Scale Trains HO UP U50C

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh, how many times have I considered doing the same, but never able to pull the trigger? More than I can recall. I tip my hat to you. The Bowser HO MLW C-630M/M-630/M-636 line was about as close as I've come to actually buying something HO. The Aurora HR-616 is still a possibility, but I resist. Thing is, I know if the old man had decided in 1984 that we were going to be HO scaler's instead of N scaler's, I'd be a lot further along in representing (equipment-wise at the least) my memories of being a 13 year-old at trackside. I'm a little annoyed at his decision. I'm not getting any younger, and it's been 25 years since I started to seriously collect N scale equipment for the late 1980's in southern Ontario, and the gaps are many. Freight car wise it's not too bad (maybe 50% there), but locomotives are another story... 5% maybe. Sigh.

The trick is to make friends with some HO Scale guys who will let you come stretch their legs occasionally.

[C855B]

Thinking about the Italian car vs. railfanning thing, it dawned on me I had this old picture proving same, taken by a buddy:

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Mojave, Fiat, ATSF train, 20-year-old nerd trying hard to look cool in spite of car counter in right hand and notepad in his left. Orange antenna on Fiat was for scanner.

[u18b]

From HO U50C to Italian cars....

Railwire thread drift at it's finest.

https://c.tenor.com/DlQ-kDF1DIoAAAAd/tenor.gif

 

[C855B]

Beautiful.

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[tpwillie]

Looking at the photos you posted Mike, the giveaways that it's a model is the way you displayed it and no chain mark arc (smile) on the nose!  Beautiful model, without taking time to critique any detail or paint flaws (if they exist), fresh out of the box.  Enjoy your shelf "queen" as she does deserve a title with her grand appearance!

tpwillie   

[GaryHinshaw]

She's a looker, for sure.

[lock4244]

This is a good example of the reason I've switched to HO. The ability to purchase locomotives ready to run that have a very narrow appeal; one road operated or one road bought new and they migrated to smaller roads after 20-25 years in service. Or in this case, one road AND a truncated service life. While this beast does benefit from being a member of UP's double diesel era, arguably the coolest era in railroading, it's still pretty out there. Yet here it is.

[lock4244]

The trick is to make friends with some HO Scale guys who will let you come stretch their legs occasionally.

Naw, I've gone all in. Rapido basically produces everything I require for my era, and what they don't make, someone else already does, or Rapido just haven't announced it yet.

I'm getting GP40TC's, MLW C-424's, GMD SD40's, and the just announced CN built GS413 Sweeps. I do feel dirty for switching scales, but it's nice to be on the winning team.