N Scale Modelling: Times are good!!

[Caddy58]

Just a few thoughts on modelling the NP in N-Scale: Times are good! There is an abundance of recent releases for the Northen Pacific, making it easier than ever to model the "All American Road":

Steam :
W3 GHQ Conversion on Kato Mikado
(comes in coal or oil versions)
Z6 More Models Brass
Z8 GHQ Conversion on Rivarossi Challenger

(The GHQ kits have been around for a while, but they are NP specific and very nice)

Diesel:
FT Intermountain and MicroTrains
VO 1000 Atlas
F3 "Butterknife" Intermountain

Freight
GHQ announced ready to run NP specific Boxcars and reefers, 100% correct with rounded roof and all.

All these releases means that I will probbaly need to backdate my layout, but if that will allow me to run NP Steam and early Diesels I am more than willing to go for it.

Times are good!! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif
Cheers
Dirk

[Kurt Moose]

I wish there were a couple more NP items in Z-scale. There was only a boxcar or two that i've ever seen from Micro-Trains, and the other manufacturer's I don't think know it even existed! :rolleyes:

[Kurt Moose]

Ya!! My wish came true! Micro-trains just released a 40' in brown for Oct. graemlins/notworthy.gif

[Caddy58]

Now this is what I would call excellent response time by Micro-trains!!

Kurt, do you have a lyout? Any chance to share some pics?

Cheers
Dirk

[BoxcabE50]

Almost too good! My hobby funds can't keep up with the output! :eek:

:D

Boxcab E50

[Caddy58]

Boxcab,

I know how you feel. I was at MB Kleins yesterday and all I picked up was some scratchbuilding supplies.

Well, you can spend money only once...

Cheers
Dirk

[Kurt Moose]

No, sorry. no pics. :rolleyes: But my layout is a 2'x4' with 2" foam glued to it with my rivers cut out in Z-scale depicting the GN in the late fifties/early sixties over Stevens Pass here in Washington,( my favorite place, just there Mon. :D ), I have the town of Skykomish plotted out and all buildings are finished, and the west portal of the Cascade tunnel is finished, and building my thru truss bridges and painting them, and now I have my new Micro-Track from Micro-Trains laid out!! :D Hopefully soon my wife will let me use her new digital camera so I can take work in progress pics for ya' all!! graemlins/wink.gif

[Kurt Moose]

Oh, I forgot to mention my rolling stock, if your interested? First, my A-B-A set of GN F's that I have lightly weathered, a GN caboose with the cupola moved more towards the rear, and just about every Micro-Trains car that is GN that I could get my hands on, all weathered! graemlins/222.gif

[Caddy58]

Kurt,

sounds great. I am sure that your wife will let you habe her camera if you promise to be as careful with it as with your trains; At least that works if I borrow stuff from my wife... :))

I am more particular to Stampede Pass. Though I have never been there there are so many good books available that I really feel like traveling back in time...

Cheers
Dirk

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by Caddy58:
I am more particular to Stampede Pass. Though I have never been there there are so many good books available that I really feel like traveling back in time... It was beautiful country. Much has changed. Especially since I was young. The NP is gone. (Except in our hearts!) The town of Lester long vanished. Only a few reminders, and ghosts.

Much logging since then. The Tacoma City Watershed restrictions keeping access to a minimum.

Still, it is a beautiful area. Models of it keep history alive.

:D

Boxcab E50

[Kurt Moose]

Back in mid-1995, I drove back into Lester before all the rebuilding, and there were a few houses on the southside of the tracks, but no railroad buildings. The brick foundation for what looked like a water tower was still there, but don't know if it now. Went up to the "big bridge" and walked about ten miles almost to the Borrup Loops. Awsesome time.

[BoxcabE50]

Kurt-

Do you remember when Gertrude Murphy passed away? It was at least 1998. Or a little later. She was the last resident of Lester.

:D

Boxcab E50

[Kurt Moose]

Ya' my dad clipped out the article in the Seattle Times for me, but don't know where it's at right now. graemlins/headscratch.gif She was one of the last true frontier woman, that's for sure!

[BoxcabE50]

Found it. She passed away October 2, 2002.

Boxcab E50

[Kurt Moose]

And with that, the town died with her. :(