Herc Driver's Engine Roster

[scubadude]

Thanks, I would appreciate it. In the beginning, I was looking to just do a small 3 or 4 line yard without much servicing support. Now it's an 8-track full-blown everything and am just fishing for more and more... BTW, I like your roster, especially the Sante Fe stuff. Having only 3 engines, not sure if I qualify for a "roster"

[upnick]

Thanks, I would appreciate it. In the beginning, I was looking to just do a small 3 or 4 line yard without much servicing support. Now it's an 8-track full-blown everything and am just fishing for more and more... BTW, I like your roster, especially the Sante Fe stuff. Having only 3 engines, not sure if I qualify for a "roster"

Hi scubadude,

Lets see some pics of your locos in a roster go for it ...........and your engine facility

[Herc Driver]

Here's a few shots of the engine facility...albeit a small one. It's more like a refueling station and small servicing building. The fueling center is a Model Power and the blue metal building is a Pike Stuff if I remember correctly. Sorry for the poor craftsmanship on the building...I literally threw it together one night in the five minutes before dinner and really regret it now. I should have taken more time and did it right. From a foot away, you can't see the gaps in the walls or poor cut marks for the doors...but filmed up close...you see every mistake. One day I'd really like to build one like Sarge's...but right now there's so many other things to do on the layout first.

[Herc Driver]

Latest addition...Kato SD70MAC in the new BNSF color. Runs great...just waiting to get a decoder to install in this one.

[upnick]

Hi Hercdriver,

Awesome SD70 what make is the BNSF emerging out of the shed ?

[Herc Driver]

That's an SD40-2 made by Kato. Very good runner, well built, but it came to me with a bad rear truck that needed some TLC to start working again.

[Sarge]

Great shots Herc and I like your engine facilities as well

[Herc Driver]

Many thanks.

I am hoping to finalize the track design very soon and begin adding scenery to the layout. Just when I think I'm happy with the overall design, I end up taking a section apart and reworking the design. I'm not the greatest at track planning, and can't seem to finalize the western side of the layout. Maybe my overall concept isn't right, or maybe I just can't make up my mind. Whichever it is, I have to get the track in place so I can start the scenery.

[LiveSteamer]

Beautiful SD70MAC.

[Herc Driver]

Yep - Kato did a really nice job on their SD70 line. The Digitrax decoder fits marginally well...the front electrical pickups are just a bit too big. I've tried sanding down the frame to accepts the decoder better, but that hasn't been easy. It fits in well enough...but isn't a great fit like some of the other Digitrax decoders and Kato engines. I have two more SD70s on order - both in the UP Heritage colors of Rio Grande and MoPac. When they arrive, I think I'll be done buying engines for a long time. I can't afford to put decoders in all of them much as I'd like to. I'll probably end up with decoders in about half the roster, and leave the others to occasional dc running on the layout. I'm still playing with the idea of a switch to change from running DCC to DC where there's no way to parallel the power sources. I bought a switch from Radio Shack, but it was built too poorly to be used. So I'm going to hunt around for a better switch and be able to run all-DC or all-DCC whenever we want. That way my kids can use the other DC power pack and not worry about decoder vs. non-decoder equipped engines.

The tough thing lately is obtaining decoders. Digitrax moved their operation from GA to FL and since then has had problems fulfilling orders. I'll probably start switching to another decoder maker if I can't get the right decoders from Digitrax in a more timely manner.

Coming soon...pictures of the layout.