A BNSF EMD GP9 takes other EMD GP9's that are from defunct companies from Victorville to Barstow to be scrapped on the Cajon Pass route.
Three out-of-order captures from my initial run of a scenario for Riviera Line in the 30s third-party route. I downloaded the scenario pack (by British Locomotive Studio - BLS) months ago, but wasn't able to install it due to an omission in the instructions on how to install required MT/CW passenger coach reskins (which don't overwrite the originals). A chat with someone BLS via Facebook this evening set things to rights. Sadly, none of several images of the train with its loco traveling smoke-box forward passed muster for posting. Nor do we get a good side view of the coach reskins. It is what it is. The loco is Digital Traction's GWR Dean Goods: The reskins - Caledonian Railway coaches, now in GWR plumage suitable to the era. That the loco 'does' face forward here is irrelevant: We're at the halfway point, ending a small series of shunting maneuvers, just prior to recoupling with our passenger coaches and beginning the return run:
2 BNSF EMD SD70ACes and 4 Union Pacific GE ES44ACs are having a friendly and safe race to see who can get to the summit of the Cajon Pass first, after this the 2 BNSF EMD SD70ACes will continue their journey until they stop at Hesperia. This last screenshot is of the Union Pacific GE ES44ACs trying to catch up to the BNSF EMD SD70ACes.
1) A Siemens ACS-64 with a southbound 55 Vermonter just outside New Haven 2) A Metro-North Kawasaki M8 on its way out from Grand Central towards Stamford 3) A Bombardier Talent 2 enjoys autumn sunlight on the Semmeringbahn 4) A Hitachi Class 395 works towards Faversham on a gloomy summer day 5) Freightliner takes a colorful container train towards Glasgow
5 BNSF EMD SD70MACs (3 at the front, 2 at the back) pull a heavy coal train from Victorville to Barstow on the Cajon Pass route.
Captures on Riviera Line - GWR Era (third-party route). The train consists of an SSS/VW GWR Manor, pulling BLS GWR reskins mentioned in my previous post. Only, we get a chance to actually see them this time. This is a Quick Drive, not a bona fide scenario: (A good view of the carriages / reskins.)
Yet more captures on Riviera - GWR Era route, with trains sporting recently installed GWR Coach reskins by BLS. This time we see a GWR "Dean Single" pulling one 6-wheel luggage / brake van followed by a string of 45ft carriages. (Previous contributions have used 6-wheel carriages):
Norfolk Southern GP33ECO + Slug, with a cut of cars for the branch section of the Norfolk Southern N-Line.
Bought a Southern Railway L1 4-4-0 yesterday, during Caledonian Works' ongoing 30% off Sale. It's proving quite the challenge. It features a "steam reverser", my first encounter with such. Setting it is different from what I'm used to, more akin to how many steam locomotives' brake work. What's more, I can't figure out how to use in via the F4 HUD. If I'm anything, it's an F4 HUD driver. Switching to F5 HUD to manipulate the reverser, then back to F4 for all else, is going to take a LOT of getting used to. Be that as it may, here are a few captures made during several trial runs on Portsmouth Line Direct: An image from an early trial run. Behind our Southern Malachite L1 is an SR luggage van from the CW SR luggage van pack. Coaches are Matrix Trains Pullmans, available at Steam Sounds Supreme: My most recent run. Only coaches have changed: The L1's interior. As I'm leaning out driver's side, the "steam reverser" is hidden:
Preparations for the journey to Mitchel on the Bedford Junction Branch Route..... View attachment 83378
Norfolk Southern #8101 (Central of Georgia heritage unit) leads an Intermodal unit train on The Racetrack
A pre-sun early dawn passenger run from Swanage to Wareham on the Purbeck Line (Golden Age Developments). The train is headed not by the expected Digital Traction LSWR/SR M7 (featured in several of Purbecks scenarios) but is instead an LB&SCR D1, in Southern Malachite, by Caledonia Works. It pulls a rake of Bullied Carriages. The D1 is easy and fun to drive. I enjoy it very much. Swanage Station, circa 0545 on what will be a cloudy Summer day. A mere hint of sunrise-to-come emerges above the treeline. Passengers will soon board, and the lamp-code set: Viewing the landscape from a passenger's perspective as the sky grows slightly lighter. (I think the carriage interior lighting is quite effective here.): The gloom of night further recedes as we pause at Corfe Castle, the run's one interim stop: Steaming through a sleepy pastoral landscape en route to Wareham: (This image doesn't fare well against the forum's white background, it seems. Expand it to full-screen for best effect.)
Union Pacific Intermodal running on the Livonia Division: Monroe - Subdivision, in the Summer's morning sunshine
A rare ATSF leader on a BNSF manifest running through Montana on the Montana Hi-Line: Shelby - Havre.
My last contribution being captured during early dawn, I figure I owe it to the LBSCR-D1 to show it at least once in sunshine. Here it is, same train configuration as before, having just departed Waterloo Station, on Portsmouth Line Direct:
This evening was devoted to a passenger run on Settle and Carlisle, departing Carlisle Station at around 0550 on a cloudy summer morning bound for Settle. The train consists of a (Caledonia Works) L&Y Class-5 2-4-2T steam loco, in weathered BR Late Crest, pulling a short-rake of (AP) BR MK1 Crimson Coaches. Building PSI before boarding passengers at Carlisle Station: A trio of images of the train traversing an early morning landscape: At Armathwaite Station: As luck would have it, my brother called immediately after the above capture. Game paused, we had a nice talk. At its end, I clicked CONTINUE to find the game frozen solid, bringing the session to a close. Such is life on the railways.
This week I'm taking a bunch of older shots I kept for sharing because. 1) Amtrak P30CH on Soldier - Another angle, I like the mood of the route, weather and Phase 3 combined 2) Siemens ES64 on Koblenz-Trier - Another mood shot, also like how the grass makes it feel a lot better 3) NS High Hood SD40-2 with mixed parcels on Castle Rock - Last place on the hi-fi contest, still like the mood and a rare subject 4) EWS 08 at Grangemouth - I really appreciate the autumn vibes, goes well with the mildly rusty EWS colors 5) Class 57 at Grangemouth - The colorful clutter at this location feels lively
After coming in from work, I suddenly realised the March Madness sale ended in just a few minutes so decided to have a last browse. Boy was I glad I did, I nearly missed out on nabbing this little gem for £3.59. It is an absolute little stunner. (Mesh Tools Class 2F Dock Tank)
And with that, I just got an e-mail that much of the old (BNSF) loco packs (and more) are discounted! ;-) The 2F looks nice, is it with scenarios for Falmouth? Looking forward to some of your adventures with it.
Stafford - Rugby in 86609, then onwards to Watford junction with 90016 leading (86609 DIT) for a crew change at Watford Junction. I`m loving the night time Arc`ing of the AP 86 & 90!
British Rail Class 14 'D9526' is in charge of the Washford Wanderer passenger service going from Minehead to Washford due to British Rail Class 33 'D6575' suffering mechanical failures on a foggy day on the West Somerset Railway.
A continuation of the Carlisle to Settle passenger run begun last post, only with a different train: A (Caledonia Works) LNWR "Greater Britain" 2-2-2-2 steam loco In LNWR "Blackberry" livery, pulling a rake of (Matrix Trains / Steam Sounds Supreme) LNWR Carriages. I couldn't get the acceleration or speed from it experienced with the L&Y Class-5 on this same route. Then again, "Greater Britain" is hauling several more coaches. Taking on water at Appleby. Greater Britain, in my hands, is something of a water guzzler, not helped by the route's numerous inclines, where I needed to push the loco fairly hard:
A 6-car M4 unit on the New Haven Semi-Express passes a duo of EMD SD40-2 diesel locomotives on a mixed freight service bound for New York.
Part 1 of a journey with 2 Amtrak EMD F40PH's pulling the California Zephyr going Eastbound from Provo to Helper, however on part 1 of this journey it will be stopping at a signal halfway due to being held up by a D&RGW freight train on the Soldier Summit.
