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mdvle

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    Magazines / Specials

    in USA & Canadian Railroads

    Posted

    Diesel Era

     

    3Q2022

    • Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Locomotive Lessor and Third-Party Contractor • by Randy Keller

    • A 50th anniversary look at the unkept Illinois Central Gulf • by Tony Cook — Photos by Terry E. Cook and the Kevin EuDaly collection

    • Santa Fe SD45-2B: 5500 Class (5510–5517) including BNSF 7500/6500-series • by Tony Cook — Photos from the Kevin EuDaly collection and Paul Wester

     

     

    4Q2022

    • Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Locomotive Lessor and Third-Party Contractor, Part 2 • by Randy Keller

    •  

      A History of Santa Fe’s SD45-2s • by Peter Limas — Photos from the Kevin EuDaly collection, Paul Wester, and others

    • Like 1

    HO North American Product News

    in USA & Canadian Railroads

    Posted · Edited by mdvle

    Rapido - Christmas 2022

     

    Updated Tooling with FULL DETAIL - Dash 8-40CM - CN (Stripes / Large Noodle / North America / Website), BC Rail, Quebec North Shore & Labrador - Otter Valley has 2 exclusive BC Rail schemes (faded out BC Rail 4604 and 4620)

     

    Website - https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/dash-8-40cm.html

    PDF - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/1d7d791e-90e8-48a3-b915-2be403294e3b.pdf

     

    2nd run - PA-1 and PB-1 and the famously unique Santa Fe set, #51L-A-C - EL, MP, MKT, GM&O, NH, UP, Alco-GE Demonstrator, CN Demonstrator

     

    https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/pa-1-second-run.html

    PDF - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/fdc2c446-a2b0-4d63-bace-4e843bf389a5.pdf

    PDF (SF) - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/121dfd1d-2e71-4778-8128-54c36826e528.pdf

     

    Executive E-units - Illinois Central and CN

     

    https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/e8-w-hep.html

    PDF - https://files.constantcontact.com/b02e8bb6001/9d38ab5a-7e71-4607-8ff4-e3910fb42e5e.pdf

     

     

    Amtrak Introduces Airo

    in USA & Canadian Railroads

    Posted

    On 18/12/2022 at 11:08, icn said:

    Of only tangential relevance: I see that these are also going to operate the Cascades. Apparently the original Talgo trainsets have already been retired and scrapped, which completely surprised me - but the two newer Talgos are still around and might be kept longer term. The story around the scrapping of the original Talgos is a bit odd - apparently they aren't compliant with newer safety standards that came into force shortly after they were built... but I suspect that the even older Amtrak stock that has been kept is also not compliant with modern standards either? I have to admit I don't entirely understand the system over there.

     

    The Talgo Series VI cars did not adequately protect the passengers during the 2017 crash leading the NTSB request their removal from service - see 30 to 37 in the Findings section of this document - https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Documents/Dupont-Abstract.pdf

     

     

    Amtrak Introduces Airo

    in USA & Canadian Railroads

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, wombatofludham said:

    Seriously though they do look to be very smart, I often watch "Virtual Railfan" and have noticed the services out of Quincy now have Siemens coaches in their formation.

     

    Yep, though not owned by Amtrak - the trains are operated by Amtrak but the equipment purchased by Illinois as part of a multi-state equipment purchase.

     

    (for anyone not aware some of the services Amtrak operates are at least partially funded by the relevant State and in some cases the State also provides the equipment).

     

    7 minutes ago, wombatofludham said:

    I wonder if the double deck sleepers will get replaced at some point?  I believe they are being refurbished at the moment which suggests they might be around for a while yet.

     

    My understanding is Amtrak would like to but it all comes down to available capital funding - and replacing the Amfleets is the current priority.

    New ONR trainsets

    in USA & Canadian Railroads

    Posted

    On 16/12/2022 at 02:05, Johann Marsbar said:

    Surprised to see they are going for new stock but it will be interesting to see what they are like. 

    I rode on it in 1997 when it was using the former GO commuter cars.....

     

    I'm guessing they were forced to by various reasons but if nothing else the issues VIA is having with their 50+ year old equipment would be a warning - and it may also be VIA told the government if they wanted VIA to service the trains it would have to be new Siemens stuff.

     

    On 16/12/2022 at 13:34, stivesnick said:

    The business case is rather weak at 0.2 ( >1 means benefits are greater than costs) and in the UK would be rejected by the Treasury.

     

    There is no business case, it is simple politics.

    • Agree 1

    Rapido OO Gauge GWR B Set coaches

    in Rapido Trains

    Posted

    1 hour ago, cctransuk said:

    My major concern, though, is that today's prices will make the hobby of railway modelling seem, to younger, less affluent persons, the sole preserve of old, retired men with too much time and money on their hands.

     

     

    I know that my view will be in the minority but, especially during the current recession, ever-spiralling prices WILL be come unsustainable.

     

    Yet again we are asked to "think of the children" as a justification for the complaints about the price of new items.

     

    The key points about this (that are the same today as all the previous times this topic has come up) are:

    • if there was a market for cheaper models someone would be filling it(*), the fact that no one is tooling up new models at the "affordable" end is a pretty good indication there is no market for it to be done profitably - the fact that tooling and other costs may be less if you can't sell enough models.
    • this has been a constant complaint in this hobby for 60+ years and yet the hobby is still thriving.
    • kids aren't always as poor as some people think - everything they are interested in whether it be sports, electronics, etc. is expensive.  If they are into trains they will find a way whether it be keeping a cell phone for an extra year or using the used market or some of the more affordable old-tooling items

    * - yes, not the UK, but over in the US one company (ScaleTrains) does for many of their models offer and affordable version (Operator) and detailed version (Rivet Counter) - in online Q&A sessions that have stated that the "affordable" version is 10% to 15% of the total sales vs 85% to 90% for the detailed versions.  The market has spoken and they have indicated that some models in the future won't be offered with an Operator version because the potential sales don't justify the expense.

    • Informative/Useful 3
    • Interesting/Thought-provoking 1

    The Class 89, By Accurascale With Rails of Sheffield

    in Accurascale / Irish Railway Models

    Posted

    On 10/12/2022 at 08:47, No Decorum said:

    Like all the best questions, that’s tricky to answer. I have no rose-tinted glasses about BR. There were good things done and some absolute howlers. The HST was a superb product and it was well publicised. Using Saville was a mistake but only with hindsight. We know that passenger numbers rose after privatisation.

     

    My recollection from looking years ago was that the passenger numbers started on the way up just prior to privatisation and thus likely it was more driven by external issues.

    • Like 4
    • Interesting/Thought-provoking 2

    2022 Footbridge

    in UK Prototype Discussions (not questions!)

    Posted

    On 08/12/2022 at 07:36, St. Simon said:

    There has been done comment on the DDA compliance, but I think this is hoped to become the standard where disabled access is not required such as at Craven Arms where the footpath it replaces can’t be accessed by disabled individuals or where alternative disabled access is provided.

     

    The inherent problem in that though is the assumption that the area around the bridge and society remains static for the next x decades of service for the bridge - or given the comments about moving bridges that the next potential site also doesn't require DDA compliance.

     

    Whether it be new housing in 20+ years or new designs of wheelchairs it seems to be poor forward thinking to design what is supposed to be a "standard" bridge in 2022+ that doesn't respect disabilities.

    HO North American Product News

    in USA & Canadian Railroads

    Virtual Events (slideshows/live events/rpms)

    in USA & Canadian Railroads

    Posted · Edited by mdvle

    Hindsight 20/20 14.0 has been announced, held December 10th

     

    all times are EST

     

    RMweb member Trevor Marshall @tpm1ca has a presentation on his new project at 5:30

     

    11:30 - 12:00  More than good enough: A history of Allen McClelland and the V&O

    12:15 - 12:45  South Ryegate VT on the Montpelier & Wells River: Modeling bridge abutments poured in pre-plywood forms

    1:00 - 1:30  Five railroads, one city, one layout: Using Layout Design Elements to model Michigan City Indiana circa 1960

    1:45 - 2:15  The Delaware and Hudson's Seley Hoppers, 1905-1966 prototype history of these iconic and long-liived cars, with just a brief discussion of modeling options

    2:30 - 3:15  Break

    3:15 - 3:45  Operating the Valley Local: modeling the New Haven Railroad's Operations in the lower Connecticut River valley

    4:00 - 4:30  Air brush tips, tricks, and techniques with a focus on time proven methods of obtaining a professional factory like finish for our models

    4:45 - 5:15  Weathering as layers

    5:30 - 6:00  Niagara Electrics: Modeling a CNR subsidiary under wire

     

    Free registration - http://speedwitchmedia.com/product/hindsight-20-20-14-0-registration/

     

    PDF of schedule - http://speedwitchmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/hindsight2020-flier-14.0.pdf

     

    • Like 1
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