7mm US model dabblings

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Super detail photos, Mick. Exquisite lighting.
Would the load of cable drums exceed the bulk of the three-level car carriers? The rounded edge of the drums is locked down inside what looks like custom made steel pockets - which could offer more security than if sat on their flat edges - and take less deck space allowing for a load of five drums.
Were you pleased to get back to the home cooking after your US sojourn?
Mmm, shocking lighting actually, these take so much post processing to get anything decent. I had the same problem in Florida, China and now California, the problem I think stems from the very high sun angle, it's almost overhead at noon, which basically means most under frames are in solid shadow for a large part of the day. In addition when it warms up the air turns yellow or brown.

I personally prefer cold crisp light (cool), those of you who remember filum will understand when I say I was a Fuji fan as opposed to Kodak, it favoured greens and blues better. The only time in these warmer climes where you get a nice cool light is first thing in the morning.

I don't mind the US cuisine, it has it's up and downs like UK cooking, I do miss brown sauce and a good cup of tea though ;)
 

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Ok, whilst actual out at the trackside I was becoming convinced I'd seen the same cars time and time again, like UP were just sending them round in circles, certain ones stick in your mind and you look through the view finder and think 'I've seen you before chummy boy'. I've not yet renamed, let alone processed, all the rolling stock images to their ident numbers but the drum flat is easy to find and lo I had seen it again.

IMG_3307.jpg

Aha y'all cry it's going to/from San Bernardino loaded and coming back empty, not quite so quick young padawans.

The first sighting (previous image) was on the 28th April, the above image on the 1st May, ok so it's been back and forth a couple of times and you've missed it loaded...both images are empty.

Not so, the first image was going down hill toward San Bernardino on the Palmdale cut off, probably to West Colton classification yard, the second image is coming up the Palmdale cut off which would indicate it went in and back out as part of an onward journey.

Problem is the cutoff from Palmdale/Lancaster only goes that way, one way in and one way out, it's not a V or Y type of affair, past Palmdale is Mojave and then Tehachapi and Bakersefield. The only way you can deviate is at Mojave, but why come down past Mojave and all the way to West Colton, then go all the way back to Mojave, then reverse back from Mojave to Barstow from whence you can the divert to Las Vegas and points north at Daggett.

There is another option and that's the little used link between UP on the Palmdale cutoff and BNSF Transcon2 at Silverwood, Rob and I were very lucky to catch just such a movement and I'd seen only one before a few days earlier. Thus it is possible to come from Mojave down the cut off to west Colton then go back up the hill, take the connection to BNSF and run to Barstow that way, and thence Las Vegas; or the reverse working.

I'll never know but it's interesting to muse where it was going to and from as it's clearly in different trains on different days.

Regarding the drum fixings, a close up.

IMG_3307-2.jpg

It looks like a steel plate on the outside and on the inside a wooden formed wedge affair, I've no idea what the flats are for, possibly for loading when traveling on more restricted lines, maybe where they load them there is a low bridge?

One thing is for sure, whatever the load, it is light and possibly only single or at most double wrapped, a double wrap of copper cable for wiring or such would just be too heavy. I've seen similar drums but made from steel spokes and the cargo is large diameter plastic pipe, possible for irrigation or new drainage/water supplies.

Regarding the height, yes they are high, I had no direct reference, but they didn't seem any higher than an autorack which are about the limit of most gauge 1 loading gauges.

I've seen wooden cable drums flipped on their side and turned into barbecue tables, these, would make massive tables :eek::D
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Hi Mick, the red loco on page 53 is an SD7. Could also be known as a TR4 when coupled with a SD7 calf unit. Only know this from cataloguing a HO collection for Chester Machniezwski.
Ian
 

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Ian afraid not, that is no way a SD7.

SP_1518_EMD_SD7_at_IRM.jpg
Source, Wiki..... common user license.

SD7 by comparison are massive, probably twice the size, any EMD unit coded SD is special duty which basically means six axle trucks, a Co-Co in our language. Any engine coded as GP denotes general purpose and are four axle units, Bo-Bo in our language. Engines coded SW are switchers and are all Bo-Bo as far as I know.

It's possible you mean a SW7 :thumbs:
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I have often wondered about the marketing of these films, but they were true to their packaging. On the other hand, Fuji Velvia, which I never used, should have been in a very, very, green box!

Back in the day, did anyone here subscribe to photo.net when Philip Greenspun was in charge?

Paul
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
As a long time Kodakid - until I got a proper job......

The name Kodak was an invention by George Eastman who wanted a name which couldn't be confused with any other - totally invented, The particular colour of yellow on all Kodak trade dress was decided upon in the same way. At the time it was about as far away from the dress of any other company that it would stand out as unique. As I was never involved in marketing I can't suggest why the other colours on the packaging for each product were chosen, and don't forget that Kodak made photo paper, X ray film, graphic arts products, filters, motion picture film etc etc apart from many varieties of both professional and amateur camera films.

One of the reasons for the permanence of Kodachrome (and Technicolor, a company I later joined) is that the dyes are not photographic. Simplistically they are added during processing so much more permanent dyes could be used. Both Kodachrome and Technicolor were famous for their vibrant rendition of reds.

Here endeth today's lesson.:)

Brian
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I have to admit I liked Kodachrome in the 1970s but when fungi attacked all my slides while living in Singapore I lost all hope and switched to colour negative film. Much later I converted to Fuji Astia (professional Sensia) and stayed with Fuji until the digital era. This was when I lived in Houston and there was a processing shop, AZ, that did a wonderful job with the Astia slides. They appear not to exist any more.

Fungus modified Kodachrome (North Borneo Railway, 1974):

Sabah08.jpg
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Sorry to say, Paul, not associated with Kodachrome. It happens with any film - the gelatine is a growing medium for bugs which is why it's used for growing them in medicine. Bugs usually occur in discreet patches too. This looks like a more general malaise.

Brian
 
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