True, very true. How about a black geep hauling 8 covered hoppers?
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Here in Jersey, we have NJ Transit on 12 rail lines and 3 light rail lines, part of SEPTA R3 (not sure about that, whichever goes to West Trenton), the Northeast Corridor, NS, CSX, Conrail (Conrail Shared Assets Operations [CSAO], and this often causes NS and CSX power to be on the same train), Morristown & Erie (ME)(Alcos!), New York, Susquehanna, & Western (NYSW), Cape May Seashore Lines (CMSL), and other shortlines.
Traffic is tons of Intermodal (especially in Newark, Elizabeth, Kearny, etc. and on the Lehigh Line), Auto trains, Manifests, Trash trains, Ethanol, Locals, and of course, M&Ms! (M&M plant is only 20 minutes from where I live! [shipped out in green Louisville & Wadley boxcars on NS H02]). I'm not exactly sure about anything in South Jersey (although it is a different state [for those that don't know, "New Jersey" is actually 3 "different" states- North Jersey, South Jersey, and the Jersey Shore]), but it's probably mostly the same or different stuff.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
Guilford GuyCoal traffic gets boring. We get 2 coal trains, one with NS equipment, the other with vintage B&M and MEC hoppers. Those sporadic trains, (every few days) are enough to satisfy me. I prefer watching 5 SD40-2s, GP40s, and GP40-2Ls hustle 128 cars up through the Deerfield River Valley.
Back in the 60s and 70s coal trains where pretty neat! SD40s, SD40-2s, SD45s and SD45-2s, even F units where trusted with these trains. Even in the 80s, 90s, and yes, even a couple years ago coal trains where still pretty good (Atleast on the BNSF). In the 80s BN still trusted coal trains with SD40-2s and U-Boats, which carried over to the BNSF in the 90s for a short while. When they finally got bumped off, the SD60s, SD60Ms, SD70MACs, and SD75M/Is took over on the coal trains, which still gave an interesting mix! It hasn't been up until recently as that power ages, Class ones have gotten new power to replace the older units, making coal trains boring. Although, I'll take the BNSF coal train on the CN Valley Sub...this looks a lot better than a CN GEVO, even though it's just a different paint scheme.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
Maybe now, like jordan said in the 70's and 80's it was a lot better!!
Some of my favorite vids:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX7DvsLCEIYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CntEdKRnz5Q&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PMVxVye7KI&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMQX7Pd7F80&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygab6YnYrOI&feature=related
I have a feeling I posted some of these before.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Heh, Guilford's a walking antique show! GP7s(MEC), GP9s(B&M), GP9rs(BM), GP35s(NW), GP35Hs(NW), one GP38(MEC), GP40s(Conrail), GP40HHs(NW), GP40-2s(CN Widecabs), GP40-2Ls(CN Widecabs), SD40-2s(HLCX)- some with SD45 and SD45-2 carbodies, SD26s(ATSF), one SD39(ITC), one SD45HH(NW).Yhe newest locomotives are the 33 year old GP40-2/GP40-2Ls, of which they have 20, and the oldest are the MEC GP7s, which turn 60 next year. Vincent will enjoy the fact that the some PAR ballast cars remain in GN paint, and others are in MKT. Then there are the B&M and MEC hoppers and Gons in coal and work service, B&M and D&H passenger equipment, B&M and MEC plows, including several double track plows, and B&M MEC wreck outfits. PAR is also the last railroad to employ a big hook in a wreck outfit. Most railroads today either hire another party (RJ Corman) or use bulldozers and mobile cranes to right wrecked cars. You can imagine how lucky I feel!
Alex
Guilford GuyHeh, Guilford's a walking antique show! GP7s(MEC), GP9s(B&M), GP9rs(BM), GP35s(NW), GP35Hs(NW), one GP38(MEC), GP40s(Conrail), GP40HHs(NW), GP40-2s(CN Widecabs), GP40-2Ls(CN Widecabs), SD40-2s(HLCX)- some with SD45 and SD45-2 carbodies, SD26s(ATSF), one SD39(ITC), one SD45HH(NW).Yhe newest locomotives are the 33 year old GP40-2/GP40-2Ls, of which they have 20, and the oldest are the MEC GP7s, which turn 60 next year. Vincent will enjoy the fact that the some PAR ballast cars remain in GN paint, and others are in MKT. Then there are the B&M and MEC hoppers and Gons in coal and work service, B&M and D&H passenger equipment, B&M and MEC plows, including several double track plows, and B&M MEC wreck outfits. PAR is also the last railroad to employ a big hook in a wreck outfit. Most railroads today either hire another party (RJ Corman) or use bulldozers and mobile cranes to right wrecked cars. You can imagine how lucky I feel!
You're starting to make me want to model Guiliford Alex. Bout the only thing missing are U23Bs and B23-7s.
The last U Boat ran in 2001... There's 2 U18Bs sitting in Montreal stripped of many parts, although to my knowledge they're in storage somewhere where railfans can't snatch them. They got rid of the Centuries, the B&M GP38-2s/GP40-2s in the 90s. At the same time the other SD45s were scrapped or sold to MRL, and the SD39s and various MEC/BM Geeps, and SWs met their end in front of the torch. It is interesting to note that EVERY B&M GP38-2s and GP40-2 is currently in active service.
NJT is unique too... They have the ex-CNJ GP40PH-2s (originally GP40Ps, now 41 years old), GP40PH-2As and Bs (rebuilt by Conrail in Juniata from various GP40s), GP40FH-2s (rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen from Conrail, RI, MoPac, UP, and MILW GP40s and BN F45 cowls), PL42ACs (built by Alstom, 2004-06), GP40-2s (rebuilt by Juniata from Conrail GP40s, used in MOW service), MP20B-3s (rebuilt by Motive Power Industries from GP40FH-2s 4130-4134, only locomotives of this type),and F40PH-2CATs (rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen from F40PH-2s. Electric power is ALP-44s (basically AEM-7s, just newer) and ALP-46s (built by AdTranz, 2001 [ALP-46As are currently being built by Bombardier, who absorbed AdTranz]). And they're also getting the ALP-45DPs from Bombardier, which will have diesel and catenary capability. And we have Arrow III EMUs, (NO, NOT THE BIRD!), and we had Arrow IIs and Arrow Is (rebuilt into CIBs). And we also had U34CHs (M-N also had 1).And they have Comet IIMs (CII rebuilds), CIIIs, CIVs, CVs, and Multilevels. And they were the only ones with CIs and CIBs (but now lots of transit system have them since Transit sold them).All their power is unique except for the GP40FH-2s (6, technically they're GP40FH-2Ms since they were rebuilt) that Metro-North has, the F40PH-2CATs (5, I think) they have, and the GP40PH-2 (I believe it is technically a GP40PH-2B) that M-N has. M-N also has CIIIs and CVs.
And AMT (Montreal) stole 5 of our GP40FH-2s (4135, 4137, 4140, 4143, and 4144) and two F40PH-2CATs (4117, 4118). They also stole some Comet Is and IBs.And they're copying us because they're getting ALP-45DPs and Multilevels.
ALEX, STOP COPYING AND STEALING FROM ME!!
ns3010 ALEX, STOP COPYING AND STEALING FROM ME!!
lol! I don't mind seeing all your power! We call it Jersey Junk though, all the crews say it runs like crap.
Guilford Guy The last U Boat ran in 2001... There's 2 U18Bs sitting in Montreal stripped of many parts, although to my knowledge they're in storage somewhere where railfans can't snatch them.
The last U Boat ran in 2001... There's 2 U18Bs sitting in Montreal stripped of many parts, although to my knowledge they're in storage somewhere where railfans can't snatch them.
No, actually you see them when you drive by on the highway, very easy to get some shots if you wanted.
Guilford Guy GP40-2Ls(no W, that's a railfan thing)
GP40-2Ls(no W, that's a railfan thing)
Actually there are the GP40-2LW's and the GP40-2W's. I don't know where you came up with that. I've been in the cab of a CN one and they even call it a GP40-2LW. Without the W, it's not a widecab. The main difference between the two is the frame. The GP40-2LW units have a heavy duty frame and the fuel tanks. They sit about two inches taller than a GP40-2W. The main beams are larger than the standard GP40 type frame. If the two are coupled together you can see the difference. When they were ordered, they had larger fuel tanks, and the way GMD accomplished this without adding to the overall weight of the locomotive was to use thinner end plates, and other areas that were not load, or stress points. The idea was to put the metal where the stresses were. These changes ended up weakening the frame in derailments, and so they were all modified by CN.
Packer Alex, I forgot to ask earlier, but what was the paint combonation you used for weathering the trucks on your ALCO? Reason being that it looks really close to what lots of pictures of BN engines have for their trucks.
Alex, I forgot to ask earlier, but what was the paint combonation you used for weathering the trucks on your ALCO? Reason being that it looks really close to what lots of pictures of BN engines have for their trucks.
First I took the airbrush and faded with Reefer White/Reefer Gray. Then I went over with Rust. Then I mixed Dirt/Earth/Mud mix and sprayed that. All PolyScale acrylic paints. I prefer and recommend acrylics, easier to clean off when something goes wrong. Then I mixed all sorts of powdered chalks (browns, blacks, yellows, grays, reds etc...) I got at an art store, until they looked like a rust colour. I used some cheapo soft paint brushes to apply the powders, and sealed Everything up with Dull-Cote. Clean the wheels before you go to the club!
I know they're easily visible, its the missing parts that are in storage somewhere...
Also, to my knowledge, GMDD classified these engines as GP40-2s and GP40-2Ls. If you get a chance to look on the locomotives, the W is in paranthesies thus a GP40-2(W), and a GP40-2L(W). There was a huge "explicative deleted" throwing contest on the Atlas forum about what exactly the L stood for. Most were under the false impression that it stood for "Light," as in lightweight, despite the fact that the GP40-2(W) is 260,000lbs, and the GP40-2L(W) is 262,000lbs. The argument that I agree with is that the L stands for Lead, and while I can't remember the details, there was better supporting detail.
Guilford Guy I know they're easily visible, its the missing parts that are in storage somewhere... Also, to my knowledge, GMDD classified these engines as GP40-2s and GP40-2Ls. If you get a chance to look on the locomotives, the W is in paranthesies thus a GP40-2(W), and a GP40-2L(W). There was a huge "explicative deleted" throwing contest on the Atlas forum about what exactly the L stood for. Most were under the false impression that it stood for "Light," as in lightweight, despite the fact that the GP40-2(W) is 260,000lbs, and the GP40-2L(W) is 262,000lbs. The argument that I agree with is that the L stands for Lead, and while I can't remember the details, there was better supporting detail.
Whatever the case may be, it's a minor detail, but I was told the L was for "large", as in larger fuel tank. We will never know!
I'm looking this over, and both the standard frame, and tall frame units are classified as GP40-2Ls. Of the 279 produced, 233 had standard frames, and 46 (11 GO Transit, and 35 CN) had the tall frame and large fuel tank. If both contain the L in their official designation, then that rules out the L being used to distinguish Ligthweight Steel, Lighter in weight, or Larger Fuel Tank. Right now I have to agree with whoever said it that L stands for Lead. The North American Safety cab was probably safer in the event of a collision/wreck, and provided better visibility, thus it would make sense for CN to use them as a lead unit compared to a standard cab locomotive.
Guilford Guy The last U Boat ran in 2001... There's 2 U18Bs sitting in Montreal stripped of many parts, although to my knowledge they're in storage somewhere where railfans can't snatch them. They got rid of the Centuries, the B&M GP38-2s/GP40-2s in the 90s. At the same time the other SD45s were scrapped or sold to MRL, and the SD39s and various MEC/BM Geeps, and SWs met their end in front of the torch. It is interesting to note that EVERY B&M GP38-2s and GP40-2 is currently in active service.
If memory serves me right, there's a RR in upstate SC; the Pickens Rwy, I think; that runs bright orange U18Bs. I'll google it.
OK, here's a couple pages. After reading this, if someone made a U18B in N scale, i think I'd model this railroad. My grandma lives in Greenville, which is clsoe to Easley, and shoot, I could get a bunch of prototype pics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickens_Railway#Pickens_locomotive_history
Then start, Intermountain is doing them.
Guilford GuyThen start, Intermountain is doing them.
A couple people on nscale.org suggested using U23Bs to bash from. and if the usual Intermountian price is anything to go by, that might be the cheaper option.
Hmmmmm, I need ot think this over, but I probably will stick to my current plans, for now...
It's not just price, but time and end result quality as well. Sure, you can add details to a U23B shell, change the grilles, etc, but it's still going to have the wrong frame length for a U18B. If you cut the frame as well, you have mechanical issues to deal with, and then you still have to cut the shell, remove a piece, then glue it back together.
It's pretty easy for those not skilled at kitbashing (unskilled like me and many modelers today) to make a mistake and have their model look bad. So you can either go for a more-expensive Intermountain model which is prototypically accurate, or you can cut up a U23B and hopefully make a decent model that won't make you and others cringe to look at. (example being my old snowplow)
The choice is yours. Personally, I'd save up for the real U18B!
My MBTA GP40 turned out pretty well, until someone in Vermont decided to melt the cab.
What will probably end up happening is this will pass until I get bored with building my current plan and get a chance to railfan the Pickens Rwy. Then I might start a shelf layout based on the Pickens or something.
EDIT: one other suggestion I received is to use an atlas rs3 frame, change out the fuel tank and truck side frames, then bash the U23B shell to a U18B
Didn't sleep at all last night (and surprisingly I feel fine), but wound up looking at my window at around 6:15 am and noticed it was the perfect light for some early morning pics. So w/o further ado, here';s a couple of the best:
Also did some decal work afterwards. Lettered this C-Liner in honor of my friend Shayne (the MILW apint was glued on, or so it seemed, so yes it's a terible stripping job, but hey, it's wearing blue, ain't it?):
And my H-15-44:
Guilford GuyMy MBTA GP40 turned out pretty well, until someone in Vermont decided to melt the cab.
...what? I thought you abandoned the MC project?
There was a disabled train in Alewife today, and trains were totally backed up for my whole commute. Our train was packed full (rush-hour style, with people not being able to fit on the train, and my backpack getting crushed in the closing doors) by Porter Square station! I ended up getting off at Kendall/MIT and walking to the museum...
I heard about that, my friend commutes to Kendall from Framingham (MBCR to Southie then the Red Line) and said the Red Line was completely bottlenecked. MC project was essentially done aside from paint and handrails, but I decided to trade it... And then the new owner melted the cab.
Smooth...like how you blew up the LEDs on 9423, except with bulbs instead?
Have you seen the new electronic "Solari" board at South Station yet? It has speakers so it clacks like the old one did, except it's not synchronized with the board changing, so it just makes noise at periodic intervals and all the old people commuting who can remember the real Solari boards get up to look if their train has been announced yet! Last week it was broken and wouldn't shut up; the clacking loop just kept repeating itself. Now I know why that seat underneath the speaker wasn't taken!
He melted the cab with a lightbulb? I never thought the bulbs in HO locos ever got that hot, then again, all of my engines have LEDs.
I managed to pick up something off of HO yardsale the other day. A sound/DCC equipped high-hood GP20 for a total of $85. Only problem is that it's a UP, so I have to find a BN for a swap (either end up with just a BN Gp20 with sound, or perform a shell swap and have a spare UP GP20 to sell). Of course someone here will now think I have 91 locos.....
It had nothing to do with the lighting, he put the styrene shell, with the resin cab in an alcohol bath, and ended up melting the cab. And how was I to know what voltage those LEDs were. Stop blaming me for all your problems... The new "Solari Board" has been there for awhile. They sold the old one on ebay for around $500. I wanted to get it and use it to announce when people were running trains on the club!
Note to self, Alcohol melts resin.
The LEDs I put in 9423 were rated at 3 volts, and 12 with the resistors. Best part about them is I got 100 for 25 bucks shipped with resistors. Can't complain for a quater each.
Does Miniatronix make 14v bulbs? Those probably wont get as hot as the 12 volt ones currently in the units. Also Tyler, the Geeps are at Yoshi's because I'm in DC/Rhode Island for most of the Summer, and surprisingly you'll be likely to see him before me. The Caboose is still in the paint shop.
Well the guy who had the sound/dcc GP20 sold it right before I mailed the check. So instead of a GP20, I'm getting an SP NW2 with sound and 3 frieght cars.
Wonder if I can find someone who wants to trade an SP for a BN?
I'm not blaming you... I was as stumped as you were why they didn't work, and I'm actually glad they melted because it forced me to replace them...otherwise I would have left in the blue headlights and the loco would look bad! When I Dullcote #2752 (the GP30), I need to either replace the LED or cover the light bar, since the entire cab lights up with the headlight and numberboard!
Yoshi came over on Thursday to drop off my locos and see the layout and all the improvements you two have suggested and helped me make. He seemed pretty impressed with how it all turned out, and Murphy's Guest Law helped me find two more trouble spots I need to fix!
How does 5817 look? I don't know if I have the rest of the nose stripes here somewhere, but I think I do. You've read through my proposals on a spending plan for WRS yes? Not that I'm trying to run your railroad or anything, but it will look amazing when you have 2 GP40-2Ls leading a freight of non Blue Box equipment around a new, better scenicked layout! ^_^
Trainboy out
Ty, Blue is the most aesome color!!! Kidding aside, You could drill a hole in the light pipe that's big enough to fit the LED or bulb in. Then use black electrical tape on the underside of it. I did that to both of my non-sound GP30s and it fixed them up pretty good. I've never cemented my LEDs to the light pipe since the fit was pretty tight. This also works pretty well for beacons. (ala my U30C)
As for those LEDs being blueish, I've noticed some are like that too. Nothing a bit of transparent amber paint won't fix.
GG, it's Ty's layout, run it how you want it!! (I feel like I've said this before somewhere) besides F45s > GP40-2Ls
I found out today my pin vise won't accept the really small drill bits (#80 and the like) anymore, so tomorrow I'm may run downtown and get one and some paint for weathering. I found out the hard way when I was drilling some holes for the grab irons on a MNS PS boxcar kit I got (the only BB kit that isn't shake the box, and involves some drilling and painting). The bit fell out part of a way through a hole and got stuck in the model, then it proceeded to break when I tried to get it out of there. I got it out, but ended up messing up some of the paint in the area. Luckily I have a color on my bench that is really close to MNS blue.
Packer GG, it's Ty's layout, run it how you want it!! (I feel like I've said this before somewhere) besides F45s > GP40-2Ls
No you don't understand, Alex owns about half the stock shares of the WRS...