GLX Scale Models Derail Detail

First up, Brian Smith sent along this CP freight car photo that he took this week. As I told Brian, I'm not going to be trying to replicate this on a model.

At first, I thought it looked like boxcar's red paint had been water-blasted under such pressure that much of the red paint had been removed.  Note some horizontal lines of the remaining red.  But looking around on-line, I see that there are other boxcars with reporting numbers close to this one that appear somewhat similar.  So, some problem with the paint adhering seems more likely. This would make for a standout model though, if anyone makes a model of this type and size of car.  Thanks for the picture, Brian.

Along the GTW industrial line, this AFC 4-bay covered hopper waits on the lead for a car spot to open up at the MidWest Plastics plant.

The work crew (me) recently installed an operable derail on this lead, seen here just in front of the covered hopper.  Made by GLX Scale Models, I first saw this 2 or 3 weeks ago on Mathieu Lachance's excellent Hedley Junction blog.  Link to that post is below.

http://hedley-junction.blogspot.com/2020/03/grass-for-clermont-again.html

I ordered a couple of the GLX "between the rails" derails, and put one together in just a few minutes. I painted it with Railbox Yellow after assembly. Once in place, the derail does exactly that to whatever runs over it.

Here's my derail installed, and in the "open" position to allow cars and locomotives to pass over it.  I should mention that the cars did bounce a bit going across it, as did the engine.  I simply filed the derail down a little bit by the rails to solve that problem.  

I've been using a skewer to flip the derail open and closed as necessary.  Adds a little bit of realism to switching cars at the plastics moulding plant. I still need to make up a derail sign to place beside it.  I'll get to that sometime soon.