But yes I do have at least one SP unit that's not weathered even though I bought it for the sole purpose of doing exactly that, something like in the link. http://www.ssloan.net/trains/sp/_images0003/sp3830_01.jpg
There has to be one oddball that just came out of the paint shop around! They are sure purty when the paint still smells new! One of the best jobs ever was working in a backshop and watching units come in all beat up and tired looking, then voila! Shiny!
I haven't posted much these last few years, mainly due to computer issues, but I have been modeling. I started building the Toledo Branch in a spare bedroom about two years ago. Designed for operations and focused on the town of Toledo, OR. I added in the mill at Wrens just outside of staging and am filling the gap between there and Toledo with a coast range scene. 90% of the track is in, a mix of ME code 55, all hand laid turnouts and derails, plus hand laid code 40 in most of the industry and auxiliary trackage. The trestles are both stick built from common standard plans with girders built from styrene. A third trestle is about half built and will lead into the woodchip dump that is across Depot Slough from the paper mill. Still lots of work to be done, but enough is in to run ops on it. Here are a few processed iPhone pics. The Toledo Switcher crosses the Yaquina River on it's return from Wrens. Tunnel 24 will be at the left of the frame. Train 706, the Toledo Hauler was caught a little later at the same location. And again on the trestle near Alder. A shot of part of Toledo. The SD9 has been put away for the night in the engine track as the Hauler arrives to spot the Georgia Pacific paper mill.
Shot a couple of operations videos of my Toledo Branch layout, no sound, so think of it as 1967 and 8mm film, LOL. The first vid shows the operation of the Toledo Hauler and the second shows the Toledo Switcher. One of these days I'll get a decent video camera, but this works for now. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Good to see you back Joe, I recently found the SP Cabooses I got from you, I need to get them finished up and photographed!
Thanks for the welcome backs I ran across a half finished caboose a couple of weeks ago, made me think of you Simon and wonder what you were up to.
Some Daylight for the topic. This happens to be a Sun Beam. The T&NO kind that shone all the way between Dallas and Houston.
My earliest railfan memory is of one of these beauties (I suspect that it was in Black Widow paint to start) that use to roll into Palmdale, Ca., on a regular basis on the point of a derrick train consist. Dad and I would go and get an ice cream cone from the drug store and use to go to the depot (the agent was one of Dad's poker buddies) and would walk around the train. It was always a real treat to be with him so much so that Dad made sure I had one of the new Marx 027 derrick train sets for Christmas '60 (I lost him in '69)... some 57 years later its a memory I still hold on too. Remember, as well, the first time I saw the San Joaquin Daylight with some "General Service" silver and red cars in the consist. Dad and I were on our way back to Palmdale from Lancaster and saw the southbound train (which was seen often during that time)... didn't know what to think about it because it was so "different". Dad simply explained that it was still a passenger train just in different paint. Boy, what a memory (wish I remembered more about the ALCOs that use to be on the point)... I've had two "Southern" loves in my life, the first being Espee and the second was the Southern Railway... the second bug bit, ironically roughly 6 months before my Dad passed when we went from southern California to North Carolina to visit my Mom's family... still remotely remember the Carolina Special and its mix of heavyweight cars and a corrugated 10-6 sleeper... there too was another "bug" that bit me that remains to this very day...
Made by my mom about 25 years ago. I asked her to make me a lil freight car tray. Its made out of plastic canvas, and a chocolates box. I set one of my locomotives in front of her, and this is what she made. The other side is the same, and the back is all red.
