SD45T-2

I will definitely have to dig out my ALPS MD4000 and sort out a driver/OS solution for it. I've got a fair number of cartridges in stock so the consumeables aren't a problem. I did have success with the printer many years ago but the OS was Windows XP(?) or something of that sort of vintage. Perhaps an elderly PC with a parallel port and old version of Windows would work, but what software should I use for printing the files? Any sensible suggstions gratefully accepted. I've also been producing H0 decals using a Ghost White Tone cartridge of US freight-car data and they look fine; possibly not too brilliant under magnification but at normal viewing distances they're fine.

Respect, lots of respect: anyone who can get an MDC Shay to run properly without engaging in some sort of magic deserves respect. I've got one that runs but only because two of the four gears have been removed so I only have to synch two axles...

Espee used the wheel arrangement as the basis for MOST of its steam classes: M - Mogul (2-6-0); Mk - Mikado (2-8-2); C - Consolidation (2-8-0); T - Ten-wheeler (4-6-0); A - Atlantic (4-4-2); P - Pacific (4-6-2); E - American (4-4-0); D - Decapod (2-10); F - 2-10-2, referred to by most as the "Santa Fe-type" but Espee would not countenance anything of that outfit on THEIR railroad, and I won't either; S - a catch-all for switchers (0-6-0 and 0-8-0); MT - Mountain (4-8-2); AM - Articulated Mogul (2-6-6-2); AC - Acticulated Consolidation (4-8-8-2 and 2-8-8-4). The Cab-forwards were Classes AC1-8 and AC10-12 while the AC-9s were conventionally laid out. GS - Northern (4-8-4), with GS standing for either Golden State or, between 1941 and 1945 to get them built, General Service; SP - Southern Pacific (4-10-2). Diesels were latterly identified by manufacturer - A for ALCo, E for EMD, K for Krauss-Maffei, G for GE -number of axles, and 100s of BHP with a suffix letter for Cotton Belt classes or rebuilds/refinancing and suffix number for production groups: EF636C-3 was an EMD Freight loco, with 6 axles, 3600BHP, on a Cotton Belt order, being the third group of EF636s. Cotton Belt steam loco classes were determined by cylinder dimensions; DRGW steam by wheel arrangement and tractive effort in 1000s of pounds, though both Mountains and Northerns were class "M" locos. The basic rule is, as stated above in this thread - read up on your chosen railroad's practice.

I have a can motor, which I believe is a Mabuchi, that doesn't run. It came out of a Pacific Fast Mail H0 D&RGW P44 Pacific of 1960s-vintage. The problem is that the brushes aren't making contact with anything except air and I can't see how to push them down far enough to make contact with the commutator. Because a previous owner has permanently fitted a small sleeve to the end of the output shaft I can't remove the innards completely from the can. As an alternative, can anyone suggest a replacement that has similar dimensions (2mm Diameter output shaft, 16mm casing diameter, and 30mm casing length? Any advice gratefully received.

There's nothing whatsoever wrong with the Yellow Peril's livery, it's the actual railroad that's the problem.

It's not the ugliest loco ever - the current Class 70 or EMD's BL2 among diesels, or the Ferrovie Dello Stato 670 Cab-forwards are, IMO, uglier.

Don't I know it. I bought a brass GP40X, from a reputable shop, several years ago and one of the trucks broke up before I could run the model. Fortunately their brass expert was able to fabricate a replacement using the halves of a standard truck with a longer brass keeper plate; the GP40X in question had non-standard HT-B trucks with a unique wheelbase.

As another satisfied customer I'll second what others have said. They did a superb weathering job on a Southern Pacific SD45 for me last year: my instructions were to make it look unloved and unwashed and they did just that. Steve apparently has a background in military modelling/painting according to the proprietor of another model shop in the county, The kettle and sweets are a bonus, especially the former,

The United States of America is bordered on the South, West and East by the Southern Pacific and on the North by Canada. Quoted in Don Hofsomer's majestic tome on California's own railroad.

Either you've got a very big toolbag or you've got some very small ex-GPO engineers:)

Apologies for hi-jacking this thread but... Is there any possibility of Rapido satisfying the demand among Southern Pacific fans for a model of the Series Krauss-Maffei ML4000s? 15 original locos, with a wide range of detail changes through their short lives, umpteen different "Bloody Nose" treatments and the camera car variants - surely they're just what Jason needs as his next project?

As the possessor of a reasonable number of Tichy Trains 50 and 70-ton hopper kits (given to me FoC) i can empathise with those whose kit stock seems to increase rather than decrease over time. Some of the kits are built and just need painting - dirty black - and weathering while others are part-built and the rest still in their constituent pieces until I can pick up some more Ka-Dee or Proto wheels and trucks for them. Then there are the loco kits... DJH USRA Light Pacific (£30 complete with wheels, motor and gearbox!); DJH WD 2-10-0; DJH Caprotti Standard 5; DJH Horwich mogul; all untouched. DJH Black 5 and USRA Light Mikado both part-built. Perhaps 2017 is the year in which some of these are finished. Well brought up to operational status anyway...

One of my two SP-3 4-10-2 models; posed on our Club's British-outline layout waiting to haul a freight.

If anyone is looking for 8BA screws please look at this link: http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/14-186_8BA-SLOTTED-SCREW-Rnd-MS-BNP-6mm-pack-of-100 The usual disclaimer applies.

I know of a driver who picked up one of these bodies (not an ARGOS one) that was turned the wrong way round. He only discovered there was a problem after unloading the device at the destination. From all accounts neither he nor the recipient was very happy.

7 Stewart U25Bs, mostly MEC; Stewart U28B - EsPee; ALCo U25B - Espee; 2 Kato Dash 9s - EsPee; 2 Lionel H0 U18Bs - one in CP "Pacman", the other a repaint from SOO to MEC; appropriately they both have General electric motors; Intermountain U18B - MEC; Broadway Blueline AC6000 - EsPee; Atlas U33C - EsPee; 2 Bachmann 44-Tonners - MEC; Athearn C44-9W - Espee

One I forgot about - there's an ALCo brass SD40 High Hood with a custom Norfolk Southern paint job that's now in the Commonwealth of Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanake VA.

DD40AX Centennial; DD35 that will (possibly) carry Armour Yellow on one side and end and Scarlet and Grey on the side and end; GP40X - EsPee; GP40-2 - EsPee; GP7 - MEC; DMIR (but slated for a repaint); BL2 - BAR; GP30 - SSW; NYC (but slated for a repaint); GP38 - MEC

Do steam locos count?

Where to begin? SD45: EMD Demo Athearn; EsPee Hallmark (brass), Kato, RPP shelled Athearn chassis, and Athearn; DRGW; UP Sulzer-engined Hallmark (brass). GP40X: EsPee OMI (brass) and Athearn; SD45T-2: EsPee (ALCo brass) and Athearn; SSW Athearn SD40T-2: SSW Athearn; EsPee Athearn; DRGW (ALCo brass) and Athearn SD70:Espee Athearn SD70ACe: UP (ugh, But it's the EsPee "Heritage" scheme one) Athearn SD9: EsPee P2K, Athearn, ALCo (brass); DRGW Athearn; DMIR Hallmark (brass) SD60: RPP shell and chassis, currently undecorated SD24: Kennecott Copper Hallmark (brass) SD40: Conrail Athearn, as donor for SD60 And there are probably other 6-axle units buried. 4-axle listing to follow, but again predominantly for California's own railroad; plus some photographs in due course.

Put simply, the ICC and the ATSF (yeugh, must wash my hands) all but bankrputed the EsPee in the 1980s and the Yellow Peril picked over the bones a decade later; though technically the Peril was merged INTO the EsPee, thereby becoming the Fallen Flag. Oh and TOPS came from San Francisco.

ALCo is the importer for these models; I'm well aware that 12"2-to-the-foot SDs are EMD units.

Do ALCo brass models count? I've got a few - an NW SD40, EsPee SD45T-2, and a couple of Geeps.

The Southern Pacific - California's own road: directions all relative to San Francisco, MP 0.0 at the end of the platforms in San Fran; lighting packages to make a rally driver jealous; Cab-Forwards; Tunnel Motors; SD45s; Kodachrome colour scheme. and "The United States is bounded on the east, west and south by the S.P. and on the north by Canada." Need I add anything else?

If you're in York Cuttyblack's is worth a visit; the shop carries ATLAS O-Gauge as well as the usual N and H0 lines.