Bay Yard has looked lust like this since my November 2017 ops session ended.
So to catch everyone up, we are going to spend this post catching up on happenings around the MCIS St. Clair Sub for Nov, Dec, and Jan. We will get back on track in two weeks with my February Update post and hope to stay on task through the year.
NOVEMBER 2017
On the back end of October essentially in November the CFO and I travelled to Denver for a friends wedding. No trip to the Mile High City is complete without a stop by Caboose Hobbies at their new location in Westminster. In my opinion I actually like the new store better and they did not miss a beat on selection when reopening. If you are in Denver, take sometime to check out the shop.
Yours truly out front @ Caboose
Amazing selection, great layout, I will return.
I picked up a Bowser 100 ton hopper in DRGW paint, this car will be re lettered and numbered to commemorate our friends getting married. Just a fun way to add story to the car.
Two BNSF Executive SD70mac's assigned on the Longmont Local.
Early November saw arrival of Scale Trains equipment that I had preordered some time ago.
Thrall 4427 cubic carbon black hopper (River Counter)
Trinity 31,000 gallon crude tank car (Operator)
I decided to pick up one of each to put through its paces on the operation. An ops session later and they operating superb on the "Clair", maybe there could be more Scaletrains equipment to come? One item I do like is the inexpensive decal package you can purchase to spruce up the crude tank car operator models, in my opinion it is just enough.
Mid November I hosted my only ops session for 2017..... dismal but glad I still got one in. My "Regular" crew filled the job board with solid 3.5 hour session moving twelve trains with around 160 car movements. Not bad for a 11x13 double deck layout. Here are photos from the session.
Operating or congregating.... you decide
M-BAPH-16 led by MCIS 4008 (GP40-2) and engineer M.T. taking the main at Gerhard, Michigan heading east.
M-MCBA-15 led by MCIS 6051 (GP60) rolls across the Saginaw River into Bay Yard Restricted Limits.
Yardmaster CMP assisting with DP link up.
M-PHBA-16 rounding the curve through Grays Lake, Michigan.
M-CNBA-15 knocking down the West Siding Switch signals at Upper Huron.
DECEMBER 2017
Shopping, Christmas activities, and family time were the priority this month. During this time I did not get a lot of work done on the layouts but made up for it with what Santa and the family got me for Christmas. I am beyond blessed to have family that support me and my hobby.
New Atlas equipment adding to the layout roster, just a sampling of new additions.
JANUARY 2018
A new year and time to refocus on the layout and blog.
Started out the year making some railcar fleet changes. Staying current day has its pros and cons such as acquiring and retiring equipment.
- 4600 Cu. covered hopper fleet (Retired)
These cars had come to MCIS through the years post Conrail either as new or second hand acquisition serving our agricultural customers moving various grains. As covered hoppers grew in cubic size and changed, so the usage of the 4600. No longer needed in agricultural service the cars were assigned to rock salt service. When the business changed so again did this fleet. Rock salt service is tough on railcars so now in the 2010s, older worn out cars were scrapped while the younger cars were rebuilt for 50 year service. Growing agricultural demands in unit train service stressed the active fleet of ag. hoppers prompting MCIS to place the 4600 into single carload service for agricultural customers. This service was only temporary as the Equipment team placed an order for forty brand new 5188 Cubic hoppers from Gunderson. These new cars are expected to be in service late Q1 2018 working alongside with 5161 cubic hoppers in unit and large block carload service. Adding a newer car to the fleet causes a cascading effect, in this case moving 4750 cubic cars to single service and displacing the last of the 4600s.
Block of four 4600 cubic cars on their way to DELC loaded with grains for chicken feed.
The cars have now found good homes on other freelanced model railroads living on as MCIS equipment in earlier eras.
- 3600 Cubic covered hopper fleet (Retired)
A similar story to the 4600s where these cars had been acquired for rock salt service. In the end these cars were rebuilt at 40 yes but still aged out based on the 50 year rule. The cars have been traded to a local friend who in an early 2000s era layout will use them in rock salt service.
The last two 3600 cubic hoppers awaiting pickup to begin journey to new owner.
Getting back to modeling skill roots, I found a Bowser 100 ton hopper kit for $5 and thought it would be a good project to sharpen my skills. After a little paint, decals, and weathering we have CWE 125690 which will be in coke service between Follansbee, WV. (Mountain State Carbon) and Upper Huron, MI. (Michigan Sugar).
Final product turned out pretty nice - trucks need to be slightly darker.
Wrapping up January's, I found myself back in Denver for daytrip. I had a few extra hours before my evening flight and took advantage of stopping by to see John Parkers BNSF Fall River Division. The layout is amazing and I could spend an entire post discussing it and maybe one day we will do a post covering an end to end tour of a train, but today I am just going to show some great photos of the visit. If you want to check out more of this layout John has a Facebook page (BNSF Fall River Div.) and website open for anyone to view: http://www.bnsfrr.net/
Boise Cascade lumber mill at Winston
The mainline heading west from Overlook passes over itself in a large loop as it descends into Kimber
BNSF Staging Yard (Represents Tacoma / Lincoln)
Highway crossing at East Horton adjacent to Kappa Grain
Hobos..
Yours truly at Fall River Yard
Fall River Switchers and the DPU of an empty PSC coal train. I love this yard scene.
Fall River Yard
Enjoy the photos and stayed tuned for February's Update which should be back on track.
GM
