M-3-a Haul Test

6xAAA NiMH Rayovac cheapos fully charged. I wanted to forgo some of the additional weight I had planned to hide in the cab in order to include cab details. However, I was worried that I wouldn't have the traction to pull a B&L mixed train. I decided to test that out. Looks like it will pull 3 freight and a passenger car with pretty decent speed. Not sure how long the battery will last, but for purposes of my layout it should be fine. Sadly my AAR1937 and postwar boxcars are anachronistic for the B&L so I'm considering scrapping or selling them. The truss rod coach will also get scrapped to build the truss rod combine.

CV M-3-a #455 WIP

How am I doing here? The valve gear are finalized and this thing runs beautifully. Now I'm trying to get the appearance just right while working in some durability. Constructive criticism very much appreciated at this stage. Here's a reference of the exact locomotive working the Burlington and Lamoille branch in the era I'm modeling: #455 on the Cambridge Jct. turntable


 

Thinking Small (Part 3)

Underhill Flats, Vermont as it looked in the late 20's and 30s. I selected this spot along the Burlington and Lamoille branch of the Central Vermont because it had the most operational potential in a small space. You can see with 5 trackside industries, a depot, and the off track creamery, there's a ton of potential customers in a really tight space.

Operating would loosely simulate the westbound train from Cambridge Jct. to Essex Jct. The train would enter from the lower left, and stop at the depot to unload passengers and LCL. The locomotive would then set out any cars from the St.J&LC destined for Underhill and pick up any traffic bound for Essex Jct. with possible connections there with the Rutland.

Combined with a larger layout you could simulate both east and westbound trains. As it fits in the shelfspace above my desk at work, this would provide enough operating potential for a train-fix on a mid-day lunch break.

I'll continue in part 4 with my actual thoughts and insights that I alluded to in my first post of "Thinking Small."

Thinking Small (Part 2)

Jerry Fox collection, Cloverdale, VT, June 16, 1938. 


CV 455 pulls the last eastbound train from Essex Jct. to Cambridge, Jct. along the Burlington & Lamoille.


Really need some help in locating pictures or a mechanical diagram of the combine on the end.