I just got this Athearn Genesis GP15T CSX #1503, IMO Athearn did a great job on this model. There's a lot of factory applied details like grab irons, lift rings, windshield wipers, working cab windows, safety/warning decals, etc. There are a few things that are incorrect to the prototype but nothing that can't be fixed. I removed the horn from the cab that came with it and ordered the correct one that will get mounted on the hood. I got this train on ebay and it had operating ditch lights installed on it. I don't know if they came factory from Athearn or if they were added by the person I bought it from, but the wiring on them needs to be changed. The front and rear are one function so forward or reverse all ditch lights stay on. I would also like to get them to alternate with the horn. I'd also like to add a crew to the cab, MU cables, paint the handrails on the front and rear pilots yellow and if I paint the handrails I'm thinking of removing the plastic chain and replacing it with a brass chain. I might also consider removing the classification light caps and adding "plates" then raise the CSX logo higher on the nose like the prototype, but that one is a definite maybe. Here it is out of the box (without the horn).







Heres a picture of the front of 1503, plated class lights, higher nose logo and all yellow handrails.

When I constructed the original Bovee' & Defiance (BAD) Western, I made a rookie mistake in that it was a free standing 7' x 11' "L" shape with each leg about 4' wide. It was WAY too deep to reach across. It was in my basement and, having plenty of room, I thought why not? I'm now embarking on the BAD Western 2 which will most likely be limited to a 24"-30" deep shelf type layout, about 6'x10', in a shared room. I'm more into scenery than switching and am looking for an interconnected double track dog bone plan. As the name suggests, I'm modeling the Old West and plan on having a couple of mines in each of the end turn-arounds and would appreciate any suggestions or advice.

Thanks

Doc Holliday checking back in after a LONG hiatus. Can't hardly remember when I was last here. The original B.A.D. Western is no longer and will soon (hopefully) be relocated to Panama. Really looking forward to Round 2.

I found this movie on the basic day to day operation on a breaker in anthracite country. It gives a good overview of how the coal gets from underground to the rail cars in just a few minutes.

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It's some cool stuff so take a look.

As I was using some scrap girders cut from an atlas plate girder bridge yesterday, I recalled that I bought them for a bridge I built for my childhood layout. I'm now using the girders for a turntable bridge. I also have an atlas water tower on my layout, and I seem to notice the same kit on many other layouts. So, just curious, how many of you have the plate girder bridge or the water tower on your layout? Are there other items you can think of that show up on many layouts either in kitbashed or original form? Some of the DPM kits come to mind.

I'm looking to model a (ho scale) CSX transfer caboose. The prototype actually has a horn/whistle on it for grade crossings during switching moves. The caboose has an awful high pitched squeaky whistle that I think would be a great addition for a model. Does anyone make a sound decoder for a caboose? Here's a video of the caboose I'm looking to make.
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Over on another forum I took part in a layout design discussion, and introduced a couple of concepts for a small switching layout.
The layout is based on the modular standards we use in the UK currently, developed by the NMRA-BR and the RS Tower crew.

I will copy the first couple of posts about it here to bring you up to speed. :-)

I have named it Tree Point, WI.
Tree Point is a name generated by a 'random' place names generator I found online, and sounded good. It also sounds like '3 points', which is the exact number of points/switches/turn-outs on the layout .

It is designed as an End board, and can only be extended in it's current design on the left hand side. The boards will be build to the NMRA-BR spec for module boards which means they are 18" wide , and have the main track dead center (in this case only on one side). (By the way these specs were based on the RS Tower spec).

I haven't completely decided on the grain elevator industry. A mock up will eventually prove if there's sufficient space for it. If not I'll change it to something else. The Corn Syrup is a 100% definite, and the team track / loco spur I am also pretty certain off. The overpass is probably not happening either...


industrial Park V2B extended teamtrack and loco parking spur by K2K Koos, on Flickr

Koos

I am planning a dual power locomotive using a GE E60C and a DASH8-40C chassis. My question is would a DASH 8-40C chassis fit under the E60C loco shell? Did I mention that I model in N-SCALE...

ERIE RR

I was just poking around at what was once our old forum and discovered that today, February 3rd, is the anniversary of my 11th year being associated with the Gauge in one way or the other. I also notice than Mikey (ngauger) has me beat by 2 years and 45 days and was one of the original members to register.

Just out of curiosity does anyone else have a recollection of how long they've been on these forums? Remember, we date back to Dec. 2000 as the-gauge, then to Zealot for a while, and now here as Big Blue for over five years now.

Let's hear it from those of you that remember how long ago you registered anywhere along the way, the-gauge, Zealot or Big Blue, and just how you got here.