Mid 70's today! So, spend the afternoon running. Ran a typical Rio Grande passenger train today! 2 narrow gauge boxcars, DRGW combine, Observation. And 4 Colorado and Southern cars. Behind a standard gauge RIo Grande NW-2. Have a few photos. Just don't feel like getting up and fixing them for upload right now. Maybe tomorrow sometime. Was going good until dinner. Had to pick up and call it quits! Starting to get dark though, so it worked out OK.
And here's the train I ran the other day! Tulips in bloom!! Surprisingly, not buried under snow yet! The NW-2, 4 Rio Grande cars, and 4 C&S cars. Anything but proto, but it still looks nice! Besides, the K-27 still down, due to counterweight issues, and I don't have anything smaller. Yet! If I can find a 2-8-0 Connie, or even an Annie 4-6-0......Adding sound and Airwire....That train might be complete. Planning to add a coal train in the near future also! A set of USA Trains Burlington GP30's, a small variety of coal hoppers and caboose. Anyone know where I MIGHT be able to find White Rio Grande decals/car number decals in G? With either Rio Grande, The Action Road, or the Action RailRoad lettering.
Transfer I was waiting on arrived. Have Burlington GP30's and 12 coal hoppers, and caboose ordered. Have a combination of DRGW, CNW, SP, GN and UP cars. Something similar to what I used to see parked in town, for either Cemex cement near Lyons, or Valmont power plant in Boulder. Figure that would be easier, since decals can't be found. Might be a week or so. Won't know until I get shipping info.
Next, is to find Sound and Airwire for the locomotives. Should be fun, once I can run front to back and return! Been wanting this for several years now! Almost reality! Photos once things arrive!
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/StanCedarleaf/WebPageDecals/CustomDecalsx.html http://www.gscalegraphics.net/custom-lettering.html http://shawmutcarshops.com/custom-decals-custom-vinyl-lettering/ These are the top 3 decal/vinyl guys in the US. If you are going AirWire, I'd recommend the CONVRTR, in 2.5 amp or 6 amp as appropriate, and then pick any DCC decoder. Greg
Well, placed an order. Have yet to get an order confirmation. Right now, cautiously hopeful. But, I DID manage to locate ONE Rio Grande GP30, and snagged it! Could be here by weeks end. Took time and did some minor track work today. Did a little ballasting work in a few spots. Leveled a short section of straight track, redid a couple curve sections, and topped off were stuff had washed away. And filled in a few holes, dug by Bob, the squirrel! Burying peanuts along my track! A few of which actually started to sprout! Hope to maybe get a bit moe done, as my right knee gets better! Messed it up, again, about a month ago. Can't kneel down without pain! Think, instead of trains, I ought to be looking for replacement body parts, for me!! To replace what either hurts, or doesn't work anymore!
Coal train shipped yesterday. Be here, by FedEx Saturday. 7 cartons, 78.8 pounds. Should fun, eventually!! Even if run on DC power for the time, until I can find sound/Airwire boards/receivers for the locomotives. Went with 2 Burlington locomotives, since Rio Grande are impossible to find! Or almost, as I was able to locate, and snag, one engine! Photos when I can. Weather might be questionable over the weekend, so......
From the website: TOTAL ORDER SHIPPING CHARGE Over $1500.00 $25.00 $1000.00 - $1500.00 $15.00 $500.00 - $1000.00 $10.00 $75.00 - $500.00 $9.00 Under $75.00 $10.00
Seems like they must be losing a few bucks on shipping. When you get teh box(es), I'd be curious what $$$ shows on them- if anything.
Fe Ex was here already! Like Christmas morning! 7 cartons worth of G Scale coal train, with locomotives and Caboose arrived! Now to find a decent day, to set up D.C. power and train, so I can play! Went with Burlington Route GP30's, since Rio Grande are just about impossible to find! Although, I was able to locate, and snag ONE DRGW unit! Be here Wednesday. Next, I gotta convert to Airwire radio control and sound. But, that's gonna run me up to $1,300 for 3 units!! Think I can wait a bit, before converting. And decided to get the red Burlington units, just to add a bit of color to the railroad! And a bright silver Caboose! All together, 3 locomotives, 12 cars and caboose. And shows a total of $25 shipping charge. So, figure that one out! And yes, photos of said train, when weather warms up a little bit. Kinda cold and semi wet for a couple of days.
Not sure how they decide the shipping. My equipment has arrived safely. Test ran locomotives and caboose for a little while tonight. Gonna try the est of the train tomorrow. Still gonna be in the 70's, then start going downhill the rest of the week! Platte Valley trolley introductory tour on Saturday AM. Gonna be mid 40's with rain/snow. Gonna be an interesting time! Gotta check with lawyer, see if learning to operate a trolley is going to mess up my ability to get disability benefits. Would still have to undergo a 6 hour training session first! We'll see. If I can get the 3-4 photos Mom took, I can post my test run earlier! Or more tomorrow, during more test running! Gotta love the folks at USA. One locomotive came with 2 RH side short hood grabs, for the cab. Gotta get a LH one sent. Haven't gotten in touch yet, but that's next! As is installing the remaining detail parts. Almost forgot how much fun that was!
Details include: All handrails MU hoses Brake hose Exhaust stack Coupler cut levers Optional change includes couplers. Equipped with LGB style hook/loop. Included are USA working knuckle couplers. Or the option of installing KD magnetic couplers. Gonna run with the current stock couplers for now. Might look at swapping to the USA coupler at some point. Not sure if I want to go to KD. Price for one. But also the possibility of sagging, because of train weight! I might make the change anyway, but slowly. Nice thing though, is cars already come equipped with steel wheels. Don't have to spend the money for that! At around $30 for a set of steel wheels x 12 cars.......
Most recent. Coal train, with Burlington power detours. Yes, trailing locomotive is in violation of FRA rules! Missing the short, front handrails. Got 2 Left hand rails, nothing for the Right side. Contacted about it, waiting to see. Proper DRGW power to lead, arriving shortly. Runs good, just not quite the same, without sound! Soon, I hope! Entire train. From one angle. EAst end of yard. Approaching switch to backyard. Entire train, from different angle. The end. Not of progress, but the train! As mentioned, found a Rio Grande GP30. Be here Wed. Think camera was aiming at rocks, and not the train. So they are not quite as sharp as I'd like! Couple of minor derails at first. My fault I think. May not have been completely on track right! Once fixed, train ran all afternoon, with no problems. Just sat back and watched. DC only at this point yet.
Newest and probably last purchase! Rio Grande GP30 #3001. Unless I can successfully find the other Rio Grande unit! All I gotta do, is add KD couplers and I'm good to go! Ordering those pretty quick! No running for a bit now. Weather going downhill yet! Later Sunday maybe. Low 40's Saturday, with rain/snow possible. Sunday, taking Denver Trolley introductory tour. See if it's worth following up and taking the 6 hour training class, to become conductor/motorman for the trolley! Could be operating a 1928, 18 ton open trolley on just over a 1 mile stretch of track. Not sure yet though.
Ordered the KD couplers needed to convert entire train! Will be 3-7 days, according to KD. Truck mount for caboose. Body mounts for cars. Body/truck mount for locomotives. The body mount are a bit stronger, allowing for longer trains. But, they also require a little bit of work, and slight modification to get them to fit. Something to do, if weather isn't so great. Rain a little earlier today. Maybe more. Colder tomorrow and Saturday. Into the upper 30's with rain/snow for Saturday! Denver Trolley introductory tour delayed by a day, because of weather! Running coal train also delayed, due to weather! Maybe a few more photos after shop crews do the coupler work needed and get things running again!
