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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Old Time Classic Photo's Of The Locomotives On The Roster Of The "New" JJJ & E



Classic old time photo's are images captured on a thin piece of silver plated copper. Since no negatives are produced, copies could not be made and each photo is considered "unique". There are many "classic" old time photo's of locomotives on the roster of the "New" JJJ&E.

An old time photo of a UP "Big Boy" #4006 entering San Marino on the inner mainline track. The major RR crossing in San Marino is on the left side of this photo. This steamer just fits on the 130' turntable near the Switching Yard. This locomotive will pull 60 cars on level track and also on the 1 1/2% grade on the mainline east of San Marino.
An old time classic photo closeup of UP "Big Boy" #4006 in the center of San Marino. The drivers and valve gear are very detailed along with all the piping on the engineers sides of this steam locomotive.
An old time classic closeup photo of UP "Big Boy" #4006 in the center of San Marino. The Idaho Hotel (corrugated roof), one of the signature buildings on the "New" JJJ&E is in the immediate background.
An old time classic photo of a UP "Big Boy" #4006 in San Marino on the inner mainline track. This steamer just fits on the 130' turntable near the Switching Yard.
Old time classic photo of a UP "Challenger" #3977 on the bridge of the turntable. The "Challenger" is ready to leave the turntable on one of the two exit tracks to the Switching Yard. The 24 stall Roundhouse is in the background filled with steamers of all sizes. Most of the stalls of the Roundhouse are filled with steam locomotives of all sizes.
A classic old time photo of UP #3977 "Challenger" on the bridge of the turntable. The 24 stall Roundhouse is in the background. A "Steam Donkey" is in the left foreground of this photo.
Classic Old Time Photo Of UP  4-8-4  # 837 With Smoke Deflectors Climbing the long 1 1/2% grade east of San Marino in the Monterrey Mountains. This steam locomotive has massive very rigid drivers and does best on radii of at least 19 inches. I used the two decoder approach in this steam locomotive. A Lenz mini silver decoder controls motor functions and a Soundtraxx "Micro" Tsunami Heavy steam decoder controls sound functions, There is a mini-oval speaker in the tender which has ample room for two decoders and a speaker.

Classic Old Time Photo Of UP  4-8-4  # 837 with smoke deflectors making the long climb up the 1 1/2% grade  of the mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background.

Classic Old Time Photo of  UP  4-8-4  #837 with smoke deflectors is on a mainline track with the Switching Yard in the background



Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Turntable Area And Service Tracks On The "New" JJJ&E


The turntable area and 10 service tracks occupy part of the space in the 50" x 50" turnaround area on the Switching Yard side of the "New" JJJ&E  If you are building a comparable Roundhouse and Turntable in HO scale, You would need an area that is over twice the size of 50"x50".

I used a Walthers 130 foot  motorized turntable which was positioned in close proximity to the Walthers 24 stall Roundhouse kits. The turntable is fully synchronized with the 24 stall tracks in the Roundhouse and 10 service tracks adjacent to the turntable. There are also two entry/exit tracks to the turntable.

When I was building the 24 stall Roundhouse, I used eight three stall kits which were put together at the same time. It took a lot of time and effort to complete the Roundhouse.I am nor particularly fond of Walthers kits, but the Walthers Roundhouse 3 stall kits was the best choice for available Roundhouses in N scale. Many of the individual parts had to be trimmed carefully to get a good fitting building and I spent many hours trimming these individual parts. Doing eight kits at one time was quite an endeavor. The end result however was worth the effort.

I used Peco code 80/55 flex track for the 24 stall tracks inside the Roundhouse, 10 service tracks adjacent to the turntable and two entry/exit tracks to the turntable and switching yard. The Peco code 80/55 easily mates with Unitrack using Unitrack rail joiners and was very easy to use.


Track Side View Of 24 Stall Roundhouse. A Canadian Pacific Train Master Is in One Of The Stalls
   Overview Of 24 Stall Roundhouse. A Denver & Rio Grande "Challenger" Is In One Of The Stalls And A Union Pacific "Big Boy " Is On The Turntable Bridge

   UP "Big Boy" #4006 On Turntable Bridge. 24 Stall Roundhouse Is In The Background

Closeup Of UP "Big Boy" On Turntable Bridge 

24 Stall Roundhouse Is Almost Finished. Installing the Removable Roof Is Next 

Track Side View Of Completed 24 Stall Roundhouse. Each Roof Section Is Removable For Access


Closeup Track Side View Of Completed 24 Stall Roundhouse. Each Roof Section Is Removable For Access

Another View Of The Completed 24 Stall Roundhouse With A Canadian Pacific "Train Master" On Turntable Bridge

Closeup View Of Canadian Pacific "Train Master" On Turntable Bridge 
  
Closeup View Of Peco Code 80/55 Flex Track Abutting The Turntable Lip. The Peco Code 80/55 Flex Track Mates Well With Unitrack Using Unitrack Rail Joiners. Evergreen Strips Can Be Place Under The Peco Flex Track To Make Up The Difference In Height Due To The Unitrack Plastic Roadbed.


Peco Code 80/55 Flex Track Used For The 24 Stall Tracks In The Roundhouse, 10 Service Tracks Adjacent To The Turntable And Two Entry/Exit Tracks To The Switching Yard
Peco Code 80/55 Flex Track Easily Mates With Unitrack Using Conventional Unitrack Rail Joiners. The Flex Track Must Be Shimmed Due to the Height Of The Unitrack Roadbed. This Isn't A Problem





24 Stall Tracks And 10 Service Tracks, Plus Two Entry/Exit Tracks  Are Completely Ballasted With Arizona Rock & Mineral N Scale Black Cinder Yard Ballast.

An Old Sepia Photo Showing How Easily Peco Code 80/55 Mates With Unitrack


An old sepia photo showing a KMP Steam Donkey adjacent to the turntable

The Peco Code 80/55 Flex Track Is Easily Ballasted. I used Arizona Rock & Mineral Black Cinder Yard Ballast In The Turntable Area
An Overhead View Of The Turntable And The Relationship Of The Service Tracks And Two Entry/Exit Tracks To The Turntable. I Used Arizona Rock & Mineral Black Cinder Yard Ballast In The Turntable Area And Switching Yard.
UP "Challenger" #3977 On The Bridge Of The 130 Foot Turntable On The "New" JJJ&E
Old Sepia Photo OF A UP "Challenger" #3977 On The Bridge Of The 130 Foot Turntable On The "New" JJJ&E
Another View Of A UP "Challenger" #3977 On The Bridge Of The 130 Foot Turntable With The 24 Stalls Of The Roundhouse In The Background
     Old Time Classic Photo Of A UP "Challenger" #3977 On The 130 Foot Turntable Bridge Of The "new" JJJ&E. The Weathered 24 Stall Roundhouse Is In The Background   

Old Time Classic Photo Of UP "Challenger" #3977 On The Bridge Of The 130 Foot Turntable Of The "New" JJJ&E










































Monday, September 24, 2012

The Gold Standard For N Scale Steam Locomotives




The Kato Mikado is still the gold standard of all N scale steam locomotives. While there have been many fine steam locomotives released in N scale in the past two or three years, the Kato Mikado is still the standard on which other steam locomotives can be judged.

Once Kato issued the traction tire option for the Kato Mikado, it can be ranked the finest steam locomotive in N scale. Before the traction tire option became available, the Kato Mikado could barely pull four or five cars on level track. With the traction tire option installed, the Kato Mikado can easily pull 15-20 cars on level track. This performance will vary from layout to layout. This locomotive's performance improves dramatically with increased running time. With over 20 hours of running time, this locomotive can pull on average 25 cars on level track. Of course your results will vary depending on your layout and track. All the cars done in my study have metal wheel sets which also helps performance dramatically.

Installing a decoder in this locomotive isn't difficult at all as long as one follows directions. My Lok Sound decoder installation for the Kato Mikado was published in the July-August 2007 issue of N Scale Magazine.

You can see the pictorial tutorial in one of the links on this website.

The Kato Mikado also has a full assortment of detail parts that the user must install on the locomotive and tender. Many modelers have become frustrated with installing these minute parts and many locomotives run on layouts without these parts being installed. Once one assembles the Mikado with these detail parts, the second and third attempts take much less time. The results are worth the effort.

Below are two photo's of a ATSF Kato Mikado with all the detail parts installed. There is a Lok-Sound Micro decoder in the tender. If I was doing a sound decoder installation today in the Kato Mikado, I would use a Soundtraxx Tsunami Micro decoder because the sound files are more vibrant and more user friendly with many sound options.

I have over fifty Kato Mikado's on the roster of the JJJ&E. They all have sound decoders installed in the tender.

ATSF Mikado #4016 On The Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E With The Town Of San Marino In The Background

Closeup Photo OF ATSF #4016 Mikado Showing All Detail Parts Added
Note***- All photo's were taken on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E.
 ATSF #4067 Mikado on the mainline  near the turntable of the JJJ&E. There is a Soundtraxx Micro Tsunami sound decoder in the tender. Backdrop buildings can be in the background against the Vinyl Roof Flashing backdrop.
ATSF #4067 On Mainline Of The "New" JJJ&E
You do need the traction option on the Kato Mikado. This easy to install option turned a mediocre performance into an outstanding steam locomotive, the Gold Standard of N scale steam locomotives.

As for the Model Power Mikado, many of these perform well without traction tires. However when the traction tire installation is performed, and it by the way is a very difficult installation, this locomotive performance improves dramatically. It still isn't in the class of a Kato Mikado.

The Kato Mikado has a much better motor and the detailing of the Kato Mikado is much more advanced than the Model Power Mikado. Model Power's ancient wiper system and half wheel pickup in the tender also hinders its performance.

I still have six Model Power Mikado's on the roster of the "New"  JJJ&E.

Unfortunately N scale locomotive manufacturers haven't been able to design a steam locomotive to perform well without traction tires. The pulling performance of steam locomotives without the traction tires is mediocre at best. The reason for this poor performance is:

The manufacturers haven't been able to design a steam locomotive with adequate weight in the proper places. for example if you add a GHQ kit to a Kato Mikado Mikado without traction tires, the Kato Mikado will pull 25 cars on average on level track due to the added weight of the GHQ kit. The same locomotive with traction tires will pull 50 cars on level track.

All N scale steam locomotives need more weight throughout the locomotive to pull properly.

I'll us traction tires that come with steam locomotives.

As for Bull Frog Snot, the jury is still out on its dependability. Some locomotives have improved performance with Bull Frog Snot on a set of drivers and others don't. In my opinion Bull Frog Snot is just a glorified traction tire when applied to a set of drivers.
  Below is a photo of a generic Kato Mikado kit bashed into a PRR L1-s Mikado using a GHQ kit. The locomotives is at least three times heavier than the original generic Kato Mikado. This locomotive has pulled up to 63 cars on level track, a far cry from the 25 cars on average each of my fleet of 50 Mikado can pull on level track. I have seven kit bashed Kato Mikado's using the GHQ kits.
PRR L1-s #780 Mikado In Switching Yard Of The "New" JJJ&E
        
Piping And Detail Parts For The Southern Ms-4 Mikado On Fireman's Side
                 
Piping And Detail Parts Added to The Engineers Side Of The Southern Ms-4 Mikado

Closeup Of The Feed Water Heater And Its Detailed Piping On The Boiler Of The Southern Ms-4 Mikado

A View Of Southern Ms-4 Mikado #4910 On The Fireman's Side Of The Locomotive On Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E. This Photo Provides A Good View Of The Feed Water Heater 

Full View Of The Engineers Side Of  The Southern Ms-4 Mikado #4910 With The Town Of San Marino In The Background On The Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E

Closeup Overhead View Of The Southern Ms-4 Mikado Showing All The Weathered Detailing And Piping On The Fireman's Side Of The Locomotive

NP Mikado W-5 Class #1825 Oil Burning Mikado On The East Of San Marino. This Mikado Will Pull 60 Cars On Level Track. A GHQ Pewter Kit Was Used To Kit Bash This Locomotive

NP Mikado W-5 Class #1825 Oil Burning Mikado On The East Of San Marino. This Mikado Will Pull 60 Cars On Level Track. A GHQ Pewter Kit Was Used To Kit Bash This Locomotive

NP Mikado W-5 Class #1857 Coal Burning Mikado On The East Of San Marino. This Mikado Will Pull 60 Cars On Level Track. A GHQ Pewter Kit Was Used To Kit Bash This Locomotive

 This PRR L1-s Mikado was kit bashed from a generic Kato Mikado using a full GHQ pewter kit. There is a Soundtraxx micro Tsunami sound decoder and speaker in the tender.

This steam locomotive has pulled 62 cars on level track. The drivers, side rods and valve gear was blacked using Neolube #2. There is a MT Z scale #905 coupler body mounted on the back of the tender. I used an N scale MT conversion coupler on the front pilot. The front headlight of the locomotive came from a Minitrix 4-6-2 steamer. Also installed was the optional set of traction tires and drivers on # 4 driver.

I used Brunswick Green Polly Scale Paint to paint the boiler, smoke box and cab of the locomotive and the tender body tender.

A closeup overhead view of two PRR L1-s Mikado's (Top two) and the two NP W-5 Class Mikado's on the bottom. All four locomotives were painted Polly Scale Brunswick Green. Each locomotive took about 30 hours to completely finish. Each of these locomotives weighs at least three tines more than the generic Kato Mikado. On average each locomotive will pull over 60 cars on level track. I really enjoyed kit bashing all four of these steam locomotives.

The GHQ kits are well the effort in building one. If you want to start off slowly with a GHQ kit for a Kato Mikado, get the GHQ detail kit for a Ms-4 Southern mikado. You can detail any road name with those parts. You'll quickly learn what a steam locomotive is all about. You can get those detail parts from GHQ for $40. It comes in its own kit.

A Southern Ms-4 Mikado #4839 On The Main Line East Of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains Are In The Background

Closeup Of Southern Ms-4 Mikado On The Main Line In The Center Of San Marino

CBQ O-4 Mikado #5504 On A Siding West Of San Marino

A Panoramic View Of CBQ O-4 Mikado's #5502 & #5504 On The Main Line In San Marino

In conclusion, this magnificent steam locomotive gives the N Scale modeler many choices and options when adding the Mikado to a roster. It performs well when the traction tire option is installed and looks great when all the detail parts that came with the locomotive are added. You then have the option of using a GHQ pewter detail kit to transform the generic Kato Mikado into a special class Mikado of different roads.