Weekend Update 5/8/11

[wm3798]

Received my order of Bluford WM hoppers (jaw-dropping) and a set of Shellscale N&W decals in the mail while I was at the RailBQ.  Stopped at Klein's and snagged some Wally Modulars and styrene I-beams for the steel bridge in Cumberland.  Also picked up a nice box of kitbash fodder from Bullet Bob. 

More stuff added to the "to do" list, otherwise, just goofed off with a bunch of Asshats.

Lee

[chuck geiger]

Pretty active rail weekend. Rebuilt trestle, Finished Sculptamold in river basin, painted, added
scenery, let dry, poured water. Used something called FUNKY FOAM for roads, bought a grey
color and thinest sheets at Hobby Lobby. You can rub the section on the railhead and it
leaves an indentation you can cut with a knife. It looks pretty good too.

SD&AE Desert Scenery Test Area

[Chris333]

I've been busy building a deck out back, but the last I did was make a quick vid of my Nn3 chassis with re-motor and added gear reduction:

[nscalemike]

I bet CNNA... CN had no GP40-2's of it's own, just the ones inherited from the GTW (DT&I). Can't recall any getting into the current scheme.

This will be the one, at least I'm assuming CNNA is the North American scheme.  I'm not sure how many GP40-2's CN did inherit from GTW but one photo I found is of #6409.  Found here: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2386019  Most of CN's GP40's and maybe even -2's seem to be wide nosed 'safety cab,' which I don't have any of either.  I still haven't decided if I'm going to letter my model with the black patch or the GTW marks, which is seen in this photo from 2001 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1331822. 

[Scottl]

Cool.  I vote for the black patch, but what do I know!

[Puddington]

With my wife down and out with a rather nasty virus I am Mr. Mom and nurse maid.... but I have mamaged to start a new Great Northern Center cup caboose.... X 77

[lock4244]

This will be the one, at least I'm assuming CNNA is the North American scheme.  I'm not sure how many GP40-2's CN did inherit from GTW but one photo I found is of #6409.  Found here: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2386019  Most of CN's GP40's and maybe even -2's seem to be wide nosed 'safety cab,' which I don't have any of either.  I still haven't decided if I'm going to letter my model with the black patch or the GTW marks, which is seen in this photo from 2001 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1331822. 

CN GP40 family fleet (traditional CN - CN, GTW, CV, DW&P):

GP40 - CN 9302-9317 (originally 4002-4017)
GP40-2L - CN 9400-9632
GP40-2W - CN 9633-9667
GP40-2W - CN 9668-9676 (ex GO 700-710 series)
GP40 - 6400-6405 (GTW, nee DT&I 400-405)
GP40-2 - 6406-6425 (GTW, nee DT&I 406-425)

The only straight GP40's to wear the zebra we 9302-9317 (9300-9301 (nee 4000-4001) were GP35's that were retired by 1984), which had very interesting lives. Two, 9316-9317 were 'dual service' units and often found in passenger service being geared for higher speeds. Sometime in the 80's (IIRC) they were re-geared for freight. There were a number of GP40-2L's that were geared higher too, I can recall photographing one (9444?) leading a dead F40 in the 90's.

The 9300's were equipped with dynamic brakes as built, however they lost them through their careers and the cooling fan/housing was removed on some but not the blister. I think it is likely that others had the plug pulled and otherwise unaltered.

In the 80's many became known as tunnel motors, being transfered to Sarnia, Ontario, to pull trains through the tunnel under the St. Clair River to Port Huron, MI. The tunnel had tight clearances and all tall cars such as multilevels, autoparts boxcars, and loaded piggyback flats were ferried across the river. Because of the bottleneck that the tunnel was, they operated transfers between the two cities with both CN and GTW having yards at each side to assemble and break-up trains. Four unit sets of the 9300's were assigned to the service (not all 9300's ant any one time) and boy did they show it... filthy as an SP tunnel motor! It wasn't 1994 that the new tunnel opened and trains operated right through that the 9300's were released back into the road pool to serve out their remaining years.

No fan on DB blister (and Red Green is working at Mac Yard).
http://www.cnrphotos.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=11994

[wm3798]

With my wife down and out with a rather nasty virus I am Mr. Mom and nurse maid.... but I have mamaged to start a new Great Northern Center cup caboose.... X 77

We missed you at the RailBQ.  All were asking after you.  Hope everyone gets better soon!

Lee

[Puddington]

CN GP40 family fleet (traditional CN - CN, GTW, CV, DW&P):

GP40 - CN 9302-9317 (originally 4002-4017)
GP40-2L - CN 9400-9632
GP40-2W - CN 9633-9667
GP40-2W - CN 9668-9676 (ex GO 700-710 series)
GP40 - 6400-6405 (GTW, nee DT&I 400-405)
GP40-2 - 6406-6425 (GTW, nee DT&I 406-425)

The only straight GP40's to wear the zebra we 9302-9317 (9300-9301 (nee 4000-4001) were GP35's that were retired by 1984), which had very interesting lives. Two, 9316-9317 were 'dual service' units and often found in passenger service being geared for higher speeds. Sometime in the 80's (IIRC) they were re-geared for freight. There were a number of GP40-2L's that were geared higher too, I can recall photographing one (9444?) leading a dead F40 in the 90's.

The 9300's were equipped with dynamic brakes as built, however they lost them through their careers and the cooling fan/housing was removed on some but not the blister. I think it is likely that others had the plug pulled and otherwise unaltered.

In the 80's many became known as tunnel motors, being transfered to Sarnia, Ontario, to pull trains through the tunnel under the St. Clair River to Port Huron, MI. The tunnel had tight clearances and all tall cars such as multilevels, autoparts boxcars, and loaded piggyback flats were ferried across the river. Because of the bottleneck that the tunnel was, they operated transfers between the two cities with both CN and GTW having yards at each side to assemble and break-up trains. Four unit sets of the 9300's were assigned to the service (not all 9300's ant any one time) and boy did they show it... filthy as an SP tunnel motor! It wasn't 1994 that the new tunnel opened and trains operated right through that the 9300's were released back into the road pool to serve out their remaining years.

No fan on DB blister (and Red Green is working at Mac Yard).
http://www.cnrphotos.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=11994

The Atlas GP 40's in CN were "wiggle worm" 4000 series and needed a lot of "Canadianization" to get them close. I moved the headlight, added the high bell; plow, mu's etc... and built the unique snow covers for the intakes.....

[Puddington]

We missed you at the RailBQ.  All were asking after you.  Hope everyone gets better soon!

Lee

Thanks Lee; Margaret felt quite bad that I elected to stay home instead of going but she really has been hit with this thing; the virus was nasty and I really didn't think she deserved to be stuck home with the little engineer after the bout she'd had. I did, however, grill a couple of brats and open and consume a couple of cold Molson's whilst surfing the Railwire on Saturday in a kind of "homage" to the assembled asshats......best I could do.....

[mcjaco]

Friday night was the local HO Club's business meeting.  I went early to work on putting down some static grass in an area, only to find myself staning in an inch deep puddle.  The ice maker in the coffee shop above had sprung a leak, and was pouring water into the basement.  Thank goodness is was over an aisle, and not on the layout.  Perfect timing for our business meeting and discussions for our lease being up at the end of the year.   :

I was elected VP (ugh) Friday night, and I've been working on track plans for a space next door that we're seriously considering, after 39 years in the current location. 

I had intended to clean the garage on Sunday and get down to touching up the module, but with the rain on Saturday, yard work go pushed back to Sunday instead of Saturday, so nothing got accomplished this weekend.....   >

[wm3798]

Just wrapped up a pleasant visit from Rev. Dr. Major Dave Vollmer as he took a little side track to the Land of Pleasant Living before dashing off to BWI for the flying cattle car back to Florida.


The visit included some switching as BT-1 headed west through Cumberland, then a grand tour of the layout by Dave's notorious Brass K-4...

Here she is steaming up on the ready track at Ridgeley next to WM 204, my K-2 Pacific.


...and taking a spin on the turntable


then out on the line.  The photographers at Casselman Crossing were struggling to balance themselves on the rocks in the fast moving stream...


The footing was better out on the high iron, but the K4s was picking up speed as she headed downgrade toward Connellsville.


Later, the K4s was deployed on an OCS train out on the Thomas Sub, and shot here at Hinshaw.

It was a great visit, and I enjoyed having Dave go out of his way to see the layout.

Lee

[lashedup]

Nice stuff everyone. I didn't get much modeling done this week, but have another Cal Zephyr shot to share...

[nscalemike]

Lee and Lashedup:  Very nice pics to the both of you!  I really liked the ready track shot and the one in the cut under the bridge. 

Also, Thanks to all for the CN information.  Do date I have only gathered information like this from a few CN motive power listings online and then the pics available.

[Dave V]

Lee, thanks for hosting me!  And Victor, thanks so much for helping Lee bring my K4 to life!