A Visit to "Traction in Action"

[spitfire]

Tonight I paid a visit to the weekly Traction in Action layout improvement night as the guest of Chris "Interurban", Ernie and Brian at Brian's new house.

I met Chris at his place and off we went for Chinese dinner - delicious!!! My fortune cookie didn't say anything about being put to work cleaning track though!!!!

 

[spitfire]

Got a message from the supervisor to speed up the work!!!

 

[spitfire]

The layout features all traction running under the wires, with both pantographs and a new line that will have interurbans running poles. The guys are always improving the layout, and here is a brand new scene depicting a swimming pool at the local park.

Thanks to Chris for taking these photo's. Unfortunately, I was slaving away with the brightboy and had no time for such frivolity!!!sign1 sign1

 

[UP SD40-2]

Val, even though you was put to work,sign1 the look on your face says you had a good time:thumb: . the layout looks NICE!:thumb: -Deano

 

[interurban]

And a great job you did Val, Now I knew you were pining to get at it,, as your Layout is in planning mode.
So putting all that pent up energy to work was to our advantage sign1

Always a pleasure to meet up with you Val, thanks for fighting all that traffic in rush hour to make the trip:thumb:

 

[RailRon]

It looks like you had a good time together. And it's a beautiful layout, too!

Chris said: And a great job you did Val...

Val, I am glad you obviously are more skillful than I am. Some time back I jeopardized a friendship when I attempted the same (cleaning track with catenary strung above). Well, I managed to tear down almost a meter of that overhead line, because the wristband of my watch snagged somewhere on these @#%&&!:curse: wires... ops:ops:ops:ops:ops:
My friend told me in no uncertain terms that in the future I should keep my clumsy ham-fisted hands off his layout. At last he calmed down a bit and we restored our friendship some days later when I assisted in repairing the damage. :thumb:

Chris, now you'll understand why I'm following Colorado prototype - no catenary around anywhere! (When building a Swiss layout there would be no way around stringing wires above the rails! That's why I stay with American prototypes.)

Ron

 

[jetrock]

Inspiring indeed! Hopefully once I get situated in the new basement (crosses fingers) I will be able to install some poles--a problem with working on the layout where I am now is lack of room to work on things!

 

[MasonJar]

Val,

How do they get anything done when you are not there...? Is this how they treat all their "guests"! sign1

Looks like a lot of fun though... That "Traction in Action" layout is something to see. I spoke briefly with Chris when he brought it to Railfair at Ottawa's Algonquin College a few years back.

Andrew

 

[N Gauger]

Great pics, Val Looks like you had a great time
The layout looks nice too!!

 

[Ralph]

What a nice looking layout! Love the photo of you in high speed Val!
Ralph

 

[doctorwayne]

Nice looking layout, it's hard to believe that it's also portable. Val, is this the model railroader's version of having to "sing for your supper"? (I would've gone hungry: I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, and I don't have much track cleaning experience either.):thumb:

Wayne

 

[Russ Bellinis]

Nice pics. I have a question about traction modeling. Seeing you clean the track reminded me, how do they keet the overhead wire clean? I would think it might be too delicate to scrub with a brite boy.

 

[interurban]

Nice pics. I have a question about traction modeling. Seeing you clean the track reminded me, how do they keet the overhead wire clean? I would think it might be too delicate to scrub with a brite boy.

Good Question Russ

We use clipper oil on a cloth and pull it gently while wrapped around the wire, the tight spots we wipe underneath
WE use the same stuff to clean the track..

 

[brakie]

Val,Looks like you was having a grand time..

Have you bought your first car yet?