My current locomotive projects include:
A pair of GP40-2s one Athearn RTR, one Atlas.
A MEC 4-6-2 in brass (from ground up). At least I have some prints. I will probably do a pair of them.
A Brass 0-6-0 from Overland that doesnt run.
My next (actually current) locomotive project(s) is three Michigan Northern GP7s.One in HO,one in N and one in Z.
I'm technically working on it right now, just converted this thing to DCC and successfully changed the lights to LED. All that's left is to finish painting it and set the decals and I will have my own fantasy custom EMD SD45
I intend on cutting down a Bachmann Doodlebug and using it to create a diesel freight engine and adding sound. I'll say it had a broken frame from a wreck and the passenger portion had to be cut down and it recieved a diesel engine from a scrapped tugboat and put into service hauling copper laden rock cars up in the Keweenaw Peninsula for emergency war effort. It'll look something like this
I have a PFM Sakura Docksider 0-4-0 that I intend to detail and paint.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Wow this thread is old. Almost as old as this Central Pacific 4-4-0 Jupiter which I am restoring. I bought it on eBay. It was listed as new but it was used and missing pieces which were broken off. Needs the light fixed also, adding some extra details. I'm also going to try to change the wiring so the electrical pick up is not just coming from the tender's wheels but also the pilot wheels like a Rivarossi model.
Of the three projects I listed in this post 9 years ago, only one of them got done. The rest are still sitting on my workbench, but here is the one I completed.
Added various detail parts to match the prototype D&TSL GP7's. Painted and decaled with Herald King Decals for these units.
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!
Modernizing NS 5555 a GP 38-2 from Bachmann to bring it into this century.
Joe Staten Island West
Assembling the Powerhouse Mikado and United 2-6-2 that I took apart for painting!
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-Kevin
Living the dream.
I have 2 locomotive projects scheduled next. I recently bought a Roco S-160 2-8-0 model. It's absolutely beautiful and runs like a Swiss watch. That has inspired me to complete one of my 4 Model Loco S-160 kits. They are awesome kits with smooth mechanisms and beautiful detail. Not hard to build but I just stopped on one and never got back to it. I need to finish at least one!
My 2nd project is one of my old PFM C&O H-6 2-6-6-2's. I just ordered the NWSL Hi-Lo gearing and 2032 motor for it. I want to get it running better and do a re-paint. It was bought as a very roughly treated engine and deserves better. The Western Maryland Scenic RR #1309 being rebuilt got me fired up to rebuild her and get a new Western Maryland Ry paint job.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
davidmbedard wrote:Working on my CP Rail motive fleet......SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2F, SD40-2, SD40, SD40-2, SD40-2.....etc......all said and done will be 35 of the units. All are built with the new Athearn Shell and old mech.
Working on my CP Rail motive fleet......SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2, SD40-2F, SD40-2, SD40, SD40-2, SD40-2.....etc......all said and done will be 35 of the units. All are built with the new Athearn Shell and old mech.
UP2CSX wrote: Thanks, Ray. I knew the W&LE had them first but I've never been able to dig up any information on what they were supposed to do. Was it to protect the crew from shifting loads falling on the cab? They don't look all that strong in pictures but maybe they were beefier in real life. I lived close to NKP in the 50's and saw those screens but never really paid them much attention. I was looking at Berkshires and Bluebirds. I'll contact Oregon Rail Supply and see if he has any left. Even one would give me a pattern for scratchbuilding since I have five NKP switchers that need them.
From what I remember reading, there was a fairly high speed crash in a Wheeling yard, and two crewmwmbers were thrown off a switcher platform onto the ground, and crushed by moving cars. After that all four Wheeling diesels got the safety cages. Since they were designed to keep people in an engine, they didn't have to be all that strong, and I think most of the cage was actually wire supported by a 1.5" pipe frame.
On NKP Alco switchers, they had end grabs which extended from the platform to the roof, instead of the cage on the EMDs.
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943
i have a plan to take a ho mantua 2-6-6-2 and turn it into a 0-6-6-0 in on 30 this should be easy for my first loco kitbash, the ladders are over-sized and all i will have to do is remove the cab, refabricate a new one in o scale and replace the coal with wood.
then i plan to do the same to a ho/oo 4-4-0 mantua.
I have ALOT of projects. In fact, so many that I can't list them...
...but when my cash situation improves, I hope to have a AB or ABA set of MLW FA's on my tracks (if any). They will be painted in the maroon and grey scheme and detailed to attempt to match the prototype (locomotive #'s undecided).
Hopefully this one doesn't slip my mind...
orsonroy wrote: UP2CSX wrote:Thanks. Mark and Rick. I'll see if I can hunt down a back issue of MM or that book. I'm assuming that no one has ever produced the safety screen as a detail part and it'll have to be scratchbuilt, correct? I've got "The Nickel Plate Road" by Rehor and it neither has a good picture of the sceens or ever explains why the NKP was the only railroad to use the. Do either of you know why NKP management decide they were important?Actually, someone HAS made the parts. Years ago, Overland ran a series of SW's including NKP ones, and ran overages of the cages. Dick Yager of Oregon Rail Supply bought out their stock of parts, and has/had them for sale. Last I heard Dick was down to one or none, so you'll have to email or call him up and ask him about the parts (he's out of town right now, so it might be a couple of days before he answers!). I used to have two, but I think I sold them off to other NKP modelers.And the NKP wasn't QUITE the only road to use the safety cages. They were originally built by the W&LE for their four diesel switchers after a paticularly nasty yard accident. When the NKP leased the Wheeling in 1949 they liked the practice and added the cages to most of their diesel switchers (except the FMs and Limas, I think). Additionally, the P&PU, which was partially owned by the NKP, added cages to some of their SW7s in the early 1950s.
UP2CSX wrote:Thanks. Mark and Rick. I'll see if I can hunt down a back issue of MM or that book. I'm assuming that no one has ever produced the safety screen as a detail part and it'll have to be scratchbuilt, correct? I've got "The Nickel Plate Road" by Rehor and it neither has a good picture of the sceens or ever explains why the NKP was the only railroad to use the. Do either of you know why NKP management decide they were important?
Actually, someone HAS made the parts. Years ago, Overland ran a series of SW's including NKP ones, and ran overages of the cages. Dick Yager of Oregon Rail Supply bought out their stock of parts, and has/had them for sale. Last I heard Dick was down to one or none, so you'll have to email or call him up and ask him about the parts (he's out of town right now, so it might be a couple of days before he answers!). I used to have two, but I think I sold them off to other NKP modelers.
And the NKP wasn't QUITE the only road to use the safety cages. They were originally built by the W&LE for their four diesel switchers after a paticularly nasty yard accident. When the NKP leased the Wheeling in 1949 they liked the practice and added the cages to most of their diesel switchers (except the FMs and Limas, I think). Additionally, the P&PU, which was partially owned by the NKP, added cages to some of their SW7s in the early 1950s.
Thanks, Ray. I knew the W&LE had them first but I've never been able to dig up any information on what they were supposed to do. Was it to protect the crew from shifting loads falling on the cab? They don't look all that strong in pictures but maybe they were beefier in real life. I lived close to NKP in the 50's and saw those screens but never really paid them much attention. I was looking at Berkshires and Bluebirds. I'll contact Oregon Rail Supply and see if he has any left. Even one would give me a pattern for scratchbuilding since I have five NKP switchers that need them.
Hi Dave. Good to see you out here.
I should have thought that you would be on an SP project. Would you possibly have any photos of that steam locomotive??
I have been weathering my locomotives.
U25B #5058 gets the treatment. This actually very little weathering compared to how the units actually worked. I won't be going all the way. This looks about right.
U28B #132 also gets the treatment. this one is the best of the group getting the weathering job.
And my new GP40. I just got this guy a couple of days ago...
Happy railroading
James
Doing something along richg's cab forward idea. Mine's an HO 2-8-0 which will get a cab forward from yardbirds installed and turned into a oil burner. Haven't decided if it will be a 0-8-2 , 2-8-2 or just a n 0-8-0 at this stage. Figure to run the wires from the tender to appear to be oil lines. That should clean up some of the looks.
The boys at the shop were busy this last weekend redoing the steps and add a front box. They still need to trim back the running board and securely mount the steps, but they said maybe getting it done by the weekend.
orsonroy wrote: My project between now and spring will be three more of these:
My project between now and spring will be three more of these:
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Mine is really quite straightforward. I need to rig tether wires to hold the pantographs of my catenary motors (and EMU motor cars) at the proper height for the wire that isn't there. They just don't look right running with the pans locked down.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with virtual 1500VDC catenary)
My next locomotive project is to build my HOn3 Keystone Shay kit. If it comes out well, I need to build a second. There are (too!) many projects after that.
- build/convert/backdate a Roundhouse 3 truck Shay (HO) to a very early Class C 2 truck.
- find a suitable mechanism/frame/drive for my Model Power CM 2-8-0 (made in Brazil). My unbuilt Tyco 4-8-0 kit may be just the ticket due to its oversize cab and other parts.
- build/bash my Tyco General kit into a suitable older 4-4-0 for passenger service in 1900.
- remotor/detail/bash my HOn3 Porter 0-4-0T into a useful small logging locomotive
- remotor/regear/bash my MDC Climax into a more plausible Class A Climax
- build my MDC HOn3 2-8-0 into something resembling a C-20?
- and if I get really ambitious, put together a Baldwin HOn3 4-4-0 (maybe PSC or Blackstone or somebody else will bail me out first).
The above should keep me busy for the next few decades between building a layout and rolling stock kits, too!
....modeling foggy coastal Oregon, where it's always 1900....