Maintenance of May

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!

Postwar MOW train

SFTA MOW train

Long CNW crane boom

CNW MOW train

Handcar

Getting ready for some MOWing

Hey there, looks like it is about time to start MOWing... no, not grass mowing... stay tuned!

Sort of Spring

In the past week, we had our first visitor in a long while to the train room. My friend and follow model railroader, Darren, from Butte paid a visit. The current roster has been up for about a year, so a roster switch is coming soon!

Meanwhile, Spring will finally come to Montana... maybe?

Horizon of Spring

Hello railroaders ~
No development or purchases for the model railroad since I last checked in, but happy to say that my son (15 months old) and I are equally transfixed by steam locomotives. We will spend hours watching a collection of locomotive footage on DVD, with the narration silenced, so the only sounds projected are the sounds of live steam! I'm hoping to show him a running steamer up close later this year - we'll see if we can make it happen!

Here is the collection of videos we've been watching:
https://www.amazon.com/Steam-Trains-Through-Seasons-na/dp/B00GWZ5BD8

Until next time, keep those rails shiny!

CNW Days

A merry welcome to May ~

In the past month, I've put away the Through-lines roster and set up the CNW roster. I also partially resolved an issue with locomotive sound problems on Track 4. A minor brake wheel repair was also performed on the CNW piggyback flatcar.

So, here's the new CNW roster!

On Track 1, we see the reliable CNW 0-8-0 switcher pulling a couple ATSF cars. The orders were to transport a boxcar full of dynamite to the Midnight Gold Mine at Juniper Peak. However, the engineer didn't want to make the trip with just his tender between him and a few tons of explosives, so he got permission to cut in the hopper car as a spacer! The locomotive was made by MTH and the rolling stock are K-Line productions. Occasionally, the tender coupler was opening when entering the 45 degree crossover track from the northeast, which sometimes resulted in a crash and derailment. This issue has been temporarily resolved with some electrical tape to keep the coupler closed, and no damage has been reported.

On Track 2, the CNW Doodlebugs are making another appearance. For the next month or so, the 'bugs will be running folks and supplies between Red Stone and Juniper Peak. The little unit train runs very smoothly, and I think the directional lighting is nifty.

On Track 3, the mighty and massive CNW Fairbanks Morse Train Master locomotive is hauling a mostly-coal train. Coal prices are up, and so is production at the Peacock Coal Mine deep in the Roosevelt Mountains. They needed a strong motive unit to pull this load through the foothills and into Silver Falls for distribution. From a prototypical viewpoint, the Train Master is the most powerful single-unit diesel locomotive in the current fleet, being slightly stronger than a single E8 unit. (As of this entry, I believe the prototypically strongest locomotive I have is the GG1.) With two motors, the actual model is pretty powerful too. Built in 1980 by Lionel, this loco has a nice growling sound when running, making a sound system unnecessary! This locomotive does have one prototypical flaw, in that the real CNW never operated a Train Master, but the paint scheme is sharp and it’s a fun loco to operate! Behind the engine are three hoppers filled with coal: an MTH GN, and MTH CNW, and a K-Line NP. After that is a Williams CNW covered hopper and another MTH CNW hopper, both empty for this trip. Then there's the 4-truck Yule Marble Co #6 flatcar, carrying a big chunk of marble to be used in a monument in Silver Falls. And, the train is completed by an MTH CNW woodside caboose. This might be the first time the caboose is being run separately from its original freight set. It's been slightly troublesome, in that its coupler kept opening on the northeast corner of the loop, but some electrical tape fixed that right up. No damage reported.

On Track 4, the Minneapolis and Black Hills Express (M&BHX) is being pulled by the CNW class E-4 Hudson. The M&BHX has been led by various locomotives in the past, but this is its first pairing with #4008. There are many happy vacationers on board, heading from the Twin Cities to visit Mount Rushmore, Custer, and the surrounding attractions. The steam engine was made by MTH and the 5 passenger cars (REA baggage, "Chicago" coach, "Minneapolis" coach, "Milwaukee" coach, and "Kansas City" observation) were made by Frank's Roundhouse.

As with the PRR GG1 in the Through-lines roster, the Hudson had sound system issues when running on Track 4. After more troubleshooting, I figured out that the problem was with the wired remote control assigned to the track coming from the MRC transformer. I swapped the remote with the Track 2 remote, and the sound issues went away. The Doodlebugs on Track 2 are not experiencing any sound issues, but their sound system is much less complicated compared to the Hudson.

Now on to the pics and video! Keep those rails shiny ~

CNW switcher #65 hauls some coal and dynamite on Track 1

The CNW Doodlebugs squeeze between the freight trains

The Train Master and the Kansas City

Colorful hoppers

The CNW covered Hudson waits while passengers board the M&BHX

The M&BHX

Milwaukee Road Gifts

For the past few months I've been trying to help a fellow Billings resident with selling a large train collection, which had belonged to her late husband. He and his father had worked for the Milwaukee Road in Montana, and I was gifted a few items from his collection. There are lots of Milwaukee items, along with a few other railroad mementos he picked up along the way. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, and had some interesting artifacts from his time with the union.

There are some MRR pencils and a spiffy Christmas matchbook, a few maintenance handbooks, and several MRR official business envelopes. There's also a NP Vista Dome North Coast Limited train schedule from 1958, and a photograph of a UP Big Boy from 1966. Of greatest interest to me are some handwritten notes listing details about various MRR round houses in Montana, and a listing of many of the unique MRR diesel and electric locomotives in use in the 1960's and 70's.

All of these items will be stored and treasured like the rest of my railroadania collection, and will eventually be housed in the museum/display section of the "train room of the future". Thank you Dee, for giving me this wonderful collection of railroad history!

MRR pencils and a matchbook

Christmas wishes on a MRR matchbook

MRR business envelopes and booklets

NP schedule, UP photo, handwritten MRR notes about Montana roundhouses and locomotives

March Trains for Sale!

Here are pics of the items my friend is selling. Most of these are brand new HO items, along with some great G scale items and railroadania. Please contact me to make offers! Thanks - Mark