The 42nd Annual New York State Train Show

Well it is the first weekend in November and the Annual New York State Train Show is being held in Syracuse, NY.  The weather is still fairly mild and the train show returned to the Center of Progress building this year, making for a great venue.   I was only able to attend the show today, Saturday,  because tomorrow the Karney family begins our long awaited family vacation at Disney in Florida.  I have posted below some pictures from today along with a link to the Youtube Video highlights of the operators group of the Cornell Railroad Historical Society.  

In other news - the Attic renovation is progressing along.  I was able to start the ceiling insulation and do some wiring of new outlet boxes.   I am really optimistic that by the end of the calendar year the room will be finished and benchwork can begin after the 1st of the New Year.   Enjoy the video and pictures and see you in a few weeks.

NYC FA-1 & FB-1, Models by Shawn Karney

NYC Caboose 1904, Model by Shawn Karney

Piggyback Flats - Models by Greg Dickinson

NKP RS-3s, Models by: Greg Dickinson

NYSW Alco RS-1s.  Models by Steve Avery

B&O Geep, Model by Bob Travis 

B&H Alco Switcher, Model by Steve Peck 

NYC J-1e # 5344 with NYC Budd Passenger Train, Models by Shawn Karney

NYC Budd Observation, Model by Shawn Karney

NYC Alco RS-3 with Yard Transfer, Models by Shawn Karney

NYC Transfer Caboose, Model by Shawn Karney

Mid-September Updates

Well the cooler weather has returned and that has enabled renewed attention to the attic space.  I have restarted drywall work.  Progress is slow but I am getting areas taped and mudded up each night.  I am planning a full day work session this coming Friday to complete the insulation and hard ceiling install.

Pictures to come soon...but in the meantime enjoy some nice Alco street running on the B&H from earlier this summer and a recent picture of the NYC bay window caboose at the NY State Fairgrounds...

Blog Restart at 1 Year

Well 1 whole year has passed since I restarted this blog documenting the construction of my NYC themed layout.  Looking back over the past year, one could say that little was accomplished as I still do not have an operating layout, and still have not completed construction on the attic space. While true, it really does not paint the full picture.

 In the past year the walls were framed, insulated, dry wall hung and current status places the attic space at about 50% complete and all of that was completed in about a six month period of time.  This summer has been unprecedented in heat and lack of rain in the Southern Fingerlakes of NY.  As a result, most days the temperature in the attic made it impossible to complete any work, let alone even go in the attic for more than 10 mins at a time.

The weather has broken a bit in the past week and I was able to get right back to applying joint compound to the walls, installing ceiling joists and a few other construction activities.  In the month of September, I am setting a goal to get the ceiling in place and finish the insulation.  That should enable me to work in a comfortable setting through the winter months.  I very much hope that by Christmas I will have some benchwork completed and be able to run some trains.  

So while the past few months did not permit much work to be done in the attic, it did allow for plenty of reading, and adding to my locomotive and rolling stock collection.   I have recently been able to purchase a Proto 2000 Alco PA-1 on eBay, and a Walthers Mainline SW-1 from my local train shop that is currently closing after 20 years.  The prices on both were excellent.  I will need to custom paint the SW-1, so look for several blog posts on that subject as I am toying with the idea of doing a series of video's for that project.  

I was also able to recently revive a Proto 2000 E8, painted in the Cigar Band scheme.  It is missing a drive shaft, but I have a contact at Walthers who is searching the bins for an extra.  We shall see what he turns up!

The long awaited Atlas, Alco RS-3's also appeared.  I had ordered two numbers but only one arrived.  This model is equipped with ESU LokSound and is highly impressive.  An upcoming video will be posted of this model.

On the workbench is a dozen or so DCC installs for my friend Greg and 3 older Atlas, Alco RS-3's awaiting lettering.  Can you tell that Alco road switchers are my favorite?

Add to all of this a half dozen or so new boxcars, hoppers, pig flats and passenger cars and you have a good idea of how I was keeping active in the hobby.   Stay tuned... the weather is changing!

The almost end of May Update

Can you believe it?! Memorial Day is upon us and the month of May is almost over.   This month saw the re-energizing of the attic conversion and some new rolling stock acquisitions.   Here are two more of the latest purchases.  Again, starting to appreciate the TOFC ops more and more.  These flats and trailers work well for the 1950's as well as early 60's, so I get to cover a lot more era with these two particular models from Walthers.  

The attic is heating up again with this mini- heat wave we have had this week, but if it cools down just a bit, I am hopeful to complete some more insulating work.   I have tried to not let a day pass without doing at least one thing in the attic.   Progress albeit in small steps.

I hope everyone enjoys the Memorial Day Holiday and remembers those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom and ability to enjoy life as we know it in the USA.    

Wordless Wednesday #1

Onward! May 2016 Update

Well despite a very mild winter, not much work was able to be accomplished on preparing the attic space for the layout.  I will spare you the reasons for most of my absence for the past 5 months, but the past two weekends have yielded some much needed time in the attic and we are back on track.  Progress and Onward!   I was able to start to frame in the back corner of the room, thus creating the storage area on west side of the room.  A similar space for storage is going to be mirrored on the the eastern wall as well.  It is not much to look at, but it did enable for me to clear up the center space and organize the room.

The winter months did allow for plenty of new rolling stock purchases however, and a number of long awaited pre-orders have arrived.   I am particularly impressed with the RTR 85' flats cars from Athearn and the corresponding trailers.  I have never been much for modeling piggyback service or TOFC.  These flats might just very well change my mind and they will work very well for when I want to run an early 1960's train.   Here are a few pictures:

Also the Walthers Mainline New York Central Observation cars arrived over the winter.  I was happy to finally pick up two of these cars for my Budd era passenger trains.  

A number of other items have arrived and I picked up some oldies but goodies from a few trains shows as well.  I will try to snap a few pictures over the next few days for another post.

I will leave you with an overview shot of my one stand alone module against the wall.  For not being anywhere near complete, I think it looks pretty good and this is helping me to envision what the room will look like once the room construction nears completion over the course of the next few months.

Happy New Year 2016

Happy New Year!   My apologies for being absent from the blog since early November. I hope you and your families had a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season.  I know we did here and we continue to celebrate with joy!  Best wishes to all for a Healthy and Happy New Year in 2016.

Construction Updates:
I have not done too much more with the attic space in the past few months.  Drywall is up on the main walls and partially on the sloped ceiling.  I guess you can say I am not happy with the general look of where the walls and slope come together and so this has essentially stopped my progress.  With the priorities of the Holiday about completed I am optimistic that I will get back into the attic on the weekends. In this month of January my goal is to get the sloped walls into better position and get the hard ceiling in.   I am giving myself a deadline of May 1st to have a finished room so that I can get to the layout construction.  

My layout design is still being inspired by Chuck Sable's,  HO Scale Milwaukee and Northwestern Wisconsin Division as seen in the Rehab My Railroad series from Model Railroader.  I say inspired because I intend on adding a sub level to my layout to double the mainline run and add some time delay elements to my operations, additionally I plan to add a staging area off the main layout area.

A rough sketch of the upper level is shown below.  The red line indicates the main.  Approximate main layout space is 13' x 24' and the additional staging at the wye will add another 10' to 12'  feet but probably only 12 to 16 inches wide.    The lower level will essentially mirror the footprint of the layout space around the outside walls.  While it is a fairly essential element, I have not yet decided where to connect the two levels together.  I know that a helix is not feasible given the space constraints so a gradual grade is the plan.   I am going to work on a better schematic to post for the blog site as time permits.   Also - I will post some pictures in the next day or two of the new models that I have acquired either through gift or purchase over the past few months.  Till then... keep the trains running!

41st Annual New York State Train Show

This weekend is the 41st Annual New York State Train Show in Syracuse NY, hosted by the Central NY Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.  I have attended this show as a member of the Cornell Railroad Historical Society's HO modular layout since 1997, with the exception of the four years I was away at college.  In recent years the show seems to be showing better than average attendance and the variety of operating layouts makes it a good family show too.

The Cornell operators group has about 15 members now with about half of those supplying the actual modules, the remainder of us supply the operating trains.   I was pleased to be able to run a NYC "Hot -shot" Flexi-van extra today.  I supplied the motive power consisting of two, Bowser, Alco Century 430's.  Alco produced these units in 1967 and this power was the last power the NYC ever purchased.  Greg Dickinson provided 7 of the Flexi-van cars and I provided 4 additional cars plus the caboose.  (Yes, I know the caboose is not exactly prototypical, but it is close)  Enjoy the video below of the train running on the layout.  The show continues, tomorrow, Sunday, November 8th from 10a to 4p at the NYS Fairgrounds.  With the decent weather it is worth the trip.

A "Not So" Wordless Wednesday

It is the season of change and October has seen the most progress to date on getting the layout room to a finished space.   The past couple of nights I was able to get the dry wall hung and mudded along the east wall and have now moved over to the north wall.  I know it might not look like much but I see progress and each day a little closer to having a good space.  

In other news, Athearn has announced a Ready to Run GP-35 in the NYC cigar band, due next September.  I am sure I will end up with one or two depending on price point.  

I am also very pleased with the latest news from the NYCHS, announcing a lower price point on a NYC Lines East Brick Tower, being produced by the N-scale Architect.  This tower had been announced some time ago but was initially offered at over $100.00 and that was just a bit too much for my interest.  That being said, the model is in production now and the price was lowered to MSRP of $87.50, with a member discount.   That made the model an affordable "must have" and so my order was placed and I am looking forward to this high quality kit to arrive in Mid- November.    

Finally, as November approaches so does the Train Show season in New York State.  First up is the 41st Great New York State Model Train Fair the weekend of Nov 7th and 8th at the NY State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.  I will be attending the show as a part of the Cornell Railroad Historical Society HO modular layout.  I hope to see many of you at the show.   Till then back to the attic... 

Weekend Warrior

The last two weekends have seen the best progress yet in getting the layout room in the attic actually suitable for a layout.   Over the past two weekends I have been able to stud the main walls, lay the subfloor and install 3 batts of insulation.   Enjoy the pictures below of the progress.

An Oldie but Goodie...

The American Association of Private Railcar Owners, (AAPRCO) sponsor a special train each year for their annual convention.  In September of 2014, the AAPRCO convention was in Portland ME and that special train was known as the Pine Tree Limited.  The train was assembled in Chicago and as the route would have it, the train passed through the Southern Tier of NY.   Below is an excerpt from the special train description, quoted from the AAPRCO website: 

"Our convention special train will offer travel over a substantial amount of mileage that is not accessible by regularly scheduled Amtrak trains. Our revised operating plan has the special train departing Chicago on Thursday morning September 18 and heading east to Cleveland on Norfolk Southern's former New York Central route. Although our original plan was to take the route of the former Nickle Plate Road, Norfolk Southern asked us to shift to the former NYC route due to freight congestion and insufficient operating crews. On Friday, September 19, we will travel east on Norfolk Southern (the former Nickle Plate Road) for the run from Cleveland to the Buffalo NY area. Next, we will travel southeast on Norfolk Southern's southern tier route (former Erie Railroad) to Binghamton NY. On Saturday, September 20, we will head north on the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway to Syracuse NY, where we will head east on CSX (former New York Central "Water Level Route") to Schenectady NY, where we will interchange to Pan Am Railways (former Boston & Maine Railroad), including a short distance on Canadian Pacific, using a reverse move of about 8 miles, then traveling east through the Hoosac Tunnel to East Deerfield MA. On Sunday, September 21, the final segment of our eastbound journey is on Pan Am Railways to Portland ME.

I was fortunate to be able to photograph the special train in two locations, first during refueling in Horseheads, NY and then again as the train crossed the Chemung River at Elmira.  



























The train had many vintage private cars but of particular interest was the New York Central's Babbling Brook, a Budd Observation Car.  

The Babbling Brook was built in June of 1949 by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, PA. Originally ordered in December of 1945, the Babbling Brook was one of a group of four identical cars built for the New York Central Railroad for use on the New England States, the NYC’s premier trains between Boston and Chicago. The car was built to Pullman Company plan #9506, lot #9664-023. As built, the Babbling Brook contained five double bedrooms with sleeping accommodations for ten people, a small bar and buffet kitchen, and a twenty-five seat rounded-end observation lounge. 

Click Here to Read More about Babbling Brook:  http://www.webbrail.com/history

New York Central Modeler 4th Quarter 2015

One of the best resources on the web for any New York Central Modelers.  Check out the New York Central Modeler publication from the New York Central Historical Society.  The link is below!

https://nycshs.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/nycentralmodeler4th2015final1.pdf

"Tis the Season"

Well today is the first day of Autumn and the "conventional" annual return for most modelers to their layout rooms, no longer distracted by call of the blue sky and bright sun, beckoning yard work, various family outings and the annual summer vacation.  Personally, I never really take time off from my modeling activities.  Every season brings new opportunity to experience or participate in some aspect of  Model railroading or Railfanning.  

It has become somewhat of a tradition for our family to take a foliage excursion each fall.  The photo above was shot by my wife, Katie, in 2008 just outside of Tobyhanna, PA on our return trip to Scranton.  It was an amazing day of fall foliage behind some nice steam.  

Last year, we were able to visit the Arcade and Attica RR and again had a great time "peeping" behind some classic steam. 

 

This year we probably won't be able to make an excursion because of the recent birth of Patrick, but we are anxiously looking forward to attending the Syracuse train show in November and this year we are going to try and visit the RIT "Tiger Tracks" show in early December.  More to come on the shows in an upcoming post.  Enjoy the photos and Welcome back! 

New Publication Available on ADK division

My copy of "The New York Central in the Adirondacks" by John M. Ham and Timothy R. Mayers arrived yesterday.  I have not had much chance to dig into it because our son, Patrick, was born yesterday too.    

The book has over 400 photographs and the captions tell the story.  It looks like a great 
read and I recommend a purchase from the New York Central Historical Society:

http://www.nycshs.net/The-New-York-Central-in-the-Adirondacks-by-John-M-Ham-Timothy-R-Mayers_p_659.html

or the Save Mr. Webb's Railroad website:   

http://www.savemrwebbsrailroad.com/apps/webstore/products/show/6076524

Custom Paint Projects RS-3 and NW2

The NYC pooled Alco power on the Line East with heavy servicing out of DeWitt in Syracuse.  As a result the Pennsylvania Division was almost exclusively handled by Alco motive power.   I also happen to be preferential as a modeler to Alco's and my roster represents my "enthusiasm" for all things Alco.

With that, I am working on three, Alco RS-3 models, all painted with the Cigar Band scheme to represent NYC motive power between 1960 and 1965, prior to the renumbering of motive power in 1966.   I have finished the first unit, NYC #8246.   To follow will be NYC # 8293 and # 8313.

Starting in 1948, the New York Central purchased a 1000 HP Switcher from EMD, known as the NW2.  These units were classed as DES-13a through DES-13k. Most of these units were painted for the Indiana Harbor Belt subsidiary of the NYC and, as most EMD units, the vast majority saw service on the Lines West of Buffalo.  However, Broadway Limited Models makes a very nice NW2 fully equipped with sound and so I was able to finish a custom paint of NYC #8805.

New Rolling Stock arrives

Four new boxcars arrived today for the layout.  The first two cars are Atlas 50' Double Door Boxcars, New York Central Lot 907 B, which were initially built by DSI in 1961.  Prototype Numbers 43500 to 43947.  

Two additional 40' Youngstown Door Boxcars also arrived today.  These are Athearn models and represent the "billboard" style cars of the 1950's.   Of particular interest is the second car, TRBX 91035, which was the Timken Roller Freight Car, which was used to demonstrate the advantages of roller bearing trucks as opposed to friction bearing that was prevalent at the time.  

August Re-Cap

Well the month of August has come and nearly gone. The usual summer activities have kept us all busy, however,  my wife and I are expecting the birth of our third child anytime now; she is technically due September 8th, but we are playing it close to home and that has afforded me the opportunity to spend nights at home working in the attic.  The last week or so I took the "free" time to re-organize all of my motive power and rolling stock into new rubbermaid style containers.   This makes it so much easier to navigate all of my collection.

I have also had the chance to acquire several new models this month including the H12-44, see previous post, and three, Walthers, 50' North American Smoothside boxcars, two of which I spotted at the freight house on the modules.   These boxcars are Lot 953- B, built in the summer of 1964, fifty cars in the lot, in series from 78750 - 78799.   I think Walthers did a great job with these cars and I am happy to have found another great ebay deal.

There are a bunch of new NYC models being announced and offered in HO Scale these days and so I have spent some considerable time placing pre-orders.  That list includes the Atlas RS-3 with Lok Sound and Rapido's FA-2 with Lok Soun.    I have had the Broadway Ltd, Lightening Striped Baldwin Sharks on order and all of these new models probably will not arrive until after the 1st of the New Year, but nevertheless, something to look forward to.   A bunch of new rolling stock is on order too, so be sure to stop by for my acquisition announcements in the coming weeks.  Till then... keep the trains moving!