"Torpedo Tube" GP9's 4913 & 4917 burst into daylight as they grind their way upgrade with a trainload of scrap, auto parts, chemicals and canstock. A funky-running N Scale Pacific in the late 1960's was unable to dampen my enthusiasm for the Grand Trunk Western. The 60 or so GTW freight cars in my 30-year "accumulation" had typically been seen behind CN power until Atlas released these locos a few years ago. The treads of their drive wheels are kept polished to a mirror finish by frequent use on the NTrak layout, usually on trains of 30-40 cars. With no home layout currently, and the NTrak layout having a strong Southwestern theme, it is a bit of a challenge to find a fitting location to pose a favorite train like this one. This is the other end of the tunnel on the Canyon Farm module. The farm, the bridges and the water-powered Mill are frequent photo subjects. They are located just a few feet to the right of this photo, on the single track bypass you see in the lower right corner. This is my first photo attempt at this location, hoping to simulate a shot down into the cut. The foreground was cropped from the bottom of the shot due to depth of field issues, but it really is a shot down into the cut. I'd love to see your Grand Trunk Western models in the environment where you operate them. If there is interest, I have a couple of other shots I can post later, including one of the whole train stretched out in Indian Bend Yard. Happy Holidays to all, from the LongTrain abode to yours! [ 23. December 2004, 23:22: Message edited by: LongTrain ]
LT: That's another great photo. You have plenty of vantage points on your club layout. Stay cool and run steam......
Great photo, LT! I'm with Jerry on this one--you didn't say GTW models! This is the first train picture I ever took (with my drugstore Brownie camera).
I think JD's engine is a little larger than LT's.Maybe "O" gauge? Is that one of the new WS people hanging off Jd's engine? They're so lifelike.Almost looks like you
Well, I still have the jacket, but just between us modelers after 10yrs between these photos, I can't zip it up any more.
From a modeling point of view, I would love to get some of the GT GP40-2's Atlas did a while back. Very hard to find, even on EBay!
I've been watching for those blue Geep 40's for a while! If anyone knows where any are still available, let us know. I'd sure like a couple! Those proto photos are great! Keep them coming......
Here is the same train, with the nearside slope of the cut visible: That is a Hay Bros baled scrap load in the MT gondola. I really like their loads.
Interesting photo effect with the diesel exhaust. How did you do that? A question- Didn't the GTW run some, if not all their older GeePs long hood forward? Or did they have dual control stands? Boxcab E50
It is my belief that by the time this paint scheme was in use all the Geeps were run short hood forward.
Here is the only GT unit I caught on film during a 1985 visit. It is sitting in Bay City, MI. Pic is a scan from a slide.
Originally these things did run long hood forward. I don't think they had dual controls, so maybe the controls were reconfigured later.
The smoke is just the airbrush tool in the retouch software that came with my little Nikon idiot camera. I smear it slightly with the "thumb" tool like I would do if I were painting on canvas. There are probably free evaluations or "share ware" Photoshop clones available if you want to try your hand (or thumb) before you lay your money down. The one I am using is Arcsoft PhotoImpressions, FWIW. It is an OK basic tool for something bundled with a camera. It is no "Photoshop", though. It is fun to try to remember which locos ran long or short hood forward. I get corrected often! And I am keeping a list so I run them in correct orientation in the future. I also found out I routinely "double head" some diesels that were not set up to MU. The CGW RS2s being a prime example. The other thing that is fun is remembering where the exhaust stacks are located (and how many!). By the time I get around to processing my captured pixels, the locos have long ago returned to storage. Having black smoke pouring out of someplace other than the stack would indicate serious trouble, in most cases!
Thanks for the blue picture, Alan. I wondered how long the roof mounted tanks lasted. It looks like 4903 still had then a couple of shoppings and at least one major repaint after mine. I don't find much on the GTW on the internet. Does someone have some links they would like to share? Or is GTW one of those "can't get no respect" lines that doesn't have a historical society or a group of fans with a web presence? And please, let JD and me know if any blue geeps turn up. He asked first, but I'll take some if he doesn't buy them out! I'll do the same for him if I find any. I only need a pair, but could get by with one.
Yeah, I like the original scheme too. Maybe someday Atlas will do a run. Also, maybe IMR will do a version of F3's in that scheme. Even though I don't model the GTW, I spent some of my childhood a block away from its tracks, and I difinitely would buy a pair of F's! If you're interested in GTW steam, you might try my brother's steam locomotive web site. Click on the GTW button. http://members.aol.com/rlsteam/
