Posted on June 4th were a few tasks to push forward and improve the Wheeling Freight Terminal operations. I was able to cross one of those off of the list recently as track was repaired and back in service.
Prototype Data Sheets – 4
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.
Feel free to share a comment in the section below. Please follow the instructions so your comment can be posted. All comments are reviewed and approved before they appear. To subscribe to this blog, enter your info for a comment and check the last box to notify of new posts by email.
Layout Visit – Southern Central Railroad
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.
Blue Flags
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.
Passenger Car kits
Harold Oakhill sent an update on recent passenger car projects from his workbench. We haven’t touched on passenger car models, but they were an important element of the railroads into the 1940s. Harold models the Ulster & Delaware in 1924 and passenger cars were extremely important to move people to the Catskill resorts. Here’s Harold with his update.
I recently finished a project I have been working on for several months. These passenger cars are a trio of Ambroid coach kits from the 1950s that my father began building in the early 1960s. I don’t know why he never finished them, but I remember taking them out and looking at them from time to time as a kid. Mom sent them to me a few years ago (Dad has been gone ten years now) and I decided it was time to finish them.