O Gauge C&NW

C&NW box truck by Corgi.

Wow guys. I'm away for a couple days and the passion comes out.  Great pics. Thanks for posting.

Matt,   I was wondering when you'd chime in.  Thanks for joining.

Bill,   I agree about the green!

Chris,   your Crusader is proof that a timeless color scheme looks fantastic on anything.

John,   love the Corgi truck.

Bob,   I have that same RS-1 I picked up a 3R with no box and broken couplers for a hundred bucks.  I bought the fixed pilot pieces and 2R couplers direct from Atlas and I'm going to 3RS it.  When I get to that project I'll post progress here.

Sorry if I missed any of you...

********* C&NW *********

Currently working on about a dozen Atlas O 6222 CNW stock cars.  Best steal in O gauge. Older Austrian made cars. Fantastic detail and surprisingly smooth runners even with their goofy plastic wheels, trucks, couplers.  I've picked them all up for $10-$20 a piece.

Quick dollup of nail polish remover on a Q-tip to remove the board graphics.  I replace and renumber with decals from Tichy Train group on ends and sides.  I don't mess with the smaller painted car info.  Replace the wheels in the existing plastic trucks and couplers with whatever I have on hand.  Dust decals with Dullcote.

Presto-change-o and I'll have a super inexpensive nicely detailed consist of fun cars to run behind the RS-1.  Not perfect, but lots of fun.  The decals are not as bright in reality.  The decals seem to reflect light the digital camera picks up, making them appear brighter than they really are.

a few pics.....

before and after....

Or.....you could buy new cars, from the exact same tooling, now in the Trainman line with better wheel sets and couplers for $70+ bucks.

Witz,

I like the stock cars. Nice job on the renumbering. I have a bunch of Weaver CNW cars that I have been 3RS each one. Added Kadee couplers to them and about 9-10 ounces of weight to bring them up to NMRA standards. Roll much better.

(Whole lot more where these came from )

Since I still have lionel couplers on my locomotives,  I made transition cars with a kadee on one end and a Lionel on the other.

Nice tinplate gftiv.  I Haven't seen those before!

All stunning!  Thanks for the photo tour.  I have no scenery to compare, but let me see if I have a couple shots to share.  For sure the H-16-66 is ready - sand-cast brass with CLW trucks and custom decals.

#2 and 3 were part of a group of models I did for Jim Seacrest.  I forget just exactly why we stole the trucks from the SD-9, but the paint was spectacular (MTH).  The E7 is an Overland that needed paint.  Black stripe was done with a Pilot pen.

I should add the baby Trainmasters - Jim had me shorten a couple of SP SD9s and repaint them - and convert to 2-rail.  Raoul Martin of NWSL helped by supplying kits for 2-railing that made the conversion almost trivial.

Bob, great pics! Thanks for joining in. Jim did have quite an awesome collection.  I'm glad that it lives on with so many who appreciate it.

A new book arrived today....

Just picked up this NOS pair of Williams RDC cars off the bay.  

With GGD's current aluminum car maker, they can do smaller runs down to 60 sets now or about 300 or so cars.  I'd lobby Scott for a correct set of streamlined cars for the 400.  While there are few ahead in line, pre-orders tend to move priorities.  The plastic heavyweight cars require higher MOU thresholds due to tooling being involved.  However, as I recall the Harriman cars that were released a few years back had some painted for C&NW.  At least I remember doing the graphics :-)

For the record I do own a C&NW K-Line GP38-2.  It came out of the collection of a now deceased friend and founding member of Desert Division TCA when his collection of largely C&NW and MILW went to auction.

A little late for that, after asking for years, I'd have to pass. That would be my luck, having just committed to a small fortune with Eddy for a series of accurate cars from 401 Models.

Nice Trainmasters.  Even nicer layout and hall.

@WITZ 41 posted:

A little late for that, after asking for years, I'd have to pass. That would be my luck, having just committed to a small fortune with Eddy for a series of accurate cars from 401 Models.

Will, let us know when you get your kits. I would be interested in exchanging tips on how to best build the cars/set. Did you take a look at Protocrafts new decals for the CNW passenger cars yet? My will be used in a 3 rail environment so the wheels/trucks will just be generic. Did Eddy give you an update on the observation car? ETA and/or price?

Thanks

Charlie

@Charlie posted:

Will, let us know when you get your kits. I would be interested in exchanging tips on how to best build the cars/set.....

.....Did Eddy give you an update on the observation car? ETA and/or price?

Absolutely.

Based on Eddy's recommendation, when I asked for his suggestion on trucks, I'm currently trying to locate enough Atlas 7071 2R black California Zephyr trucks.  I have found enough for 4 cars.  I need 7 more pairs. (1 is extra in anticipation of the possible Parlor Observation car in the future.) I really don't want to have to mess with painting silver ones (7070) if I can help it.  Atlas was responsive to my inquiry, but unfortunately no ETA on more any time soon. If you are going 3-rail maybe you can order trucks/parts from Lionel's new 21" cars??

I'm researching as much as I can on my own. I'm working on getting floor layout drawings of the particular cars etc.

Eddy's a super knowledgeable guy.  Especially in the particulars of each named 400, period paint schemes, and minor details.  He seemed genuinely excited about the project.  I might actually try to meet him halfway sometime or for delivery. Maybe at the Rockford O Scalers.  He spoke highly of them.  Or maybe the March Show.

(I laugh every time the March Show gets mentioned because I lived in Lombard most of my life and didn't get back into trains until after I moved away!)

Going for the yellow and green with black striping and silver-white lettering to match the Pacific I have for a Minnesota 400.  Plus extra cars if I want to run a longer Twin Cities 400.  Which would be appropriate for your E6 Charlie.

I saw a picture of the parlor observation prototype he's developing. All I have to say is I am VERY EXCITED.  He is still working out the design.  Maybe sometime next year?  We'll see.

Payment goes out to him this Friday.  Should have more details after that. These will definitely be prestige pieces for my collection.

I will share more as I can.

Will

Latest locomotive to enter the CNW  fold.

This is an MTH Virginian  premier 0-8-0 that was Frankensteined. Replaced the original tender with one from a Railking CNW  switcher. New tender was longer than the VGN  but hey, it worked.

I don't own any CNW equipment at the moment, but I would love to get one of the second gen EMD units (preferably an SD40-2) with the nose mounted "gong bell" if someone made it.

I mostly have C&NW, UP & Chessie.  The items I could get a quick photo of that are out and about.  Also have the MTH Premier brown passenger cars, they go on a shelf at Christmas, when the Christmas trains come out.

There are some very nice engines here- not to mention some spectacular layouts.  I had no idea these existed!  Thank you for sharing.

Hi Will,

If you are ever passing thru Rockford, feel free to contact the Rockford O Scalers and see if a visit would work out.  Or if things work out, meet Eddy here for the delivery of your kits (we have always enjoyed Eddy's visits).  We have a fair amount of CNW stuff (and recently big UP power has shown up too).  On November 2nd, Frank added a video to the Rockford O Scalers facebook page that you might enjoy.  It is a  of our C&NW Dakota 400 (and the cars were built by Eddy).

Cars look awesome John. Thanks for sharing.  Great video too!

My 2021 calendar arrived today from the historical society......

@john handlogten posted:

Hi Will,

If you are ever passing thru Rockford, feel free to contact the Rockford O Scalers and see if a visit would work out.  Or if things work out, meet Eddy here for the delivery of your kits (we have always enjoyed Eddy's visits).  We have a fair amount of CNW stuff (and recently big UP

Not sure where you live Will, but please do try to get to the Rockford, IL area and catch up with John and the others at the Rockford O Scalers layout. Beside the CNW cars from 401 Models, if you are at all interested in passenger trains you will be very impressed. The layout is nice also and the guys are really friendly.

Charlie

.

Still have some shim work to do.......

How about some K-Line cars....

21" Parlor Observation....

21" Coach...

K-Line Woodside Reefer K742-1311...

Pretty impressive value for rolling stock.   Fine details with opening doors and ice hatches.  Removable roof. Comes with Kadee couplers and boxes, hanging beef, hooks, and "ice".

I bought the 2-car and four-car passenger sets several years ago used.  They have a few issues but are still beautiful cars.

The reefer is brand new. Amazing.

Enjoy...

Looks nice Will. I'm still excited you are starting the "400" project with Eddy and hope to be right behind you in the build process.

Charlie

Me too - wish I had sprung for four 21"ers when my supplier was getting deals for me at $75 each.  I did get UP, B&O, GN, PRR, an a pair of CNW high levels.

Here’s a pair of Lionel F7 units I painted to match a set of K-Line 21” high-level cars for commuter service. The original colors Lionel used were not even close.

Nice job on the paint Jeff. Sometimes one just has to buckle down and do it. Thanks for posting.

@Charlie posted:

Looks nice Will. I'm still excited you are starting the "400" project with Eddy and hope to be right behind you in the build process.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie.

He also makes kits for 'The Challenger' cars that the CNW ran.

Eddy sent me some teaser photos of some cars he had already previously been working on.

Here's a peek of one of his photos..... I cropped out other things he's working on.....

.

Weaver Ultra Line PS-1 40'

CNW Express Boxcar

@WITZ 41 posted:

.

Weaver Ultra Line PS-1 40'

CNW Express Boxcar

Will,

Beautiful looking express boxcar. I have a trio of Weaver's in CMO lettering.

Disregard the hopper.  I attached it by mistake.

Nice Bill!  I seem to recall reading somewhere that the plastic material that Weaver used to make the rolling stock was different than most plastic models.  Partly to make it easier to accept paint? Can't remember exactly.

I have a few of these Atlas cars in CNW/CMO livery.  Here's a picture of one of them. Atlas Steel Re-built USRA Box Car.......

Very nice. It seems that the Atlas  car's shade of yellow is much brighter than Weaver's.  Don't know which is more representative of the true color.

@third rail posted:

Very nice. It seems that the Atlas  car's shade of yellow is much brighter than Weaver's.  Don't know which is more representative of the true color.

I've seen variations in prototype colors, so it's hard to say which is correct/incorrect. One thing with CNW paint that made things nuts was "Zito" yellow. Apparently, it faded badly (to almost white) and quickly (less than two years as I recall). Atlas did a PS4750 covered hopper in that color and it's really bright, especially in natural sunlight.

Indoors:

Outdoors (they could probably see these from space):

Nice pics Matt. Thanks for posting. Yes, it seems the CNW yellows we're all over the place after the post war period.  So often photo evidence is inconsistent when it comes to accurately capturing it.

I fear I may have infected you. 😉

Good luck on your next endeavor with the Wichman kits.  I think you snuck in after me but ahead of Charlie!

************************

A couple of MTH offerings:

MTH Steel Sided Cupola Caboose

A fantasy I'm afraid.  The CNW had many Woodside Cupola Caboose.  I can't find any evidence of a steel sided one.  The details are nice and an interior with figure too.

Oh, to lay my hands in an accurate brass one at a reasonable price.   

MTH Steel Sided Stock Car

Also not entirely accurate. But nice just the same.  Here it is next to the Woodsided Atlas for comparison sake.....

W.

Guys,

Love this topic.  CNW is pretty awesome.  Your photos make me appreciate my entire rolling stock collection.  When you zero in and snap a photo of a lot of our cars, you really appreciate the fine detail, realism and unique design and real custom paint job of each car.   Atlas is really spectacular and exceptional.  I wish I had more of them.  I shudder over their higher prices, yet, like a lot of O Gauge stuff, when I pull the trigger and spend more I never regret it.

Thanks for the focus on these special cars.

Mike

Picked these up today.  Now just need to get an observation car for the end.  Might have to get one painted.  Don’t think MTH ever did one in this paint.

While looking for something else, I came across this engine that I did not forget about, but I typically use this during the train season and since we have no train season for the modular group, I had not taken it out of storage, plus, my interest has been away from freight engines for a long time now.

So... here is a fixed pilot, horizontal drive Lionel Legacy engine from about 2008. This is the slowest, most consistent engine I have and that included all other Lionel, Sunset 3rd Rail and MTH engines in my collection. Absolutely will crawl at a snail pace if needed. I was told that is due to the electronics and/or program software used for this production run of engines. Sound is a bit soft. Fine for home use, but will get drowned out in any type of public setting.

Charlie