Live Steam

Ruths Hopper

2011-11-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

I have started on the first car for Ruth's train. It is a little ore hopper. The cars had to be cute for her.

New Car

2011-10-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

I am really happy with how my new car turned out. It is a 1.6" scale 48' well car for double stacks.

Ballast track at the park.

2011-10-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

I spent the day ballasting track with my new ballast hopper. It worked well. We carried about 20 loads with it and ballasted about 400 feet of track.

Piggy back spine car

2010-12-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest progress on the piggyback spine car.

Hauling kids

2010-11-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

We were waiting for some riders at the Salt Lake City train show.

Latest car I am working on.

2010-11-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

The latest car I am working on is a spine car. It is the cars that carry semi trailers.

Spreading Ballast

2010-10-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

I was spreading ballast with my new ballast hopper this weekend. Here is a link to my youtube video.

Ballast Hopper

2010-09-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

Progress on my ballast hopper

Progress on my bethgon coalporter.

Ballast Hopper Car

2010-08-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of my Ballast hopper. I just need to do a little finish work and then get it painted.

Hauling Ballast

2010-06-25T18:26:00.001-07:00

We hauled ballast in the park on thursday.

First Train

2010-03-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

The first train to be on the tracks in the park. We went down with the new club riding car to take some pictures.

Freight car

2009-11-24T18:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the first of my Train Cars. All it needs now is some decals.

Train Cars

2009-09-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest on my train cars.

Ballast Hopper progress

2009-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

I am making progress on the hopper. I have most of it welded. Now I am working on the chute doors.

Building Cars

2009-07-20T11:17:00.001-07:00

I am working on a flat car for me to ride on and a Ballast Hopper.

Train Mountain Triennial

2009-07-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

My train on the tracks.

Steam Engines

Diesel Locomotives

Here are a bunch of random freight cars.

Some cars are for function. The fist is a sweeper and the second is a snowplow.

I might actually finish it afterall

2009-06-10T16:44:00.000-07:00

It is getting closer. I have a few major items and a bunch of minor stuff left.

Initial Testing

2009-05-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Initial testing of my locomotive went well I did not find any major issues. I was very happy with the results. The current draw with 6 cars was about 25 amps on the hills and about 5-10 amps on the flats. I got it to hit 55 amps when I cranked it up when climbing a hill. Oh and it goes pretty fast.

Yes it did derail once, but it was due to a rock not the locomotive.

6 cars and some people to load it down and see how it does.

My first job. Take the parts to the car.

Switching the cars and backing them into the shed.

Getting Closer

2009-05-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

I am getting closer to having it done.

The first truck for my cars finally finished.

Train Mountain

2009-05-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

Here is the full set of pictures.

It lives

2009-05-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Today my locomotive ran under its own power for the first time. There are still some bugs to work out but it runs!

Electrical contactors

2009-04-29T16:06:00.000-07:00

Main Contactor on my locomotive

Reverse contactor on my locomotive

I finally got my batteries

2008-11-12T15:10:00.000-08:00

I got my batteries. Now I just have to figure out how to make it all fit.

Electrical controls

2008-10-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the electronics box for my Locomotive. I was going to do some testing today and found out that the RJ-45 jacks I used and inductors on the pins. (wire coils from one pin to another.) Well that just caused a short for me. I had to remove the connectors and order some new ones.

ETD

2008-09-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

There is the finished end of train device

Relay boards

2008-09-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

Here are the relay boards for lights, fuel pump, horn, etc on my locomotive.

FRED End of train device

2008-09-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the box that will house my red blinking light or my FRED(flashing rear-end device) or ETD (End of train device.)

It is finally here

2008-09-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

The speed control for my train has finally arrived.

The guts

2008-08-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

I have the frame painted now and am starting to put the guts in. Too bad I do not have them all yet.

The handrails are on

2008-08-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here you can see the handrails are in place.

The first coat of primer has been applied.

Here is the first wheel for the car I will sit on when I drive it.

My couplers finally arrived

2008-07-21T16:53:00.001-07:00

It is really starting to look like a locomotive. I now have the couplers installed.

Lights

2008-07-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

My headlights seem to be turning out.

Progress you cannot see

2008-07-03T16:12:00.001-07:00

I am starting to work on the guts of the Locomotive. The first picture is the slimmed down engine with a custom tank. The second picture is of the fuel pump, generator and horn.

Headlights

2008-07-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here are the beginnings of my headlights.

More Parts

2008-06-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

The bottom two pictures are the generator mount plate that I build. Yeah it is a bit heavy duty, but it should work great.

Windows are a pain

2008-06-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

So I had this great idea to cut the windows out with my mill. It didn't work so well. After smoking 2 cutters and gouging my cab side I gave up and did it by hand. What a pain. It seems to have turned out ok.

Another day passes

2008-06-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Todays progress.

Another tough day at the office

2008-06-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

Progress after another day on call.

It is starting to look like a train

2008-06-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting to the cab. I still have a lot of details to work out but it is coming alone nicely.

It is not up on blocks anymore

2008-06-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

I got it off the blocks of wood. The fuel tank is finished and leak tested. So far no leaks.

More Progress

2008-06-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

I have done some more on my Locomotive. If you are wondering. It is going to be an EMD sw1000.

The SW1000 switcher

2008-05-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the progress so far.

Crazy Idea's

2008-05-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

So I had this crazy idea...... I thought I would build a live steam engine. After a visit to someone else's train, I decided to build a gas electric loco first. Then the live steam.