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All aboard the O-Train!
Built for ParLUGment’s Winterlude 2005 train layout, the O-Train is a light
passenger train that runs a commuter route through Ottawa. According to the
website it is a Bombardier Talent
BR643 DMU. I’m sure someone who actually knows something about trains can
provide more info if necessary. There are quite a few pictures of the real
thing here.
The initial version used for the layout was built over 3 nights the week before
the Winterlude show. Not being a train builder I was in a little unfamiliar
territory and trust me, some of the initial concepts I did during the first
night were truly atrocious. By the end of the week I was pretty happy with it -
except the huge space
(two whole studs!) between the center car and the engines. I tried to come up
with some quick solutions but with time running out and other items to prepare I
had to let it go. It was good enough for the show, and seemed to be well
received. People actually recognized it at least.
Once the show ended, with more time on my hands, I took the opportunity to try
and improve the design a bit. I’m pretty sure I spent more time getting rid of
the spacing than building the entire train in the first place. In the end I
went with an elastic band solution, as you can see in the pics. I’m sure the
more experienced train builders would have gotten to this solution a lot
quicker, if not having done it right from the start, but it was all new to me.
Of course I didn’t find out until afterwards that it seems to be a relatively
common technique. A little research beforehand would have probably saved me a
lot of time. Oh well, I enjoyed the problem solving exercise.
Now everything looks nice and tight (I also tightened up the wheel set at the
front of the engines), which I personally like a lot better. I’m sure the front
of the engines could still be improved, as the real thing is tapered and more
rounded, but I like it well enough as is, so unless something leaps out at me I
think I’ll just leave it.
I can’t really see myself building more trains in the future but overall it was
pretty enjoyable building experience and I’m really happy with how it turned
out.
Enjoy,
J
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | Re: O-Train
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| (...) Wow! That's a fantastic light rail model. And in six wide! Brilliant work. I was wondering how you used the engine in the shared bogey? You have pictures of the other wheelset (with the spring loading) but not the engine. I ask because I want (...) (20 years ago, 16-Mar-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: O-Train
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| (...) Jason, I haven't kept up to pace on close-coupling of train cars, but I'm really impressed by your solution. It is low-profile, shared trucks, and looks very clean, simple, and straight-forward. A fresh-look by you without working knowledge of (...) (20 years ago, 16-Mar-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: O-Train
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| Sweet! I saw this a while back with some of the club pics (one of the rare occasions I actually check out something like that) and your model was one of those that struck me. I see the BNSF buffers have made their first (?) MOC appearance as well. (...) (20 years ago, 16-Mar-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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