The Home Machinist!

Now that short days, and colder weather have arrived, I’ve managed to get a start on my DRGW Long Caboose.
I used white oak for the end sills, center, and side sills.
Today, I got the end sills cut to size, and notched for the coupler pockets.
Over the passed summer I’ve managed to acquire a copy of Russ Decho’s plans for a 1.5” scale long caboose, also a digital copy of
Ron Schmidt’s 2.5” caboose plans, and lastly a Fn1:20.3 scale model. Hopefully this will allow me to build a fairly accurate model of #0503.
I’m not planning to detail out the interior, maybe detail out the inside of the cupola.
On the long end I’m planning to have a section of the roof removable with a folding seat that allows for a rider.

We are building a 15" gauge railroad here in Phoenix, AZ & are in need of additional 12# rail. Have you located a source of rail?

Fiddleshay wrote: ↑Tue Dec 20, 2022 3:46 pm We are building a 15" gauge railroad here in Phoenix, AZ & are in need of additional 12# rail. Have you located a source of rail?

The only large source of 12lb rail I’m currently aware of is the large stash that American Heritage Railroad in Greenville Ill.
At one time they were considering going to 16lb, and they had several miles of rail in storage,
along with 1 mile or so on the ground.
David Kessinger would be the point of contact.

There is the guy in Alabama who has ’
on DLS, but his price is high.

I’ve got 3,300’ that I might consider trading on some good 8lb. I’d have to think bout it though.

I’ve got a little progress done on the caboose. The wood frame is done got to get the body bolsters and coupler pockets welded up. Made tow of the four end platform steps. No pictures as of today. I’ll have to gets some posted up once I get the bolsters welded.

Last Thursday I had a chance to stop by Creekmore Park 14” gauge RR in Ft. Smith,Ar. Unfortunately the trains were put away for the winter, the steam outline was in the depot shed, the F-unit was in thee shop shed. I still got a peek at them and walk along the right away.
The Funit and passenger cars have home/shop
look to them. The Funit had an interesting leaf spring setup. Also the passenger car
Tyrucks wete about as simple as you can get. Steel frame with pillow block bearings, with no suspension. Maybe 5” wheels with 2” tread.
Appears the truck, and body bolsters only have about 1/4” of space between them. I was surprised at the small wheels on the cars vs the gap width on the turnout frogs. Guess it must work better that you’d think.
Also both turnouts had longer point rail on the diverging stock rail.

At one time they had a live steam locomotive, now they have a steam outline.
The new outline is straight up ugly.
They should have converted the steamer pictured below.
https://youtu.be/cwnBnk2a9JM

Pillow block bearings is a novel approach, but I guess if it works, it works….

Glenn, I was surprised to see pillow blocks on a park train. Gives me hope for my flange bearings!
Here are some photos I found online of that “ugly duck” steam outline.

0351 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:07 am Glenn, I was surprised to see pillow blocks on a park train. Gives me hope for my flange bearings!
Here are some photos I found on line of that “ugly duck” outline.

At Sandley's we used pillow blocks, flange bearings, take-up bearings and roller bearing 'cartridges', aside from plain 'anti-friction' bearings in custom castings, on 15" and 24" equipment. What we used depended on various things, ease of manufacture not being the least.

Here are some examples...
A 14" gauge truck for Elliott Donnelley's home railroad.
One of our regular pillow block 15"-gauge trucks.
A flange bearing truck for Milwaukee Zoo's excursion Cars.
A 24"-gauge truck for Brookfield Zoo.

The two 'square' journal box trucks had 'Link-Belt' roller bearing cartridges inside.

Mike

Long caboose update:
Last couple of months have been very busy, and haven’t gotten as far along as I’d like.
Caboose frame is assembled, coupler and bolsters are welded up. I came up with a way to enhance the look of the coupler pocket castings by welding a flange the end the 1.5” x 3” tubing that extends thru the facia, this allows the facias castings to slip between the flange and the wooden end sill. Lastly I got a couple of the end platform steps done. For some reason the forum isn’t allowing me to post my other photos.

I have a pair of trucks that use flange bearings also. They form a rigid wheel base. Iam always surprised how well they ride the track. Never a derailment…

0351 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 10, 2023 7:43 pm For some reason the forum isn’t allowing me to post my other photos.

How large are they? Too large in pixels and/or file size results in rejection. That those you have successfully posted are, in my opinion, too large, I can't help but think that's the problem.

H

Think I know the photo issue. If I post a picture taken with my phone turned sideways it says the file is too large. So I’ll retake some photos and post them.