Sights in the City

After making a bit of progress on my Vancouver Waterfront Station, I decided to snap a few photos. I really don't like shots of incomplete scenes, so I framed a West Coast Express (custom-painted by Jeff Sohn) K-Line F59PHI and Bombardier bi-level commuter cars in an area adjacent to the subject of my recent modeling efforts.
I was inspired to snap this image after viewing several photos on flickr.com. Some old and some new, but both helped me get a better take on the station's architecture.

New year, new projects

From a partially finished Vancouver Waterfront Station to a North Vancouver lumber mill and wharf to a key junction at the center of the layout, I've got no less than a half-dozen projects to finish in 2011. But for each unfinished project, there’s bound to be another completed area that also requires my attention.

The first such area to come to light in 2011 is this Ross Custom Switches curved 0-72/0-54 turnout on the main line. I’m a fan of RCS products, but I was frustrated to find that the semi-fixed pilot on my Lionel ES44 Hybrid won’t clear the DZ-1000 switch machine that came with the turnout. I’ve got a replacement DZ-2500 motor that I could use, but I’m considering if I’d rather install a slow-motion under layout switch motor. 

Santa's little helper

Thanks to the steady easterly Pacific trade winds from China, Santa was able to make a timely pre-Christmas (FY2010) delivery that’ll help spell my depleted fleet of Canadian Pacific motive power. A new O scale (1:48) Lionel no. 28450 CP Rail 4850TM Trackmobile will pitch in to help shuttle locos about the diesel dead line and freight cars along the waterfront wharf and industries Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The die-cast metal construction of this TMCC command-control road/rail vehicle with ElectroCouplers gives it just enough girth to tow and spot maybe 2 or 3 full-scale cars (2lbs.) on the slight, yet slippery grade along the waterfront. Nevertheless, this is just the type of fresh “new” product that the hi-rail world needs to stay relevant.

Dead line downsizing

Just like the real railroads on the slow track to economic recovery, I too have found it necessary to liquidate certain motive power assets. As more and more inactive locomotives lined my prototypical dead line (a yard track designated for loco storage), the accountants soon advised me to part ways with some idled power.

Weaver SD40-2 on the dead line.
See the November 2010 issue of CTT for details

To raise enough capital to purchase new fuel-sipping workhorses, my operation elected to purge high-mileage Lionel Dash 9 (AC4400) and older surplus SD40-2 units. Railroad leasing businesses in Milwaukee, San Diego, and Canada were the first to secure power on auction, but others are certain to bid in the world's largest "yard" sale. For replacement units, Canadian National has already delivered Lionel SD70M-2s, while Canadian Pacific Rwy. has its sights set on new Lionel ES44 Evolution Hybrid power.

Canine conductors

My four-legged pet pals have always been interested in the sounds and smells of the train room – even though they could never actually see the trains! But in October, our elder dog (16-1/2 years) Cinder let us know that it was time to retire from regular service and a lifetime of unwavering companionship. He was my first and dearest rescue dog who gave us so many great memories. We’ll miss him, but Trax (background) was a diligent understudy and he clearly has a nose for the railroad biz!

End of the line for CPR steam program

BREAKING NEWS -- After years of faithfully carrying the torch for the Canadian Pacific Rwy. steam program, Royal Hudson no. 2860 has powered her last train on my layout. As one of the most prominent and most distinctive steam locomotives in North America, no. 2860 recently served as an international ambassador during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Additionally, no. 2860 was the last steam unit in operation on my diesel dominant layout.
CPR officials cite "prohibitively expensive operating costs in these trying economic times" as the chief reason for extinguishing the fire in no. 2860. Although CPR has yet to reveal plans for future fan trips and executive excursions on its private fleet of vintage MTH passenger cars, it is believed that they will continue to operate under the power of vintage CPR diesel F-units (on order -- Lionel ship date of Nov. 2010) or the recently acquired CPR ES44AC Evolution Hybrid unit no. 9860 (Lionel 28320). Alas, no. 2860 will be safe from the scrapper's torch -- she, Unlike previously idled Royal Hudson no. 2851, now sheltered in a Wisconsin railroad museum, CPR's plans to keep Royal Hudson no. 2860 intact are uncertain.