Accurail DL&W USRA hopper upgrade

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Dave Parker returns with an upgrade on an Accurail HO scale USRA hopper.

Over the past few years, I have accumulated several Accurail USRA twin hopper kits in both the 24xx (as built) and 25xx (modernized) series. At least two of them will require complete re-lettering in order to follow the prototype but one is, atypically, exactly correct for my 1934-35 layout. It is a Delaware, Lackawanna and & Western car (#2503.2) with correct lettering, and a reweigh date of April, 1933 – perfect! Absent any need to repaint, I initially decided to more-or-less “shake the box” with this kit, and not upgrade the cast-on grab irons (as has been documented elsewhere).

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Prototype Data Sheets – 4

DL&W Freight Yard, Ithaca, NY, 1909. Photo X0082 DL&W Company Photo Collection, Steamtown NPS.
DL&W Freight Yard, Ithaca, NY, 1909. Photo X0082 DL&W Company Photo Collection, Steamtown NPS.

Ray Breyer is back with a fourth and final prototype summary for the upcoming Accurail HO scale 36-foot box car models. Four variations of the model are planned. Initial paint and lettering schemes were announced earlier this year. Ray estimates there were more than 40,000 box cars with these features built to similar designs. The PDF data sheet is posted on a special blog page, Accurail Prototype Data. Click on the link for the 1800 series for Ray’s latest summary.

Accurail has posted the introductory roadnames for their 36-foot box car models on their website under the specific kit series numbers; 1300, 1400, 1700, and 1800. The links for these are near the bottom of their main webpage. These models are scheduled for late summer 2016 release, as per notes on each of those product pages.

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Layout Visit – Southern Central Railroad

These three structures are in placed temporarily to see how a larger complex would appear. All are based on photos and a bit of conjecture. The left-most one represents a yeast factory, the second is a plow factory, and the building to the far right is the start of a malt house or brewery.
Michael Hohn has temporarily placed these three structures on his layout to see how a larger complex would appear. All are based on photos and a bit of conjecture. The left-most one represents a yeast factory, the second is a plow factory, and the building to the far right is the start of a malt house or brewery.

In May, I returned to Morgantown, WV, to celebrate with my daughter and daughter-in-law as they received degrees from West Virginia University. Before hitting the road, I contacted Michael Hohn to coordinate a visit. Michael and I have been long time members of the Mon Valley Railroad Historical Society, and we have bounced home layout ideas around. A visit date was set up quickly.

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Blue Flags

Delano, Jack, photographer. General view of part of the South Water Street freight depot of the Illinois Central Railroad, Chicago, Ill. May 1, 1943. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, . The original image has been cropped slightly. The original can be viewed through the link provided.
Delano, Jack, photographer. General view of part of the South Water Street freight depot of the Illinois Central Railroad, Chicago, Ill. May 1, 1943. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress. The original image has been cropped slightly. The original can be viewed through the link provided.

A recent discussion in a Yahoo email group centered on using prototype elements to slow down the pace of model railroad operations. I had a Wheeling Freight Terminal operating session on the calendar and wanted to add a twist for operating crews to work around. I recalled the above Jack Delano image that featured blue flag protection on several freight house tracks. A few of these markers were constructed and installed on the layout for the operating session.

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