TheRailwire
General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: bobdobbs on April 26, 2013, 01:14:47 PM
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\Hi
I was wondering if anyone is ordering the Kato or Fox Valley NS heritage units for the fun of it. I don't model the NS I am an SP modeler, but the locomotives look so cool I am going to order the FVM Reading unit. It was a hard decision since they are all beautiful schemes. It was a good excuse to get a FVM unit since I do not have any of thier other motive power. FVM looks like they put out a quality unit. I do have the UP SP heritage SD70 from Kato, and the UP George Bush 4141 SD70, and they are great looking and great runners.
(http://www.nscorp.com/nscorphtml/heritage_photos/reading.jpg)
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I'd like to if only the budget permitted. Totally out of my scope, but there's a bunch that I'd be interested in, chiefly the CR predecessors and Southern Railway.
They'd be like Lay's potato chips.. I couldn't eat just one!
Lee
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True, my second choice would be:
(http://www.nscorp.com/nscorphtml/heritage_photos/pc.jpg)
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I'd like to if only the budget permitted. Totally out of my scope, but there's a bunch that I'd be interested in, chiefly the CR predecessors and Southern Railway.
They'd be like Lay's potato chips.. I couldn't eat just one!
Lee
I have to agree with the Lay's analogy. CR, PRR, and CNJ are my must-haves, though that may require some fancy footwork as well as wallet-work on my part...
-Cody F.
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I'm not an NS modeler either, but if money were no object they would be a really neat set of locomotives to own.
Unfortunately, "Just Because" is so far out of my realm of purchasing criteria right now it's not even funny. Trying to buy a house and save more at the moment. But I've got plenty of stuff to tide me over in the mean time. ;)
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I flirted with the idea about a week ago of picking up the Central of Georgia unit after I spotted the prototype in Newark, Delaware. It's the first sighting that i've had, and it's one of my favorite schemes of all of the heritage units. Thankfully, MBK sold out before I pulled the trigger, so Mr. Wallet escaped harm. ;)
DFF
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Man, modern locos are ugly, they're nothing but steel origami.
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Ed's Law
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nYJlNZ2L_Ig/UXiHuVWKWoI/AAAAAAAADXM/Y-sVNxxc9OA/s400/photo.JPG)
for video of the real thing, check out this DVD http://railtrekmedia.com (http://railtrekmedia.com). No affiliation, but the DVD rocks. Support a struggling railfan :)
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Man, modern locos are ugly, they're nothing but steel origami.
I'll take those over the overgrown tea kettles all day every day. :trollface:
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What's Ed's law?
I picked up the Pennsy version. Rather, preordered it.
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I've ordered an NKP (obviously, even though putting it on my 1957-era layout is going to create some cognitive dissonance); a Central of Georgia; a Lackawanna; a Jersey Central; and a Wabash, just because I think the paint schemes on these units are so cool. I've toyed with the idea of getting the whole series, with the GEVO's from FVM and the ACe's from Kato, but that's just too big an investment for me right now (though 10 years from now, I might wish I'd done so).
John C.
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What's Ed's law?
"There's a prototype for Everything"
It's actually quite funny... Because Ed swears up and down the just BECAUSE there's a prototype doesn't mean you should model it.
To envoke Ed's law is to insinuate "there's a prototype for everything" and sometimes illicitates a well intended, foul-mouthed, abusive tyraid typically culminating in the the philosophical argument of Good vs Evil whilst somehow weaving in a "how it woulda been if Conrail woulda been around today" story.
It really is fun to witness when it happens. Although sadly, it only happens occasionally anymore, as Ed has become kinder and gentler over the years. ;)
Hope this helps
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If I ever manage to see one, I'll consider it. They are not too common up this way and the NS app is rarely updated anymore by fans...
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... the NS app is rarely updated anymore by fans...
The NS app was DOA. I want to know where they are today, not last week. :x
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I am thinking about buying one or two to run on my CSX themed southcentral PA layout. Reading, Penn Central, Conrail, Pennsylvania, not sure which I'd like to get
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Since my Grande Valley Railway interchanges with NS I have thought about getting a couple of the Heritage units, but Mr. Wallet just screams NO!
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More food for thought. I choose the FVM SD70ACE over the Kato because the Kato is a pain to convert to MT couplers that are at the correct ride height and I was intrigued by the free standing wire handrails and other details on the FVM model. Also converting the FVM to DCC seems easier (if they use the 6 pin decoder) on the FVM model, which I ASSume will be the case.
So what will it be Kato or FVM? I think the Kato drive can not be matched in terms of smoothness, but I have nevre run a FVM loco so we will see.....
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i LITERALLY timed myself on the FVM install 2 days ago.
1st time converting a FVM engine
1st time using a 6 pin
from opening box to programming track = 3 minutes.
and that was 1.5 minutes reading the blow up drawing from FVM and figuring out how to remove the back top half of the shell for easy install of the decoder....
it really is a snap.
and it ran smooth out of the box.
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Try this site for tracking...
https://www.heritageunits.com/
Brian
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Been considering going the slowly slowly route to collect them all, should have all 20 in something like 5 years? :P
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I've ordered both FVM and Kato units. I would love to collect them all although I'm neither a NS or a modern modeler. And I couldn't afford that many engines now anyway:( I think most of the paint schemes are just really pretty, unlike most modern stuff.
The FVM Conrail and TCS chip arrived yesterday but I haven't done more then open the box and taken a look. I'm having sight problems and wont see the doc until Wednesday. Don't wont to screw something up because I can't see.
Will report on performance when I can.
Jim
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I recived both 8098 ( Conrail ) and 8100 (Nickel Plate) on thursday, I am pleased to report that they have a nice loking white LED, have the headlights mounted correctly, the ditch lights are brighter and they seem to pull better than my ES40DCs. 8103 ( N&W ) should be joining the fleet next month and I will likely pick up the two standard black units as well. As for SD70ACes I think I will wait for the FV model. I had a Kato SD70ACe in UP paint for runthrough power and it had issues with the trucks.
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I picked up the Pennsy version. Rather, preordered it.
I like mine better.
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/eric220/DSC_0059-1.jpg)
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I had 2 on order, LV & PRR but after much debate with myself I ended up cancelling the order, something I have never done until now. Could not justify running them on my Oregon shortline regardless of how cool they are! :(
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"There's a prototype for Everything"
It really is fun to witness when it happens. Although sadly, it only happens occasionally anymore, as Ed has become kinder and gentler over the years. ;)
Hope this helps
Eat a **** , my friend.
Better?
Lol
On the subject at hand, I have the CR one on the way. I wanted a bunch of em, including a pair of plain NS ones, but theat type of bulk purchase is solely reserved for CR SD40-2s...
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I have a NKP and Central of Georgia (Fox Valley Models of course) on the way and I model CRR in the 70s. Don't care, gotta have 'em. I've seen the NKP unit on the Evansville Western in Southern Illinois.
Craig
www.bluford-shops.com
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"I like mine better."
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/eric220/DSC_0059-1.jpg)
Ever since I first saw your units, which are quite attractive, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing... now if you were to put the stripes on the nose... that would be utterly magnificent!!!
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Try this site for tracking...
https://www.heritageunits.com/
Brian
Thanks, Brian, that is pretty cool...
I had posted on the NS FB page the suggestion that they just publish the actual locations of the units. They do this for specially painted units in Austria and even have a travelling webcam on one loco in Switzerland. I doubt there is much of a security issue since they are providing the means on their own app to post the actual location in real time anyway.
- Lou
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Ever since I first saw your units, which are quite attractive, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing... now if you were to put the stripes on the nose... that would be utterly magnificent!!!
That was a deliberate omission. I really don't like the way the cat whiskers look on boxy cabs. They were intended for a different era of industrial design, and I was shooting for a modern scheme.
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i popped on the first four plus the two primer units :D
(http://imageshack.us/a/img96/6285/1001138n.jpg)
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Eat a **** , my friend.
Better?
Lol
On the subject at hand, I have the CR one on the way. I wanted a bunch of em, including a pair of plain NS ones, but theat type of bulk purchase is solely reserved for CR SD40-2s...
:)
Now THAT'S the Ed I am talking about!
Give that man some bacon!
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I managed to talk myself out of the NKP, but had to get the Southern. It's just too damned pretty. Even if I will weather it eventually.
Probably won't be able to resist the Virginian ACe either when they get around to releasing that.
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I'm only getting the PRR one for now. Will get a reading when FVM does them. The N&W and Southern are temping but gotta watch my cash flow for now.
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I like mine better.
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/eric220/DSC_0059-1.jpg)
The way the real one should look. (at least in terms of base color)
-Cody F.
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Sadly, I'm likely to gt sucked into the Reading as well. That's the I e and I my eastern fallen flag I've ever considered modeling - and that mostly due to this diesel scheme.
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I'm thinking of getting two locos just because I like them:
Wabash - the paint scheme looks cool.
Illinois Terminal - this one is really GREEN...
Thomas :)
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I'm thinking of getting two locos just because I like them:
Wabash - the paint scheme looks cool.
Illinois Terminal - this one is really GREEN...
Thomas :)
I've seen the IT unit (the prototype) and the green is unbelievable. It's truly a neon green; if I look at it too long, I'll go blind . . . I don't know how they even mixed this color.
John C.
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I've seen the IT unit (the prototype) and the green is unbelievable. It's truly a neon green; if I look at it too long, I'll go blind . . . I don't know how they even mixed this color.
John C.
they used Plutonium and unicorn tears in the mix.....
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I've got a CR on the way with PRR to follow, and I'll probably get the Fox NYC when it is released. I might remove all "NS" stenciling to run them as Conrail units.
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:)
Now THAT'S the Ed I am talking about!
Give that man some bacon!
I think my favorite 'Ed's Law' topic is related to NTrak. One of Ed's biggest pet peeves is unrealistic NTrak modules (Godzilla, dinosaurs by the tracks, aliens, etc). I can now, however verify that the dinosaurs modules indeed conform to Eds Law. In Berwick, PA there are two fiberglass dinosaurs within 50 yards of the North Shore and 200 yards from NS's Buffalo Line. This means there IS a prototype for the dino modules.
So far, we haven't been able to produce any subject where there isn't a prototype.
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I think my favorite 'Ed's Law' topic is related to NTrak. One of Ed's biggest pet peeves is unrealistic NTrak modules (Godzilla, dinosaurs by the tracks, aliens, etc). I can now, however verify that the dinosaurs modules indeed conform to Eds Law. In Berwick, PA there are two fiberglass dinosaurs within 50 yards of the North Shore and 200 yards from NS's Buffalo Line. This means there IS a prototype for the dino modules.
So far, we haven't been able to produce any subject where there isn't a prototype.
Photos or it's not true.
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Next time I go to Berwickill get you a street level shot, but here's the Google satellite view.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk229/rswinnerton/CDEA3A18-A014-4B1C-A65F-C5BC96D36DFF-20747-000018017D44A402.jpg)
The Dinos are in the grassy patch on the top left by the telephone pole. One is blue-ish the other is sand colored.
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Try this site for tracking...
https://www.heritageunits.com/
Brian
The Wabash was spotted in Arizona, heading west? That's a long ways out... Nikel plate, Penn Central, and NYC in North Dakota? Some of these guys get a long ways out. Luckily if they go through my area, there's only 1 East-West track.
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The Wabash was spotted in Arizona, heading west? That's a long ways out... Nikel plate, Penn Central, and NYC in North Dakota? Some of these guys get a long ways out. Luckily if they go through my area, there's only 1 East-West track.
Yep, seems NS and UP have been swapping power lately and that includes the heritage units. Believe the Interstate unit was dead-in-tow somewhere in N. Dakota last week and heading back towards home rails for repair. The guys on Trainorders freaked out when they saw the first NS heritage leave home rails a few months ago... :|
Brian
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The Wabash was spotted in Arizona, heading west? ...
Yes, on BNSF. I follow a SoCal railfan site, and there is quite a bit of chatter about it. In Barstow as of about 4 hours ago.
Debate on whether it's going to go all the way into L.A. or get turned at Barstow... as of 4 hours ago the power was cut off the inbound train at B'stow, so it's likely to be turned. Problem may be that the California smog police do not allow uncertified motive power into the L.A. basin. Supposedly the BNSF has an agreement with SCAQMD that foreign power will not be run past Barstow.
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Each loco needs to be individually certified? I thought these models were low emissions.
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California has become super-hard-@$$ about diesel emissions, and, basically, doesn't play nice with the RRs.
My third-hand understanding is that UP and BNSF have agreed with SCAQMD that for monitoring/enforcement purposes certain number ranges of locomotives meet Tier 4 (or whatever), and that it's not SCAQMD's job to keep up with locomotive models that are otherwise OK but cannot be quickly identified by a roster number they have on file. Can't say that I blame them... even I can't tell the players without a program any more.
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My CR unit arrived today.
It's really pretty.
Although, at least in my office lighting, the blue is a tad dark to my eye.
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My CR unit arrived today.
It's really pretty.
Although, at least in my office lighting, the blue is a tad dark to my eye.
Pictures or it never happened.... :trollface:
I'm still on the fence and waiting...
Brian
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My CR unit arrived today.
It's really pretty.
Although, at least in my office lighting, the blue is a tad dark to my eye.
I thought so too, but had horrible lighting when I pulled it out of the box. That'll just make weathering easier, though,
Phil
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saw the Conrail Blue in person today at Klein's... I don't konw enough to weigh in on the light vs. dark... but it sure pops.... that's for sure...
I ALMOST bought one.. but then.. not really...
I did pick up the old Kato SP Daylight for kicks...
figure i can put it behind the GS4 whilst pulling the Daylight up the grade.
EP
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Picked up the Southern for myself. Waiting to see how nice FVM SD70aces are going to be, because I want the Savannah & Atlanta to run with the Southern unit.
Regards,
Nick
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Never saw the appeal in what amounts to a prototype foob... but what do I know.
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Never saw the appeal in what amounts to a prototype foob... but what do I know.
Honestly, I'd rather see Kato do the damned C40-9W correctly than all these other locos.
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Never saw the appeal in what amounts to a prototype foob... but what do I know.
Part of the appeal for me (for the NKP unit) is the "what could have been" idea. But for a quirk in market capitalization and perhaps a bit more aggressive management, there's no reason the NKP couldn't have been the surviving corporation of the 1964 merger, instead of the N&W (though I have to admit that the "Nickel Plate Southern" doesn't have the same ring . . .). So the Heritage GEVO is a sort of "yeah, this could have happened." Of course, one can play those games to infinity. In the late 1920's the Van Swerigens proposed a merger of the NKP, C&O, Erie, Lackawanna and some others that would have created the "Greater Nickel Plate" as a competitor to the Pennsy and NYC. This came within a hair's breadth of happening. And if it had . . . Alleghenies, T1 2-10-4's, Greenbrier 4-8-4's . . . all would have had the NKP logo (of course, the Greater Nickel Plate probably would have ended up as part of Conrail . . . ). Almost every week, I think about modeling "The Greater Nickel Plate" as though this had all happened (if anyone ever produces an Allegheny, it probably will break my will).
Plus, the Heritage paint schemes are just so darn nice :D
John C.
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Never saw the appeal in what amounts to a prototype foob... but what do I know.
This ant no T scale, this ant no z scale, this ant no fooling around...
Never been a fan of anything foob, but oooooh the hawtness of prototype foobs... and as bonus it's some of the coolest old roads you can find. :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
Hoping my LV hits this week.....
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Well, technically they aren't foobs if it's the prototype. Connecticut DOT acquired the rights to all the New Haven "new image" graphics, so now there is a ton of commuter equipment and motive power in Connecticut painted in NH red/black/white (and why NS had to scrap its NH heritage unit plans) 45 years after the railroad ended. New York's Metro North has an operating FL9 painted in New York Central's two-tone gray lightning-stripes scheme. Both Amtrak and New Jersey DOT famously retro-painted GG1 electrics. Just because this is "heritage" equipment doesn't make it any less real.
(http://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247279_223569247655615_6555107_n.jpg)
(http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252052_225054974173709_1126282_n.jpg)
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Just because this is "heritage" equipment doesn't make it any less real.
Respectfully disagree, as the term "real" does not necessarily translate into "proper," IMO. Point being that they are essentially celebrating non-existent railroads. But we may remain on opposite sides of this fence, and that's OK.
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Dammit David (Jim), why can't I have your will power? I'm fine for now, but as soon as I see one go by in real life...
:drool:
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Point being that they are essentially celebrating non-existent railroads
I like the fact that the selection of roads to celebrate was based on NS still having some substantial amount of that RR's mainline still in operation. So their lifeblood still exists... well at least for my $ .02 perspective anyway. To each there own ;)
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I saw a Facebook notification that the PRR unit is shipping this week!