"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
People always love a train, whether as an entertaining "toy" or as a model. Great pic Bear.
Some pics of this week. My very first HOn3 passenger car kit from MRGS. Seemed to take a long time to put together. Looked oretty good then, but now that Blackstone has reset the standards, it was kinda drab. So a makeover was underway to a MOW outfit car, 0256.
Made a cable spool.
[dang Firefox meltdown coming on last night and just didn't feel like waiting around for the reboot...more pics further down the page...]
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Nice start to the thread Bear and Mike, train show pictures are always good and rebuilding cars is something that I usually don't do, just start off with new and get rid of the old!
Here is a project that has been languishing on the work bench for a number of years. I started with a Proto 2000 GP7 and replaced all the plastic grabs and lift rings with metal ones to forestall breakage problems. Also added some other detail parts like the high mounted bell, radio antenna, new horn and beacon. Painted the engine with Scalecoat II Black and lettered with Herald King and Microscale Decals.
The Detroit & Toledo Shoreline railroad ran along Lake Erie from Detroit to Toledo and the only grade on the railroad was its hump yard. The railroad had 10 GP7's and 3 SW-900's as its motive power and they would move 180 car trains with only 2 GP7's as motive power. The railroad was owned by the GTW and NKP which explains its NKP style of lettering. It was later absorbed and became part of the GTW in the 1980's.
Thanks for looking! Rick J
Thanks for looking!
Rick J
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Bear, again, I love the tin plate.
Mike, as usual your handy work is astounding.
Rick, that Geep turned out quite well.
I've decided to go back to school for computer science and am in my second week. As such, work on the layout has slowed down a good bit. But it hasn't stopped completly. I've made some more progress on the Gallitzin and New Portage Tunnels, as well as the mountains leaing up to them. The framework is in place and the next step is to cover it with palster-soaked paper towels.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
Bear ... I like the Hornby locomotive. Sorry your model railorading has stalled, and hope it is soon unstalled.
Mike L ..... The MOW car converted from an old coach looks great.
GP9 .... Looks like you are making lots of prgress.
Rick ... Fantastic model of the D&TSL GP7 ! ... I spent many years in Michigan and recall seeing the D&TSL. I recall the hump tower was built into the top of the office building, and I watched a train being humped from that tower. I remember the GP7's operating in 3-unit sets with run-through trains to Flint on the GTW. In the 1970-1990 era, the CN (Parent company of GTW) allowed GTW to be essentially an autonomous company. Since then GTW has been operated as a division of CN instead of a separate company. During the 1970-1990 period, GTW acquired remaining half of D&TSL, the DT&I, and some parts of the Penn Central in MI when it went out of business. also, GTW was almost successful in an effort to buy the remaining part of the Milwaukee Road which was in bankruptcy. (Eventiually SOO LINE acquired MILW)
Enough of that
My photo is the rear of a heavyweight passenger train in Prairie View. The rear car is a diner/parlor car which has been modernized and painted silver as is the sleeper ahead of it.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
A good start to WPF guys. Keep them coming.
Bear, another good tin plate photo.
MikeL, another interesting car. I envy your skills.
Rick, a nice little loco and an interesting history statement.
GP-9 Man, looks like steady progress to me.
Here is one from the BRVRR:
NYC #6008 enters the big curve at the east end of the BRVRR layout at the head of 10-car heavyweight passenger train. This train seems to fascinate my youngest grandson lately. He's been running it for almost a week now. I can understand his facilitation. There is nothing more exciting than a Niagara in high feather.
Keep the photos and ideas coming guys. WPF is always the best thread of the week thanks to you.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
Allan .... # 6008 looks great
Nice work from everyone. Alcos on the point of a WB freight.
Heartland Division CB&Q During the 1970-1990 period, GTW acquired remaining half of D&TSL, the DT&I, and some parts of the Penn Central in MI when it went out of business. also, GTW was almost successful in an effort to buy the remaining part of the Milwaukee Road which was in bankruptcy. (Eventiually SOO LINE acquired MILW) Enough of that
During the 1970-1990 period, GTW acquired remaining half of D&TSL, the DT&I, and some parts of the Penn Central in MI when it went out of business. also, GTW was almost successful in an effort to buy the remaining part of the Milwaukee Road which was in bankruptcy. (Eventiually SOO LINE acquired MILW)
Garry, the aforementioned activity is why we DT&I modelers do not acknowledge the existence of the GTW. We have also not joined the GTW Historical Society and just have a very loosely organized DT&I Modelers Group which meets yearly somewhere on the old DT&I and show our models and slides of the railroad.
Nice examples as usual from everyone!
Here a couple of steamers meet near the newly added Smelley Gas Works, another Cornerstone item. Lightly weathered, no glass or lights yet. I haven't liked any of the attempts to make a Testors clear decal yet, so the one shown will go. I can't seem to find a combo of background and lettering that work together as any lighter color is not opaque enough, though black background and red lettering might work. I've ordered some Evans "white" paper for inkjet to try that approach.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Some really fine modeling out there this week. Looks great, everyone!
OK, I think the confuser will cooperate this morning...
Hesperus saw some trackwork revisions this week. The existing siding was very short and limited ops there more than it should, here's what it looked like before.
The siding was lengthened about 10". Hardly sounds worth it and the clearance is very tight at both ends, but this allows a short passenger local to clear the main.
Track 3 at the May Day Mine was also extended. Before it could hold 8 narrowgauge gons, shown here on the track as far as they could go with the original length.
Now it can hold 12 cars.
The newly delivered SDL39 was assigned to Dove Creek after initial testing.
This allowed dual-gauge coupler equipped F-M #150 to be assigned to Durango and dual-gauge coupler equipped F-M switcher #123 to be shifted to Hesperus to serve the May Day Mine and other local industries there at the end of the third rail.
mlehman Some really fine modeling out there this week. Looks great, everyone! OK, I think the confuser will cooperate this morning... Hesperus saw some trackwork revisions this week. The existing siding was very short and limited ops there more than it should, here's what it looked like before. The siding was lengthened about 10". Hardly sounds worth it and the clearance is very tight at both ends, but this allows a short passenger local to clear the main. Track 3 at the May Day Mine was also extended. Before it could hold 8 narrowgauge gons, shown here on the track as far as they could go with the original length. Now it can hold 12 cars. The newly delivered SDL39 was assigned to Dove Creek after initial testing. This allowed dual-gauge coupler equipped F-M #150 to be assigned to Durango and dual-gauge coupler equipped F-M switcher #123 to be shifted to Hesperus to serve the May Day Mine and other local industries there at the end of the third rail.
Looks awesome Mike! It also seems you and I have the same power drill.
I aquired a couple of Atlas 60' Auto Parts box cars, and weathered them.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
GP-9_Man11786Looks awesome Mike! It also seems you and I have the same power drill.
Thanks!
Good taste in tools is a sign of attention to quality work.
Mike,
Those boxcars are exquisite!
Sorry about the image quality, but I wanted to post at least one photo this week
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Jimmy,
That's a great looking bit fo weathering, too. Something I need to work on as I'm way behind on getting caught up with my weathering projects.
All I can say is thank goodness, Blackstone usually offered that as an option in with past runs. With price increases, not sure how much longer that will be an option, but it's helped the overall appearance of my layout.
I have been messing around with adding lights to my layout this week. Here is a day and night picture for comparison.
Sorry for the light leakage over the far backdrop. It's hard to take night pictures during the day. =p
dti406 Heartland Division CB&Q During the 1970-1990 period, GTW acquired remaining half of D&TSL, the DT&I, and some parts of the Penn Central in MI when it went out of business. also, GTW was almost successful in an effort to buy the remaining part of the Milwaukee Road which was in bankruptcy. (Eventiually SOO LINE acquired MILW) Enough of that Garry, the aforementioned activity is why we DT&I modelers do not acknowledge the existence of the GTW. We have also not joined the GTW Historical Society and just have a very loosely organized DT&I Modelers Group which meets yearly somewhere on the old DT&I and show our models and slides of the railroad. Rick J
Hello Rick .... Merger fever hit the rail industry with deregulation in the 1980 Staggers Act. Many fallen flags resulted including DT&I. ..... GTW intended to gain connections in Cincinnati with Southern and Family Lines. GTW needed longer hauls for its automtive business from Flint, Lansing, Pontiac, and Detroit. The short haul to its Detroit connections did not generate enough revenue to cover operating costs, and that was to be corrected by hauling longer distances.. ... GTW acquired DT&I and the half of D&TSL owned by N&W. The Southern and Family Lines, however, merged into NS and CSX respectively. So much for friendly connections in Cincinnati. Traffic volumes to and from Cincinnati never came close to what was planned to justify buying DT&I. Later, CN decided to sell the former DT&I lines in Ohio to a short line. ... The Former DT&I hump yard in Flat Rock, MI became a valuable asset to the CN as did industrial tracks of the former DT&I in SE Michigan. The former D&TSL hump yard in Toledo was converted to a flat yard, and is used mostly for coal trains.
After 10 years of surfing ebay for reasonable prices, I have acquired and assembled the complete 8-car Shay Promotional Train from Roundhouse/MDC. Who else out there has the set?
www.oakhurstrailroad.com
"Oakhurst Railroad" on Facebook
Don't think I've ever seen a complete train.
This "completion" thing must be going around. A friend was relocating and gifted me with a bunch of older mags this week -- MR, Trains, Live Steam, and best of all, the NG&SL Gazette. Thrilled to say my Gazette collection is now complete, with the first issue and 3 other early ones I didn't have. Also now have a complete collection of Slim Gauge News. MR is getting there post-1950, as will be Trains, too.
It may be old school, but the info is just the same as in those fancy e-editions...
The good stuff continues. Thanks Guys.
Garry, thanks for the comment on the Niagara. I love the station stop photo/scene.
MikeL, you continue to amaze.
Motley, great job on the box cars. I particularly like the interior detail.
Grampy, great shot of the ALCO engines. I love the sound of their engines. A couple of the ships I was stationed on were powered by ALCO engines.
Here is a link to a short video of a pair of ALCO RS-32s leading a short coal drag through the reversing loop on the BRVRR. It will be part of the 10th Anniversary update on my BRVRR website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Xh2gvk1AI
Keep up the good work guys, you are always inspiring.
Installed a decoder in a RDC Budd Car
Here's a short Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-urHyacU-k&feature=youtu.be
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
C&O Fan Installed a decoder in a RDC Budd Car Here's a short Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-urHyacU-k&feature=youtu.be
Terry, what decoder did you use and what prime mover sound? Sounds nice, wish the video was a bit lonnger
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
G Paine C&O Fan Installed a decoder in a RDC Budd Car Here's a short Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-urHyacU-k&feature=youtu.be Terry, what decoder did you use and what prime mover sound? Sounds nice, wish the video was a bit lonnger
Here's the sound file i added to a SDH166D 8 Bit Sound, Motor & Function Series 6 Decoder HO Scale
Also added a power extender to keep it smooth
http://www.digitrax.com/sound-depot/rdc-diesel-scheme/
Okay, I am about halfway done with this. I still need to dull coat, and finish assembly, but yeah...here is the Wheeling and Lake Erie caboose I was talking about doing.
Here's a better shot of the Soo Line car
And here's some weathering I did on the inside of a Wheeling hopper car.
Added some RTR tank cars to my On3 collection:
These are very well detailed(sorry for the poorly lit picture).
I finally finished my caboose kits(except for the cut levers on the long caboose,which I seem to have misplaced) and installed markers. Since I built them so the body slips on and off easily,I went with 9 volt batteries and magnetic latching switches. Though it doesn't show up well in the picture,the rear facing lenses are red and the others are amber.
Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!
Mike
As always, great modeling being shown here! Kudos to all of you...
I have been little by little finishing up the bridge project for the SLOW. Put wood boards on the approach to the tracks, and a fine coat of drywall mud on the plywood.
Painted the roadbed with the earth color I use under scenery:
when that was dry, I put down a coat of white glue, then sprinked rock dust (from a local quarry) over the glue:
After the glue dried, I put the bridge itself in place over the road:
This coming week I hope to finish the approach (the fill) to both sides of the bridge, put plaster cloth down, and start to lay track over the bridge....
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Here are some shots from Railfest at Steamtown.
Passenger train ride pulling out:
and finally the caboose train ride
My new pride of the fleet. NJ Custom Brass Erie S1. I have sent it out for DCC/Sound, Lights and Painting/Weathering.
markie97My new pride of the fleet.
Your scenery is pretty sharp, too.