Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
I think there are even fewer further east in SSW territory - Akansas....
HO Eureka Heights (SP) Houston
- Thread starter Focalplane
- Start date
I think there are even fewer further east in SSW territory - Akansas....
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
I am not “on Facebook” as I see it as being a huge waste of time among some family members. So it was with some reluctance that I noted there is a Modern SP Modellers Facebook page and then accessed it. My first reaction was that I didn’t have to sign up and that I could read what the page is all about, basically modelling an SP that has never been subsumed into Union Pacific. What a, literally, fantastic concept!
With all my historical investment in transition eta stock it is unlikely I would embrace the modern era, so I won’t be signing up any time soon. Bit this is a bit like continuing to run blue or green diesels on a modern British Railways layout.
It just goes to show that interest in the Southern Pacific is much stronger than one might think. And this seems to be reflected in its own microcosm here on WT.
With all my historical investment in transition eta stock it is unlikely I would embrace the modern era, so I won’t be signing up any time soon. Bit this is a bit like continuing to run blue or green diesels on a modern British Railways layout.
It just goes to show that interest in the Southern Pacific is much stronger than one might think. And this seems to be reflected in its own microcosm here on WT.
mickoo
Western Thunderer
I know Facebook has it's detractors but this year alone I must have collected several thousand high quality images that simply are not available elsewhere, I'm a member of ten SP user groups and about two dozen modelers ones from AFV's, aircraft, warships, weathering, model railways and layouts.
I used to view FB as the sin bin of all the internet, yes it has some real dog shit content out there, but SIG groups tend to be very well run and moderated and the wealth of data and information just simply cannot be found elsewhere.
Pelle Søeborg (big fan here) has sold on Daneburg but now has a photo plank module, actually that's unkind, it's a near perfect miniature of the real thing and some of the photos need second or third looks to convince yourself they're models. Not sure if it has a name but the buildings all have Danefield in their address so that's what I call it. I'll only post one photo as I don't want to breech any copyright though none seems to be applied on his FB page.
Take away the car and the figure and you'd be hard pressed to tell it's a model at first glance.
It has made me reconsider if O scale is the right scale for me, I don't want much but the frustration at not even being able to get half decent RTR let alone a GP38 or 40 ticks me right off. I have to decide whether I want to model one or two items in much greater detail and a small switching layout, or more items in less detail but a bigger switching layout.
One appeases the modeler in me, the other appeases the play-ability in me, I can achieve a much bigger 'vista' in HO and significantly cheaper as well.
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Yes, Pelle Søeburg is much admired here as well. I clearly need to reconsider FB as a resource.
I have the same HO vs O struggle and for much the same reasons. The 7.5 x 4.5 meter railway room in France is still not large enough for O gauge though I can run 7 coach expresses on the main line. As I contemplate Eureka Heights it tends to get bigger as I think 10 coach trains and 40 car freights. Neither will be possible in the space in England but an MT-4 pulling a way freight also doesn’t appeal either.
The large photo plank is actually not a bad compromise.
So I am currently favouring a modular layout along the original lines of this thread but with the eventual option of a larger layout with a continuous run incorporating the initial modules. A combination of way freight operations plus photo plank to show off the larger models. I can do this with a footprint of 3.6 m x 0.8 m.
Pelle Søeburg’s Danefield looks just like Dalhart in the Texas Panhandle!
I have the same HO vs O struggle and for much the same reasons. The 7.5 x 4.5 meter railway room in France is still not large enough for O gauge though I can run 7 coach expresses on the main line. As I contemplate Eureka Heights it tends to get bigger as I think 10 coach trains and 40 car freights. Neither will be possible in the space in England but an MT-4 pulling a way freight also doesn’t appeal either.
The large photo plank is actually not a bad compromise.
So I am currently favouring a modular layout along the original lines of this thread but with the eventual option of a larger layout with a continuous run incorporating the initial modules. A combination of way freight operations plus photo plank to show off the larger models. I can do this with a footprint of 3.6 m x 0.8 m.
Pelle Søeburg’s Danefield looks just like Dalhart in the Texas Panhandle!
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
We visited Dalhart about 20 years ago. So I went on street view to see if much had changed:
Still recognizable!
Still recognizable!
Rob R
Western Thunderer
Mick,
The answer is S
Stephen
Western Thunderer
Without a shadow of doubt!
the best thing about Facebook is that you can use it to you advantage and you don’t have to be dragged into the whole social media frenzy if you don’t want.
I probably have too many ‘friends‘ on there, but I can ‘silence’ the ones who I‘m not interested in reading how many coffees they’ve had in a morning etc.
I mainly use it to promote the S&DRHT at Midsomer Norton and for modelling resources. The few SP groups I am on, are brilliant, with many photographs of areas and scenes of the SP you probably would never find published in a book.
Join up, keep your profile hidden, and just join the groups that interest you! I’ve also managed to source some good deals on models from people wanting to get rid of their stuff……including a few too many Intermountain box cars in recent months……
cheers,
Stephen
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Well, Facebook and I don’t seem to get along. I’ll keep trying but so far I really don’t understand the platform. I may just browse where I can and leave it at that.
Stephen
Western Thunderer
Use the search function and simply search 'southern pacific'. Once the results come up, go to the 'Groups' tab and it should list all the related groups. You will probably have to 'join' a group, and they may ask security questions to ensure you don't spam the group selling fake rayban sunglasses etc.
Once you have joined all the groups you want, just scroll through the posts or go to the photos tab and enjoy.
Are you accessing on a mobile or laptop?
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Thanks, Stephen. I am using an old iPad Mini 4. I did do the search and came up with Prototype Southern Pacific. I then joined it successfully and wrote a post. However it didn’t “go through”. I was impressed with some of the entries (Mickoo’s being one!). Trying to understand the platform is my problem, though, so just browsing occasionally will be OK.
Last edited:
mickoo
Western Thunderer
It's not unusual for your first post, maybe even five or ten to be vetted by the admins before they let you loose, don't take that as a missive, it's what keeps the groups clean and free from spammers.
Once they're happy your a bona fida SP nutter they'll release you in to the wilds to post and interact freely.
Not sure what I posted in the Prototype southern pacific group as I don't have much original information or images to give, I'm still very much a pupil when it comes to a lot of stuff and some of these guys (several book authors) really know their stuff.
Once they're happy your a bona fida SP nutter they'll release you in to the wilds to post and interact freely.
Not sure what I posted in the Prototype southern pacific group as I don't have much original information or images to give, I'm still very much a pupil when it comes to a lot of stuff and some of these guys (several book authors) really know their stuff.
Stephen
Western Thunderer
A good one to join is 'San Francisco Bay area Vintage Photos and Stories Part Two' - pure SP porn, with so many really good quality photos of SP workings in the late 1940s/early 50s by a chap called Al Schwoerer. The composition of the photos gives a good overview of not just the motive power/rolling stock, but also the surrounding area, including cars, stations etc.
mickoo
Western Thunderer
Schwoerer can't be joined, only liked, again initial posts are vetted before you're let loose on posting.
Edit, SF Bay Area Pt 2 can be joined, I've been following his private page which can't be joined, generally the images are the same on both pages but Al's is all the high quality stuff and cuts out the modern dross on SF Bay Area Pt 2 page. There's the odd nugget from other posters but Al's work is the best and most prolific by far so I go to the source personally.
I've been hoovering up all his stuff for a year or more now, not only SP steam but San Francisco street scenes, bay area shipping, inter urbans etc etc, massive huge enormous collection of transportation in the bay area, all high quality, all downloadable and nothing I've ever seen elsewhere.
www.facebook.com
Rail stuff turns up in batches once or twice a week generally, sometimes it'll go several weeks without, but there's plenty of other stuff to see.
WT reduces the image size but on Schwoerer this is full screen quality, you just need to develop and eye that ignores the on image text and copyright. In this case it'd be quite easy to edit it out for personal use, but I download so much I simply do not have time to edit them anymore, besides it also stops me inadvertently uploading them in years to come and forget where they came from. It also means I don't have to write the information in the file name either.
Edit, SF Bay Area Pt 2 can be joined, I've been following his private page which can't be joined, generally the images are the same on both pages but Al's is all the high quality stuff and cuts out the modern dross on SF Bay Area Pt 2 page. There's the odd nugget from other posters but Al's work is the best and most prolific by far so I go to the source personally.
I've been hoovering up all his stuff for a year or more now, not only SP steam but San Francisco street scenes, bay area shipping, inter urbans etc etc, massive huge enormous collection of transportation in the bay area, all high quality, all downloadable and nothing I've ever seen elsewhere.
San Francisco Bay Area Vintage Photos and Stories Part Two. | Facebook
Vintage or historical photos and stories related to the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond is welcome here.
www.facebook.com
Rail stuff turns up in batches once or twice a week generally, sometimes it'll go several weeks without, but there's plenty of other stuff to see.
WT reduces the image size but on Schwoerer this is full screen quality, you just need to develop and eye that ignores the on image text and copyright. In this case it'd be quite easy to edit it out for personal use, but I download so much I simply do not have time to edit them anymore, besides it also stops me inadvertently uploading them in years to come and forget where they came from. It also means I don't have to write the information in the file name either.
Last edited:
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
The latest SD 35 nose and cab 3D printing. Yes, I expect you are right about the mods being cautious. And I did join at 3am European time! Very suspicious.
LarryG
Western Thunderer
I'm a FB user mostly to see road vehicles and old street scenes in the Lancashire town I grew up in plus of course keeping in touch with family and friends. Also nice to see how people I knew in the 1950's and 60's are getting on in old age. Only trouble is it is doing my eyes in.
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
I have signed up to four groups and will let the mods get back to me. So, back to modelling and planning.
Incidentally, I have a few photos of MP15s working Houston's dockland railroad, Port Terminal Railroad Association. Should I post them?
Incidentally, I have a few photos of MP15s working Houston's dockland railroad, Port Terminal Railroad Association. Should I post them?
jonte
Western Thunderer
I have a book by Pelle somewhere or other (probably in my mucky loft since the roof was replaced last year).
The fades/sun bleaching on the locos you see are achieved by spraying a very thin white acrylic over the blue/yellow/red factory colours, if I remember rightly, and rust colours are dabbed/painted on edges where say the plates meet and where one would expect rust to start, and streaks washed down with thinners/water depending on the medium, although AK products are similar.
He usually starts by removing the wheels of diesels and stock and painting them in different shades of rust. American modellers own ‘racks’ into which the wheels can be placed for painting.
Mike Confalone’s ‘Allagash’ is another gem :
He also produces weathering guides.
jonte
The fades/sun bleaching on the locos you see are achieved by spraying a very thin white acrylic over the blue/yellow/red factory colours, if I remember rightly, and rust colours are dabbed/painted on edges where say the plates meet and where one would expect rust to start, and streaks washed down with thinners/water depending on the medium, although AK products are similar.
He usually starts by removing the wheels of diesels and stock and painting them in different shades of rust. American modellers own ‘racks’ into which the wheels can be placed for painting.
Mike Confalone’s ‘Allagash’ is another gem :
He also produces weathering guides.
jonte
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
I hadn’t been back to trainorders.com for a while but last evening found a recent discussion on minimum radii. Seems the six axle diesels are the problem but often with the associated fore and aft stock derailing first. Also, lack of sideways movement of couplers may contribute to the derailing. 17” was quoted as a possible minimum but most agree 22” is necessary. As always, 36” is the concensus ideal. I shall have to build a test rig for 30” and see what happens. Only then will I know which extra modular baseboards to order.
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Here's a nice little project for a winter evening:
It's a Walther's tank car kit, purchased in 1985 and as yet unopened. I have already assembled at least 5 of these, plus one Phillips and one Sinclair tank each. The 36ft tank cars were in service during the post war years, this kit says it started service in 1949. As mentioned earlier, Cities Service was my employer from 1977 to 1983. Head office was Tulsa, the International office in Houston and the Refinery at Lake Charles, Louisiana. I went to Tulsa often, a busy railway town as evidenced from sleepless nights in downtown hotels.
As an aside, an interesting story from the Chief Medical Officer of the company, who came to Houston to talk to management about drugs in the workplace. After lighting a joint to see how many of us knew what it was (not many did) he then explained that the refinery had a different problem because smoking was prohibited. That problem? Cocaine! To complete the circle, Tulsa is famous for its "Tulsa Sound" from the likes of J J Cale, who coincidentally wrote the big hit "Cocaine", further popularised by Eric Clapton.
It's a Walther's tank car kit, purchased in 1985 and as yet unopened. I have already assembled at least 5 of these, plus one Phillips and one Sinclair tank each. The 36ft tank cars were in service during the post war years, this kit says it started service in 1949. As mentioned earlier, Cities Service was my employer from 1977 to 1983. Head office was Tulsa, the International office in Houston and the Refinery at Lake Charles, Louisiana. I went to Tulsa often, a busy railway town as evidenced from sleepless nights in downtown hotels.
As an aside, an interesting story from the Chief Medical Officer of the company, who came to Houston to talk to management about drugs in the workplace. After lighting a joint to see how many of us knew what it was (not many did) he then explained that the refinery had a different problem because smoking was prohibited. That problem? Cocaine! To complete the circle, Tulsa is famous for its "Tulsa Sound" from the likes of J J Cale, who coincidentally wrote the big hit "Cocaine", further popularised by Eric Clapton.
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Oh yes, the kit cost me $8.98.