Modeling the P&WV in N Scale

[Rich_S]

Hello Group, Not really a layout update per say, but the new Atlas "N" scale P&WV hoppers are in service on the P&WV long valley branch and they look great.

I received the three pack which contains the road numbers 104, 142, 170. There are also two more individual car numbers available bringing the total different car numbers available up to 5, Bravo Atlas. These cars are perfect for the steam to diesel transition era, but can be used up to the early 1960's without too much conflict. As a FYI, these were the cars that were rebuilt and painted into both the "Symbol of Service" and "Alphabet Route" paint schemes in the mid 50's and early 60's, so these cars open up those options as well. Stay tuned as it's my understanding that William Mosteller of Great Decals is working on both the SOS and AR decals for "N" scale.

Rich S.
Modeling the P&WV in "N" scale.

[LIRR]

Nice work. I like the paint scheme.....trains are much too clean and shiny for a coal hauler tho....

[cjjd6901]

  Layout looks great Richard.  You did a fantastic job on the FM unit.  The PWV had a very classy scheme.

Thank you for posting,

  Chris

[Rich_S]

Nice work. I like the paint scheme.....trains are much too clean and shiny for a coal hauler tho....

I guess that is just me. I get to work on the grimy, greasy, oily stuff on my day job, so I tend to want my models to look new. I know most people like to weather their engines and rolling stock to look more like the prototype, but I get enough of that at work 

Rich S.
Modeling the P&WV in "N" scale.

[Rich_S]

Layout looks great Richard.  You did a fantastic job on the FM unit.  The PWV had a very classy scheme.

Thank you for posting,

  Chris

Chris, Thank you for the compliments on the FM H16-44 and the layout. The P&WV did have a unique paint scheme for a coal hauling road and thanks to Great Decals, modeling the P&WV diesel fleet is a little easier. Now I just wish someone would release a H20-44 in "N" scale.

Rich S.
Modeling the P&WV in "N" scale.

[Chris333]

You should be able to fit Wabash terminal, bridge, and tunnel on that door 

[SAH]

. . . ..  Now I just wish someone would release a H20-44 in "N" scale.

Rich S.
Modeling the P&WV in "N" scale.

You're not the only one.  Someone in the AC&Y fraternity did a H20-44 bash using the H16-44 long hood, a homemade cab casting and a VO-1000 (I think) mechanism.  It wasn't bad.  Can't remember whom but it was quite a awhile ago.  One of these days . . . . . .

Steve

[wm3798]

Cool concept...  Don't forget to include some Alpha Jets to Connellsville in your schedule!

Lee

[Rich_S]

You should be able to fit Wabash terminal, bridge, and tunnel on that door 

Chris, In the era I'm modeling, the Wabash Tunnel, Mon River bridge and station downtown have long been abandon. But not to worry, in my mind the West Side Belt is still running great 20 miles or so just East of my layout 

Rich S.
Modeling the P&WV in "N" scale.

[Rich_S]

Cool concept...  Don't forget to include some Alpha Jets to Connellsville in your schedule!

Lee

Lee, I remember the Alpha Jets in my younger days. WM power headed west bound out of Rook to Brewster, OH, those were the days  Unfortunately none of the Jets will be running on my layout. Currently my little door layout is a fictitious version of the Bell Branch just West of Avella, that serves the fictitious town of Long Valley. Here is a track schematic of the layout.

Main Line Jct. is just West of State Line Tunnel and is a East end Connection. Crews working the Long Valley Branch work out of Avella yard. (This is what happens when you spend too much time smelling diesel fumes, your mind wonders and never comes back    ) In reality Main Line Jct and Eldersville both exists in the same tunnel. Just to prove I've finally gone off the deep end, I've also created a Employee Timetable for this layout, but I don't seen to have the authority to add word documents to my posts 

[Rich_S]

Hello Group,
 I've finally replaced my stand in Medusa Cement Company, which was actually the Walthers ADM grain elevator,

With the Walthers Medusa Cement Company.

My only complaint with the kit, I wish Walthers would have put the silo seems in a different location, so they are less obvious. Other than that minor complaint, in my opinion this is another nice industry for a small layout. On a side note, even though this is a bulk cement transfer plant and not a batch plant, I think the concrete mixer adds to the scene.

[Rich_S]

Just a quick update to let everyone know the railroad is still in operation, although the only update is the replacement of the ADM silo's with the Medusa cement plant.


Also a local family has purchased land just East of the Esso station. Rumor is they are planning a new family home. They must have gotten the land dirt cheap since it's just across the street from the Vulcan Steel fab shop. 

[Rich_S]

After reading through a article by David Popp on installing DCC decoders into various N scale locomotives, I was intrigued with the TCS CN decoder. I have hard wired a few decoders in locomotives that were created before frames became Plug-n-play and although I would not want to install these types of decoders for a living, they were slightly easier to endure than a root canal    The issue I had with the couple hard wires I performed was the lack of room after the decoder was installed for a rear head light. Well after reading the above mentioned article, I found it was unique that the TCC CN decoder replaces both the front and rear light board. Sure it's still a semi hard wire as you have to attach the orange and gray wires to the motor and insulate the motor from the frame, then it's just a matter of attaching the remaining wires to the rear light board and voilà, you are good to go. The two engines in question are the Walthers Proto GP38-2 and the Atlas/Kato GP35. The only issue was with the GP35, it needed some slight frame modifications that was easily handled with my Dremel motor tool.  Now maybe one of these days I can settle on just one prototype to model as this week the layout is a Southern branch   

I guess I should change my signature line to read "Modeling in "N" scale"   

[SSW7771]

Now maybe one of these days I can settle on just one prototype to model as this week the layout is a Southern branch 

Why not model both? You could go as far as interchange a couple of building and other scenery elements to represent each prototype. Good looking layout.

Marshall

[Rich_S]

Why not model both? You could go as far as interchange a couple of building and other scenery elements to represent each prototype. Good looking layout.

Marshall

Marshall, Thanks for the compliments on the layout, but not being able to decide is one of my problems. Another issue is eras, I have locomotives for the following railroads, with at least two of each model  The Pittsburgh & West Virginia (H16-44), N&W (SD35), Southern (GP38), Lehigh & Hudson River (C420), Reading (GP40-2), Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (GP38, GP38-2, MP15DC), Conrail (GP40-2, GP38-2), Penn Central (GP38), Chessie System (GP38-2), Western Maryland (GP35, SD35, GP40) and the Union Railroad (MP15DC). Plus cabooses and rolling stock to fit each railroad. Currently the layout is a Southern Railway branch, but who knows what next week will bring