Murdoch17's Miscellaneous Railroad Builds

[Murdoch17]

Here are a bunch of my models in one post than in six different topics.

First, here is my Western Railroad Tunnel - Version 2

I have revamped my Modular Western tunnel by combining it with my father's older stand-alone tunnel design. This design makes the interior walls more realistic, while still preserving the rough rock-work outside.

The modular bit comes in when you disconnect the tunnel into it's three components, 2 identical end-caps and 1 middle section. This is for ease of transport and making the tunnel shorter or longer depending on your needs.

As an added bonus, the flat roof lets you put a small Native American village or a small US Cavalry outpost. If you are not into Wild West models, the tunnel easily recolors with the Dark Tan to dark bluish gray and the regular tan to light bluish gray via the LDD file below. (It's not that hard to recolor it in the program, so only the tan version of the tunnel is included.)

Two of these are missing from this model: http://www.bricklink...asp?P=14309pb01

The inside looks like this. It connects the the other sections via the four Technic pins.

tunnel LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1412007044m.lxf

Next up is two refueling towers:

My father built the Water Tower way back in the 1990's, back when 9V was king. Fast forward 15+ years, and I realize that it needed a companion coaling tower. I made my first attempt at a much larger size than this using pictures from LGauge.com, a website of older Lego train models.

Please note, some parts are of the tower have been modified in the digital realm, (such as the water spout) so it's not "entirely" accurate. The corner walls also are printed with the part seen here: http://www.bricklink....asp?P=2345pb06

Here is the rear view. LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411953429m.lxf

The next two models are locomotive sheds:

First the Classic Brick Railway Systems shed,

This model was built by my father around 2005 / 2006 for an old-style MOC steam engine we built together based off set 7722. Anyway, the years roll by, and my engines get bigger and bigger. I realized in late 2013 that I needed to enlarge the shed to fit more than just that one engine type. I haven't done it real life yet, but here is what it will look like. I have added one track's length of shed and one more smoke vent on the roof.

Here are the statistics for the shed when it's finished:

Building type: single track locomotive shed

Track length: 3 ½ tracks (60 studs)

Maximum side clearance: 10 studs total

Maximum height clearance: 12 bricks total

The rear view of the shed.

The trans light blue windows were some of the first things my father bought off BrickLink, and as such they are staying on there... even though trans-black might looks better. LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411655710m.lxf

The final model is this Modern Locomotive Shed

This model (in red instead of black and white instead of tan) was originally designed back in the late 1990's by my Father for his 9V locomotives. After completion, It sat in the Basement alongside his other custom models including his tunnel, grain elevator, bridge, and water tower. Fast Forward a decade to 2006. I had played with his models all my childhood, using them for my own trains until he built me my own smaller single track version in black & red around 2006. I longed to figure out how to build my own, and in in 2005, I discovered Bricklink & LEGO Digital Designer. I didn't really use them together until 2010, when the first version of my dad's shed was built. It wasn't very good, but it led to this model back in 2012. (Link to that mess: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/335344 ) From there I made the roof removable, and then I added newer windows, and a less expensive color scheme. By mid 2013, it was compete, at least in digital format.

I remains to be seen if I will build it in real life.

By the way,the roof is removable. A base-plate will need to be cut If I build this, as it's four studs longer than two XL base-plates.

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411407373m.lxf

Western Caboose

This caboose was originally from set 79111, Constitution Train Chase, a part of The Lone Ranger theme. At first it was a prison car, but I turned it into a caboose. I added a regular door and roof top cupola for the conductor while retaining the side doors and exploding back wall.

I don't know if there is any real world prototype with a design like this caboose. (minus the exploding wall of course!)

Here we see the rear of the caboose, with two red lanterns and the exploding back wall with dynamite attached. This is the first MOC in a long time that I built in real life before building it in LDD. The only changes from real to digital are that I have a 1x4 Technic brick on the back wall with three printed 1x1 letters spelling out BRS.

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1412105087m.lxf

The LDD file groups the 79111 stock parts together, with remaining bricks being extra ones not found in the set.

Official-Style Freight cars (Part 1)

The first car is an automobile carrier like the one in set 2126. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=2126-1 )It carries two modern re-imagined versions of the Classic cars from that set.

The second and third cars are Boxcars, slightly modified from set 3677. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=3677-1 )

Next up is the fourth car is a water tanker, while the fifth is a tree carrier, and the sixth car is a rock gondola. They are all inspired by set 2126. (The link to that set is above)

The seventh car is a modified version of set 3225's general freight car. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=3225-1 )

Finally, the eighth car is a caboose inspired by set 10014. ( http://www.bricklink...m.asp?S=10014-1 )

All of these cars are modifed to bring them almost 100% in line with modern parts and colors, the only exception being the yellow tipper parts on the gondola. (Those parts were last used in 2000.)

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411686540m.lxf

Notes: Personally, I have the original cars from set 2126, and made the two boxcars from my parts bins. The brown cargo car and caboose are not needed, as I already have a general flatcar and the Western Caboose from post #6 above.

Official-Style Freight cars (Part 2)

These train cars are inspired by official sets & techniques used by LEGO.

The first car is a depressed center flatcar, and it carries a re-imagined and updated set 5920 Island Racer from the Adventurers "Dino Island" Theme. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=5920-1 )

The second car is a gondola carrying three huge boulders. It was inspired by set 4434, Tipper Truck. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=4434-1 )

The third car is a gasoline / oil tanker in OCTAN colors. The tanker was inspired by set 7939, Cargo Train. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=7939-1 ) This model also needs two printed 1x4 tile pieces like this: http://www.bricklink...m.asp?P=2431px9

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1413560515m.lxf

By the way, here is the front of the green automobile:

Lego City Passenger Station

This station was designed first by LEGO as set 2150, Train Station. It was recreated by someone on Eurobricks, but had an added "street side", that was almost identical as the track side. I downloaded and added: a expanded platform, made a clock with sign for both sides, and made the sections removable. (Yes, the roof for both levels come off.) I modernized the look of the station by adding a pizza oven with opening door like in set 7641, (City Corner) and adding a safe on the second floor for the station master.

Street side of the station. The studs on the wall beside of the clock on both sides of the station are supposed to spell LEGO CITY in printed 1x1 tiles.

The first floor features the ticket counter, pizzeria with bar seating and the oven taken from City Corner, while the second floor features the Station master's office, with three chairs, a desk, open-able safe, rotary telephone and several cabinets with drawers. This floor and the roof above it are held on by just a few studs, making them 100% removable, while the platform is a attached via Technic pins.

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1412010310m.lxf

Grain Elevator

Built originally by my father in 1999, this elevator was never completed. As my Dad did not discover Bricklink until 2006, it lacked several crucial parts, and remains uncompleted to this day... just another thing on the to-do list!

I have faithfully recreated the elevator and added some parts that did not exist in '99, such as the red windscreens used a funnel, and a conveyor belt with handle.

I also did some major goofs, such as making the building one stud too thin, (it should be 16 studs wide at the base), but I hope I compensated enough by making the funnel tall enough to let the tallest official train car I could think of go through without problems.

This view shows the conveyor and handle.

LDD file for the grain elevator: http://www.mocpages....1398708090m.lxf

Modern Truss Bridge

Designed using 24 of these parts, ( http://www.bricklink...tem.asp?P=15706 ) this bridge fits even my tallest trains. It can fit up to 10-stud-wide locomotives, leaving 1 stud on each side for clearance. It also can fit 12 2/3 bricks tall train cars, but only barely: the clearance is less that a third of a brick in difference.

The tallest train car I own is this one: a caboose based on the prison car from the Lone Ranger "Constitution Train Chase". (set 79111). This car fits the bridge by a hair less than a third of a brick.

LDD file (bridge only): http://www.mocpages....1414539136m.lxf

Signal Tower 22

Inspired by Whoward69's signal tower, (link: https://www.flickr.c...s-55973205@N08/ ) this enlarged version features two removable sections (the roof and second floor) and a staircase to the second floor. There are studs on the front of the building to spell out TOWER 22 (Or whatever two digit number you want to.) using printed 1x1 tiles.

The tower also has two computers on the second floor for train signal / switch direction control, while the first floor is empty. (except for the staircase)

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1417547843m.lxf

Wide Vision Caboose

This model was originally Model number 30 from the 2007 set "Hobby Train". I redid the whole model from the ground up, replacing old windows and updating the style. The caboose features removable cupola and cupola roof, along with the two regular roof sections.

The Inside features a bed, stove, table and two chairs, while the cupola features two more chairs. I'm going to use this piece ( http://www.bricklink...sp?P=87079pb006 ) for the sides of the caboose, and one of these ( http://www.bricklink....asp?P=3039px20 ) for the bed for the conductor.

Here is the LDD file:http://www.mocpages....1418063886m.lxf

All comments are welcome, and more MOCs / MODs are coming!

Edited December 8, 2014 by Murdoch17

[garethjellis]

These are some very nice buildings, I like the way you have made them modular!

[Feuer Zug]

I like the sheds you have there. Very nice designs.

[branio]

Murdoch,

I must say I admire your creativity and skill. I already built some of your creations - the railroad brick bridge I love the most, looks awesome and my kids love to play with it. And these creations look so great, I'm thinking about starting to buy off parts to build some :D

[Murdoch17]

Murdoch,

I must say I admire your creativity and skill. I already built some of your creations - the railroad brick bridge I love the most, looks awesome and my kids love to play with it. And these creations look so great, I'm thinking about starting to buy off parts to build some :D

Thanks for your comment, I think you just made my day! :D

I like the sheds you have there. Very nice designs.

Thanks, I will pass my compliments along to my dad, the original creator of the sheds.

These are some very nice buildings, I like the way you have made them modular!

Thanks!

[Murdoch17]

Update:

Western Caboose

This caboose was originally from set 79111, Constitution Train Chase, a part of The Lone Ranger theme. At first it was a prison car, but I turned it into a caboose. I added a regular door and roof top cupola for the conductor while retaining the side doors and exploding back wall.

I don't know if there is any real world prototype with a design like this caboose. (minus the exploding wall of course!)

Here we see the rear of the caboose, with two red lanterns and the exploding back wall with dynamite attached. This is the first MOC in a long time that I built in real life before building it in LDD. The only changes from real to digital are that I have a 1x4 Technic brick on the back wall with three printed 1x1 letters spelling out BRS.

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1412105087m.lxf

The LDD file groups the 79111 stock parts together, with remaining bricks being extra ones not found in the set.

Edited September 30, 2014 by Murdoch17

[zephyr1934]

I don't know if there is any real world prototype with a design like this caboose. (minus the exploding wall of course!)

GN had branchline cabooses with side doors for LCL freight, e.g.,

http://www.rr-fallen.../gn-X100cca.jpg

BN was still using these in the 1970's.

But yours is probably more like logging railroads, e.g.,

http://www.trainweb....Caboose019.html

[Redimus]

Why on earth would you need a brakevan that big for?!?

[Murdoch17]

Okay, everyone Bad news and good news. My house had a direct lightning strike on Wednesday night at 3:00 AM and my computer won't boot up since then. I didn't even have internet until today, (I'm on another computer) I hope it's just my video card, but the possibility is that EVERYTHING could be gone. 8+ years of LEGO related papers and LDD files. I am actually glad my house didn't burn down that night, because all my LEGO models are 5 feet from that computer.

It may be a while before I can post some more, but here's to hoping it's not as bad as I fear it could be!

[dr_spock]

Oh no. You can also try taking out the hard drive and connect to your working computer to copy off the files.

On the no boot computer. Do you see any lights or hear the fans or beeps?

[Murdoch17]

Oh no. You can also try taking out the hard drive and connect to your working computer to copy off the files.

On the no boot computer. Do you see any lights or hear the fans or beeps?

Yes, the green (power) light came on, and the fans started working. The monitor, keyboard, & mouse were not working / lit up... I hooked up another screen hoping my monitor was just fried, but nothing came up except for the words "NO VIDEO".

[Redimus]

Could be the graphics card, or possibly the mother board. I'd get the graphics card checked first though, because that's cheaper and easier to take out and replace (just hook up the graphics card to another PC temporarily).

As for the lost LDD files, you've got a lot of them online haven't you? And you've sent several to other people (I know I have a few I've toyed with to a greater or lesser extent), so I'm sure you'll be able to recover a lot of them no matter what.

[dr_spock]

Yes, the green (power) light came on, and the fans started working. The monitor, keyboard, & mouse were not working / lit up... I hooked up another screen hoping my monitor was just fried, but nothing came up except for the words "NO VIDEO".

Some motherboards would beep beep a sequence if the video is bad. I'm thinking might be your motherboard and/or power supply.

[Murdoch17]

Some motherboards would beep beep a sequence if the video is bad. I'm thinking might be your motherboard and/or power supply.

i'm typing this on the repaired computer. Thankfully, It was just the video card!

[dr_spock]

That's good news. Have you backed up your files now to an external device or to the other computer?

[Pizzareno]

Scary stuff. I have two backups now. In my job I'm always preaching about the value of backing up data. At home I have a full copy of my system and then another one which has just the family pictures and videos. Can't ever have enough backups! Oh and don't leave them plugged in to your computer in case something happens to them! I had a lady just this week that had both her hard drives fried and unfortunately didn't have a backup. Sad times for her.

[dr_spock]

Scary stuff. I have two backups now. In my job I'm always preaching about the value of backing up data. At home I have a full copy of my system and then another one which has just the family pictures and videos. Can't ever have enough backups! Oh and don't leave them plugged in to your computer in case something happens to them! I had a lady just this week that had both her hard drives fried and unfortunately didn't have a backup. Sad times for her.

Have you tested your backups and restore procedures?

[Pizzareno]

Yes

Edited October 7, 2014 by Pizzareno

[Murdoch17]

That's good news. Have you backed up your files now to an external device or to the other computer?

Not yet, got to look into that...

[UrbanErwin]

Sad to hear about your computer. Those designs are definitely inspiring for my own layout.

[Murdoch17]

Some more builds just pulled into the station!

Official-Style Freight cars (Part 1)

The first car is an automobile carrier like the one in set 2126. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=2126-1 )It carries two modern re-imagined versions of the Classic cars from that set.

The second and third cars are Boxcars, slightly modified from set 3677. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=3677-1 )

Next up is the fourth car is a water tanker, while the fifth is a tree carrier, and the sixth car is a rock gondola. They are all inspired by set 2126. (The link to that set is above)

The seventh car is a modified version of set 3225's general freight car. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=3225-1 )

Finally, the eighth car is a caboose inspired by set 10014. ( http://www.bricklink...m.asp?S=10014-1 )

All of these cars are modifed to bring them almost 100% in line with modern parts and colors, the only exception being the yellow tipper parts on the gondola. (Those parts were last used in 2000.)

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1411686540m.lxf

Notes: Personally, I have the original cars from set 2126, and made the two boxcars from my parts bins. The brown cargo car and caboose are not needed, as I already have a general flatcar and the Western Caboose from post #6 above.

Official-Style Freight cars (Part 2)

These train cars are inspired by official sets & techniques used by LEGO.

The first car is a depressed center flatcar, and it carries a re-imagined and updated set 5920 Island Racer from the Adventurers "Dino Island" Theme. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=5920-1 )

The second car is a gondola carrying three huge boulders. It was inspired by set 4434, Tipper Truck. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=4434-1 )

The third car is a gasoline / oil tanker in OCTAN colors. The tanker was inspired by set 7939, Cargo Train. ( http://www.bricklink...em.asp?S=7939-1 ) This model also needs two printed 1x4 tile pieces like this: http://www.bricklink...m.asp?P=2431px9

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1413560515m.lxf

By the way, here is the front of the green automobile:

Edited October 25, 2014 by Murdoch17

[Murdoch17]

Lego City Passenger Station

This station was designed first by LEGO as set 2150, Train Station. It was recreated by someone on Eurobricks, but had an added "street side", that was almost identical as the track side. I downloaded and added: a expanded platform, made a clock with sign for both sides, and made the sections removable. (Yes, the roof for both levels come off.) I modernized the look of the station by adding a pizza oven with opening door like in set 7641, (City Corner) and adding a safe on the second floor for the station master.

Street side of the station. The studs on the wall beside of the clock on both sides of the station are supposed to spell LEGO CITY in printed 1x1 tiles.

The first floor features the ticket counter, pizzeria with bar seating and the oven taken from City Corner, while the second floor features the Station master's office, with three chairs, a desk, open-able safe, rotary telephone and several cabinets with drawers. This floor and the roof above it are held on by just a few studs, making them 100% removable, while the platform is a attached via Technic pins.

LDD file for the station: http://www.mocpages....1412010310m.lxf

Grain Elevator

Built originally by my father in 1999, this elevator was never completed. As my Dad did not discover Bricklink until 2006, it lacked several crucial parts, and remains uncompleted to this day... just another thing on the to-do list!

I have faithfully recreated the elevator and added some parts that did not exist in '99, such as the red windscreens used a funnel, and a conveyor belt with handle.

I also did some major goofs, such as making the building one stud too thin, (it should be 16 studs wide at the base), but I hope I compensated enough by making the funnel tall enough to let the tallest official train car I could think of go through without problems.

This view shows the conveyor and handle.

LDD file for the grain elevator: http://www.mocpages....1398708090m.lxf

Edited October 25, 2014 by Murdoch17

[Murdoch17]

Here come an update!

Modern Truss Bridge

Designed using 24 of these parts, ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=15706 ) this bridge fits even my tallest trains. It can fit up to 10-stud-wide locomotives, leaving 1 stud on each side for clearance. It also can fit 12 2/3 bricks tall train cars, but only barely: the clearance is less that a third of a brick in difference.

The tallest train car I own is this one: a caboose based on the prison car from the Lone Ranger "Constitution Train Chase". (set 79111). This car fits the bridge by a hair less than a third of a brick.

LDD file (bridge only): http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1414539136m.lxf

[Murdoch17]

Introducing "Tower 22", a late 1990's inspired LEGO signal tower:

Inspired by Whoward69's signal tower, (link: https://www.flickr.c...s-55973205@N08/ ) this enlarged version features two removable sections (the roof and second floor) and a staircase to the second floor. There are studs on the front of the building to spell out TOWER 22 (Or whatever two digit number you want to.) using printed 1x1 tiles.

The tower also has two computers on the second floor for train signal / switch direction control, while the first floor is empty. (except for the staircase)

LDD file: http://www.mocpages....1417547843m.lxf

Edited December 2, 2014 by Murdoch17

[Murdoch17]

and now I have a better design for the end of my train:

Wide Vision Caboose

This model was originally Model number 30 from the 2007 set "Hobby Train". I redid the whole model from the ground up, replacing old windows and updating the style. The caboose features removable cupola and cupola roof, along with the two regular roof sections.

The Inside features a bed, stove, table and two chairs, while the cupola features two more chairs. I'm going to use this piece ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=87079pb006 ) for the sides of the caboose, and one of these ( http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3039px20 ) for the bed for the conductor.

Here is the LDD file:http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1418063886m.lxf