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UPDATED on 1/25/14 with several new progress photos...

 

I thought it would be fun to start a thread documenting the progress on my first-ever attempt at scratch-building and custom-decorating model trains.  Hanging out here on the OGR Forum for the past few years has taught me nearly every technique and idea that has been and will be used in this project, not to mention the tools and products used and where to buy them.  Thanks to all of you!

Brief History:
My grandfather was a fireman and engineer on the Jersey Central from the 1940's until his death in 1968.  He worked out of the rather significant yard and shop complex in Ashley, PA.  There was an Ashley-based service/wreck train that I'm using as my prototype inspiration.  Below are two photographs taken in 1954 of the service train in fresh paint.  You may notice that I have taken a few liberties in my attempt to replicate the original.  I am a true newbie at this, and a few details are beyond my current level of ability!

CNJ Ashley Service Train-circa 1954 photo
CNJ Hook #4-Ashley, PA Sept, 1954
The Project:
I intend to build a 7-car wreck/service train that includes a crane, two crane tender/spare truck cars, cable car, tool car, modified passenger car for the crew to ride in and a fuel (tank) car.  The cable car, crane, one of the crane tender/spare truck cars and the tool car have been completed.  Four down and 3 to go!  Here's a brief description of the build process and some before and after photos of each car...

1.) Cable Car #92082:

This car started out as an AtlasO Master Line CNJ single-sheathed M.O.W. boxcar that was lettered for the Jersey City service train.  I removed the words "Jersey City" and replaced it with "Ashley"; added the prototypical CNJ herald in the upper right, the words "Cable Car" on the door and the Ashley build date.  I used dry-transfer decals/lettering to do this.  I also painted the door handles yellow.  The last step was adding a coat of a clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.

Before...
Cable Car Before
AFTER...
CNJ Cable Car-5
CNJ Cable Car-6
2.) Crane "Hook #4":
This car started out as a minimally-detailed MTH RailKing CNJ crane that was lettered for the Jersey City service train, was numbered "6", and had the late 1960's-early 1970's "Central Railroad Company of New Jersey" herald.  I basically had to remove all lettering and numbering from this car.  But, the very first thing I did was cut off the huge, non-prototypical MTH smokestack and replace it with one custom-made from a dowel rod.

Dry transfer decals were then used to add the correct lettering, logo and number "4", which was the number on the hook based out of Ashley.  I then painted all safety appliances, handrails and grab irons yellow, and the window frames silver.  I added several more details such as the boom tie-downs, hooks, various size chains, etc.  The incorrect roller-bearing type trucks were replaced with more prototypical friction-bearing trucks.  The last step was adding a coat of a clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.

Before...
Crane Before-1 Crane Before-3
DURING...
CNJ Crane-3

AFTER...
CNJ Crane-6

CNJ Crane-8 
3.) Crane Tender/Spare Truck Car #92012:
This car has required the most work so far!  It started out as an "old" Atlas (pre-AtlasO) CNJ gondola painted in the late "Coast Guard" scheme.  I had to cut down the body and re-attach the top rail, then use plastic putty to fill the joint/seam.  I then scratch-built a separate compartment to hold all of the various sizes of wood blocking used in the re-railing process, then sanded and re-painted the entire car.  The stock plastic trucks and couplers were replaced with Weaver die-cast ones.  Dry-transfer decals/lettering were used to completely re-letter the car, followed by a coat of clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.

I then built, painted and weathered a "rack" to hold the spare trucks.  I had a bunch of "old" Atlas plastic trucks/wheelsets in my parts bin that, after painting and weathering (pictured below,) made the perfect load for this car!

Before...
Atlas [Petersen) CNJ Gondola #89205-Red
DURING:
Spare Truck Car-1
Spare Truck Car-2

CNJ Spare Truck Car-4

AFTER:
CNJ Spare Truck Car-7

CNJ Spare Truck Car-9
4.) Tool Car #92161:
This car started out as an AtlasO Master Line CNJ single-sheathed M.O.W. boxcar that was lettered as a "Blocking" car.  I removed the yellow box with the words "Blocking Car" and added words "Tool Car" on the door.  I also removed the CNJ herald and re-applied one in the correct location, and added the Ashley build date.  Once again dry transfer decals and lettering were used. I painted the door handles yellow.  The last step was adding a coat of a clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.


Before:
CNJ Tool Car-Before
AFTER...
CNJ Tool Car-4
CNJ Tool Car-5
I look forward to completing the remaining 3 cars and will continue to update my progress in this thread.  Thanks for looking!

Attachments

Images (17)
  • CNJ Ashley Service Train-circa 1954 photo
  • CNJ Hook #4-Ashley, PA Sept, 1954
  • Cable Car Before
  • CNJ Cable Car-5
  • CNJ Cable Car-6
  • CNJ Crane-3
  • CNJ Crane-6
  • CNJ Crane-8
  • Atlas (Petersen) CNJ Gondola #89205-Red
  • Spare Truck Car-1
  • Spare Truck Car-2
  • CNJ Spare Truck Car-4
  • CNJ Spare Truck Car-7
  • CNJ Spare Truck Car-9
  • CNJ Tool Car-Before
  • CNJ Tool Car-4
  • CNJ Tool Car-5
Last edited by CNJ #1601
Original Post

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Thanks, t8afao.  I used a very fine-toothed Zona razor saw to cut down the gondola.  I really took my time, cutting very slowly along a line I drew on the car. 

After removing the 3 pieces (two sides and one end), I made a second cut just under the top "rail" on each removed piece.  I then re-applied the top rail to the already cut-down sides and end.
Definitely like how your project is progressing. Impressive work with the modifications to the Gondola.
 
 
Originally Posted by joeyA:

I thought it would be fun to start a thread documenting the progress on my first-ever attempt at scratch-building and custom-decorating model trains.  Hanging out here on the OGR Forum for the past few years has taught me nearly every technique and idea that has been and will be used in this project, not to mention the tools and products used and where to buy them.  Thanks to all of you!  If I get enough courage, I may even take a stab at weathering...but I'll make that decision when the build project is completed!

 

Brief History:

My grandfather was a fireman and engineer on the Jersey Central from the 1940's until his death in 1968.  He worked out of the rather significant yard and shop complex in Ashley, PA.  There was an Ashley-based service/wreck train that I'm using as my prototype inspiration.  Below are two photographs taken in 1954 of the service train in fresh paint.  You may notice that I have taken a few liberties in my attempt to replicate the original.  I am a true newbie at this, and a few details are beyond my current level of ability!

 

CNJ Ashley Service Train-circa 1954 photo

......

Originally Posted by t8afao:

Thanks for the info.  The more I look at the gondola the more I dig it.  If you do weather it I think that would add a lot to it.  I need to look into making one for ATSF line.  Thanks for showing and I look forward to the other cars you are making. 

Here's one I'm gathering the components to replicate:

 

derik1

  

derik2

Attachments

Images (2)
  • derik1
  • derik2
Last edited by AGHRMatt

Joe, Matt & sinclair, thank you for the complements and encouragement...it means a lot to me!  Scratch-building and custom-decorating has opened up a whole new side of the train hobby for me.  I'm having a blast...and now I'm hooked.  I just wish I tried it many years ago! 

 

Matt, that Santa Fe work train looks really neat, and I'm sure that it will make for a fun project.  Please keep us posted!  Sinclair, I will try to take more photos of the actual build process on the remaining 3 cars.

Originally Posted by AGHRMatt:
Originally Posted by t8afao:

Thanks for the info.  The more I look at the gondola the more I dig it.  If you do weather it I think that would add a lot to it.  I need to look into making one for ATSF line.  Thanks for showing and I look forward to the other cars you are making. 

Here's one I'm gathering the components to replicate:

 

derik1

  

derik2


NOW YOUR TALKING.  Looks like a neat set to make.  Thanks for posting this.

Bravo Joey A!  Awesome work for someone who claims to be a "newbie". Your work looks like its done by someone who's had years of experience.  I really like all your cars and especially the custom work you did on the crane car.  You have inspired me to customize my MTH B&O crane car and to put together a wreck train for my railroad.  Thanks so much for sharing the photos and for the inspiration :-)

Thanks Trainman & trumptrain!  I wasn't really expecting to do any "inspiring" by posting this thread, but I'm really glad it's working out that way.  All I ask is that you guys share whatever you end up doing!  Trumptrain, although I can't deny that I'm a very handy guy around the house, I have never attempted any train-related scratch-building projects before this one.  Now I'm hooked!

Hey Joe,

Tede Hikel just posted this thread because he's featuring MOW trains on his thread about various types of rolling stock. I noticed that you replaced Jersey City with Ashley; is that from the Ashley shop yards? If so, that facility existed behind my house. Only a few foundations left and scant remnants of ties in the ground, and some rail sections here and there. 

Nice work by the way on your version of the MOW train.

Don

Originally Posted by rail:

Hey Joe,

Tede Hikel just posted this thread because he's featuring MOW trains on his thread about various types of rolling stock. I noticed that you replaced Jersey City with Ashley; is that from the Ashley shop yards? If so, that facility existed behind my house. Only a few foundations left and scant remnants of ties in the ground, and some rail sections here and there. 

Nice work by the way on your version of the MOW train.

Don

Don, yes!  It is based on a wreck/service train that was based out of Ashley, PA!  If you scroll up to the very top of my original thread, you will see a section titled "Brief History" that explains why I chose this particular train to model.  There are also a couple photos of the prototype that were taken in the Ashley Yards in 1954.  And thanks for your complements on my work so far!

I missed the history part. That was some facility according to my wife. It was still in existence into her late teens. There was a round house, a full paint shop and several other maintenance buildings that are long gone. I used some of the brick from one of the buildings to do the walls in my basement, and some of the timbers from the round house became borders for a garden. 

Don

Spence and Peter, thanks for your kind comments.
 
Originally Posted by rail:

I missed the history part. That was some facility according to my wife. It was still in existence into her late teens. There was a round house, a full paint shop and several other maintenance buildings that are long gone. I used some of the brick from one of the buildings to do the walls in my basement, and some of the timbers from the round house became borders for a garden. 

Don

Don, I also grew up just down the road from the Ashley complex (in Newtown).  Your wife is correct: the Ashley Yard was a large and significant complex for the CNJ.  I have a few very treasured photos of the entire complex that my grandfather must have taken from atop the coaling tower.  They look almost like aerial shots.  Also, if you're interested, this website and this website have a lot of great photos of "what used to be" in Ashley.

 

Originally Posted by Avanti:

Thanks for the great work and the history.

 

My grandfather also worked at CNJ Ashley.  He was a brakeman at the Ashley Yards and also Ashley Planes. I modeled the gateman shanty that once stood where the tracks crossed Main Street.   A picture of the original and my model can be found here:

 

Ashley Gateman Shanty

 

Pete, I knew when I saw your post in the "Vignettes" thread that I have seen that elevated gateman's shanty before!!  I just couldn't place it until you posted here.  Although the activity in the yard was winding down when I was a kid growing up there, the shanty was still standing.  I used to pass by it many times a week on Main Street.  The one you built looks awesome!  Let me know if you ever get the urge to build another one!!

Joe and Pete, 
Would you care to give your last names? My wife, (Theresa Brown), lived in Ashley most of her life, and knows a fair amount of people from the surrounding area. One or both may know her.
My e mail is don195657@yahoo.com.
Pete, that is a very nice lookin tower. I have a question that perhaps one or both can answer: there is a concrete structure about 100 yards or so from the former breaker above the shops between trackage just west of the breaker. It is about 8 feet tall and kind of  hexagognal or octagonal with a center peaked concrete roof, and windows on all sides. The wife doesn't know what it was for.
Don

Weaver and early MTH had done a work train.   Add a gondola with ties and a backhoe designed to hop from car to car. 

2nd shelf from the top, Weaver Yellow caboose.

 

Edit/add:   Needed.  A backhoe on a gondola car.  Another piece of equipment, a crawler with a side-winder boom.  Both a big part, of more modern track repair/wreak removal.  IMO.   Friday 4/17/2020. 

Last edited by Mike CT

Wow...I see that my old thread has been “revived” by CNJ1082!  To answer your question, no, I have not finished this project.  Not sure why...probably because I still don’t have a layout to put it to use (properly showcase it).  

I did add an operating front and rear spot/flood/work light to the crane since I last posted to this thread...can’t remember if I posted a separate thread on that part of the project.  I also purchased the next “project” car several years ago—an Atlas Trainman combine baggage/passenger car—that will be converted to a crew car that was typically part of the CNJ’s service trains.  

Maybe I’ll get back to it this winter/spring.  In the meantime, feel free to email me at the address in my profile and I’ll try to answer your questions.

Last edited by CNJ #1601

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