Finally...an update

Well, I'm finally back after an extended absence.  With the hobby as of late, I tend to get small things done over a short period of time but often I've been really lazy when it comes to updating all my sites (this one included) so hopefully I can get everything I've done out of the way during this update.

Ho Scale:  Well as far as my Ho scale roster goes, not much has changed.  I've recently decided to address a trio of old diesels that I have: a Tyco GP20 Union Pacific #5628, an Athearn Bluebox GP9 Union Pacific #130, and an Athearn Bluebox F45 Burlington Northern #6615.  I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to model an F45 in my fleet so I first eliminated that from my decision making process (more on the F45 later).  Second, the GP9 was nice, but my biggest gripe with the engine was that Athearn made the engine a four scale feet too wide, which earned the early Bluebox engines the reputation of being "fat", so I eventually ruled that out of my list as well.  Lastly, I came to the Tyco GP20, which surprisingly for it's toy like quality, matched the major demensions of the prototype.  I eventually decided to try my hand at kitbashing and detail the Tyco model to match Southern Pacific GP20E #4109 (the real #4109 is still around but is now San Joaquin Valley Railroad #2036).  The mechanism however in the Tyco unit was shot and was horribly outdated, it was at this point in time that I read an article on the web about using Athearn trucks and mechanisms to repower Tyco GP20's, which I conveniently had lying around in Union Pacific #130, which I had planned to get rid of.  It was also at this time that I realized that although the Athearn GP9 shell was too wide in Ho Scale, it might just work well in O Scale.  Overall, I made the decision to do the following: 1) Rebuild the #5628 as SP #4109 using the trucks and chassis of Union Pacific #130, 2) Use the shell from #130 and the chassis and trucks from #6615 to build an On30 diesel, 3) restore #5628's trucks because they are just that old ;) and 4) discarding the shell of #6615.

Final Post of 2014

Hi everyone,
               
                   Finally back on here after yet another long, unplanned absence (I swear! ;) ).  I was in the process of overhauling my main site (nsprr.webs.com) but for some reason, Webs.com and their sitebuilder have somehow miraculously managed to stop working for me so those upgrades will have to wait for the time being.  For now, I will be posting updates here until things change for the site, which could be a while, we'll have to see.

               
                   New Locomotive: After quite some time as having #3 as my only On30 engine, I finally went out on a limb and purchased yet another locomotive, this time used and from "The Bay".  The engine is a Broadway Limited C16, lettered for the Denver Rio Grande & Western as their #271, which has been detailed, weathered, and had it's decoder swapped for a Tsunami C - Class decoder.  The engine is need of some work (minor wiring work, getting a new plow, fixing a broken stack, etc.) but should be good to go soon.  It looks great and sounds amazing, at this time I plan on keeping it as is save for getting a new cow catcher for it but I like the way it looks presently.

                  Well that's all for now, hopefully things change on my main website and I can go back to using this blog as well...a monthly blog page.  I have several projects that are in the "on deck circle" but I'll post them when I get to them

Update: November 2014

Hi everyone, I apologize for the lack of posts here but I'm transitioning websites right now but will keep this page as a separate entity.  I'm experimenting with some new coding on this site as well so check back soon for a new format and new posts.

Update: January 2014

Well, its been almost six months since my last update and it is certainly time for a new one.  Another continuing theme that is constantly plaguing me is my lack of time to complete any projects.  Planning has so far completely come to a standstill on the layout and the forney still remains in storage and unfinished.   I'm hoping to finish some plans soon but at the rate that this layout has been progressing, anything is still up in the air.  On the other hand, I have managed to finish some projects in HO scale, including the extremely prolonged process of replacing couplers on my rolling stock.   Much of my collection is now outfitted with Kadee #158 couplers with the exception of a few Bachmann coupler boxes that are really stubborn about accepting the new Kadees.  As well, the locomotive fleet has grown with the addition of an Athearn RTR SD45 in Rio Grande paint, #5319.  Another big project that has finally been tackled is three older locomotives that have been in storage for quite a while, a Bluebox F45, Bluebox GP9, and Life Like GP38.  I am planning to take the shell of the GP9 and use it to build a new On30 diesel that will use the chassis of the F45 while the Life Like GP38 will be repowered with the GP9's old chassis.   For now, the GP38 shell was found to be longer and narrower than the GP9's frame so some work will have to go on there.  For 2014 I hope to be more consistent with blog posts but for now that's all I have.

Update August 2013

Well, the summer has come and gone and yet still nothing has been completed

on the NSPRR. Fortunately though the NSLW has been able to complete some projects over the duration of the summer.   We've been able to work on a Super Chief set for a friend of mine, refurbishing a set of old Tyco passenger cars as well as an A-B-A of Tyco Santa Fe F7s, of which we are finishing up the last A unit, Santa Fe 4015.  Also for another friend of mine, we are nearing completion on a fictional Union Pacific Auxiliary Tool Car to accompany his Union Pacific Veranda Turbine. The inspiration for this car came from UP 9336 which is a Tool Car that serves UP 844 and 3985 and presumably in the future, 4014 as well. The car was rebuilt and repainted from an old UP reefer and will be dedicated when it is delivered. The tank for the Gurley has currently been set aside in light of a new fleet upgrade to Kadee #158 scale couplers, of which ATSF Mechanical Reefer 55360 is the first to receive as well as weathering. Also since the last update, the NSP locomotive roster has revived a new comer in form of Southern Pacific GP38-2 4837, delivered from Athearn this past June with Tsunami Sound, a first for any NSP locomotive.  With 4837 now in service along side 3851, 3507 has now been disassembled to begin its rebuild, joining the long line of pending projects.  Well, that's going to do it for this update, but to end it, here's a photo taken from the NSLW's Shops of (front to back) ATSF 55360, UP 200713, and ATSF 4015.

Update April 2013

So spring is well under way and the weather is starting to warm up outside. There hasn't been much progress on the railroad as I have been fairly busy with other things. As you may or may not have noticed, the NS&PRR now has it's own website (nsprr.webs.com) in addition to the Blogspot (nsprr.blogspot.com). My plan is to have about one to two updates per month and I will post to both websites to keep all the information up to date. Also with this new website, I'm moving all my other railroad related projects to the North Shore Locomotive Works, which will be a fictional "division" of the NSPRR. You can find updates for these projects under NSLW on the NSPRR website. So far on the railroad, the number one priority of finishing the tank for #3 remains. The remaining two side walls need to be fabricated and test fitted before assembly. I have also continued to work on the depot that has been an ongoing project. I do not know where it will go on the layout yet but I know it will be used since I like the look and it will also pay homage to my first railroad, the Grand Valley Western. I'm hoping that I can have the next update out some time in early May, and hopefully with some progress.

Update 4/9/13

Well nothing really new has happened as of late. Life had kept me fairly busy recently and I haven't had much time for my railroad projects. I have weathered a Shell 40' Tank Car and my childhood Santa Fe 50' Reefer. Also I have continued painting my depot that I may use for the main station on the NS&PRR. I plan to continue working on 7395 and 2307 as well.