With a Little Help from his Friends

So my good friend, Trevor Marshall, has been making himself semi-famous on Train-Masters TV building a number of S scale Free-Mo modules to allow him to go out and setup with his friends in the S Scale Workshop.

I had the privilege of having a hand in this project. I built the benchwork for the modules and the traveling frames for Trevor over the course of 2 filming days at the Train Masters TV studios in Belleville Ontario.
Trevor also had our friend Chris Abbot assist him with the wiring portions of the project, along with some of the roadbed installations. Which resulted in the now famous caulk in the eye incident, which Chris will never live down and will give Trevor, Barry and myself no end of joy to grind Chris on as the years go by.
 Aside from admiring Trevor's awesome talent and his joy in working S scale, I remain struck by the truth that this hobby is indeed a group effort. While Trevor could have done the whole project solo, it was more efficient and a smarter usage of resources for him to call upon his friends to bring their talents to the forefront and see this project through.
The same holds true for home layouts. Very few layouts are true solo efforts, somewhere along the way somebody always helps out with something. And if you include the small manufacturers, like myself, who offer products in part for the love of the hobby, we are a true fraternity of like minded souls.
So for that reminder, I thank Trevor and Barry.
And hopefully I will be returning to the Train Masters studios one day and offer up some useful tidbits on something. In spite of how hot the studio got on those 2 filming days, (you can see that by watching the earlier videos and watch how haggard Trevor and I become), I had a great time.
And Trevor, you're very welcome. Anytime, mon ami.

Rethinking the new layout, maybe.

On a daily basis, I come down into the basement and look at the space where the new layout will be, trying to envision what will be. I'm also reflecting on what I can truly consider achievable.
I do really like the notion of running proper TT & TO operations with 5-6 miles of main, but is it a realistic goal for myself. There are serious time constraints, not to mention the budget limitations.
I've operated on Bill Darnaby's Maumee Route, which is 10 scale miles of main, and on Trevor Marshall's Port Rowan layout, which has maybe 1/2 a scale mile. Both are a delight to run in their own right.
For the last couple of days I've been reining in my extensive plans and thinking about a more modest layout that can be built in a reasonable time and offer up operational treats as well. Play value it's called.
I'm thinking about modeling only 2 towns, Aylmer and Delhi. 2 of the larger communities on the Cayuga Sub, both of which offer up lots of local switching options. And with all the length I have available I can also have significant mainline runs and have the Redballs roll through, forcing the way freight to be out of the way at the required times.
It's only in the notion phase right now, but it would be a less daunting task. I feel that right now the shear scale of the initial 3 level plan is creating a mental paralysis for me.
I have to get my design brain trust over here with paper, pencil and beers.

And we're back in the saddle again!

This morning the first 2 cars to leave the new shop went into the mail. On their way to my favorite seismologist.
Isn't it a tad fitting that they are Wabash cars?

Both are O scale models offered by Rails Unlimited. With decals from Protocraft .
It's nice to be getting back into the groove of building.

4 New Items from Yarmouth Model Works

The etching elves have been hard at work again, bringing you some new items that I hope you find as exciting as I do.
First up;

Replacement sill steps for the Tangent GSC tankcars. These should withstand layout handling far better than the plastic ones on the cars. $3.00 for a set to do one car.

For all you PRR fans

X29 full side patch panels. With lovely rivet detail. $4.00 a set for one car.
As well as this;

Small patch panels for just adjacent to the doors. As seen in the photo of PRR #94794, in RP Cyc 24, pg 22. $2.00 for a set to do one car.
And after a few requests and a little help from Dennis Storzek (thanks Dennis);

A drilling template for the Kadee ladders. We think that this will be almost as useful as the bracket grab template we created a few years ago.
These items are now in stock and will be listed on the website in a couple of days.
Hope you like them.

I'm out of excuses now.

The shop boxes are all opened.

No doubt some fine tuning will be required.
I'm mostly unhappy about the paint storage setup. I've been teasing my pal Tim Warris of Fast Tracks fame about creating some paint racks with his laser cutter, but it's now feeling like a real need.
Wonder what I should build first?

Ready for Occupancy

So in 8 days, we've gone from this;

To this;

Through to this;

All I have to do now is open boxes and start loading shelves.
I'm rather pleased with how this space is turning out. Even without a window, it's bright. Good colour choice for the walls by my wife.
The work surfaces are looking delightful. The 2 desk height units are from Ikea, their Alex line. Ridiculously affordable. I couldn't buy the basic material for what they sell the full units for. Well designed and lots of drawer space.
And of course, there's lots of Ivar shelving. Did I mention how much I love this low end Ikea stuff? Almost designed with model railroaders in mind. Some of my European Fremo friends are using the Ivar end frames as leg systems for their Fremo modules. Makes sense to me.
The other cabinets are cheap and cheerful units from Home Depot. Lots better, none cheaper. No need to get fancy. No doubt that I'll have paint spills inside a month.
Tomorrow I'll get tools and kits out of boxes and start the organizing of the spaces. With any luck I'll be building models next week, as well as addressing the back orders that have arisen since I packed up for the move.

It's like peeling an onion

Revealing layers upon layers.
For longtime followers of this blog, you'll know that the fate of the Aylmer station has been a bit of a mystery.

In the time frame I model, 1951, the station is gone. Passenger tickets and express freight are handled in the freight shed just south of where the station was. The operator works from the elevated crossing shanty which also protects the level crossing. Train orders are hooped from the crossing tower which had the train order board relocated to, as shown in period surveys.
I've been curious to know when and why the station was removed and the search has been long and varied.
But that's where the web comes in.
My online friend, Jeffery Smith, has come to my aid on this one. Jeff has spent much of his own time uncovering tasty little tidbits for me on the Cayuga Sub. And his latest email to me uncovers part of the Aylmer mystery.
Removal of the station building at Aylmer was authorized by Board of Railway Commissioners of Canada Order 59638, September 10, 1940.
Now we just need to know why.