Weekend Photo Fun 9/25/15 HONGZ

This we week we're being treated to a visit to my good friend's HO switching layout. Measuring just 2 feet wide by 7 feet long, the railroad offers the operator a tremendous amount of action. Its creative design features three industries, a team track and a small yard. We begin each operating session with a drill slip and, depending upon the workload, it can take as long as a few hours to finish pulling and spotting cars as directed. It's very challenging and good fun all at the same time. Rolling stock includes Athearn "Blue Box" and "Ready to Roll" models superbly weathered to varying degrees. The railroad is wired for both DC and DCC operation.   

 

Motive power for this particular session was my Bachmann Spectrum GE 70 tonner custom detailed and painted for the Rahway Valley Railroad. The Rahway Valley was a short line serving Union County, New Jersey. Interchanging with the CNJ at Aldene (Cranford), Lehigh Valley at Roselle Park and DL&W/Erie Lackawanna at Summit, the Rahway Valley dieselized in the early 1950s with a pair of 70 tonners numbered 16 and 17. The 16 and 17 served the railroad faithfully into the 1980s. Unfortunately, the railroad found itself unable to secure insurance coverage in 1986 and Delaware Otsego took over the operation and subsequently purchased the railroad a short time later. DO replaced the Rahway Valley units with its own power before the end of the decade and the last run over the railroad took place in 1992. For now, the Rahway Valley lives on thanks to our model of the 70 tonner.

 

Enjoy,

Bob

      

Bob:

 

Neat pics of a neat little layout.  Do you by any chance have a track schematic that can be posted?

 

 

 

Rapids trains ho scale fl9 in one of the more unique conrail schemes. For those wondering, this scheme was used in the era when conrail ran former New York central and new haven commuter routes for the metropolitan transportation authority in the 70's.

Some Micro trains freight cars which are among my favorites.

 The Spokane Southern's main line continues to progress southeast from Spokane to meet up with the existing line running west from Worley ID.  In order to bridge the gap at CoD gorge, a viaduct needs to be built. 

 

The first two towers are complete, only have another five to build, plus the bridge spans that go between them.  I have about 20 hours in this kit just for these first two spans as I learn how all the plastic fits together.  The remaining job is to take the rest of the plastic in all the boxes, and fill the chasm that exists in the benchwork, along with a bunch of foam to make the lanscape contour. 

 

The kit is a Micro Engineering product.  VERY nice. 

 

Hoping to have this done by the end of the year, so that we can hold our golden spike ceremony in close proximity. 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

Jerry

The roster from last week's Olympia Ry.

 

Former Westside Models Sierra Ry. #24

 

Former Rivarrossi Coos Bay Lumber Heisler:

 

Rusty

Hi, Andre.

 

Funny you should ask about that as I'm actually working on a diagram now. I wanted something I could study to better familiarize myself with the track layout between visits to my friend's house. I'm going to think of it as a book of physical characteristics only on a smaller scale.

 

Regards,

Bob    

Just bought this Atlas GE B23-7 P&W DC operation. Hoping to get a DCC system sometime soon so I can get one with sound.

 

Tyco starter set from 1961 "The Keystoner" 

 

This set is mint and never has been used...

 

 

 

 

Tyco 1957 set #TP3-2.This was the first year for the horn hook couplers.

 

 

Bob:

 

Amazing as always...thanks for sharing your treasures with us.

 

Bob

The HO FL9 is very impressive. Rapido will be releasing an N scale version during 2016 and, funds permitting, I hope to get one or two. A picture of the pre-production sample of the N scale model was recently posted on Rapido's website:

 

Long Train Runnin'

 

https://youtu.be/yH4I4qe-1nk