7mm Richards P48 US Thread

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Just been perusing the latest issue of the O Scale Resource online magazine, & found something that's slipped under the radar...

#1745 O Scale "SBE" Bottom Shelf Medium Centerset Metal Couplers with Plastic Gearboxes

#1745 Type "SBE" Bottom Shelf Medium Centerset Metal Couplers with Plastic Gearboxes - Black - O Scale This industry leading coupler features New Generation AAR Type "SBE" Bottom Shelf Medium Centerset Metal Coup

www.kadee.com

Kadee 'Shelf' couplers for O Scale, currently in medium- & long-centerset shank lengths. #1745 & #1746 respectively.

Something of a 'must have' for tank cars. Nice start to the new year!

 

[Big Train James]

Well, technically tank cars require double shelf couplers, at least for the time being, with pretty much all other new stock getting the bottom shelf version. But at least you're halfway there!

Still a nice surprise announcement. Kadee avoided new product in O scale for a really long time, but they seem to be finally getting involved with the trucks and new couplers. Costs for the trucks aren't cheap, but much more palatable then brass versions, and having modern couplers while avoiding interoperability issues is a real plus.

 

[richard carr]

Those Kadees are still nice, I'll need to get some ordered.

Do you need any Jordan ?

Richard

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Those Kadees are still nice, I'll need to get some ordered.

Do you need any Jordan ?

Richard

Yes, three packs to start with, at least!

 

[richard carr]

Ok Jordan

I'll get some ordered.
I'm back in Chicago at the end of January so I should be able to pick them up then

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Ok Jordan

I'll get some ordered.
I'm back in Chicago at the end of January so I should be able to pick them up then

Thanks Richard, will message you soon, appreciate you're away at the moment.

 

[richard carr]

So back to reality today, some nice strong winds to blow the plane over that Atlantic so we landed 20 minutes early at 5:30 this morning, home by 7:30 and back to the layout.

So the challenge for today was to get the other end of the US layout up and over the S7 layout.

It took a bit of guess work but eventually I got there using 6 foot radius curves, there is plenty of room so I don't need anything tighter than that.
This is the first part that needs to bridge the gap.








You can't beat a workmate



It's not too cold with a super thick coat on. It should be a bit warmer tomorrow

 

[richard carr]

So more progress this morning








I'm back inside warming up.

I'll be back out this afternoon for another couple of hours .

 

[richard carr]

Some more progress on the layout.








Having seen these photos it's made me realise that there is that one piece with too steep a gradient, so that's the next job to ease that down a bit.
I hoping today to get the rest of the boards in too.

 

[richard carr]

So after a busy morning the boards are now complete and go all the way round.








So track laying has begun, but I only have enough brass rail joiners for 12 pieces of track, and it's looking like I need 14 to complete the circuit! Sugar !

Eventually this is what it's going to look like, with 3 sidings and the mainline.

 

[richard carr]

Some more progress to report

Track laying is now progressing and I've managed to get the first power feeds in.

 

[richard carr]

Well it's all done now, all the track is down, power is all the way round and the first trains have run

Here's 2 SD9s and an SD40-T2 taking 20 cars up the hill

















And here's a video of the very first train going round.

 

[mickoo]

Bravo, wine had to involved somewhere coz that is just bonkers

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

the very first train going round.

Always a landmark moment for any layout, but especially so on such a magnum opus.

 

[Stephen]

View attachment 256092

Perfect motive power combo on that consist, although bet they are not anywhere near even breaking a sweat!

Cheers,

Stephen

 

[richard carr]

Not quite Stephen, I really should put all 4 SD9s on it.

Richard

 

[richard carr]

WHy do you think it's "bonkers" Mick ? Wine had nothing to do with !

 

[richard carr]

Always a landmark moment for any layout, but especially so on such a magnum opus.

It's hopefully not the magnum opus, as I'd like a new bigger shed.

 

[mickoo]

WHy do you think it's "bonkers" Mick ? Wine had nothing to do with !

I ment bonkers in a brilliant lateral kind of way solving the problems and getting it all done

Most folks would have taken the easy shelf route round the outside rather than up and over.

 

[richard carr]

I ment bonkers in a brilliant lateral kind of way solving the problems and getting it all done

Most folks would have taken the easy shelf route round the outside rather than up and over.

Oh I see, yes I think the wine might have helped too, it just suddenly came to me before Christmas and I thought just get on with it and there it is.
I need to smooth out the gradient it just gets a tad too much before it flattens out.