Weekend Update February 25, 2018

Greetings guys,

As many of you know, I am involved in a non-group group of guys who get together twice a month to run trains. What is a non-group group? It's simple. A bunch of guys get together to shoot the breeze about model trains, real trains or whatever. There are no dues, no elected officials (although technically, we're all Senior Vice-Presidents, according to our shirts) and no set rules. There are 3 active layouts; one of which is mine. The banter is fun, ruthless at times, and everyone is fair game. Engineer Ed and Sir Larry have been fortunate to attend a special gathering in their honor, and I'm sure they will tell you they enjoyed being in the presence of crazy people who love trains!

The middle of the month is a luncheon gathering held on Wednesdays. More times than not, we go to Steve's layout, who is the organizer of the motley group. Other times, I will host on a Wednesday as the person who has the third layout isn't available to host on Wednesdays. This can be a work session, as Steve has been doing, where you can bring your own engines to run. However, your engines must be fueled so you don't use his fuel (if you have to ask what I'm talking about, please schedule a psychological session with me and I will enlighten you). Trains are run while others are doing maintenance.

The last Sunday of each month is a true operating session as revenue must be generated. Today's session was hosted by Steve on his tremendous Lackawanna Terminal Railway. It's a two level layout and runs around his entire basement. Below are a few pics I took today prior to everyone wrecking his railroad...

Lower level staging. Trains exiting East leave from Buffalo NY, leaving West is Binghamton NY.

A view of his intermodal and auto rack terminal on the upper level

Lower level staging looking to the east

This is East Buffalo Yard. Light gray ballast is the main. Tracks on either side is where freight cars are picked up or dropped off for other locations..

This is his huge National Chemical Complex. This area takes a couple hours to drill, and that is mainly due to trains going to or coming from his helix, which you can see in the background...

A view of his lumber yard which is above the Steel Complex...

Please take a good hour or more to read his blog for the full flavor of Steve and the LT. A total of 11 people were at breakfast, and many of them were shooting the breeze. A couple of us come to run trains, which is what I proceeded to do. As on my railroad, no paperwork is needed or required and I took out the auto parts train. This industry has a spot for 2 86' freight cars, yet the train itself has about 28 cars and 3 engines on it. Here is what the train looked like on the upper level passing thru CP Pennisi...

The image below is where i switched out 2 cars. I don't take the first two freight cars behind the engine and switch them out. I like to take them from the middle which adds to the thought process and fun of switching out freight cars...

After I finished drilling the Auto Parts Industry I took a second train to work the local at Startivarius Steel. A huge complex which has the capacity, depending on the size of the cars, to handle close to 25 freight cars. I switched out the entire industry and put in the entire train that I brought over from the yard. Takes about 30 minutes to do without interruptions...

After the majority of the session was over, and since I rate as an owner of a layout, I took the liberty of breaking out my new Scaletrains.com SD40-3 in CSX YN3 for a little oogling by the guys. 

Here is a little background on this engine...

Rebuilds
A number of SD40-2s have been rebuilt into other models. Some of the most unusual are the metre gauge BB40-2s for use in Brazil.

Conversely, several other models of EMD locomotive have sometimes been rebuilt to SD40-2 standards, including the SD40, SD45 and SD45-2. Normally, this consists of electrical upgrades (-2) and replacing the 20-cylinder prime mover with a 16-cylinder version, ironically often built for GE Capital in Poland using EMD's manufacturing drawings and specifications. An outgrowth of this may be GE Transportation's second-sourcing of EMD repair parts.

The unusually troublesome SD50s have also been rebuilt into the equivalent of SD40-2s, rather than scrapping them. The 645F block and crankshaft are inherently good designs (indeed, the lessons learned with the 645F became part of the 710G); lowering the rating from 3,500 horsepower (2,600 kW) at 950 rpm to 3,000 horsepower (2,200 kW) at 900 rpm solved the mechanical and electrical reliability issues.

SD40-3
The Dash 3 suffix is not part of any official lineup, and is a loose designation for rebuilt Dash 2 series EMDs, not just the CSX rebuilds. One example of an SD40-3 rebuild program is the one conducted by CSX. It started in 2010 with 10 units upgraded and numbered 4000-4009; in 2011, 20 units went through the program and were numbered 4010-4029 and in 2012 another 20 units followed and were numbered 4030-4049.[9] CSXT 4040-4049 are painted in the new CSX "RAILCAR LOGO" paint scheme. CSX plans to rebuild 300 locomotives (CSXT 4000-4399). The plan has been to have the new units serve an additional 30 years and cost far less than brand new locomotives. The new cabs can withstand crashes better, have new heating and air-conditioning systems, a new control stand, including visual displays, a modern WABCO braking controller, and modernized starting systems. The engine retain the original 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kW) rating, with rated tractive power increased to 130,000 lb (58,970 kg) from the former 86,000 lb (39,010 kg) rating.

While the pics look good, seeing and hearing this engine in action is better....

That's all for the weekend. Hope you enjoyed the update!