Follow Hal Miller as he shows you the progress on the latest Model Railroader staff project layout. Much of the trackwork is complete. Work is also underway on the compact engine terminal, including a motorized, Digital Command Control turntable from Walthers that Hal has installed. Jim Hediger is also at work on a prominent structure for the harbor scene. He’s scratchbuilding a model of a Scherzer rolling lift bridge using Atlas parts and other materials.
Building a 5 x 8 harbor railroad part 5
By Angela Cotey | January 19, 2014
| Last updated on November 23, 2020
Learn about the turntable and bridge for the Model Railroader staff's Rice harbor project layout
I like the idea of showing us how to make those trestle bents, there Hal.
Yes, over bays in New Jersey. Check out the top of page 20 in the June 2020 Railpace. It’s a photo of such a bridge over the Manasquan River at Brielle.
There are plenty of rolling bascule bridges in New Jersey.
Did anyone notice the continuity error with the smoke jack. When Hall is talking the smoke jack is at the wrong end but when they cut to a train passing the fully finished site the smoke jack is relocated to the correct end.
Thanks guys! Instead of engineering drudgery, you made model railroading seem like fun again
The track looks great on the layout. What did you use to ballast the tracks? It's just the stuff I'm looking for to ballast tracks with on my layout.
Has anyone come up with a method to eliminate the "dead zone" on the Walthers turntable? I'm very pleased with the operation of the turntable, but I am frustrated with the sound abruptly stopping and restarting as a sound-equipped engine rotates past this segment of the turntable. It just seems that with DCC circuitry that deals with reverse loops and wyes instantaneously, this should not be an issue on a turntable. Any suggestions?
Glad to see someone caught that the enginehouse smoke jack was at the wrong end. Unattended steam engines had been known to creep during the night if the throttle was left cracked open just a little (Note for diseasel fans: steam engines were kept simmering at all times except monthly inspections). Backed into the enginehouse, a sleeping creeper can tumble engine first into the turntable pit, It's a whole lot less expensive and embarrassing if you only have to lift the tender out of the pit.!
It is great to get some of the History on Model Railroading. Keep up the great work.