The Home Machinist!

Thank you sir!
First attempt at building a large scale model.
Having 25 years of wood working under my belt helps. Lol!

Thanks to Randy Geep Bradley, of the Texas Northern 16”ga RR (Bradley Signs) for his custom cut stencils! Trash Gon is starting to get that look! On this build, I had done a slightly weathered, raised grain look to the oak wood. The stencils still adhered really well to the rough surface. First coat...

More pictures of DeCaslin Designs GP38-2

There is a few on the FB groups who have been designing,and building wooden loco shells. Worth checking out. https://www.facebook.com/groups/backyardrailroading/permalink/4759112610831382/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/backyardrailroading/permalink/4524549564287689/ DeCaslin Designs, has plans for...

Your assumption about the cracked end sills may be correct. I know that on both ends of the gon, the two outside truss rods had those steel plates instead of washers. The two inside truss rods used the round style washers. Little back history of the trash gon: “The Alamosa Trash Gondola D&RGW 06...

It's interesting where they put the Retaining valve. It must have been to make a straight pipe run from the exhaust port on the K-Triple. Mike I’ve wondered why they didn’t move it over a few inches. Seems like it would have been less hassle than notching the plate. lol! But being unusual, makes it...

Sideboards are done, and the side stakes are mounted on one side. Brake wheel, brake mast, and brake retainer valve are in place. For whatever reason I’ve always like the way retainer valve was set up on this gon, with the homemade end washer/plate notched for the valve. So I’ve included this partic...

Question for you. Did you end up drilling clearance holes through your flat bar bolsters? I haven’t drill my bolsters yet. I’ll take a look, and see what kinda clearance I have. I’m using 1”dia-two hole bearing housings. Although, on this gon I have already designed it for a 1”dia pin passing throu...

It’s gonna be awhile yet before she’s rolling. Still got to get axles made and trucks finished up. Not much in the last couple weeks. Been trying to survive Covid round two. That knock me down for awhile. Last several days ive been feeling great! I managed to get the truss rods bent, threaded, and a...

I believe they still have a couple of meets a year, but the number of active members is down quite a bit. You can probably email Scott W.from Scott's Trains and get all the info you need. Just go to his ad on Dis. Live Steam, and shoot him an email, as I don't care to post it publicly here. Hope th...

Bolsters, and couplers are mounted to the gon’s frame.
Now for the queen post, truss rods, and turn buckles.
Waiting on a left thread 5/16” die to arrive so I can get both truss rod ends threaded.

A Christmas package of parts arrived from Creative Trains! I had ran into a problems when bending up drop grabs out of 1/4” round steel. Didn’t like the looks of the drop returns, and it took a lot of work flattening the ends. After some thought I hit up on the idea of cutting out small tabs to braz...