N-Scale Model Railroads

Something like this? Lousy pic as I didn't have the polarizing filter on.

 

Sweet! I see them everyday on my lunch walk. The tracks run by the trail I use. The SD70MACs (with flared radiators) are my favorite.

 

That sounds like a great walk.

We've ridden on #4327, #4328, #4002, and #3015.

The EPA killed them and have apparently been replaced by the SD70ACe.

 

3015 and most of the other GPs are still running strong... but yeah, the SD70s meet the new stringent rules.

Nothing like walking next to a SD70(s) powering up with a long coal train.

 

I've been to Wyoming and watched the coal loading process. It gets pretty loud when they power up to pull a mile long unit train. Amazing power.

Also, sorry for "sidetracking" or "derailing" the thread. I'll back out now.

 

The coal unloading process is pretty neat, too. The cars stay coupled in 110+ car unit trains, and go through the rotary dumper two at a time. It would be a very cool process to model.

Groan.

 

Sorry.

I've seen both ends of the process. It's very interesting to watch.

There's a coal loading facility for the West Elk Mine, literally 30 feet off Highway 133 in Somerset, CO. The tracks are right next to the road for miles. Most of the time the chain link fence is wide open so you don't even have to take pics through the wire. You can't get a closer look than that.

County road 12 is just 1 mile East of there and takes you to one of the largest Aspen tree groves in the USA. CR 12 ends in Crested Butte, CO. It's gravel but a Prius can easily drive it.

 

Those are my favourite, too. There's nothing quite like a long streamliner snaking around gentle curves. My dream is to fill the basement with TGV, but the 'to do' list seems to be getting longer instead of shorter. Kato makes some nice Amtrak Superliner cars, though it takes a fair bit of time to light and detail the interiors. For freight cars, of course, you can use just about anything found in North America without losing a prototypical feeling. If you model a certain general area instead of a specific railway, you can use locomotives from several different roads. I see BNSF, CN, SRY, Amtrak, and CP all the time.

 

How about Southern Pacific? I have a 4-car Kato set (b) I have been wanting to sell.

 

I've seen used Kato TGV sets at train shows for somewhat reasonable prices. Luckily, I used to work in a hobby shop, so I have a good supply, waiting for the day. I missed out on the La Poste version, so I might have to sacrifice an orange one for that. If I ever decide to cash them in on a sailboat, I'll let you know.

If you're going to model TGV properly, you'll need to measure the curve radius in feet, not inches. Or should I say metres?

 

I'll have to look at my set and see what I've got. My uncle gave me a full set years ago but I don't have space (or time) to set it up. I actually suggested he put it on e-bay but he wanted to keep it in the family and thought my son would be interested. It's interesting and all, but basically it's taking up space until I find another family member that is better suited than me.

 

Is there any value to an HO system with a variety of cars (Soo line, Burlington Northern, several I've never heard of) made by Tyco from probably 15-20 years ago?

 

Unless it has some sentimental value, I doubt the Tyco set is worth much. Their stuff wasn't the best quality to begin with, and the high production volumes likely preclude any sort of collector status.

HO seems 'big' to me, too. I'm not sure why, but N seemed just the right size ever since it was first marketed as "Postage Stamp Trains". That assessment may change when my eyesight does, though.