bachmann Climaxes.  The class-A on the turntable is an MDC/Roundhouse kit over a Bachmann 44 tonner.
(as per "Geared Steam's" website.)



Pic 3  My little 50-ton two-truck Class A Climax regeared with a parted-out three-truck Climax.


Pic 4  Three of the70-ton three-truck Climaxes...one with a Fungineer.


Pic 5  Bachmann 44-tonner with new Climax body.


Pic 6  One of the Shays.  All of my Shays have been regeared with NWSL metal gears.  They all run like originals.


Pic 7  Not geared but Bachmann.  An Alco 2-6-0 Mogul.


That's all the Bachmann motive power I have, maybe I'll have to get out some 'brass' later...

Thanks for all the comments. 

My model railroad is pure fantasy.  The MoPac and M&I used to run here where I live.  I just like to run their equipment
on my 'mostly' logging and mining layout.  What I need to now is put up a fascia to give it that 'finished look'.

Here's a couple of 'overall view' shots I just took with a cheap camera with a built in flash.  After looking at them, I
just realized that I don't see any mines or lumber camps.

 



I've got a lot of scenery to finish up too.

Thanks again for the comments.

Photo #1  General view looking back down the mainline.



Photo #2  My first ever brass engine.  It's a 12-ton Vertical boiler, class 'A' Climax by NWSL pulling a run of Kadee disconnect log cars over my scratch-built matchstick trestle. 



Photo #3  MoPac Mikado 1301 waiting in the chute.  The 2-8-2 is a Broadway Limited Import.



Photo #4  The Railroad Transfer Boat "Ste. Genevieve" hauls a load across the Mississippi River between Thomure, Mo and Kellogg, Ill.  Missouri Pacific (MoPac) and Missouri Illinois (Mike and Ike) Railroads were in operation when this
photo was taken in 1958.



... next up, maybe a staged shot of all my Bachmann geared steam locos...

Hello Victor,

     The newer 70-ton Climax trucks are interchangeable with the older 50-ton Climax.
That being said, another problem to look for is the short drive-shaft between the front
truck and the transmission.  One of the yokes that attach to the truck could be split as
well, or it just could be slipping off of the front truck.  I applied the smallest amount of CA
adhesive as I could and this seems to have solved that problem.

Hope this helps.

Ken