Model Train Journal

New video on YouTube, featuring many of Dave "Scalecraft" Goodson's fine vintage models. As you will see, Dave is an NP fan:

https://youtu.be/9Pm6EIXF1Cc

I will say that getting the SP&S 0-6-0 to run on our layout required that we up our game in regards to quality of trackwork. It was worth the effort though -- it's a great model, and it was very satisfying to get the layout up to snuff and see the 0-6-0 tooling around.

Jim

Looking good. Thanks for sharing.

Curious - is there anything that can be done to quiet down the internals of those all-nation diesels? Maybe not and in that case, they make a nice representation of prime mover sounds.

Actually, they don't sound like that. It's the gain on the microphone according to the Maroon.
When I was looking and buying, restoring, ALL have A-N straight cut gears just FOR the sound and absolute reliability.
Both powered F units, the Geep, and the NW.
Most if not all still have speedometer drive cable shafts.
I'm still around, for now.
That NP caboose.....cut down long Walthers wood unit.
I have several more with 3-rail trucks under them.

It is so nice to hear from you. I missed your posts.

How come that NP switcher with the cabbage stacks has not showed up?

Three rail!

Too much time at oncologists, scans, injections.........takes a lot out of you!

DaveJfr0 wrote:Is there anything that can be done to quiet down the internals of those all-nation diesels?

ScaleCraft wrote:Actually, they don't sound like that. It's the gain on the microphone according to the Maroon.

Dave is correct. The AGC on my phone camera amplifies the sound when the locomotive is far away and then doesn't turn it back down fast enough when it goes by. I tried to adjust this after the fact but my video editing software is rudimentary.

DaveJfr0 wrote:Maybe not and in that case, they make a nice representation of prime mover sounds.

I agree. The whine of a locomotive drive doesn't bother me. Perhaps only a vintage modeler would look at it this way, but to me, that's exactly how they are supposed to sound.

Jim

Great looking locomotives and rolling stock, that Kemtron GP is gorgeous!
Like the sound too!

De Bruin wrote:Great looking locomotives and rolling stock, that Kemtron GP is gorgeous!
Like the sound too!

The Geep came to me painted ACL colors yet lettered "Central Pacific". Go figure!

Here are photos of the NP shorty caboose that Dave kitbashed from a Walthers model:


https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/60z6xln8f0e0wssfwmzq9/Walthers-Goodson-Caboose-NP-1734_01.jpg?rlkey=6ngbsih5tsdkhnl4x3x1oiw0q&dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1cdd6m26u2ns78j6ebfcj/Walthers-Goodson-Caboose-NP-1734_02.jpg?rlkey=v8mqlw6e4g8s06ham98uipp8r&dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g6j70jmo5qb6gnhti4mex/Walthers-Goodson-Caboose-NP-1734_03.jpg?rlkey=hrphn3kscj0m5kbwqyeciqynh&dl=0

There is enough white-metal in this model to give it some heft. I don't know if the smoke jack is supposed to be bent, but its not hard to imagine that one might see something like that.

Jim

Great video ..nice line up of vintage trains .
Thank you for posting ....growl of the diesel is music to the ears .
Cheers Carey

Well this is not a Northern Pacific locomotive. It was recently gifted to me and came from Dave Goodson. I believe Woody Mathews may have originally had it. When I received it, the pilot was broken. I was able to brace up the two halves of the broken pilot and splice them back together using and brass plate on the bottom of the pilot beam. I am glad to have this loco and still have more work to do to it to get it running well. I also have a second tender for it. I will have two tenders to choose from eventually with one lettered for my proto-freelance Texas Midland Rwy. The loco is a Thomas 0-4-0 of B&O prototype.

Neat loco Phil! Please keep us posted on your progress with it.

Ref the NP Caboose a couple posts above - I have been meaning to retrieve this and get a photo, thinking it was like the NP - but no, SooLine! Still, in the same general spirit - room for one brakeman and a calendar.
Model from Don Massy - Don and I traded Scale Craft and Pierce locomotives for a decade at OSW. He gave me this fine model.

Looks like a Bobber with extra wheels (LOL)! I have a Carworks PRR bobber which I like a lot!

Rich

Not long after I acquired Dave Goodson's NP locomotive fleet, I had an opportunity to purchase this NP Pacific:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/a0xm0zht657adz9i34osz/CB-4-6-2-NP-2260.jpg?rlkey=gw6e3wmvw5k3g2rrzayvzl1lm

I don't know the modeler here. The engine runs on a Scale-Craft chassis. The locomotive otherwise doesn't look like any production model that I know of, though others with more knowledge of what's out there may recognize it. The tender is KTM. I haven't tried to find it in the Max Gray Spotters Guide, but again I won't be surprised if somebody spots it for what it is.

With the arrival of this locomotive, I decided to keep my eye open for some passenger cars. In a bit of luck, I found a baggage and coach and then two sleepers and an observation. All of these are GGD. I had four NP express reefers on the shelves (two from Dave), so, with that consist in hand, I decided to take a break from working on the club layout and get this set into service. Here we go:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/68eyb8jcf2cj14cv8tbhy/NP-Consist-01.jpg?rlkey=za0jhp2wx1bkd64qebktz46fo

It's funny how almost nothing arrives ready to run. The GGD cars were sold as two-rail, but the 3-rail to 2-rail conversion left something to be desired in regards to coupler mounting. I decided to design and 3D print some custom Kadee mounts for these. To my surprise, three different mounts were required. It turns out that there is some difference in end-of-car construction on these models.


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ohy1nb3211nqj1cvoccie/GGD-Kadee-Spacers.jpg?rlkey=mw5l2rudpxu019jrz2w30jxmq

The spacers at the top are for cars with no vestibules. Two different thickness spacers like the ones on the bottom were needed, one for the coach and the other for the diner, sleepers, and observation.

A run-by video can be seen here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tg4litk6c4hn8gy3yyy7r/NP-HW-Passenger-Train-01.mp4?rlkey=osjzh036axg2qxcezzqqkyahi&raw=1

A longer tracking video is here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6x04jc79jrngmujwz7dc3/NP-HW-Passenger-Train-02.mp4?rlkey=vk6psgfuc2ncnk0b1pykswmsc&raw=1

The locomotive works to get this train started, spinning its wheels if I am overly eager with the throttle, but has no troubles as speed.

Fun time is over. Back to layout work.
Jim