Jim,

I wonder if perhaps CN is 'rethinking' all of their 'rock slide' detector fences ater that derailment. It would seem to me that any well run company, seeing that photo, would decide to spend the money necessary to 'stretch' the length of warning fences ... but maybe the 'dollar' alwas wins?. (I'm sure CN is not the only RR in North America that probably ought to take a very good look at such things!)

Might be a good thing for 'super detail' oriented modelers to add to the scenery on their layouts where they have steep mountains and gorges.

lanny nicolet

Thanks, Orsonroy!

To 'partially' quote you ... "IC #907, here I come"  :-)

lanny niclet

I'm in total agreement with Orsonroy's suggestion. My layout would doubtless find room for 3 or 4 Harriman style Mikes, specially if they were of Spectrum quality.

lanny nicolet

That's it! Thanks Nigel.

lanny nicolet

Here's an interesting series of recent shots my UP engineer friend sent me. I don't know the speed of the Eurostar from Milan, Italy to wherever it goes, but I suspect its very fast. Again I say THANKFULLY somehow they got stopped before a major catastrophe! All is elevated trackage with concrete ties and heavy rails. Imagaine a SF 4-8-4, a NYC Hudson,  a Pennsy K-4 or a NW Mallet, etc., rolling into this washout!



Here's 3 more views of the same track washout ... taken somewhere in Italy.







lanny nicolet

Hi Jake,

This is just a 'guess'. I have a Spectrum Doodlebug which is, I believe 'DCC ready' (ready to plug in a decoder of your choice'.

I don't think Bachmann has made these for awhile. But recently, somewhere, I remember seeing something about the Doddlebug being 'reissued'(?) around Sept. of this year. I'm guessing that it will be the 'new run', and if so, I am also 'guessing' that it will be 'DCC Onboard' (ready for Bachmann or other DCC operation).

Perhaps you are seeing so many on eBay, or discount online stores, etc. because many want to sell their current 'Doddlebug' in advance of the coming new run. I think that Bachmann may also have a 'trailer' (?) for the Doddlebug.

All of this is just 'guesstimate' ... unless someone else, like Mr. Bach Man, confirms or tells you I'm totally wrong (which is altogether possible :-).

Pesonally, I really like my little Spectrum Doddlebug. So much so that I painted it for a 'fallen flag RR' (Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern RR) which never had or used them, being an electrified line for most of its life (I rode their trolleys as a kid).



lanny nicolet

RE: IC #2034 .... Ahhh, Yes! Stephen! I believe you have a great idea for Bachmann Ind. to consider mfg. :-) ... that would be a very nice series to model (or anything series from 1100 up to this one). I'd buy one or four! :-)

lanny nicolet

But surely Gene, your desiels are 'coal fired', right?

:-)

lanny nicolet

Hi Joe,

Others will be able to give you a much more definitive answer. However, the times when we have taken Amtrak through the Rockies (the Amtrak Zephyr) or through Glacier Park (Amtrak Empire Builder), I have noticed areas through deep, rocky gorges where landslides or avalanches might be a real danger, many wires strung along the tracks.

I have 'assumed' that these are 'warning' wires ... should a rock slide or something hit the track, blocking it, the wires would obviously be broken and a warning signal sent out.

That is only an 'uneducated assumption, but the amount of wires in these grids seem to have some reason for being there, and it certainly isn't to hold back the mountain if it decides to slide.  :-)

lanny nicolet

Thanks for that information, Roger. Again, I emphasize that I'm thankful this had a very happy outcome!

lanny nicolet

I am sure this topic must have been covered before, however having never taken the boiler off the chassis of the Spec 2-8-0 for kit bashing, etc.,advice would be appreciated. (I have taken Spectrum boiler fronts off and cab removal seems pretty straight forward, but any advice and/or warnings will be greatly appreciated!).

Thanks!

lanny nicolet

Well, no one, viewing that 'photo' can say that UP isn't working to be a very 'progessive' and 'inovative' railroad!

I'm joining Jim in having a 'good laugh' ... we don't get enough of those these days.

lanny nicolet

Nice modeling work. Looks like you got a lot accomplished today!

lanny nicolet

Rich,

Any photos of the BLI pacific that's 'coming' ... I couldn't find any on the BLI site.

lanny nicolet

Here is the 'promised' photo of a CN/IC wreck. I believe this happened in Canada, so probably these are not locomotives marked with "IC" lettering on the cab,  as currently seen in the US on the ICRR mainline.

THNAKFULLY (and suprisingly) no one was hurt!



lanny nicolet