Adrian Wintle

Interesting. Thanks for the link. The Horseshoe Curve one appears to be on the upper building at the park looking back (downhill) towards Altoona. Edit. As soon as I posted this it moved to viewing the park and the GP9 at the heart of the curve. Adrian

Rolling stock could have been heavyweight coaches or Pullman cars. It may also have included Pullman troop sleepers if it was a military train. A diesel-powered train may also have had lightweight (streamlined) stock as passenger diesels were typically originally bought for and assigned to particular trains. That early you would have been looking at multiple locos - A-A or A-B sets (or more, depending on what they were) and were probably bought for a specific service. I don't have L&N references, but I do have Southern ones. In 1945 the Southern had: 3 E6As for use on the Southerner, an all-lightweight train between New York and New Orleans. I have a photo of it in 1949 with a single loco and 8 stainless lightweight coaches. Pullman built what appear to be three sets of lightweight stock for the Southerner in 1941 each consisting of a Baggage Dormitory, a Divided Coach*, a Diner, two Coaches, a Coach owner by the PRR, and an Observation Tavern Lounge. 2 E6A/B sets for use on the Tennessean (which ran between Washington and Memphis). From a photo in 1947 it had heavyweight stock (in Pullman green) with a baggage car, an RPO, a combine, and then coaches or sleepers, Quite why it has heavyweight stock is something of a mystery since Pullman built three sets of lightweight stock for the Tennessean in 1941 each consisting of two Baggage Mail (4 built) or Baggage Mail Storage (two built), a Baggage Dormitory Coach, three Coaches, a Diner (only two built, so one set must have used a heavyweight), a Divided Coach, and an Observation Tavern Lounge. 2 E6A/B sets for use on the Crescent (also NY to NO). From a photo in 1947 it had heavyweight stock with an RPO, a combine, and then coaches or sleepers. 2 DL109/110** sets for use on the CNO&TP's Ponce de Leon (Chicago to Jacksonville, FL, CNO&TP power between Cincinnati and Chattanooga). From a photo in 1946 this looks to have been an all-heavyweight train led by an RPO and at least one baggage car. 1 DL109/110 set for use on the Queen & Crescent which also seems to have been an all-heavyweight train. The only other streamlined units were FT A and B units, originally acquired in A-B-B-A sets, burt they were quickly being mixed and matched. I don't believe they were used in passenger service, although six of the B-units were equipped with steam generators. The Southern acquired twelve E7As in 1946. *I believe Divided Coaches existed because of the racial segregation that was in force at the time. ** Yes, these are Alcos, not EMDs, but they are streamlined passenger units. What this does mean is that a diesel train diorama is going to be relatively long even if you only show up to the first passenger car. I hope this gives you some ideas. I had the Southern books to hand. With a bit more time I could find information for a few other roads (PRR and UP for sure). Adrian

I have also added some commentary on the MicroTrains and Scale Trains 53' containers in the Intermodal topic (linked here because it really should never have been moved) http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/60859-n-scale-intermodal/ Scale Trains has announced GEVO ET44 locos (the Tier 4 compliant version of the ES44) for those who want to be right up to date. https://www.scaletrains.com/collections/rivet-counter-n-scale-ge-tier-4-gevo-diesel-locomotive Adrian

Just received a new decoder from Broadway Limited. Both Centipedes are now running well. It appears that the motor drive on the one decoder was defective. Now I have to save my pennies (or dollars) for a CN Turbo from Rapido. For a nine car set (without sound) it will be about $C 650 (plus 13% tax). I already have an FPA-4/FPB-4 set on order from them (also in CN) so my CN (and VIA transition) fleet is being a bit expensive at the moment, however these are the trains I remember seeing in my youth. I grew up within walking distance of the CN main line between Toronto and Montreal/Ottawa so I got to see a lot of CN (and then VIA) passenger trains. High school was interesting since the classroom windows at the front of the school provided a great view of the line. Adrian

Here is the link to the (semi-hidden) Turbo details (including pricing - ouch) http://rapidotrains.com/n-turbo-2/ Adrian

9723 was one of a series of RP-E4D slugs (26 on the roster in 1998 - in the range 9714-9741) built between 1984 and 1988 on GP9 or GP18 cores. 9723 was built in April 1986 on a GP18 core and is currently numbered 923. The rest have also been renumbered in the 9xx series. Adrian

Don't have any to trade (nor do I need D&RGW), but, to give you an idea what should be out there: Atlas released: high-short-hood C420s in 2008, 1 number each in maroon and gold and black and yellow low-short-hood C420s in 2007, 1 number in black and yellow Dash 8-40Bs in 2001, 2 numbers plus an unnumbered in black and yellow RS-3s in 2014, 2 numbers in black and yellow I can't tell if Bachmann ever did their RS-3 in Susquehanna. Those are all your options. The only other C-420s are the Mehano-sourced junk (badged as MRC and Model Power), nobody else has done the Dash 8-40B, and the only RS-3 options are Atlas and Bachmann. The good news is all should be good runners, although if you use DCC then the Atlas RS-3s can be a bit of an effort to convert (the Susquehanna ones are fairly modern so the TCS CN or CN-GP decoder should fit). The C-420 and the Dash 8-40B are relatively simple board-replacement conversions. For reference as to what locos are available and what they are like (although it doesn't say what liveries were produced), Mark (Spookshow)'s database is invaluable. http://www.spookshow.net/trainstuff.html Atlas lists their previous releases on their website (go to N Models -> Past Products) http://www.atlasrr.com/nproducts.htm Adrian .

From the late '70s, North American Mercurys were badge-engineered Fords. The Mustang and the Capri shared the same platform (derived from the Fairmont sedan). Mercury tended to be the up-market brand. Adrian

While it is not really on topic, the other place where split chassis have thrived is North American N-scale. A large majority of diesel and a lot of current steam locos make use of split chassis, and all-wheel pickup (or all drivers plus the tender for steam). Older Bachmann N-scale steamers had the same gear splitting issues as the OO locos mentioned above, though. Adrian

North American 28" wheels should be about 4.5mm. As mentioned above, Fox Valley is a good source for quality ones. http://foxvalleymodels.com/NWheels.html Another source (also North American) would be Northwest Short Line, although Fox Valley appears to be a lot cheaper. http://www.nwsl.com/nwsl-online-catalog.html Adrian

From your description I'd be looking at whether the pushing of the trailer is causing something on the power car or the trailer to touch something it shouldn't. Try putting the power car on the layout and pushing against the coupling. Do the same with the trailer car. If they both work on their own and in pull mode then it has to be something mechanical occurring in act of pushing. Adrian

The Digitrax DS52 dual decoder also has a built-in CDU and is powered from the DCC bus. It will do solenoid decoders or slow-motion point motors (the latter obviously do not use the CDU). Adrian

I've seen a train block a crossing for close to an hour in a rural setting. A passing siding spans that crossing and they held a train there to pass two in the other direction - all were long intermodals. Adrian

Sensibly designed carriers tend to be lightly armed as this allows a larger air group and therefore more power projection. This does mean that you need more escorts, but it also means that it is easier to adjust the defensive capabilities if the threat changes (new or refitted escorts are much easier than changing out major weapons systems on a carrier). Adrian

Interesting, although it is not clear how 'skewed' these stories are. The first, in particular, seems to be based on a bunch of anecdotal stories. The one on the Ford was interesting until it got to the question of the utility of the big carriers. That is arguably more important now than ever, as finding friendly countries who will provide basing facilities is becoming problematic. An airbase sitting in international waters gives a lot of options. As for bringing the Kitty Hawk back, I wonder how much remediation (asbestos etc.) would be needed. Also they would need to bring back a couple of large oilers to support her, which means more escorts and bigger task force than the nucs. The Perry's do seem to be a possibility, though. Adrian

The Intermountain ones? I was mildly disappointed by the Southern one I got. It was the shell detailing - considering the effort that went into it I would have expected the correct style horns and bell (although most people wouldn't notice - they are in the right places). Otherwise it is a very nice loco although they did change it from the initial advertising and have used the regular (between the frames) decoder packaging for the ESU decoders. Perhaps the re-packaging of the decoders is what took them so long. Adrian

A lot of the Atlantic coast of the US is like that, from the south shore Long Island, NY down to south of Wilmington, NC. The most extreme example is the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a sand spit that extends from just south of Virginia Beach, Virginia to just south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. No railway connection, but a very interesting part of the country. And yes, the hurricanes do re-arrange the landscape on occasion. The first time I drove down there it was interesting to see the old highway disappearing into the barrier dunes in a couple of places. Adrian

Further investigation reveals that the decoder on one of the Centipedes is shutting down the motor after 6-12" of running. The sound continues to play. Forcing a reset of the sound by jiggling the loco on the track restarts the motor too - for another 6-12" of running. The drivetrain is free and there is nothing obvious that would be causing this. Possibly a duff motor. Broadway Limited has been contacted. Adrian

Doing a bit of load testing with some big Pennsy power. The load was thirty 40' reefers plus a cabin. The M1s (at the back) had no problem. One of the K4s (third row) was a little light-footed while the other had no problem. The Y3 had no problem while the USRA 2-10-2 slipped a bit (it has no traction tires). The Baldwin Centipede pair (which, to be fair, hasn't been properly run in) acted like the prototypes, constantly re-starting. They were the only ones that couldn't complete a lap without stalling. I need to turn the volume down on the sound locos (all but the Y3 and 2-10-2 have sound). Adrian

Mine sits slightly offset, but ahead of me. The area it obscures is mostly my view of the bonnet and of bits of road that I shouldn't ever need to look at when I'm driving. It's position means that I don't need to turn my head to look at it and it is at the same distance from me as the dashboard instruments. I use it as a moving map most of the time (and a MPH speedometer when I am in the US) so I almost never touch it. Adrian

Actually, there are no warning bells or lights at that crossing. The ringing you hear is the loco's bell. I expect that travelling slowly enough to be able to stop is normal procedure on that line as it seems to be quite a busy intersection/crossing combination. Adrian

It could also be an anonymous industrial building that takes ethanol cars or (if relatively modern) covered hoppers of plastic beads. Either of those would have a simple 'hoses at ground level' unloading scheme. Industrial buildings (even rail-served ones) that are totally anonymous from the rail side are quite common. Adrian

N scale, so I have multiples of most of the types shown: Adrian

It's been a while since my last post here. My PRR transition fleet has grown by two of the Bachmann K4 pacifics (very nice locos), a Broadway Limited Baldwin Centipede A-A set (in the 5-stripe passenger scheme), and a pair of Broadway Limited M1b 4-8-2s (superb locos). K4: http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=265_372_1019 Centipede: http://www.broadway-limited.com/3140prra-aset5830a15830a2brunswickgreengoldleaflettering5-stripepassengerschemebothunitswparagon2sounddcdccnscale.aspx M1b: http://www.broadway-limited.com/005prrm1b4-8-26704paragon2sounddcdccnscale.aspx The most recent exercise has been fettling a set (actually 3 sets) of Deluxe Innovations Roadrailers. These are quite nice models but the stubbornly refused to run well except in a straight line. Investigation revealed that the truck bolster, as designed, would rub on the wheel flanges when the truck was turned, Fortunately, this can be corrected with the judicious use of a modelling knife, but it is a tedious process when you have 31 Roadrailers to do. This fixes most of the problem, but the last thing is the Couplermate truck (which connects the Roadrailers to the loco) which appears to have almost no truck swing by design. I'm still considering how to deal with this. For a picture of a Deluxe Roadrailer, look at the second post here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/60859-n-scale-intermodal/ I also updated this thread with descriptions of some new items. Also, to update the comments on the Acela above, it is relatively happy on 15" curves. Relatively only because the power car is underpowered so you do notice a slowing on the curves. Adrian

In Ontario (driving licenses are a provincial responsibility) you have to do a re-test at 80 and every 2 years thereafter. https://www.ontario.ca/page/renew-g-drivers-licence-80-years-and-over A G class license (as referenced in the link above) is the standard license. It allows one to drive a vehicle up to 11000kg or a combination up to 11000kg as long as the trailer doesn't exceed 4600kg. It does not allow air brakes (separate license). Also, a motorcycle is under a separate license. Adrian