Layout Odds & Ends

 Greetings All,

Layout Odds & Ends

It's been a busy few weeks on the layout and there several items to report today.

From the Purchasing Department

The two BAR State of Maine Products 40' Boxcars in typical Athearn BB kit form.

Assembled with Kadee couplers, metal wheelsets and a spray of Testor's Dullcote the new BAR cars deliver State of Maine blueberries from Caribou, Maine to Empire Produce.

The writing in the white box states the car is in specialized service and when empty is to be returned to the BAR via reverse route.

The new BAR cars join BAR 5226, a PCCM veteran delivering potatoes to Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

On another trip back to the layout more State of Maine Products are spotted at Consolidated Grocery Distributors.

Passenger Car Purchases

A Walthers Budd built 46 seat coach is getting ready for service in the Terminal Yard Shop.

A Walthers Budd PRR 10-6 Sleeper.

And a Budd built NYC dome car. What!!! I know the NYC didn't have such cars but the price was right and some RR had one or something close for me move into an early Amtrak car. Come to think of it I have quite a few non prototypical dome cars!! 

From The Car Shop

The Walthers passenger cars were derail prone right out of the box. A check of the wheel spacing with the HO scale NMRA gauge revealed the wheels were too tight. The wheelsets are split axles connected with a plastic sleeve. 

Repair Procedure

Unscrew one of the side frame screws and loosen the one next to it. This allow the side frame to swivel for easy removal of the wheelsets. After removing one of the split axles I used 2-56 screws on two of the cars as seen below and red Kadee washers on the dome car to meet the NMRA gauge specs. After reassembly add a drop of oil to each axle side frame connection and ensure wheels turn freely.

This a was an easy fix and the cars are rolling well in a long passenger train around 22" curves without any issues.

From The Paint Shop

This former Athearn BB NYC diner has been re-lettered renumbered to Penn Central diner 4553 based on a prototype photo. 

The PC diner is part of an ongoing project to add some 72' BB PC passenger cars to my fleet.  

From The Engine Shop

Cotton Belt GP40s 7602 and 7606 have cycled thru the engine shop and been upgraded with some prototypical enhancements.

The SSW 7602 and 7606 as delivered to the layout.

Upgrades include number board numerals, rattle can gray primer painted handrails, yellow handrail ends and ACI Labels

The 7602 is now the powered unit. The enhancements add a nice touch of realism to the models.  

The rear numerals are applied like the prototype with the number boards painted to match the red end. In this case I brush painted them with an acrylic hobby paint called red spice that I happened to have on hand.

Engine Shop Report #2 

Last but certainly not least APRR GP38 #358, colloquially known in and around Empire City as "The Sir Neal", is back in service after having some work done on its prime mover.  Railfans from around the area gathered to check out the fan favorite being pulled from the shop. We look forward to many more years of service from one of the favorite locomotives in the fleet!!!

Coming Soon

Empire City is ready for Christmas and the various railroads in our family's combined fleet will be enjoying their Holiday Trackage Rights time on the layout.

Thanks for reading!!!

See you Soon!!!