WEEKEND PHOTO FUN 1-29-21-??

Have a good weekend everyone.

Boston & Maine GP-7 #1563 is an MTH Premier model with PS1 and a BCR that I pre-ordered from a catalog in 1999 at a list price of $299.95. I don’t require the latest “bells and whistles” and am content to run my older PS1 models. This one has operated with perfect reliability on my layouts for more than twenty years. With the impending closure of MTH, I can’t expect Mike Wolf to offer another one, so I have placed my order with Sunset/3^rd Rail. That model will be more correct in that it will not have the dynamic brake grids. B&M #1563 was built in February 1952. Current photographic documentation shows that it operated in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.

MELGAR

Nice pictures so far to start the morning, Joe and Melgar. Scott, i absolutely love that trackside, slow movement  camera video of your shiny tinplate! It makes me want to crack out my Christmas Tinplate. 

This week I have something different. I picked up a very unique vehicle for the layout. My son pointed it out at our local hobby shop, Hobby Express. It cost far more than I’ve ever paid for a vehicle for my layout, and I thought about it for a couple of weeks before I finally decided to go for it…and I’m glad I did. The pictures show it on the layout. It’s a pickup truck with a camper. I’ve never seen a model of one of these before, but it is absolutely perfect for this area of the layout which portrays the Anderson Road grade crossing a few miles west of Lewistown, PA. The road leads right to the banks of the Juniata River, (a scale ¼ mile behind the photographer) which in this area is lined with campgrounds. In the warm weather months, the river banks are just full of vehicles like this, so I just could not resist.

Beyond that, this part of my layout is set around 1970, in the midst of the daze of Penn Central. This truck looks like a Ford F-150 from the early 70’s, so it’s also a perfect fit for that era. Can any of you identify the model and year of the truck for sure?

The other vehicle is a 1967 Chevy Caprice (also perfect for the era modeled) which was sold in three colors in a tray of 12 for all of about $8.  A fraction of the cost of the camper, but it looks pretty good to me! (I look for models of common four door family cars for the layout, and avoid sports cars like the plague!)

The first two pics will give you a fairly close look at the vehicle. The third is looking to towards the east, and the fourth is looking to the west. Finally, there’s a picture of the real grade crossing I took about 10 years ago next to an old photo of the layout taken from the same angle for comparison.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s post!

@scott.smith posted:

Good Morning Weekend Photo Fun starts late again.

Let's see your pictures.

Scott Smith

Scott......and Josh.....fantastic work.......looking pictures of this layout reminds of looking at pictures of Lionel's early factory-built layouts......however, you both have created something on a much grander scale that is magnificent!

I'm sure Josh Cowan is is looking down from above and nodding his satisfaction!

Thank you for starting this thread every week!

Peter

Attic is empty! Back to running trains!

Have a great and safe weekend, folks......

Peter

A 2020 Christmas Layout memory

The last couple of weeks I concentrated on the back left corner:

Time to move to the back middle.  Here's an overview and then a closer view of the middle

A food area for the concert goers (back left); a vege garden w/greenhouse; a lake; a picnic area

- walt

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it.

Will you be ready ?

@NJCJOE posted:

Have a good weekend everyone.

OH MY!!!!! 

Neal, I’ve always admired your articles on building your layout, and scenic work. Who is the manufacturer of the crossing flashers at your crossing?

Thanks, Artie

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

This week I have something different. I picked up a very unique vehicle for the layout. My son pointed it out at our local hobby shop, Hobby Express. It cost far more than I’ve ever paid for a vehicle for my layout, and I thought about it for a couple of weeks before I finally decided to go for it…and I’m glad I did. The pictures show it on the layout. It’s a pickup truck with a camper. I’ve never seen a model of one of these before, but it is absolutely perfect for this area of the layout which portrays the Anderson Road grade crossing a few miles west of Lewistown, PA. The road leads right to the banks of the Juniata River, (a scale ¼ mile behind the photographer) which in this area is lined with campgrounds. In the warm weather months, the river banks are just full of vehicles like this, so I just could not resist.

Beyond that, this part of my layout is set around 1970, in the midst of the daze of Penn Central. This truck looks like a Ford F-150 from the early 70’s, so it’s also a perfect fit for that era. Can any of you identify the model and year of the truck for sure?

The other vehicle is a 1967 Chevy Caprice (also perfect for the era modeled) which was sold in three colors in a tray of 12 for all of about $8.  A fraction of the cost of the camper, but it looks pretty good to me! (I look for models of common four door family cars for the layout, and avoid sports cars like the plague!)

The first two pics will give you a fairly close look at the vehicle. The third is looking to towards the east, and the fourth is looking to the west. Finally, there’s a picture of the real grade crossing I took about 10 years ago next to an old photo of the layout taken from the same angle for comparison.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s post!

One of a kind?  Very cool.

@Artie-DL&W posted:

Neal, I’ve always admired your articles on building your layout, and scenic work. Who is the manufacturer of the crossing flashers at your crossing?

Thanks, Artie

Artie,

Thanks for your kind words. Those were made a long time ago by "Right-of-Way." They have been out of business for many years. They were state of the art at the time, but by today's standards, they are a bit clunky. I have a set of Custom Signals grade crossing signals that I keep meaning to replace them with, but still haven't gotten around to it. But I will say this about the ROW electronics...very good, with a crossing bell that has not only an adjustable volume, but shuts off after about 10 seconds like some of the real ones, and reduces the annoyance of constant clanging.

@NeophyteMRR posted:

One of a kind?  Very cool.

It may be. At least, I've never seen a model like this, but maybe someone else knows of a similar model in O scale. It is just so appropriate for the area and era I'm modeling, I had to have it despite it's ridiculous price.

Thanks, Neal. I’m planning on expanding my layout, and want to have a more scale appearance.

Here are some random engines on the G&O.  NH Joe

A few short videos......

The NYC ABA FT set is from around 2000-2001.......Lionel had just brought the FTs out.

2 can motors, traction tires, TMCC and RS.....a good runner.....

The GEVO is MTH from their 2nd run.....I didn't initially get one. However, I saw one running on the MTH York layout and the green light drew me in! That's one of the things we will miss with MTH closing and the other manufacturers cutting back the number of shows they do.... There is something about seeing a product in person.....

Peter

Love those military loads, Peter. Nice videos.

Photos of the fun kind for this fine weekend!   Photos of the railroad at night using natural light and natural dark  Have a wonderful and be safe weekend everyone!

Beyond that, this part of my layout is set around 1970, in the midst of the daze of Penn Central. This truck looks like a Ford F-150 from the early 70’s, so it’s also a perfect fit for that era. Can any of you identify the model and year of the truck for sure?

Norm looking at it I suspect it is around 68-70 F250 Camper Special based on the grill design and the size of the camper. The F150's back them were not rated to carry that type of camper and Ford introduced the Camper Special around that time frame/ I have a book on the history of pickup trucks with a big section on Ford if I can find it I may be able to get you a little more information.

Neal's post made me want to find the camper.

NEO SCALE MODELS NEO44849 Scale 1/43 FORD USA F-100 CAMPER 1972 LIGHT BLUE MET IVORY WHITE

A lot of nice pictures everyone. Please have a wonderful and safe weekend.

                                                      More coils for Ben........

@RJT posted:

Beyond that, this part of my layout is set around 1970, in the midst of the daze of Penn Central. This truck looks like a Ford F-150 from the early 70’s, so it’s also a perfect fit for that era. Can any of you identify the model and year of the truck for sure?

Norm looking at it I suspect it is around 68-70 F250 Camper Special based on the grill design and the size of the camper. The F150's back them were not rated to carry that type of camper and Ford introduced the Camper Special around that time frame/ I have a book on the history of pickup trucks with a big section on Ford if I can find it I may be able to get you a little more information.

@Lionlman posted:

Neal's post made me want to find the camper.

NEO SCALE MODELS NEO44849 Scale 1/43 FORD USA F-100 CAMPER 1972 LIGHT BLUE MET IVORY WHITE

Guys,

Thanks for helping to identify exactly what kind of truck this is. The packaging on mine did not give a model or year, but using Lionlman's ID, I now know exactly what kind of truck it is. I was close on the year, and it makes it a good fit with the Penn Central in the early 1970's as I suspected. Found one on eBay for not too much less than I paid. I've never purchased a Neo Scale Models vehicle before, but I looked them up on their web site, and they ain't cheap.

Anyhow, thanks for your help in identifying exactly the year and model of the truck.

The new Lionel B&O I12 finally came in.

LIONEL Santa Fe three-tier auto carrier with Mattel HOT WHEELS versions of Chevy or General Motors automobiles and trucks.

Andrew

Falcon Service

SIRT,

You do amazing work. Please take care and have a wonderful and safe weekend.

@jim sutter posted:

SIRT,

You do amazing work. Please take care and have a wonderful and safe weekend.

Thank you Jim.

You were my favorite MTH dealer. Believe it of not, all of my MTH PS2 diesels I bought from you still have a good working battery. I have a bunch of super caps once that changes.

Stay safe my friend and God bless.

Steve

Falcon Service,

Nice MPC auto carrier. Back in the eighties and nineties my friends and I would buy all the auto carriers we could fine at York. When we got home, I would put them in the store to sale.They always sold very well. You take care and have a wonderful and safe weekend.

@joker34 posted:

The new Lionel B&O I12 finally came in.

What trucks and couplers are on these now - are they still the old hidden tab design? Actually, I'm not sure what was on the first release of these even though I own a couple. Looks nice! The green on the window frames looks brighter than before.

Called Ro today on mine, CLOSED? - what's going on?

Another aged Speed Graphic shot taken on Stoney Creek Road in the summer of 1943...

@SIRT posted:

                                                      More coils for Ben........

I really like seeing that big Baldwin lurking on the other side of your rusting coil steel flatcar.

                                    A little photo play'....

@p51 posted:

Another aged Speed Graphic shot taken on Stoney Creek Road in the summer of 1943...

Great photo!

Catzilla strikes!

A Rock Island freight rolls through the industrial side of town.

New construction in Winear Junction.