Merry Christmas from the Skally Line!

After catching the CP on the Hinckley Sub., I headed south from Hinckley to catch the Skally at work. Having already dropped cars for interchange they rolled south and SCXY SD40M-2 #1326 was on point. Until the matching 1325 gets delivered, it is partnered with ILSX GP10 #1345. The big EMD looks as good as it sounds!

She's still clean from her trip. After getting repainted by the WSOR shops in Horicon, WI, she stopped by the BNSF shops at NTW for a little work.

This engine started life as an SP SD45, before getting repainted for the UP merger. You can still see the UP cues like the mu cable holders. You can also see the spare knuckle holders on the pilot.

The UP and the SP both liked to have the antenna stands up top. The UP added the GPS dome. You can see the new addition to the Skally scheme, the "Radio Equipped" logos. These are also being added to the SCXY GP's.

In real life I started with a Kato SD45, I had to modify the dynamic brake housing, add all the extra details, the fans, mu hoses and cut levers are Trainworx, the grab irons are BLMA, I also added Sunrise rear ditchlights, the front are from Shapeways. The AC unit is BLMA. The Antenna stand is a modified Kato unit with a Sandro Sinclair. The GPS dome and the mu holders are scratch built from styrene.

The paint is Signal Yellow and Engine Black. I'm glad to have this one in active service now!

N Scale SCXY 1326

With the first SD40M-2 already in Rush City and the second one (SCXY 1325) on its way, I decided to get some work going on my SCXY 1325. I got the shell of the Kato SD45 stripped down and made some progress on the initial detailing.

The first step was to remove the brake wheel and fill that spot in with some .010" styrene. The I used a door from BLMA #101 to match the door on the prototype.

On the nose I cut in and installed a brake ratchet from a GP9 shell in the parts bin.

The next operation was to modify the engineers side of the dynamic brake housing. I cut part of the blister off of a Kato Mid-Production SD40-2 and spliced it onto the SD45 shell. This was the most nerve racking part of the build so far. You can also see the BLMA #71 AC unit and the antenna stand I installed. The nose grabs were also BLMA parts.

On the back of the engine I filled the number boards in and drilled out for the grab irons. I also installed the large rear lift rings. I used the mounting eyes from the BLMA #13 Cut Lever set.

Up top I drilled out the fans and installed the BLMA #81 grills on the radiators. I couldn't install the dynamic fan grills as I was out of BLMA Center Plate grills (I should have checked before I went to the LHS parts shopping, oh well). I also added a T Vent of a Kato Mid-Pro 40-2. I did drill out for the smaller lift rings, I just haven't started installing them yet.

All in all it wasn't a bad amount of progress for the little bit of time I had into it. I'd like to have this one all wrapped up by the 4th of July, we'll see how I do on hitting that goal.

Skally Engine House Update

I finally made it up to Rush City Friday. I want to thank the Skally Crew for their hospitality. SCXY SD40M-2 1326 was switching out cars while ILSX 180 and 1345 were waiting next to the corporate HQ. The SCXY reporting marks were taken off the 1326, so hopefully the "Radio Equipped" stickers arrive soon!

The next SD40M-2 was purchased direct from UP and should be getting it's new paint job at the WSOR Horicon shops this week. Once it arrives, ILSX 180 will depart the line.

The new Skally engine house is HUGE! It is 28' x 270'. If my math is correct it should hold two SD40M-2s (SD45s) a GP8 and a GP9. Every Skally painted engine will fit inside!

It has been great watching the line grow. Car volume will continue upward as more business comes to the line over the next couple of years. What a great time to be a Skally Line fan!

New Skally Power!

First off, I want to thank Mark Lynn (MRL) for letting me post a couple of his pics. I am 1300 miles from Rush City right now, so I'm glad he was there. Subscribe to his Flickr channel to see a ton of great photos: Flickr mlynn72130

ILSX SD40M-2 #1326 was sent to the WSOR paint shop in Horicon, WI. It emerged as SCXY #1326. I got to see it right after some wheel work at NTW in Minneapolis, but I couldn't get a decent shot. Luckily it was interchanged quickly to the Skally Line and is now in service with the SCXY GP8 and GP9. The SCXY reporting marks will be coming off and it will be getting some NP style "Radio Equipped" stickers.

This beautiful SD45 body unit should make pulling the heavy sand trains a breeze. I was always a fan of the NP SD45s, even though I never got to see one in person. I will point out the framing behind the engine is the new Rush City Engine house. That will be good for getting these engines started on the cold MN mornings. 

The best part of the story is that there will be a second SD45 bodied engine coming to match this one. The Skally just keeps getting better and better. I've already got one SD45 on the bench to strip down and get repainted. I can't wait to get back and get some photos of the new engine! Thanks again to Mark for letting me post some of his awesome shots!