That is a great sequence, only thing missing is the UP police with their stanchions and ropes. Is a Big Boy up next? Thanks again Jim for letting us look into your model railroad world!
In my world it's a kinder, gentler UP...and there were no UP Police last week (in the real world) with 6936...and I'd say if I live long enough there will probably be a Big Boy eventually - dependent on Athearn of course.
The Challenger and train are seen at the Bealville farm - railfans have followed her to nearly every crossing, even in this remote area.
A pair of SD40Ns have the Oakville Local today and are leaving the yard. A bit further along they split the signals at CP Cliff
Thanks, and I plan to. Layout is essentially complete and has been for a couple years now - but I'm adding things here and there as the spirit moves me. It's nice to be able to show it any time.
Every time you post more pics. The more I love your layout. Great shots Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4
I've done some comparison to your previous layout and the new Oakville is quite a departure from the previous rendition. It's obvious you current layout is more prototype trains running through scenery with minimal sidings and towns. Have you wished you would have included some trackside industries and sidings for diversity? Don't get me wrong, you have done a fantastic job and any of us would be proud to run on it ever chance we got!!
Thanks to all for the feedback! Clark, I wanted a layout where trains - prototype trains as to length and consist - could run. I chose my prototype because I liked what I saw - lots of trains. My interest lies not particularly in switching out industries but in running trains - lots of trains. And I do! The prototype has essentially no industry on it either - if you don't count the cement plant at Monolith, and on my layout that would be past Oakville (Tehachapi). Now, if I ever feel the need to switch, Oakville Yard can keep me busy. There's no counterpart on the prototype - maybe Bakersfield - but I needed a yard because. Just Because. More and more I find myself focusing in on the prototype - specific locomotives and such. UP is converting it's SD40-2 fleet to SD40Ns, so I will do that. UP runs a Challenger, so I can do that. BNSF has withdrawn it's SD75is from service, so I do that. UP's E9 heritage fleet looked different to mine, so I sold off the old ones and bought new ones and made them look accurate. Of the four GP60s available, only two can be found in super fleet (warbonnet) paint, so I can only buy those two - and each needs some paint modification to be correct, but that's relatively easy and will be done before they run. And (sob!) no B units until they come out in H1 (next month or so) since today there is no GP60B left in warbonnet. And of course my car fleet and type will reflect today. The latest issue of Trains has given me a few more pointers about hauling autos which will need to be incorporated...which means selling off most of those gorgeous 89 ft auto parts box cars - I love those cars - but if the prototype no longer uses most of them, then neither can I. I find doing the research fascinating - I am a railfan as well as a modeler, and try to keep up with my prototype's doings. Adds another perspective, don't 'cha know.
Wow Jim, Prototype fidelity is a really neat idea. I wish I had thought of that before, but to do that now would require the jettisoning of 75% of my cars and locomotives. I just see too much of a financial loss to pull that trigger. Maybe some day when the market for trains improves, I might do that; just can't do that any time soon. As for the 89' Auto Box Cars, I share your affection to those. But I see your vision of lots of trains, long trains running! I will be doing the same in the very near future...... I am working on DCC programming to do the long, long intermodals with mid and rear helpers. I figure 150 well cars as the size that will run.
Jim, What do you do to make the SD40-2 into the SD40N? Just curiosity getting the better of me........
Jim- what did you use (color/brand) for your static grass? I've searched through the many pages of your thread but have been unable to find the section where you discuss it. I hope to achieve a similar look of golden grass over rolling California hills. Although, mine will just be a small HCD-sized area. Thanks! Noah
David, read the November-December issue of N Scale Magazine You'll read all about it, with plenty of pictures along the way.
What they were built for: 12,000 horses lead a mile of trailers with a pair of Super Fleet GP60s on the point. The dynamics are howling as this northbound drops down the hill. The locos are as they appear on the prototype - 129 wears the big BNSF while 147 is patched in white. These were a worthy addition to the Sub's motive power and were worth waiting for. Way to go, Matt!
Might want to save a couple 89 footers for hay reloads in the Valley. I've seen HCLX cars in boxcar brown paint for that. If you need photos, lemme know and I'll dig.
First try at an embed. We've got northbound and southbound intermodals at Bealville... [video=youtube_share;ZsBYnSgYLmA]http://youtu.be/ZsBYnSgYLmA[/video]