Track work in Empire City has resulted in many freight trains being rerouted through Empire City Station. Local rail fans have been able to catch a lot of the action and I'll be posting a few of their short videos over the next several days.
New York Central Alcos
NYC RS32 #2040 leads a trio of R32s hauling Train NY-4
Saturday, June 22, 2013
PC SD40 & GP40 haul priority freight train through Empire City
Greetings Blog Followers,
Track work in Empire City has resulted in many freight trains being rerouted through Empire City Station. Local rail fans have been able to catch a lot of the action and I'll be posting a few of their short videos over the next several days.
Track work in Empire City has resulted in many freight trains being rerouted through Empire City Station. Local rail fans have been able to catch a lot of the action and I'll be posting a few of their short videos over the next several days.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sharks Swim into Empire City
Greetings Blog Followers,
This past week saw one on my Bachmann RF16A units suffer a mechanical failure for the second time in two months. The rear universal coupling has been separating from the metal shaft on top of the truck. This is a "press fit" and the only unit so far that has had this happen. After the first occurrence I press fit the coupling back into place and the engine ran fine for a few days. After the second time I added a little CA and hope this solves the issue. The RF16 diesel engines were made by Baldwin and nicknamed "Sharks" due to their appearance. They were powerful but somewhat unreliable. The New York Central Shark fleet was downgraded from road service to transfer service. On the New York Central Layout the "Sharks" still enjoy being assigned to priority freight trains.
This past week saw one on my Bachmann RF16A units suffer a mechanical failure for the second time in two months. The rear universal coupling has been separating from the metal shaft on top of the truck. This is a "press fit" and the only unit so far that has had this happen. After the first occurrence I press fit the coupling back into place and the engine ran fine for a few days. After the second time I added a little CA and hope this solves the issue. The RF16 diesel engines were made by Baldwin and nicknamed "Sharks" due to their appearance. They were powerful but somewhat unreliable. The New York Central Shark fleet was downgraded from road service to transfer service. On the New York Central Layout the "Sharks" still enjoy being assigned to priority freight trains.
Here is a short video of my NYC Sharks in action
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Penn Central Power Move
Greetings Blog Followers,
A recent Penn Central power move was caught passing through Empire City Station yesterday.
A recent Penn Central power move was caught passing through Empire City Station yesterday.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 17, 2013
New Penn Central Diesels
Greetings Blog Followers,
The New York Central Layout Purchasing Department recently contracted with Neal M Diesel Consultants to independently test one Bachmann DCC GP38-2 and one Bachmann DCC GP40. Upon completion of rigorous testing N.M.D.C. issued a satisfactory report and supplied links to facilitate the purchase of new engines.
The new PC diesels arrived on Father's Day and were put to the test today. Out of the box both the PC GP40 and GP38-2 ran well. The GP38-2 is a little more detailed than the GP40 and a little quieter as noted in the N.M.D.C. review report. Both ran well singly and M.U.ed. The diesels were assigned a 15 car freight train which they handled with ease.
Later in the day the Penn Central Train master authorized a none unit power move with the GP38-2 and GP40 providing the power. Once again the new diesels handled the assignment with ease.
The New York Central Layout Purchasing Department recently contracted with Neal M Diesel Consultants to independently test one Bachmann DCC GP38-2 and one Bachmann DCC GP40. Upon completion of rigorous testing N.M.D.C. issued a satisfactory report and supplied links to facilitate the purchase of new engines.
The new PC diesels arrived on Father's Day and were put to the test today. Out of the box both the PC GP40 and GP38-2 ran well. The GP38-2 is a little more detailed than the GP40 and a little quieter as noted in the N.M.D.C. review report. Both ran well singly and M.U.ed. The diesels were assigned a 15 car freight train which they handled with ease.
Later in the day the Penn Central Train master authorized a none unit power move with the GP38-2 and GP40 providing the power. Once again the new diesels handled the assignment with ease.
Bachmann DCC GP38-2 #8148 and GP40 #3007 lead a freight train on the upper level
Bachmann Plus GP35 #2320 rounds out the power trio
EMD Power on point of freight train Two newest PC diesels facing forward with older GP35
PC GP38-2 #8148
Latest arrivals put right to work
Penn Central Power Move...GP38-2 on point with GP40 right behind
At the crossing just before entering Empire City Station
Two EMD F7s in the middle of the power move
Two GE U-boats bring up the rear of the power move
A special guest tucked in between the EMS and GE units, an Alco RS2
Friday, May 10, 2013
A trip to the real Empire City
Greetings Blog Followers,
Here are some pictures of my recent trip to the real Empire City in the Empire State
Here are some pictures of my recent trip to the real Empire City in the Empire State
The Kings Highway Station
Local Coney Island bound Q train calls at Kings Highway
Express Coney Island bound B train stops at Kings Highway
South bound B train leaving Kings Highway
The world famous Empire State Building
Monday, May 6, 2013
Trees Grow in Empire City
Greetings Blog Followers,
My New York Central Layout recently received about a dozen new trees made from the Sedum plant. The dried flowers were picked off the plant this past winter and allowed to dry. I sprayed the foliage with an insecticide and they sat untouched for a few months to further dry out. I then coated the tops with diluted white glue and dipped them into a bowl of green scenic material. The trees were then sprayed with a clear flat spray paint as well as some hair spray. Holes were drilled into the layout and the trees planted.
My New York Central Layout recently received about a dozen new trees made from the Sedum plant. The dried flowers were picked off the plant this past winter and allowed to dry. I sprayed the foliage with an insecticide and they sat untouched for a few months to further dry out. I then coated the tops with diluted white glue and dipped them into a bowl of green scenic material. The trees were then sprayed with a clear flat spray paint as well as some hair spray. Holes were drilled into the layout and the trees planted.
A close up of the new Sedum trees
NYC Pacemaker Freight Truck sits alongside a PRR Tructrain tractor trailer
Al's Victory service sees some police activity and some new trees in the background
Newly planted trees add some nice touches to the industrial area.
The trees look nice, add some realism and do not take up much space.
The trees are in. Time for some additional ground scenery.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Custom Painted 50' Boxcars still going strong
Greetings Blog Followers,
It's been a few weeks since I've posted. Spring time has been a bit hectic this year and my model railroading time has been severely limited. That said I have been able to sneak down and run a few trains from time to time. Still looking good and going strong are my custom painted 50' Bachmann boxcars. Once relegated to the bottom of a box due to an unrealistic paint scheme these cars have been resurrected and now enjoy frequent layout time. The cars have also been upgraded with metal wheels, additional weight and body mounted couplers.
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