The unsafe breathing conditions caused by the Canadian/US border wildfire smoke has curtailed any outside activities for me for several days. Not wanting to get involved in anything heavy, I decided to do a simple project I have been wanting to do. I took my Bachmann engines, a stop watch and a note pad to my workshop test track to see what scale speeds my engines were actually running, hoping they are in the "restricted speed" range as I have a switching layout.

I marked off a 6" timing zone in the center of my 3' test track. This gives me time to set the power pack throttle (I'm a DC operator) to the same voltage setting for each run and the engine to run steady before it enters the timing zone.

Before starting the "time trials" for each engine, I ran it several times in each direction giving it a chance to warm up and determine what voltage the engine runs its slowest but steady speed. I have a volt meter and amp meter connected to my test track. (For those that don't have a test track set-up, mark off a timing zone on a straight section of your layout track and use your power pack throttle/DCC throttle setting to determine your constant timing speed.)

I timed each engine for five (5) runs in each direction through the zone, thus giving an average to eliminate any variations in my timing thumb. Keep track of forward and reverse times separately as you will probably see a difference in these times; engines usually run faster in the forward direction due to that being the direction it has run the most.

Once I had the average time in seconds for each direction (don't round them off), I went to my computer to a site under the heading Scale Speed Calculators - Model Buildings. It has simple directions for its use, you just have to pick the scale, length of your timing zone and enter your seconds.

I was pleasantly surprised with my results. My Porter 0-4-2 runs at 3.04 smph forward, 1.98 smph backward; my Shay runs 3.05 smph forward, 1.88 smph backward. Both are more than satisfactory for "restricted speed" switching operations.

Hello Fred,

Had to do some thinking on this; not sure, but I think they came from the Bachmann On30 Civil War series cars. This was not one of the cars I saw a lot on e bay ads, so I bought it the 2nd or 3rd time I saw one listed. I originally was going to mate them with the caissons I bought earlier but changed my mind. The caissons will be waiting at the carriage industry for the arrival of the next flat car.

Hopefully, another reader can confirm or correct my fading memory.

Old Pilot

Good morning Fred, and any other interested reader,

It's not too difficult, as part of my philosophy is "Keep it simple, stupid." I tell myself this whenever I contemplate any project, on or off the layout.

Choose your flatcar, check its operational reliability, weather it to your standards. I complete mine with a spray of Dullcote, but not in the coupler pocket or on the trucks and wheels for smooth operation. To keep the moderator happy, Bachmann freight cars seldom need much adjustment.

The cannons were satisfactory to me as purchased, just a spray of Dullcote. The scale 6" X 6" wheel chocks came from my scrap box as did the wooden crate which has two purposes; adding to the interest of the load and hiding some weight to give the car some heft. The thread used for O scale rope/cable came from my wife's threads box (sewer/quilter, etc.).

Position the cannons so the wheels line up (side to side) with the pockets on the side of the flatcar. The thread is weaved several times through one side pocket to give it strength of connection, through the wheels to the other side pocket. Give the thread at each pocket a touch of glue to hold it. Trim any excess when dry. Give yourself plenty of thread for weaving, makes it easier.

I did not glue the cannons or the crate to the flatcar as the thread holds them in relative position for normal handling. The wheel chocks were glued using Elmer's all purpose white glue for easy removal if I change my mind later.

That's about it. If there are any questions or someone needs further explanation due to my poor description, just ask. 

Old Pilot

Hello all,

Computer told me to start a new topic since my last post was too old. Finally built the loads, also two for my HO scale layout. They are nothing fancy or greatly detailed as I read a long time ago, if you can't see a detail from 3' you are wasting your time. This is also my layout philosophy of just trying to create the impression of the real world.

Good morning, Fred,

Your reply helps and makes my imposed limits reasonable. The logging company complex is "off-layout" on a siding but gets inbound/outbound cars delivered to the siding. I too like the small logging-type engines which is why I have the Porter and Shay and created an excuse for them to do the regular (non-logging company) industry switching. All of this comes from my interest in the logging operations in northcentral Pennsylvania during the late 1890s and inspiration from the Graham County Railroad in North Carolina which ran a Shay for its normal operations until it closed mid 20th century.

Old Pilot

I have created a viable reason for two logging company engines (2-truck Shay, Porter 0-4-2)to be doing the general switching (industries not associated with the lumber company) in my layout "history." To create operational interest, I set a self imposed pulling limit of 5 cars for the Shay and 3 for the Porter. Using real world prototypical info for these engines and general freight cars (boxcars, flats, and gondolas in the 26' length range with reasonable load weights), can anyone tell me if these limits are practical/reasonable?

Thanks for any help in advance.

Old Pilot

Hello, Tom_C.,

No problem on the delay. I'm just getting back to you due to a health issue which is wiping out all three holidays' celebrating. I will give your info more time when I am in better shape.

Thanks and Happy New Year.

Old Pilot

Good morning all,

I've been running these two engines for a while so its time to lube/oil and perhaps weather a little. I have the parts diagrams included with the engines but would like an almost step-by-step instruction sheet so I don't do something wrong and ruin good running engines. Any help/suggestions will be appreciated.

If you haven't guessed from my other posts, I'm not too mechanically inclined. My handle says I busted the aircraft and had a crew chief to fix it.

Happy holidays.

Old pilot

Good morning all,

P51, no I have not, too many summertime activities. Hopefully this winter as here in the north, the cold winter months are for working on my train layout.

I have 2 Bachmann 26' flatcars for the project; one for the 2 caissons I originally ordered in my early concept idea, the 2nd is the one Bachmann produced with the Confederate cannons for the load. As of now I plan to have one flatcar inbound with the artillery pieces (one caisson and cannon) needing restoration, the second flatcar will be outbound with the pieces restored (the other caisson and one cannon).

Old Pilot

Good morning all,

P51, you are more correct than I am. I just heard from Ranger Karlton D. Smith at Gettysburg Battlefield. Keeping his explanation brief, cannons were placed on the battlefield prior to 1887 by the Memorial Assoc., first on rocks, then on metal carriages made by Gilbert & Smith in the 1890s. Many of these metal carriages are still in use on today's battlefield. There are only 4 pairs of limbers and caissons on the battlefield, all in one grouping.

So, I will change my flat car load plans to repairing artillery pieces from local town squares.

Old Pilot 

Good morning, P51 and others,

Still no word from Gettysburg, must be busy preparing for the anniversary. I do like your idea of rebuilding "memorials" from local town squares; I'm going to change my concept for Jeb rebuilding the two caissons I ordered for the flatcar load.

A small unrelated sidebar, my wife and I judged a BBQ competition in Bainbridge.

Old Pilot.

Good morning, Len and P51, thank you for your info.

P51, after receiving your reply, I sent an email to the National Park Service at Gettysburg inquiring as to when the battlefield park was established, when artillery pieces were first displayed, their construction at that time, and when they were rebuilt with all metal parts for longevity. I am still waiting for a reply. Until then, and their reply contradicts my "poetic license" (I try to be close to accurate for my fictional layout history), since Gettysburg was created circa 1895 and my layout time frame is the late 1890s, I am going to have Jeb rebuilding the caissons to their original composition of mostly wood with some metal parts.

Len, the company you advised to check has a caisson which I believe suits my purpose.

Again, I will apologize for straying from the exact purpose of this forum. Also, forum monitor, you are going to have to make the verification letters larger and plainer for my old eyes.

Good morning all,

I am building a Bar Mills kit, Jebediah's wagon repair, and thought it might be interesting if Jeb had a contract with the National Park Service to restore artillery pieces to be displayed on a local battlefield; thus creating a somewhat unique flatcar load. So, I am looking for O scale caissons, limbres, etc., that will fit on a Bachmann On30 scale 26' flat car. I have done some scanning on the net but most offerings seem to be complete kits with horses, soldiers, etc. which I don't need. So I am turning to my favorite source for info on possible solutions. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Old Pilot

Good morning all,

I had the chance to attend my first such train meet, it was well worth it. Nice to see a lot of On30 products in person, not just photos in an ad. Also saw a lot of items not previously known. At first, I thought $20 admission was a lot for a train show, but with the "bargains" I came home with, it was cheaper than "shipping." Hopefully I can more such shows in the future.

Old Pilot

Good morning all,

I'm curious as to whether the mentioned difference in the sizes of the trucks between the 18' and 26' cars causes any alignment problems for coupling/uncoupling between the two sizes. For me, it is a consideration for future purchases.

Thanks.

Old Pilot