Charlotte Area Garden Railroaders

Charlotte Area Garden Railroaders This page is for model railroaders in the Charlotte, NC area that are interested in G Scale (1:29 or 1:20.3) electric and live steam model trains.

03/27/2023

First run on the Brookhaven & Southern since cylinder head repair showing 0-6-0 hauling a heavy mixed train with proper four exhausts per revolution and great pulling power!

03/27/2023

The Brookhaven & Southern's live steam locomotives and cars traveled to Spencer, NC to participate in Steam Over Spencer the first weekend in March. The K4 and 0-6-0 hauled many trains and even doubleheaded. In anticipation of the event, both locomotives were given a 9V lighting system and the 0-6-0 had the MCC letters and numbers permanently applied (previously had paper banners) Here is doubleheader video

After the Steam over Spencer event, it was discovered that the 0-6-0 had a leaking cylinder gasket and would only make 3...
03/27/2023

After the Steam over Spencer event, it was discovered that the 0-6-0 had a leaking cylinder gasket and would only make 3 chuffs per wheel revolution. Repairs were made and the gasket was replaced (brown paper bag material soaked in steam oil!).

4039 hauling freight tender first and the two locomotives and train resting after a day's run at Steam Over Spencer
03/27/2023

4039 hauling freight tender first and the two locomotives and train resting after a day's run at Steam Over Spencer

Here is a scratch built model of a rare 15-ton 1935 Mack Gas-Electric switcher that has been preserved at a tourist line...
01/08/2023

Here is a scratch built model of a rare 15-ton 1935 Mack Gas-Electric switcher that has been preserved at a tourist line in NJ. The 85 HP 4-cylinder prime mover was not designed for sustained running with a passenger train on a grade (promptly overheating) and she was delegated to shunting before retirement. No G scale models exist, so I used an Aristo Craft lil' critter (mutant one truck RS3) and scratch built the body and many details from styrene and cannibalized parts. This was a 3 month, 60+ hour project where "measure twice, cut once" and improvisation was the rule. The locomotive is more 1:24 scale than 1:29 due to the large wheels and taller frame of the Aristo model, but pulls well (3 heavy cars on the Brookhaven & Southern's 4% grades). Last picture is of the prototype from the 1970s.

04/14/2022

The Brookhaven & Southern is pleased to add a custom RS3 to its roster. No. 1554 was a CNJ locomotive fitted with HEP for passenger service (reason for the transformer "box" on the engineer's side) and "orphaned" when the CNJ abandoned the Flemington Branch in the 1970s. Black River & Western purchased the segment of the CNJ to connect to the former Lehigh Valley (now Conrail/NS). With the purchase came this RS3. She was eventually repainted in this "speed lettering" scheme which she wore until she left the property in 1984. In tribute to this locomotive (which survives today in PA in original CNJ livery) the Brookhaven & Southern modified a 1:29 AristoCraft RS3 to become the only known G scale model of the locomotive. Here is the model nearly finished with custom decals and details applied.

03/16/2022

The Brookhaven & Southern was visited this week by an active Black River & Western crew member, who chose the consist and direction for an all-BR&W passenger train. No. 4039 was steamed up for the first time in 2022 to doublehead with No. 60 and a 6-car train.

01/23/2022

Charlotte was hit with a second winter storm this week, this one left over 2" of snow on the Brookhaven & Southern so the plow was used to clear the right of way. The 2-truck Heisler was chosen to initially push the plow and then the GP30 did the honors

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Charlotte, NC
28277

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