Two Train Day on the Skally!

On Monday I made a run up and down the Skally, I was a little pressed for time, but I had a couple shots I wanted to get. I waited for a bit in Hinckley, but the BNSF Hinckley Local was running behind schedule thanks to a bunch of slow orders on the subdivision. I had enough time to catch the St. Croix Valley bringing todays interchange cars up and putting them on the siding. The clouds broke as ILSX 1345 and 180 came under the Hwy. 61 overpass. These are the higher HP engines on the line and the larger car counts are certainly letting them flex their muscle.

I headed South and got to see a wonderful thing. It was a 2 train day on the Skally! SCXY 1352 and 1363 were switching out Tiller and Zinpro on the south end of the line.It looked like they would have the cut ready to run to Rush City shortly, but I couldn't hang out any longer. I am happy business is going so well on the line.

Welcome ILSX 180!

The Skally Line is booming, so another engine was in order. I heard ILSX 180 was in transit from the ILS shops in Holt about a month ago. I waited patiently and then estimated an arrival in Rush City I figured the 29th of October would be a safe bet. As I passed the stored cars in North Branch I noticed some movement. SCXY 1352 and 1363 with ILSX 1345 sandwiched were pushing a large cut of cars south. It was nice to see the three amigos working together.

Once in Rush City, ILSX GP38AC #180 was waiting. The weather was overcast with snow flurries. I grabbed a bunch of detail photos (you know I have to build it in N Scale now, I already have all the parts, I just need the paint). An ILS mechanic was prepping the engine and was kind enough to answer a few of my questions, thanks Terry! But my scenic shots would have to wait.

Flash forward to today. Heading south from Rock Creek, I caught up with ILSX 1345 and 180 heading north to interchange with BNSF in Hinckley.

I ran ahead to Rock Creek and grabbed some shots in one of my favorite spots.

The lighting was much better today as the two approached the bridge.

SCXY 1363 was sitting idle today in Rush City. This well worked engine has earned a little break.

SCXY 1352 was sitting down at Tiller, waiting to pull sand North. Eventually there will be two engines stationed here for sand power and two in Rush City for flour power. It's a good time to be a Skally fan.

The Three Amigos!

No I'm not talking about Martin Short, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase, this is much better. SCXY 1363 is finally ready for service on the Skally Line. It joined its partners SCXY 1352 and ILSX 1345 in Rush City.

 SCXY 1363 started life as an Atlas GP9, I chopped the short hood and front battery boxes, replaced the cab, added a MbE winter hatch, firecracker antenna and bell. BLMA parts up the wazoo.While it's not complete yet, it is pretty close. I used GMM stanchions and louvers and .010" wire for the handrails. I also added a custom styrene electrical cabinet. The decals were custom made. Both plows are Atlas. I'm not done completely yet, I still need to add the All Weather Window on the engineers side, but I couldn't keep it out of service for that...

A Look Back

The Skally Line has a fun past. Just a few years ago when I started following it, it was much different than it is today. I stumbled upon some shots I took just shy of 4 years ago. How things have changed since the beginning of 2009...
SCXY 1363 "City of Rush City" was still in the Nobles Rock paint scheme. The colors grew on me in a hurry. She didn't look as nice as she does today, but she still looked good.

January 13th of that year my friend Brian and I chased the Skally to Hinckley. The temperature was a crisp -26 F that morning. We got out to take shots of the SCXY crossing the BNSF Hinckley Sub. and the Conductor looked at us and said "Really?!?, Today?". I laughed and commented that you have to chase when you can. This shot captures some of the oddness of the day.The MRS boxcar should have been dropped by the Hinckley Local in Coon Rapids, MN. Why it made it to the SCXY I will never know. This odd move also had the 1363 sandwiched between cars crossing Hwy 61 on the BNSF Main. It was so cold the crossing gate on the North side of the tracks didn't raise back up, even 20 minutes after the train had passed. The tank car was for Lakes Gas in Hinckley.

MNN 901 was the backup power on the line, with its Thief River Falls Championship Hockey logos. This engine never returned after the

Fall of that year the bridge over the Snake River had a pier break. The equipment was moved off the line until the bridge was repaired. Thanks to a nice Government stimulus check for $650,000 the bridge was fixed and Horizon Mill was able to bring its employees back to work. 1363 returned in the NP paint and MNN 901 was replaced by SCXY 1352 in the new colors. Zinpro in North Branch started built a new tank car unloading platform soon after and started receiving loads by rail car. 2010 was a wild year on the Skally.

Progress Report

In between chores this weekend I did manage to make a little progress on three of my engines.
The modified SD9 was my test platform for soldering handrails. I added a new conductors side step in front of the cab and I also installed the lift rings. This one may sit a bit as I wait for a Miniatures by Eric three chime airhorn and MLE all weather windows to show up in the mailbox. I included I shot I took of the prototype for reference.

SCXY 1352 received a new handrail as well. Soldering the brass isn't to bad once you get a couple practice runs out of the way. This GP8 only had one battery box removed from the conductors side. I still need to add a step back in for my N Scale crews.

I stole the frame I had started for SCXY 1363 to finish ILSX 1345. So I am starting all over for the GP9. This worked out well as I had missed a couple things the first go around. The smaller item was an engineers side grab iron, the larger item was the very unique electrical cabinet behind the cab. The cabinet location also cued me into an added louver. In this photo they stick out pretty well as they aren't painted yet. I made the cabinet out of styrene and the louver is from a GMM GP7 detail set. I will chop the front battery box off and add handrails to this frame later this week.

So many projects...

I have been re-evaluating by current project lineup. I am prioritizing 5 engines and setting myself a deadline (we'll see what day I pick to get these done).
ILSX (NREX) 6158 is a Spartan cab SD9. The prototype for this engine is in Hills, MN. I'd love to see it on the Skally Line, so that build has begun. It will be in H1 paint when I finish.

 ILSX 1338 is the second H1 engine I'll be doing this go around. It is an ex-CN SD40 so it will also have a set of those sweet MbE intake snow shields. I've already gotten the brake wheel in the proper position, a different cab on the engine and Trainworx radiator screens installed. The grab irons are BLMA.

 ILSX (LTEX) 213 is an ex-DMIR SD38-2 that would really help on some Skally unit grain trains. There will be a scheduled grain train called "The Main Streeter" and I'd like this 38 in the consist.

SCXY 1352 is way behind schedule. I need to build 1 handrail (the side not pictured) and repaint the yellow to something brighter. The decals are made, I just need to get it done.

 SCXY 1363 is in the same boat as 1352. I need to chop the front battery boxes off, build handrails, fix the pilots and so on. I also need to add the funky electrical cabinet on the conductors side and because I waited so long I need to repaint the airhorn silver. So much to do and so little summer left...

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from the Skally Line!

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.

Long Term Projects

A couple of fellow N Scalers have gotten me into locomotive detailing and I have decided to take it a step further. I have begun collecting parts and building the SCXY GPs. I'm starting with SCXY (ILSX) 1363. This is going to take longer than I thought, but I think it will be worth it in the long run.Until now I have been using mostly BLMA details. I just got my first shipment of Miniatures By Eric detail parts. The first thing I installed was the proper bell on ILSX 3109, CP 5559 will be getting its winter hatch and the now chop nosed 1363 got its firecracker antenna and is getting fitted for it's winter hatch. I cut down the battery boxes and will be working on matching the walkways and railings soon.

Another day on the Skally Line

A few shots from the Skally Line, one from Pine City. SCXY GP9 1363 and GP8 1352 running a nice string of hoppers back to Rush City. This spring I had no sun, on this day I had almost too much. Just south of the Rock Creek Bridge

A New Arrival

I got a call from a Trainmaster in Northtown of a new arrival to the SCXY. I was pleased to head up to Rush City last weekend and photograph the new SCXY GP10 1352... the MU hoses haven't yet been attached and the fuel tanks are still empty. And while the sun was shining, I figured I'd get some more pics of the oh so good looking SCXY GP9 1363

Skally Line Update

I was checking out the repaired bridge in Pine City when I had a suprise drive by with an unusual load for the SCXY.
Here SCXY GP9 1363 hits the bridge. Some of the smaller repairs can be seen underneath. Here the 8 axle TTX car rolls the bridge. Thank goodness this was after the major pier repairs that can be seen to the lower right. The crewman rode the car from Hinckley to Rush City. Thank goodness it got up to 26 degrees!

ILSX GP9 1363 is back on duty following a completion of repairs to the Snake River Bridge in Pine City. Thanks to ILSX for putting her in a paint scheme more suited to her assignment. Sorry the picture isn't better, I ran out of daylight.

Things are a little slow on the little RR, so I was given the good idea to post some of my prototype pics (Thanks K1)

This is St.Croix Valley Railroad (SCXY/ILSX) GP-9 #1363 the "City of Rush City". I took this photo March 29, 2009 after enjoying a nice breakfast at the Eagles in Rush City.