I had always been a bit 

I had always been a bit  offish  about Intermountain  engines, but  after seeing your  video.  I might have to give them another look

Regards Phil

Intermountain

I've had my concerns in the past as well, but the last six units I've acquired have been IM, and I've been very pleased.  Their SD40-2s took a few knocks because of a couple of easily remedied detail issues, but I honestly can't find a thing wrong with their ES44ACs.  Granted, I'm not an expert on modern locomotives, as my interests are primarily in 1970s power, but the things I've looked into check out.

I may have missed the answer

I may have missed the answer if it was in the video, but did either IAIS unit stay behind after James left?!?

I did pick up a really neat scene of overgrown track in the video that I am going to have to replicate.  I think every time I see your layout I find something new/great.

Visitors from the future

I actually received the RI heritage unit as a gift before James' video was shot, but purchased the 504 just after.  It was tough NOT to pick it up after seeing James' models in action on the layout.  Both of mine can be seen in my earlier post at  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/iaiss-west-end-new-power-new-bridge-12198391 .

Visitors from the future II

I know, this thread is a few months old, but after preordering my IAIS unit two years ago, and a defunct email address, and an expired credit card, I FINALLY got my IAIS ES44 last Thursday.  I model Mopac in the 50's, in Missouri, but IAIS runs a few blocks from my house, and I've been late to work, dentist appointments, etc on more than one occasion because of them.  I had to have one, of course.

Not sure I'm going to do any weathering, and if so only on the fuel tanks  The IAIS, as Joe could confirm, keep their units spit-shine clean here on the East End and probably on the West End too, so this really IS an accurately modeled finish.

IAIS cleanliness

Great looking scenery Steve!

Absolutely.  I think the IAIS is making up for all those years when things looked a bit more ratty.   Here's a pic from just after my era showing three GP38-2s, which had been in service nearly a year at that point, and a couple older units.

As Steve pointed, the fuel tanks got a little dirty, but above that point, these units looked like they'd just been washed and waxed.

I think that's one of the

I think that's one of the nicer paint schemes going around.

Enjoyed the video - I had missed it before. THe detail and finish make me wish more than ever that I could have forked out for an Intermountain Maine Central U 18B when it bobbed up on eBay.

And more videos of your layout wouldn't go astray

Mike

Video

If it makes you feel any better, I thought I'd heard that at least some of the early U18Bs didn't run so well.  That may have been corrected, but just something to keep in mind if one comes up again.

James talked about returning to do a video of the layout.  If that happens, hopefully I'll remember not to stare into the camera like a zombie like I did above.   Last night I finished building the last few hundred trees I think I'll need, so hopefully I'll be making a bit of scenery progress in the coming months.  First up are a couple of bridges at Hancock, the last ones to do outside of Council Bluffs.

Thanks Joe. I feel better now

Thanks Joe. I feel better now on both counts - the loco and the video.

It's a real discipline to build hundreds of trees. It's something I'll have to work at!

Mike

oops

Sorry, re-activated this again..Thanks for the comment about my scenery, but looking at that pic I see the color was a bit off on my camera...too much red, and the IAIS stripe looks a bit pink.  Anyone reading this, believe me- it ain't so.  I would say however that the yellow is pretty accurate to the model, and that is actually (IMO) too yellow from the prototype.  Joe's pic shows how, I think at least, it should look on the model but doesn't- my only "complaint" about it.

BTW, IAIS number 711 stopped me just after I left work, at around 10:30 am this morning.  Hadn't seen an older model in a long time.  I said "Cool!" and the wife went ".....".  Then I said, "it's only one unit, so it won't be a long wait- It's the MU's you gotta go the LONG way home for" and she said "So at the the grocery store we need..." Need I say more?  Hehehe.