Jump to content

Introducing myself - and a Danish gauge 1 freight train


Recommended Posts

Hello all.

 

First of all, let me apologize for being slightly off-scale here. I model gauge 1 or 1:32 scale, but since the track spacing for 1 and G is the same, I hope I pass the audition.

 

I have arrived here because I am considering buying an MTH One Gauge F7 set, and I asked a question in the Märklin Users forum. One user there guided me here, and this looks like the place to ask my MTH questions. Which I did.

 

Now at the age of 52, I have been a model railroader on and off since the age of 6. It has always been H0 scale, but a few years back, I was accidentally introduced to gauge 1, and now I have sold practically all my H0 and have started in gauge 1. Quite a big step, but I have not regretted it for a second.

 

In H0 - even though I did not have a layout at home - I was collecting rolling stock for a Danish brown-coal freight train as they ran in the 1950's and 60's. Denmark has never had any natural resources worth mentioning (except maybe wind), but back then, brown-coal (lignite) was shipped from open quarries in the middle of Jutland to power plants in the cities of Esbjerg and Aarhus.

These trains were long, heavy and overloaded, and there were no steam engines suitable for the job until the mid-50's, where the Danish State Railways bought 10 pcs. BR50ÃœK from Belgium. These engines were a cheap variation of the classical BR50, the ÃœK designating them as pre-war engines, but not as bare-bones as the later BR52.

In Denmark, these engines were called class N, and they were by far the most powerful freight engine in the country, and very well suited for the brown coal service.

 

Although official records state that the brown coal trains used only certain types of freight cars, numerous sources say that during the peak years, they were formed from anything that ran on rails and was reasonably roadworthy. This is my excuse for not adhering to the official records.

 

Back the old days, there was not much Danish H0 rolling stock on the market, so people converted whatever they could find or built from scratch. Lately you can get almost anything you like, and manufacturers seem to struggle finding "interesting" types that will sell enough to warrant a production run in the relatively small Danish market.

 

Having switched to gauge 1, I'm back to square one. The German market is driving the gauge, so naturally German models are most common, Danish models are few and far between, so I need to be creative. Luckily, a certain level of standardization has been going on in Europe for a long time, and certain German freight cars can be converted directly.

 

As it happens, the German O10 type of freight car is identical to the Danish types PER and PE - with and without a braking platform, respectively. These types have been made by Märklin, and they can be had on eBay for around 100 Euro a pop. However, the same mold was used for some starter sets, which included bright blue and green variants of these cars, and on eBay they go for 1/3 the price of the "real" ones. I am going to paint them as part of the conversion anyway, so I don't care what color they are out of the box  B)

 

Below is such a blue car before and after the conversion to a type PE:

 

post-559-0-20255900-1395094892.jpg

 

post-559-0-46380200-1395094982.jpg

 

Same story with the PER type. 1/3 the price.

This one is available in blue from a special set with two cars and two glasses and a thermos flask and weird icing paint on the sides. One of those strange things Märklin does time and time again. 

Before and after the conversion to a PER:

 

post-559-0-36105200-1395095190.jpg

 

post-559-0-38786700-1395095196.jpg

 

 

In 1958, newer types freight cars entered service. This was the standard European steel box, and they are thirteen to the dozen on eBay.

Below is a Belgian version, where I have begun the conversion, and the final result as a type E:

 

post-559-0-45469600-1395095385.jpg

 

post-559-0-17642700-1395095392.jpg

 

 

The locomotive is a straight forward conversion from a BR50. More about that when I get around to the actual conversion. Much worse is the guard's van or conductor car (we don't have cabooses in Europe, you know). There are no suitable conversions on the market, so I have ventured into my first ever scratch build. The undercarriage is made from brass, and the wooden body will be made from laser-cut layered veneer.

 

Below a few pictures of this car.

First, a shot from above, showing much of the overall construction. I follow the original drawings as close as possible, using brass profiles.

 

post-559-0-79814900-1395095731.jpg

 

 

The suspension with brakes.

Yes, the leaf springs are working  ;)

 

post-559-0-65527000-1395095730.jpg

 

 

A shot from below, showing the brake triangles around one of the axles. The brake system does move, but for modeling purposes, it doesn't make sense anymore. I had fun taking it as long as I could, though.

 

post-559-0-74637800-1395095729.jpg

 

 

Finally for now, a link to YouTube, showing the latest hobby show where my club attended.

At shows, we exhibit together with the Model Tractor Club, which operates R/C trucks and tractors, and we have adapted our club modules to each other, thereby increasing the fun and play for both clubs.

 

 

Best regards

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
 

 Was that steamer run from the phone?

 

It was. All the trains are.

 

We're using DCC and Märklin/Motorola formats, controlled from an ECoS command station, which has a LAN socket. Attachs a WiFi router and you have wireless access.

So I made an app for controlling trains and accessories. I write for iDevices, but other apps are appearing for other phone systems as well.

 

What actually happens is that the app is controlling the command station, which in turn controls the trains, but from an operating perspective, each of us walk around with our train :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 

Thanks Jim.

It's always nice to find a friendly forum here on the wild wild web  :)

 

About the conductor car that I am scratchbuilding:

 

The Danish State Railways had a range of 2-axle passenger cars that where never very popular with the public. They were quite long for 2-axle cars, and they really should have had trucks, but although there were plans for it at one time, they never got it. Instead, there were a lot of experiments trying to improve the suspension, but to no avail. The cars had gotten their nickname 'rystevogne', which translates to 'shaking cars' ... not unrelated to the German equivalent types, the 'Donnerbuchsen' or 'thunderboxes'.

 

When these cars were retired from passenger service, they were used as conductor cars for freight trains, which at the time had a conductor who was responsible for the train. One of the compartments was converted into a small office with a desk and a stove for heating.

 

Here is one such car as it looks today at the local veteran railroad:

 

post-559-0-46253800-1395701846.jpg

 

As I said, the car body will be made from laser-cut veneer.

Below are some of the CAD drawings for the body. Each side is three layers, where the middle layer provides a pocket for the windows to be inserted from above. This allows me to assemble and paint the sides both inside and outside without having to worry about getting paint on the windows.

 

post-559-0-59784000-1395701854.jpg

 

Best regards

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
 

As promised, here's picture of 3 type PE and one PER which has been converted and are ready for the paint shop.
These are the last of the odd-colored cars I have, and once painted, the full train will look the part, even if some of the other cars are still in German livery.

post-559-0-88550900-1396185433.jpg

The added details are brass and steel wire.
Here's a side shot, showing the added parts.

post-559-0-51374000-1396185448.jpg

As you can see, I've added handlebars where needed and the steps at the side gates and at the corners (for the yard crew while shunting).
Also, In the lower left of the car wall, there's a small cage for the destination slips. These are brass parts made by Hegob.

Note also the brake lever below the car body.
The PE had a very simple parking brake at only one of the wheels. The brakes were designed so that the yard crew could sit on the brake lever, using their weight for leverage, thus braking the car. The lever could be locked in place with a cross pin when parking.

One of the end walls of the car was hinged and could be opened for emptying the car by tilting. It's locked with a crossbar, which from the factory is part of the mold. I've ground it away and replaced it with suitable brass wire, as shown below.
The picture shows the end wall of the PER, and you'll notice that the crew step in the corner is a different type than on the PE. This is also a brass part from Hegob.

post-559-0-38719400-1396185457.jpg


Best regards
Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Jens,

 Very nice work on the rolling stock & awesome modular layout you folks have! Those RC trucks & equipment send it right over the top as one can never have too much animation! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Thanks, Chuck.

 

The club actually has two layouts. The one you see in the movie - with the gently curving station area - was originally built and owned by a club member, who has passed away. The club inherited the layout and decided that it should be the primary one for exhibitions. The station on the old club layout is now being used as a staging yard inside the large oval, and other pieces of the old layout are used for ad-hoc sidings, exhibition space permitting.

 

The trouble is that a room for a layout this size in or around Copenhagen is way too expensive for the club, so most of the time, the layout is in storage. This means that expansion and detailing is very slow, waiting for a permanent home somewhere. The upside is that when we do get together at two to four shows each year, we're all very "hungry", and we're having a great time running trains.

 

The setting is that the club owns the layout, and the members bring their rolling stock, which is unrestricted with regards to road name and time period. You'll see old-timers such as the German Adler along with TEE sets, and even the occasional Big Boy (4014, no less). That's why I have no problems dreaming of a Sante Fe F7 set, even though I have no train for it ... yet  :D

 

As for animation, you're absolutely right. Even though the shows are actually our operating sessions and we couldn't care less if anyone is watching, there is always a crowd looking at the loading facility, because you don't see that every day. We have plans to increase the playability with more roads for the R/C guys, various sidings and loading docks and double-slips at both exits of the yards with blind tracks for shunting without interfering with the main line traffic. Also, we are planning a rotary dumper for emptying the open freight cars, so we can do point-to-point shipping of "turnips and grain".

 

Hours of fun being had and to be had ...

 

Speaking of animation, and going off-topic to 1:87 scale, you should check out Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, if you don't already know it. You don't really need a translation of the name, but it's a model railroad gone completely mad, and it has evolved into the largest tourist attraction in Northern Europe. They even have an Airport, which - if the rest of the layout hasn't - blows your mind.

 

Going back on-topic, once you're in Hamburg, you shouldn't miss the gauge 1 layout at Hamburg Historical Museum. It's Europe's oldest gauge 1 model railroad, originally opened to the public in 1949. I remember visiting the museum in the early 70's, but as a young teenager, I had no idea that it was gauge 1, and I didn't even have dreams of modeling the scale  :)

 

 

Best regards

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
 

If you mean this one, it's G (1:22.5).

At the Copenhagen hobby shows, we're normally situated close to the G scale glub, and I've seen that TEE on their layout.

 

Best regards

Jens

Dang! They made it to narrow gauge?? That rules me out as a buyer :(  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Ah, well, you did specifically say Piko  ;)

 

The one we've seen (guest starring) on the club layout is the incredibly yummy VT11.5 from KM-1, but it's sold out from the factory. You can find them on the German eBay site occasionally.

Also, we have the BR103's from Märklin and Wunder with matching TEE or Rheingold passenger coaches from Märklin.

 

All exactly 1:32, although the coaches may be a bit shorter than exact scale.

 

Here's a video from our club at a 2012 hobby show, showing a BR103 in the opening sequences.

 

 

Best regards

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Of course, if you really want to show off, you could wait for Lematec to release this piece of eye-candy.

 

But a word of warning: You may want to win the lottery first.

If you have to ask the price of this one, you can't afford it ...

 

I asked.

I most definitely can't afford it.

I can dream, though  :D

 

 

Best regards

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
  • 3 weeks later...
 

Fleet Manager's Log, October 10th, 1958:

 

Today we received from the workshop the open freight cars type PER no. 17689 and type PE nos. 17701, 17723 and 17731.

All four cars have been rebuilt to new condition, and they are released for operation, effective immediately.

 

post-559-0-46640700-1398629659.jpg

 

Also, in exchange for a paint job for an other operator, the workshop has received type PE no. 17744, which - while not fitted with parking brake and steps for the yard crews - has been handed over to fleet.

Due to the current shortage of rolling stock, this car is also released for operation, effective immediately, bringing the total fleet of short open freight cars in operation to a total of 19.

 

:)

 

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
  • 1 month later...

Two more type E freight cars are ready for service.

These are the last of the first one I bought. They were a very old type with molded couplers and buffers, but now they are up to standard.

 

The picture below shows the cars with the buffer boards replaced with brass profiles in preparation for the new sprung buffers and the hook and screw chain coupler.

post-559-0-62130000-1401383244.jpg

 

And the finished cars nos. 52070 and 52204 with the first rebuild no. 52048 in the background.

post-559-0-36439800-1401383252.jpg

 

I can tell I need a break from bashing freight cars. I made some stupid mistakes along the way, but they probably don't show much except if you know where they are.

 

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
  • 5 months later...

At the recent gauge one fair, I also took delivery of the prototype kit for the CU type guard's van for my freight train.

As may be expected for a prototype, it has a few minor design bugs as well as some minor production glitches, but overall it looks great. The side walls must be re-cut, but I'm in the process of assembling the end walls and the interior walls between the compartments.

 

The outer walls are three layers of 1mm veneer glued together with ordinary white carpenter's glue applied sparingly and evenly with a small brush and held together with clamps until the glue sets.

Here are the pieces for the two end walls. The center layer has a pocket for the door window, which can be inserted from the top after the wall piece is glued and painted.

 

post-559-0-36459200-1416757398_thumb.jpg

 

post-559-0-47013400-1416757399.jpg

 

post-559-0-97948000-1416757400.jpg

 

The inner walls are one center layer of 1mm veneer with 0.6mm veneer on both sides for the wall decorations.

 

post-559-0-22803100-1416757400.jpg

 

I don't know the English word for that kind of wall, but here's a picture of the real thing.

 

post-559-0-73652100-1416757401_thumb.jpg

 

 

Jens

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
  • 4 months later...

With the annual national MR exhibition coming up, I've decided to get my guard's van presentable for the show. The side walls have now been re-cut (there was a flaw with the first batch), so I'm ready to assemble the three-layer sandwich. The middle layer is made to yield pockets for window glass, which can be inserted from the top after painting. 

 

cu1.jpg

 

 

Glued and drying ...

 

cu2.jpg

 

 

Detail of the window pocket

 

cu3.jpg

 

 

Outer layer glued and drying ...

 

cu4.jpg

 

 

Two finished side walls

 

cu5.jpg

 

 

Details

 

cu6.jpg

 

 

The floor of the car body is also a three layer sandwich. Here, however, the middle layer is 1mm brass, so I can solder nuts to it for fastening the body to the undercarriage. More about that soon.

 

cu7.jpg

 

 

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 

Thanks, Sean  :)

 

I certainly enjoy posting the pics and telling the story. Here's some more ...

 

I soldered low-profile nuts to the brass plate where they can be reached from below - and in strategically right places for fours screws to do the job.

 

cu8.jpg

 

 

Then I cut small triangular brackets for the undercarriage.

 

cu9.jpg

 

 

I drilled holes in the brackets approximately above the nuts, inserted screws and glued the brackets to the frame with two-component epoxy.

I did not have the courage to solder the brackets with a torch  :unsure:

Chicken, I know.

 

The veneer in the picture below is inserted while the glue sets to give the brackets exactly the right height for the finished car floor.

 

cu10.jpg

 

 

After drying, I had a bottom/floor plate for the car body matched to the frame, and the screws can be tightened as hard as I like.

Time to assemble the floor sandwich. The bottom layer of veneer has laser etched grooves to illustrate the beams being used on the real car. Yes, they are along the length of the car and not across. I've checked. The beams meet above the crossbeams on the real car too, so you don't see any joints. Later there will be a line of support struts on the outside of the frames, hiding the beam joints there.

 

cu11.jpg

 

 

And finally the top layer with the guide grooves for the interior walls.

 

cu12.jpg

 

Jens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
  • Create New...