Union Station Project - Part 5

Here is just a quick update on the Union Station project. I have finally got around to ordering some cove, quarter round, and half round pieces to begin working on the decorative trim. This has been a challenge to put together the correct pieces so that I am happy with the result. Here is what I have completed so far.

Finally making some progress again. I have almost made my way to the top of the walls. A tricky part of this step is making all of the trim meet perfectly at the corners. I am going to have to add some type of fill so that the corners appear seamless. The layout itself is now in the benchwork phase, so once the area is complete where the Union Station will sit, I can finally start on the base and make some real progress.

The Lionel Corporation Tinplate 255E

You might find it odd that just as I start constructing a semi-scale layout, with an intent on modeling real-life scenes, that my first ever engine purchase is a tinplate locomotive. I sometimes think that is quite odd myself, that is until I put the 255E on the tracks. Shes a beaut!

I didn't plan on collecting tinplate until I saw the 2010 O gauge MTHRRC tinplate car, which I discussed a few months ago. After purchasing the 2009 club car, (as well as anxiously awaiting my 2011 searchlight club car) I knew that this collection belonged underneath the Christmas tree. The 2011 Volume 2 edition of The Crossing Gate, The MTH Railroaders Club Magazine, featured this engine on the cover. After much thought I decided that this is the perfect engine to pull the MTHRRC cars. I am not sure if the Lionel Tinplate Corporation will actually release an engine specifically for these cars, but I decided that the 255E in orange and blue is a perfect match. Don't you agree?

The blue on the engine matches the blue on the cars perfectly, which was a concern when I ordered. Speaking of ordering... may I suggest pre-ordering any piece for your collection that is a "must-have." I decided to purchase this engine in September. It took at least a dozen phone calls to locate this engine with Proto-Sound 2. Actually I ended up calling MTH, and requested a list of the 10 shops that ordered the most of this engine. The last shop on the list, my last call, had 1 in stock. I feel pretty lucky that I was able to get my hands on this engine in brand new condition.

 So, I must say so far, my first ever MTH purchase, my first ever tinplate purchase, I am completely impressed. I am running the 255E on O gauge Lionel tubular track with O-42 curves. I am powering the track with my ZW. The extreme slow speed that this engine can consistently crawl at while being operated in conventional mode is astonishing. I do not yet have DCS, and cannot wait to see how it will perform under that control system, but for now, conventional is more than fine.

The sounds are also pretty good. I am very impressed with the idle sounds, which add a lot to the experience of running a model train. I keep hearing that Legacy sounds are the best, but the PS2 sounds get the job done. I am also very happy with the whistle. This is my first steamer with the prototypical 4 chuffs per wheel revolution which adds a lot of realism, especially at slow speeds (which is awesome, even for a tinplate). One of the most impressive features has to be the smoke unit.

This thing will smoke up your house in just a few laps. This is also my first time using Mega-Steam Smoke Fluid and I cannot say enough great things about it. Once the fluid soaks in for a few minutes and you fire up the 255E, the smoke show is a sight to behold.

Another feature I love is the firebox glow light. This is my first time experiencing a lot of these features on an engine I own, because the last steam engine I received was built by Lionel in 1981. Technology sure has come a long way over the years, and brings this hobby to an entirely new level. Some things never change though, like the feeling you get when you set up a family holiday tradition year after year.

The Rock Island line at Joliet's Union Station

Sometimes I will look at an old building and just find it fascinating that 100 years ago life went on around that same building just as it does today. It is a completely different time, so many changes to everything, however there the building stands just as it did long ago. History is what makes Joliet special to me. I look at photographs like the ones shown below and can see a world that is familiar to me as it appeared to family members long past. Today if you stand at Joliet's Union Station, there is constant freight traffic moving north/south being pulled by Union Pacific and BNSF diesels. On the east/west tracks you will most likely see a Metra passenger train or a CSX freight train.

Flash back as recent as 62 years and you would see this. A Rock Island Lines 4-8-4 steam engine pulling a freight load eastbound. This shot is taken standing on the south side of the station facing west, looking toward the DesPlaines river. Today only the tracks closest to the platform pavers remains.

Posted above is the Rock Island 4-8-4 #5114 heading west. If you click on the picture above and open the larger version, you can clearly see the bell on the front of the engine swinging away. This picture is taken looking east, standing in roughly the same location described above. The switch tower seen in this picture still stands today, however its future at this time is uncertain.

It is always a treat coming across photographs like this. Special thanks to Lance Wales who gave me permission to repost photographs which are in his collection, original photos by Bruce MacDonald. You can view Lance Wales collection here.

The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Oil

I will admit that in all of my years of running trains, usually just at Christmas, I have never oiled an engine or a car. I know, I know, but that is all changing now that I am fully diving into the hobby instead of just walking around in the infant pool. I guess this is a testimate to the quality of product that Lionel produces. Or maybe I am just lucky that the few trains that I do have still roll forward when I apply the power. Anyways, I just got my Christmas tree layout going this week and started to break in my brand new MTH Lionel Corporation Tinplate 255E (amazing engine, some photos and a review will be coming soon). After about 5 minutes of running, one of the tinplate cars began to screech something awful. Comet, my siberian husky, even jumped up and froze in place, with his ears pinned straight back. Needless to say caring for my new purchases is now a priority.


Unlike most people I do read the manuals, but sometimes the BEST answer is not always there. So like everyone else with O gauge trains, I did find the best answers on the O Gauge Railroading forums. As usual, I opened the forum and the exact topic I was going to start was already in a full discussion swing within the top 10 newest posts. So, at the suggestion of the "experts" today I picked up some Labelle 108 Synthetic Oil.

9 bucks for roughly 1/2 fl oz. but it got the job done. I am not sure how expensive or inexpensive this stuff is, but I took some advice taken from Ives1122 who said  "I'm going to chime in with a third nomination for Labelle. Regardless of what anyone else may tell you, insist on using the best lubricants for your trains. The peace of mind is well worth any additional costs you may incur over other brands."

The oil came with a needle for application which made it really easy to apply.

I placed 1 drop on each axel at each wheel, where shown above. Just like that, no more screeching. Comet is now a much happier assistant and can go back to concentrating on getting his hair all over everything.

As I continue my layout construction and possibly get another engine or two out for the holidays, the first thing I am going to do is make sure to add some fresh oil to each piece. They are probably thirsty for it, even though they are not making any strange noises.

On another note, I am going to make an effort to make some more frequent updates during the upcoming fall, winter, and spring months. I hope you look forward to seeing my progress as much as I look forward to seeing yours!

Room Construction - Part 2

Construction of the layout room itself pretty much grinded to a halt over the summer, but over the past 2 weeks a lot has been accomplished, mainly thanks to my uncle, father, and father-in-law. The first two pictures show the room just as we started hanging drywall. The bottom two pictures show the room after drywall is complete and the window cover installed.

The ceiling of the room was sprayed with flat black paint. This turned out very nice. Once track lighting is installed the ceiling should almost completely disappear from view. Insulation and framing were completed, and all electrical has been installed. The outlets are 36" above the floor and will be on a GFI circuit. The door to the room as been installed, and greenboard drywall is complete. My father-in-law made a covering for the basement window which is held into place using velcro strips. Once the wall is painted it should blend into the rest of the wall. As of right now the next step is primer and paint. Hopefully I will begin this process within the next week. After that is finished and carpeting is installed, the real fun can begin.

Finally here is a shot of the Union Station project. I have not completed much since the last update, but I did temporarily assemble the walls so I could take some measurements. Overall the station will take up approximately a 4 foot square section of the layout.

Union Station Project - Part 4

I have made some decent progress on the station this past week. Finally I have completed most of the intricate work on the street level walls. This area has taken a lot of time, and I am happy that it is over. Below are two quick shots I took showing this area. All that is left to do before paint is work on the decorative keystone pieces that go above the arch top windows and door, and then attach some trim pieces. After paint is complete I can begin installing window details.

I have also begun adding some details to the platform area single story walls. One tricky task was installing the pieces around the window. Making these fit perfectly was almost impossible, so I have some patch work to do. These pieces needed to be installed separately because they are actually in relief from the main walls, and frame the windows. The trim pieces on the bottom of these walls also need some patch work, but turned out quite well. Once I add the decorative trim pieces on top it will be ready for paint.

I expect to make some significant progress on this project as well as the train room itself in the next month. Stay tuned!

Union Station Project - Part 3

Long overdue update. Work has slowed for the summer, but I have had time lately to make some progress. The project is taking a lot longer than I had thought. It is very hard to cut out windows and make everything as straight as possible. The below pictures show some of the scribe work to make the block detail. All of the block work is to scale and an exact (or close to it) match to the actual building at 1/48 scale.

The first picture is a shot of the side windows to the left of the waiting room large arched windows. The second picture shows the arched top windows that face the passenger platform next to the tracks.

These two pictures show the front entrance to the station which is at ground level. I have to complete cutting the vertical detail pieces above the window and the door, which is very difficult to get just right. Also there is more scribed block work on these pieces, as you can see in the second picture. More decorative pieces go above the center of the door, and window. I have not yet figured out what I will use for those pieces.

This final picture shows an overall shot of the top level of the station. For perspective, the track is Atlas O-72. The caboose is an EJ&E O-27. I am currently finishing the scribe work. The next step will be to add trim and decorative pieces, and start testing paint options.