And Suddenly...

After a longer hiatus than usual here, I'd like to welcome you back to the blog!  2012 has been a year of new experiences; a high-contrast time, as I like to say.  New highs and, yes, some new challenges that may qualify as new lows.

Thanks to the graciousness of my wife, I was able to get away for a break from reality, and choose Cresson, PA as the place with some good friends during what have been some crazy times.  That trip yielded some great images, such as NS 11A, an Altoona, PA to Conway (Pittsburgh), PA manifest freight coming west past eastbound coal loads at Cresson, PA:

Back in the 'real world', I'd like to thank those of you who have inquired as to how we did with all the chaos from Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy.  We are safe and sound, thanks, and that is indeed a blessing.  Our house, however, took quite a lick during the height of the windstorm that came with Sandy:

Thank goodness for quality construction and old, overbuilt houses.  And, thank goodness for the fact that the 150+ year-old Norwegian Maple that came apart wasn't just a few feet closer to the house!  (The model railroad, BTW, is fine, thanks :-)  After such massive, epic damage, both work around the house and work at NJ TRANSIT have been quite a stretch.  As I found a few minutes here and there, I was able to finish up my latest kitbash on the Onondaga Cutoff, this time resulting in Conrail B36-7 5023:

Let's put it this way:  in 2012, as you regular readers know, my wife and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our world.  That, of course, brings with it a total shift in our world and lifestyle.  It was harder than expected, but is getting better and is just an amazing experience.  But it's worth mentioning that in addition to that, we in New Jersey have had a series of events that are not typical of New Jersey.  Over the summer, we had a significant earthquake, and now we're dealing with record coastal flooding.  We had record winds, and a record warm winter, but only following a record snowfall in October 2011.  Then we have more snow in early November 2012.   I don't know what's coming, but I do know that the results will continue to require effort and time away from the model railroad.  So, I need to keep pushing, keep fitting things in where I can.

And, yes, Susie is doing very well.  She's a happy, healthy 4-month old little girl, and this brings new meaning to each moment!

Be well, and I will do my best to bring you more model railroading sooner than later!

~RGDave

Lighting Changes

Moving forward, I have decided that some lighting changes are needed for the Onondaga Cutoff.

While I like the halogen-bulb track lighting that I installed some 6 years ago, it leaves several dark areas and also casts a decidedly yellow light on the railroad.  This is good for photography, as you have seen for several years.  However, for operations, more is needed.  Further, the late-summer and early-fall light I'm looking for also is a cooler light temperature, meaning it appears more blue.

So, I am installing LED strips behind a top valence to accomplish some new effects.  Here, the LED's are installed and are 'emitting' brightly:

 

The Camillus area at Nine Mile Creek, with the new lights:



We will see how this goes with additional scenery.  I may hang some sort of diffuser on the edge of the valence, as that will help the blue fade from bright to dark in a more even manner.  In any case I think it's a neat effect.

As the days get shorter, and the baby gets older, there will be more developments on the railroad!

~RGDave

Small Projects - Big Difference

As life rolls along towards a long-awaited fall season, a few small projects that will make a big difference are cooking on the Onondaga Cutoff.  Projects these days are the sort that allow me to finish parts of them here and there without causing long periods of not being able to run trains.  Therefore, cutting in signal detection has slowed down, but engine & car projects continue.

Our newest addition has been weathered, programmed, and adjusted, and is shown at the Onondaga Engine Terminal awaiting service, surrounded by Conrail GE's:

Yup, the NYS&W now will have a presence in the operations on the OC.  In the 1990's, and continuing today, the NYS&W (New York, Susquehanna & Western, or "Susie-Q" for short) has had an interchange with Conrail (and now CSX) at Syracuse, NY.  Since the OC is a fictional cut-off route around Dewitt Yard in Syracuse, I decided it was plausible that some days, the NYS&W turn that did the interchange would call at Onondaga Yard instead of Dewitt.  And so, F45 3636 was added to the roster, as well as 4002, a B40-8, and 3612, an SD45.  These will be used for train SY-1 which will come from staging east, run west to Onondaga Yard, interchange, and run back to staging.  It should add some variety to the operation.

And, I'll admit that my final push to acquire some Susie Q power was influenced by having our own Susie-Q come into our world!

Another project that I can do bit-by-bit now is to install the upper valence and fill lighting around the layout.  I am using LED-strip lighting to fill in the dark areas that are dimly lit by the track lighting; I will provide photos once I get more installed. 

Now more than ever, a few minutes here and there allows me to make some small but steady progress on the railroad.  These begin to add up, and also allow me to incorporate some creativity into a schedule filled with exciting family time, but mundane chores!

~RGDave

Slown' Down

The dog days of Summer are here in New Jersey, and our new little addition is growing fast.  The adjustment to fatherhood has been a curveball, at best, and it takes most of my time and energy to stay ahead of the 'usual' household tasks these days.  So, time for the Onondaga Cutoff is very limited.  When I have a few mintues, I am working to complete some small equipment projects.  First, a new B36-7 is coming along, almost ready for paint.  I need to install a few additional radiator intake grills and some miscellaneous details, and we'll be off to the paint booth for some Conrail blue:

Next, an LPG tank car that has been waiting for years to be finished and added to the roster is done, awaiting pick-up by the M&E:

A wise voice has advised that sometimes, it's important to slow down and appreciate the ride itself, even if it's challenging.  And so, I am working on that these days, working to be present for my daughter and my wife, which of course comes at the direct expense of time for anything railroad related, be it 'prototype' or model.  It figures, of course, that this would coincide with the exact time at which NS decided to launch the most amazing heritage program in recent memory.  Norfolk Southern, long known for its black locomotives and aversion to fans, goes and paints 20 brand new 'heritage' engines in long-disappeared paint jobs, and goes further to begin a revival of mainline steam in the east, even on the former PRR mainline.  It's best time in 30 years to be out chasing trains and I am at home, tending to the new responsibility of fatherhood. 

They say it's a blessing when you have to choose between good things.  To me, it's frustrating. When too many good things are going on at once, you're going to miss a lot.  Times like these mean that I just gotta keep pushin'!

~RGDave

This time, a REAL new arrival!

Hello all,

It's with quite a bit of joy that I present to you a new arrival that, for once, is not railroad related:

My wife and I welcomed Susannah Grace into the world just a few days ago, and we are blessed with a healthy, happy, and hungry little girl!  Sleep has been hard to come by these days and there is a natural chaos to the process of learning to be a parent, but what a ride.

She has yet to see the Onondaga Cutoff.  And it's been a few days since I got much done there, too.  But, rest assured, that's coming soon :-)

~RGDave

Operations

This past weekend, I hosted the most recent Operating Session (OS) on the Onondaga Cutoff, and it was a success - a crew of 6 ran approximately 30 through trains, two locals, and the M&E turn over the course of about 4 hours (and several beers).  Jack was a stellar DS, as always, and the crew was great:  Nick, Mark, Al T., and our special guest this week, none other than the Doctor, Mr. Al Werner, many thanks to you all.  Al W. drove several hours down to the OC just for this session.  Thanks, Al!


Conrail train SEBU works the North Runner at the west end of Onondaga Yard while setting out cars on 6/22/12.

With much wiring still to do for the signal system, that work is the next major push for the railroad.  As it requires re-wiring one main track as well as locating junctions for the BD-20 detectors, the railroad is out of service while each pair of blocks is wired up. 

Plenty to come here, as always.  It's a great hobby, isn't it?

~RGDave

Action!

As work progresses on the house projects, I have squeezed some time in for the railroad.  After getting the 6807 set up for service, I have repaired several units that had minor electrical issues, set up a few new cars for service, and also worked to complete a long-time goal of adding sound to one of the B23-7's that calls Onondaga home.  I chose the 1987 to recieve my first-ever installation of a sound decoder.

I chose a Soundtraxx 'Tsunami' decoder, as they are well-recommended, and they also make one specifically for the GE FDL-series prime mover.  On their website, you can hear samples from each decoder, and it's very impressive.  So, I took the plunge, and here is the result.  The 1987 comes down the North Runner to the West End crossover, just as your videographer is surprised by westbound TV-207 meeting eastbound TV-10 right at CP282.  As Ken says - 'Safety First!!'

Turn your speakers on!

Let me know if the video works - it was filmed with an iPhone, and should come up when you click on it.  I am hoping the computer can figure out how to make it come together for you!

That TV-10 train is almost entirely recently-finished cars and UPS trailers, just like the real one was.  CR 6807 leads SD60I 5544 while the 1987 chugs away in the yard.

Sound is adding a whole new dimension to the Onondaga Cutoff!

~RGDave