I was starting to think about modeling a (partially) prototype-inspired Santa Fe 1950's M.O.W. consist using older '70's equipment (aka Athearn, AHM, Tyco, etc), starting with what I have on hand.
This photo appears to be older than the period I want to model, judging by the paint scheme of the crane. However it gives me a general idea of where I'm going.
This is a G-scale kitbashed M.O.W. set (also for the Santa Fe). Probably closer to the era I'm modeling, even if it isn't entirely prototype-based. I'm willing to do a little bit of free-lancing to achieve interesting results, however. Perhaps I'll even incorperate a Roundhouse Drovers Caboose into the consist. Always have been a fan of those little guys.
Here is the equipment I know I'll be including.
1) The crane:
I'll be using one of these guys as a starting point for the crane. Made by Lionel. Model will receive striping, lettering, detailing, and weathering (also metal wheels, Kadee couplers, and perhaps a little extra weight).
2) The crane tender:
This is an interesting crane tender rebuilt from a passenger car.
A different design is shown here. Still originating from a passenger car. Will probably use an Athearn or AHM passenger car as a base.
3) Bunk Cars
These are an essential part of the M.O.W. Consist. Probably need two or three of them. Any recommendations for inexpensive bunk cars?
4) Diner and kitchen car
Them M.O.W. workers sure love their vittles after a hard day of workin' on the railroad! I know this is an Athearn model, but I was thinking of using an AHM diner or something as a less expensive substitute.
I have a question, however... would the diner and kitchen cars be one and the same? Or would they be separate cars?
5) Wrecking cars: spare wheel and truck car
Will probably just modify the first flatcar that works. I could probably borrow some trucks from older Tyco equipment, and as for the wheels... well, I can use the plastic wheels left over from the equipment I convert.
6) Wrecking cars: ties and rails
I know this is a D&RGW narrow gauge car, but remember... they don't call me DRGW_488_Fan for nothin'!
Again, not a Santa Fe car, but this is more along the lines of what the prototype car would come out as. I'd probably want separate flatcars for ties and rails. I just kinda like the design above, that's all. At any rate, I'll probably be starting with just an ordinary flatcar (again).
7) Wrecking cars: debris and miscellaneous
A couple of cars dedicated to junk and debris, similar to the cars seen above.
By the way, this is kinda ridiculous, but it took me several tries to spell "miscellaneous" correctly (especially since the only "right click" option is "paste," which doesn't necessarily help you if you're trying to figure out how to spell a word correctly).
8) Tool and workshop cars.
A couple of ideas for places for the crews to keep their tools, as well as places for welders and others to perform their "fancy indoor business."
9) Snowplow
There are two different ways to do a snowplow... either you use a rotary snowplow, or you use a Jordan spreader or Russell snowplow. As it happens, I have an old, half-finished 1970's Russell snowplow from Walthers, painted and lettered for the Chicago North Western. Might as well strip it, repaint and redec it.
EXTRA PROJECTS
1E) Drovers Caboose
Not exactly sure what this is doing here, but I like the idea, so now I'm thinking about using a (modified?) Roundhouse Drovers Caboose on the M.O.W. consist.
2E) Shower cars
This guy was a genius! GENIUS! This also might give us a way of productively "disposing" of that Bachmann Spectrum vandy tender that dad bought "back in the day" before realizing that buying GN brass locomotives and auxilery tenders was less expensive than modifying Spectrum equipment! Perhaps that way I might even get away with using a single car!
This M.O.W. set would be a work in progress (assuming I ever start working on it!) and would be built one car at a time. In the meantime, I've got other projects to keep me occupied (such as finishing my first (half-complete) Branchline kit and learning to weather... trying not to get ahead of myself!).
Thanks to http://www.haworthengineering.com/ for all the inspiration! To learn more about his ongoing G-gauge M.O.W. project, click http://www.haworthengineering.com/maintenance-of-way.html.