tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.comments2024-03-16T07:03:58.936-07:00Robert's Vasona Branch BlogRobert Bowdidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.comBlogger292125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-7416700520340370342024-03-03T17:14:05.768-08:002024-03-03T17:14:05.768-08:00If you need some inspiration and color for local h...If you need some inspiration and color for local history, check out some of the oral histories collected from Los Gatos residents:<br /><br />More recent oral histories: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkMkQb8nWZfc35aDcz39wImeI9i5TJQHo<br /><br />There were another set of oral histories for folks who lived in Los Gatos in the 1930s and 1940s - I'd downloaded them in the past but can't find them now. They were available from the Los Gatos Library. Interviewees included Baumgardner, Criswell, Panighetti, Robinson, and Topham. You might call the Los Gatos Local History room to see if they're publicly accessible anywhere.Robert Bowdidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-91849362627664100442024-01-09T13:29:17.368-08:002024-01-09T13:29:17.368-08:00So. I came upon this photo and will use it to writ...So. I came upon this photo and will use it to write a story around. Which is what I do. But I thought I'd try to get a grip on Eatmore in case there was detail I could use, such as delivery area or manufacture. I don't know anything about Los Gatos so the area won't work well for my fiction, but you are the only site I've found that mentions the real deal and I wanted to say I appreciate it. And though this is likely a vendor of Eatmore, it's interesting to consider the man in the center could be in eiter ice cream truck or gas station uniform from mid forties! Don't seem to be able to send the photo to you! Drat!Nimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13034321230699410587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-31050509055799895552024-01-03T10:28:46.100-08:002024-01-03T10:28:46.100-08:00Howdy! Has there been any update to this project? ...Howdy! Has there been any update to this project? Are the files available anywhere to purchase or download? I'm modeling the SP commuter trains for my garden railway, and these are the exact cars I'd need to 3d print. I have both FDM and resin with rather large build areas, and would love to modify these in order to print them at a larger 1/29 scale.Jim Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07388499504013208706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-75357994330450095532023-01-17T16:02:06.773-08:002023-01-17T16:02:06.773-08:00When I was a kid we lived in Morgan Hill (1961) an...When I was a kid we lived in Morgan Hill (1961) and would occasionally go up to SF for the day. On the way back we were sleepy but knew where were passing this plant Noel Fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17137479065733386079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-19334735243341574372021-07-27T07:47:34.304-07:002021-07-27T07:47:34.304-07:00Glad to see that you are back. Glad to see that you are back. Jeff Maurer - Sacramento Valley NTrakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08063183242829252586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-19972202957218848112021-07-20T03:38:26.666-07:002021-07-20T03:38:26.666-07:00Very cool Robert... look forward to seeing more of...Very cool Robert... look forward to seeing more of your layout soon.NightOwlModelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09904500011869442181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-82422448321852790742021-07-09T22:08:50.215-07:002021-07-09T22:08:50.215-07:00They've been fun! I still need to double-chec...They've been fun! I still need to double-check I got the end curves right - I finally got technical drawings at CSRM that show the curves accurately.Robert Bowdidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-18518103923145078742021-07-09T21:52:33.562-07:002021-07-09T21:52:33.562-07:00What could be so hard about making Harriman cars? ...What could be so hard about making Harriman cars? LOL!<br /><br />Congratulations on all your hard work so far! dan tamskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542326979349824429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-73539114786022259192021-04-20T08:44:40.408-07:002021-04-20T08:44:40.408-07:00I'm extremely happy with the Modratec kit; I c...I'm extremely happy with the Modratec kit; I can't imagine building one on my own just because of the sheer number of design details to get right. Even if the Modratec instructions are focused on British-style operations, the actual interlocking design didn't seem to be constrained to British style; when designing the software, you get to specify all the levers that must be in a specific position, regardless of their purpose. They do color their levers in the software and hint at British style track equipment, but that doesn't affect the finished kit. I'd mocked up the San Jose Market Street interlocking as an exercise, and it seemed to be able to capture all the craziness of three routes from the Los Angeles direction. It was also able to force unused switches on a parallel route to point away from an active track.Robert Bowdidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-40127584531624128912021-04-10T17:48:15.941-07:002021-04-10T17:48:15.941-07:00* If I ever get to the point of actually building...* If I ever get to the point of actually building an interlocking, I will share what I have learned in the process.<br /><br />John TranesAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15058769877747286989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-52603781753034275532021-04-10T15:55:40.461-07:002021-04-10T15:55:40.461-07:00* If you don't ask a question, you never get a...* If you don't ask a question, you never get an answer.<br /><br />* The reason I initially contacted you is because you did build a mechanical lever frame interlocking. Whether or not prototypical, on a seldom used branch, or a busy mainline doesn't matter, it does work.<br /><br />* I too am interested in designing a prototypical mechanical lever frame interlocking. The problem is there isn't much good (american), but lots of united kingdom info available. The problem is that there tracks through an interlocking plant are direction sensitive, (up and down directions), route sensitive, not speed sensitive.<br /><br />* I also found that old MR article for building one. The reason they needed to build a working model was that they had little real info to go on, and there wooden model would prove if it worked, Just like the real thing.<br /><br />* You do have a picture of the frame. I don't think many of these even existed here from that time period. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15058769877747286989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-50172771215099416462021-04-09T08:54:40.495-07:002021-04-09T08:54:40.495-07:00Well, to be fair, the WP crossing is an afterthoug...Well, to be fair, the WP crossing is an afterthought in absolutely every aspect:<br /><br />* It's a crossing of a rarely used SP branch line with a glorified industrial branch of the Western Pacific. It's not some busy tower like a NYC-Pennsylvania mainline crossing approaching Chicago, nor is it even a shadow of well-known Southern Pacific crossings like Niles Tower or the College Park tower approaching San Jose.<br /><br />* It's a branch that was so under-used that the tower stopped being manned in the late 1920's, and was torn down in the late 1930's. If I was being prototypical, I'd just have a "push to cross" button for the WP as the SP trains crossed as if the WP wasn't there at all - pretty much the same way the SP thought about the WP overall.<br /><br />* It's a crossing that was hidden in the middle of a block, stuck behind a set of canneries and other industries. This isn't a much-loved photogenic location, visited by thousands of rail fans. Check out the Barriger photo in the first article on the crossing to see the unassuming look of the location.<br /><br />* It's a crossing on a half-a-two car garage layout focused on switching and canneries. I've repeatedly chosen operations and switching over museum-quality models and a <br />"don't touch" scene, and discounted mainline operations to focus on switching boxcars. Placing the canneries and other industries won out when I was designing the layout, and the WP crossing was wedged in as a "nice to have" afterthought because it isn't the focus of the layout. <br /><br />* There's no trains on the WP track, so there's never going to be trains crossing here. It's not a busy crossing. The play value of the crossing is only to slow down the switching crews, and making them think a bit about getting them thinking about the appropriate places to place cars, and correct etiquette around a railroad crossing.<br /><br />* It's not even a particularly important part of the layout. If I had more space and had the choice of improving the WP crossing or making the Del Monte Plant #3 scene more realistic... well, I hope you like the smell of cooking tomatoes and peaches!Robert Bowdidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-26481730880231248612021-04-09T06:55:15.991-07:002021-04-09T06:55:15.991-07:00what could have been the diamond on the layout loo...what could have been the diamond on the layout looks like it is just an after thought. anyway, the detail in the rest of the articles is suburb, you can please some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but you can't please all the people all the time. Keep up the good workAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15058769877747286989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-67703158109652433902021-04-08T18:23:26.876-07:002021-04-08T18:23:26.876-07:00Like everything else for the model railroad, I do ...Like everything else for the model railroad, I do it because it's a fun project and contributes enough to the overall vision and theme of the layout. There's always going to be inaccuracies, excessively-compressed or rethought locations, and stuff that's not perfect when first built, but having a working and reasonably finished layout is much better than having a perfect layout.<br /><br />The interlocking is appropriate for the location. The main differences are the missing distant signal levers and the fact that I didn't model a Saxby and Farmer machine. The signals and LEDs for derails were a workwhile tradeoff; I could build them in reasonable time and they're unlikely to get destroyed during operating sessions like some working semaphores might. Matching the actual track diagram wasn't going to happen; the track layout was decided fifteen years ago, long before I thought of the interlocking project. The layout's already been selectively compressed with the end of siding switch at an unrealistic distance from the crossing (not to mention Shell Oil at the wrong location on the other side of the tracks), but I live with those inaccuracies because it made things fit. (For a similar cheat, see Seth Neumann's switches between the NUMMI plant and Warm Springs Yard where three or four miles of track was compressed to about six inches between the switches and signals.)<br /><br />If I ever get frustrated with any part of the scene, I'll take another pass on it like I've done at other parts on the layout. Until then, I'll enjoy what got built!Robert Bowdidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-867275029077232742021-04-08T18:13:40.455-07:002021-04-08T18:13:40.455-07:00Why go to the expense of building an interlocking ...Why go to the expense of building an interlocking that 1) doesn't match your layout<br />and 2)leaves out all the detail of the interlocking, proper signals-Semaphore, not dwarf on the main, derails, not leds, and the siding in the plant. not to mention the added switch to the drill track, not shown on your diagram. Otherwise great detail on the rest of the layout.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15058769877747286989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-77455111271234139822021-03-04T00:45:29.379-08:002021-03-04T00:45:29.379-08:00Wow. I've had this page open as a tab on brows...Wow. I've had this page open as a tab on browser for the last month, and only now read it. <br /><br />That is one HELL of a story you tell.Caltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08564363298194570987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-83858779190696121242021-02-18T09:17:24.026-08:002021-02-18T09:17:24.026-08:00Thank you so very much, Robert. My dad worked fo...Thank you so very much, Robert. My dad worked for the SP his entire career. While I have a number of scattered memories regarding my experiencing his career, it is a very small fraction of your experience. In reading your comments, I had tears in my eyes and fond memories of my father in reliving my experiences with him when he was on the job. <br /><br />So sorry for your loss. What a terrific tribute to an outstanding father. Thank you so much.Lou Adlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426812122959958201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-75057277316245693772021-02-17T12:38:35.604-08:002021-02-17T12:38:35.604-08:00Thanks Robert. A well-done tribute to your father....Thanks Robert. A well-done tribute to your father. You have provided inspiration to me. I have a similar task in front of me. My Dad died in early December. Clifton Lintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09180937932806939726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-54507233392467764782021-02-17T00:38:20.827-08:002021-02-17T00:38:20.827-08:00Thank you for sharing those stories, Robert! I am...Thank you for sharing those stories, Robert! I am glad for the hour of enjoyment I had reading them.Brooks Moseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03250478647057775305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-31159578926430489812021-02-16T20:24:53.647-08:002021-02-16T20:24:53.647-08:00That was beautifully written. He sounds like someo...That was beautifully written. He sounds like someone I could have talked to for hours. Sounds like you did- it's all here in this lovely encomium. Blessings on your father's memory. I'm so sorry for your loss. E Creelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03868973245419015559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-8013386884125050542021-02-16T08:15:14.199-08:002021-02-16T08:15:14.199-08:00I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. My fathe...I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. My father just passed as well three months ago so I share your pain. This was a great way to share the memories of your father. Thank you for letting us take a peek into his life and your life growing up.Jeff Maurer - Sacramento Valley NTrakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08063183242829252586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-5278455051436348992021-02-15T22:02:13.256-08:002021-02-15T22:02:13.256-08:00Thanks, all - I'm glad I could share the memor...Thanks, all - I'm glad I could share the memories. I'm also hoping some WP modeler will file a flat on an HO scale gondola to reproduce the "thump thump thump" my father remembered as the gons went past his desk.Robert Bowdidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-59480277836098250132021-02-15T18:08:13.256-08:002021-02-15T18:08:13.256-08:00Robert- what a beautiful story about your Dad and ...Robert- what a beautiful story about your Dad and your family! I thoroughly enjoyed reading every word.Al Merkrebshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637882677962567294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-11311254391555171212021-02-15T17:37:47.964-08:002021-02-15T17:37:47.964-08:00Beautifully written.
We all should take the time t...Beautifully written.<br />We all should take the time to honor the previous generation(s) by writing down our memories for the subsequent ones.Milepost17.8https://www.blogger.com/profile/07212301401820983813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912308714924865824.post-44872146466042126232021-01-08T22:00:58.933-08:002021-01-08T22:00:58.933-08:00Are there any published photos of the EP&SW ca...Are there any published photos of the EP&SW cars? I'd be curious to see how different they look.<br /><br />You may already know about the SP files at the University of Texas El Paso library; they've got a bunch of files, including some boxes from the division engineer for maintenance of way. I found some great materials about the Hart gondolas there. You might look through the finding aid to see if there's any references to the side dump cars.<br /><br />https://scholarworks.utep.edu/finding_aid/1/Robert Bowdidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155962656525181088noreply@blogger.com