just finished a C30-7 in NS (was UP) and a C&NW GP30 (was BN) just need to add some detail parts. the only patch unit that is close to being patched is a CR SD60M (ex BN) just need to patch it and add an anti glare "patch" to the top of the nose - the reason for that one being done, was the BN SD60M was originally on coal duites but was displaced when 3 SD70MACs arrived, went to BNSF intermodal, but a couple of Dash9-44CW's displaced it of that run, so BN sold it to Conrail, just after I had stripped it, CR was sold to NS and CSX so when patch units started appearing, I though that's the way I'll go - instead of stripping and repainting it - it's just taken a long time cause I couldn't find the Conrail Quality decals I needed., but I'll try and get some pics loaded up soon.
nah the Histroy of UP on my layout will be a little more grim than that. I had read in a book on the history of Union Pacific, that they almost wetn bankrupt and would've dissapeared into history if Harriman didn't pull them out..... well Harriman didn't pull them out in my layout world and UP was split between SP and C&NW with everything east of the Continental divide going to C&NW. There will be NO UP on my layout whatsoever. anyways here is the GP30
I have for engines- Athearn BB GP38-2 IC #9619 I painted & decaled (retired) Athearn BB GP40-2 IC #3140 I decaled it (retired) Athearn RTR AC4400 BNSF 'new image' #5603 factory painted (retired) Athearn BB GP35 formerly IC, somebody painted it for C&NW (retired) Atlas U33C IC #5056 factory painted Atlas GP40 IC #3120 factory paint Atlas FP7 ATSF but I painted as CGW Spectrum GP30 that I painted as CGW Spectrum GP30 that I painted as CGW Spectrum 2-8-0 patched to CGW, currently does not run that's a total of 10. --COMING SOON-- Atlas S1 CGW and hopefully x2 IHC 4-6-2 Milwaukee Road I've got about 33 freight cars. I had 46 but had to retire a bunch that were too new for my era.
<perk> GG! in N by the end of the year????????? gimmie gimmie gimmie! [ March 20, 2006, 10:29 PM: Message edited by: Bookbear1 ]
It is possible to be rational! According to the Kalmbach books I read, when planning a model railroad you should (1) plan how many trains you want to run, and (2) purchase locomotives, etc. accordingly. So I settled on the Rio Grande which, because it was vertically challenged, typically ran short trains with four or five or six or seven or eight diesels on the head end (or a minimum of two steam locos), not to mention a few helpers for the really rough grades. And, of course, you have to have extras because, prototypically, some of these are going to need servicing, etc. So I figure that, for every train I want to run, I need like 10-15 cars and 10-15 locomotives. ^_^
10-15 cars for an equal amount of lokies? Wow! I plan on modeling the D&RGW as well, circa 1986. My roster represents 10% of the actual 'Grande roster as of 1986. That means 7 Tunnel motors, since the Rio Grande had 73. 2 SD50's, D&RGW had 17. And so on. I plan on running 20-25 car trains, 3 units on head end, and on really heavy coal loads, 2 midtrain or on the rear, depending on tonnage eastbound. I plan on several coal trains: PSCX (Public Service Corp. of Denver); CSDU (Colorado Springs Dept. of Utilities), a couple home-road trains using home-road equipment; a joint BN/D&RGW coal train, using pooled BN power; NORX (Northern Indiana power) is planned. I also plan on manifests. Pre-SP, the D&RGW made its fortunes on bridge traffic, long haul. Coal also made good revenues. 2-4 manifests, some hotter than others. Also piggyback service. The modern day Z train is of little priority, compared to the expedited service of the Rio Grande's Railblazer. A detoured Ford FAST (Ford Auto Service Train) auto parts train was the hottest on the railroad, hotter even than the Railblazer and the Rio Grande Zephyr and Amtrak. Along with those, work trains, ballast trains, and light helper moves from Denver-Tabernash as well. That means I need autoracks, TOFC/COFC flats, trailer, mixed freight and TONS of coal hoppers. My 10% of the roster will be well-utilized! I am nearly at my 10% goal, with only an odd GP30 and a couple GP40-2's left to add.
I did some number-crunching for my proposed SLSF Afton Subdivision, and to handle the 4 through freights, the once-a-week MPSX coal train, the as-needed yard drags between KC and Tulsa, and the 3 local switchers, I would need (counting 3 engines per train, one per switch job) 23-25 engines in Frisco livery. I have 3 GP7s and two GP15-1s, so the swit power is taken care of. For the rest, a decent representation of power, plus some runthrough UP and Santa Fe (UP for the Russian grain trains to the Gulf, Santa Fe for borrowed power or runtime balancing).
the title of this thread is all wrong. Replace Need with Want. I really only Need about twelve locos. I have about 30. I Want atleast two more that are sitting in the shop about two miles down the road.
Want? Need? Have??? This is "most" of my diesels: Missing are 6 CP Multi Mark, 2 BNSF geeps, some from long long ago. Note: there are _no_ UP locos here. The two that stand out have been patched to Great Northern, (by Hemi for me). In My world GN took over UP. < BUMP >
I have 40 HO loco's. Probably light compared to most that have been doing this thing for 20+ years. I imagine now that my twins are out of school (college) and I am "done" w/ the tuition thing, that number will climb. As for the original question. I probably have what I "need" to run my railroad. Even when all of the planned phases of the layout are installed. However, this is a hobby of "want", not a hobby of "need". I want to collect whatever suits my fancy and I have the money to purchase. I am not sure how "need" plays into it.
Since this thread started 3 years ago, I've acquired only a few locos, and perhaps 50 cars. With every car and every DCC-ed loco on the track, it's still pretty empty. I like it that way. It means I haven't over-bought, unless you consider Jeanne's opinion.
I think that most of us have more than we "need". I have about 125 locomotives, and I haven't counted the cars (over 250). I'm still working on the layout drwings....... Paul H. Liddiard
It really depends on how big your layout is. I have bought so many used engines at train shows over the years because they were so cheap, but they're all sitting under my workbench in poor condition, most do not even run. I currently have three working engines out of the 20 or so in my collection. I used to have 4 but one of my Atheran locos that I bought new just konked out a few months back. I have a 4X8, so I don't really need anymore locos, but it's the fun of buying them. Who knows when I'll stop buying freight cars though. I must buy a new Athearn freight car every time I set foot in a hobby shop.
They say everyone is addicted to something. Whether it's girls, cars, gambling, or a myriad of other things. I am very much addicted to these irresistable scale model trains. I have about 40 locomotives and who knows how many cars. Aso tons of detail parts structures and track. I am currently building three 6 ft modules to go with the helix I bought from another guy. I will post some photos of the construction as I get time. I was able to be fortunate enough to get a few sets of CSDU 5 bay hoppers. These are really awesome for the price. Such nice detail. I wonder if I will ever build all of those kits that I have aquired over the years. So many trains, so little time.
