My Trains

I thought I had posted a blog about my train collection plans for my model.  In looking back, I see that , while I did mention the trains I had, I never posted my plans, so here it is in brief.  I have decided to get locomotives and rolling stock that represent parts of my life.  I have my Army train with rolling stock carrying military vehicles and pulled by a Chessie system GP40 locomotive.  I also have a Union Pacific GP7 that will pull some box cars.  I have an EMD NW-2 as a rail yard switcher.  I have a Missouri Pacific SD40 and Alco PA-PB.  Rounding out the diesel line, I have a Santa Fe EMD GP40.  Most of them are DCC except the MoPac 40 and the GP40.

I have a few steamers too.  My first is a 4-4-0 Jupiter, then I got a 0-6-0.  I found out that the largest steam locomotive built was known as the Big Boy and it was a 4-8-8-4 steamer.  I found one of those and had to re-design my model to accommodate the larger turn radius the train demanded.  I also found a larger 4-4-0 with the MKT livery.  I tried to convert my Jupiter to DCC and ended up breaking it, so I bought another one.

I also wanted the SD70ACE with the building America livery because those are the trains I see rolling around Houston while working for Comcast.  I also found out about “The Katy” SD70ACE which commemorates the MKT line and how it helped found the city of Katy.  Since I lived there for more than 10 years, I wanted that locomotive, too.

Now, I feel like I have enough locomotives.  I still need more rolling stock, but that will come soon.

In storage

So I had to sell my house a year ago and my trains have all been boxed up and put into storage until I find a new house big enough to build a model set.  I was heart broken to tear down my double loop track after all the work I put into the mountains and bridges, but alas, I didn’t have room to store the entire model.  I saved much of the track and track bed, as well as the materials I will need to start over, but I miss working on it.

Now, this doesn’t mean I have stopped thinking about my models.  Oh heavens no.

I still go to model train shows and I still window shop.  If you recall, I have been wanting an SD70ACE with the Union Pacific “Building America” livery in DCC as well as one with the MKT “The Katy” Livery.  Well, Kato dropped the UP SD70ACE last month, but they want $325 for it.  That is way too much, IMHO.  Fortunately, Broadway Limited has announced they will be releasing SD70ACE with Paragon 3 DCC sound with BOTH liveries next month for $179 each.  Much better price!  I pre-ordered both of them, even though I have no way of running them right now.  Call me foolish, but I doubt if I waited, they’d still be available when I do get to start rebuilding my model.

Look for pictures when they come in.  I may just buy an EZ track loop to run them on the dining room table until I can start construction.