3rd Rail SD9's are coming

645, I forgot about that important detail until yesterday. Streamliners on the firemans side and 400 on the engineer side. Did the CNW only run on the left in Chicago or was the whole system set up that way

The C&NW units have the correct markings on each side.  "Route of the 400" on the engineers side and "Route of the Streamliners" on the fireman's side when running long hood forward.

Received mine yesterday in Demo and PRR.  Love them!

I could be mistaken but I'm fairly certain CNW didn't run long hood forward but was set up for left hand running not right hand running like most other roads 

David Minarik posted:

John Sethian posted:

By any chance, has any one opened one of these up? I would be curious if one could fit a DCS system in there.

John,

I will get on that.  I really dig the sound in the board but I am not too crazy about lashup performance.  TMCC seems pretty archaic (reminds me of writing a computer program with punch cards lol).

They are belt drive. Motor in the body, drive shafts in the fuel tank.

Dave

Thanks Dave. I look forward to your photos.  Drive shafts in the tank gives hope PS 2 (or 3) will fit.

NICE LAYOUT, by the way!

Matt Makens posted:

I could be mistaken but I'm fairly certain CNW didn't run long hood forward but was set up for left hand running not right hand running like most other roads 

The engineer's side of a C&NW locomotive was no different than the engineer's side of any other US railroad. 

Rusty

Matt Makens posted:

I could be mistaken but I'm fairly certain CNW didn't run long hood forward but was set up for left hand running not right hand running like most other roads 

Matt I believe you are correct.  Now I need to go back and look at the drawings I drew 6 months ago.  I just remember we got the correct logo on the correct side.

Are you sure about that? If the CNW was set up for left handed running all of the signals would be on the other side of the tracks 

Ok, so a little homework does indicate the engineers sidecwas still in the right as all other roads at least as far as diesels are concerned. All my CNW books are packed up so I'll have to do some digging. It's been a while since I cared about such things 

Matt Makens posted:

Are you sure about that? If the CNW was set up for left handed running all of the signals would be on the other side of the tracks 

Careful here Matt. Have you ever been over the C&NW main line from Chicago to the Missouri River? When the C&NW installed ATC (late 1920s?) the new system did NOT include wayside signals, except at control points (cross-overs, etc.). Since the UP/CNW merger, the UP is reinstalling double track, CTC, and full way-side signaling.

Jack I'm unbelievably rusty on my CNW facts as it's been some years since I did any reading on the subject and my memory isn't all that great.  So I'm not making any statements as facts to any of these points. We both know that I sometimes speak without thinking and it's hard to have a leg to stand on with bith feet in your mouth. I want to know these things so I'll just engage in conversation and ask questions

Matt Makens posted:

Are you sure about that? If the CNW was set up for left handed running all of the signals would be on the other side of the tracks 

Matt

I grew up along the north line to Kenosha/Milwaukee. All the track signals were over head. Same as the northwest line.  Can't say anything about the mainline to Missouri, but that the signals were also over head coming out of the Proviso yards.

I just recieved my UPS e-mail informing me of a delivery today. I sure hope the UPS guy delivers before I goto work, it's pouring out here!

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

I just recieved my UPS e-mail informing me of a delivery today. I sure hope the UPS guy delivers before I goto work, it's pouring out here!

Unless you have made other arrangements, their delivery requires a signature. The upside is they won't be left in the rain (or stolen)  should you not be present.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

I just recieved my UPS e-mail informing me of a delivery today. ...

Interesting... my UPS emails usually hit shortly after midnight and alert me to packages arriving the NEXT day.  I like that timing, 'cause it allows me to divert the routing to a local UPS Store in town, where I can sign for it and pick up the package at my convenience if I won't be working at home that day.

David

Johnathan GG1 the SD7/9's are spectacular. 

Thank you Erik.  This project really turned out well.  I can't take all the credit though.  It's a team process and several people, you included, pull all the information together to get us started and I simply sort out the data, supplemented with the research I do for road specific details and finally produce the final painting graphics.  As we saw from the F7s the hardest job is making sure the factory understands the drawings and Scott and the project managers at the factory get all the credit for that.  Just like my architectural profession, the final product is judged by the attention to detail.

Yes kudos on the work. I had one of mine out for a few minutes last night and was nothing short of impressed.

Hey guys, Maybe I'm posting this in the wrong place.  Help if you can.  

When running in train mode, I lose headlight, bell and horn.  Also sometimes the rpms do not change.  What am I missing here?

Thank you in advance!

Dave

David Minarik posted:

Hey guys, Maybe I'm posting this in the wrong place.  Help if you can.  

When running in train mode, I lose headlight, bell and horn.  Also sometimes the rpms do not change.  What am I missing here?

Thank you in advance!

Dave

OK, what is "train mode"?

GG1 4877 posted:

Thank you Erik.  This project really turned out well.  I can't take all the credit though.  It's a team process and several people, you included, pull all the information together to get us started and I simply sort out the data, supplemented with the research I do for road specific details and finally produce the final painting graphics.  As we saw from the F7s the hardest job is making sure the factory understands the drawings and Scott and the project managers at the factory get all the credit for that.  Just like my architectural profession, the final product is judged by the attention to detail.

Looks like Scott did a great job on these, Just curious as to how the orders broke down between 2 rail and 3 rail models. I have not seen any pics posted of the 2 rail version.

I don't remember the final breakdown, but somewhere between 60% to 70% of the models were done in two rail.  My PRR one is a two rail model.  The SP versions were the most ordered followed in no particular order by the usual suspects of PRR, D&RGW, and a few others.  I'd love to see a picture of how the NS unit turned out.  Along with the Black River and Western model, they are the only two to have ditch lights.

Here my CB&Q/C&S on maiden run after 2 hrs getting the lash up to work right.  Only real issue was fit. One of the 2R inserts wouldn't align right and screw holes were to small. Simple fix. What nice runners. Also note the oscillating  light Thanks Scott. Next in line the Black Widows.

Well so much for that. Engine just shorted out. Just sound. No response in either Command or conventional. Will have to  Email Scott. Not happy

Am I the only one not familiar enough with 3rd rail models??? (Even though I live 29 miles away).

Would have never expected them to do accurate stanchions for SD7 and SD9 as they are different, or SP lighting package.  Sure, I saw the Huge Barrel Type and figured that would be used on the Black Widows as well.

How many reservations do they need to do a second run?  Would really like to see SP Red/Gray and SP Kodachrome.

I haven't seen a 2nd run of anything besides the El Capitan cars. 

Is it possible the CNW units had dual cab controls like the N&W did?

Lights working but doesn't run.  Hmmmm.  Both are controlled by the same circuit board.   This is a new motor (needed to fit in the narrow hood)  so hopefully not that 

Most if not all the Black River and Western units were bought by the real Black River and Western folks.  Kudos to them.

Minimum for a rerun?  300.  F7s are in the same boat and after 8 months or so are at ~20% of the requirement, including potential additional roads.  Reruns are just not in the cards for just about anything anymore.  SP bloody nose was offered this time and the number reserved was right around zip.  So for those two about the only way is to buy a couple and have them redecorated.  I don't know if there are any undecorated available.

rdunniii posted:

 

Lights working but doesn't run.  Hmmmm.  Both are controlled by the same circuit board.   This is a new motor (needed to fit in the narrow hood)  so hopefully not that 

.

This comment for me?   Will email on the side Fuel tank hot and rear of  shell Markers work, and sound. Head lights out. The first to go was the oscillating unit

I received my Milwaukee Road SD7 yesterday but wasn't able to open it up until today. This is my first diesel from 3rd Rail and it is a real beauty, thank you Scott and everyone involved with this project. I could only run mine on my 4 foot test track as I'm in the construction stage with my layout at the present. All seem to be working as it should, sounded great, smoke well. I too will be switching out the pilot and coupler as I don't care for the size of the opening the current pilot has. Here is a few pics:

Laidoffsick posted:

I haven't seen a 2nd run of anything besides the El Capitan cars. 

The only second runs I remember were the E7s and possibly the RDCs.

F7's on the Empire Builder but that hasnt happened yet

rdunniii posted:

Is it possible the CNW units had dual cab controls like the N&W did?

 

I cannot speak on the C&NW units, but, for those interested in the Q, the Burlington SD9's had dual controls, with No.6 air brake equipment.

I took a few pictures, Im a bit rusty with the cannon but not bad

John. Here ya go. PS3 will easily fit. 

Not sure why youd want to go and put PS3 in a perfectly good loco

Matt Makens posted:

Not sure why youd want to go and put PS3 in a perfectly good loco

Not gonna get into that debate here

DaveJfr0 posted:

So I just found a problem that may affect more than just me.  The factory glued the middle step in the wrong place in all 4 locations on both of my SD9 models.  I bet that others may have this issue too.

I pulled off one step to be sure it could be removed and it came off easily, but left glue residue on the pilot. It will be relatively easy for me to fix cuz I can sand down the residue, spray it black and weather my units, but everyone else may not be so lucky.

Here's a pic to show the problem:   I believe you are correct based on all posted pics so far.

 

I'll have to check when I get home but it looks like my CNW units are missing the step all together

The second step is mounted too high giving the appearance of a missing step.