Weekend Update 3/3/19

[diezmon]

I don't think I've seen a picture of a full baggage on the Gopher/Badger.  Doesn't Concor make the correct RPO/Baggage car that's a match for GN?  I think it just needs deskirting.

Yep, and I'm working on the RPO as well.   I don't have any pics of the 270, and haven't seen any either, but apparently it was part of the consist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(train)

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[nscalbitz]

At least some of them had dark green anti-glare panels at some point:
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I respectfully disagree. That is the dark-sand grey (the gripping surface is readily visible with wear on the paint) that appears on a lot of units. On others its more like dry-concrete grey. In reasonable light, the real colour can be determined by looking at the windscreen front lower edge. The RG seemed to wrap it right up to the glass rubbers whereas other roads left a plain colour strip there.

I have that pic too- there are a plethora of semi-overhead shots. Only 5771 the last F's (F9s set) in later 1968-74 period RGZ and then freight duty are seen with UP style dark green. And it is that obvious it is different to the aforementioned, as far as I can tell.
regards
davew

** Edit- apparently I can only modify with one graphic being added:-

F7 #5564- Lt Grey not green -The Royal Gorge train in Royal Gorge June 1962 (© unknown).
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[davefoxx]

I understand that but the likelihood that picture was taken as soon as it was brought into the building, although possible, is less probable.

@MK,

Once that glue bond breaks, the running boards don't want to sit flat.  I had this happen to two HO scale covered hoppers a little over a year ago when we got into the winter season.  The running boards are metal and apparently expand and contract at a different rate from the plastic car body.  These cars were fine for several months until the change of the seasons.  To fix it, I had to break the running board completely free at one end, so I could start regluing from the other end to get the running boards flat.  You would have thought that the running boards had grown.    Thankfully, they have not popped loose this year.

DFF

[MK]

@MK,

Once that glue bond breaks, the running boards don't want to sit flat.  I had this happen to two HO scale covered hoppers a little over a year ago when we got into the winter season.  The running boards are metal and apparently expand and contract at a different rate from the plastic car body.  These cars were fine for several months until the change of the seasons.  To fix it, I had to break the running board completely free at one end, so I could start regluing from the other end to get the running boards flat.  You would have thought that the running boards had grown.    Thankfully, they have not popped loose this year.

DFF

Dave, I ask because I have 4 covered hoppers - Special Runs made by BLW that I picked up at a train show.  Apparently they have metal roof walks.  When I got them they looked fine.  I brought them home, put them in the basement (pretty much same temperature year round and not humid) and a few months later they look the ones in the picture above!

I know that in general most plastics expand(contract) at a much higher rate than most metals, thus the buckling.  I still remember my Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer! 

Like you said, it looks like that once they break they never go back.  You would think that once the temperature stablized they would be back to their original shape, though not glued back on, but you expect them to be flat.  Nope!

Looks like I will have to try your method of breaking everyone except one at one end and re-glue and cross my fingers!  What did you use, CA?

[davefoxx]

Yes, exactly that, CA and a microbrush to put it on as sparingly as possible so to not ooze through the holes in the running boards.

DFF