Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Jim Ferenc

Build a Working Coal Tipple

Using a PVC pipe, a 1" auger bit, and a windshield wiper motor, the author shows how he built a model that actually loads coal into awaiting hoppers.

Build a Working Track Scale

The author wanted to simulate the effort required to weigh each car coming from a mine, so he built this working track scale. After explaining how it works, he describes the mechanism, building the Linear Variable Displacement Transformer, building the electronic circuit, testing the system, building the track and the track approach, and finalizing the details. Includes model photos, mechanical design diagrams, circuit schematic and circuit board layout diagrams, the track work details diagram, and the mechanical, electrical, and track work parts lists.

Build An Animated Coaling Station

A detailed article on how the author built a coaling tower modeled after the steel tower that the Colorado & Southern built in 1946 at its Rice Yard engine terminal in Denver, Colorado. It has animated coaling chutes to simulate the flow of coal into the steam engines' tender over two tracks. Includes many close-up photos of construction details and a scaled drawing. The animation is done using Hankscraft slow-motion switch machines.