Living the dream.
Have you ever found out an old memory you had is incorrect?
For years I have been saying that on the fourth Stratton And Gillette layout (the first SGRR layout in HO scale), that my only two locomotives were an Athearn GP-9, and a Tenshodo 0-8-0.
Well, that in fact, is wrong.
This week my share is two pictures of the diesel locomotive that I used on that layout. Turns out it was an Athearn SD-9, not a Geep.
-Photographs by Kevin Parson
I honestly remember this locomotive being a four axle nimble GP-9 gliding through my number four turnouts. I don't remember ever owning an Athearn SD-9, but there it is... Photographic evidence to the contrary.
These pictures were in the mass group of negatives I had digitized. Who knows what else I will find in this collection as I continue to go through it.
For my first ten years in HO scale I just had the two locomotives. I never dreamed I would ever have a fleet again like I have collected now.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone's photographs this weekend. This thread can always be counted on to be the best of the week.
-Kevin
Nice opening pix, Kevin. Yup, the ol memory just can't be counted on sometimes. Lots of nice details added to that Gee- um... SD. It's hard to believe a model railroader could have only 2 locomotives over ten years! Maybe there's a lesson in that - that I hope not to learn.
I've been visibly busier this week. First, I milled this aluminum channel to the same height as this digital scale, so I can see how much weight is on the leading truck, as well as each of the drivers (turn the loco around so only the rear driver is on scale...) of my collection of 4-4-0s. Any steamer actually, but 4-4-0s especially need to be packed as full of weight as possible, and then the lead truck to be sprung just right to put about equal weight on both drive axles.
Next up, I've been working on this Walthers Scene Master crane, (originally Kibri I think) I wanted to Americanize it first, by modifying the cab to be on the the right side. Then the gantry was added to give it a beefier look. Yeah, the bottom mount isn't made yet. Note that little red critter sitting there too...
Having such a short boom for a hefty crane, it looks a bit out of balance. That little red toy crane came running forward, only too glad to donate its little boom to use as a jib.
I'll probably paint the crane's body orange, everything else black, when I get to that stage.
Plus, a little work on the ready mix plant. On the real building, I don't know what that structure on the roof is, perhaps a housing for some hoisting machinery?
But to the best of my ability, here it is. Based on some other vague pictures of it, I'll have to invent something to put inside it.
We'll see what else this nasty Oregon weather weekend affords me to do on the layout. I hope our forum friends are fairing well thru this crazy winter weather so far.
Let's see 'em! Dan
Good morning from cloudy and MILD Norttheast Ohio!!!!!!
Kevin, thanks for starting us out, SD9's are neat engines, and your description of them gliding through the turnouts is why the SP versions were called Cadillacs.
Dan, some nice modeling work and I especially like your ready-mix plant.
Here is what I got done this week!
First up is another of my kitbashed NYC 2-Bay Hoppers out of 100 Ton 3 Bay Hoppers, painted with Scalecoat II Black Paint and lettered with Mark Vaughn's decals. In the 1960's the NYC converted about 5,000 old 50/55 Ton 2 Bay Hoppers into 65 Ton 2 Bay Hoppers. At some point many of the hoppers were relettered from NYC to TOC (Toledo and Ohio Central) on a random basis and suspose it was done for financial bonding reasons. By the way the T&OC was the source of NYC coal traffice in the Southeast Ohio and West Virginia Coal Fields. Oh, and the date of 73-3-66 is accurate base on photographs of the prototype.
Next is a Kadee 50' DDR PS1 Boxcar, painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red #2 and lettered with Mask Island Decals. The DT&I ordered 300 of these cars for auto parts service in 1953 and used many of them until the 60 and 86 cars started to appear in the mid 1960's. This car is a repaint of the original as it is in the "We Have the Connections" Compass scheme.
A pair of Athearn DT&I GP40-2's with a general freight led by XLI's and RBL's for the Campbell Soup plant in Napoleon, OH.
Thanks for looking, and have a Happy New Year!
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!
Kevin, thanks for starting another WPF! That's interesting that you remembered something that you found out was wrong. Now that I'm in my 70s, I'm finding that's true for a lot of things. That SD-9 is nicely weathered. You did a fine job with it.
Dan, your new crane will be a nice addition to the layout. I really like your ready-mix plant.
Rick, it's good to see more of your great work on the rolling stock. I like the two bay coal hopper. Nice job with the kitbashing.
This was my first attempt at a locomotive shop. The building was from RIX, and I was in the process of getting the tracks installed, etc., when I tore the layout down to start over. This building survived and is in a box, but I'm not sure if it will make it to the new layout. The second locomotive from the left has several boxcars attached. The last car is an N boxcar from the SGRR!
York1 John
Thanks for stating WPF, Kevin.
Finding out things that are wrong after many years? Yes. Not only been there, but going again and again.
Dan. The crane looks great. Well done.
Rick Always love your work. The standard is so high.
John. The locomotive shop looks amazing. Well done.
Myself - I purchased two wagons from 'Medway Queen Preservation Society'. (I support.) They have just arrived and are on the layout.
FYI. General Steam Navigation Company owned the Paddle Steamer 'Medway Queen'.
IMG_2507 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
Southgate 2It's hard to believe a model railroader could have only 2 locomotives over ten years!
I started the 2 foot by 8 foot HO scale switching layout in 1993. I bought my house in 1999, and added four feet to the layout after I moved. I began the spare bedroom layout in 2007 when my middle daughter moved out.
I am pretty sure I did not add to the locomotive stable until I knew I was going to build the spare bedroom layout. I think I started buying Stewart/Kato F units around 2004 or so. I bought a Bachmann/Spectrum 2-8-0 some time prior to that.
So, yes, for about ten years I only had two locomotives. On the small switching layout, that was perfect. The Tenshodo 0-8-0 proved to be just as reliable as the Athearn diesel. Both ran flawlessly, and I guess having locomotives that reliable was plenty enough reason not to replace them.
The 0-8-0 was a gift from a member of the local train club. It still has not been properly painted to this day. It wears just basic black from a spray can.
During the construction of the switching layout I was much more interested in scratchbuilding wooden structures and super-detailing scenes than I was in collecting locomotives and rolling stock.
I did not even start seriously building up my fleet of freight cars until I was without as layout at all, starting when I tore down the Spare Bedroom layout in 2016, I only became serious about building freight car models.
Nearly all my locomotives still remain unpainted. I hope I will get lots of them painted once I have a layout again, but my interests might go back to craftsman kits, scratchbuilding, and detailed scenes.
Time will tell.
Thanks for setting up the last of 2022 WPF, Kevin. These are some excellent comtributions!
I've had this area of trackage and some "temporary" scenery in place for quite a while now. I've been contemplating replacing these original power-routing Shinohara turnouts with a newer all-live style and powering the frogs with a frog juicer.
Yard West present by Edmund, on Flickr
Yesterday I had some visitors running the layout and now that this is behind me I decided to dig-in and modify the trackage here. I have a little Pennsy B6b shifter that works this yard and it will appreciate the better electrical path.
Equipment Arrives by Edmund, on Flickr
Heavy equipment has arrived!
Yard West Cleanup by Edmund, on Flickr
Demo-work done and cleanup begins.
Breaker West Yard by Edmund, on Flickr
Here's a look at the new turnouts in place and the foreground track takes a slight turn to allow for a water tank and a short track for engine servicing. This yard handles the loads and empties from the distant breaker/loader.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Regards, Ed
Kevin, Thanks for starting up the WPF EMD style with your SD9.
In 1988 I happened upon SP SD9E 4317 at work near Fairfield, Ca.
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good weekend and a Happy New Year. Regards, Peter
York1That SD-9 is nicely weathered. You did a fine job with it.
Thank you.
On that little switching layout that I took over a decade to work on, I was able to add a lot of detail and weathering to everything.
It was all very rewarding. Small layouts can be wonderful.
I go this ne done. the grime turned out a little heavy than i wanted but it still looks good. wasnt going for that result. Now to get the other one finished. Has the sound ESU V5 finally added in . One of 4 old stock cars almost completed. was looking old a weary, but has new trucks, and new paint. dull coat not added yet.
Two more being decal applied long way to go. The other 65T is in the vackground. SO are those tenders that had the paint issue.
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
This week we will sample 4 beers from the great state of Wisconsin
Another fun week for weekend photo fun.
This week, a couple of short passengers trains.
The previously shown CNW GP-7 1518 finally completed with steam generator gear on the short hood at the front of a short 3 car CNW local in the last years of the little 3 car trains.
From a few years earlier, the train 10 from Sheboygan to Fondulac with doodlebug 9921 pulling a trailing 60ft coach.
Happy New Year to everyone and many more to come.
Scott Sonntag