East Yard / Helix Entrance

Last night was spent working on the east  side of Bay Yard where the yard lead and mainline come together before heading up the helix.

This area has been in flux between having a double track at grade crossing with Lake State railway or not modeling the diamond and instead focus on the connection track that also is used for continuous running on the lower level.

Looking west toward Bay Yard we see the main split to the yard lead on the left and main to right.

Same spot now looking east where the main disappears into the helix. Soon foam will be built up on both sides to help transition the track out of sight with a tree line.

Looking west again with the yard lead on left and main on right. Visible in the upper right hand is the "Essexville connector" track which is used simulate pur connection northward to Essexville and the Lake State Railway. I had originally planned to put in the diamond where the main is currently disconnected and run it into the background on the helix as Simulated crossing, but would a railroad have a diamond on a yard lead? CP and BNSF have a diamond at La Crosse, WI which in this case is located right on the east yard lead almost with the same layout. Then again maybe the fact of Atlas Code 83 65 degree crossing shortage at local hobby shop is driving my decision..

Please feel free to comment.

GM

Boxcar Fleet

Over the next two weeks I am going to be focusing on each of the Michigan Interstate railcar fleets. The first post below details all boxcars with MCIS and MCBT reporting marks. As 70 ton Plate C cars attrit due to age, we look to replace the fleet through new build or secondhand purchase of Plate F 100 ton 50/60' cars.

Thrall 50' 70 ton Plate C 

4397 cubic feet cap.

All Door

                 Forest Products pool.

   Rebuilt in late 90s with updated doors.

ACF 50' 70 ton Plate C 

5080 cubic feet cap.

Single Door

                General service pool 

ACF 50' 100 ton Plate 

5095 cubic feet cap.

Single Door - Precision

                General Service Pool 

    Rebuilt to 100 ton standard in 2000s

PS / FMC 50' 70 Ton Plate C

5277-5344 cubic feet cap.

Single Door

               General Service Pool

These cars are heavily utilized in bagged dry bean and corrugated board service.

Gunderson 50' 100 ton Plate F

6301 cubic feet cap.

Single and double door 

           Paper / General Service Pool

Following the industry these cars are used heavily in rolled paper moves and as a backup for any general service move as they displace the older 70 ton fleet.

Gunderson 60' 100 ton Plate E

6652 cubic feet cap

Single door

                 Paper Products Pool

Dedicated to Fort Michilmackinaw Paper.

Berwick 60' 100 ton plate F

7321 cubic feet cap.

Double door

      Automotive / Forest Product Pool

Cars primarily in use to GM moving parts from sequencing warehouses in Michigan to North American Assembly plants. Cars  have ability to be utilized in forest product service as necessary moving plywood and MDF board.

Stay tuned later this week for the open top fleet.

GM

Family Time Inspiration

L

MCIS 7050 running lead on the M-GMGM-16 past the Bay City Station. I use this symbol when I run continuous mode on the lower deck for my son. It's great that at just under 16 months old he loves going into the train room and points to the layout wanting to see what dad has been up and of course watch a train operate. We both crouched down to get this perspective and figured it would be a great photo to share.

Early March Update

It's been a little while since my last update. Been pretty busy during this time so not much to show for layout progress, but should have one here this week regarding track work in progress.

Ops photos from today:

Photographed on the west end of Bay Yard the last 2 SD70ACe's arrived from our order of 4 from Electromotive. They are in CSX colors from their delivery diversion but will soon be wearing MCIS blue and yellow after visiting Fogelsinger Rail Services. They will be numbered 7052 and 7053.

MCIS 4005 and 4008 both EMD GP40-2s idle at the Bay Yard service facility awaiting their next assignment. The covered bays were inspired based on prototypes at Flat Rock, MI and Fort Worth, TX.

February Maintenance Window

Had some time this evening to complete a few outstanding trackwork projects.

#1 complete filler track and roadbed support for Saginaw River swing bridge. This consisted of filling in the permanent pieces of track for each of the approaches leading onto the bridge. I have it setup as one solid piece so I can remove the bridge to complete the scene or do maintenance.

M-MCBA-31with MCIS 7051 on point crosses the Saginaw River Bridge just a mile from its final destination Bay Yard.

#2 Complete lower level lift out section. This piece consists of around 50% of the west yard ladder. 

Looking west from yard ladder, the river bridge is just to the left of the photo. To the right will be Bay Industrial Spur which is accessed by a switch located to the right of the bridge.

Looking east towards Bay Yard.

Left to right tracks: main, yard 1, yard 2, yard 3, west ladder which goes to yard 4 thru 6 and diesel service facility.

38 Special

Inspired to talk more about the fleet, I thought it would be fitting to start with my largest model (by numbers).

EMD GP38-2

   Mackinaw Bridge Transfer Co. (MCBT)

   3801 - 3809 (9 units)

   Modeled: none

   Assigned to "Upper" sister road

   (More on this carrier in another post)

   Michigan Interstate Railroad Co. (MCIS)

   3810 - 3835 (26 units)

   Modeled: 3810, 16, 23, 28, 29, 33

My model railroad of the MCIS began with 3 Athearn blue box engines 10, 16, and 23. These represented many first milestones for me in the hobby back over a decade ago.

  - Proto-freelance focus

  - DCC conversion (Atlas at the time)

  - Custom Rail Graphics decals

  - Custom paint scheme

Since these firsts I have seen my locomotive fleet grow to over 20+, converted to Digitrax, and changed from Floquil to Scalecoat for the paint scheme. These engines first had the clip on decoder but I soon realized that a complete A-Line power kit, better lighting, and hard wired decoder were necessary. Keeping with my modern era the engines received yellow reflective decals and will soon be equipped with RV style A/C's. With SD70ACe, 45-2, 40-2 and GP40-2 models holding down the road pool, the 38-2s find themselves in the general pool assisting wherever power is needed on the railroad. During 90 day inspections of the higher horsepower engines it's not uncommon to see a trio or quartet leading a manifest or through freight. (Last post had a prime example of a trio subbing in).

MCIS 3828 was another Athearn blue box I discovered a year ago and had fully rebuilt but with a Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder. 

MCIS 3829 and 3833 are Proto 2000 engines. Currently 3829 is enroute to Fogelsinger paint shop to trade in its former Santa Fe warbonnet scheme for MCIS colors.

Side profile at Bay Yard showing 5 of 6 modeled units.

Friday Followings #2

Well I am a day late for my Friday post, but I have an extra post to make up for the lateness. Please be sure check out "38 Special" which gives an in depth look at the MCIS GP38-2 fleet.

Ops Photos:

East end of Bay Yard, MCIS 3823 (GP38-2) is lead on a trio of sisters 3816 and 3810 for the M-BAPH-15

A few tracks over MCIS 3828 (GP38-2) and 3833 awaiting their evening crew for the L-BAPB-15 "Belle Turn"

       Side shot of M-BAPH-15 consist.