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  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, TN
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Posted by Packers#1 on Sunday, November 16, 2008 11:59 AM
WCfan

You could also do what the WC did, and turn a standard cupola into a Remote control car. WC did this so operators could operate the locomotives outside of the cab, and throw switches, ect. The cabooses where mounted with horns and lights also.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=75937

Exactly what I'm going to do, but still have windows, because the main reason the crew goes to the caboose is more visibility.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by Railfan Alex on Sunday, November 16, 2008 10:33 AM

Alex

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Posted by WCfan on Sunday, November 16, 2008 2:45 AM

You could also do what the WC did, and turn a standard cupola into a Remote control car. WC did this so operators could operate the locomotives outside of the cab, and throw switches, ect. The cabooses where mounted with horns and lights also.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=75937

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Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, November 15, 2008 5:56 PM

all right. I think I can scrounge up some stuff to build one on a 50' reefer frame, lol.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Saturday, November 15, 2008 5:46 PM
An old Flatcar frame, with shell chopped up, and doors and windows cut into it should be fine. A styrene "plow" and some brass handrails and miscellaneous details should finish it off.

Alex

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Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, November 15, 2008 4:53 PM

Thanks. that looks like it would be fun to build in N scale. Tongue

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, November 15, 2008 2:47 PM

Got any more pics of those things GG? The caboose is really just to give the crew a better vantage point than where they would be in the SD70ACe's cab running long hood forward.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Saturday, November 15, 2008 2:08 PM

Fingerlakes Railway has a couple Shoving Platforms they use when switching Solvay Paperboard. The loco's are Remote Control Units. I suppose if you have a shoving platform... A bay window caboose, or modified caboose(MP had a bunch, and now one is in use on MBTA, still in MP paint), on the opposite end of the train as the loco should work well. Put a couple of guys in lawn chairs on the caboose platform to control the loco. You can also just have the loco on the other Dead in Tow. P&W's NR2 uses a locomotive on each end, but the one on the rear isn't providing power, just going along for the ride...

When in doubt, refer to FGLK!


Alex

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Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, November 15, 2008 1:52 PM

TrainManTy

So Sawyer, you're planning freight push-pull operations? Are you planning on having the engine on the opposite end of the train than the caboose? You'd have to use radio signals to control the train, because freightcars don't have MU cables except for a couple spacer cars and such. That would mean installing radio relays every couple hundred feet in every tunnel along the route, and probably in tight areas as well.

Or are you thinking the caboose connected to the locomotive? That wouldn't be too hard, although that leaves the question of where the crew sits in the caboose. The cupola is the most obvious choice, but you'd have to rebuild the interior of the car to add a control room in the cupola (which isn't a room, the crew basically climbs up a ladder to a high shelf where they sit).

Also, you could just run the loco long-hood first, that would be easier, and those flared radiators would look great! Just think of the SOU SD45s and later, the NS C40-8s and all those...Cool

How I'm gonna do it is put the caboose behind the locomotive, because while the locomotive will be at the hend end of the train always, it will have the cab facing the front of train when it comes back through. The locomotives won't turn after each run, so instead of having the crew have to look all the way down the long hood, they can transfer to the caboose, which is m.u.ed to the SD70ACe's controls, so they can control it from the cupola while having a clear view of the rail line. and this is South Carolina and Georgia, no tunnels, lol. We'll follow unit #1 on it's first two trains, a through frieght in the morning from augusta to Aiken, and a throught frieght from Aiken back to Augusta at noon. When it is timne for the train, the unit will be coupled to the train, w/ the caboose between the engine and first car, and pull out, w/ the crew riding in the cab of the loco. When it gets to Aiken, it cuts from the train w/ the caboose still coupled to it, and goes to servicing. When its second train is ready, it runs ouyt, and since it hasn't been turned, the caboose is facing toward Augusta at the head end in front of the loco, w/ the loco between it and the cars. The crew rides in the caboose, w/ the engineer in the cupola controling the train and the rest of the crew riding in the loco. There's one crewman riding in the loco to monitore it though. Any more questions about it? I think I explained it, but if you're still confused, I'll show it to you using my GP35 in pictures.

And now for some progress. Here's how far I've gotten w/ the forest:

Here's the forest by the road:

This is looking at what I've gotten done so far:

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2008 12:33 PM

 Alex... I love that C424... I thought about having a couple of those be my startup power, as CPRail is pretty close to my railroad's Western terminus in WRJ, just a couple hundred miles South of Montreal.Smile

So Sawyer, you're planning freight push-pull operations? Are you planning on having the engine on the opposite end of the train than the caboose? You'd have to use radio signals to control the train, because freightcars don't have MU cables except for a couple spacer cars and such. That would mean installing radio relays every couple hundred feet in every tunnel along the route, and probably in tight areas as well.

Or are you thinking the caboose connected to the locomotive? That wouldn't be too hard, although that leaves the question of where the crew sits in the caboose. The cupola is the most obvious choice, but you'd have to rebuild the interior of the car to add a control room in the cupola (which isn't a room, the crew basically climbs up a ladder to a high shelf where they sit).

Also, you could just run the loco long-hood first, that would be easier, and those flared radiators would look great! Just think of the SOU SD45s and later, the NS C40-8s and all those...Cool

That's what my backstory is for the railroad plow I converted from a flatcar and caboose body for my railroad. Since the plow will be operating from one end of the railroad to the other in New England snow storms, the crew can't spend the whole time in an unheated shack on the plow controlling the locomotives by radioing back the engineer in the locomotive cab. The plow will need a locomotive equipped with HEP to power the lights and heat, but that's why they use SDP35 #1402, which had it's old steam generator replaced by an HEP unit. That unit is used on the buisness train as well as in regular freight service. The 6 axle trucks are a bonus when pushing heavy snow...

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Posted by Railfan Alex on Saturday, November 15, 2008 12:01 PM

I am very happy with the RTR quality as well. I have 3 hoppers, and they look amazing!

Alex

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Posted by WCfan on Saturday, November 15, 2008 10:08 AM

Alex that will be a nice project! I like those little projects that don't take much time, but turn out nice. Unlike my SDL39, which may take a year or two. I can't wait to start my SDM project and the SD40C projects, both simpler projects.

Sawyer can't wait to see more progress.

Alex, I hope that NYSW F45 is still in service, I just haven't seen many pictures of her lately.

I might as well post this. This is my new WC boxcar. I’m impressed with the detail on the RTR level now. I have a few older RTR boxcars, and they are nothing like this one.

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Posted by Railfan Alex on Saturday, November 15, 2008 9:29 AM

Thanks for the imput guys. I'll have to give these a try.

I've gathered up and tested a few weathering methods, such as the airbrush (w/acrylic paints), drybrushing (w/acrylic and artist's oil paints), dry chalks, washes with paint/chalks, and using the commercial product called Rustall.

All are pretty good, but I really can't wait to get something done with the airbrush! There is so much precision, and it is relatively easy with a bit of practice. I like how you have so much control over the paint, and that you can apply the smallest amount prettymuch where ever you like. And the paint drys almost instantly to the touch, so after you look at what you have done, you can keep on going!

Alex

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Friday, November 14, 2008 11:24 PM

I'd use a pencil eraser or tiny square of fine grit sand paper, to remove/fade parts of the lettering. A very light "dusting" of black wouldn't hurt. I haven't done much modeling today, but I did use the Marklin Track to plot the LVRC layout... Also Jordan, I think NYSW's F45 is still in service...

Alex

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Posted by SOU Fan on Friday, November 14, 2008 10:08 PM
Railfan Alex

Hi guys.

I had school off, so I spent the day working at the LHS. Made some good money, and so I decided to spend it rather than save it for once.

I bought a CP C-424, and it looks great! Runs smooth, and Atlas did good getting the CP specific details right. They actually made a model with the rebuilt a road-switcher ends! So all I need to do to it is change a few changes, to make it ready for 1985.

I'll need to add ditch lights, add a hood mounted bell, change the radiators behind the cab for the ones rebuilt in the 80's, add some Kadee #5's, and a decoder, with sound eventually...

Here's the model I got:

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hoc4245/1107/10000223_TQ.jpg

And this is what I need to make it look like:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=27086&nseq=40

Should be a fun project, and I'm really happy I got it. I really like the C424's, and it fits my 1985-present era. According to most photos, the C424's came to an end and limped over to the deadline in 1997, the very last in August 1998:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1170355

I've also been playing around with my airbrush for the last week, and I'm happy with it. Every evening, I get a bit better. I'm getting pretty confident I can start painting some "real" models now!

That's it for now guys!

When you weather that locomotive what are you planning on using to weather it. I would suggest using chalks and weathering powders to get the desired finish. Both chalks and weathering powders are easy to use and can be removed if you screw up. Today I decalled the GP60 I am working on. It is going to be NS #4610 SOU Green Lady. I should have it finished by the end of the weekend with the exception of lighting the ditchlihgts (need to get some Miniatronics 1.5v bulbs) -Andrew
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Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, November 14, 2008 9:22 PM

Sounds cool Alex, good reasoning.

So, like I said, I've started another diorama, this time a single track mainline that passes a fall forest and has a small country road crossing at the far end. Here's the crossing:

took this before I ballasted:

Also picked up some woodland scenics fall foliage last weekend to experiment w/:

Also picked up this Atlas Trainman Atlantic & Western ACF 50' 6" boxcar:

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 990 posts
Posted by Railfan Alex on Friday, November 14, 2008 8:02 PM

The airbrush will be handy indeed! That was the one thing that was preventing me from starting a layout, because I figured it would be so handy to weather, paint track, buildings, details, models, etc...

Now I need to sell my MRC DCC system, and get a Digitrax one, since I already have the Digitrax throttles for the club, I figure I might as well go Digitrax too. I don't see the point of having another system at home, that I'll need to buy more throttles for...

Alex

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  • From: Memphis, TN
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Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, November 14, 2008 7:49 PM

Alex, looks like a great model. Those Atlases are sweet little honeys, aren't they? I LOVE my 4 and hopefully gonna add a 5th to the family in about a week when my birthday comes, lol, a U23B. Looks like it'll be a fun little project to do too, I'm sure your airbrush will come in handy Tongue

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 990 posts
Posted by Railfan Alex on Friday, November 14, 2008 7:07 PM

Hi guys.

I had school off, so I spent the day working at the LHS. Made some good money, and so I decided to spend it rather than save it for once.

I bought a CP C-424, and it looks great! Runs smooth, and Atlas did good getting the CP specific details right. They actually made a model with the rebuilt a road-switcher ends! So all I need to do to it is change a few changes, to make it ready for 1985.

I'll need to add ditch lights, add a hood mounted bell, change the radiators behind the cab for the ones rebuilt in the 80's, add some Kadee #5's, and a decoder, with sound eventually...

Here's the model I got:

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hoc4245/1107/10000223_TQ.jpg

And this is what I need to make it look like:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=27086&nseq=40

Should be a fun project, and I'm really happy I got it. I really like the C424's, and it fits my 1985-present era. According to most photos, the C424's came to an end and limped over to the deadline in 1997, the very last in August 1998:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1170355

I've also been playing around with my airbrush for the last week, and I'm happy with it. Every evening, I get a bit better. I'm getting pretty confident I can start painting some "real" models now!

That's it for now guys!

Alex

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, November 14, 2008 4:31 PM
WCfan

Sawyer, the only thing I'd be concerned about is the track around that area, and the versatility of the locomotives. The WSOR had that problem, they got 3 F45s, but the Track was too light for them. Also, remember that SD70ACes load SUPER slow at loading compared to older power, they also aren't the best for switching, so they'd be basically for road freights. That is also what happened to the WSOR F45s too, they couldn't do much. But hey, it's possible. All the regionals are getting new power, FEC, MRL, IAIS, ect. So why not yours. I think an SD70ACe and a GP9 would look cool together, I know on the WSOR F45s and GP9s looked pretty cool together.

Well, it's actually 20 miles between Aiken and augusta in real life too, so lol, that's convienent. Really, since nothing had been done to the rails either, I'll say the kline upgraded mainline power to. And these units are bought for the one purpose of road frieghts, that's all they'll ever be asked to do, period. The U23Bs and GP35s will handle switching, and GP9s will be yard switchers. Actually, the SD70ACes will be pulling the trains themselves, but will be rigged w/ RC devices and have a caboose behind, so when the cab is facing the cars, the crew can still be up front in the caboose, running the train at 30 MPH, lol. The SD70ACes will each have their own set train, just like in the old days, the U23Bs will have their own jobs, then the GP35s, then what GP9s weren't traded in or sold will have been 710ECO repowered internally. Great, now I have to COMPLETELY re-write the history from scratch.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by ns3010 on Friday, November 14, 2008 4:22 PM

WCfan

Joe, I didn't know what locomotive it was, but I know NS bought some AC locomotives. CN is also the other RR that likes to buy DC power.

I checked. They are GEs and they are rated at 4400hp

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Posted by WCfan on Friday, November 14, 2008 4:00 PM

I didn't mind the WSOR F45s; at least they had operating F45s. I don't think any RR has any F45s operating anymore. The MRL put there's in storage (Ironically those where on the WSOR!), and I thing the NYSW has there's in storage too.

Tyler, C30-7s...Big Smile

Joe, I didn't know what locomotive it was, but I know NS bought some AC locomotives. CN is also the other RR that likes to buy DC power.

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Posted by ns3010 on Friday, November 14, 2008 2:32 PM

ns3010
NS just purchased some new SD70ACes- 1st new AC traction pruchased by NS.

 

They were actually ES44ACs- my bad.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2008 8:51 AM

WCfan

Tyler, but you need to admit, NS/SOU/NW was a pretty cool RR. I mean, a SD45 running long hood forward, now that's pretty cool!

 

Yeah, and the GE's with the huge radiators were even better!Cool

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Posted by Wikious on Thursday, November 13, 2008 9:53 PM

 

WCfan

Tyler, but you need to admit, NS/SOU/NW was a pretty cool RR. I mean, a SD45 running long hood forward, now that's pretty cool!

Sawyer, the only thing I'd be concerned about is the track around that area, and the versatility of the locomotives. The WSOR had that problem, they got 3 F45s, but the Track was too light for them. Also, remember that SD70ACes load SUPER slow compared to older power, they also aren't the best for switching, so they'd be basically for road freights. That is also what happened to the WSOR F45s too, they couldn't do much. But hey, it's possible. All the regionals are getting new power, FEC, MRL, IAIS, ect. So why not yours. I think an SD70ACe and a GP9 would look cool together, I know on the WSOR F45s and GP9s looked pretty cool together.

You forgot the most important part- the WSOR F45's were butt ugly! Tongue

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Thursday, November 13, 2008 9:07 PM
Indiana Railroads new MAC's are fweaking HOT!

 

Alex

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Posted by WCfan on Thursday, November 13, 2008 8:54 PM

ns3010

WCfan
Also, NS does have SD70ACes, but they are the DC version, so they are called SD70M-2s.

 

NS just purchased some new SD70ACes- 1st new AC traction pruchased by NS.

Yea, I was kinda surprised when NS did that.

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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, November 13, 2008 8:45 PM

WCfan
Also, NS does have SD70ACes, but they are the DC version, so they are called SD70M-2s.

 

NS just purchased some new SD70ACes- 1st new AC traction pruchased by NS.

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Posted by WCfan on Thursday, November 13, 2008 8:45 PM

Tyler, but you need to admit, NS/SOU/NW was a pretty cool RR. I mean, a SD45 running long hood forward, now that's pretty cool!

Sawyer, the only thing I'd be concerned about is the track around that area, and the versatility of the locomotives. The WSOR had that problem, they got 3 F45s, but the Track was too light for them. Also, remember that SD70ACes load SUPER slow at loading compared to older power, they also aren't the best for switching, so they'd be basically for road freights. That is also what happened to the WSOR F45s too, they couldn't do much. But hey, it's possible. All the regionals are getting new power, FEC, MRL, IAIS, ect. So why not yours. I think an SD70ACe and a GP9 would look cool together, I know on the WSOR F45s and GP9s looked pretty cool together.

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