lionkingcmsl: (Trained lion)
I had mentioned previously that I had wired up three light assemblies from a Position Light Signal, and they were stacked on the corner of my deck's railing.

The thing is they were balanced somewhat precariously, as the 1.5" PVC pipe was holding them in line and preventing them from going over backward. However it did not have enough mass to keep them from falling off the front of the railing. This was something I was concerned about, as the hood on each assembly is 15 inches long and good snowfall would have enough weight to move the balance point too far forward and then they would tumble ~5 feet to the ground. Something I did not want to happen.

While it was not on my list of things to do yesterday, I located a 5 foot length of pressure treated 4x4 in my scrap pile and proceeded to plant it in front of the deck.

So now the signal looks like this:
IMG_1390

I had wanted to mount the "spider", the black thing in the background, that would allow me to mount all 7 lamps, but I did not have large enough bolts and it would have put the bottom lamp to close to the ground. I also realized later that the target, or background, would've protruded into the driveway.

I took off the lower lamp hoods as you could not really see the lights with them on.

As you can see in the picture it is snowing today, at last. :=3
lionkingcmsl: (Trained lion)
Most of you know I had mounted my searchlight signal to the newel post of my front deck and it was resting on the bottom step.

This bothered me for a couple of reasons. It was not really mounted as balanced; the newel post was not designed to hold something of that weight and it was a tripping hazard.

Back in late November or so I had "planted" the section of mast I had and was in the process of mounting the signal correctly. This stalled as just the case and bracket probably weigh in the 150lb (68kg) range and I could not lift the signal to its proper height and put the bolts in by myself.

This languished until yesterday when I called a buddy and he agreed to stop by and help me with the install.

With much heaving and groaning we got it installed and here is the result:
IMG_1387

Which looks a damn sight better than this:


So now my searchlight signal is in its proper place on a mast. I still need to do some clean up and dress the wires properly, but the heavy work is done. :=3
lionkingcmsl: (Model Railroading)
I thought it would be neat to compare the lengths of the John Bull locomotive, acquired by the Camden and Amboy Railroad back in 1831, and the largest steam locomotive that the SJ&W owned, a Challenger 4-6-6-4, first built in 1936, 105 years later. I also have a model of the DeWitt Clinton, built for the MoHawk and Hudson Railroad also in 1831.

History

The DeWitt Clinton is in front, then the John Bull and then finally the Challenger. All three are even with their front ends. The only reason that the DeWitt Clinton seems to be further ahead is because it has no pilot, while the John Bull and the Challenger have one.

Some interesting notes about the trains.
The DeWitt Clinton was the first steam locomotive to be operated in the state of New York. It was built in New York and only operated from 1831 to 1833, after which it was scrapped. The M&H RR became part of the New York Central System which had a replica built. The replica still survives and can be found at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

The John Bull was built in England by John Stephenson and then shipped to Philadelphia. When it first was operated it did not have the cab or pilot. Its original number was 1 and its name was the "Stevens" to honor the president of the C&A. It got the name "John Bull" because of where of it was manufactured and a reference to the cartoon personification of England, John Bull. Early on the smokestack (chimney) was changed due to wood embers setting fires along the track side and to passengers clothing. Early additions included the cab, headlight, bell and leading truck. Circa 1840 chief mechanic Isaac Dripps (I love that name) added the now famous "cowcatcher" or pilot. The train set, as pictured, is how it would have looked between 1840 and 1866, when it was taken out of revenue service. The famous picture of the John Bull and train was actually taken after the locomotive was taken out of revenue service. Amazingly the original John Bull still exists at the Smithsonian Institution in the National Museum of American History in Washington D. C. There is a replica, that was built by the Pennsylvania RR, that is displayed at the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg, PA. The original John Bull is still in operating condition and was last under fire in 1981 for its 150th birthday! At that time it was the oldest operating steam locomotive and self propelled vehicle in the world.


The John Bull under steam in 1981!

The Challenger type locomotive was first designed by the Union Pacific Railroad and the American Locomotive Works (ALCo) and was first delivered in 1936. There are two surviving examples. One is on static display in North Platte, Nebraska and the other is in revenue service for the Union Pacific Railroad.

It is interesting to note that the Challenger is almost as long as the entire John Bull train set, while the DeWitt Clinton's entire train set is only as long as the John Bull's engine, tender and first coach. Also the U.S. went to two four wheel trucks (bogies) very early, as the 1840-1866 coaches, as shown on the John Bull cars, had them. Also note that the U.S. went to "corridor" coaches early as, again, pictured in both John Bull photos
lionkingcmsl: (3d)

SJWPDRegionalHQ
by LionkingCMSL on deviantART

This is a regional headquarters for the police department of my model/fictional railroad, the South Jersey & Western.

All skins are custom by me, as is the sign.

Building Set: Dreamland Models' City Block Eight
Crown Vics: DP Models
Motor home/Forward Command Post: KPL Original
Service Truck: IW Vehicles
Light Bars on truck and Command Post: S3D

Posed and rendered in Poser Pro 2014. Skins done in Paint Shop Pro 8
lionkingcmsl: (3d)

SJnW PD at station
by LionkingCMSL on deviantART

This is a 3D version of the Crown Vic that I posted yesterday.In translating from a 2D drawing to the 3D model I did not get everything exactly the same.

I can see this as an actual police car.

Station model from Dreamland Models, over at Renderosity. Ford Crown Victoria from DP Vehicles.

Posed and rendered in Poser Pro 2014. Skin done in Paint Shop Pro 8
lionkingcmsl: (Model Railroading)

SJnW 90000
by LionkingCMSL on deviantART

A now for a photo of a real piece of South Jersey & Western rolling stock. :=3

This is an ex-Pennsy N8 Cabin Car that I acquired and painted for the SJ&W. I had planned to turn it into a mini-business car, but the car proved to be more rust than steel and it has been scrapped, though I still have bits and pieces of it in my collection.
The markers are Handlan-Buck kerosene powered lights, and they are marked for the SJ&W as anyone to my den can attest.

For more on the SJ&W you can visit www.sjwrr.com
lionkingcmsl: (Model Railroading)

SnJW Crown Vic police car
by LionkingCMSL on deviantART

Here is a SJ&W PD regional commander's car. As you can tell the "new image" scheme works well on a Crown Vic.
As a note the letters in the unit designation refers to what state the car is based in; in this case Illinois.

Tomorrow I will be posting a 3D render of same unit.

Painting blank by MisterPSYCHOPATH3001 .
lionkingcmsl: (Model Railroading)

SJnW2015DodgeAvengerPoliceCar
by LionkingCMSL on deviantART


One idea for a SJ&W police car. The scheme harkens back to the original scheme for the railroad. I could not get the "new image" scheme to work on this car.

The phone number may be an actual phone number, but in this instance it is a fake number as it would spell out, in the U.S., SJW RR PD.

Painting blank by the ever talented MisterPSYCHOPATH3001 over at Deviant Art.:=3

Done in Paint Shop Pro 8.
lionkingcmsl: (3d)

3D SJnW Material Handling van
by LionkingCMSL on deviantART

This is a 3D version of the paint scheme on the 2014/2015 E-350 Vans.

The model is from Vanishing Point (VP) Models, over on Renderosity, and is based on an old E series van.

I like how the "new image" scheme works on the van.

Skinning done in Paint Shop Pro 8. Posing and rendering done in Poser Pro 2014.
lionkingcmsl: (Model Railroading)

SJnW 2014/2015 Ford E- 350 vans
by LionkingCMSL on deviantART

A material handling van and an employee shuttle van for the SJ&W.
For those that may be wondering why the two different shades of gray, the darker gray is used on freight equipment while the lighter shade, almost silver, is used for passenger equipment.

The van bases and light bars are courtesy of Misterpsycopath3001. He did the van bases after I requested them. :=3

My skinning was done Paint Shop Pro 8.
lionkingcmsl: (Model Railroading)
After thinking about the increased HP of a PA-9 it dawned on me that the radiator area on a traditional PA would probably not be enough. There is some over cooling capacity on a PA, but I don't think it would be enough to cool double a PA-4's (re-built D&H PA-1s) 2400 HP.

I re-imagined the PA-9 with a third shutter panel and a second fan. You lose the characteristic rear porthole, but that isn't required as there is no need to have natural lighting in the back, as there is no steam generator.

So here is the new version of a PA-9:
pa-9-updated
lionkingcmsl: (Model Railroading)
[livejournal.com profile] jfox and I have had numerous discussions on how rail history would have turned out if the SJ&W had, indeed, been real. I envision the SJ&W to be on equal footing with the Pennsy; and the two railroads battling it out between the east coast and the mid-west. The SJ&W's headquarters would've right across the river, in Camden, NJ, from the Pennsy's HQ, in Philly.

One of those discussions turned to the American Locomotive Company, aka ALCo. I had always maintained that the SJ&W would have manufactured their own crankshafts to replace the ones in the 244-16 engines, to mitigate engine failures. In the same way the UP showed EMD how to turbo charge the 567, the SJ&W would've shown ALCo how to improve the 244's reliability. It was thought just as UP supported EMD in the lean years the SJ&W could have supported ALCo.

We discussed how ALCo might have continued the PA line to the present day and now would be offering a PA-9, with a 5000 hp 251-16 K series prime mover. It was also thought they could have replaced the traditional car body frame, with its truss work, with something like a frame off of a Century series, as was done with the Cowl units from EMD. I thought they would offer the traditional PA styling in a monocoque carbody.

To that end I present a conceptual version of a PA-9:
pa-9

You will note that the steam generator hatch is missing; it is equipped with an HEP alternator. It is in the current SJ&W "New Image" scheme with FRA mandated retro-reflective safety stripe along the frame.

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