M&D Jct., a Work in Progress

After dropping of its load in White Bear, CP 5902 made use of the Wye at M&D Jct to get facing north again. The large building in the background is St. Croix Valley Hardwoods.Now 5902 is facing north again it passes by the entrance to Universal Forest Products, the end of the line for many a Canadian lumber load.

More CP Power on the Skally

Some of you know I have been doing some "fleet modifications" downsizing and upgrading the Skally Line motive power. All of my engines have been modified in one way or another. The only engines I have left that I didn't upgrade myself are my CP units. My latest addition CP SD40-2 5902 came to me with all the bells and whistles (at steal of a price). Here it was on it's first revenue run on the Skally Line, pulling some lumber loads south to M&D Jct. in White Bear Lake.This shot was captured as it ran light back up to Hinckley.

Random Shots From Summer

CP AC4400 8524 slides out of Pigs Eye Yard while BNSF Dash 9-44CW 4791 waits for its turn.MNRX MP36PH-3S 505 takes commuters back north as ex-C&S BNSF SD40-2 1594 drags cuts of cars out at Northtown Yard.

CEFX AC44CW 1041 glides past MN&S Juntion in Crystal, MN pulling a stack train east.

So Close, Yet So Far

I have been making progress on ILSX 202, but I'm being slowed up. I'm stuck waiting on an exhaust manifold and the proper horn from Miniatures By Eric. He makes some great parts, I just wish he was on this side of the Canadian border so the shipping wouldn't take so long. I've got a nice package of decals from Scott Wright at Solidesign waiting to go on the long hood, I've already done up the front numberboards using his decals. The BLMA cab shades, lift rings, mirrors, wipers, the Min. By Eric antenna and the Atlas sand hatch are all installed, as are the Atlas bell, BLMA fan grills, cut levers and lift rings. The paint is Conrail blue and the anti-glare patch is a Micro-scale decal.Did I mention how much I love BLMA fans? Especially on my darker engines. I paint the fans white and the grills black, boy do they pop!

Slow but sure

I've made some progress on two of my project engines. ILSX 202 and SCXY 1363 have progressed. I haven't had much time lately, but what I get has been good. Grab irons are done, most of the lift rings are in (I left a couple out on 202 until I get the exhaust silencer installed) and some of the other details are finding their home. I have a couple orders of parts on their way. Once they get here I will get the next round of progress underway.

It's Alive!

I have driven by MNNR S13 CTM 1 countless times, but I never saw it move. A couple of weeks ago I got lucky and I got to see it switch out Loadmaster Lubricants where it resides. It was nice to finally catch this critter in action. I'm guessing that is the engineers pickup, he must have driven up to handle duties at the northern end of the MNNR Hugo line.