It all started when I came across CNJ #1601's posts from 2013 about building a CNJ wreck train. He was working on crafting a model of the CNJ's Ashley Service Train, which was based in Pennsylvania. Now, since in theory at least, I model the South Amboy area, I decided I needed to model the CNJ's Jersey City Service Train. Which, of course, other than their purpose, had almost nothing in common, as I discovered after researching as best I could the JCST (as I'll refer to the train for simplicity sake).
There are 2 things I was looking for, affordability and availability. I wasn't about to drop a couple of grand on something that'll for the most part probably be a static prop (some people may want to, more power to them, but modeling a railroad that saw much more red ink in its history than black lends me to an approach founded in austerity). I started with an MTH wreck crane. I modified it as best I could at the time, planning on adding gears and such to simulate the actual machinery in it. Since then, I've been doing a lot of 3D printing, so I'll probably rework my plans for it once again. Here's a pic of where it'd gotten to when other more pressing things had come along.
I'd cut the cab back to reveal the interior, and added a simulated "gear" under the cab. Of course, astute modelers will realize that CNJ #6 WASN'T built by Bucyrus (#4 and #5 were), but by Industrial Brownhoist. Somewhat fortuitous as the MTH model is actually of an Industrial Brownhoist crane. The things we learn when we research modeling projects! That'll be corrected at some point. The wheels pick up power from the tracks. I'm not sure if I'll just use that for lighting, or go whole hog and throw in a smoke unit as well (if I can squeeze one in there and still allow the crane to be operated), which would probably be best incorporating an ERR mini-commander.
Next up were the work cars. Atlas makes a lovely single-sheathed CNJ service train boxcar (actually, at least 2 that I know of). Finding one in both 3 rail AND under $60 is tricky. I picked up one for $28, but wasn't able to come across another. However, Lionel made at least 2 CNJ service train work cars (why, nobody seems to know, as they're not prototypical), and I was able to pick up both of them for around $20 plus shipping. The size was close to the Atlas car. They're listed as a tool car and a bunk car. Now, the Ashley service train had a tool car, and a cable car (it may have had others, but I know of those 2). At least one of the work cars had windows cut in either end and in the door (92113?). I haven't seen anything similar in pics I could find of the JCST (just 2 old single-sheathed converted box cars), so I figured some artistic license could be taken.
I printed some braces, replaced the cheap plastic "windows" with some "dirtied" acetate, painted the roof and the undercarriage black, and gave it a coat of a dull, faded, weathered-looking "red" paint (the Atlas car is, of course, in a lovely bright red paint that I'm going to have to figure how to tone down to somewhat match the rest without losing its lettering). I haven't gotten to the 2nd Lionel car, but since I haven't found pics of more than 2 on the JCST, it'll wait for the moment. Next...
The CNJ used a converted combine as a crew car for the JCST. I, of course, didn't have any spare combines lying about, but I was able to pick up a K-line 72' coach for around $20 plus shipping. Only problem was the coach had lovely opening doors on the vestibules, and the crew car had the exterior vestibule doors removed. The easiest way to remedy that was to print new interior bulkheads to replace the originals to which the doors were attached. While doing so, I added a frame for the door to the cabin, and a door handle. I removed 2 of the windows on each side on one end, and blocked out 3 of the windows on one side on the other end where a stove was. Added a few stovepipes to the roof, "dirty" window treatment replaced the former silhouettes, threw in a few shades here and there (not seen in the below pic), converted the lighting to LEDs, and that's where I'm at at the moment.
I just printed Pyle marker lights for one end which'll get red lenses and grain of wheat LEDs, but haven't mounted them yet. It'll also get lights on either end of the roof.
Next up is the "tender" or "boom" car for the crane, usually built from a converted gondola. Sometimes work trains have more than 1, but I haven't come across any pics of the JCST with more yet, so...
I'm going to have to get a set of decals printed for the entire train, as there no longer seems to be anything similar available in "O". Part of the fun was figuring what equipment was painted what, and when. I know the Ashley service train received fresh red paint around 1954, but there's no guarantee the JCST did at the same time. The JCST was painted boxcar brown (except for the crane, which remained black until the 70's) in 1964, but I'm modeling a period prior to that, ostensibly the mid 40s to mid 50s. Other than an occasional repaint, a wreck train wasn't exactly a maintenance priority, as long as it could do its job, so I decided to go with a faded, worn looking red as it might have appeared at the time.
