Good morning from cloudy and mild Northeast Ohio! Looks like I am first this week.
Did not get any cars done this week, but I finally got around to finishing a Proto GP7 that I started last year.
One of the GP7's the Detroit & Toledo Shoreline Railroad ordered in the late 40's and served until absorbed by the GTW in the 1980's. The D&TSL was jointly owned by the GT and NKP accounting for the D&TSL paint scheme closely following the NKP paint scheme. Engine started out as an undecorated Proto 2000 kit, replaced the plastic grabs and lift rings with metal ones, added the beacon, bell and firecracker antenna, then painted with Scalecoat II Black and Reefer Yellow, decaled with Herald King Decals. An oddity shared with the DT&I is the use of the winterization window on the engineer's side and just the sunshade on the fireman's side.
Thanks for looking!
Rick Jesionowski
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!
Look... look... look!
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In spite of the storm, STRATTON & GILLETTE hopper cars have finally arrived. Only three are in this picture, but I painted four of them. These are BLI models with Kadee trucks and couplers. These will join my two Kadee hopper cars already lettered for the SGRR.
I weathered these cars with Tamiya's weathering powders. Not bad for a first attempt with a new product.
Keep the pictures coming.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Rick ... Thanks for starting Photo Fun ..... I recall the D&TSL GP7's in operertion. Usually, the were in three-unit sets hauling trains between Detroit and Toledo with trains of automotive traffic from GTW. ...
Kevin ... The ho[[ers look great !
...
Below is a photo of an old wood truss bridge. It was from my 1900-era layout of many years ago. In recent days, I have been restoring it, and I will be using it on my current layout.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Hi, Folks—
Last weekend of September already! We started the week in the 90s and here we are in the 50s! All the better for model railroad fun!
Thanks for starting us out, Rick. Great work on the Proto Geep! I remember when the Proto 2000 Geeps first came out and marveling at just how detailed they were. Those stripes must have been a challenge. You even got the number on the front drop-step Nice!!
Those BLI hoppers look great, Kevin. I have some of those, too. They are built very nicely.
That bridge is a work of art, Garry. Every tension rod and strut in place! Nice job. Glad you are working it in to your present layout.
I've finally finished up the Pennsy twin unit diners that I actually started over two years ago. Walthers has re-run the Broadway cars a few times now but they still haven't done these in stainless.
Following Antonio FP45's excellent tutorials I gave them a shot of Alclad2 and I'm mighty pleased with the results.
I trimmed the skirts off each car as well. PRR stripped the Tuscan paint off around November 1963 IIRC.
Hey! Somebody left their beer behind!
There's no decal set that I'm aware of for these cars. The keystones are from a locomotive set and the red background is trim film. The car numbers are actually from a Grand Trunk Western set. Closest I could find.
I think this is Laverne & Shirley enjoying some fine PRR victuals. I made individual table lamps, a PRR trademark in their lightweight diners, out of Evergreen half-round and some .020 x .030 bar.
I always remember seeing one of the kitchen crew "lookin' 'em over" as a train was rolling through the station. I cut into this fellow's waist and bent him forward a little to clear the door. After that I found he was looking at the ground so I had to slice into the back of his neck and yank his head back. He didn't complain one bit, even without anesthesia.
I got a little sloppy with the seat painting but you really can't see that through the windows.
You can almost hear the ice clinking in those glasses! The uniform is a pretty accurate representation for the Broadway's dining car staff.
I took the cars outside to try to get some full-sun shots. By the time I got back with the camera a wall of clouds moved in
Cheers Everybody!
On to more great STUFF!
Regards, Ed
Rick:
Nice GP7! I like your attention to details.
Kevin:
The weathering looks great! You seem to have mastered the new powders very quickly.
Garry:
Nice bridge. What era is your new layout?
Ed!
Amazing work on the passenger cars!!! I can't believe the detail!
No pictures from me. I've lost my desire to model for now, so for the next while I will concentrate on club matters. I'll share some pictures from our new layout when we start to build it in a couple of weeks.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Rick, I really like first-gen Geeps in basic black. Somehow, no railroad ever went badly wrong wth that scheme, although when many such units were later livened up with color during repaints I think the score was about 50/50.
Kevin, I agree, nice work first for a trial run with a new weathering medium
GARRY, A fine looking bridge! Is it kit- or scratch-built? Impressive work either way.
Ed, Antonio FP45's finishing guidance is top-notch, as is his willingness to share the details like you do. I can almost taste the fine food and beverages served aboard the "duplex diner"
hon30critterNo pictures from me. I've lost my desire to model for now, so for the next while I will concentrate on club matters. I'll share some pictures from our new layout when we start
Dave, Hold steady, the will to model will return. I've been feeling the itch again myself after a slow spell. Looking forward to seeing the club project come together.
For this week, I'll leave you with a couple of pics snapped from my football parking post at the local Big U of the CN/old IC main. This is the overpass at St. Mary's Road on the south side of Champaign, where I'm usually blessed with a half-dozen or more trains during the pre-game, UP, CSX, and Amtrak, in addition to CN's own traffic.
First, northbound UP 7302, an AC4460CW.
Here's southbound CN 2221, an ES44DC.
There was a northbound City of New Orleans and a couple of Salukis on this well-traveled mainline of Mid-America. I was actually surprised I got a couple of good shots, as the iphone is less than an ideal camera ergonomically, it's hard to see the actual subject and center, while compensating for the usual digital shutter lag, plus the narrow window of view framed by the intervening trees. Helps keep things interesting in those slow periods before game time. Um, yeah Illinois lost to Nebraska, 26-6, but the Red Machine has classy fans.
BTW, if you're looking to combine college and railroads you would have a hard time picking a better school than the University of Illinois. It's railroad engineering program is among the finest in the world: http://railtec.illinois.edu/
There is also the Illini Railroad Club, a more than century-old student organization with its layout in the basement of one of the dorms: https://illinois.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/illinirailroadclub That, plus Amtrak service and ready access to the railroad crossroads of Mid-America, Chicago, makes this a school to consider if your grades and test scores are top-notch.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Ed, Dave, and Mike L .... Thanks for commenting on my bridge... It was made from an old Campbell kit. I see it is still in their catalog. Now it is priced at $79.99 for the kit. I think it is still worth the price. ... I just recently put new track on it. The ties were homemade on my table saw. ... My layout is mostly 1950's and early 1960's. However, I decided to have a short branch line to include buildings and structures from my old layout which was 1900 era. I am just beginning this line.
Ed .... Your PRR diner is excellent. The figures and details inside are amazing.
Mike L ... The old IC line through your town has certainly changed since CN acquired IC. Thanks for the photos.
Dave ... I'm sure the modeling bug will bite soon, and your urge to build models will return. I'm glad you are staying active.
hon30critterKevin: The weathering looks great! You seem to have mastered the new powders very quickly.
Dave, Mike, Ed, & Garry... Thank you for the kind words.
I have weathered with pastel chalk powders before, and you always had to go heavy with the effect because the Dullcote would knock a lot of it off. The Tamiya's powders did not lose as much effect when the Dullcote was applied, they stayed a lot more true to the original effect. You need to be careful with these because it is easy to overdo it, and they do not wash off that easily.
Ed: Those passenger cars are amazing. I had no intention of adding interior details to my fleet, but that might change my mind. It really makes a difference. Your surgery on the poor lookout fellow turned out great.
Garry: I really like the wide bridge ties on your model. I have always loved wooden bridges. I plan to include one of the Campbell bridge kits on my layout, but that will depend on how motivated I am when construction actually begins.
Happy Weekend!
Rick, Thanks for the WPF start-up.
Yet another great show of enthusiastic modeling, starting with Rick's superb GP7 diesel.
On to Kevin's string of weathered hoppers, I like those 50s automobiles, especially the Ford.
Ah, Garry's wooden bridge, brimming with character. Incorporating part of an old layout into the new can be both satisfying and nostalgic.
Oh, and Ed's fascinating attention to detail bringing the glory days of luxury passenger service to life.
I wholeheartedly agree with Mike that Dave's modeling desire will return. Our passion for modeling might dip below the surface from time to time, but it's always there ready to break water again.
Thanks to all and regards, Peter
mlehman There was a northbound City of New Orleans and a couple of Salukis on this well-traveled mainline of Mid-America. I was actually surprised I got a couple of good shots, as the iphone is less than an ideal camera ergonomically, it's hard to see the actual subject and center, while compensating for the usual digital shutter lag, plus the narrow window of view framed by the intervening trees. Helps keep things interesting in those slow periods before game time. Um, yeah Illinois lost to Nebraska, 26-6, but the Red Machine has classy fans.
Heartland Division CB&Q Rick ... Thanks for starting Photo Fun ..... I recall the D&TSL GP7's in operertion. Usually, the were in three-unit sets hauling trains between Detroit and Toledo with trains of automotive traffic from GTW. ... Kevin ... The ho[[ers look great ! ... Below is a photo of an old wood truss bridge. It was from my 1900-era layout of many years ago. In recent days, I have been restoring it, and I will be using it on my current layout.
Garry,
Is the bridge an old Campbell's kit. I had one on my old layout but I had just got back into model railroading and my skills weren't up to where they needed to be. It came out OK but not nearly as nice as yours. I think a still have it in pieces in my junk box. Maybe I should take a cue from you an reassemble it although I have no idea where I could put it on my current layout. A diorama perhaps.
Heartland Division CB&QMike L ... The old IC line through your town has certainly changed since CN acquired IC. Thanks for the photos.
Yes, lots more traffic from other roads or at least lost more motive power from other roads. I don't track it closelu enough to really know. The biggest change came before the CN's acquisition of ICG, which was the surplusing off of the second main. In fact, IIRC, the ICG CEO who did this later joined the CN and helped engineer the acquisition (or something to that effect, I'm sure someone will correct this if my recall isnt exact enough.) While traffic in the lower half of Illinois and on down closer to the Gulf might have failed to sustain that second main, it didn't make a lot of sense the closer you got to Chicago. Amtrak has struggled to maintain the schedule ever since and generally increased rail traffic strongly suggest the decreased capacity doesn't serve the pubic interest.
NYBW-JohnI'm curious about the trains passing by during the pregame. Were any of these fan excursions or just normal traffic. I remember the day when fan excursion trains to big college football games was common. There used to be a spur track off the C&O mainline that ran down the middle of what is now Woody Hayes Drive that would drop fans off right in front of The Horseshoe (aka Ohio Stadium).
John,
IIRC, at one time there were as many as half a dozen football trains from or to Chicago. The last rail football special ran during the time when the Bears used Memorial Stadium while Soldier Field was being renovated a few years back. There have been several attempts to run Illinois football game day specials since Amtrak, but they seemed to all sputter out. Now if the team started delivering consistent winning seasons, who knows?
If they ever do return, the "stadium" track is still in place. It's used to park MOW equipment on from time to time and runs from John St. down to Stadium Dr., parallel to S. Neil St. in Champaign and is visible on Google Earth.
And they may return. The trek down I-57 gets slower as Chicago sprawls southward, so the day may come where rail becomes the favored way to get to the game. If C-U ever gets high speed rail, it'll be a Chicago suburb.
mlehman Rick, I really like first-gen Geeps in basic black. Somehow, no railroad ever went badly wrong wth that scheme, although when many such units were later livened up with color during repaints I think the score was about 50/50.
Mike actually the Shorline GP7's were delivered in blue and yellow!
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-d/dts0046jpa.jpg
Gary, thanks for the complement. I also remember the Shoreline pulling over 186 cars with two GP7's as the railroad was essentially flat between Detroit and Toledo. Also your bridge is outstanding, I have one of those kits squirreled away somewhere.
Ed, again, your work with the passenger car is also outstanding with all that interior detailing.
dti406 mlehman Rick, I really like first-gen Geeps in basic black. Somehow, no railroad ever went badly wrong wth that scheme, although when many such units were later livened up with color during repaints I think the score was about 50/50. Mike actually the Shorline GP7's were delivered in blue and yellow!
Ah-ha, well don't that beat all. Apparently, DT&S management agreed with me and decided that the blue and yellow suffered in comparison to the stately basic black livery and decided they would set things right...
That was one heck of a sales job by the paint rep: "Sure, that blue and yellow won't fade. It's part of our Modern 1950s collection formulated with the latest in pigment technoogy." They must've used the figment pigments from the look of the fade job in that pic...
Kevin, Peter, John, and Rick ... Thanks for commenting about my wooden bridge which was made long ago from a campbell kit.
Peter .... I like your photo of the industrial tracks.
Thanks for the kind comments, everyone
SeeYou190Your surgery on the poor lookout fellow turned out great.
Here's my inspiration for the "railfan cook"
Both trains were doing more than 60, but we managed a VERY quick HI in passing!
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
It’s the details like the drainage between the tracks and the open windows that I appreciate, Peter, though I do wish your photos would enlarge a bit, so I don’t have to strain my eyes.
Peter's photos enlarge quite well on a window computer by pressing the control key and the + key at the same time.
Those postage size pics that other people have posted in other thread, don't have any resolution when you try to enlarge them.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyPeter's photos enlarge quite well on a window computer by pressing the control key and the + key at the same time.
Thanks for that tip, Henry. I just hope I can remember it!!!