The Idaho Hotel " A Signature Building " On The "New" JJJ&E

The Idaho Hotel " A Signature Building " On The "New" JJJ&E

The Idaho Hotel is another "Signature Building On The "New" JJJ&E. I built this advanced kit over 12 years ago and this building is very distinguished with its corrugated metal roof. It took me over 14 hours to finish and weather this structure.

Three techniques were used to weather the Idaho Hotel. I used washes of acrylic paint  and blue windshield wiper solution to weather the building ( 20% paint and 80% blue windshield wiper solution ). I also used the Bragdon Weathering powders to weather the building ( See Photo # 6 ). The third technique I used was to dry brush highlights  in certain areas of the building. The "Dry Brush" technique was extensively used on the corrugated metal roof.

Bar Mills issued this kit in  N scale as a limited run of 250 kits. There is actually an Idaho Hotel in the state of Idaho with very similar characteristics. This kit can still be found on Ebay form time to time and makes a nice additional to any N scale layout.

The Idaho Hotel occupies a prominent place in the town of San Marino, right adjacent to the double track mainline which runs through the center of  town. The San Marino Santa Fe "style" station is right next to the Idaho Hotel. Passengers don't have far to go to get excellent accommodations in San Marino when regularly scheduled passenger trains make their stop in town. ( See Photo's # 1, # 1A,  # 2 & # 4  ).

Photo  # 1  ATSF Articulated Mallet # 1792 on the inner mainline track in the center of San Marino. The Idaho Hotel with its distinctive corrugated metal roof is one of the "signature" buildings in the center of town.

  Photo  # 1A  A UP  #4006  "Big Boy"  is on the outer mainline track in the center of San Marino. The Idaho Hotel is right next to the San Marino Santa Fe "style" station in the center of town. The corrugated metal roof of the Idaho Hotel gives this structure a very distinguished look.

     Photo  # 2  A UP #3985 "Challenger" is on the inner mainline track directly in front of the Idaho Hotel in the center of San Marino. Some of the residents of San Marino live in the hotel.

     Photo  # 3  ATSF FT's on the outer mainline track heading to the Monterrey River Valley in the turnaround area east of San Marino. This is a good view of the corrugated metal roof which took several hours to finish and weather.

Photo  # 4  A good look at the center of San Marino. The Idaho Hotel is an important building in San Marino. A SP Black GS-4 is on the outer mainline track with a consist of freight cars. The double track signal bridge is powered by Logic Rail Technologies block signal boards and photo cells embedded in the track roadbed.

      Photo  # 5  The center of San Marino is almost completely scenicked. Flowering trees have been planted behind the Idaho Hotel and other adjacent buildings. A Southern Ms-4 Mikado #4839 is pulling a consist of freight cars on the inner mainline track.
 

   Photo  # 5A An old color photo of  The center of San Marino is almost completely scenicked. Flowering trees have been planted behind the Idaho Hotel and other adjacent buildings. A Southern Ms-4 Mikado #4839 is pulling a consist of freight cars on the inner mainline track. 

Photo  #  6  A closeup view of the weathering on the front of the Idaho Hotel. The Bragdon Weathering System and selective "Dry Brushing" created those effects on the building. A ATSF Articulated Mallet #1792 is on the inner mainline track.

 Photo  # 7  A closeup view of the Idaho Hotel. All the side walks are in place and folks are watching ATSF F-7's on the outer mainline track heading east to the turnaround area in the Monterrey River Valley.

Photo  #  8  An old time classic photo of the Idaho Hotel in the center of San Marino.

Photo  # 9 An old "Platinum" B&W  photo of  a UP #3985 "Challenger" on the the inner mainline track. The Idaho Hotel is in the near background.

Photo # 10  An old sepia photo of a UP #3985 "Challenger" on the the inner mainline track. The Idaho Hotel with its distinctive corrugated metal roof is in the near background.

Photo # 11 A Denver & Rio Grande #1051 Articulated Mallet (2-6-6-2) On The Mainline In San Marino. The Idaho Hotel Is In The Distance.

Unitrack Double Crossover

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In terms of versatility, the Unitrack double crossover is one of the most versatile pieces of track in the N scale Unitrack lineup.

You can use it with the new double Unitrack line as well as single sections of Unitrack.

The double crossover operates flawlessly and all four parts of the double crossover operate in unison. One controller operates the double crossover.

For those of you who are using DCC or DC, one stationary decoder controls the double crossover. You cannot use a Digitrax  DS51k1to control the double crossover. The Digitrax DS51k1 can only control one switch/turnout. The double crossover is composed of four Unitrack # 6 switches/turnouts. A Digitrax DS-52, a Digitrax DS-64 and a Lenz LK100 can control the Unitrack double crossover without any problems.

I used four double crossovers on the "Original" JJJ&E for over nine years. I'm incorporating the four Unitrack double crossovers on the "New" JJJ&E track plan as well due to their flexibility and reliability.

This unit is the only double crossover in N scale and many users of other brands of track try to incorporate this valuable track section on their layouts.

You can purchase this valuable track section online for about $55. It is well worth that price since it is four # 6 turnouts combined into one unit.

Wiring a double crossover to your layout is straight forward and not complicated. Each arm of the Unitrack double crossover require one pair of feeders to insure that a locomotive doesn't stall as it passes through the double crossover.

Give it a try on your layout. You'll be happy with the results and versatility that this track section provides on your layout.

Testing The Reliability Of Track On A New Layout

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You just finished laying track on a new layout and wonder how trains will perform on the new track work.

Here is an easy way to find out. Run an Alco PA on all the track on your layout. If there are any irregularities in the track as well as problems with switches/turnouts and crossovers, this locomotive will find them. The Alco PA is a large six axle diesel and many modelers have known for years to use this locomotive to test out new track work . It can run on 9 3/4 inch radii as well. You can also use an E-8/9 diesel which will do the same thing. The E-8/9 is also a large six axle diesel and will perform admirably to find any irregularities in newly laid track.  Kato, Life Like & Broadway Limited makes E-8/9 diesels in N scale.

You can test any type of N scale track with these locomotives. It doesn't matter if its code 80 rail, code 65, code 55 or code 40.

After you've tested your track with either an Alco PA or an EMD E-8/9, its time to run all your locomotives and rolling stock over your track plan to see if there are any other track issues. Once this is completed, you can firmly attach all your track to its sub base (Foam etc. ).

This is the lead locomotive in a consist of four PA/PB's (  See Photo  # 1 ). This is a wonderful locomotive to test your track. If there are any problems with your track alignment or switches/turnouts gauge, this locomotive will find them. The Denver & Rio Grande PA is on the outer mainline track in the turnaround area east of San Marino on the "new" JJJ&E. The Monterrey Mountains are in the distance. I tested all the track on the "new" JJJ&E using four Alco PA's consisted together.

Photo  # 1  I used this Denver & Rio Grande Alco PA to test all the track on the "new" JJJ&E for any irregularities. This large six wheel based locomotive is well known in N scale for finding any track problems on a layout.

The Fish Pier " A Signature Building " On The "New" JJJ&E

The Fish Pier is one of the "signature buildings" on the "New" JJJ&E. This laser cut building kit was built over 12 years ago and was one of the "signature buildings" on the "Original" JJJ&E. This laser cut building kit was very detailed and intricate and took me over 16 hours to finish, weather and detail. North Eastern N Scale Models makes this kit and it is still available today. The approximate foot print of this building is 3 3/4" x 8".

When I positioned all the buildings on the "New" JJJ&E, the Fish Pier was the last building to find a permanent home. That home turned out to be in the turnaround area east of San Marino, in the lower right hand corner of the layout adjacent to the Monterrey River ( See Photo's  # 1 & 1A ). When I moved from Florida to Texas in 2009, the "Original" JJJ&E had to be completely dismantled. All of the buildings were salvaged without any problems except the Fish Pier. The Fish Pier's wharf was embedded in "Realistic Water" on the "Original" JJJ&E . The pilings of the wharf had to be sacrificed in order to remove the building from the layout. I had to rebuild part of the wharf and all the pilings to make the Fish Pier a "usable structure" on the "New" JJJ&E ( See Photo  # 2 ).
 

Photo  #  1  A panoramic view of the turnaround area east of San Marino. The Fish Pier found a home in the lower right hand corner of the turnaround area. The town of San Marino is in the distant background. The Monterrey flows dramatically under the wharf of the Fish to its source west of the Fish Pier.

Photo  # 1A   The Fish Pier has found a home in the lower right corner of the turnaround area east of San Marino. The Monterrey River courses under the wharf of the Fish Pier.  The town of San Marino is in the distant background. 

Photo  #  2  A closer view of the Fish Pier. When the Fish Pier was moved from the "Original" JJJ&E to the "New" JJJ&E, part of the wharf and all of the pilings had to rebuilt to make this structure fully functional. The Monterrey River course below the wharf filled with many different kind s of fish.

Photo  # 3 A closeup view of the wharf of the Fish Pier bustling with activity.

Photo  # 4  An overhead view of the Fish Pier and the Monterrey River coursing underneath the wharf and pilings. The mainline can be seen behind the building. I used Futures Floor Wax and Modge Podge to make the river and river bed.

  Photo  # 5  The Monterrey River is flowing under the wharf of the Fish Pier. A PRR M1A is on the mainline negotiating the long grade in the Monterrey Mountains.

Photo  #  6  An old rusted boat and other little used fishing gear is lying partially submerged in the Monterrey River.

Photo  #  7  A closeup view of the pilings on the side of the Fish Pier. A Prr M1A is on the mainline heading into the Monterrey mountains. This is a Key Imports brass steamer.

Photo  # 8  A closeup view of the rusted boat and assorted fishing equipment rusting in the Monterrey River

Photo  #  9  An overhead view of the Fish Pier and the raging Monterrey River under its wharf. There is a lot of activity going on at the Fish Pier today.

Photo  # 10  Another view of the Fish Pier and the very active Monterrey River. I used Futures Floor Wax and Modge Podge to create this river effect. You can buy Futures Floor Wax in any market or Home Improvement store such as Home Depot or Lowe's. It is now packaged as Pledges Futures Floor Wax and is very inexpensive.

Photo  #  11  There is plenty of activity on the pier  with plenty of fish being caught. The Monterrey Rivers courses around the perimeter of the turnaround area east of San Marino.

Over the years I've experimented with different kinds of photo techniques that were used to take photo's and the effect each technique had on the image photographed. Photo's  # 12 through # 18 shows these different effects.

Photo  # 12  An old sepia photo of the Fish Pier with the town of San Marino in the background.

Photo  #  13  An old  B&W photo of the Fish Pier with San Marino in the background.

Photo  # 14  An old time classic photo of the Fish Pier.

Photo  #  15  An overhead old sepia photo of the Fish Pier and the Monterrey River

    Photo  #  16  An old  B& W photo showing a panoramic view of the Fish Pier and the turnaround area east of San Marino.

             Photo  #  17  A very early color photo showing a panoramic view of the Fish Pier and the turnaround area east of San Marino.

Photo  #  18  An old "Platinum" B&W photo showing the same panoramic view of the Fish Pier and the turnaround area east of San Marino.

Photo's # 16, # 17 & # 18 show three different photographic techniques and each image gives the viewer a different perspective of the same image.

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

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

An Old Time Classic Photo  Of A WM 2-8-0 on the mainline east of San Marino. This is an original run of the Spectrum 2-8-0 issued in 2002. I installed a MT Z scale # 905 coupler on the front pilot. I also installed a brass Feed Water Heater and associated piping on the boiler. A custom coal load was installed using Arizona Rock & Mineral N scale coal. There is a Lenz 0521W decoder hardwired in the locomotive. This 2-8-0 performs well at very slow speeds and has over 150 hours of running time.

     An Old Time Closeup Classic Photo Of A WM 2-8-0 # 763 on the mainline east of San Marino showing the MT Z scale # 905 coupler installed on the front pilot.

An old time photo of a Key Imports brass PRR M1A #6750 climbing the 1 1/2% grade on the mainline east of San Marino near the turnaround area. I installed a Lenz mini silver decoder in the tender for motor control.


An old time classic photo of a Key Imports PRR M1A #6750 on the mainline in the Monterrey Mountains east of San Marino. This is a great view of the classic "Belpaire'" firebox which is classic for PRR steam locomotives.


An old time classic closeup photo of a Key Imports PRR M1A #6750 on the mainline in the Monterrey Mountains east of San Marino. This is a great closeup view of the classic "Belpaire'" firebox which is classic for PRR steam locomotives.

An old time classic panoramic photo of a "Black" SP GS-4 #4390 on the mainline in San Marino. I used the two decoder approach in this steamer. A Lenz mini silver decoder controls the motor function . A Soundtraxx micro Tsunami Heavy Steam decoder controls the sound functions. There is also a mini oval speaker in the tender which has plenty of room to house both decoders as well.

An early old time classic  photo of a CB&Q O-4 Mikado #5506. This locomotive was kit bashed from a generic Kato Mikado using a GHQ pewter detail kit..Notice the very detailed Feed Water Heater and its complex piping on the fireman's side of this locomotive.

An old time classic panoramic view of CB&Q  # 5504 & # 5502 0-4 Mikado's on the mainline in the center of San Marino. Both of the Mikado's were kit bashed from a generic Kato Mikado using a GHQ pewter detail kit.

An old time classic closeup photo of CB&Q  0-4 Mikado  # 5504 on a siding west of San Marino. This locomotive was kit bashed from a generic Kato Mikado using a GHQ pewter detail kit.

      

      An old time classic photo of  a CB&Q 0-4 Mikado  # 5506 on the engineers side of the locomotive on the mainline in the center of San Marino. This locomotive was kit bashed from a generic Kato Mikado using a GHQ pewter detail kit.

An Old time classic closeup photo of a CB&Q 0-4 Mikado  #5502 on the mainline in the center of San Marino.  This  0-4 Mikado was kit bashed from a generic Kato Mikado using a GHQ pewter detail kit.

An Old time classic closeup photo of a CB&Q 0-4 Mikado  #5506 on the mainline in the center of San Marino.  This  0-4 Mikado was kit bashed from a generic Kato Mikado using a GHQ pewter detail kit.

An old time classic closeup photo of a CB&Q O-4 Mikado #5502 of the firebox showing the Feed Water Heater and very detailed piping on the boiler on the fireman's side of the locomotive. The town of San Marino is in the background.