I modified an old Bachmann N Scale "Big Dome" car to represent the second class of cars ordered by the ATSF. A few years after Milwaukee Road took delivery of their full domes from Pullman, Budd delivered 14 similar cars to the Santa Fe. The first 8 had a bar and a lounge in the lower section while the second 6 included a bar but replaced the lounge with dormitory accommodations for diner personnel. Both versions had identical chair seating and a lounge area in the dome section. For some reason Bachmann chose to model their car after the Auto Train version with the giant, enormous letter boards on the sides. The interiors were still modeled after the ATSF configuration and not the AT layout that was modified after Santa Fe sold them 13 of the cars after AMTRAK took over. Car number 553, which was built to equip the new San Francisco Chief in 1954. A small window in the lower section and kit bashed letter board. An unmodified Bachmann car. The Auto Train modifications with the huge letter boards. Photo from Wikipeda
UP excursion train time. The 844 recently got a non sound Digitrax decoder. Seen here with the matching Kato auxiliary tenders. The M/T UP anniversary car behind them is standing in as a tool car. It's pulling the Kato excursion train set. On the middle track are the Scale Trains version of the auxiliary tenders and some M/T heavyweight coaches. This train is waiting on it's power which is sitting on my desk right now. The BNSF local on the siding is just watching the action and waiting it's turn to head out and polish the rails.
Good morning from sunny and cold Northeast Ohio, although we are supposed to get up to 70 later today! Coal Hopper #6, Stewart 14 Panel Hopper car kit, painted with Scalecoat II Black paint and lettered with R-C Decals, the NYC went into a building program in the late 50's building a large number of 70 Ton 3 bay hopper cars to replace worn out and less called for two bay 50 ton hoppers. Next a Moloco 50'GATC RBL kit, modified to match the cars the DTI owned, which meant cutting down the ladders as these came with low mounted brake wheels and grabs at the end of the car instead of ladders. Car was painted with Scalecoat II Armour Yellow, Black and Silver paints and lettered with Herald King Decals. This car was painted with the late 70's experimental paint scheme with the Star Herald. A number of cars in each class of cars was painted with the Star Herald but due to the expense of the Scotchcal, the majority of the cars the herald was applied to was the RBL's assigned to the Campbell South plant. A pair of Athearn GP40-2's with a group of XLI and RBL Boxcars in Campbell's Soup service running on the Strongsville Club Layout. Rick Jesionowski
The cats are out for this weekend. Chessie System U30C locos (Atlas Master Locomotive Series Silver) lead a grain train across the new bridge next to the Union Station.
I am always on the lookout for 01400 series brass DRGW cabooses, once in a while one will show up at a descent price. But the under-fame detail is lacking to non existent on some. I had acquired a few resin type kits that had issues with the caboose body so I was sent another kit, I decided to use the craftsman frame and details under the brass caboose. That kit has a every detailed under-frame and it fit with minimal effort and just transformed the caboose. A good bit of my layout is at eye level so, it makes a difference, well to me anyways. I offer the 01441. Thanks for stopping by.
Excellent pic, love the Black Widows.... I've heard that bar serves a great mushroom (cloud?) pizza....
Well a short shippers special rorared through Spanish Fork canyon yesterday... Powered by three F units, the SILVER LIZARD, SPANISH FORK CAÑON and NEVADA headed to Denver. A friend of mine made the Silver Lizard out of an Athearn round roof coach. The Spanish Fork Cañon is an Athearn RTR, and the Nevada I got from eBay. I added an interior and the reAr red light... Need to finish the drumhead.
