Author Archives: csmeclub1959

3/9/21 Sometimes we have to engineer parts of the layout on the spot. We call an engineering meeting, evaluate the options, figure in the fix, and get to work. From time to time the fix is complicated enough that a drawing or sketch is in order. An example is where the top of the helix has to cross severalContinue reading “The High Bridge”

3/2/21 Gene Neville reports that when we lay in the remaining helix track and he makes a few more patches, the mainline will be complete. That is exciting news. It means we can start running test trains once we stitch the electrical together. Of course, when “test” trains start running, actual “work” slows down considerably.  WeContinue reading “The Schnabel Test”

2/23/21 We have some great pictures to share with you in this progress report. Doug, the mayor of Eagle Cove and Grand Poobah of it’s 28 inhabitants, has created his mountain masterpiece for Eagle Point. He has also, unknowingly, re-created a truncated mountain face found several times along the Oregon Coast. That is a mountain, often times over 500 feet high, thatContinue reading “Scenery”

2/10/21 Last report we indicated the helix had been “corked” and rail would go down this week. I’m happy to report that it did. The crew of Doug, George, and Gene, helped me glue down a piece of flex track almost 25 feet long and done all at once! We did this to insure against kinks in theContinue reading “The Helix”

2/3/21 The first loop of the helix has been “corked” and track is due to go down next week. This will be about 25 feet long and we’d like to test it. We want to hook up a Zephyr (Digitrax)  power supply to the rails and have some of you come by and try it out. TheContinue reading “George’s Gorge”

1/27/21 This week we worked on additional rail joints, Eagle Point, and adding sub-roadbed to the helix. The Whistle Stop delivered on time and under budget with 8 packages (384) of Walther’s code 83 rail joiners for about 1/3 the cost of what we expected. Great deal? Well, not necessarily. They have changed vendors and the current code 83 Continue reading “The Robe and Chariot Guy”

1/13/21 BIG news today – Gene is back at work and he started putting the actual track together. He’s already got the mainlines hooked up through the yard and is moving west. He’ll be laying cork and flex track. For being this soon after knee surgery he’s doing really well – I’ll bet he won’t tell his doc whatContinue reading “Gene Gets Serious”

1/21/21 Doug continues to work on Eagle Everything (Cove, Canyon, Tunnel, Mountain). His latest projects are the bridges over Eagle Canyon. We all know Doug doesn’t do anything half way and this is no exception.  Bridges can be made very simply by gluing Micro Engineering bridge girders to the plywood sub roadbed and you have a ballasted deck girderContinue reading “Bridges and Helix Stringers”

1/5/21 The CSME work crew for this week was Doug, George, J erry AND John stopped by as well as Gene. John has taken point on the bathroom fan and trim finishing projects. That’s great. Gene said he had gotten “really bored” at home and needed some of the Doug and George show – he got it. HeContinue reading “Upper Level Work Begins”

12/30/20 The City Administrator of Adair Village stopped by the new club on 12/29/20. He was most impressed with the progress on our layout. This additional 2020 post references the construction of the upper deck. We share this progress report in hope that it may come in handy on home layouts.   We will be using heavy shelf bracketsContinue reading “Upper Level Bracketry”