Living the dream.
Track fiddlerIt's called Weekend Photo Fun because were supposed to post lots of photos to look at on the weekend, cuz it's fun... It can be any photo that has anything to do with model railroding. Remember, any one photo is better than none
Very true words here.
Last week was a great edition, thank you to all that contributed.
Contributions to Weekend Photo Fun can be anything, and I appreciate all of them.
PM RailfanCaught in Spencer N.C., a fair piece from Fla i might add, I about twisted my head off when this came around the corner out of a tunnel. There was something familiar about it! I was able to catch the conductor of said train and asked about this car. He remarked "it was interchanged about 5 yrs ago. A young gentleman came by the railroad and dropped her off". And here I thought i was gonna find one on the shelves!
Thank you for that picture. I have dropped off SGRR freight cars in so many hobby shops. The furthest was near Seattle.
When I finally get my hobby room set up again, I will send you one. There are literally well over 100 of them spread all across the USA, Canada, and England.
-Kevin
If you all ever get tired of photographs from the early days of the SGRR, just let me know. I am coming across a lot of them now. Endless searching is paying off.
This week my share is one of the "Oddball Locals" from the Dream House layout.
This N scale oddity was made from an Alco and a GE mashed together. There were three cities on the Dream House Layout, and each one was served by a unique project locomotive like this one.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
Still, no pictures of the actual Dream House Layout.
SeeYou190There are literally well over 100 of them spread all across the USA, Canada, and England.
I know there's one in N.E. Ohio.
SGRR_31860sm by Edmund, on Flickr
You should make up a poster-page with all the photos you've accumulated of your S&G sightings similar to what you've done with the M-R Avatar page.
This week, among other things, I wrapped up my Challenger Pennsy ex-21 roomette "coach"
Before:
Budd_PRR_Inn-end by Edmund, on Flickr
— After:
PRR_P85G from 21 roomette by Edmund, on Flickr
PRR_P85G from 21 roomette-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Thanks for kicking off our mid-December WPF, Kevin!
Cheers. Ed
gmpullmanYou should make up a poster-page with all the photos you've accumulated of your S&G sightings similar to what you've done with the M-R Avatar page.
I don't have all that many. Maybe 15 or so.
I have never asked anyone to send me a picture, all SGRR interchanges come with no strings attached.
-Photograph by Garry Boyd
I am very thankful for all that I do have.
Kevin. Thanks for starting this weekends WPF.
Always glad to see any S&G items.
and a picture photgraphed by Garry.
Ed. Amazing work on the Challenger Pennsy. Well done.
Myself. At the beginning of the week I visited my local model shop. Saw some Bachmann Thomas & Friends four-wheeled carriages. I know they are for children, but they fit in so well when I run steam locomotives in a 1914-1919 timeframe.
I bought three.
IMG_2488 by David Harrison, on Flickr
One I repainted into Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway livery. Another coat of dark brown to apply.
IMG_2494 by David Harrison, on Flickr
The other two are in the same livery of Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway before coming The Great Central Railway. Therefore I just 'weathered ' the carriages a little.
IMG_2495 by David Harrison, on Flickr
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning from Northeast Ohio!
Kevin thanks for starting us out, with S&G rembrances.
Ed, great work on painting that brass passenger car, not something I am inclined to do.
David, you made that Thomas car into something that is usefull on your layout, great work.
Here is what I got done this week:
E&C 52'6" Greenville Gon kit, replaced the plastic grabs and sill steps with Tichy Grabs and A-Line Sill steps. Painted the car with Scalecoat II Reading Green and lettered with Oddballs decals. Car was in general service on the MKT. Used the Greenville car as it had the right number of stakes for the lettering layout.
Next an Intermountain R70-20 Reefer kit, added Yarmouth Models Sill Steps in place of the fragile plastic ones from the kit. Painted the car with Scalecoat II White and Black paints and lettered with Microscale decals. Car represents the SP repaints after the breakup of PFE between the SP and UP. Cars were all painted the same on the SP except various colors were used for the logos, this one happens to be red.
A couple of Athearn SD45's with a SP General Freight running on the Strongsville Club layout which will be open this weekend during the Strongsville Historical Society's Christmas festival.
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!
Thanks for opening, Kevin. I doubt anyone will get tired of the early SGRR pix. I only wish I had some previous layout pix.
It's great seeing those beautiful SGRR boxcars showing up everywhere they do! Man, talk about interchange!
MRs Diesel Locomotives Cyclopedia has a picture of a Baldwin AS-16 with original cab and short hood, and a GP-9 long hood, as well as other major component change swapped among locos from the different builders. Your Alco-GE bash reminded me of that.
Ed, beautiful work on the Roomette. Very classy looking.
David, if you hadn't said where the carriages came from, probably nobody would have caught on, at least on this side of the pond. They're a nice fit.
Rick, super upgrades again. I'm an SP fan, so the train this week was a treat!
I got into a loco upgrade mood this week. I repainted this Bachmann 4-4-0 in the mid 90s, and added as much weight as I could, plus rewired it for as much pick up to the motor as possible. Than helped it run more reliably.
Last night I swapped in a tender floor with a new motor and flywheel that I'd started for another Bachmann 4-4-0.
I had to carve away some of the tender body to fit it all in, but that will be covered by a new wood fuel load, with more lead hidden under it for weight.
Boy, did this smooth out the running quality on this model! It can now run at switcher speeds, even in forward, not something these are known for.
Here it is with a sketch I did back in the day before I painted it. Note the real wood in the bunker. It doesnt fit now, But I'll copy the style for the new one. That's my WPF. Keep em coming! Dan
I built this boxcab thing at least 10 years ago. started with the wheel set that came from a piko motor block i changged the wheels on. working on a set of large scale ML4000's. Completely scratchbuilt ground up. motorblock and all. could still use some weathering, and a little more work.
These are the 4 project stock cars. the lower right needs a door. two need roof walks. which I founf i have 2x6 stripwood on hand. yay. no need to buy any. trucks which i also have, couplers. and new paint. cannt find any decals except for th MP one. the two one the right are the same make. rather old wood and metal . donnt think i will find a door unless nother turns up in bad shape i can salvage a door from. not the one still has its loop couplers.
SHane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Good morning
Thanks for another opener of WPF Kevin. Gotta say the Alco/GE bash was one really Neat Frankenstein Project... Always like the ones with character you create for the Stratton & Gillette roster. Another one, (if my memory serves me) is the first one you made in high school with the round window. That Loco is of my favorites as it has all the character, to the point it darn near looks like someone's pet Really like seeing that one and hope you'll post it again. Also enjoy seeing your box cars when another one turns up. As far as I can tell so far, no two are ever exactly the same
Love the corrugated stainless passenger cars and had to have the CB&Q Silver Streak set. The Pennsy Challenger paint and detail job sure turned out excellent Ed. Certainly looks WAY better than the original box car red paint scheme that left the designers scratching their heads. Made me scratch my head as well when you told us about it. To me, that would be as shameful as painting the stainless on a DeLorean...
Character again David! Like what you did with the Thomas & Friends cars, in the Lancaster & Yorkshire, and the other paint schemes. Reminds me of the GN Overton set puchased a while back, that I'm going to paint and detail one day. Those will be my photo share as soon as I'm able.
Enjoy looking at the new recruits you paint and detail for your roster Rick. Can always count on seeing the great stuff you post every week. Excellent job on the Greenville gondola, the R70-20 and like the pair of SD45's on the club layout.
Dang! Sure like how that 4-4-0 paint job turned out Dan! Love the old time Steam. The pale drab green with gray and splash of black on the stack looks CHOICE!
Excellent job on that scratch build of the box cab Shane. All kinds of character at WPF this week. Hope you manage to find a door for the one stock car as they look like they're coming along quite nicely!
Nothing new from me on deck this week. I'll be posting the Overton cars as soon as Imgur is up and running again this morning.
OK, It's working again.
These Roundhouse kits aren't found much at all anymore in the GN scheme. There's other Roads that can be found but the sets go for a higher dollar now.
NO! ...They can not call them Vintage Perhaps one (could) start calling them Rare though. The GN ones anyways.
This is the one I'm missing to complete the set. I have found one but the seller is asking way too much than I'm willing to pay. I just keep my eyes open.
Thanks for the project shares and great photos gentleman
TF
Rick Always amazed at your excellent high standard of modelling.
Dan. The 4.4.0 paint job is stunning. Well done.
Shane. The boxcab is lovely. I do like the 'unusual' on the railroad.
Edit - TF posted same time as me.
TF Love the cars, TF. I hope you find the missing one at a reasonable price.
Follow up pictures to the Thomas and Friends carriages I bought and how they look with other carriages.
A train of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway liveried carriages. Left to right. Brake Third, Balcony First (from the Thomas & Friends range), Director's Carriage, and 6 compartment All Third Class 6 wheeled carriage. Apart from the Balcony First they were the first time I attempted to paint carriages. Not good, but they have to do for now.
IMG_2499 by David Harrison, on Flickr
The other two Thomas carriages in Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire livery with a London & North Western Railway Six wheeled First/Third and Leeds, Scarcroft & Wetherby Railway four wheeled All First, carriages.
The LS&WR was part of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. The LNWR had great understanding with the L&YR, so much so that after the Great War they amalgamated.
IMG_2497 by David Harrison, on Flickr
From the beginning of the 20th century the North British Railway ran two carriages through to Plymouth with the Great Western Railway running two of theirs to Edinburgh. Returning home the following day. The service continues to this day albeit now British Railways.
Two North British Railway carriages. A six-wheeled All Third and a six-wheeled First/Third.
IMG_2500 by David Harrison, on Flickr
The beauty of researching. Amazing what information is found.
Track fiddlerEnjoy seeing your box cars when another one turns up. As far as I can tell so far, no two are ever exactly the same.
On the interchange cars, you are correct, they are all unique, at least in HO scale. Some of the original N Scale boxcars I gave away in the 1990s were probably standardized. Yours are not!
The boxcars I gave Tony Koester and Garry Boyd are identical, except Tony's has white lettering and Garry's has yellow.
Kevin, Thanks for opening the WPF with a little piece of custom S&G history.
"O the engineer's joy! to go with a locomotive!
To hear the hiss of steam, the merry shriek,
the steam-whistle, the laughing locomotive!
To push with resistless way and speed off in the distance."
Walt Whitman
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good weekend. Regards, Peter
Good evening
She's a Beauty Peter. Poetry in motion.
Those Thomas cars fit in well with the others David. With all that history behind them, they look even better than they already do
Anyone got any favorites?
Key Brass, GN H4 2-6-2 Prairie.
SeeYou190 Track fiddler Enjoy seeing your box cars when another one turns up. As far as I can tell so far, no two are ever exactly the same. On the interchange cars, you are correct, they are all unique, at least in HO scale. Some of the original N Scale boxcars I gave away in the 1990s were probably standardized. Yours are not!
Track fiddler Enjoy seeing your box cars when another one turns up. As far as I can tell so far, no two are ever exactly the same.
And both appreciated. Seem to recall you mentioning SGRR 68291 was the only wagon top
Ain't She Sweet!
here's what's on the way, an ebay find. my first combine in the G&D livery in a beautiful shade of green. -rob
nice work everyone.
Slow progress on the Perkins. I got the roof shingled (used the Campbells in the end because they were handy). I whipped up an acrylic mix of black, white and brown to create a thin paint coat for weathering, almost a wash, and I like the look. For comparison, you can see in the background a model of "Grandma's House" that a friend gave me where he left the roof unpainted, which looks too new to me.
What I wanted to point out is the chimney. The instructions just say to cut a hole anywhere and stick the metal chimney in and epoxy it, but past run-ins with physics enable me to imagine the chimney wanting to lean away from the peak, even if I managed to angle the top and bottom edges of the hole sufficiently vertical, which I knew would be tough. I could not see how they expected this tall, heavy chimney to stay put with a bit of glue.
So I gave it something to stand on by putting an additional square wall brace against the wall just below the hole. I include a photo of it below in case it may prove useful to anyone someday.
The placement of the wall brace means that the chimney has to go very close to the edge of the roof, but that is realistic anyway. Chimneys are often placed against outside walls, and this wall has no window, so it makes sense.
I still have to put flashing around the chimney. I don't like my attempt at roof discoloration running down from the chimney -- too much of the brick color in it, probably should have been blacker -- but it is my first weathering of anything, ever, and I'm resigned to a lot of bad weathering before I get the hang of it. I think the chimney paint is okay, from a distance. Up close it's too blotchy, should show more like the brick courses.
Also, this kit did not come with the strip wood pieces that it listed on its instructions. Sizes were not right, and one strip was missing, so I've improvised, and my improvised slanted facia pieces on each end of the roof would be scale 6 x 12s (!), but that's all I could find in my scrap box. They don't build roofs like that anymore!
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
Oh. Forgot to say: inspiring images, all of you. NorthBrit David, I always enjoy photos of your layout -- packed with what to a Pacific Northwesterner looks like "Old World" history.
Here are the two cars that I built for our club's annual Christmas Gift Exchange.
I built a couple of old Details West Evans Blue Island RBL's then painted and decaled them with Herald King and Islanding Station Products decals respectively.
Thanks for all the kind comments on the cars I posted on Friday from all of you, and more great modeling work was done since then also.
crossthedogYou can see in the background a model of "Grandma's House" that a friend gave me where he left the roof unpainted.
I tried to build that kit twice, and failed both times.
I have another copy of the kit stashed away... maybe I will ruin another one someday.
SeeYou190I tried to build that kit twice, and failed both times. I have another copy of the kit stashed away... maybe I will ruin another one someday. Laugh
The fellow who built my Grandma's House kit only did it to see what the fuss about craftsman kits was about. He's a genius with CAD, and designs and prints his own buildings via five 3D printers that run all night. He built one kit to see what it was like and decided it wasn't for him, passed it to me.
I think his printed structures are amazing, but plastic textures usually don't do it for me. I like to see the spaces and cracks between pieces, and as weird as the Campbell shingles look, at least they provide that look of layered realness.
Nice work by everyone.
Two more Beer Reefers done this week...
pike-62Two more Beer Reefers done this week...
I have a bunch of reefers advertising different brands and I string them all up into a hot shot behind a Consolidation and run 'em top speed in circles around the layout.
crossthedog pike-62 Two more Beer Reefers done this week... Pike, those are nice. I'm curious how you use cars of different brands like that on a layout. If the beers are from different companies, then would you need a structure representing the brand of each car somewhere on the layout? Or do you have those cars all serve some kind of distributorship? I have a bunch of reefers advertising different brands and I string them all up into a hot shot behind a Consolidation and run 'em top speed in circles around the layout. -Matt
pike-62 Two more Beer Reefers done this week...
Pike, those are nice. I'm curious how you use cars of different brands like that on a layout. If the beers are from different companies, then would you need a structure representing the brand of each car somewhere on the layout? Or do you have those cars all serve some kind of distributorship?
I don't usually run the whole train (~75 cars as of now) on my layout as it is not that big. I am part of a non-formal club that has a Free-mo layout that goes to a couple shows per year. We recently tested some new module connectors and I had about 60 cars behind a couple engines that we used to see what joints were causing problems. There is a facebook vid somewhere of it I will try to find and post sometime.