ILSX 1374

I caught ILSX 1374 taking a cut of empty hoppers up to Hinckley to interchange with the BNSF. We brought this engine in to help out with the expanding traffic at Horizon Milling and Petersons Mill. The venerable SD9 was brought back from the Dakota Quality Grain Co-op in Ross, ND to assist in operations on the Skally Line.This is the first unit on the Skally that wears the "official" ILSX paint scheme. It is a Soo Line inspired scheme. 1374 has been outfitted with an Atlas air horn, strobe, MbE antenna, fans, BLMA grab irons, lift rings, cut levers, air hoses and mu cables as well as GMM All-weather window and rear ladders. The decals were custom made for me by Scott Wright at Solidesign. Hopefully I'll have time to get the matching ILSX 1384 done before the end of the year.

N Scale Railroading

I want to thank the staff at NSR for publishing my article on building a GP39E in the Nov/Dec issue. I'm pretty proud to have been published. It also includes John Leaders' great Marias Pass Layout (N Scale Addiction) and more of Bill Denton's amazing work (Model 160). Check out the magazine, I hope you all enjoy it!

The Tunnel Crew

The SCXY car shops finished work on a Clinchfield Tunnel Ice Breaker Car. The shop boys were so excited to have it done they hooked it to ILSX 203 (one of the ILS tunnel motors) and ran the line to test it out. They came back to the shop a little depressed after they realized there are no tunnels on the Skally Line. I caught a few shots at sunset as they rolled it back to the shops. The car should be off to Clinchfield country by the end of the week.

Rush City Redo part 2

Work is progressing on Rush City. I worked on the track layout tonight. It helps that I have the main part of the Horizon Mill complete. I used a stand in building for the SCXY HQ. The track will all be code 55 on the main and passing siding and I want to use code 40 to the mill. I got some of the cork started but I will use a sheet of 3/16" cork around the mill to keep the ground as flat as it is in reality. Switches between the Main Line and Passing Siding will be #10s, all the others will be #7s.
The flour loadouts on the south end of the building curve just after coming out of the building, I will try to match that in my model.

Rush City Redo part 1

Some of you may remember my first attempt at modelling Rush City. The largest industry on the Skally as well as the Corporate HQ and I had the whole scene fit into 4 square feet of layout. It was time to remedy the situation. I have started building Rush City V2.0. The new scene will include the Horizon Mill, Corporate HQ (scratchbuilt new) the Masonic Temple, Federated Co-op and 2 working grade crossings. I've decided to strech the scene out so it will initially be 18" Wide and 12'-6" long with the ability to stretch the length of the passing siding to the North if needed (and it will be needed). The benchwork has already started. I will be building the Scene to FreemoN standards so I can show it publicly until I finalize the home layout design.I used 3/4" birch plywood for the frame with a 1/4" birch plywood and 1" foam top. I need to make some legs this weekend, but I hope to start laying out for the trackage and getting some cork down tonight.

MILW 5657

Another fine day of vintage MN photos. To catch some MILW power running the Skally line in the day... what a blast!

I just finished a little side bar project I've been working on. I decided to try building a Milwaukee Road U30-C. I started with a Kato unit, added BLMA grab irons, plow, cut levers, mu hoses, wind deflector, a Sandro Sinclair antenna, Gold Medal All-Weather window and wipers and an Atlas strobe light. The rest is all painting and a light weathering with chalks.

ILSX 1343

ILSX SD40T-2 1343 made a solo run down the Skally today. The engine has been working on the MNN out of Holt MN, but it has moved over to the Skally to get partnered up with ILSX SD40T-2. The duo will be working grain and flour service to the Horizon Mill in Rush City.
After turning at M&D Jct. the 1343 ran back to Rush City light.The engine started life as an Intermountain Tunnel Motor. I stripped it down, changed the lights to match the prototype, added BLMA grab irons, cab shades, AC unit, antenna stand, fans, cut levers, mu and air hoses, mirrors and wipers. I used a MbE Air Horn and a Sunrise rear light.A nice shot by Brian Kays for reference. I really appreciate him posting some nice shots of the 1343.