Hello everybody,
Well it's time I introduced myself and tell you about my Hampshire County Narrow Gauge. I just turned 65, (can you believe that?) and last year I was loosing interest in my indoor model railroads. Then I remembered a promise I made to myself when I was 13. You see when I was 13 I was introduced to live steam at the Pioneer Valley Live Steamers in Southwick, MA. Yes it still there only a lot larger than when I first went there. Anyway when we were leaving I turned and looked at the steamers and promised myself that some day I would own one for myself. And now I do in the form of an Accucraft 4-4-0. Currently she's down on the work bench going threw a restoration and will look like NCNGs #1 when finished which I hope I will have finished soon.
The HCNG came about after the 4-4-0 arrived. I needed a name for the railroad. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge is one of my favorite ng railroads. I live in Hampshire County here in Massachusetts. So I just combined the two names and came up with my railroad name. It's a California narrow gauge railroad, only the name sounds New England.
Seeing that this locomotive will be my only one for quite some time, I'm going a little extra on the details. I'm also equipping it with all the best hardware. First was a Wee Bee pop valve. Second was the addition of cylinder drain cocks which Triple R services did the work for me. Thanks Ryan.
Now for the railroad itself. I first designed my railroad to be raised up to about 40" and run the locomotive manually, walking with it. But after viewing videos of home railroads built at ground level running threw real landscape stuff has been biting at me to build mine down low. But that means radio control for the locomotive and I haven't a clue were to put the radio receiver and the battery's. There is room inside the cab for servos. For the tender I have made an oil bunker to fit over the gas tank thus resembling an oil burning locomotive. But the tender has to be filled with water to keep the gas tank warm so there is no room there unless somebody knows of a way.
My back yard is relatively a level yard. But it really isn't. Before the previous owner could sell the house, the septic tank needed to be replaced and put in place higher than the old one thus making my yard a large rolling dome. The yard is also laid out on a slight angle also. I plan to house all the equipment in my garage and exit out the back threw a covered bridge onto the outside layout. The bridge will be removable because covering the area are LARGE pine trees and every winter brings down old dead branches and pine needles. And you guys with leaves think you have a problem.
Well that's me and mine. I will be going in deeper with my projects in the correct folders over the next couple of months as I plan on starting the layout this year.
Talk with all soon.
Chester Louis SA #64
Hampshire County Narrow Gauge
Well it's time I introduced myself and tell you about my Hampshire County Narrow Gauge. I just turned 65, (can you believe that?) and last year I was loosing interest in my indoor model railroads. Then I remembered a promise I made to myself when I was 13. You see when I was 13 I was introduced to live steam at the Pioneer Valley Live Steamers in Southwick, MA. Yes it still there only a lot larger than when I first went there. Anyway when we were leaving I turned and looked at the steamers and promised myself that some day I would own one for myself. And now I do in the form of an Accucraft 4-4-0. Currently she's down on the work bench going threw a restoration and will look like NCNGs #1 when finished which I hope I will have finished soon.
The HCNG came about after the 4-4-0 arrived. I needed a name for the railroad. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge is one of my favorite ng railroads. I live in Hampshire County here in Massachusetts. So I just combined the two names and came up with my railroad name. It's a California narrow gauge railroad, only the name sounds New England.
Seeing that this locomotive will be my only one for quite some time, I'm going a little extra on the details. I'm also equipping it with all the best hardware. First was a Wee Bee pop valve. Second was the addition of cylinder drain cocks which Triple R services did the work for me. Thanks Ryan.
Now for the railroad itself. I first designed my railroad to be raised up to about 40" and run the locomotive manually, walking with it. But after viewing videos of home railroads built at ground level running threw real landscape stuff has been biting at me to build mine down low. But that means radio control for the locomotive and I haven't a clue were to put the radio receiver and the battery's. There is room inside the cab for servos. For the tender I have made an oil bunker to fit over the gas tank thus resembling an oil burning locomotive. But the tender has to be filled with water to keep the gas tank warm so there is no room there unless somebody knows of a way.
My back yard is relatively a level yard. But it really isn't. Before the previous owner could sell the house, the septic tank needed to be replaced and put in place higher than the old one thus making my yard a large rolling dome. The yard is also laid out on a slight angle also. I plan to house all the equipment in my garage and exit out the back threw a covered bridge onto the outside layout. The bridge will be removable because covering the area are LARGE pine trees and every winter brings down old dead branches and pine needles. And you guys with leaves think you have a problem.
Well that's me and mine. I will be going in deeper with my projects in the correct folders over the next couple of months as I plan on starting the layout this year.
Talk with all soon.
Chester Louis SA #64
Hampshire County Narrow Gauge
