Current Projects

[LiveSteamer]

Matt two things you might look for powering it one would a Varney dual drive F3 that connect the trucks below the frame or one of my oldies that I won't part with its a John English alco diesel the front drivers connect below the frame you might have a better chance on the Varney I do have the drivers from a duel SW unit that Zink dot did in  if you want I could post a photo of them I don't have the connecting rod anymore but it would be too short anyway.
Jim

Jim, could you please post a photo so I have a better idea?

[LiveSteamer]

MOW/Non-revenue Tank Car #70821

Before
   

After
   

[LiveSteamer]

Found this covered hopper sitting in a box tonight. I was looking for something else and came across this WM covered hopper.

   

[tompm]

Matt, nice job withe tank car.

Anything special planned for the covered hopper? Looks like an old Roundhouse kit. I have built a bunch of them. Only thing I don't like is the metal frame. There are usually a bunch of burrs on it and they are not easy to remove or file smooth. They you have to paint it.

[jim currie]

Matt two things you might look for powering it one would a Varney dual drive F3 that connect the trucks below the frame or one of my oldies that I won't part with its a John English alco diesel the front drivers connect below the frame you might have a better chance on the Varney I do have the drivers from a duel SW unit that Zink dot did in  if you want I could post a photo of them I don't have the connecting rod anymore but it would be too short anyway.
Jim

Jim, could you please post a photo so I have a better idea?

will dig them out tomorrow and tank a pic to post.
Jim

[LiveSteamer]

Matt, nice job withe tank car.

Anything special planned for the covered hopper? Looks like an old Roundhouse kit. I have built a bunch of them. Only thing I don't like is the metal frame. There are usually a bunch of burrs on it and they are not easy to remove or file smooth. They you have to paint it.

No nothing special planned as of yet. It is an old roundhouse kit as it has the metal frame. I know what you mean about the burrs as it had quite a few. I got my Dremel tool out and used it with the sanding bit to smooth them out as much as I could then I sanded down the inside between the chutes. After doing that, it slid right into place. I'm probably going to keep it in the WM colors as that's another favorite railroad of mine. It will more than likely get pressed into sand service.

[LiveSteamer]

Since I'm waiting for more decals to arrive so I can finish the MT-4 slug, I decided to go through some more rolling stock and do some research on a few cars I have. I found what I was looking for to make a couple conrail freight cars but then a ran into a problem. What was the real color of the Conrail freight cars? Well after doing about 20 minutes of research and not wanting to pay an arm and a leg for what they call Conrail red from trucolor, I found that Rust-Oleum's satin colonial red is the next closest color to the red Conrail used. It does depend on the manufacture and not all freight cars were painted the same shade of red. I've seen some modelers use satin colonial red and their cars have always looked great. Even after they added the dirt and grime the cars still looked great. Below is a the railroad car I'm working on while pieces I cut out for the covered hopper car dry from paint. With the covered hopper I was missing some pieces and had to cut out the roof hatches and it is also missing the walkway that goes on top of the car. That will be the next thing that I get cut out.

   

   

   

[jim currie]

LS sad to say that after spending 30 years the junk box I must have pitched it as I can't find the Varney drive but will keep looking.
Jim

[LiveSteamer]

LS sad to say that after spending 30 years the junk box I must have pitched it as I can't find the Varney drive but will keep looking.
Jim

It's ok Jim if you can't find them but if you do please post them.

[LiveSteamer]

Yesterday I received a package in the mail from Bruce. Again thank you very much. It contained 3 freight cars, 2 covered hoppers and 1 tank car. I quickly made work and started on the tank car yesterday. The details on the tank car are amazing and it runs smoothly with the other freight cars. After getting the tank car together I moved onto the two covered hoppers. Yes they both have the metal frames and required some sanding to get the burrs off of them. After taking care of that, I got them together for right now that way I can test them along with the tank car under the Christmas tree. Once Christmas is over, I will move on to getting the covered hoppers painted, numbered and decals on them. Below are pictures I took of the freight cars in the mixed freight consist.

The Conrail freight car fleet is slowly getting bigger along with leased freight cars and foreign railroad freight cars. 

Union Tank Car ( UTLX ) #72415
   

Conrail Covered Hopper CC71A #875218
   

Conrail Covered Hopper CC71A #875215
   

[jim currie]

LS sad to say that after spending 30 years the junk box I must have pitched it as I can't find the Varney drive but will keep looking.
Jim

It's ok Jim if you can't find them but if you do please post them.

there on eBay

[LiveSteamer]

Some of the current projects on the workbench. I did put the MT-4 off to the side for a little bit but have gotten it back out to finish it up. The two covered hoppers are back from under the tree and will be taken back apart to be painted, lettered and numbered. The critter had a small detail added also the truck for the other critter is sitting on the opposite end waiting to be put together. The signal bridge is new and already has two signals up with the milepost under the signals. The signal bridge will be protecting the fictitious yard that will sit at cresson, pa and will be the eastern end of the layout. 

After much time and thought about what I was going to name the layout, it finally came to mind, Conrail's Blairsville Cutoff. Two mainline tracks will diverge off from blairsville yard and take a alternate double track route to cresson with a lesser grade and be about 50 miles of mainline track with a connection to the C&I Railroad. It is going to make for some interesting challenges and train running when it is finally up and running. 

   

   

   

   

[TMo]

It's always good to figure out what your vision's gonna be! I remember that moment when I knew what I wanted to build, and then things just took off. Full speed ahead!

[tompm]

Matt

Glad to see you now have a goal. It is going to fun watching it take shape.

[LiveSteamer]

Over the past couple days I managed to finished up getting the signals glued onto the bridge. I got the milepost added to each signal as well. I did start to put the lenses in but then realized I didn't have enough to finish them. Just my luck haha. I also got the 362 signal finished and the milepost added to it as well. I just need the weather to not snow so I can get out to paint the covered hoppers and get a trip into the hobby shop to buy more lenses. Then the fun part of getting the wires ran to them so they can eventually be put into operation. Now that this little project is 95% complete, I can move onto the other projects that are piling up on the workbench.