alcoRS1

Here is my update I have repainted my Alco S1 switch to SP&S #11. My brass Alco RS-1 is coming along nicely, I have it painted, most of the decals, kadee number 158 couplers, all I left to do is windows, lights, motor (I have an OMI one, but I want a DPT from NWSL, that way I will have the whole inside to do speakers for the soundtraxx Tsunami Alco 539T DCC sound controller. some of the roster. as for the layout, I have be arranging some of the industries around, I want to finalize this week, so I can finish ballasting all the track.

With base coat on, and motor less, after frying 2 decoders, the old motor draw to much amps. I will either get an underneath motor (one built into the trucks, but somebody promised me an OMI one for free, so I will try that one first.

My lastest addition, I have decided that I will have the full roster for SP&S RS-1, which is 6 locos, will be doing the final 4 in the phase 2 paint. I picked this Brass Alco models RS-1 for $90, I serviced the motor and it runs fine, it very well detailed and the guy in the shop says it was made in 1971, so it is as old as I am. now I need to find out how to paint it, I never painted brass before. sorry, one day I will have good light in the garage, but it not high on my list of things todo.

Atlas Alco RS-1 SP&S Number 54, waits after delivering cut of box cars. Atlas Alco SP&S RS-1 Number 50 passing RS-1 Number 54 on the way to the yard, with a small cut of boxcars. SP&S Number 54, Alco RS-1, just delivered 2 box cars to the Appliance warehouse. tonight I have been trying to solve some loco problems, number 54, an atlas RS-1 at slow speeds in one direction jerks at lot, but runs smooth in the other direction.

oh no you didn't, it looks nothing like an American, it looks like a messed up export, which it is.

thanks for explaining.

if they made the space between the head lights flush and the grills like a small car (hood) bonnet, it would look better.

What are you saying I don't understand what you meant by ED?

They are the new Class 70 not Class 73 wow, these will not win any beauty awards, some of the most ugliest locos ever built.

I don't know what kind of budget people have for their layouts but mine is about $75 - $100 a month, so I am trying to do things a cheaply as possible, but without compromising. I been doing buildings from scale photos, it is a lot cheaper than plastic kits. This leaves more money for switch motors which are costing me a little bundle at the moment, I have over 30 switches total and on 10 motors so far. here is some of the building so far. tomorrow I will add a roof and chimneys vents etc.

Started to install switch motors, I am mostly using tortoise motors, unless I can find away to adapt the peco switch motors to atlas switches. Also looking for information on how to wire LEDs with the switches.

a little video action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPXmkdZqDp0

Things are moving slowly, hoping to have one of my 4 sections finished with switch motors this week, most are going to be Tortoise motors, but I have a few Peco, I might try to convert to atlas, the Peco, in the UK are over half the price cheaper. Proto PK1 Budd RDC NP, with sound Proto PK2 Alco S1 made into US Army switcher, thinking of remaking it into an SP&S. Atlas RS-1 SP&S road switch.

SP&S ALCO RS2 number 60 spots a box car at the textile factory. (P1K RS2). Started adding some of the industrial building to my layout, I am using some Photographed building printed to scale from KingMill Enterprises LLC, they are cheap, and I am limited in space, against the back drop. The next building are a little more 3D. I still need to add the background behind these, but that is TBD, the time of the year is November, so the back drop needs to be repainted into rainy day sky.

Update on whats is new, Been working on my locos getting them to run better, but today I got some back drop buildings in the mail, I hope to install tomorrow. I will post some more pictures.

seeing I live in the SP&S area, it make sense to pick them, plus I love Alcos and SP&S had lots of alcos.

I been working out my industries for my layout. top level Passenger, 3 stations (1 RDC) small food switching from plant to store, (receives box car). lower level, USN dock (flats with equipment, box car, fuel) concrete unload facility (2 cover hopper) USArmy rail head (flat cars, box cars, fuel) Grain and food processing plant (cover hoppers) Oil terminal (tank cars) small engine and RIP facility (locos sand hopper, fuel). furniture manufacture (lumber flat, box car) scrap metal (gondolas) toy factory (bulk plastic hoppers, box car) textiles (box cars) furniture (box cars) appliance warehouse (box cars) This will give me lots of switching, and plenty of action.

another youtube of My Alco RS-1 and RS-11 (in HD, but lighting is bad, so it is HD bad lighting). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKacpLo3gPE

a little update, with my dad arriving on Thursday from Manchester, I been spending time on his Walters F40 unit, painting and decal into a caltrain loco, I put this off, but tonight made great progress in getting it ready. Here are a few more pictures, Alco RS-11 NP, 910, used to be a noisy runner, now smooth running. The other is my own painted Atlas RS-1 SP&S, number 50 with a small cut of box cars. 2nd level is coming along, this will have a city street running RDC and small industrial switcher, GE 25toner.

In the photo above, you can see the NP Alco RS-11 (yellow and black). This is an Atlas/kato loco from the 80's, somebody gave it to me to help them install decoders. it was very noisy, would buzz and screech, I lube the motor, now it runs so quite, there is a little rattle to fix, but it is not loud, only on curves, and I know I can fix it. today I am happy . I also found some good elastic bands for my Budd RDC, that will work on the raised commuter line I am putting in.

Here is the start of the second level that hides the staging area, it will have a small industrial switcher GE 25 toner, and a RDC passenger, it will be a city scene with them both running in the streets. this is a shot looking the other way

I have 11 grain hoppers at the drop site for the food processing plant, I GE 44 Toner works the switching, I had so much fun switching the grain hoppers around until I had emptied all 11 of them, and sorted them for pickup. I have limited space, 5 4 tracks including the drop shed. on track can hold 5 hoppers the other 4 hopper, 3 hoppers then the loading shed spur can hold 2. There is a small drill track that allows me to switch up to 3 cars at a time. Other areas so far I have got to play with is an oil terminal, US Army rail head. a small RIP and Loco terminal, a scrape yard, factory with 2 leads, one for box car loading the other for raw materials hoppers, a small scrap yard, then 3 other industries yet to be determined. Lastly I have a small port and ammo dump for the US Navy. I am adding a second level above the staging area, which will have a small downtown scene with a commuter line, and a small GE25 toner for some industrial switching.

added a small port scene in one corner, I will snap a shot latter tonight for an update on progress, coming a long slowly, My parents fly out from Manchester next week and I want the layout to be fully operational before he arrive.

Glad the sight is back up. been working on my boat dock, got the wood cut though and created the boat area. Also been ballasting the track, it been frustrating, had some track come un glued, such a mess in that area, all my fixing solution not working, pertinence is the answer. Pic will follow.

today I picked up some cheap rust paint, and 3 in 1 oil, and stared to spray my rails pre to blasting.