Great Northern railway

I don' think those Southern RR MS-2s are properly called "duplex engines," a term that refers to locomotives with two engines attached to the same rigid frame, such as the famous PRR "duplex engines" like the S-1, T-1, Q-1 and Q-2. Southern referred to the additional engine under the tender as a "tractor engine," and of course the two units were articulated because of the connection between the tender and main engine with the boiler. Erie did have its "triplex" locomotives, so it might seem reasonable to refer to Southern's as "duplex" locomotives, but all the literature I am familiar with reserves the term "duplex" for the PRR and B&O experiments (perhaps some others as well) that placed two engines in a rigid frame.

Thanks for the added information.

I used what the importer had on the box.

2 layout visits after our NMRA MCR DIV 7 September meeting video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J74Gg6fFYk

Very nice layouts!

Southern MS-2 duplex 2-8-2 + 2-8-0 painting.

Two coats of black plus masking for the red roof and silver smoke box.

Masking done.

Piston rod guides plus one small piece of 'chrome' masked on the back drivers that couldn't be removed.

Piston rod guides on the front cylinders.

And wheels.

The sides of the gear box is painted black to help hide it between the boiler and frame.

Two coats 'shot' with 2 hours at 200 degrees for each coat.

The usual Scalecoat #10 black which is an enamel.

Most of the time I just, thoroughly, 'run' a lot of 'thinner' through my 50 year old 'air brush' but, every so often, it's disassembled and 'tooth brushed' cleaned.

Roof and smoke box masked for painting.

Mix 'smoke box grey' and 'smoke box oil and silver' for most engines.

My 'standard' for roofs.

Masking removed and another 2 hours at 200 degrees.

Southern MS-2 duplex 2-8-2 + 2-8-0 painting and a visit to Bob Lawson's Southern layout.

Hand painting pipes, decals and final sealer coat.

While hand painting the pipes black I noticed that those two 'valves' at the front of the engine on the running boards are 'marker' lights.

ARGG: I need to drill those out without damaging the silver paint on the smoke box so I can added 0402 LED's to them!

I stuck a piece of paper between the marker lights and the smoke box to protect the paint; just enough room to add the paper.

Then I drilled out the marker light and holding it with some pliers to 'stabilize' it while drilling it.

Since the marker light is close to the boiler I just continue drilling through the boiler so it will be easy to route the LED wires.

I used a hand drill to drill out the front of the marker light.

Some black paint on the exposed brass on the marker lights.

My Southern decal sheet was missing water and coal decals so I went over to Bob's house and got some Champ decals that he had.

This is the sheet of decals that I purchased 'awhile back'.

Champ decals.

The Champ decals were much  'crisper' than the 'other' decals so other than the large numbers used on the side of the tender all decals used were Champ.   Round decal on the right is Champ's; the blue paper one is not very 'sharp'.

Decals added and Scalecoat 'satin finish' applied.

Put 'numbers' on the smoke box front and both sides of the headlight: fun on those small individual numbers!

Painted the bell lanyard a 'rope color'.

Had to apply each number 'individually' as none were in 'sequence'.

Wheels dull coated.

====================

Bob's Southern layout.

Had to take some pictures while getting the Southern decals

He's the Michael Angelo of model railroading.

When Michael finished painting the Sistine Chapel, they asked if he would mind putting on a 2nd coat!

Most of the mainline is almost done so, soon, he'll be able to 'run trains'.

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

videos:

SP AC-6 'flat face' cab forward 4-8-8-2 18 car passenger train:

Waverly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9V95wCi9lY

Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0uz2TyBQbg

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB3l-Gx9EY8

Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTFwTmPVadY

PRR P5A electric with Mark's freight cars:

Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxRYLoQIF-o

UP Big Boy 4-8-8-4 with 41 freight cars.

Many 'open load' flat cars and gondolas.

Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVa7XBFe9T8&t=1s

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 with 40 freight cars.

Many of the freight cars are vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid kits.

Departing Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Ugm4xZ5dc

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVY5abjgGcQ

Joe and Jerry.

Mark, Nick and Bob.

UP 2-tone 4-6-6-4 40 car freight train departing Seattle.

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 at Waverly.

SP AC-6 4-8-8-2 18 car passenger train at Willmar.

Havre.

PRR P5A electric.

Bob 'switching' at Seattle.

Rayonier 2-6-6-2T articulated engine painting.

Imported by NWSL models in 1965.

I had not planned on painting this engine today but I noticed the front 'stand board' was bent.

I tried to 'straighten' it but it broke off the pilot.

Had to use resistance solder to re-attach it.

Then I noticed that the back 'stand board' was missing and not in the engine box.

Made a new one using the old one as a 'guide'.

Bent the 4 pieces of brass at a 90 degree angle.

Put some solder at the ends of each piece of brass.

Used alligator clips as 'heat sinks' while 'resistance soldering' it to the pilot.

Took the engine from the boiler and there was a lot of 'old foam' on all the parts.

Used a tooth brush, lacquer thinner and my 60 gallon air compressor with 120 pounds of 'air pressure'.

All better.

Drilled out both headlights plus holes in the boiler to route the wires for the 0402 LED's.

Drilled 4 small holes just under the 'running boards' for the 'running board' lights to light the valve gears when the engineer is oiling them.

1965 motor.

Replaced with a can motor.  Removed the white nylon with a pair of pliers.

Never throw anything away!

While having new lens installed in my eyeballs I took all that tubing they stick in your nose.

Should be enough to do a few engines!

Again, much better.

Bench tested to insure no 'binds'.

Parts cleaned and ready to tape the 'chrome' parts and then paint.

One of the reasons I decided to paint the engine was the frame and drivers are already 'blackened' so no disassembly of the drivers.

Only had to mask off the front to paint the 'stand board'.

Parts not needing painted.

Ready for Scalecoat #10 black.

2 hours at 200 degrees.

Did a 'google' on the Rayonier 2-6-6-2T engine to get paint and lettering info but can't find this engine.

Anyone has any info please post.

thanks.

PM my 50 year old airbrush.

My airbrush was not allowing paint to be 'sprayed'.

Cleaned it and nada.

Replaced it with one of my 'backups' but the same results so I figured the problem was 'external'.

Put a new filter 'in line' but same results.

It 'hit me' that maybe the 'vent hole' in the jar is clogged;  yup and it took 50 years to 'clog it up'!

'Dull coated' some RR items for this Saturday's 'how to weather' clinic.

Rayonier 2-6-6-2T articulated engine painting.

Smoke box painted, decaling done and 'satin finish' applied.

Smoke box painted.

I couldn't find any pictures of this engine so I used what I had which was some old Champ lettering decals.

Of course, now that it's done, someone will say that's incorrect; to which I, usually reply, please show me how you did your model of it!

Laid out all the 'RAYONIER' letters and worked from the 'inside out' on applying the lettering to center the name on the side of the tank.

Satin finish applied and another 2 hours at 200 degrees.

'Air dried' parts.

Very nice work!!

Thanks Mark.

After 40 plus years of painting, some are 'bound' to look good!

UP 4-12-2 disassembly and painting.

Imported by Sunset in 1978.

I've got 5 of these engines, 2 with working Greasley valves for the 3rd cylinder but I got this version as it had a grey boiler.

Bench test to insure no 'binds'.

Added a deck plate.

Those 2 little hinges had to be inserted into the back of the engine after drilling  2 holes.

Also, I had to drill out the deck plate hinges as the brass casting wasn't 'up to par'.

I used a smaller diameter brass rod to secure the hinges.

The hinges were too small to resistance solder as they might melt so I used JB weld.

Marker lights drilled with a #66 drill bit for the 0402 LED lights.

Back head drilled to route the cab light.

2 holes on each side under the running boards for the 'running board' lights.

Had to re-solder the tender's hand rail.

MMM; now I wish I would have drilled a hole in the front of the tender instead of soldering it the way that the factory 'did'!

Tender headlight drilled.

Previous owner drilled some huge holes for a speaker.

Some holes to route the decoder wires.

Deck plate attached to the cab.

Parts washed in dish washing soap and water with a tooth brush.

Parts that will be 'cooked'.

Parts to be air dried.

Parts not painted.

All parts, side rods, side rod screws, etc. orientated in same order as removed from engine and tender.

All electrical parts masked.

1st coat of Scalecoat #10 'shot' and ready for 2 hours at 200 degrees.

What I'm hoping it will look like!

Video of the working Greasley valve including the 3rd chuff from the 3rd cylinder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3mFcRehnTk

@samparfitt, Wow, 81 pages of friends, fun, and Lots of Trains, it’s always fun to review your thread, a truly great way to enjoy this wonderful hobby. Your layout, your great friends, it’s simply fantastic… Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry,

Thanks for the kind comments.

UP 4-12-2 painting (continued).

Last Friday I put 2 'coats' of Scalecoat #10 black on all parts with the usual 2 hours at 200 degrees for each 'coat'.

Today I masked off the boiler and pistons for the grey paint.

All secondary paint only gets one 'coat'.

2 hours at 200 degrees.

Handrails, piping, etc. will be hand painted.

UP 4-12-2 painting (continued).

Hand painting and decaling.

Some lead (or should I say cerrobend) was in the boiler and melted.

It took 4-5 'cooks' before it melted! 

I'm guessing the previous owner added it as I've never seen it used in brass engines.

After hand painting all the railings, piping, etc. black I accessed all my UP decals.

I had to use different sheets to accomplish all the needed nomenclature plus I was short one small 'union pacific' that is under the cab window instead of the usual engine number.

I'm relying on a Key model for my 'data'.

Silver stripes off this sheet.

I don't believe UP did any other tenders with this 'arrangement'.

Black piping done plus silver stripe decals along the running boards and at the bottom of the cab.

A little 'tricky' getting the decals on the edges of the running boards!

The last nomenclature that I don't have is the 'union pacific' under the cab window.

I used white for the white walls. 

Got these paint pens from Michaels.

2 applications will be needed.

My 'reference material'.

They have white on the running boards.

From what I read UP used silver but, over time in the sun, the silver turned white.

The 4-12-2 really looks great, Sam!

Thanks Mark,

One modeler didn't 'think so', see below.

====================

UP 4-12-2 painting.

Satin finish applied except for the boiler.

Awaiting an N gauge set of decals so I can put the 'Union Pacific' under the cab window.

A UP modeler 'pointed out' several errors in my model.

The fonts are incorrect for this engine and the feed water heater is incorrectly located on this engine.

Sunset models labeled this as #9000 and they made an error on the feed water heater location.

The fonts are incorrect but I really can't see a big difference in them.

The fonts aren't that large and it will, probably, take a picture to notice them as pictures show more errors than the 'human eye' does in 'real life'.

This engine is a 'one of a kind' done by UP and there were no decal sets for it.

I have several decal sets and had to use different parts to get 'what I have'.

He has higher standards than I do!

Kind of like a good steak: I'll never spend 50 bucks for a steak when my 'taste buds' are 25 dollar ones!

Used Scalecoat 'satin finish' to seal decals and paint.

2 more hours at 200 degrees.

'Air' dry.

Even in my detached shop, it's nice to have the two 9' doors open to circulate the air.

The boiler awaiting the N gauge decal under the cab window to arrive in the mail.

Had to pay 16 bucks just for this one decal that I need!

The only picture that I could find for reference; full size or model.

My other 5 4-12-2's: not sure how I acquired so many!!

Key model that I painted and added a decoder and lights.

Has working Gresley valve for the 3rd cylinder.

BLI model.

MTH model.  Has working Gresley valve for the 3rd cylinder.

Key model. Also has working Gresley valve for the 3rd cylinder.

Functional hatches, see through running boards, etc. and 'coast drive'.

Tenshodo model.

Again: Has working Gresley valve for the 3rd cylinder.

THREE-POINT EQUALIZED SUSPENSION where one driver can be lifted off the rails while the other drivers stay on the rails.

Maybe he knows the difference, but couldn’t model it as well as you.  On the other hand, maybe he can.  Yours looks great!

Train show at Berea, Ohio fairgrounds (Cleveland).

Miles: 210

5 buildings.

1st on the left and several hundred feet 2 on each side of the street.

The 'line' was this long in front of me and then, after about 15 minutes, the 'line' behind me.

Building 1.

Were several historical societies there.

passenger table.

Several Lionel 'generals'.

Some huge cranes.

Lots of clothing apparel.

Building 2.

Lots of layouts.

I think that Lionel tunnel may be rare.

4-H club.

Building 3.

Lots of nice pictures.

Division clinic on different subjects.

John and I graduated from the same school and class in 1968.

Building 4.

3 rail O.

Live steam.

Building 5.

Lots of different scale signals.

NMRA MCR DIV 7 monthly meeting with 2 layout visits.

Meeting.

Zoom group.

Rick's layout in a major magazine.

Awards.

Chuck's presentation.

Bill's 3 rail, hi rail, layout.

Walk around video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXZPpbS19oQ

Interiors well 'decorated'.

Island type layout with buildings on the outside walls.

Jim's HO layout in the late 1800's.

Walk around video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfgkHNGm64E

His 'tree making' machine: unfortunately, the only picture is blurred.

2 wires tied to other end, kemp rope put between wires and then twisted.

Results.

Probably one of the last pictures of Jim in 2020 at Bill's house.

Thank you for all the photographs!  You were certainly busy!  I considered going to the Berea show, which I have never attended, but I wasn't up for 2-1/2 hours driving each way.  Lots of nice modular layouts!  Nice to see John, an old classmate.  That puts you 6 years older than I am.

Both nice layouts, Bill's and Jim's 1800's!!

On a trip to the Wilds safari east of Columbus, Ohio I stopped at my old friends home in Lancaster that I've 'known' since the 70's.

Gary's NP layout.

6 tracks on the right are staging.

There will be 2 helixes.

'Printer' generated of an NP station.

Restored NP headlight.

Mainline 'runs through' this area.

Main shop.  Paint booth to the right.

Also, has a few GN engines.

Ross club weekly Tuesday night:

Videos:

Many of the cars are vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid kits.

UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy and UP 2-tone grey 4-8-4 freights:

Waverly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeliN5tC7Gg

N&W J 4-8-4 passenger train:

Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0yS0FIoWgI

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFiwOr-tSy8

B&O E A-B passenger train:

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SnKOdda25M

UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy freight:

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAb4wkAEfHk

Glacier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTV8xeB07zM

UP 2-tone grey 4-8-4 freight:

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7U8gra6inE

Jerry operating the UP 4-8-8-4 freight.

Bob operating the UP 2-tone grey 4-8-4 freight.

UP 4-8-8-4 at Skykomish.

Nick operating the B&O E A-B passenger train west of Waverly.

St. Paul freight yard.

Havre.

Waverly.

Mark operating the N&W J 4-8-4 passenger train.

B&O E A-B passenger train on Tumwater canyon trestle.

Waverly. UP 4-8-4.

Joe kept busy.

St. Paul's freight yard.

UP 4-12-2 #9000 painting.

The N scale decals arrived and applied to the cab sides and 'satin gloss' added.

NMRA MCR DIV 7 train show in West Chester, Ohio (Cincinnati area).

Friday afternoon I, along with many others, helped dealers bring their 'stuff in'.

A lot of work setting up their modular layouts.

Before:

HO gauge.

3 railers.

After.

The entire Lokota high school is used for the near 300 tables and around a dozen modular layouts.

These pictures were taken before the 'crowd' was admitted.

Main hall.

For those only selling a few items and don't want to rent a table.

NMRA booth.

Those wanting to test an engine before buying it.

N gauge.

N gauge 12" square modules.

HO gauge.

Got a picture of the aluminum stands for the layout above.

HO gauge.

3 railers.

HO gauge.

HO gauge.

Nice hand laid track.

Wide isle above the main basketball court.

Volley ball area.

S gauge.

S gauge.

HO gauge.

Most of these owners are the group that meets at my house, weekly, on Tuesday nights.

Live steam

Butane used for fuel.

G gauge.

Very innovative.

Young person made this PRR T-1 out of wood for the G gauge.

Used diesel trucks in the tender for 'power'.

Indoor football practice area.

Got my logging cars (see below) from fellow modelers.

John owns Hamilton hobbies.

An abundance of 'one type' engines!

N gauge.

Engine testing stand.

I bought a few items.

Never have too many trees!

Some nice logging cars for my logging railroad.

I think the T-1 was 3D printed by the young man. He had his 3D printer there today & was printing a coupler which he said takes I think 1.5 hrs to print. He told me the engine took somewhere around 3.5 weeks to print all the pieces

Thanks for the update.

Thinking about it, there were 'ridge lines' on the top indicating a printer was used.

I mentioned 'wood' to him and I think he may have used wood on the sides for large flat area.

NMRA MCR DIV 7 train show (a few more pictures) and 2 engines purchased on the last day of the show.

N gauge.

'Pennsy' group.

Cool; LED light that 'waves' appearing to be a flame.

Ross club group.

===========

2 new engines acquired at the show.

Southern DL-109's. 

New in the box.  DCC ready.

Almost 4 pounds.

Got to have 'that' which is unusual!

They were very 'cost effective' so I purchased them.

NMRA MCR DIV 7 visit to 2 local layouts in the Cincinnati, Ohio area:

3-rail hi-rail and HO gauges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkKlEfztc8U

GNRW OPS for 3rd W/E in October.

Usual pizza before operating.

Videos:

Paul's new NYC 2-8-2 freight:

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPi8bbSQDos

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp6k-OuIiyA

GN R-2 2-8-8-2 freight with Ben's snow plow:

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq9_ZdJD1ms

Ben's new 2-6-6-2T logging engine on Swan River logging railroad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhniGhpug_4

Paul's new NYC 2-8-2 and caboose.

GN electric 'helpers' at Skykomish.

Ben operating his new 2-6-6-2T logging engine.

NYC 2-8-2 at Hillyard.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Ben operating the GN R-2 2-8-8-2 freight departing Seattle.

2-6-6-2T on a 10% grade.

'How to weather' class at Sam Swanson's house.

Joe and I attended.

I brought some buildings and cars.

Before:

During.

After.

Some of Sam's buildings.

Newly scratch built diorama.

Other diorama's.

All from 'scratch'.

Nancy's scratch built barn from her father's farm.

Individual boards.

ON3.

All but one item scratch built.

Their "2 century's ago" house.

Very nice layouts and buildings at the weathering class.  I like the roughed in scenery of Jim Stewart’s layout

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

videos:

Nick's NYC F-3 diesels freight:

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsRmJzqPkLc

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scXeKf_W-ys

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRzg28-JXGU

NP A-3 4-8-4 freight:

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRjLiSObHEw

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obkTRzhUR5Y

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrk9MKB9zZU

DM&IR M-3 2-8-8-4 freight:

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VONV5Xkf5s

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP7RJgf0YeA

Bob operating the NP A-3 4-8-4 at Seattle.

NP A-3 4-8-4 at Hillyard.

Even at 'close up' the red nomenclature doesn't 'show' in the yellow back ground which labels the trains as they proceed on the mainline.

Bob operating the NP A-3 4-8-4 at Willmar.

Jerry operating the DM&IR M-3 2-8-8-4 freight.

NP A-3 4-8-4 at top level, Hillyard middle level with logging track and Skykomish at the lower level.

St. Paul's freight yard.

Bob and Jerry.

Views from my 'top side' creeper.

St. Paul.

Nick's NYC F-3 diesels at Willmar.

Departing Chumstick canyon trestle.

Tumwater canyon trestle.

Bob 'switching' at Seattle.

Joe dispatching.

Sam, I have never commented on your dispatcher's screen.  Please elaborate on it a bit; what software do you use, very briefly how it is set up. Thank you!!

Mark,

Check out the install at page 24.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/gre...hern-railway?page=24

it continues on 25, etc.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/gre...hern-railway?page=25

JMRI software is used along with RR-cirkits.

https://www.rr-cirkits.com/

Since the software is 'external' to what ever type of system is used to power the railroad, it can be incorporated into any size/style railroad.

It cost me about $2,500 to install including the PC and that was almost 6 years ago.

I got  'good prices' on the signals (about 5 bucks each) so the price can rise quickly if you need a lot of signals as signals can cost upwards of 25-75 dollars each.

@samparfitt posted:

Mark,

Check out the install at page 24.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/gre...hern-railway?page=24

it continues on 25, etc.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/gre...hern-railway?page=25

JMRI software is used along with RR-cirkits.

https://www.rr-cirkits.com/

Since the software is 'external' to what ever type of system is used to power the railroad, it can be incorporated into any size/style railroad.

It cost me about $2,500 to install including the PC and that was almost 6 years ago.

I got  'good prices' on the signals (about 5 bucks each) so the price can rise quickly if you need a lot of signals as signals can cost upwards of 25-75 dollars each.

Sam, I think that was before I started following your thread.  I got through reading all of it.  That was a major project especially for a large layout!  I’m sure everyone appreciates all the labor and expense!  

The signals and dispatcher's panel improves operations tremendously.

All the engineers have to do is obey the signals versus trying to tell an engineer to go to a certain town and wait there for further instructions.

The dispatcher's panel indicates which train is in a block, highlights it in red and indicates the direction of the train (East or West).

In addition, all the lighted signals makes the railroad 'pop'.