Paint Shop Update: TP&W RS11

Another awesome unit created by Jeff Gowers of Virginia.  Toledo, Peoria & Western RS11 #400 arrived from the paint shop this week.  Rumors of modeling the Peoria Area are being heard on the ROCK.

Paint Shop News: New TP&W Power

I received two newly painted locomotives by Jeff Gowers of Virginia today.  The Toledo, Peoria & Western (TP&W) Walthers C-424s look super sharp!  I'm very pleased!  I need to add some Micro Trains couplers to the units.  It appears they take the same type as the Kato SD40s.

Here are some photos of the new units.

Here is a quick video I took on the test track.  The units run very well together (in DC mode).  You would think they were consisted and speed matched.

The ROCK 3.0: Paint Shop Quick Peek

Here's a quick peek at one of three projects we have outsourced currently.  Two TP&W C424s and one RS11 are in the works.

The ROCK 3.0: Chicago & Illinois Midland Photos

I was digging through some old photos tonight and found these of the Chicago & Illinois Midland in Springfield, IL.  I vaguely remember taking these.  They are dated July 31st, 2005.  I assume my wife and I were exploring around in Springfield.  Funny, how I came across these now that I'm interested in the C&IM.

C&IM SD20 #81

C&IM SD20 #82

I'm assuming this is the large former Pillsbury Plant in Springfield, IL.

In other news, I'm working on cleaning and sorting a bunch of stuff in the layout room.  I have way too many cars.  Time to consolidate some.  

I have a few TP&W custom paint projects outsourced and waiting for return.  I'm also waiting on some custom Peoria & Eastern and Peru & Pekin Union Railway decals to come in to work on a few other projects.

The ROCK 3.0: Bad Airbrush Update

I received my repaired airbrush back from Badger over the weekend.  Jesus replaced the tip which was split and the needle bearing (little plastic piece).  So, hopefully, now, I'm good to go!  No cost except for the return shipping.

This week, I doubt I will be producing many paint shop reports.  We have guests coming to visit Saturday and they want to see the layout.  That means, I need to get moving on cleaning and organizing.  That has invoked the thought of operating though. I sent out a feeler email to a few folks.  I have two confirmed so far.  Two more and we can operate.  The projected date to operate in Saturday, June 4th.

I have a lot to do between now and then as I have some tricks up my sleeve.

The ROCK 3.0: Paint Shop News w/ Lots of Photos

Five more CPC International tank cars came online today.  This brings the total to eight.  I have one Atlas tank and one Delaware Valley airslide hopper to decal to complete the project.  Currently, I'm waiting on delivery of more decals.

The paint shop also completed the Peoria & Eastern GP7 #5630.  This one has the red and white Ex-PC logo on the sides and ends.

The Big news though are the four Chicago & Illinois Midland SD38-2s that arrived on the railroad today.  These were farmed out to a gentleman in Virginia that also custom painted the Illinois Terminal locomotives for me.  He is super quick and does excellent work!

Also, we are fastly approaching blog post #900 (this is post #895).  The blog surpassed 90,000 views a week or so go.  Pretty cool considering I created the blog just as a timeline of events working on my layout.  I never expected anyone to actually read it.  I'll have to come up with something good to post for #900.

Here are photos of the CPC International Cars, C&IM Locomotives and few other interesting subjects.

Lots of CPC International traffic sitting in the yard this evening.

The second batch had better more crisper paint lines.  The more I paint, the better I get.

Close up detail of the CPC International Tank Car

Painted from stripped or undecorated Roundhouse General Tank Cars

Close up detail of the CPC International Tank Car

Peoria & Eastern GP7s #5628 and #5630 passing Wesley Road crossing.

Micro Trains C&IM 40' Box Car and Illinois Terminal 50' Box Car (heavily weathered)

Bluford Shops Illinois Central Woodchip Hopper

Atlas C&O Cupola Style Penn Central Caboose

Illinois Terminal SD39s

Illinois Terminal SD39s - different paint scheme

Intermoutain 4750 CuFt 3-Bay Grain Hoppers

Micro Trains Illinois Terminal 40' Box Car (Weathered) and Atlas Illinois Terminal 

50' Precision Box Car

Atlas Illinois Terminal Caboose

Chicago & Illinois Midland SD38-2s #73, 72, 71 and #74 (four of the six they owned)

Bluford Shops C&IM 70-ton Coal Hopper

Atlas Chicago & Illinois Midland Extended Vision Caboose

Kato Burlington Northern GE U30Cs

This one was lightly weathered and beacon added on top (purchased that way).

I need to find some more beacons to add to the second BN U30C as well as 

the C&IM SD38-2s.

Atlas Burlington Northern 90-ton Hopper

Atlas Union Pacific B23-7 #137 leading up a C&IM coal train.

Kato Chicago & Northwestern SD40-2 #6847

Illinois Central Gulf GP30s leading a mixed freight.