Sunday, May 29, 2011
Dresser Trap Rock
I'm not a purist, in my world the tracks still run from Hugo, MN through to North Branch, MN. The bike trail was torn up and tracks were laid down. As I plan and build and change plans and rebuild I keep making small changes to "my line". The Skally will eventually have a few larger customers. Horizon Milling and Zinpro provide some fun switching, but I'm looking for more. As the fleet of ILSX six axle locomotives on the line grows I need things for them to do. Eventually I would like to add a grain shuttle loading facility (Peterson's Mill in North Branch will be expanding out). Traincat is getting ready to release some Aggregate unloaders and conveyors and it got me thinking about one of my favorite industries, Dresser Trap Rock Inc. Should I slide this quarry to the "other" side of the river and add it to the Skally Line, or am I talking the crazy talk? I'm open to your thoughts as I head back into layout construction season...
Monday, May 9, 2011
Ghosts of Grain Rushes Past
The storage line at Northtown Yard now includes several SD60Ms wrapped for long term storage. These beasts were once the pride of the BN. Now they sit wrapped while the Z trains roll by.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Mainstreeter
Some of you may be members of the Northern Pacific Historical Society or may purchase The Mainstreeter at your LHS. There is a nice article by Gary Tarbox about the Skally Line in the Spring 2011 issue. It also happens to include a photograph that I shot late last year (now I can claim to be a published photographer, sweet!). Pick up a copy or check out the info at NPHSA.org
Saturday, April 2, 2011
BNSF GP39E 2750
BNSF 2750 made it's Skally Line debut this afternoon. I caught a couple shots as it rolled the line.
Here is a Todd Harms photo of the prototype in Sioux City, IA.
This one has the full treatment. BLMA fans, lift rings, grab irons, mirrors, cab shades, ditch lights, cut levers, mu hoses, air hoses. The body was an Atlas GP30, the cab is from an Atlas GP38, the blower bulge and forward vents came from a Kato SD40-2. The sand hatches are Altas. All the decals were Microscale. This one was a lot of work, I can't wait to do it again!
Here is a Todd Harms photo of the prototype in Sioux City, IA.
This one has the full treatment. BLMA fans, lift rings, grab irons, mirrors, cab shades, ditch lights, cut levers, mu hoses, air hoses. The body was an Atlas GP30, the cab is from an Atlas GP38, the blower bulge and forward vents came from a Kato SD40-2. The sand hatches are Altas. All the decals were Microscale. This one was a lot of work, I can't wait to do it again!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
CP 534
I was inspecting track out on the North end of the line when I heard the dispatcher give clearance for a light power move by the CP over the Skally. While that is not so uncommon, the engine that came though was. CP 534 is one of 3 ex-Milw SD10s the CP took on from the SOO.
Here is a David J Conway shot of the engine in St.Paul for reference. I didn't go all out on this unit because it won't be on the line long. I have to refocus on getting my GP39Es and the Skally GP's done.
Here is a David J Conway shot of the engine in St.Paul for reference. I didn't go all out on this unit because it won't be on the line long. I have to refocus on getting my GP39Es and the Skally GP's done.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
SD40-2 Chop Job
Just the diesel tank, I new I wouldn't be totally happy with MILW 158 till I cut the tank down to Milwaukee Road standards. If only the newer Atlas SD9s were that easy. 
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Lifeline of the Skally LIne
The BNSF Hinckley Local is the link to the outside world for the SCXY. The Hinckley Local originates from Northtown Yard (NTW) and switches industries north off of the Hinckley Sub, starting with Anheuser-Busch in Coon Rapids and finishing with the SCXY interchange in Hinckley, MN.
The local is usually pulled by BNSF GP28Ms 1527 and 1525. On occasion you will see ILSX engines in tow headed for service work at the ILS shop in Bethel.
The major car types you will see on the SCXY are hoppers. There are three major cargoes you will see: general hopper (AAR type LO) loads of durum wheat for the Horizon Mill in Rush City, PressurAide hoppers for moving milled Durum flour and hopper loads of fertilizer to Peterson's Mill in North Branch. 
You will also see tank cars on the line, since the new unloading stands were built last summer Zinpro in North Branch has been receiving Hydrochloric Acid by rail. They use this for making high quality animal feeds. You will also see the occasional tank car of LP for Lakes Gas who has two facilities on the line, one in Hinckley and one in North Branch. While I'm sure that Zinpro is a welcome customer on the line the HCl cars require a little extra work in that you cannot couple the engine to the cars, the crews use a buffer car when handling these loads, per FRA rules.
The local is usually pulled by BNSF GP28Ms 1527 and 1525. On occasion you will see ILSX engines in tow headed for service work at the ILS shop in Bethel.
The major car types you will see on the SCXY are hoppers. There are three major cargoes you will see: general hopper (AAR type LO) loads of durum wheat for the Horizon Mill in Rush City, PressurAide hoppers for moving milled Durum flour and hopper loads of fertilizer to Peterson's Mill in North Branch. 
You will also see tank cars on the line, since the new unloading stands were built last summer Zinpro in North Branch has been receiving Hydrochloric Acid by rail. They use this for making high quality animal feeds. You will also see the occasional tank car of LP for Lakes Gas who has two facilities on the line, one in Hinckley and one in North Branch. While I'm sure that Zinpro is a welcome customer on the line the HCl cars require a little extra work in that you cannot couple the engine to the cars, the crews use a buffer car when handling these loads, per FRA rules.
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