Railroad jokes... everybodies got one. Let's hear yours.

What's the difference between a school teacher and a railroad conductor?
One trains the mind, the other minds the train.

HI FOLKS!, Welcome to MY Rail Fan Pics: ENGINES thread.

Sure I'm a Model RRer, but I'm a BIG RAIL FAN too, and in this thread I'll be posting a MULTITUDE of engine pics that i have taken over the last few years. EVERY SINGLE PICTURE in this thread were taken BY ME at several different locations.

Most of the Engine pictures you will see are:
Union Pacific(my favorite road)
WSOR
ICE
I also have a TON of Engine pics i have taken at the Illinois Railway Museum,
AND, every now and then i happen across some engines that dont fit in the above four categories, like the last pic in THIS post.

It will take several weeks to post the MULTITUDE of Engine shots i have taken, and since i Rail Fan often, you'll be seeing FRESH NEW shots frequently too.

If you like Engines, i think you'll like this thread , so just sit back and enjoy the show.
Questions AND comments are more then welcome

HERE'S A SMALL TASTE OF WHAT YOU'LL SEE:
pic#1- thats ME in front of my favorite of ALL of UP's engines, the 8500 series Gas Turbines(I'm 5'11'', that goes to show you how big those Gas Turbines were :o )
pic#2- a UP Dash-9, taken in Janesville WI
pic#3- WSOR's famous #4025, taken in Janesville WI
pic#4- ICE's "City of South Beloit", taken in South Beloit Ill
pic#5- a CNW F7, taken at the IRM
pic#6- a GP30(EX-WC), taken in Janesville WI

The BOX!!!!!    

A couple of 1920s-era trucks. Bashed from Roco's WW2 Russian Army Trucks. They are a great stand in for late 1920s and early 1930s Dodge and Ford trucks.

First one is modified by removing the "canvas" and adding a driver's side mirror. Barrel in the back is scratched from a section of 1/4" dowel and some wine bottle foil.

[album]1094[/album]
[album]1095[/album]

With this one, I got a little more adventuresome... The B.F. David Coal Company sign is from my collection of signs and lettering. The truck mirror is a little more heavy duty (made from a drop grab and piece of styrene), the coal is real coal, crushed to size, and the shovel and wheelbarrow come from a MOW flat kit from Athearn. The mudflaps visible in the second picture are hung on a piece of music wire, and are made from aluminum foil.

[album]1092[/album]
[album]1093[/album]


Andrew

From Qube at AMR I am sorry to report that at 4am GMT on 23rd November 2008, Shamus passed away in his sleep.

The doctors and nurses at the charity run Telford Hospice did an excellent job in making his last few days as comfortable as possible.

At loosing my father I am devastated, but a part of me is comforted that he is no longer suffering.

If any members in the UK would like to attend the funeral I will post details when I have them.

Shamus, Dad, you will be sorely missed.

Robin (Matthyro)

May 18, 1937 ~~~ October 17, 2005

This Forum is dedicated to his loving memory, by his peers,
those that learned from his kindness and his work...

The Members of The Gauge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Robin George Matthysen

With immense sorrow we announce his quiet passing on October 17, 2005.
His loving wife Letty was by his side as she had been for 46 years.
He leaves his daughters Kim (Buddy), Cindy (Peter) and his son Dale (Kristine)
to carry on his example.

Grandchildren Darby (Tabitha), Letitia (Josh), Nadine, Candice, Dalen, Janelle
and Trevor will miss him greatly as will his Great granddaughter Nevaeh.
Robin came to Canada in 1956 from his native country South Africa.
He leaves his sister

Caryl (Des) and niece Mandy and family in South Africa, and nephew
Wayne and his family

in England. After a short time in the Canadian Air Force he moved on to his career in
Retail Managament- S.S Kresge Co., K Mart, ultimately retiring after
a successful career

with Eatons. Ever the perfectionist, Robin excelled in balancing his work,
family and hobbies.

He chronicled his family and then his children's families with his masterfull photography.
He spent magical time with his wife and children in home- built boats and sail boats.
Always willing to share experiences, his children and grandchildren were welcome
to join him in his travels coast to coast across Canada. He created wonderful paintings
and filled his home with lovingly constructed wooden furniture. He fostered a global
group of friends with his interest in model railroading and computers.
Within his hometown of Georgetown, he leaves behind a community well served by
his thoughtful efforts with Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visiting.

Robin (Matthyro)

May 18, 1937 ~~~ October 17, 2005

This Forum is dedicated to his loving memory, by his peers,
those that learned from his kindness and his work...

The Members of The Gauge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Robin George Matthysen

With immense sorrow we announce his quiet passing on October 17, 2005.
His loving wife Letty was by his side as she had been for 46 years.
He leaves his daughters Kim (Buddy), Cindy (Peter) and his son Dale (Kristine)
to carry on his example.

Grandchildren Darby (Tabitha), Letitia (Josh), Nadine, Candice, Dalen, Janelle
and Trevor will miss him greatly as will his Great granddaughter Nevaeh.
Robin came to Canada in 1956 from his native country South Africa.
He leaves his sister

Caryl (Des) and niece Mandy and family in South Africa, and nephew
Wayne and his family

in England. After a short time in the Canadian Air Force he moved on to his career in
Retail Managament- S.S Kresge Co., K Mart, ultimately retiring after
a successful career

with Eatons. Ever the perfectionist, Robin excelled in balancing his work,
family and hobbies.

He chronicled his family and then his children's families with his masterfull photography.
He spent magical time with his wife and children in home- built boats and sail boats.
Always willing to share experiences, his children and grandchildren were welcome
to join him in his travels coast to coast across Canada. He created wonderful paintings
and filled his home with lovingly constructed wooden furniture. He fostered a global
group of friends with his interest in model railroading and computers.
Within his hometown of Georgetown, he leaves behind a community well served by
his thoughtful efforts with Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visiting.

Just checking to see if I can post a pic here....

...for Accurail cars. I'm not sure if these will apply to all Accurail cars, but they work for the various 40' boxcars, in all styles.
If you don't use the Accumate couplers supplied with these kits, you'll find that the coupler pockets are not quite deep enough to accommodate the bronze centering spring used with Kadee couplers:

   

Attaching the coupler cover snugly will crush or distort the protruding parts shown, resulting in poor coupler performance. The solution is to build-up the sides of the coupler pocket, using strips of Evergreen .010"x.020" styrene, as illustrated:

   

I cut the strips a little longer than necessary, then trim them to length after the cement has hardened.

   

Another area that can be improved is the weight. Some folks glue them in, using solvent cements which continue to "work" after the car is in service, eventually resulting in deformed (and sometimes un-useable) floors. Silicone sealant will work for a while, but, eventually, the bond will give way, especially if the car is stored in its box, laying on its side. My solution is to hold the weights in place, using commercially-available strip styrene.
Since the weights are .080" thick, .080"x.080" strip works well. First, ensure that the weight is flat by attempting to rock it, with each side up in-turn, on a flat surface. Straighten as required. Next, centre the weight side-to-side on the floor:

   

Now, add short lengths of strip, as shown, "trapping" the weight in place ( the ends of the car will prevent any movement lengthwise):

   

Use more of the same strip, cemented in place with solvent cement, as shown. I clamp it until the cement has set:

   

   

For some cars, such as reefers and single sheathed boxcars, the floor is not wide enough to allow the method used above. For these, simply cement the short pieces in place as shown below. Make sure that they're .080" below the ledge upon which the floor sits:

   

When the cement had dried, drop the weight in position, as shown, then snap the floor in place:

   

Wayne

How big a file size are we allowed for posting pics?