Curious About Lighting Choices

Alex,

Great article, and a fine looking model too!  You should be proud of it.

The one question I had was about your lighting choices. The classification lights look great, but I just thought it curious you made the effort to light them up, but were then content to just use jewels/MV lenses in the ditch light housings.  I understand it can be more difficult to install lights there because of interference with the frame, but you were willing to modify the frame to accommodate the Canadian steps. I would think it not much more difficult to mill/grind/file notches in the frame to make room for fiber optic strands glued to the inside of the shell running up to the nose headlight LED.

This isn't meant to criticize your article or project; it just left me curious whether there was some aspect of adding working ditch lights that was more difficult than I imagine.

Thanks again for the article!!

Thomas Hillebrant

CP Rail 5406

Good detail tips and clear photos to aid in following in the article. The material list is what I like to see, so a idea of parts to order for a build will be a lot easier than trying to guess what part was used. Very well written, and again another fine article in what I believe one of the best mags. even though it's via thru the computer and web.

DME locomotives?

Great article.  I model DM&E prior to RCP&E takeover. I'd be interested in knowing which locomotive numbers went to DM&E on retirement.

Thanks, Kennedy Gauger

CP Rail 5406

Hi! 

Thanks for your kind comments.  I realize this is two months late, but I've only just figured out how to find this part of the website.  Please see my replies to your questions.

Thanks!

Alex

Lighting Choices

Hi Thomas,

To be honest, I really hadn't thought about doing the ditch lights.  I decided to do the classification lights after the frame and step modifications were done.

I like your idea of using fibre optics from the headlight to the ditch lights as you suggest.  Another option might be to place tiny LEDs just underneath the floor and wire them back to the decoder.  Either way, more of the frame would need to be removed.

Thanks,

Alex

CP Rail 5406

Thanks John!  

Since some of the parts and paints are now no longer produced, I hope I gave sufficient alternatives for someone starting this project today to have success.

Alex

DME Locomotives

Hi Kennedy,

From my copy of Canadian Trackside Guide 2011, the following locomotives went to DME in 1999:

CP 5401 (nee QNSL 205) became DME 6088

CP 5402 (nee QNSL 206) became DME 6085

CP 5403 (nee QNSL 207) became DME 6086

CP 5407 (nee QNSL 211) became DME 6090

CP 5411 (nee QNSL 215) became DME 6087.

CP 5401 was built with a standard fuel tank, and the latter four engines had the large fuel tank as described in the article.  However, the large tanks were replaced by the DME between 2000 and 2006 based on http://www.rrpicturearchives.net.

One thing missing from the article is that CP 5406 was built as QNSL 210.  It was retired in 2002.

Cheers!

Alex