GEC's Layout Progress

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Not to much in the way of real progress, and I may have posted some of this stuff. Lately, life has been super hectic, between jobs, bills, my grandfather passing, so I haven't gotten MUCH done. I do have some positive points since I last posted though.

Valley Forge RPM

I went there with my Reading Company module, and a few models. I got to up my game for the next event in 2 years! My catenary was impressive to most (Tony Koester seemed to think it looked "too much like work". Not if you enjoy it!). To much of my stuff was half finished but not at the level I'd like to be at. I'm hoping I'll have more of my MU cars done, and some of the custom car-side passenger cars built and detailed, inside and out!



Heavy Electric Modules

I have the second part of my Heavy Electric Module set. This means I have roughly 10 real feet of Northeast Corridor to work with. My friend built the module, though it turns out I need to increase the underpass size. I will post pictures soon.

Unfortunately, I'm still digging for the North Elizabeth Train Station plans. I suspect they may be at the PA State Archives in Harrisburg. I might need to take a trip that way this summer. If I could get those drawings, everything else about the module would be relatively easy. A lot of it is still there, and the stuff that isn't is well enough photographed that I can get by. The station is the only thing that is obscure.

The only other challenge would be the signals on the northern (eastern) end of the station, but Model Memories can make that signal for me, and they can make it to my specifications to that it matches my other catenary poles.

With both modules, it should be possible to take a photo of a realistic NEC consist without seeing the "ends" of the module. It will be nice to have some "Natural habitat" for my electrics!

Jersey Arrow I

I finally got the drives. I'm going to see about painting the floors and doing a final check of the body shells (they might need one more coat of Alclad). At the very least, if I paint the floors, powering the cars will not be an issue, since they have built-in truck wells. I just need to make a bolster from styrene, which I did with my Silverliner III cars.

To power them, I'll be using 8'6" wheel base 33" wheel NWSL Stanton drives. They are good drives, though I wish they were speedier. My plan is to use them in these cars to get them running, and then if a better alternative appears, I'll transfer these drives to some of my other MU commuter cars (remaining Silverliner IIIs, and my yet to be built Silverliner IIs). The trucks struggle to keep up with a top speed of 70 Scale MPH (the prototype regularly operated at 100 MPH).

Silverliner II

I'm surprised I haven't mentioned it in a post here, but I do have a set of 4 Silverliner II body shells. The remaining components will need to be ordered from shape-ways, which will still end up costing quite a bit, but not as much as if they were resin.

These shells are in the 1962 PRR era configuration, which is still appropriate for my early Conrail Era (they were rebuilt in the early 80s by M-K). I would have preferred some Reading Company styled cars (which have noticeably larger cab windows, a cow catcher, and some different roof gear), but PRR is just fine for me.

The main issue here is that the floors are either all dummy GSI trucks, or all NWSL powered trucks. NWSL sells a "dummy" version of its Stanton drive for $45, which is a pain. I'd rather have a dummy GSI truck on one end (its cheaper and looks better), but I'm not sure if it can be adapted. The only thing is that a dummy Stanton Drive still picks up power, which may make it worth it.

It does mean however, that the price of powering each car is significantly more for each Silverliner II, relative to my other MUs.

Conrail #5487, ex-LV, exx-PRR "Hammerhead" RS-3

I happened across a body shell for a Hammerhead RS-3. On these units, the shorter hood was full height, apparently to make room for passenger gear and dynamic brakes. Conrail had just one of these unusual Alcos. The unit survives today, and there is a whole page devoted to it, which is definitely worth a read-

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The model has a few issues though. Its meant to go on the old Atlas "yellow box" RS-3 frames. There are some detail inaccuracies, such as the wrong numberboards on the longer hood (which I shaved off), and the dual-beam headlights are horizontal instead of the prototype's vertical. Of course, these are all easy fixes. Shortline Products sold me the appropriate numberboards as well, so I'm set. Another challenge will be finding appropriate handrails, since this model has additional boxes on it that are not on the Atlas model.

If I can find a good Atlas frame, this model should go together quickly. It also helps that I have Lehigh Valley paint and decals left over from Conrail 7499. the only other hurdle will be the CR patches themselves, which are uncharacteristically small stencils for both the "CR" and the road numbers.



"DeWitt" Geep

The same seller had Penn Central built RS-3M "DeWitt" geeps. These were identifiable by the large boxes on top of the hood. Conrail's later Juniata RS-3Ms better maintained the RS-3's shape.

Unfortunately, it seems that while RS-3Ms were present in my are when I model, almost all of them were of the Juniata variety. The DeWitt Geeps did seem to be common on the Northeast Corridor in the Baltimore area, and were common in New England as well (just not in between those two points! ). That said, I'm not complaining, given the unusual nature of these rebuilds. Though a few people here have kitbashed the RS-3Ms, they still remain relatively uncommon on model railroads, so it should attract attention.

Like the Hammerhead above, these shells need an older frame. I actually modified this one to take the current Atlas RS-3 frame, but it made the pilot perilously thin before it fit properly.

Layout Space Clean up

I'm also trying to get my layout area drastically reorganized. I have managed to acquire enough junk that it is almost impossible to work down there! I picked up a few new shelves, and it looks like i'll be getting another set of Spring Mills Depot Boxes. These huge boxes can actually carry quite a bit of rolling stock in them.

This will mean that I will be able to store more of my trains in less space, as well as more easily transport my trains with my to train shows when I am on display.

Its gotten to the point where I haven't run a train on my layout in over a year, because every available track has a freight or passenger car stored on it!