Ramblings of a Railfan

Project 04: 2-10-0 “Russian” Decapod

So this was a locomotive I wanted for some time. I had plans for a private coal mining company on my layout and this locomotive was to be owned by it. As time went on, that want changed to the want of a freight locomotive. And so I got this as a gift for my birthday two years ago and I’ve enjoyed her ever since!

Physically, the locomotive is in superb condition. The only two personal problems I have is that the headlight isn’t bright when using the high headlight arrangement like I do and that the front uncoupling bar keeps sticking up.

She is DCC-Sound equipped and sounds excellent doing so! Mechanically she runs very well and looks good doing it. I find it take a while for the motor “warm up” when I run DCC, meaning that the “chuffing” sound will quite often start well before the motor moves the locomotive!  

The only gripe I have is that she can be a bit temperamental on less than superb track. She’ll take an 18” curve, albeit you do so slowly. Also, the front tender truck likes to come off on a switches (thus making a short) and almost any change in curve direction (i.e. “S” curves).

What I’d like to do:

• Give her Decals and proper NY&NW Colors.
• Get the drivers synced up to the sound (or vice versa) or get a driver “chuff” cam. 
• Change the headlight bulb / arrangement so it’s more powerful.
• Try to fix the front uncoupling bar so it doesn’t stick up. Not a priority but it’s an irksome thing.

I personally feel I should have waited to get this locomotive. After I got her, my interest in local railroading peaked. Both the Erie and the Susquehanna had these locomotive on their rosters, both roads which Bachmann offered this locomotive in. 

I kind of want to get another one as well, that way I could convert it into a model of a Russian Ye class locomotive. Just because.

Project 03: Richmond 4-4-0 - Modern American.

I was really excited when Bachmann announced the Richmond 4-4-0. I knew I wanted the steel cab model with the straight running boards. I thought it looked excellent like that, and I was right.

And so, I bought one about a year or so after they came out. She was my first DCC equipped locomotive.

Physically she’s in excellent condition. These come with numerous accessories that you can customize the locomotive with. I experimented having the plate-metal pilot and oil burner on her for a while, but I’ve since reverted back to coal and the slotted pilot.

Mechanically she runs very well and looks good doing it. Not the strongest locomotive in my fleet, but I’ve had no problems on lighter consists of just a few cars. She is DCC-Equipped. 

What I’d like to do:

• Give her Decals and proper NY&NW Colors.
• Change the headlight bulb to a “warm” white instead of the yellow one she has now. 
• Give her a DCC-Sound decoder. This isn’t a priority, but one day I’ll do it…

A few years ago, Bachmann also announced a Baldwin 4-4-0 locomotive to their Spectrum line, which seems to have superseded the Richmond 4-4-0s. They’re very similar, but the Baldwin locomotives have fluted domes and the round Baldwin Builder’s plate as the biggest changes. Would I buy one? Maybe. I don’t have a need for one.

630ridgecrest by ice_queen88 on Flickr.

Came across this lovely photo this while on reddit. Knew I had to share it here.

This one’s for you, Mr. Coalsmoke!

For Mr. sd60macintosh2748, as per his suggestion on this post. This is what I did in about 5 minutes…

This to all of you railfans out there in Tumblr-land. Without you guys, I really wouldn’t have a reason to be here liking and reblogging all your pictures! I wish you all dry rails and a full head of steam!

I have too much stuff. One of these days I’m going to clear up this table and actually do something with it…

Either I figure out a trackplan for this 4’x8’ (probably adding another 4’x8’ table in the process) or I move to a module setup. I’m open to all suggestions…

It’s been awhile since I’ve drawn anything. So I sketched this in about 10 minutes.

Here. Have a fictional/freelanced 0-6-0T, modified for shunting operations.

Erie K class 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotives lined up while waiting for their next assignment at Waldwick, New Jersey, 10-23-1949 by alcomike43 on Flickr.

I have a fondness for the Erie Railroad’s 4-6-2 locomotives. There’s something in the mixture of Vanderbilt tenders, high headlights, and wheel arrangement that I love.