ScaleTrains.com CIMC 53' Dry and Reefer containers

ScaleTrains.com announced new models of both the CIMC 53' Dry and 53' Reefer containers in both HO and N scale. The HO scale dry containers are expected in May 2016 and the HO scale reefer containers and both N scale models are expected in July 2016.

The dry containers are stackable, have multiple road numbers, with the HO scale units having separate door rods, photo-etched metal placard holders, and are compatible with 53' Container Chassis. The Reefers feature molded end cages with Thermo-King refrigeration units and in the HO scale version, built-in battery powered sound is an option.

The Scale Trains price for the N scale dry containers is $8.99 each or $24.99 in a three-pack, the HO is priced at $9.99 each, $27.99 as a three-pack. The reefers will be $10.99 single, $29.99 as a three-pack for the N scale ones and $29.99 for a battery powered sound single unit in HO scale and $35.99 for a non-sound three-pack of HO scale reefer containers. The sound was developed in-house with digital recordings of Thermo-King units.

N scale dry container:

HO scale reefers:

More to come.... gotta go buy a camera lens.

Edit needed?

Hey, Jeff.

Do you need to edit second line of your first post?

Jeff: Yup. Thanks. Got in a hurry as I was trying to get out the door.

So much for a camera lens, more ScaleTrains.com containers...

Well, I thought I was buying a new macro lens... but the store was out (and it ended up that I'd reserved one at the wrong store.... I didn't dial the phone) of any Macro lenses. Rather amazing. 

So, more shots of the containers:

Closeup of the refrigeration unit on the HO scale reefer container:

HO scale dry containers:

The whole N scale assortment:

HO scale reefer containers:

Back end of the CR England reefer container (and my first hint I needed a Macro lens here):

The whole collection:

More ScaleTrains.com

I took some other photos of the equipment in the ScaleTrains.com booth, and later, I got to see and hear a Big Blow turbine run - it sounds rather like a 737, which makes sense.

A couple of the water cars:

The Operator class tank cars:

And this is one of the RIvet Counter cars -  

Amherst Show

It was the first time that my wife and great nephew {6} went with me. Roberta was very impressed at the amount of venders and activities for the kids. Sean wanted everything in site but settled for three new freight cars for his Thomas layout. He also picked out a freight terminal for the siding . I as always spent too much money and didn't buy enough . It's always nice to see some of the venders that i stop in to see at there shops when on Vacation and the ones I made friends with at the show . Looking forward to next years show , and yes after a day of walking around and exploring all the sights Sean slept all the way home to Meriden Ct. which gave him plenty of energey to put his new cars to work as soon as we got home . I would like to thank the Amherst club for putting on such a great show .

Jim Ross 

Amherst Railway Society Train Show

I really, really miss being there. I used to help a hobby shop owner that was located to the right of the main entrance into the Better Living Center Building, for about 10 years, until he retired due to health issues. Great times, great shows, even with 8" blizzards the Saturday of the show one year or -20 degree temps on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Also much warmer weather on some years which made up for the other years. Started out in just the BLC building, now in 4 buildings at the Eastern States Exposition grounds. Going to a show like that helps to keep up your interest in the hobby and also to pick up new ideas for your layout.

New Products - Walthers

I'd seen a post on a mailing list indicating that Walthers was going to release a new WalthersProto locomotive, the Phase II GP35. While I was hoping that they had plastic on hand, they admitted that they did not, only this poster:

One of the Walthers employees at the show stated that the tooling has been made, or is being made, to accommodate something like 46 different changes in the shell, potentially allowing for every variation within the Phase II type. To me it feels like the 1990s again, when Life Like significantly upped their game with the Proto 2000 line and everyone followed along with more detailed models. The Genesis GP38-2's pretty much began it this time - we're in a whole new era of locomotives that will be made with what is effectively roadname and number specific, and correct, details.

Some new covered hoppers were in the display as well:

The above are 56' Evans 4780 covered hoppers, MSRP $37.98 ea., with an anticipated delivery date of February. They are being marketed as a limited edition, as these roadnumbers will not be run again. Along with the above Comet Rice, ADM, and FMC models, there will also be a Boston & Maine car and a Farmers Co-Op Grain Co. with a USLX roadnumber.

There were some new WalthersProto Type 21 ACF 10,000 gallon tank cars as well, here are photos of a couple of them:

And finally, there was this nice Southern Pacific GP60 idling on one of the tracks, with it's strobe light blinking away:

I mean, how could I not take its photo?

More to come!

Scalecoat paints

Scalecoat and Scalecoat II paints are back, as this photo of the Minuteman/Scalecoat booth can attest to:

Minuteman had a bit of difficulty with a burst pipe in December, which reportedly took out at least one of his computers. He's recovering strong though.

BLI Pennsylvania RR passenger cars

BLI had some test shots of their upcoming Pennsy heavyweight passenger cars. I'll need to reshoot these, as the photos just did not come out well:

WWF

Be sure to check out the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington--they always have something neat there at 1:1 scale!

Athearn

Athearn had a lot of locomotives on display, but I was looking for SD38 and SD39's. I know I found SD38's, but I'm not positive that the Bessemer locomotive was an SD39 - it didn't seem to have any sort of exhaust, which is my quick spotting feature between the two.

Rapido

Rapido has announced the "Cabbages" - otherwise known as the Amtrak "NPCU." Basically, they are F40PH locomotives that have had their prime movers stripped out and a large baggage door cut into their sides, allowing them to be used as both cab cars and baggage cars. They will be available in three different Amtrak and one Amtrak California paint schemes. Unlike the NPCU's, they will be powered - and available with DCC and sound.

A sample of Rapido's current and upcoming locomotives and RDC's is below:

The EMD GMD-1's are also still available:
 

And finally, the first RDC with what will likely be the final drive system, which includes two N scale motors mounted below the floor, each powering a single truck via a drive train. The sound decoder and speaker(s) will be up in the radiator hump, so like the prototype, it will have two motors on the bottom, and all the sound will come out of the top. The production models will have lightly tinted windows per the prototype.

And here it is running -

More tomorrow.... it's past my bedtime.

New Products - Tangent

Tangent released the Bulkhead version of it's 60' GSC Flatcar, for which I was very glad - I picked up an assembled undec (it's also available as a kit) to turn into a log car I have seen on my prototype (The Willamette & Pacific RR/Portland & Western RR) that is part of Rick Franklin Corp's (RFRX) fleet. Decorated versions are available for both GN and ACL, and are priced at $38.95, with Tangent's usual discounts for multiple car orders.

I have always been fascinated by the "lacy" framework ends of the GSC bulkhead flats:

As is normal for a Tangent product, the underframe is detailed as well:

That's it for new products I saw at the show - anyone know of anything I missed? I'll be checking in through the day. Today is going to be focused (yeah, okay, pun intended) on layout and general attendance photos. Attendance for the first day of the show was over 11,000.

Alibai rounds 1 ... Fox Valley N scale Silverside Coal Gondola

I forgot this one in the middle of all my photos, the N scale pre-production Silverside Coal Gondola:

Alibai rounds 2 ... InterMountain GP10

Parts for the InterMountain GP10 are headed off to tooling -

A bit of a surprise..

When I got back to the booth, Dave Abrams, our local assistant at the show, said, "He you need to go see this... " and so I did.

Pretty nice looking little module, right?

Of course, the most impressive part is who made it - meet Megan Howard:

This is the full Do Not Touch sign:

Yep. 10 years old. Oh, btw - she was SEVEN when she made it.

Her parents own Howard's Hobby, specializing in Rock Molds and Castings...

A pause for an absurd number...

I just copied over the photos and videos that I shot this morning from the SD-Card to the computer. Even adjusting for the fact that my camera makes two files (RAW and JPG) for each still photo, I took over 650 photos and videos this morning....

This could take awhile.

So, are the GP10s

 going to ready for Feb or not?

InterMountain GP10s

The nice thing about a show like this is that you can just walk over and ask the guys at the booth....

The GP10s are in production now, they are 'thinking May" for an availability date.

ok, well better late then never.

For the Macro lens, if they had not closed in Nov, I would have sent you to Piepuls.  As they were

in Chicopee, that is something like 10 miles from the show.

I bet they would have had the lens in stock.

Jeff, excellent as usual

your pictures are worth your trip.

By the way, your statement about the sound of the turbines being like a 737 is a little off.  The CFM56 engine is an order of magnitude quieter than those turbines were.  We came up with a number of noise abatement feature on the gas turbines since the 1940's.  Those turbines would have made quite an impression today.

Again, thanks for such great pix and info.

Piepuls and the JT8D...

Jim,

According to the lady at Hunt's, Piepuls closed a couple months ago.

Larry,

I remember the original engine on the 737. There was nothing quiet about it.