Weekend Update 1/11/26

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I worked more on my backdrop art using AI, and test-printed parts of a 3D flat for the East Norwood layout (more info in the Layout Engineering thread).

This morning I drafted some decals for a CR-patch Reading GP30 -- an AZL Reading GP30 I just picked up.  It has some patches that are pretty well-worn and fading, which is reflected in the decals.  As this is a "new" GP30, I'm planning to fade the model quite a bit first then apply the decals to create the 2179.



This was literally the 2nd Conrail engine I ever saw and photographed so it's bit of a special loco for me. 
 
 

Sploosh.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wrapped up 6210 tonight.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[C855B]

Wrapped up 6210 tonight.

Sharp. If there's one thing I like about the Atlas '45s, they got the proportions around the radiators right. I've loved SD45s since they were new, and it just frosted my butt that nobody up to this one could do justice to the flare. I've got Atlas' issue in SP on the layout, and it does a credible capture of the heft and spirit of what I saw when I was a youngin'.

Nice job with the weathering, too! 

[GhengisKong]

  I am in DuBois PA just off of I-80.

Ron

Do you ever eat at Dutch Pantry?

[Specter3]

Couple things this weekend. One is doing some mockups of the Ford Casting plant in Sheffield Al. Massive facility of 560,000 sq ft doing aluminum castings of parts for the entire Ford lineup at the time. Pistons, oil pans, trans valve bodies, you name it. I am trying to get two tracks to hold two 60ft cars inside as a reasonable representation. Used pink foam and toothpicks to whip up a 3d model for size. Painted it with craft paint for visualization help.

Original plant:

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]



My work:

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Also started to layout the foundation of the Sheffield Shops roundhouse that will be modelled as in process of being demolished. The part back at the backdrop will be still whole. The portion that comes straight at the viewer will have been torn up and connecting tracks to the old carshop that is modeled on layout will have been run through the debris as extended storage. In the real world the carshop seemed to be the last building in use on the property. From aerial views there are long strings of what look to be 40ft boxes on both sides of the carshop. I figure in the 70s as traffic slowed the older 40ft boxes were parked and either dismantled in the carshop, converted to something more useful(Southern made pulpwood cars out of a bunch) or simply stored until they were shipped somewhere else. Either way in my world they tore down the roundhouse and rerouted some temp track through that area to support the 40ft car operations they were doing.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sharp. If there's one thing I like about the Atlas '45s, they got the proportions around the radiators right. I've loved SD45s since they were new, and it just frosted my butt that nobody up to this one could do justice to the flare. I've got Atlas' issue in SP on the layout, and it does a credible capture of the heft and spirit of what I saw when I was a youngin'.

Nice job with the weathering, too! 

Thanks!

I always liked the Kato ones too. I feel like the extra wide hood made them feel even more burly.

But this thing blows those out of the water. Now to figure out what to do with my existing one. I think it'll soldier on in NTRAK duty since it WILL pull wallpaper off a wall.

[Jesse6669]

If the future isn't bright, at least it is colorful: New clor printed paint schemes for the Cincinnati built light weight Interurban car.

Here are two color pics of streetcars of the Cincinnati Street Railway in/near Mariemont, OH (suburb of Cincy). 

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]  

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
 

[delamaize]

I repurposed the bagage car I kitbashed out of two Bachmann shorty combines.  Originally painted in the B&O blue/gray scheme, I was never happy with the workmanship or the colors not matching the stock Bachmann cars. 

So, into the dip, and freshly emerged as LRV 721.  I previously rostered a Rivarossi 85' full baggage, but that seemed silly for a shortline with less than 100 miles of track.  This abbreviated car seems much better suited to the task at hand.

Lee

Glad to see that I'm not the only one who had this idea! I have 2 I have done myself. One is complete, and just painted pullman green, with no lettering. But the rest of my fleet of these Bachmann coaches are the same. I just never decided what to letter them for. The 2nd one is on my work bench now, getting modified. It's going to be a foobie CP mail storage car to go with the RPO I picked up for a short, local train I am building to go with my Rapido FP7 I got in my Mystery box in 2024. This one, Ive fitted with 3 axle trucks, Body mounted couplers, and have replaced the steps with brass ones I had laying around. I don't have any pictures yet. I'll try to get some later today.

My other short project has been building a HEP/Steam heat car for the SBL President's/Inspection car:

the story of why I'm building this car is in this thread where I asked about HEP cars: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=60511.0
Since this picture was taken, I've added an old RS1 fuel tank for the HEP fuel, and building a styrene extension to serve as the water tank. Again, like the bagage car earlier, I'll try to get updated pictures. I'm having so much fun with this SBL stuff!

Edit: added picture of the baggage and the HEP car with the fuel/water tank.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[jargonlet]

I have recently recently finished CR 2181. This started as an ho proto 2k NKP GP30 that I had picked up but had no need for. I replaced all of the freestanding plastic parts with metal and added the Canon and Co dynamic brake vent. Paints were a custom mix of tcp to dull the yellow a tiny bit and darken the green. It didn’t need to be too dirty since I am shooting for 1977/78.

[apudelek]

It has been a busy year with an engagement, new job, and a new house (with a basement section just big enough for a layout), but I managed to get a few passenger car projects done between the chaos.

I decided to work on consists that were NY Sections of trains of the PRR to NY Penn but were primarily named trains of railroads operating south and west of DC, SOU, ACL and SAL have all been part of this larger project.

Here is my recent work towards the Silver Meteor:
Re-decaled Kato Budd diner to be Seaboard Air Line 6102:
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I decided to use the Kato Budd CB&Q observation and re-decal for a Seaboard Tavern-Lounge-Observation. This one is numbered for 6607 and given a Silver Meteor Tailsign.  It is certainly not a perfect match, but overall I am happy with it.  I have not added vents or the antenna to the roof since I am mulling over cutting off the upper part of the tail light assembly to more closely match the SAL's observations.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Here is the overall Silver Meteor consist I have so far operating on my new basement temp setup.

GG1 #4879
SAL Coach #6234
SAL Coach #6205
SAL Coach #6208
SAL Diner #6102
PRR Interline 10-6 Sleeper "Elberton"
SAL 10-6 Sleeper "Norfolk"
SAL 10-6 Sleeper "Portsmouth"
SAL Tavern-Lounge-Observation #6607

Sleepers are all Kato Budd 10-6 sleepers with skirts cut out by the trucks and a change to Kato non-skirted trucks.  PRR "Elberton" has been fitted with black trucks and an underbody as well.

I am considering re-decaling one more Kato 10-6 sleeper for the Seaboard.

Finally, I am planning on doing a "very approximate bash" of a Seaboard Budd Combination Baggage-Dorm, which I think I can do with one more Kato Budd 10-6.  These combines with their far-forward baggage doors really give the right look of a train bound for the South, so I think this is a must.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Looking forward to continuing the progress with a new, more permanent layout, and some Pennsy/NH corridor action circa 1955!

[myxie]

This weekend, my DCC-EX CSB1 arrived along with a bunch of kato power unijoiners and various other cords - I started the process of setting up the various feeders while testing out 2 new locomotives (BLI 4-6-2 heavy pacific and a BLI sd40-2, both santa fe).  Wiring is mostly sorted out, will be connecting everything and testing out the DCC-EX station this week.

[R L Smith]

Do you ever eat at Dutch Pantry?

Occasionally yes. Always a tuff choice - apple fritters or shoofly pie? 

[Jim Starbuck]

I made some more progress on the Mack railbus.
It still needs window glazing, added weight and the period passengers I ordered.
Paint is Tamyia Deep Green which I’m very happy with it.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[nkalanaga]

Delamaize:  If you can find one of the ancient Aztec track cleaning cars, with the rubber roller, it would fit very nicely in that Steam/HEP car, in place of the current fuel tank.  A couple pieces of plastic on the outside to hide the end of the roller would finish the tank, and you'd have a car that would earn its keep.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I have recently recently finished CR 2181. This started as an ho proto 2k NKP GP30 that I had picked up but had no need for. I replaced all of the freestanding plastic parts with metal and added the Canon and Co dynamic brake vent. Paints were a custom mix of tcp to dull the yellow a tiny bit and darken the green. It didn’t need to be too dirty since I am shooting for 1977/78.

I regret that I have but one upvote to give.