MT newsletter for January 2020

[thomasjmdavis]

January MT flyer:
https://www.micro-trains.com/publicfiles/monthly/MN2001.pdf

apologies if this is somewhere else on Railwire and I missed it...

[learmoia]

Here comes Z scale pre-ordering!  Hopefully it goes well for them.

~Ian

[Peter Amling]

There's a new (to me) CNW gondola with scrap cars on the add for NSE. I haven't seen that car anywhere else. Definitely excited about that, and I'm more than a little interested in the Fast Mail train. I need to find a way to justify that purchase. How close is it to prototypical? (and for protoypical I'm more interested in if this is an accurate consist, rather than if those are ATSF prototypes.

[EspeeGoldenState]

First time they have ever ran a SP Speed Lettered Autorack. Too bad its a solo run, maybe they can run some SP or SSW numbered versions at some point too.

SSW version:
https://actionroad.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/ssw80691.jpg

SP version:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4015175

The DODX flats are interesting as they are running two versions with or without reflectors. Looking at all the previous DODX flats, they all had reflectors on them.

Chris

[thomasjmdavis]

There's a new (to me) CNW gondola with scrap cars on the add for NSE. I haven't seen that car anywhere else. Definitely excited about that, and I'm more than a little interested in the Fast Mail train. I need to find a way to justify that purchase. How close is it to prototypical? (and for protoypical I'm more interested in if this is an accurate consist, rather than if those are ATSF prototypes.

Peter, on the Fast Mail....
The cars are not prototypical, but in the world of N scale, they are "representative".  For prototypical, one needs to acquire either a bunch of old Pecos River brass cars, or build up a consist from M&R sides.  I have several myself that are close to done but still need details like grabs and steps, and window glazing.  Several modelers have used the MT baggage and RPO as "cores" for M&R sides- so the option would exist to "rebuild" the train later on to make it more prototypically accurate, if Roberto can be convinced to do another run of sides.

It is possible that the consist of the set is actually based on a real consist (or the car numbers of a real consist)- although it would have been a "slow" day as the Fast Mail was often the longest train to leave Dearborn Station in Chicago on a given day.  A Fast Mail could carry as many as 3 RPOs between Chicago and Kansas City.  Otherwise, a bunch of baggage-express, box express, express refrigerator- often (usually?) including some non-ATSF cars running between eastern points and KC or California- so a good use for a PRR B60b or NYC baggage or REA express reefer if you have such in your collection.  The stretch between Chicago and KC would usually max out under 20 cars because of the relatively short station tracks at Dearborn, but be longer west of KC.

A number of recorded consists are available here: http://santafe.gmbus.com/  (find the Fast Mail link on the left side of that page)

Using the MT parlor car for the rider car is a bit of a stretch, but I suppose not any worse, really, than the MT RPO substituting for an ATSF RPO- as ATSF did have several classes of coach that were rebuilt (or just downgraded) Pullman sleepers.  But the "Santa Fe- ness" of the train could be improved by the modeler by substituting a modified (trucks, couplers, ride height, maybe blocking in the transom windows) Rivarossi combine, which is based on the combines that were rebuilt by ATSF for use on the Fast Mail.

My other quibble would be that all the baggage cars shown in the newsletter promo carry a messenger star.  Many cars did, but many also did not (at least in the photos I have available)- and so it looks a little too uniform. 

[John]

I'm going to need a bigger layout for all the DODX cars 

[mu26aeh]

I'm going to need a bigger layout for all the DODX cars 

I'm thankful that the Hanover Sub usually only sees a handful of flats going to York every once in a while.  Just need the correct loads, can't remember what they refurbished at BAE York.  Pretty sure it wasn't the M1A1

[John]

Looks like they upgraded MRAP, Bradleys, and similar vehicles, 

[dougnelson]

I believe they are using the correct PRR trucks on the PRR RPO.  Notice they are different than the D&RGW RPO.

[thomasjmdavis]

The same truck they developed for the PRR diners?

[chicken45]

The same truck they developed for the PRR diners?

Probably. I'm happy it's a 70ft car. I did buy that old 60 foot one they did just because it looked nice. I don't think I ever ran it though haha!

Interesting they chose that later scheme for it. If it weren't such a late scheme, I'd get one, make porthole doors and roll it!
But good for the people who model 60's PRR.

[reinhardtjh]

Probably. I'm happy it's a 70ft car. I did buy that old 60 foot one they did just because it looked nice. I don't think I ever ran it though haha!

Interesting they chose that later scheme for it. If it weren't such a late scheme, I'd get one, make porthole doors and roll it!
But good for the people who model 60's PRR.

The last three PRR cars have been the later scheme. I'm sure it's a plan to cover the later years.  I wish they'd do coaches with gold/buff stripes but no numbers.