Workshop Wednesday

My experience with the onion Pacific was not good. They shut down yards cost us customers by the bushel which led to BNSF having a great opportunity in western Colorado and Utah. Which is why I went with BNSF as soon as they hired in Grand Junction to man their own trains. I should thank the great onion but not so much as they dispatch us, if you can call that dispatching.
I'm just saying.
All in good taste and humor of course, as anything else could make you cry.

 

Throughout their history, most railroads, particularly the big ones, have been quite vicious. As a result, they have generally been over regulated, which keeps them vicious.
K

 

I know it's early but I have work overtime on Wen., I had this thought for while now but didn't say anything till I had something to show...

What if....Frisco picked up a few items from the Rock Island's bankruptcy sale??? Frisco seemed take a liking to the bay window caboose near the end, if not for the BN merger I think they might have picked up a few...Here's what they might have looked like...

It's only half way finished, still got to do some touch up's install glass, handrails, etc...

Roger

 

Neat idea Roger. Even if it is RI equipment after they went broke, it is good to see them. Always was a RI fan - had I not become infatuated with the Frisco while a student at MSM Rolla, I might still be a Rock fan ..... or perhaps GM&O, ..... or maybe Monon from my time at Purdue, ..... or maybe PRR as they were the standard railroad of the world (in their opinion!). Whatever.
My only comment is that I doubt the Frisco would have simply lined out the Rock Island name before putting the RI cab in SLSF service. I think instead the SLSF would have just oversprayed the RI name as you did with the logo and road number, and left that area blank. But, the way you did it is quite possibly what might have happened, and shows off the fact the cab is of RI vintage. Nice!
K

 

I like it Roger! Cool idea. The only thing I might have done in addition to what you have done, is paint the end platforms and ladders yellow.
That would be easily done provided the frame isn't glued to the shell too badly.

 

I thought about completely blacking out the Rock Island but thought it would a bit too much black...I wanted it to look like they spent about 5" to put it into service...I got another one in Bankruptcy Blue where I blacked out the big R, drew a line threw Route Rock & lettered it like a 1400, got one side done last night...BTW all the decals were scraps from Microscale 87-85 except for the numbers which are from K4, which I used for the 1st time, love them!!! Roger

 

Believe it or not the end platforms including the brake stand were black, the photo I used for reference is from Rock Island Color Guide to Freight & Passenger Equipment from Morning Sun Page 104, CRI&P #17124...The handrails, ladders & brake wheel were white...

These were Athearn blue box models off of eBay that were never put together, I think I paid around $25.00 total for both of them, they look brand new but are probably 25 years old..Roger

 

E-unit update:

I pulled out my Proto 2000 E8 SLSF 2006 that was packed away in a shipping box. This is the one with the all red finish except for the dulux lettering, numbers and "cigar band" in the "austerity scheme". There are several pictures of it in my frisco.org album.

It suffered some minor damage during our move down to Naples in 2016. Broke off the pilot coupler, knocked off the pilot, messed up the rear facing horn, smashed two of the side step thresholds. Two of the truck bearing caps were off, but I have them. Will repair this model this week.

I was fortunate to win the diesel first place prize at the 2009 Springfield train meet with SLSF 2006.

I hated this paint scheme on the E's,, but have to admit the model looks very good. I detailed it up and it runs great. Odds are I will likely keep it, but if anyone wants an austerity scheme E, let me know. Maybe we could work something out.

K

ps - Do any of you know if Walthers has E-unit Bloomberg truck bearing caps available? I have a Rock Island E6 that also suffered during the move. Mainly my fault as I did not have a proper box for it and it seems to have taken a rough ride during the haul to Naples. A few other detail parts were knocked off, but I have them or have a replacement. But, the bearing caps that came off must have escaped as they are nowhere to be found. Need new ones.

P2K Racehorse E8's SLSF 2016 and SLSF 2020, and P2K Texas Special E7 SLSF 2003, also had no damage at all, and are currently on display above my desk under my framed picture of SLSF 2015, "The Meteor" under the StL US train shed. These keep my Frisco juices flowing every time I look at them!

 

Well today, I was putting some finishing touches on 185. Was working on the windows, etc and had the running gear up on blocks running on the other bench. Turned around to get it and finish putting the engine together when I noticed one of the crosshead guides had fallen off due to a bad solder joint. That little engine has been a real challenge. No motor when I got it, gearbox was garfed up and the rest of it typical Dong Jin lack of quality. So I guess tomorrow the cylinders will come off and get the guide soldered back one, which means paint will need touching up. Crap!
I bought a basket case ATSF big Pacific to flip. It is an old Max Gray and built like a tank. Much more pleasant to work on. Changed out some old castings and put the broken stuff back together and it is in line for the paint shop. Still have the 40XX, 3802 and a 1300 to paint. I'll finish the 1300 to sell it.

 

Who would have known the old BB Athearns were that close to right!

 

Love those chuggen boats!
K

 

Well, tonight I went to 155 deg,F for 20 minutes, another 1 1/2 cooling to room temp, then 1 hr in freeze.
Pics below of same.


This shows a bit of a crown to the car, so the load would straighten in out. That works for me. But this GSC car was built with no crown, and with so much steel, it refused to bend, under the designed load limits. You have all seen truck trailers with a great crown while MT, and supposed to straighten out under a load. This car made no such compromise, it was as loaded, the same as MT, straight, with no compromise or apologies. You gotta admire that build.