Who Doesn't Like an RBOX ?

I've picked up a couple of new Intermountain Models 50 foot RBOX cars.  I bought them pre-owned through the facebook Canadian Model Railroad Buy/Sell group but they had never been out of the box.

I haven't done any weathering to them yet, but I will.  And toward that goal, I bought and have received the complete set of six weathered/faded RBOX decals from Precision Design Company.  I've used these same decals before, and they are top-notch quality.  I ordered them online of course, and buying the full set of six saved me $5, plus the company pays the shipping (mailing) cost.

The complete set of 6 weathered and faded RBOX decals.

And so here are a few looks at my 2 new Intermountain boxcars.

Gotta straighten that one stirrup

The yellow overspray along the edges of the roofs is a nice touch.

And out on the layout, two weeks ago we followed a one car train heading around to drop an RBOX along South Industrial Boulevard.

Sorry to repeat myself by showing this view from that previous post again, but I want to point put that I had weathered that RBOX a few years back using a PDC decal set.

Here's a look at engine 813 and the single cylindrical hopper it picked up on it's way back to the JSSX yard.

I'll have more on that part of the operation next time.

Have a good week out there.

2-Bay Covered Hopper

I haven't spent much time at the model railroad for a little while, not intentionally, but it's just sort of worked out that way.  And no, not "taking a break" from it, as some might say.  It's just that the nice summer weather has provided opportunities to do some other things.  

Anyway, I've weathered this DT&I 2-bay covered hopper for Brian over the past week or so.That orange sure is bright.  I thought that the irregular spacing of the numbers on the car was a little unusual looking.

Faded and flattened, and with a few rusty scars.  And some rust along the edges of the ribs.

And the other side. Added a light touch of silver at the tip of the Kadee trip pin to try to suggest a glad hand.  Wheels and trucks done with Vallejo Rust Texture.

A view of the top of the car.

Looks pretty good here, as it's out on the rails of the JSSX

And I made a trip down to Broughdale Hobby in London this morning.  I haven't been there for quite a long while, so it was real nice to see Jason (owner) and to go through the shop looking for to see what I might find.  Here's the few items I came away with:

Couplers, rail joiners, Microscale clear flat, and Vallejo Dark Brown and White Gray, and a pre-owned 65 foot mill gondola.  Hoping to use that White Gray for paint fading.

The Walthers 65' Mill Gondola came with a load of what looks like coal.  I'll be cleaning that out though, as I don't have anywhere on the layout that coal would be headed for.

So that's about all for now.  Have a good week.

Follow A One Car Train

 I thought that this time we'd try to follow along as JSSX 813 heads out to drop off an RBOX.

Here's good old 813, lights on, and just leaving the maintenance department.

813 in the JSSX yard has hooked onto the RBOX car.

After leaving the yard, the train reaches the front of the railroad where we get a closer look at RBOX 31916 (an Intermountain model).  I think of a train doing switching in this area of the layout as 'working the front'.

And a "going away" view of this very short train at the switch where the JSSX diverges off from "the front" toward the South Industrial Blvd. section.

Here's a clear look at the switch where "the front" section diverges off to the left to begin the route over to the South Industrial job.  Over to the far left is a GTW train passing under the overpass.

Now just entering the street trackage at South Industrial Blvd., 813 will have to drop the boxcar and runaround to it's other end and then shove it into it's spot at the customer.

During the run around, and it looks like the truck driver got the transport out of 813's way just in time.

And there's RBOX 31916 finally being shoved into place at the customer's dock. Look closely through the fence to see railroad employee standing at the far end of the boxcar.

Thanks for looking in.  And have a Happy 4th of July.