7mm US model dabblings
- Thread starter Jordan
- Start date
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Here is my choice (and it was my choice) for an SUV in Texas. I owned it for 9 years and it served us well with many trips to West Texas as well as camping on the beach on Padre Island. Best of all were the old mining roads in Colorado, up to 12,800 ft on Engineer Pass in relative comfort!
Big Bend - Big Sky (nearest train station, Alpine, Texas)
Black Gap, Big Bend National Park. The ultimate 4x4 road.
Entrance to Padre Island National Seashore and 60 miles of beach driving and camping (nearest station a long way away!)
Toward the end I sold it for a pittance - repair bills!
Big Bend - Big Sky (nearest train station, Alpine, Texas)
Black Gap, Big Bend National Park. The ultimate 4x4 road.
Entrance to Padre Island National Seashore and 60 miles of beach driving and camping (nearest station a long way away!)
Toward the end I sold it for a pittance - repair bills!
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Big Train James
Western Thunderer
Just back this weekend from my annual fishing trip up in Canada. Managed to catch a few trains on the way up and back. The Canadian Pacific runs through White River, Ontario, which is where I caught the following train in the midst of a crew change. Of course I went to Canada and saw trains without any Canadian power on them 
.
There were several other trains earlier in the day, but I wasn't in a position to get photos at the time.
On the way back, I caught two CN trains passing in Hornepayne, which is about 60 miles NNE of White River. Again, no pictures. Regrettably, my fishing partner isn't a train fan per se, and while understanding of my interest, is too impatient to get home to let me wander around much.
Regarding some of the recent commentary concerning center partition (centerbeam) flats, I think the chronology is Opera window (manufactured by Thrall in multiple lengths), then the type with the wide panels at the ends, to the current variation with a single narrow panel or no panels at the ends. The type with the single narrow panel is made by National Steel Car (NSC) of Canada, and I'd argue is the most ubiquitous type found today. Gunderson also makes a car which is very common. It's similar in many ways to the NSC car, but without a panel at the end. The angle of the last diagonal brace is different as it strikes the bulkhead about half way up, rather than at the top. Also, the lifting lugs located in the bulkheads are higher on the Gunderson car. A third manufacturer is American Railcar Industries (ARI - apparently just recently absorbed by Gunderson). These cars are not as common in my experience as the Gunderson and NSC cars. I don't remember the last time I caught one empty to try and pick out nuances to differentiate it from the others, so I can't list any at this point. The vast majority of modern cars are 73'-0" length, so one of the longer common cars in service today.
As to whether there's any interest in detail shots of trucks and the like, I'd say yeah, I'm interested
. In progress.....
. There were several other trains earlier in the day, but I wasn't in a position to get photos at the time.
On the way back, I caught two CN trains passing in Hornepayne, which is about 60 miles NNE of White River. Again, no pictures. Regrettably, my fishing partner isn't a train fan per se, and while understanding of my interest, is too impatient to get home to let me wander around much.
Regarding some of the recent commentary concerning center partition (centerbeam) flats, I think the chronology is Opera window (manufactured by Thrall in multiple lengths), then the type with the wide panels at the ends, to the current variation with a single narrow panel or no panels at the ends. The type with the single narrow panel is made by National Steel Car (NSC) of Canada, and I'd argue is the most ubiquitous type found today. Gunderson also makes a car which is very common. It's similar in many ways to the NSC car, but without a panel at the end. The angle of the last diagonal brace is different as it strikes the bulkhead about half way up, rather than at the top. Also, the lifting lugs located in the bulkheads are higher on the Gunderson car. A third manufacturer is American Railcar Industries (ARI - apparently just recently absorbed by Gunderson). These cars are not as common in my experience as the Gunderson and NSC cars. I don't remember the last time I caught one empty to try and pick out nuances to differentiate it from the others, so I can't list any at this point. The vast majority of modern cars are 73'-0" length, so one of the longer common cars in service today.
As to whether there's any interest in detail shots of trucks and the like, I'd say yeah, I'm interested
. In progress.....
Big Train James
Western Thunderer
For anybody interested in modeling US outline EMD locomotives, I've pointed to the EMD parts catalogs on the Fallen Flags website in the past. The parts catalogs are a tremendous resource in terms of what parts go where, as well as providing a lot of technical drawings that can be pulled into a cad program and traced or referenced. The issue with the content on the Fallen Flags website is that not all catalogs are represented, with respect to era and model spectrum, and the information contained in the catalogs that are posted isn't comprehensive.
Now somebody has been generous enough to post their collection of EMD master parts catalogs on the Diesel Detailer discussion forum. Included are catalogs from the F units through at least the sd50, including switchers. And these catalogs are far more comprehensive in content than the information available on Fallen Flags.
Here is the link to the Diesel Detailer thread.
Here is the link directly to the catalogs.
I recommend that anybody with interest in EMD prototypes take a few moments to download the lot. It will take a while, as the files are quite large and numerous. Get them while they are hot, as who knows how long the link will remain active.
Now if only such a resource existed for Alco and GE products as well!
Jim
Now somebody has been generous enough to post their collection of EMD master parts catalogs on the Diesel Detailer discussion forum. Included are catalogs from the F units through at least the sd50, including switchers. And these catalogs are far more comprehensive in content than the information available on Fallen Flags.
Here is the link to the Diesel Detailer thread.
Here is the link directly to the catalogs.
I recommend that anybody with interest in EMD prototypes take a few moments to download the lot. It will take a while, as the files are quite large and numerous. Get them while they are hot, as who knows how long the link will remain active.
Now if only such a resource existed for Alco and GE products as well!
Jim
Big Train James
Western Thunderer
No worries. Mick 
. I can see that you're busy at the moment. I've got plenty of other things to work on to keep me busy.
. I can see that you're busy at the moment. I've got plenty of other things to work on to keep me busy.
richard carr
Western Thunderer
S7 JB and I spent a weekend near Chicago the other week, we managed to coincide with the Big Boy JB even got to see it in steam, I had to go to work unfortunately. Any way here is a small selection of what we saw starting at Dolton Junction in south Chicago, probably not a place to go on your own but comforting to see that the police station is next door to where we parked !
The Big Boy was at West Chicago on display you could walk up and touch it, we went Monday morning when it wasn't that busy but you still couldn't get a decent photo just too many people.
At least you could get detail shots
The Big Boy was at West Chicago on display you could walk up and touch it, we went Monday morning when it wasn't that busy but you still couldn't get a decent photo just too many people.
At least you could get detail shots
richard carr
Western Thunderer
After seeing the Big Boy went to Dolton Junction, now all the advice I have read about this is that this is a blue collar area of Chicago and visiting alone is not recommended, so I have never been before, but now S7 JB is here nothing to worry about !
As it turned out there wasn't anything to worry about not that I would want tobe there on my own in the dark, the fact that the police station is next door towhere we parked certainly helped ! The traffic is immense it was just one train after another we even got to see the one of the bottle trains carrying liquid iron to the one of the nearby rolling mills.
OK thats a CSX train, this one must have been 2 miles long with a pusher inthe middle it seemed as though they had joined two trains together to make the most of thepath it took 20 minutes for it to pass.
this is the bottle train you would have expected an Indiana Harbour Belt loco on the front but not today, it did though have old and new wagons, the old only have 5 axles at each end the new larger wagons have 6 at each end. I have read that they are still running 10 trains a day.
As it turned out there wasn't anything to worry about not that I would want tobe there on my own in the dark, the fact that the police station is next door towhere we parked certainly helped ! The traffic is immense it was just one train after another we even got to see the one of the bottle trains carrying liquid iron to the one of the nearby rolling mills.
OK thats a CSX train, this one must have been 2 miles long with a pusher inthe middle it seemed as though they had joined two trains together to make the most of thepath it took 20 minutes for it to pass.
this is the bottle train you would have expected an Indiana Harbour Belt loco on the front but not today, it did though have old and new wagons, the old only have 5 axles at each end the new larger wagons have 6 at each end. I have read that they are still running 10 trains a day.
richard carr
Western Thunderer
Here's a mixed freight hauled by an Indian Harbour belt board loco.
Here's a Norfolk and Southern hauled freight
I'm not sue what these locos are but I'm sure someone here will come along and tell us all.
We spent about 3 hours here at Dolton, we had a pretty big thunder storm fortunately there was no hail to damage the car. We then drove into down town Chicago to catch the evening rush hour metra trains.
And finally a shot of the El
Here's a Norfolk and Southern hauled freight
I'm not sue what these locos are but I'm sure someone here will come along and tell us all.
We spent about 3 hours here at Dolton, we had a pretty big thunder storm fortunately there was no hail to damage the car. We then drove into down town Chicago to catch the evening rush hour metra trains.
And finally a shot of the El
richard carr
Western Thunderer
We started the trip in La Crosse Wisconsin, here you have the BNSF line from Minnesota to Chicago which is crossed in the town by the Canadian National Line that runs down the west bank of the Mississippi crosses it to get into town and then hits the BNSF line. The crossing area isn't particularly accessible from public roads but you can see it from the car park of the BNSF yard offices. There was plenty of trains throughout the day.
There were a number of these Bo-Bo diesels bringing trip freights into the CN yard.
BNSF have them too at their yard
Here's the crossing from the BNSF yard staff car park with a CN oil train and the local doing a bit of shunting in the yard
There were a number of these Bo-Bo diesels bringing trip freights into the CN yard.
BNSF have them too at their yard
Here's the crossing from the BNSF yard staff car park with a CN oil train and the local doing a bit of shunting in the yard
richard carr
Western Thunderer
After that we went up to Grandad Bluffs where you get a panoramic view of town.
The BNSF line runs at the bottom of the cliff, we didn't have to wait too long before a train turned up
Liner trains turned up quickly in both directions.
The BNSF line runs at the bottom of the cliff, we didn't have to wait too long before a train turned up
Liner trains turned up quickly in both directions.
richard carr
Western Thunderer
After this we drove over tot he other side of the Mississippi to catch trains going over the bridge.
On this side of the river you are now in Minnesota. There is a parking lot just by the bridge so easy access.
Again it didn't take too long for a train to turn up, we than had another 3 that afternoon in about 90 minutes.
This one had a pusher on the rear, all the trains we saw were heading east.
Another of the local trip engines, this one got stopped just before the bridge and sounded like it was going to blow it self apart trying to get the train moving again.
On this side of the river you are now in Minnesota. There is a parking lot just by the bridge so easy access.
Again it didn't take too long for a train to turn up, we than had another 3 that afternoon in about 90 minutes.
This one had a pusher on the rear, all the trains we saw were heading east.
Another of the local trip engines, this one got stopped just before the bridge and sounded like it was going to blow it self apart trying to get the train moving again.
Overseer
Western Thunderer
Nice photos but you did mean to type Canadian Pacific and CP instead of CN didn't you? The locos are a clue.
Scale7JB
Western Thunderer
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
..........and here's one going through my shop at the moment, a pair of new crank pins needed.
and just for comparison.....
Col.
Overseer
Western Thunderer
The CP diesels seen are -
2205 and 2222 - EMD GP20C-ECO built 2012 with 8 cylinder EMD 710 engines on rebuilt GP9 bogies,
9373 - GE ES44AC built 2012,
9740 - GE AC4400CW built 2003, tested on bio diesel 2009-10,
9832 - GE AC4400CW built 2004.
I will leave the other roads for people who know more about them.
2205 and 2222 - EMD GP20C-ECO built 2012 with 8 cylinder EMD 710 engines on rebuilt GP9 bogies,
9373 - GE ES44AC built 2012,
9740 - GE AC4400CW built 2003, tested on bio diesel 2009-10,
9832 - GE AC4400CW built 2004.
I will leave the other roads for people who know more about them.