I guess the thinking was more based on prevention than 'directional containment'.

It looks like brass was used for metalwork [less likely to spark], and the explosives and detonators were carried separately. I think some of the original explosives were pretty unstable, whereas I believe gunpowder needed more 'ignition'.

Thanks for the replies, even to Woody for the terrible jokes [?].

Hamish - I have a whitemetal kit of one in 7mm scale n.g or 0-16.5 bought in the UK which is similar to the prototype and model you posted the links for, except it has a pitched roof [like the old UK salt wagons] rather than a rounded roofline. Essentially a locker=box on wheels, which can be padlocked.

I just expected there to be more stuff from North American n.g mining systems, where there must be a need to transport explosives in a dry and secure environment to the quarry or mine area. Perhaps it never was locked up, making it easier for Butch and Sundance to liberate for their thievin' activities !! 

BTW, Hamish, I guess we are in a similar time-zone as we tend to post when the guys in the US are sleeping. You in Oz/NZ ?

Paul

The wire tubing used to hang up net curtains is excellent as a cheap conduit for the operating wire. I presume it is the same product in the US as in UK. Another tip is to bend an omega shaped loop into the operating wire to handle any tolerance issues.

Paul

Does anyone have any information on trains being used to transport explosives ? I am thinking in particular of mine/quarry narrow gauge trains where the explosives and detonators would be transported to the mine in specialised wagons.

I have seen something before which looked like a locker on wheels which was heavily protected and padlocked.

All help welcome.

BTW I forgot to thank those who replied to my previous request for information on cab and backhead details. Belated thanks.

Paul

Hey Scotty well Googled, sorry I mean guessed. Yes, unique loco, Argentine State Railway 5' 6'' gauge, using Sulzer engines.

I want to add more details to the cabs and backheads of my locomotives, but need more information.

I have Googled images and the best I can find are of Cass No 5. However, I do not know how representative it is for different loco types. As I am not modelling a specific prototype I guess I have some flexibility.

Grandt lines produce backhead details for the Porter, but I am also interested in the Shay, Climax, and Mogul.

Is there a reference source including the various functions of pipes, levers etc ?

So we have a definition for the prototype, but how about the model world.

This thread really started on the basis of Summertrainz sending in a loco, and getting back a train, much to Roger's delight.

The definition including markers cannot easily apply to our models. As I guess Roger was pointing out, the locomotive suddenly became a train, and that was not just Bachmann adding some markers when they returned it.

In modelling terms, do we have a train when a loco gains a consist ?

BTW- Gene and Roger, many thanks for your expertise- enjoyable reading

Paul

Gene

this is a definition I found

train= a series of railway carriages or wagons moved as a unit by a locomotive or by integral motors.

However, Wikipedia says the following-

In the United Kingdom Section 83(1) of the Railways Act 1993 defines "train" as follows:

a) two or more items of rolling stock coupled together, at least one of which is a locomotive; or
b) a locomotive not coupled to any other rolling stock.


Similarly, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's 1948 operating rules define a train as: "An engine or more than one engine coupled, with or without cars, displaying markers."[1]

So is it the markers that are key here ?

Paul

Gene

I always believed a train consisted of a motive power unit plus either freight or passenger capacity. Therefore if the H8 is running light engine it is not a train. However in terms of scheduling, a loco moving light might be considered a train movement. Hmmmm....

And Summertrainz- take heart- even Gene spelt a word wrong on one post within this thread. However I must agree with other posts, the ability to communicate correctly, so that the message received is the same as the one transmitted, is fundamental. Or so my wife tells me.

Paul

I just repainted a Mogul over the weekend. It was one of the brightly coloured locos [North Star and Southern ?].

However, I hand-paint using acrylics. I taught myself as a teenager. With practice the results are excellent.

When practising I use plastic household objects to work on my technique. Small plastic bottles are ideal for practising boilers. I also have some cheap toy trains, bought for equivalent of US$ 6, and I have also been using these to practise my weathering techniques using acrylics ''dry-brushed'' on.

For the Mogul I used Tamiya semi-gloss black, and an art shop matt black for the smokebox, which I then dry-brushed with white and brownish-rust colour. The acrylics are not expensive, but you do need a good brush, otherwise you can find spare bristles on the surface. However, for practising I also use cheap brushes as I am more interested in technique and the odd bristle in the finish does not matter.

When painting by hand it is important to start in corners, and in the fiddly detailed areas- always keep working from the wet-edge.

Keep stirring the paint, and ensure you work in a warm environment as this keeps the paint easier to work with.

For the Mogul I removed the cab which is easily done, the stack, and the piping. I think the latter removal is optional.

The stack is a rather thick plastic casting- so I reamered it out to a more scale thickness with a small semi-round file. Not too difficult.

Painting began at front and underneath the boiler, working within the first boiler bands, and then over the top and round to finish underneath on the other side.

I then repeated for the area between next boiler bands. etc

Acrylics dry quicky, and I applied second coat soon afterwards. The whole job took a weekend.

I did find that the paint applied better to some of the painted surfaces than others. For instance the piping is originally gold, and that took more coverage than other parts.

The results are good, I had fun, and I now have a unique loco that I want.

Hope this helps

Paul   

Woodward Iron #41
2-10-0, Baldwin, construction #60341, 1928
Mid-Continent Museum

If I want to post an image using the second button on left above on the rows entitled ''Add BBC tags'', - I get '''' in the message box.

Then what do I do ?

Alex
does the diesel have your logo on the front ?

Correct except for the unique feature.

No 26 is restored and does run occasionally. Alishan Forest Railway is owned by the Forestry Department who are, how can I put this kindly, not very commercial. One of the Shays is on the Puffing Billy line in Australia. The rest are scattered around Taiwan in various locations.

Unique feature- the 28ton Shays had the gear pinion moved to the left side of the wheel on both trucks. All other Shays have them on the right- unless someone out there knows otherwise.

I have not been to Museum yet- not that long in Hong Kong. There's a British Side Tank that looks interesting.