Freelance 2015-1

[faraway]

Reinhard, The New York Cross Harbor/ New York New Jersey Railroads are still running through old decayed buildings. In fact, they now have GP-38s running down 1st Avenue.

That is very interesting in fact. I did never notice they got a GP38-2. Athearn has a GM leasing GP38-2. At least the conversion into a GATX engine with some decals should be doable. NYNJ added some unique signs.

[Mike Kieran]

When I first saw the Geep coming down 1st Avenue while I was driving down there, I thought that I was delirious from the newborn father lack of sleep syndrome (I really thought that I was seeing things ). Brick canyons never go out of style. Are you getting the layout boredom blues? You could always make the structures removable so that you can switch buildings out as long as they fit the spaces. I think that's what Larry/Brakie is planning on doing so that he can model Slate Creek Rail and Summerset Railway.

[faraway]

.... Are you getting the layout boredom blues? ......

That is a great expression and so awfully true ....
The conflict is that I like the old brick buildings very much but I love contemporary automobiles, engines and rail cars too. The buildings I like are still existing in some places but they are usually not used by rail served business anymore.

Youtube has a clip of the NYNJ GP38-2 2200 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNgGTUbaBfc and a bunch of photos http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPic...?id=191010
Looks like local Brooklyn law enforces daily engine washing. Correct weathering is a layer of gloss

I read somewhere the tracks are not totally isolated. They connect somewhere with the NYC Metro system. That is also the way the GP38-2 come in. It did not come on a barge.
This http://members.trainweb.com/bedt/indloco/nynjr.html is a nice source of information about the NYNJ

I guess the engine is still owned by GATX/GMTX and leased to NYNJ. Part of that leasing contract is some custom paint modifications to give the customer (NYNJ) a better feeling.

[faraway]

The transformation into a contemporary layout has been started. The first step are none destructive changes only. I am afraid I have to severely modify the Downtown Deco buildings with rolling shutters if I stay with a contemporary layout.
The area around the Bush Terminal in Brooklyn is used for inspiration but it will continue to be a strictly freelance layout. No boat operation will be on the layout. The staging yard will mimic the 65th street yard as an anchor of all switch jobs.
I intend no basic rework but only minor changes required to change the time from 1970/80 to 2010+.
An Atlas GATX MP15DC is the stand-in for the NYNJ/GATX GP38-2.

[shortliner]

My Goodness - that road tanker makes a good mirror ! Looking good though

[faraway]

My Goodness - that road tanker makes a good mirror ! Looking good though

I did not notice. Indeed it is my camera and my hands.

[shortliner]

I was just imagining driving behind one at night on a dark road! BEDAZZLED!

[alcanman]

I love the latest incarnation of your Freelance layout, Reinhard. Mixing contemporary operations with old time buildings works really well .

As always, your work is inspirational!

Mal

[faraway]

This simple structure is the test object to become a contemporary building with roller shutters.

Brooklyn 31st and 32nd street are full of one and two story buildings very similar to the Down Town deco kits but with modern roller shutters. The Dremel cutting wheel works great to cut the rectangles in the walls but it is really a mess. The white snow is everywhere in the room, on the glasses in the face and in the hair The old Coke sign got replaced with a local Ford sign. There are remarkable few and small signs in that area. Lots are Chinese owned business.


ps. My Microscale GATX decals are not helpful to convert the Athearn GMD GP38-2 into the GMTX engine. Had to order my very first decals from Highball some minutes ago.

[Canadian Atlantic Railway]

It is always enjoyable to read your posts and see the updates or back dates

[Mike Kieran]

Actually, the First Avenue yard is closer to your plan. They used it for car float operations, sorting, storage, and transloading. The locomotives probably came from the 65th Street interchange with the New York & Atlantic. In fact, another inspiration could be the NY&A Bushwick Branch which is being modeled by RScott. You could also draw inspiration from the Cenrtal Illinois Railroad in Chicago.

[faraway]

I named the 65th yard just because it is more far away like my staging yard. It is "something" not on my layout.
I did Central Illinois in Chicago about a year ago in Freelance2014-1. It is great and gives the opportunity to run BNSF GP50s after Central Illinois quit.

[jonte]

Hi Reinhard, and a belated Happy New Year!

Glad to see your hard work, skill and perseverance are still paying dividends. I particularly admire your street level scenes

I shall continue to follow with my usual admiration and keen interest.

Regards For now,

Jonte

[long island jack]

Atlas did a GATX GP38-2, I run one on my layout HELM
   

Like the change of area , if we lived a bit closer to each other you could run some trip workings to 59th and Rust

Ray

[faraway]

Got the EMD demonstrator. Had it in the laundry and wait for Highball decals



Some hours later still no decals (will take some weeks until they crossed the great pond) but swapped bulbs out and LEDs in.