Another Locomotive In Need Of Repair

My New York Central ALCO PA unit broke down. The PB unit is still working just fine. I will have to take the PA unit to Brasseur Electric Trains in Saginaw Michigan for repair. I already have an Ann Arbor GP38 there for repair to have the can motor replaced. It looks like I am having trouble keeping my locomotives running. The PA unit is getting the electricity to the motor but the motor is not running. I just don't know what the problem might be, but I hope I don't need to replace the motor in this locomotive as well.   

The Train That Runs On The Coffee Table

The train is modeled after the Ann Arbor Railroad under Detroit Toledo & Ironton Railroad control during the 1960's. 2 boxcars still display the Ann Arbor logo from when it was owned by the Wabash railroad. I have plans to add a few more cars to it but the layout is so small I will have to limit the number to only a few. There is still much work that needs to be done on the layout.

Ann Arbor Railroad Information

	Taken from  http://www.watcocompanies.com/Railroads/Ann_Arbor/AA%20main%20page.htm
The Ann Arbor began operations under Watco ownership in January of 2013.  The 50 mile short line serves Customers along the line which is in the middle of an automotive industry corridor. Finished automobiles are processed at AA's three vehicle distribution facilities in Toledo and serve Customers Chrysler, General Motors and Ford. In addition to just-in-time automobile parts and finished automobiles, the AA also handles a full range of commodities such as bulk materials (flour, sugar, grain, plastics, sand, cement and recyclables), paper, lumber and petroleum. The Ann Arbor has direct connections with three Class I railroads and three short lines. It connects with Class I's; Canadian National, the CSXT, and the Norfolk Southern and short lines Great Lakes Central, Indiana and Ohio and the Wheeling and Lake Erie. For efficiency and ease in disputing any and all customer invoicing, please send documentation to AAdisputes. To report or release a bad order railcar please email the following: aabadorders@watcocompanies.com. To request railcar repair/inspection please email tunderwood@watcocompanies.com or phone 620-235-7341.

I am Looking For an FB Unit

I am running a New York Central FA unit made by Aristocraft in G scale and I would like to find an FB unit to go with it. Aristocraft no longer makes the locomotive and does not have anymore in stock. If anyone can help me find one I would appreciate it.

I Might Have Found It

I may have found the HO Atlas GP38 Ann Arbor locomotive DC road number 7771. I hope the transaction goes smoothly. I have been looking for it for a long time. Thanks to everyone who has helped me in my search.

The N Scale Coffee Table Is Progressing

The N scale coffee table layout is coming along well. I've added a river and lake some buildings and started adding grass and trees. the process is going slow but it is starting to take shape. The train is modeled after the Ann Arbor Railroad under Detroit Toledo & Ironton Railroad control during the 1960's. 2 boxcars still display the Ann Arbor logo from when it was owned by the Wabash railroad. I am currently making trees to display a wooded area at the base of the mountain near the tunnel portal and the lake. As you can see there is still a lot more work that needs to be done to make the layout presentable.

Mothers Day Brought Me Outside

The weather is great today so I went outside to run my garden train. Sandy is busy cutting the grass and enjoying the weather also. The day could not be nicer for watching my New York Central freight train run around an expanded track. The track is roughly twice the size it was last year. I'm having a few issues with the F unit locomotive running smoothly but it is running. I'm sure it is because it hasn't been run all winter. I am looking forward to an expanded season of running the train.

It turned out there was nothing wrong with the locomotive. There was a loose wire that went from the transformer to the track which is now fixed.

Happy National Train Day

It's also the anniversary of driving of the Golden Spike by the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad at Promontory, Utah linking the transcontinental railroad in America in 1869.

My Search Is Still Unsatisfied

I have had a posting on my facebook group called Model Railroads for a long time now it reads
"I am looking for an HO Atlas GP38 Ann Arbor locomotive DC road number 7771 I know this is a very specific request but I have been looking for it for a few years. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it. you can contact me at freedmb@msn.com or leave me a comment on this site. Thanks"
So far I haven't had any success except for the following link that was sent to me
http://www.facebook.com/l/pAQHMT0eK/factorydirecttrains.com/gp38.aspx
It is exactly what I am looking for except it's in N Scale and not HO Scale. So close and yet so far away. I would like to set up an N Scale layout using that locomotive but I still want the HO version.

I Finally Took Back My Ann Arbor EMD GP38 For Repair

I was really displeased with the repair of my HO Ann Arbor EMD GP38 locomotive road number 7802. Last December I took the locomotive in for repair to Brasseur Electric Trains in Saginaw Michigan when I got it back the locomotive did not run well and stopped running altogether after about 3 weeks. I had an identical locomotive repaired the year before at Brasseurs and it worked really well after they replaced the can motor. It's still running fine today. So I took the broken locomotive back and asked that they replace the can motor in it as well. I have faith that this time the repair will work.

The Tunnel

I guess all I needed to do was to dig in and just make the tunnel that I was so worried about. I used two empty boxes to form the shape of the inside of the tunnel and cut large holes in the sides of the boxes so I could reach in with my hand. The track passed through one of the boxes and the other box served as access from the outside of the tunnel. I then crumpled sheets of paper and attached them to the outside of the boxes to give the mountain its irregular shape and I laid plaster cloth over the structure. the mountain with the tunnel is ready to paint. the opening where I put my hand in to retrieve derailed cars will be made to look like a cave. All in all I think it turned out really good.

It's painted but it needs a lot of detail work to finish off the look I am after.

The Landscaping Begins On The N Scale Layout

I began laying turf on the N scale layout today, and I was able to place a few buildings as well. The layout is starting to show some character. I still need to plan where the roads are going to be placed. I also have a small problem with how I am going to design a tunnel considering I will need to gain access to the inside of the tunnel in case there are any derailments. My problem is that the layout is exposed all around 360 degrees, so an opening would be visible. I haven't figured out what to do to make it pleasant to look at and still have access to the inside of the tunnel. If any readers have suggestions I would greatly appreciate comments with your suggestions. Please feel free to post your comments at any time on this site.