Proposed AGHR Club Road Name/Paint Scheme

Drawing from The Railroad Paintshop by Joshua Moldover. Colors by Matt Jackson

Projects at AGHR.

Welcome to the AGHR Projects Page where we plan to highlight club and member projects. Features this month include:

Trestlemania - Part 1:

For almost a year, plans have been in place to build a curved trestle near the parking lot door at AGHR. The benchwork was even built with this in mind. During the course of the past year, Dave O'Connor and Mike Ivory designed and built the curved trestle below.

During the course of the year, several construction steps were taken. Mike and Dave used a novel "top-down" approach to the construction. To maintain a level track, the temporary trestle was removed and a new set of risers installed. The stringers for the permanent trestle were then installed on underside of the temporary trestle once it was leveled. The bents were then built and placed. Dave, a mechanical engineer, and Mike, a model maker, designed and built the jigs and shims. Howard Packer and other club members assisted with painting and staining the wood.

As you can see, it functions well under load. Plans call for the construction of yet another small curved trestle above this large one when the mountain track is re-layed. The gorge will be constructed as the mountain scenery is placed.

Given the scale in which we model, details are the difference. As a result, there are more than 1,500 nut/bolt/washer castings in place.

Trestlemania - Part 2:

In evaluating a bridge running up toward the mountain branch, it was clear that the bridge should be spanning something other than the basic ground. John Pignatelli, with the assistance of Howard Packer, built a small straight trestle.

Given this trestle's lower height and the level nature of the gap, the construction technique required was different. This was built from the ground up, with identical bents. It was also designed with a slightly more modern look for added detail as you can see from the photos below:

The water surface will be completed when the surrounding area scenery is more complete. That's in process now.

The Locomotive Projects of David O'Connor:

In addition to the trestle project over the last year, Dave has been working on a locomotive kit. This particular kit is from Babbitt, who took over the General Models/Varney/All Nation steam locomotive line. It's a "10-wheeler" (4-6-0) based on a B&O prototype. Dave has made brass wrappers for the tender and boiler and added rivet detail and other subtle features that have resulted in a very nice model. It uses a Dallee reverse unit and operates very well on the club layout.

Here's how it appeared at last year's open house:

Here's the finished model:

Dave also took a Lionel SD20 (closer to a GP20 with three-axle trucks), added wire handrails, air tanks and other details to make a more presentable model.

Mel's Drive-In Finally Arrives

We recently picked up the elusive Mel's Drive-in to add to our other MTH animated buildings. Here are a few photos:

Hey Fred. How do you open this thing?

Here, the AGHR "Building and Safety Committee" contemplates the environmental impact of Mel's Drive-In.

Oh miracle of miracles! Matt didn't put the building in backwards like the car wash!"

Dave O'Connor is at it again:

The Caboose Project:

Well, not content to leave well enough alone, Dave O'Connor has decided that he had too much time on his hands. So he built a caboose to go with his B&O 10-Wheeler. This started out as a Gloor Craft Kit.

Here's another shot. Note the lantern being held by the conductor. Yes it lights up.

Another Locomotive in the works:

Dave has been secretly building a Mountain to keep his 10-wheeler company. Here's the recently-completed frame.

Here it is with the boiler and cab in place for a test fit.