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I had some CN gondolas for sale in 2022. Sold 4 real quick in February and 2 in March. The 2 I had online in July did not sell. One with a load one without. Selling online is fickle and you never really know what will sell or not. The amazing thing I see now is graffiti covered HO scale covered hoppers trying to be sold for $2-300.
I am not sure but to model my 2005 and keep the 2 I will need to add the safety stripes. That is my internal debate right now.
The advent of the affordable drone allows not only access to otherwise difficult to shoot areas, but the down-from-above viewpoint rarely seen until recently and yet pretty much the standard for model railroading in any scale. If N scale modelers in particular wonder whether a move to HO might be in order, a video like this one...which shows these grand sweeping scenic vistas...can remind you why you chose N scale in the first place. Sure reminds me why, anyway.
Of course there's no reason either that you can't model in both.
I had two opportunities back in the early/mid eighties to run trains (weekends, not formal ops) at the Le Mesa MRR club layout in Balboa Park (San Diego) for several months during each visit, so to get a look at the area from above like this is gold.
The La Mesa club is modeling Tehachapi at about 1/2 scale--33'/mile in HO, although greatly foreshortened too in places. When I was there the layout had only been completed from tunnel one half up through tunnel five, and everything west of Ilmon (out to Bakersfield) was bare plywood, but their well known panorama of Caliente had largely been completed. I ran more than my fair share of trains up and down the hill, so I THOUGHT I had a better sense of the terrain there than I really do. But for the drone footage, I still wouldn't know what I didn't know.
Probably the only footage too of a lone unit running light on what is generally a traffic jammed hill.
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BigGRacing
Aka. Gary Russell
TLOC, from your profile, I assume you are a CN fan ? Do you already have a bunch of the gondolas that you have for sale, or doing something different?
TLOC
Well-Known Member
I am more a Central Wisconsin railroading fan. Lived 1/2 mile from the tracks in Central Wisconsin when the Milwaukee Road owned the Valley Sub. Then briefly the Soo when Milwaukee went under into bankruptcy and then the great Wisconsin Central. 2001 saw the CN purchase the Wisconsin Central and all its affiliate. I held onto the WC until about 2016 when I did go completely to CN selling most of my WC locomotives. I now model both the CN and my own free lance Wisconsin River Valley and Terminal RR.
I had some CN gondolas for sale in 2022. Sold 4 real quick in February and 2 in March. The 2 I had online in July did not sell. One with a load one without. Selling online is fickle and you never really know what will sell or not. The amazing thing I see now is graffiti covered HO scale covered hoppers trying to be sold for $2-300.
I am not sure but to model my 2005 and keep the 2 I will need to add the safety stripes. That is my internal debate right now.
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BigGRacing
Aka. Gary Russell
your work is incredible!
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much. I find weathering to be enjoyable, frightening, frustrating and amazing. Sometimes all within a few hours on the same car. I am still trying to find the “right” method for me.
Snowman
Well-Known Member
This is a great find, and I will keep his videos on my short, short list from now on. Really well done, and I love the music too.
The advent of the affordable drone allows not only access to otherwise difficult to shoot areas, but the down-from-above viewpoint rarely seen until recently and yet pretty much the standard for model railroading in any scale. If N scale modelers in particular wonder whether a move to HO might be in order, a video like this one...which shows these grand sweeping scenic vistas...can remind you why you chose N scale in the first place. Sure reminds me why, anyway.
Of course there's no reason either that you can't model in both.
Snowman
Well-Known Member
This one is next on my list. After watching the first one all the way through, I followed that up with his Tehachapi video, and learned quite a bit I hadn't known before.
I had two opportunities back in the early/mid eighties to run trains (weekends, not formal ops) at the Le Mesa MRR club layout in Balboa Park (San Diego) for several months during each visit, so to get a look at the area from above like this is gold.
The La Mesa club is modeling Tehachapi at about 1/2 scale--33'/mile in HO, although greatly foreshortened too in places. When I was there the layout had only been completed from tunnel one half up through tunnel five, and everything west of Ilmon (out to Bakersfield) was bare plywood, but their well known panorama of Caliente had largely been completed. I ran more than my fair share of trains up and down the hill, so I THOUGHT I had a better sense of the terrain there than I really do. But for the drone footage, I still wouldn't know what I didn't know.
Probably the only footage too of a lone unit running light on what is generally a traffic jammed hill.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
A bit late for Santa Fe Sunday, but here are a few random shots from the layout. Don't want this thread to die!
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Great stuff you are showing. Thanks for sharing
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Late again, but here's a pair of Scaletrains Dash9-44CW's leading a stack train through Charlottesville.
Willie -- Is that some F units I see on the lower level?
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
No, they are GP60M's with a GP60B sandwiched in between.
I was particularly a fan of the DL109 locos, and Lifelike did a pretty nice job on their plastic model. Up until then you have to go to brass for such a model.
On top of that SF had a B-unit. I wanted one of those.
https://modelrailroadforums.com/for...ong-shark-bp20-and-a-b-unit-for-dl-109.21934/
I'll probably have to get someone to help me with the painting and decals as I have that ambitious new train layout in planning, and I just don't know when I will ever have the time nor a clean painting station set up anytime soon. (and I lack the experience in painting and decal-ing train models)
On top of that SF had a B-unit. I wanted one of those.
https://modelrailroadforums.com/for...ong-shark-bp20-and-a-b-unit-for-dl-109.21934/
I'll probably have to get someone to help me with the painting and decals as I have that ambitious new train layout in planning, and I just don't know when I will ever have the time nor a clean painting station set up anytime soon. (and I lack the experience in painting and decal-ing train models)
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Those UNITS fit perfectly into my modeling timeframe.
Love that era of R Roading!
Love that era of R Roading!
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Back again this week. On time for a change.
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Great looking machines.
AirbrushNo5
Well-Known Member
PA-1
AirbrushNo5
Well-Known Member
Intermountain PS-1s
gjslsffan
Well-Known Member
Made this ATSF SD45 5404 years ago. Tried to model it with the some hood doors open. Used some cannon doors to help along with it. Used N scale wheels for the covers and scratch built the innards, even have a light inside the start station. A flywheel only on one of the motor and the drive to the rear truck goes right thru the plastic diesel engine mock up.
Here it is on the pit getting some attention
Thanks for taking a look.
Here it is on the pit getting some attention
Thanks for taking a look.
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