Main Layout – Bowser C630M CB&CNS Tsunami Sound + Walthers TTX Well Cars & Flange Squeal

First run of my new Alco C630M and my new TTX double stack cars. I wasn’t expecting to be filming this, but when it rounded the first corner and made the sound I decided to record it, therefore my apologies for the mess the layout is in, but I didn’t want to miss the flange squeal type sounds comming from the TTX cars. I have had a good look over the cars, and it dosn’t appear to be doing any harm to them. They are meant for wider curves, and I may make some slight adjustments to the layout in places to give them a route around or through it. I bought these for the ‘US’ (yes its a Canadian loco, call it ‘North American’ then) part of my layout which hasnt been built yet, but it would be nice if they had a route through or round the UK part as well.

The loco I bought while I was away up in Canada for several months, its in Canadian National Zebra stripe livery, however it retains its ‘CB&CNS’ identity on the front, making this from the local area (Cape Bretton, Nova Scotia) where I was staying. Thats why I purchaised it, and it is my first Canadian loco.

Main Layout – Heljan Class 58 with coaching stock

I was given this loco as a present, and I have wanted it for a long time, this is the Class 58 in Railfreight red stripe, the model was done for Olivia’s Trains but I got these from the Deltic society at the rail show in Peterborough. I dont have enough freight cars to make a long train, so just pretend its doing a coaching stock move. Love this loco, and the Heljan model is amazing.

Weekend Engineering – Foam & Plaster Cloth ‘How To’ & Trains Running 5: Testing track on foam track bed

This is a basic how to on laying down a foam riser and covering it with plaster cloth. This is just how I do it, there maybe better and other ways to do it.

The foam track bed has been glued down for the outer track, most of the track has been cut and is loose fitted. Time to try some trains! Sorry for the non-prototypical running, the idea was to test more than run, but it ended up being a very long session.

Weekend Engineering 5 & Track Testing 2

Slightly shorter update from over the colder winter period from December. I will add some more videos related to this update showing the track testing and how I did the plaster cloth later.

The first section of permanant track gets tested with a strange testing train made up of a class 20 in the middle, UK passenger stock on one side and mixed US passenger and freight on the other, being pushed and pulled round the new track. A second locomotive in the form of my second Union Pacific Heritage unit takes a couple of circuits with the US rolling stock to test out curves and points. The idea here was to try to get as many of the more torublesome and different types of items to test with. The UP loco has a long chassis and is very low to the ground. The class 20 has kadees at one side and tension locks on the other making it perfect for connecting both types of rolling stock at once. I used a newer MK3 coach by Hornby (one livery) and older Lima MK3 and a Hornby MK1 (which seems to de-rail on everything) and a mix of the US rolling stock.

HO MTH Union Pacific Heritage Units – UP 1988 The Katy & UP 1996 Southern Pacific

Two videos featuring the MTH Union Pacific Heritage Units.

Here is my first Union Pacific heritage unit, this one is the UP1988 The Katy from MTH. Amazing sound, and great build quality.

Here is my second Union Pacific heritage unit, UP1996 ‘Southern Pacific’ working as a double header with UP1988 ‘The Katy’, both are from MTH, both have amazing sound, and great build quality.