Colorado Midland Railway Engineering Report

[Dave V]

Instead of using a bubble level the way I did when I built the Pennsy layout, this time I eyeballed the Styrofoam stacks in the mountain. Unfortunately it meant the edge of the mountain isn't straight so now there's a substantial gap between the fascia and the scenery. It can easily be filled but it will be messy. And I don't feel like doing it right now.

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[nkalanaga]

"A little subtle weathering on the trucks and couplers with some dust on the sides perhaps."

OK, that sounds good, and proper.  I've seen pictures from folks who like weathering so much that their trains seem to be rolling to the scrapyard...

Of course, a lot of prototype trains today fit that description, since many railroads no longer use their cars to project a corporate image, and seem to feel that graffiti is simply another layer of (free) paint.  The tagger mindset doesn't help, either...  If it isn't tagged, it's probably a single boring color, with minimal lettering, and probably either filthy, or rusty, or both.

[Dave V]

"A little subtle weathering on the trucks and couplers with some dust on the sides perhaps."

OK, that sounds good, and proper.  I've seen pictures from folks who like weathering so much that their trains seem to be rolling to the scrapyard...

Of course, a lot of prototype trains today fit that description, since many railroads no longer use their cars to project a corporate image, and seem to feel that graffiti is simply another layer of (free) paint.  The tagger mindset doesn't help, either...  If it isn't tagged, it's probably a single boring color, with minimal lettering, and probably either filthy, or rusty, or both.

Once again, proto photos are your friend.  Unfortunately the Midland went under before the widespread use of color film (tracks were pulled in 1921) but all the B&W photos in my two Midland reference books from my 1905-era show well maintained equipment.  Foreign road cars--particularly those of the D&RG--often showed more weathering in these photos than the Midland's own equipment.  The one exception seems to be gondolas...just as today they were beaten mercilessly.  My one CMRy gon is similarly swaybacked and dirty.

[Dave V]

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[nkalanaga]

"Unfortunately the Midland went under before the widespread use of color film"

That seems to be part of the problem.  To many modern viewers, the old B&W pictures can look "faded and dirty", even if the subject wasn't.  It's partly the slow film, partly the film's color response, and mostly a matter of perception.  We don't have any of the subjects available to provide a real-life comparison, so can't properly judge what we're seeing in the picture.

[Dave V]

"Unfortunately the Midland went under before the widespread use of color film"

That seems to be part of the problem.  To many modern viewers, the old B&W pictures can look "faded and dirty", even if the subject wasn't.  It's partly the slow film, partly the film's color response, and mostly a matter of perception.  We don't have any of the subjects available to provide a real-life comparison, so can't properly judge what we're seeing in the picture.

True enough.  Plus, the woodsided equipment was simply much newer then.

[nkalanaga]

Oh yes, the newer equipment was my original thought, that led to this entire detour!  For most wood-side cars, the oldest color pictures were in the 40s.  Some roads were still building such cars, especially during the war, but most of what was in service was getting up in years.  Especially during the war, maintenance was also limited, as the cars HAD to keep moving, and most of the older ones were to be retired as soon as the war was over.

[OldEastRR]

Can't see your last pic.

[Dave V]

Can't see your last pic.

Can't help you there.  I uploaded it directly to the Railwire.

Ok, more fascia work.  I filled the gap between the layout and the fascia on the front two sides.  Still need to fill the gap on the back near the mountain.

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[p51]

Funny, I'm reading Sam Posey's book right now, "Playing with Trains" where he decided to model the Colorado Midland on pure chance, seeing a book about it in a hobby shop in NYC while standing in line...

[160pennsy]

Can't help you there.  I uploaded it directly to the Railwire.

Ok, more fascia work.  I filled the gap between the layout and the fascia on the front two sides.  Still need to fill the gap on the back near the mountain.

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Dave,

The layout is looking very nice! Next step to complete the scenes and get this display ready for the train show circuit is adding some of these etched metal vehicles (origami style assembly) with period correct figures:

http://www.micronart.com/NSCALEvehicles.html

http://www.modelrectifier.com/product-p/061343.htm

[Dave V]

Dave,

The layout is looking very nice! Next step to complete the scenes and get this display ready for the train show circuit is adding some of these etched metal vehicles (origami style assembly) with period correct figures:

http://www.micronart.com/NSCALEvehicles.html

http://www.modelrectifier.com/product-p/061343.htm

I knew about the Micron Art wagons, but DAMN!  I've been looking for period-correct people!  Thanks!

[seusscaboose]

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straight up hotness.

next time I come out to Colorado I will bring my V&T stuff to pollute the rails.

[SSW7771]

Nice, I like the logo on the fascia.

[Dave V]

Getting closer...

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