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Post by smr on Sept 9, 2016 20:34:21 GMT -5
This looks better then.....    ( i like the birds on the water.....  )  ..., but have the BB's ever been in Niles? Best, Sven |
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Post by smr on Sept 9, 2016 23:11:17 GMT -5
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Post by markm on Sept 10, 2016 10:07:04 GMT -5
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Post by smr on Sept 11, 2016 8:13:26 GMT -5
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Post by markm on Sept 16, 2016 22:11:56 GMT -5
Sven,
I recently acquired a video "San Jose Steam Celebration" (1992) and watched it tonight. Great views of Niles, Altamont and the entire WP division in California with SP 449 and UP 3985.
Mark
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Post by markm on Sept 24, 2016 0:20:36 GMT -5
Thank you, Mark, this is perfect food for many thoughts............. I started planning right away, once the first drawing becomes available I will share it with you. In the meanwhile, I am playing around with the background. Here come two shots with some pictures of the Niles Canyon in the back. What do you think? Sven, I've been thinking about these images since you posted them. They look great and have the feel of the prototype, but somehow something seemed missing. Well today I realized that if you are going to have scattered clouds in the background, you could use some cloud shadows on the background hills. Mark |
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Post by smr on Sept 27, 2016 8:03:48 GMT -5
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Post by smr on Oct 31, 2016 5:58:30 GMT -5
Actually passenger trains such as the Daylights were not rare at Niles. While the Niles canyon route was a secondary route to those running through Martinez to the north, those routes for both SP and ATSF were prone to flooding causing train reroutes through the dryer canyon. As I recall, its 55 years ago this weekend when a tropical storm hit Northern California causing SP to reroute and ATSF to borrow track rights through Niles. Hi Mark, I will try to model some SP trains as close to prototype as possible. May be you have some suggestions as well? All advise is highly appreciated. As a starter, a mail/baggage train of the Fifties:   Best, Sven |
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Post by markm on Oct 31, 2016 12:13:06 GMT -5
Sven, Once again some good looking shots. Yes there was a Coast Mail Train running the route. It would be mainly baggage cars modified for mail storage, a couple of RPOs, maybe an express boxcar, and a chair car. In the era, several passenger trains would split/combine at San Jose with San Francisco and Oakland (or northward) destinations. Most of them consisted of a train similar to the AZL Sunset Limited set. Oakland trains (via Niles) generally ran without a dining car. The heavyweight trains that ran the route in the 1950s would be the Coaster (train # 69,70) and the Oakland Lark (train # 75,73), The Lark would have been painted SP Pearl Grey (Hint, hint AZL). The pre-streamlined Coast Starlight would have also had an Oakland section using the same type cars. In a more modern era, the Amtrak California (AZL #7001) runs through Niles about 8 times per day as the "Capitol Corridor". Finally the Altamont Commuter Express runs 6 trains a day out through Niles canyon: www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2456629Have you had any more thoughts about the SP line south through Drawbridge? Mark |
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Post by smr on Oct 31, 2016 15:09:41 GMT -5
You need a shot with the RDC-2. The WP was more into the whole "Feather River" concept in the 50s and it showed in their cars marking. On the SP side, any of the "Black Widow" would fit well in your layout. Even the cab-forward ACs. I think the ACs were turned around at the Niles "Y". They were used crossing the Altamont Pass to the east. Mark Hi Mark, I have not forgotten about this comment either, but I had been and still am very busy right now. But Dirk and I will produce some nice pictures hopefully soon.  The SP line is very tempting, I am working on the concept how to integrate it into the other modules. i keep you posted!  Best, Sven |
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Post by markm on Oct 31, 2016 21:05:35 GMT -5
Sven, I really like these RDC images, but maybe not for the reasons you would expect. The "bloody nose" version of the RDC ran only on the Northwestern Pacific north of Marin to Eureka. These images look very much like prototype photos NWP #3/#4 in the redwoods c. 1965-1971. So you're modeling more of California than you think. You might want to hold off a bit on more RDC images. I thought I heard a rumor that the next RDC release might include SP 10 in her SP colors: orange and red nose whiskers. Considering the great detail you've but into you layouts, you might want to try adding the safety chains across the end doors. In the meantime, you might want to consider a very unique WP consist with an RDC that had to go through Niles in the 1960s: www.snowcrest.net/photobob/wprdc2.htmlMark |
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Post by smr on Oct 31, 2016 22:13:13 GMT -5
Mark, Will do  ! That is really an unusual consist, so please help me understand what I see there. A Zephyrette - a  car (D&RGW?) - and a F7 A-B-B-A ? Best, Sven  PS: Since the Mail Train was quite ok for you, here the SP 4444 in action. Last week the weather was not really nice in California.........  |
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Post by markm on Oct 31, 2016 22:58:30 GMT -5
Sven,
That's A Zephyrette,- a DRGW dining car and early F7 A-B-B-A freight units. The original MTL F units would work for these. Although I just realized AZL has only made the baggage car in the prospector yellow (hint, hint AZL). I guess that would have to do.
Mark
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Post by smr on Nov 4, 2016 17:46:27 GMT -5
Sven, That's A Zephyrette,- a DRGW dining car and early F7 A-B-B-A freight units. The original MTL F units would work for these. Although I just realized AZL has only made the baggage car in the prospector yellow (hint, hint AZL). I guess that would have to do. Mark  Mark, I spoke with Sascha, the Z-customizer, and he would be willing to do the paint job. Questions to you would be, if you have some color pics we can use and if you want to have a DRGW dining car as well? Best, Sven  |
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Post by smr on Nov 5, 2016 10:41:46 GMT -5
....and a little bit of Daylight in Niles Depot........   Best, Sven |
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car (D&RGW?) - and a F7 A-B-B-A ?
