GEC's Layout Progress

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Ugh, I've been trying to keep my spending in line, especially considering threads like This One, and the fact that there are a lot of shiny new things out there I'd really like (new Amfleets, PC and SEPTA MP54s, SDP45s).

That said, bunch of opportunites converged on me that I was (for better or for worse), unable to turn down. I managed to get a lot of new equipment for much less than the MSRP, and some of it is out of production, but I still feel that uncomfortable feeling in my gut that since none of these thing were on my "MUST HAVE" list, apart from the Reading cars, but I'll get into that in a minute.

In the meantime, I'm going to avoid buying anything else of a while.

So, here is the short list of my haul-

• Conrail U25B #2582, under half price, plus a decoder.
  
  
• CDOT cab car, also at a good price
  
  
• A ton of bachmann EZ track, probably about $200 worth for the price of a circle of track. Included with particularly broad curves, which allow me to test engines and car that won't fit on my layout's 22" curves, without having to haul a lot of trains to my train club.
  
  
• 4 NJ Transit Comet VI "bilevel" coaches and 1 bi-level Cab car, with all necessary parts (which normally I'd have to buy separately) an extra decals, for less than the price per kit.
  
  
• 5 Reading Company MU car body shells, probably the last ones available. I plan to modify these to match the "Blueliner" rebuilds.

Those last two are going to be the more interesting projects.

NJ Transit Bi-Level train

I really hesitated buying these cars, since at least originally, they cost a lot of money per car, and did not come with the decals or wheels (and I think for a time, the windows were also separate!). However, I spotted a listing that had 5 cars, plus the wheels and decals (and then some more NJT decals for Arrow IIIs, PL42ACs, and ALP46s), all for a price per car that was less than if I bought the kits without the other parts I'd need.

Essentially, I just need to paint and decal the things, and then put them together. This whole train can be up and running by the end of the week, which is pretty good considering most of my projects drag on for months and years.

I also hesitated since these are VERY modern cars, and certainly do NOT match my late 70s modeling.

That said, I had really wanted these cars since I ride them almost every time I go to New York City, and I like them alot. I also have the modern NJT ALP46 electric, but with no modern cars appropriate for it to pull.


My main disappointment with these cars is that they have some flaws with them. The worst offender is the end profile of the car, and the "skinny" windows are also hard to swallow. There is also a lot of molded on detail that if I felt compelled to, I could scrape off and replace. Ultimately though, it looks "right" from the broadside, and just barely squeaks into my "good enough" category. I'll suspend my rivet counting tendency since these cars still look very cool.

The prototype (since I haven't yet been able to take a proper picture of the models)-




Future Blueliner Project

This one I'm fairly excited by. These are more Reading Company "Green car" body shells, but they won't be for long.

By 1963, the old "Green Cars" were over 30 years old (having been built in 1931-32), and the Reading wished to extend the life of the cars another 15 years while replacements were found. 38 cars were rebuilt between 1964 and 1965, and were given a fancy blue and cream paint scheme, as well as a "silverliner" style interior. This earned them the name "Blueliner".

As it turned out, only the unrebuilt green cars were retired by 1978. The Blueliners would remain in service until July 1990, lasting for 27 years rather than the planned 15! When they were retired, they were the oldest passenger cars in revenue service anywhere.


Apart from some excessively expensive brass sets, no one makes a "true" blueliner model. However, converting one of these body shells into a Blueliner shouldn't be very difficult, depending on the unit.

The only major change to all versions is the "dual" beam headlight, and the removal of the roof vents. Depending on the year, the roof-top bus connectors and insulators are also removed.

There are three distinct versions of the Blueliner cars-

9101-9105 : These were ex Baggage Combines 302-306. The baggage compartment was replaced with more seating and big picture windows. They also had air conditioning, similar to the ones on the Silverliners. These would be the most difficult to make.

9106-9109: These were regular coaches 873-879, which were given air conditioning, and lost some windows. The airconditioners again were prominent

9110-9138: These would be the easiest, since relatively little would have to be done to represent these.

#9130 is representative of the average Blueliner. The only exterior differences are the new headlights, removal of the original roof vents, replaced by small corner vents, and the new paint job. The blueliners originally retained their rooftop bus connectors, though they are removed here.



#9107 was a coach equipped with an air condtioner. The main modeling challenge here would be to make the air conditioner vents and housings, and then blank out the windows above them.



#9104 was a former baggage combine, with the picture windows visible here. This would be the most challenging variant, since on top of the air conditioners, I'd have to modify the windows on the former baggage end. These windows are visible on the far end of the train. I couldn't find any good pictures showing the windows better!




The interior of a Blueliner was styled similarly to the Silverliner II, which was brand new in 1963 when these old MUs were built.