After over a year I was able, a little at a time, to switch
out the roster, with my 17mo toddler's help/"help". He is still enamored
with all things trains.
Here are some notes on the Maintenance of Way (MOW) roster:
This is the first time I've put together a MOW theme.
The Postwar MOW train on Track 1 is extremely reliable,
except for occasional derailment of the last two cars at the 45-degree
crossover. I haven't recognized anything specific that needs to change to
prevent this situation. The UP locomotive continues to be one of the best
runners in the fleet, at 68 years young. The searchlight car, with repairs made
previously, functions correctly and dramatically (especially in the dark). The
locomotive and cars were all manufactured by Lionel in the 1940’s – 1950’s. Union
Pacific FA A unit #2023, Lionel Lines searchlight car #3620, New York Central
gondola #6462, Leigh Valley hopper #6456, and Southern Pacific caboose #6357.
The SFTA MOW train, which had to be moved from Track 3 to
Track 2 to accommodate the scale CNW crane's boom length (see below), is right
at home on this O-31 track. Being an entry-level K-Line set, the NW2 locomotive
has a couple challenges - 1) While scale in proportions, it's decks are
oversized and will impact trains on Track 3 while traversing curves, and 2) it
doesn't have a "slow" speed - it goes from still to fast with nothing
in between, and it will go even faster still. I can work with this, but it does
mean I shouldn't run trains on Track 3 while this one is running on Track 2,
and I shouldn't run it if I'm trying to calm myself or anybody down! “SFTA” is
an abbreviation for Silver Falls Transit Authority, which in this case is
leasing equipment from the Trackside Construction Company. NW2 #104, unnumbered
rail transport car, unnumbered I-beam transport car, gondola carrying railroad
ties #5630, and unnumbered crane car/caboose.
The CNW MOW train looks very sharp, and is truly O scale in
proportions. However, this means that the crane boom, which extends 7.5 inches
beyond the car's deck, sticks out quite a ways on corners. With the large hooks
and equipment that hang from the boom, this would cause considerable damage to
any trains operating on the next track. Originally, this train was scheduled to
run on Track 2, but it would have obliterated the SFTA train which was planned
to run on Track 3, so I swapped the two trains. My choice of equipment for
Track 4 also made this an easy decision. Anyway, the CNW train runs at a slower
pace, and I've turned the locomotive around to run backwards, which is
prototypical. The cab (and thus, the engineer) is closer to the crane
operation, and that provides better line-of-sight to maintenance work. I've
observed various MRL work trains operating in a similar fashion, with REAL GP7s
and GP9s, albeit with trimmed front hoods :) Lionel CNW GP7 #1518, MTH CNW crane
#6359, and matching MTH crane tender #X250948.
And the trusty handcar makes its long way around Track 4. This
handcar was built by Industrial Rail and is unnumbered.
As part of the changing of rosters, I entered or completed
inventory records for all participating equipment. At this point, 72% of the
fleet has been inventoried. Enjoy National Train Day this Saturday, and keep
those rails shiny!
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| Postwar MOW train |
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| SFTA MOW train |
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| Long CNW crane boom |
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| CNW MOW train |
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| Handcar |
