Rush City Yard Minnesota

Discussion in 'Planks, Switching and Shelf Layouts' started by Ron, Jun 11, 2017.

  1. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Looking good Ron, and the extension to the plank is well suited. You are starting to build a good collection of US locos and rollingstock. Compared to the UK models, the US stock is cheap as chips. To give you an idea, I have purchased a loco, fitted sound, all for under $150.00 Au... (£90.00) ! .

    Here are some excellent retailers in the US for locos, rollingstock, kits, decoders (including sound) that I purchase from that you may find useful. :thumbup:

    https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/ : excellent for locos, wagons, coaches, kits etc...
    http://www.jimsmodeltrains.com/ : excellent for decoders, but be vary wary of the MRC decoders...
    http://www.bobthetrainguy.com/ : great prices fast service...

    I had considered buying from Walthers direct, but for overseas orders, they want you to purchase X amount before posting... :whatever: So I stick with the retailers above. ;)

    Will you be removing the British buffer stops and replacing them with US prototype (Hayes Bumpers) ?

    West 4th Street Rush City ! ;) The street view pic makes for a great layout, especially viewed from the air. :thumbs:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  2. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Hi Gary, thanks for all the info, I'll check them out over the weekend.Hayes bumpers, couldn't think of the name!! I must track some down!!The extension will give me a run round for shunting which i don't have now.I'm getting everything equipped with Kadee's as they seem ideally suited to the US look!
    Thanks
    Ron
     
  3. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Kadee No.5s all round would be the best bet, for locos and rolling stock. A lot of the US rolling stock have coupler boxes that will take a No.5 directly. You can purchase larger packets of No.5 (10 pairs) without the actual coupler boxes. It is pack No.10. As for uncoupling, there are plenty of ideas around for uncoupling Kadees, other than using their own uncoupling magnets.

    See here : http://www.platform1mrc.com/view_post.php?post_id=10264
    Video : http://www.platform1mrc.com/view_topic.php?id=1357&forum_id=15

    Peco produce Hayes bumpers in a two pack, but I opted for the Walthers ones. https://www.walthers.com/track-bumpers-kit-pkg-12

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  4. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Gone for the Walthers stops but they are an order item so may be some time!!
    Using No 5 and 149's and a 22 for the switcher.Still looking at loco's, I've given up on the first switcher I bought but will return to it sometime and get it sorted.
    Would you say a GP38 type loco was the usual type for freight, they look good and reasonably priced??

    Thanks
    Gary
     
  5. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    The GP38's certainly were used for freight. They were quite a versatile engine running both on freight and passenger duties. These engines were updated throughout their lives, GP38, GP38AC, GP38-2, high hood, low hood etc, etc. Good source of info on GP38s : http://www.american-rails.com/gp38.html

    You will have a variety of liveries/railway (railroad) companies to choose from that ran into Minnesota : UP, Soo Line, North Western, Frisco, Canadian Pacific, GT, BNSF just to name a few.

    Individual railroad company liveries changed over a period of time, for example Burlington Nothern, which was predominately green and black, but once merged with Santa Fe, there were a variety of liveries running the rails, mostly either BN with new BNSF logo, or the Silver/Red livery of SF with the BNSF logo, before the black, orange and yellow livery which is common now... ;)

    I would choose a RR company and livery that suits the era that is being modelled. :thumbup:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  6. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Thanks Gary, got some reading up to do then!!:thumbs:
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  7. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    [​IMG]
    Now with 2 extra loco's; An Athearn GP35 D&RG with DCC
    and a Bachmann GP38-2 UP with DCC

    Now I need to get a few more wagons!!

    Cheers
    Ron
    PS: Done some more ballasting and some 'cameo's' !:)
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Arriving later this week:
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  9. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice additions Ron :thumbs:
     
  10. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Got to love the UP armour yellow
    Ron I have found most of the newer US models to be very good models straight from the box & Not needing any fettling.
    I see you are covering The big name Western railroads with your Railroad choices, these are my choices as well.

    If your looking for a nice switcher as a replacement for the early Athearn UP model have a look for the Proto2000 SW series switchers now under the Walthers branding, They have great gearing for low speed shunting (Switching)
    I have one of the first proto2000 ones it's over 10 years old now and still a great performer.:thumbs:

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  11. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    I just had a look at Hatton's pre-owned section and the money they are after for 2nd hand US models is ridiculous !

    Unlike Chris and yourself, the UP yellow is a bit too garish for me... :eek: Atleast you'll find it in the dark ! :D

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  12. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    I'll try and tone it down a bit Gary!:thumbs:
     
  13. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    OK ! :avatar::avatar:
    Cheers, Gary.

     
  14. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Latest plan!
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Shiny's have arrived, both 2 days earlier than expected!!
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  16. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Nice. :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

    You may want to remove the brown couplers off the Bachmann GP38 and replace it with an all steel Kadee. ;)

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  17. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Looking forward to seeing a video Ron with these big machines switching the yard.:thumbs:
     
  18. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    No sooner said than done Gary, used No 148 (a whiskered No 5) for both ends.
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    I also noticed in US video's that a lot of wagons had graffiti on them so I got some from ANCORTON MODELS on Ebay

    [​IMG]

    Quite pleased with that! (could be a cameo??)
    Cheers
    Ron
     
  19. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Back from darkest Northumberland! (with a caboose and some code 75 track to get on with!!):)
     
  20. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Nice loco's Ron. They look very impressive. :thumbs:
     

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