Metra roll call!!!!

So here is my latest project: my track cleaning car. Ex-Amtrak superliner (acquired along with an F59PHI) 

Looks like this might have to be my first Lionel locomotive purchase to custom paint: SD70MAC

https://metrarail.com/about-me...-locomotive-purchase

How much of a modification will be made on these SD70MAC locos by EMD?

Andrew

the engine work is really fantastic, however 6 month ago i said i'd like to flute the passenger cars with my 3d laser printer, i gave up.

now i have a 2d laser cutter. but i still  cant seem to figure out how to score and engrave the fluting on the cars.

Jerry, 

I have been following this thread for a while, but have yet to comment. I feel the need to remark now on how incredible your custom painting is. I am so impressed by the professional level of repaints and decals, it actually blows me away. If you have any interest in writing for a small magazine, send me an email. Again, amazing work!

Been busy working on a premier F40PH and another fantasy heritage paint scheme in CB&Q colors...

Awesome! Great job Jerry

Maxrailroad posted:

Awesome! Great job Jerry

Hey Max, thanks for feedback. I feel like I'm getting better learning with every new paint job.  All these pieces are Railking (as it provides me a lower cost "test piece" for all these "heritage" fantasy schemes except for the F40PH.

The F40PH Metra #177 is my "new to me" premier PS2... formerly Amtrak. It's my first attempt at a more detailed premier model. A lot more little detailed parts to remove... but the end result is more rewarding then my previous Railking models #175 & #181.

All these are rattle can paint jobs but really want to give air brushing another try.

Not a professional painter (ER nurse and dad to a toddler is my main specialty)by any means and I'm still practicing... I'm more of a enthusiast/hobbyist.

if only I can get my real layout started. With all these Metra diesels I've accumulated- maybe a layout centered around a diesel maintenance/paint facility/yard would be sweet.

My latest paint projects: SW1, SW1200, F40PH-3

my new to me MTH premier F40PH in Metra #113 pre-weathered and detailed by previous owner

Dominic Mazoch posted:

BNSF-Matt posted:

Yes, you can run them in push-pull operation as the MTH control car has a switch to enable those specific lighting functions. Engine is always first outbound and control car is first inbound.

In 1975, I was riding what is now the SW CHIEF into Union Station.  We were passing in the same direction this bilevel BN commuter train going "BACKWARDS".  I thought at first it was out of control.  Then we passed the cab car, and my blood pressure dropped 200 points.  My first look at push-pull railroading.  BTW, BN E units and BN and Burlington on the cars!

Back in the early 60's we used to take the C&NW Green and yellow F-7s and bilevel cars.  I remember the 2 engineers would ncome up the stairs on each side and enter their control cab.  You could hear them talking back and forth.  A young boy who was a relative got to go in the cab.  Darn!  Wouldn't adopt me.

I also remember going from car to car to get to the FA unit which was in push mode.  I always wanted to get in the cab to check it out.  One time the door to the engine was left unlocked.  Nervously turning the handle and stepping inside.  I was met by what appeared to be a long row going down the side.  The drivetrain was definitely in the middle.  I kept walking and the noise was unreal loud. Evnogh to deafen you if you stayed too long.   At that point, I decided I did not want to get caught and in trouble.  I wasn't sure their would be engineers in the cab and was afraid they would heave me overboard.

Memories of a 8 year old boy.  Have been in love with C&NW ever since.  Thanks to Matt for selling me his F-7s.

The trains would come in to the C&NW train station in Chicago control cab 1st and would go to Geneva, Illinois.  Then reverse and go back to Chicago.

The nice thing about having a set on your layout is that you do not have to go through  a reverse loop.  There really is no proper forward or backward.  Just my thoughts for the day.  I never told my mother or my brother about my escapade.  You the readers, my friends are the 1st to hear this story.  I am cleansed, but not of trains.

Got an email that my railking scale Metra F40PH #104 is due to arrive tomorrow. Exciting stuff to add to my fleet.

speaking of: me and my 3 year old have been busy working on our fleet. Here’s a little update:

So my first go at modifying MTH bilevels for Metra:

I tried my hand at adding fluting to the sides and modeled based on a Budd Bi-level seen on BNSF Metra. I’m happy with the first go at using Alclad paints: my next 3 cars should be better. Shout out to Chris Williams over at switchlinedecals.com for decals and tips

Also did the re-acquired Pullman cars in the repaint scheme. And my favorite little switcher: METX SW-1

I joined the club yesterday! Picked up my MTH Railking F40PH from Legacy Station yesterday which I preordered from the 2019 Vol 1 catalog:

It's interesting to see the new Railking version next to a PS2 Premier version - the shells are sized almost identically but there's definitely a number of add-on details on the premier version that the Railking version is lacking (as expected) - notably:

- See-through radiator screens and spinning fans
- Windshield wipers
- Marker Lights
- Add-on steps
- Nose ladder hand rails

Overall I'm very pleased with the locomotive - the sounds and lights are great, and the fake Chicago accent PFA announcements is pretty great!  Now I just need to decide what to do in the way of passenger cars!

That Railking version looks really nice!

Keep all the Metra pics coming, here is my trio (could be quartet if you include the BiCen Subway).

Just picked up my railking scale Metra F40PH #104. Running it now and it’s just great!

its a great value: granted as stated by previous post, doesn’t have all the details of a premier but next to my premier f40ph units, it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.

The PFA and sounds are a new file (or new to me) and are for the “Rock island district”.

definitely happy with this purchase from Mr. Muffins trains. 

mattrain posted:

I joined the club yesterday! Picked up my MTH Railking F40PH from Legacy Station yesterday which I preordered from the 2019 Vol 1 catalog:

It's interesting to see the new Railking version next to a PS2 Premier version - the shells are sized almost identically but there's definitely a number of add-on details on the premier version that the Railking version is lacking (as expected) - notably:

- See-through radiator screens and spinning fans
- Windshield wipers
- Marker Lights
- Add-on steps
- Nose ladder hand rails

Overall I'm very pleased with the locomotive - the sounds and lights are great, and the fake Chicago accent PFA announcements is pretty great!  Now I just need to decide what to do in the way of passenger cars!

I just ordered that one also from Mr. Muffin. I don't have cars, but I'm not concerned. As a long-time METRA commuter, I needed an F40ph. I was interested to see that MTH has "Superliners" (AMTRAK style) available....shades of things to come?

Can you spot the "railking scale” model? From left to right: #173 railking, #104 railking scale, #217, 113 premier, #90 premier Metra Cascades patch unit

jerrymouse25 posted:

 Shout out to Chris Williams over at switchlinedecals.com for decals and tips

 

i'll second that.

Brendan

And finally: METX #79... former Amtrak F59PHI #456. Based on pics seen on social media and a brief look while seeing it parked at the Western Shops. I know my Metra Decal was a bit larger than real life... but it’ll do. My little guy just loves it and that’s more than good enough for me!

This is on a former MTH railking imperial model.

Not sure how I feel about the paint scheme as it truly looks like Metra ran out of black paint... but it’s different, and kinda growing on me. 

Latest project: a “Winnebago” Metra... F40PHM... this is a Switchline Decals Designed F40PHM. CAB designed and resin printed by Christopher Williams fused to a MTH F40ph premier model. 

Still needs windows and grabs 

more pics and details to come after my 3yr old project manager and I come back from scouting some real Winnabego units at Chicago Union Station. 😉👍...after further observations at the end of the BNSF Metra line... we decided to go back to the black window surrounds.

Still much left to do... waiting for our micro drill so we can install all our white grabs.

My little man tested the durability of my shell body work. He insisted to show our work to Metra conductors- very friendly ones I might add.

side note... he picked #210 when given a choice of numbers... as of last weekend, it still sits in its vintage Metra blue and orange at 47th Rocket pit awaiting rehab... 

METX 210 (F40PHM) is headed back into the shops for more work. 

-This “Winnebago” Metra project was by far my most favorite so far.

Another shout out to Christopher Williams of switchline decals for his custom cab design and printing this prototype out on his 3D resin printer. 

Even came out to the Illinois Railway Museum to hand deliver the cab to me and the little guy. 

I believe he does a lot of HO stuff but he has never turned his nose at O-scale... Hasn’t said no to the possibility of doing a MPI Mp36PH. Exciting and fun stuff.

jerrymouse25 posted:

Looks like this might have to be my first Lionel locomotive purchase to custom paint: SD70MAC

https://metrarail.com/about-me...-locomotive-purchase

Has there been any progress on these rebuilds?

West bound Naperville, Il. Notice the dirt spray on the front side.

franktrain posted:

West bound Naperville, Il. Notice the dirt spray on the front side.

I can’t bear to dirty up/weather my hard work... at least not yet. Metra, at least from what I’ve seen on the MD-N line, generally keeps their locomotives clean. 

Seeing fewer F40ph units and more F59PHI and Mp36s up by me lately. Haven’t seen #79 rotting away at the western yard lately - hoping that means we will see the F59phi in its non-patched Metra colors in revenue service soon.

All grabs are installed. Still working on fabricating the front shelves under windshield project manager moving his freshly painted #163METX #174: 2019 Operation North Pole decal set by switchline decals. Amazing graphics...  first time doing an entire wrap scheme. Chris walked me thru it and I think it turned out pretty good. Underneath was a former dead 5V MTH railking McDonalds f40ph that I had on hand. I began to paint most of it in the Metra progress rail post rehab paint scheme. Then applied the decal wrap set.

And just for good measure: a fictional #163 CNW heritage F40ph unit. Rattle can paints with decals from same source as above.

East bound to Chicago with holiday crowds!

A few more units I’ve been working on.

METX #214 “Operation Lifesaver” F40phm-2 in pre rehab livery.

-still needing grab irons, windows, ac units, and nose stripes.

Nose and decals by Switchline Decals. The 214 nose I got printed on shapeways (1 wk production and shipping time) and glued to a MTH Premier F40ph body. Same process as previously done with METX 210.

METX #121 “Jimmy Johns Little John wrap” 

METX #174 “Operation Northpole” Wrap

@jerrymouse25 posted:

Tried another fantasy "heritage" paint scheme. Former Railking Rtr F59PHI Amtrak #3010...

Now "Metra Heritage CNW" #94. 

Nice job. Your paint scheme was prophetic. METRA just did #90 in the more traditional diesel scheme.

Here's the link to the article from Trains magazine: https://trn.trains.com/news/ne...in%20January%202018.

Williams by Bachmann has the ability to make approximations of the METRA commuter locomotives with the F59PHI locomotive models. 

Andrew

Bachmann has the former K-Line O scale F40PH locomotive that they can make in the METRA schemes for the Williams line. 

Andrew

https://ogrforum.com/...0#120666844118871210 Hey Jerry, Great work! I'm new to the hobby. Would you be up for painting an Amtrak F40PH to Metra scheme? Thanks! Tom

Man I'm so jealous about all of this cool Metra stuff.

I scored a RK BN green hockey stick E9 AA and a single bi-level pullman car that's unpainted from one of the MTH auctions. I bid on a second pair of them but lost out by 20 bucks (ugh).

If anyone ever feels like they can part with two gallery cars (in any paint scheme, I can repaint to the silver Burlington scheme) please let me know! They are rarely on any of the big auction sites. Otherwise my Metra E9 is stuck pulling a single car consist!

Really beautiful stuff gentlemen.  Thanks for sharing!

It's particularly great to see custom work depicting some of the trains I've photographed here on the west side of Chicago.

I am relishing this thread and the models portrayed.  I'm an old steam man but am enjoying myself considerably watching Metra's variety on the BNSF,  the gallery cars with "Burlington", the one Metra nightly double-header (with 8 cars, vs. the regular 7 cars and 1 locomotive), spotting the BNSF 25 yr commemorative unit, Amtrak long distance trains (this past afternoon 2 private cars were tacked on the end of the SW Chief), BNSF 6 locomotive intermodal hotshots, the Siemans' Charger locomotive on the Illinois Zephyr, the occasional coal train.  All in all, not a bad time to be a railfan! And, as displayed, a modern era model railroader, too!

Some of you guys REALLY like Metra O gauge stuff.  I was trying to score a bare minimum of 2 of the silver CTA / Metra cars on an auction yesterday.  8 total cars were available (a 4 pack and two 2 packs).  In the end, prices were more than twice my max.  Cars going for more than $230 a piece?  **** I don't have a chance...

Whoever won those cars, enjoy!  Take photos so I can be more jealous.

Just in case you other Metra peeps didn't see this from MTH the other day. Metra SW-1 Switcher Diesels are being made as special run due out this summer.

Uncataloged Limited Edition RailKing SW-1 Diesel Locomotives Announced

January 19, 2021 - M.T.H. Electric Trains has announced special limited-edition releases of the RailKing SW-1 Diesel Locomotive in six different liveries. These unique releases are part of a series of products representing the last M.T.H. production runs as the company concludes its 40 year history this Spring.

https://mthtrains.com/news/676

Jerr Mouse 25:

Your Burlington Metra loco & gallery cars are beautiful !!!

What material did you use for the fluting on your bilevel car ?  

Would the corrugated siding from either Evergreens Plastics or Plastruct work ?

Your son sure looks happy in your photos with the trains !!!  He will be a life long rail fan !!!

CB&Q Bill

JerryMouse,

Thanks for posting about Switch Line Decals and your Metra projects! I never even knew those decals existed and now I’m ready to try transforming some old F40s. I had been lobbying MTH to make the new Metra paint scheme but it appears time has run out on that plan so it’s on to your method.

keep the Metra projects coming!!

@CBQ_Bill posted:

Jerr Mouse 25:

Your Burlington Metra loco & gallery cars are beautiful !!!

What material did you use for the fluting on your bilevel car ?  

CB&Q Bill

I second Bill’s request for more details on the fluting. The MTH cars simply don’t look good plain sided.

@mark s posted:

spotting the BNSF 25 yr commemorative unit,

I’m hi-jacking my own thread for a minute...

Mark, I’ve been looking and looking to spot one of those and haven’t seen one yet. Hard to believe since I live right along the BNSF! With the shoo fly bridge work there is a huge section of open space to watch all things trains in Western Springs and Hinsdale right now in case you didn’t know. With all the trees cut down you can see for miles. The Oak Street bridge in Hinsdale gives a great view high above the quick curves they added around the construction area.

I wasn’t liking the clear windows MTH made in the Metra cars so I went to an art supply store and bought some green acetate, cut it down and used double sided tape to keep it in place. Much more like the real deal now.