Trash Cans and Fire Plugs

I am slowing plodding along with Phase 3 construction (Philadelphia scenes and the Camden yard) and real operations will not begin until the main yard is functional. In the meantime, I added some fireplugs (NZT Products) and trash cans into the Woodbury scenes. The fireplugs will be the last because due to their size and color (I am red-green color-blind) I have great difficulty seeing them.



Also I figured it might as well be trash day on Washington Ave. (North Woodbury) so I added some trash cans (these I can see!)

Greenberg Trainshow - Wilmington, DE 3/23/13

I just got back from the Greenberg Train Show in Wilmington, DE. I have been somewhat disappointed in a lot of these shows recently because, in my mind, I tend to compare them to the Greenberg train shows in Philadelphia 15+ years ago. Back then they normally filled the Philadelphia Civic Center and had 20+ layouts displayed.

This show had very few tables with N scale equipment (mostly HO & Lionel) and the prices were not impressive. What was impressive were the pictures of Reading, Pennsy and Conrail scenes by the vendor situated at the entrance of the show. (Just wish I could afford the $30-$125 price tags.) His works were beautiful.

They only had 3-4 operating layouts and, as usual, the NTRAK  modules were the stars of the show. I've included some photos of New Jersey Southern NTRAK  layout below.

 

 

 

PRR "Watch Boxes" and Passenger Shelters

3D printing is making an impact in the model railroading field. Items that were previously unavailable at a reasonable price are suddenly becoming available in all price ranges. However, one does need to be able to produce 3D drawings to create new items. Fortunately the hobby has several modelers who unselfishly share their time and talents to produce these new detail items.

There are certain details that indelibly mark a model as belonging to a certain railroad. Pennsy K4 4-6-2 Pacific's with belpaire fireboxes and distinctive Pennsy position signal lights spring to mind. Other touches would be the Pennsylvania RR passenger shelters and "watch boxes" (i.e. crossing shanties). Before 3D printing I had no access to these items.

"ScottFromWV" is a modeler on the nScale.net forum who graciously shared his talents to produce these for me in Shapeways (a 3D printing company). I received 5 crossing shanties for less than $9.00 (add in shipping) and the passenger shelters for less than $9.00 each. Both add a distinctive PRSL (PRR) flavor to my modeling scenes.

PRR "watch box" / crossing shanty

Up close (only the camera picks up the rough surfaces)

 

Passenger shelters painted in PRR Depot Buff and Roof Brown

As delivered in "strong white plastic" material