Convoluted Application of a Convention Clinic

 

Clearly not a steam locomotive, but my current passenger consist!

At the recent Piedmont Junction MER Convention, I attended a number of clinics. One, by Chuck Davis, stuck with me, even though the main topic turns out to not really directly apply: "Modifying and Detailing Plastic Steam Engines." After returning home from travels to Maine and North Carolina, I did dig out my BLI Blue Line GN steam engine with its glitchy decoders. In addition to needing a new decoder, the need to convert its tender from coal to oil, and the obvious lack of a Belpaire firebox, the biggest issue is that all GN steam had been replaced by first generation diesels on the Cascade Division by 1954. I am not changing the date of my railroad setting! So how might this clinic apply?

I can apply Chuck's overall approach to my passenger train(s) on the 4th Subdivision of the Cascade Division in 1954. So what is this overall approach? He discussed an approach to modeling steam locomotives that he picked up from one of his mentors (who's name I didn't jot down) when he started out. It consists of basically three steps:

1. Research
2. Identify/exaggerate key features
3. Add details by modifying existing or finding a mechanism and scratchbuilding

Research

Right now, I have three main sources of research. One is as a member of the Great Northern Historical Society. For example, in this June 2023 issue, the cover photo is of train #682 showing a GP9 and an older combine waiting in Shelby, Montana for the arrival of the Empire Builder on the mainline. The 681/682 was a mixed train carrying passengers, freight, and mail on the 37 mile branch line between Shelby and the Canadian border that disappeared from the timetable by 1960. A second source is a website that I recently rediscovered focusing on Ferndale, Washington in the mid 1950s. The memories (and photos) of a young rail fan from the mid 1950s are a great resource for researching small towns in western Washington as well as train make ups. A third source is the Morning Sun book, Great Northern, in color, Volume 1: Lines West. Lots of actual train photos here, although a lot are from the early 60s. 

Identifying Key Features

In the clinic that I presented in Durham, I talked about atmosphere, realism, and flexible operations.  Tied into several of these general topics, I want branchline switching with Great Northern practices that fit the atmosphere of the time and place. Looking at the opening photo of my current passenger line up, I see several issues. First of all, while the Morning Sun book does show an example of a three car passenger train headed by a switch engine in branchline service, it is an NW5, a fairly ubiquitous engine. While the GN did have VO-1000s, they only had ten in total across the entire system. The trailing coach in my lineup is a wooden coach with truss rods, a car that would not be seen other than in MOW service after the 1920s or 1930s, clearly an anachronism.  

Mail cars, baggage express cars, coaches, and first generation diesels are to be expected. Mixed paint schemes in short branch line line ups are to be expected, but are not universal. While I had not planned on having a mixed train, the GP and combine seen on the cover of the Great Northern Goat is a prototype to consider. I hadn't considered a mail crane or a train order board for my town of Nooksack, but now I am thinking of them as necessities after looking at the photos in the Memories of a Young Railfan site. 

Nowhere in my research have I found information about milk traffic yet, let alone a milk train on the GN in the time period that I am modeling. A Carnation milk condensory was located just outside Ferndale as well as in Everson with train sidings. They were not as busy by the 1950s, but still in use. At that time, the one in Ferndale had slowed down enough that part of the plant was used for potato storage. I want to model the milk traffic, but it might not be milk trains. 

A shift in key features might be in order: no milk train, but add a mixed train.

Existing Rolling Stock and Details

Wether it is for a milk train or a mixed train such as 681/682, a combine would be a necessity. I have a Roundhouse/MDC kit on hand. While as a Harriman style car, it is not prototypical for GN, but it is what I have. The RPO that I have in GN colors is also a Harriman car. At any rate, the combine can at least function as a stand in and skill improvement project. I plan to strip the existing paint and repaint in Pullman green. Metal wheels, proper weight, Kadee couplers, wire grabs, and basic decals are also details to add. Other possibilities include diaphragms, interior, and lighting.

A more appropriate kit for GN is this Athearn Blue Box coach. Again, paint stripping and repainting in Pullman Green would be a start. Metal wheels and Kadee couplers along with proper weight would be required to hit my rolling stock standards. Appropriate decals and wire grabs would be good skill building activities for me and add to the cars appearance. Diaphragms, interior, and lighting would also be worthwhile projects. 

In terms of locomotives, my two most recent additions to my roster (actually over a span of around five years) are these two. On the bottom is an F7 from Walthers Proto in Great Northern livery. Above is GP7, also a Walthers Proto. Both have sound decoders, but have not been programed or run. I don't think either is set up for passenger service, but they both are typical and appropriate for prototypical use on the Cascade Division in 1954 and on my 4th Subdivision. Starting with finding my JMRI Sprog and setting it up on the new laptop, these two need some basic programming and then running time on the Nooksack first phase!

Having used Chuck Davis's outline, I see that I have some work to do on my passenger car line up to start initial service that meets my goals. The RPO and the Refrigerator Express car in my current consist could stand a standards review, and as seen above, I have several rolling stock projects lined up. Finally, I have two locomotives that need to be set up and broken in.