Parker Creek & Eastern Railroad

I built this small switching layout in 1993, and I continue to add small vignettes to if occasionally. Mostly for the last 5-6 years I've been contributing time to a large local basement layout of a friend. I've been adding a pulpwood run and a paper mill to that project.

This layout is 20" x 6'0" and I've used all the space I think. There's a 9" radius at one end that goes to the switchback to the upper level which is about a third over the top of the stenfeldt building. Yes, HO can make a 9" radius, originally I used a re-motored re-geared Manuta 0-4-0 with tender, now I use an SW1. The curve is very well constructed - easement and super-elevated and two 40' athearn gondolas will make the curve....just barely.

Looks like the local is late and the yard agent is pretty upset.
And below, is the view from the left end - all the place and business names are after family... Lindsay is our daughter - 33 now, but 11 when I built this in the living room. It look about a year to build. It takes an hour of real time to complete all the switching moves. Hope to install NCE DCC one of these days.

Dennis - Traverse City, Michogan

I've cut some blocks of lead to fit up into the roof of the cab and into both of the sides. A 9V battery weighs 46g and the lead weights I've fashioned total 56g for all three. I can probably get another 10-15g up behind the footboards. That's gonna be substantially about it unless I want to fill in behind the cab's windows.

Yes, I found the disassembly schematic and I popped off the cab, tho there is also some room behind the footboards and over the coupler boxes.

Looks like there is plenty of room to add lead inside the cab without completely obscuring the windows. I will have to cut some solid lead pieces to fit below the windows and completely across the roof. I could use powdered lead and CA in the roof I suppose. I had previously used Frog Snot on one axle on the rear truck. I think I'll clean that off and put new frog snot on the rear axle of the front truck so it's closer to this addl weight.

I want to use this locomotive single on a club layout that has a fairly steep helix and one nasty little grade in hidden staging. I haul pulpwood in 40' gons and the pulpwood is real maple twigs so the loads are actually pretty heavy. Last night was the first full operation and I needed two additional 9V batteries taped to the engine to make those grades. Pretty sure these changes will work. Thanks for your help.

I have a new HO Bachmann RS-3 with factory sound. I need to add some weight to the loco and I can't quite see how to remove the shell. I have removed both couplers and covers. What's next?