GEC's Layout Progress

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Looks like painting and DCC is going to be the name of the game!

Paint projects

SO MUCH PAINTING! I can hardly figure out what to do first!

Now that True-Color paints are more or less displacing whats left of Pollyscale and Floquil, I'm finally getting a hold of the colors I need.

In particular, I have the appropriate paints for my GP40P in the CNJ scheme, and the New Haven FL9 in the McGinnis scheme. I'm itching to get the FL9 done sooner rather than later, since I'd like to run it while it is still a "unique" engine to have, before the Rapido FL9s start hitting the rails.


At the same time, I have several passenger cars that all need a paint job. these include patching out the Great Northern logos off the now CNJ/Conrail Commuter cars, since their Empire Builder days are behind them now!

Modern NJ Transit

Another "quick" paint job would be my Modern Day NJ Transit Bi-Level cars. These would be SOOO easy to get running, if only they were painted! I recently aquired a "new tooling" PL42AC model to haul them (my original PL42AC was also the VERY first PL42AC model sold, and it has some detail trouble!). This new PL42AC has a Stewart Drive in it, and so it should be very easy to get running.

When its done, the whole trainset should look like this! I could probably use an extra coach or two (I only have 5 cars), but its a start, and its recognizable!



In theory, I could also get my ALP46 running, but that will be a tricky project because it is difficult to solidly attach the Roco Class 101 frame to the IMW ALP46 body. I also need more Bachmann Acela Pantographs, but they appear to be permanently out of stock (also scary if my Acela ever needs new pantographs!). I will need a new source of modern single arm "Brecknell-Willis" pantographs, preferably in red.

Conrail Trailvan and/or Amtrak Mail-9/10

Another train I'm trying to build, is a Trailvan intermodal train (or an Amtrak MAIL train, which tended to look like just another Conrail Trailvan). I'm hoping to get a few more flat cars. My train club's train length limit is around 12', so at a foot long, I'm just over halfway there at 6 cars (waiting on an Athearn Genesis F89-F flat car to arrive to make it 7).

Ironically, one of the difficulties is finding the appropriate trailers and flat cars. While Modern Day intermodal stuff is very popular and all over the place, Late 70s era intermodal trains are a different story.

It seems that 40' highway trailers and containers were the norm, but it is not entirely clear to me what sorts of trailers are appropriate. Few people took pictures of the flat cars rolling by (just the locomotives), so it makes it difficult to identify the company names, let alone the classes. The athearn 40' Freuhauf "Z-Vans" are a Safe bet, and apparently the UPS "drop floor" 40' trailers are also appropriate.

However, most intermodal containers are decidedly modern (walthers makes it easy and markets "1970s" containers, saying so right on the label!), and my hobby shop either REALLY early 40' trailers, or slightly too modern 45' trailers. Hitting the sweet spot has been difficult to say the least!


Another problem is the flatcars themselves. SO far, 5 of my 7 flat cars are Atlas "flush deck" flatcars. These are really nice, but its clear in photographs that many 89' flatcars are of the "channeled" variety, and most seem to be the F89-F class, as well as a few of the F89-J types.

The main problem here, is that many of these models are sold in a "later" 1980s+ configuration, meant for 45' Trailers. These would not fit in my late 1970s time period. Learning about these Flatcars and their history is proving difficult.

Perhaps someone here knows better? Guidance would be appreciated!