Weekend Photo Fun 1-26-24-??

Family wolfs guarding the homestead.

Took down the MPC era CN FA-2s for some run time this week -

With temps being super cold last weekend, I decided to work on the layout a bit. I decided to add a little extension on to the far side of the layout for a coal mine as well as giving some attention to the backside of the layout by adding a diner, gas station, station platform & commuter parking lot.

Also picked up this NJT ballast set from 98 -

Last weekend of the "2023 train season", Kids Day in the Garden. A great event over 1000 people came though from 9-2 last Saturday the 20th.

Lots of great trains!

Big crowds all day ......

At 2PM, the trains stopped and by 4PM, this is what the space looked like.....

and, we were done by 4:30......we had 20+ of our 45 members show up to help!

A great 9 weeks and we thank our gracious hosts, the Great Big Green House for hosting for the 10th year in a row!

Most of the team!

By the way, it was about 22 degrees with a windchill that made it feel in the teens.....

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

A 2023 Christmas Layout memory

On last overall view before I start with individual scenes closeup

walt

Took the grandkids to the “Great Train Show”; Novi, Michigan. Their Dad Tony is an engineer, but not a railroad engineer, an Automotive Engineer. 🚂

Thanks for taking a look & I hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Scott don't ask why but I finally got to read the magazine article about you, Joshua and the layout at VTM and thought it was great kudus to you and Joshua.

A few short videos from the last day......

Have a great weekend, folks!

Peter

My photos show a Northeastern caboose parked a short distance from the Metro-North Railroad station in Stratford, Connecticut. The interior is used as overflow seating for a restaurant. “CRR OF NJ” and “BIRDSBORO” are cast into the truck side frames, which appear to be dated as ‘29. The bearing covers say “NATIONAL COILED SPRING” with Patent dates of 1907 and 1914. Can someone provide any data or history for the car and trucks? Photos taken by …

MELGAR

Edit 1: I've added a photo of my MTH unlettered model of a Northeastern caboose. It sure is a good model of the full-sized car.

Edit 2: Upon scrutinizing the photos of the full-size car, it appears to me that the model represents a shorter car than the one that I photographed.  The distance between the inner windows is larger on the full-sized CRRNJ car than on the unlettered model. I was under the impression that the model is exactly 1:48 scale. It is equivalent to a body length of 25 feet and a length over the platforms (excluding couplers) of 30 feet. I will investigate.

MELGAR

Here’s my new to me PA round roof boxcar that arrived this week:

This week I finished getting the consist together for my Austin and Texas Central "Alligator" #442 which is under engine repair in real life.  All the cars I have are prototypical in Road Name.  I've put it together with two extra cars (Nickel Plate and Caboose), both have been used on special excursions.

Mine:

Prototype with loaned Engine:

I have finally got the potato houses in place and the potato traffic can start. Of course, there is also other traffic.

2 classics at the station.

The Atlas Canadian Pacific Military Heritage units were received recently.  Yes, they are SD70ACe bodies, not the SD90 with the SD70ACU cab.  But no one makes that, so the ACe cab looks closest to the original even though the body length is shorter than an ACU.  It's former MTH tooling by Atlas and they have delivered very nice models, particularly the 6644.  The absolute irony of the WWII Military Pride engine coming out of the same factory correctly painted this time is due to Atlas QA, their uncompromising attention to detail, and their willingness to listen to and hear the customer.  Kudos and applause.

7020 - Army (Green).  Atlas Premier 30138143.  Atlas QA got the dark green right and the black lettering is hard to see unless at the right angle, just like the original.  Mimics Canadian Army camo.  Very nicely done.

7021 - Army (Tan/Arid Region).  MTH Premier 20-21501-1.  A very attractive engine.

7022 - Navy.  MTH Premier 20-21500-1.  The greenish gray is appropriately Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) gray, not USN Haze Gray.  The Hull Red paint applied to the lower half of the engine mimics the hull coatings on both RCN and USN ships.  This model is an eyecatcher on the rails.

7023 - Air Force.  Atlas Premier 30138144.  Two gray tones mimic the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) F/A-18 jet low visibility paint scheme.  Very distinct look on the rails.

6644 - WWII Military Pride (D-Day) - Atlas Premier 30138145.  This engine mimics the RCAF Spitfire camo scheme with D-Day invasion stripe markings which were used in June 1944 to distinctly mark Allied aircraft for nervous Allied soldiers in the ground forces.  Atlas got it right and did so very well here!!   If a reader is unfamiliar with the prior engine, you can read here.

CP painted both nations flags (Canada/right, USA/left) recognizing both armed forces.  The yellow ribbon logo is also posted.  Everything is crisp and sharp.  Highly recommend the 6644 if you sat out the pre-order for fear of the Green.

How many of you remember when MTH introduced their handsome die cast very large clocks many moons ago?   I had never seen a prototype of these before at the time and it took awhile for me to get used to the size as a model. Came across one here in town last evening. Actually looks really good!

Thanks Scott for getting us started!   Here's a photo of busy-ness on my railroad.  

A single PRR Erie-Built A-unit is pulling a short accommodation train out of Washington DC in early 1949.  Even though the FP20 (FM Passenger 2000hp) was originally built as a passenger engine, it never had the five-stripe passenger scheme.  All were soon regeared for fright service and designated FF20.

FP20 is Atlas, combine is GGD.

The Empire State Building.

Thomas the Tank Engine shunting troublesome trucks.

The Disney Park.

The Great Northeastern Railway's former "Chairman of the Bored", the late Chaz Harrison, making his nightly track inspection.

Go Ravens!

Here’s wishing a big RAVENS WIN on their way to the SUPER BOWL!!!

For someone who never had plans to build a complete California Zephyr consist to go behind my E5 AB set, I've kind of taken a deep plunge.

Just what I need.  Another road name to collect.  However, GGD diners are not easy to find on the secondary market.  Still love the paint scheme.

@MELGAR posted:

My photos show a Northeastern caboose parked a short distance from the Metro-North Railroad station in Stratford, Connecticut. The interior is used as overflow seating for a restaurant. “CRR OF NJ” and “BIRDSBORO” are cast into the truck side frames, which appear to be dated as ‘29. The bearing covers say “NATIONAL COILED SPRING” with Patent dates of 1907 and 1914. Can someone provide any data or history for the car and trucks? Photos taken by …

MELGAR

Edit 1: I've added a photo of my MTH unlettered model of a Northeastern caboose. It sure is a good model of the full-sized car.

Edit 2: Upon scrutinizing the photos of the full-size car, it appears to me that the model represents a shorter car than the one that I photographed.  The distance between the inner windows is larger on the full-sized CRRNJ car than on the unlettered model. I was under the impression that the model is exactly 1:48 scale. It is equivalent to a body length of 25 feet and a length over the platforms (excluding couplers) of 30 feet. I will investigate.

MELGAR

Just for comparison, I photographed my Weaver CNJ NE caboose today.  I have the MTH NE caboose too, just not in a convenient place to get it out.  I modified mine to move the trucks a little further outboard as the MTH model has the center to center spacing too close, but allows for turns on 031 curves.  Outside of that, I don't see a ton of difference between the two models.  The MTH does have the correct leaf springs in the trucks.  I suspect your photograph of the prototype is a former CNJ caboose.  They lasted on Conrail to the end of caboose operations and likely had more modern windows to replace the as-built ones. 

Weaver NE Caboose

Modified MTH NE Caboose

@GG1 4877 posted:

Just for comparison, I photographed my Weaver CNJ NE caboose today.  I have the MTH NE caboose too, just not in a convenient place to get it out.  I modified mine to move the trucks a little further outboard as the MTH model has the center to center spacing too close, but allows for turns on 031 curves.  Outside of that, I don't see a ton of difference between the two models.  The MTH does have the correct leaf springs in the trucks.  I suspect your photograph of the prototype is a former CNJ caboose.  They lasted on Conrail to the end of caboose operations and likely had more modern windows to replace the as-built ones.

Jonathan

Jonathan,

Thanks for the photographs. I'm interested to know that the CNJ cabooses lasted to the end of caboose operations on Conrail. I haven't found a scale drawing of a Northeastern caboose to verify anything. I assumed and expected that the major dimensions on the MTH model would be to scale.

MELGAR

I picked up a pair of Menard's ore car. They are a bit smaller than a MTH  or Kline.

@MELGAR posted:

Jonathan,

Thanks for the photographs. I'm interested to know that the CNJ cabooses lasted to the end of caboose operations on Conrail. I haven't found a scale drawing of a Northeastern caboose to verify anything. I assumed and expected that the major dimensions on the MTH model would be to scale.

MELGAR

Rapido always has a great history on the cars the produce and had this interesting synopsis of the NE Caboose:

https://factorydirecthobbies.c...design-steel-caboose

In 1952, ATSF Mikado 3222 leans into the curve and passes a pump jack on the 2 Brothers Ranch, near Caprock, Texas. The 2 Brothers is in both of the important sectors of the Texas economy: cattle and the “awl bidness”.

@DMASSO

Did you pick up the ore cars at the store?  If so how much?

@c.sam posted:

How many of you remember when MTH introduced their handsome die cast very large clocks many moons ago?   I had never seen a prototype of these before at the time and it took awhile for me to get used to the size as a model. Came across one here in town last evening. Actually looks really good!

Waynesville!

@TMack posted:

@DMASSO

Did you pick up the ore cars at the store?  If so how much?

ordered on line with the sooty coal tower. $35 plus other charges. . CT only has Home Depot and Lowes