I have to say my favorite are the rail diesel cars. They were a rarity in California, winth only 3 in Norcal. As a boy I always thought they looked like runaway dome cars. I find they can be a conversation piece on a layout, creating surprising: "What's that!" moment. In Z scale, they bring to reality the Southern Pacific description of their RDC: "The Pocket Streamliner." Currently I'm working on the original AZL SP RDC shell to match the rebuild from a 1960 accident: http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/rdc22.html
Interesting image. I'm not aware of the WP RDCs ever being on a barge, however... SP #10 when it was on the NWP was still serviced in the SP yard in Sacramento. So on a regular basis it would have had to ride the barge between San Rafael and Richmond.
That will become an interesting project. I took a look at the pictures you linked. Nice!! Do you think you can base that on the new AZL model or do you have to 3D-print it? Best, Sven PS: Old SP version (by AZL):
Sven, To me the project is basically take away from the AZL shell. The stairs on the back go as well as the engineers side, replaced by stirrups . The backside cab windows go with all the detail sanded flat. A section of the ribbed roof gets sanded flat as does some of the ribbed sides. Round window in the back door. Security bars in the back side door windows and the back two coach windows (this area along with the control cab was converted to a baggage/freight area). The backup lights on the roof will probably be N scale ditch light casting unless I can find an appropriate LED. Replace the rear LED with a red one and do a bit or rewiring so that it tracks the headlight. I'll probably add a few passenger silhouettes and shades in the windows. I'm using old AZL (later SP) shell as the bloody nose paint scheme only goes with the rebuilt car.. I may not even have to repaint the shell. The patched area never seems to have matched the rest of the car. BTW: for anyone interested in the physical details of the car, you might want to check out the SP10 facebook page, Aside from the historic images there's also a number of images and videos detailing the current state of the car. Mark
Here are a couple of my favorite cars. The Ortner hopper car is a kit from Gerd and the boxcar is a plain old MTL 40' car. I have loved the Ortner hopper since I was very young so I was very excited to get one in Z Scale. The boxcar is a favorite because the weathering turned out pretty good.
Ditto the RDC's. The New Haven ran regular commuter service from South Station in Boston along the viaduct that passed our parlor windows along Columbus Ave in Roxbury. During the evening commute I'd see dozens of them, sometimes I'd see multiple units. These trains moved at a fairly good speed thru this corridor. The old Boston and Providence local stations had been closed so they just whooshed thru...Jim
I am sorry, Jim, No New Haven RDC pictures for you! But, how about some Boston & Maine? May be on there way to Cape Cod? Best, Sven
Sorry, Sven. The NHRR covered the Cape. The B&M was on the other side of town, North Station. New Hampshire and Maine were their territory. I do like the B&M RDC, though. I have a couple of NHRR RDC's. I did see one that had been weathered and painted to camouflage the gear hanging under the car. I forget where I saw it but it was really convincing. Jim
My contribution. Though not a train it is my favorite vehicle. I got great satisfaction from completing it. Benoit's kit's are challenging, but always worth it. Jim
For our Southern fans a difficult question. What do you prefer? Crescent Limited (left) or Crescent (right)? Have you made up your mind? Diesel only with the Crescent...... https://www.american-rails.com/crescent.html PS4 only with the Crescent Limited... http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/crescent.htm Let me know please! All the best, Sven
I'm for the steam locomotive, they always spark my interest. Have five of them in my collection, three Frisco, one Santa Fe and one Union Pacific. Joe
Hi folks This is my favorite train: I built the train to fit the era of my layout "Klütz" http://v36.info/fiddleyard.htm The loco drives very well. (skip to 10:33)
I think I would like to add these also to my favorite MOW cars since they are 3D printed, light weight but I think they look good and they do run well at normal speed!