The Penrose Goes Electric!

[Keith Hayes]

Colorado was an early leader, adopting electrical power in the 19th century. The power plant at Ames, along the Rio Grande Southern comes to mind. And of course the power plant at Tacoma, north of Durango.

For years, I admired the Public Service substation south of-and uphill from the Yak on California Gulch. Leadville Mines must have adopted electricity early on: the consistent, clean power must have been an incentive. No coal, no boilers, no steam engine. Just a whirling motor.

I spied a triad of transformers mounted on a couple poles and filed this away for a future modelling project. The Penrose is a good candidate for electrification as the head works is above the railhead, making coal delivery a challenge.

I was thinking that the transformers would be a good 3d modelling project,  but that means making a digital model, processing it through 2-4 applications, slicing it and printing the parts. I need to tune up my work flow and the printer is not set up pending completion of the helix. But they are not that hard to fabricate!

I looked for the correct diameter styrene tube and cemented sheet on each end. These were turned to shape in my drill. I marked vertical lines every 45 degrees and cemented the heat fins on--cut from short lengths of styrene. Brass wire made the leads.

I actually started the project a few years back when I cut some dowel to length, turned it in my drill to taper it and stained it.

The poles were notched for the platform supports and a cross piece. I have an abundance of spare 3x material for the snowshed project and this was cut for the transformer platform.

Holes were drilled at 18 inch intervals for spikes. 0.020" wire is used for the insulator posts. Easy pole has a length of 0 040" wire glued in the bottom of the dowel to secure the assembly in the scene.

This has been a fun distraction from some other ongoing projects.

[Paul R.]

neat!!

[Keith Hayes]

The transformers are in place.

[Todd Hackett]

Keith Hayes wrote

The transformers are in place.

No wires? Or are they just too small to see?

[Keith Hayes]

Patience!

[Mike Trent]