What's new on the Goose Lake short line Railroad?

- What's New on the Goose Lake Switching Module? -

...3' Narrow Gauge adventures in S scale.

Overview
I've spent many years modeling railroads in HO-scale. My Prescott and Madawaska RR being a good example of this. But over time, I found that my creativity was starting to decline. With all of this in mind, during 2001 I embarked upon a brave new plan - to change scales!
After much thought, I decided to get into smaller, Narrow Gauge industrial locos and rolling stock but in a larger scale. The Goose Lake portable switching module is in S-scale (1/64th), otherwise known as 3/16" scale. S-scale is approximately 33% larger that HO-scale (1/87th).
Progress history is as follows with the oldest activities first:
August 2001
During the summer of 2001, I started construction on an 18" x 48" Sn3 portable switching module and a brass Sn3 Orenstein-Koppel 0-4-4-0 Mallet kit from Backwoods Miniatures. As of the end of August, the Mallet's tender was completed. I also built a 3' Sn3 test track from hand-laid code 70 rail and stained sugar pine ties. The track looks quite realistic and the heavy brass tender rolls along it with incredible grace.
October 2001
By the beginning of October, a scratch built 20' flat bed freight car based on a circa 1875 Carson and Colorado prototype was completed. It was built from Northeastern Basswood and PBL 3' 7" Archbar trucks.
By mid-October, a 17' "shorty" Caboose had been started.
Work continued on the S-scale 0-4-4-0 Mallet with a start on the construction of the under frame, boiler and cab. The loco was starting to look like a model of the real thing!
November 2001
Hey, what's all this talk about S-scale? Well, the earliest recorded 1/64th models were built in England in the late 1800's, in contrast to a larger scale that was more common at the time and known as #1 scale or 1/32nd. Some modellers felt that 1/32nd scale was too large and technology was improving, so they decided to make locomotives and rolling stock exactly half this model size. They called it H-1 which is one half of #1 scale trains. The designation "S" was not in use until "CD Models" marketed 1/64th scale train sets in the 1930's, naming them "American Flyer Trains". So, there you have it.
In my official capacity as chief Cook and Bottle washer, I hereby name the Sn3 portable switching module "The Goose Lake Lumber Company". Cool name, eh? Clearly, there's no end to the excitement around here these days...

Here I'm marking out the Southern end of the switching module on a sheet of Homosote that was rescued from the P&M layout. Notice that I used a piece of string (wrapped around a nearby table leg) to get the correct radius curves. By the way, the white square is a "right of way" gauge that I made from piece of 0.040" styrene sheet.

Here's the completed layout marked on the sheet. The gap at the top right-hand corner is where I plan the edge of Goose Lake and a trestle to be located.
In other news, the Caboose chassis and main body was finished including the new "Goose Lake Lumber Co." lettering. The Cupola is the next part to get finished.
Early December 2001
After I attacked it with a Jig saw, the Goose Lake Lumber Co. switching module now has a lake. This was important as I wanted an excuse to build a trestle over the edge of it for future photographic work. Lots of "in-construction" photos were taken and these will be posted after I have re-structured the P&M web site to allow for the P&M and the Goose Lake Lumber Co. to co-exist.

This is a view of the Northern end of the portable switching module, showing the edge of Goose Lake. This photo also shows the general construction technique with 1x2" and 1x4" Pine lumber with plywood decking.
The shorty Caboose is looking really good these days and I've included a few photos of it under construction.

This shot shows the basswood construction technique I used with the Caboose. Note the brass strip running along the center of the deck. This serves two purposes 1) Strength, as the Kaydee coupler pockets are bolted directly to it, and 2) Weight. I've decided to use Kaydee #5 HO scale couplers for this and all of my Sn3 models. Personally, I find Kaydee #5 couplers too large for HO scale anyway.

This is a shot of the under side (it's being held up with a short length of 1x2" Pine stock) with the PBL 3' 7" Archbar trucks clearly showing.

Here's a shot of Cabooses sides and end walls prior to installation. I simply glued strips of Basswood to a piece of card stock (the card stock was previously blackened with a permanent marker and cut to the appropriate size).
February 2002
Completed the restructuring of the P&M web site in order to make way for the new Goose Lake Lumber Co. site. The photos posted on this page (for now).
The portable switching module now has its lake finally installed (actually the edge of Goose Lake) after many re-thinks regarding its depth and shape.
March 2002
Side and end walls were installed on the Caboose. Started construction of an aluminium jig to assist in the making of the Cupola windows which I plan to do with dimensional styrene stock.
June 2002
All of the Sugar Pine ties have been laid (well, glued down) ready for sanding, staining, dry-brushing, ballasting and the trackwork (in that order).
The new photos are in!

This is the module under construction showing the edge of Goose Lake where I plan to locate a trestle. You can also see the Homosote track bed that was glued down with contact cement and held in place with screws which I'll remove once the glue has set. You can also see an additional siding that I decided to add (at the last minute!)
July 2002
The Sugar Pine ties were sanded so that they were level and also stained with Floquil Rosewood stain. The ties were also weathered with a mixture of black leather shoe dye and alcohol.
August 2002
Code 70 track and turnout laying was started. Two switch machines were installed and also I built and installed a capacitor discharge power supply for the switch machines. Using very fine crushed rock, I also laid the road bed.
The caboose roof and cupola were built from styrene.

Click on the arrow to return or here to return to the home page.