Making A Modern Ann Arbor Caboose

I just painted up a caboose and I need to add the decals to make it an Ann Arbor caboose that was used just before the use of cabooses was discontinued altogether. The color is just right. It will go great with my Ann Arbor freight train.

It will be decal-ed to match the following picture of an actual Ann Arbor caboose.

The decals are already on hold at Mountain Town Hobbies in Mt Pleasant Michigan.

Walthers Announces New Named Train For 2015

The B&O Capital Limited is to be the new named train Walthers will be producing for the 2015.

History:
Unveiled in May of 1923, the Capitol Limited was Baltimore & Ohio's entry into the three-way fight for the lucrative east coast-Chicago passenger traffic. Unlike NYC and PRR who focused on New York City however, B&O emphasized its Washington-Chicago service, with a connecting New York City train. Popular from the start, The Cap became the premiere train on the B&O, and the East's first streamlined, diesel-powered flagship in 1938.

By 1953, B&O had acquired enough lightweight cars, many coming from canceled C&O orders, to streamline The Cap. Among them were three unique Strata-Dome sleepers making B&O the only road with domes in the east.

To maintain high levels of service and reduce costs in the late 1950s, The Cap was combined with its running mate The Columbian. Usually handling 13 cars, the combined train included a mix of coaches, food service cars, Strata-Domes and sleepers, along with occasional heavyweights when demand warranted.

Following the C&O take-over in 1963, a concerted effort was made to consolidate and modernize passenger service with innovations such as off-peak fares and simplified ticket purchasing.

Although operating as two separate roads, equipment and motive power were freely mixed and matched, but no compromise was permitted in service, which was maintained right to the end in 1971.

A decade later, the Capitol Limited returned as a new Amtrak train, and remains one of its most popular today.

Based on the combined Capitol Limited of the late 1950s with its unique consist that included the famed Strata-Domes, Slumbercoaches, Twin-Unit Diner and other signature equipment behind new E9 diesels, this WalthersProto replica is a fitting tribute to one of America's greatest streamliners, perfect for operating or collecting!

Limited-Run Deluxe Edition B&O Capitol Limited

From Lunch Counter to Observation/Lounge, this limited-run set is the most realistic replica of the famed Capitol Limited available today! The WalthersProto Deluxe Edition Capitol Limited delivers a complete consist of 10 fully assembled HO Scale cars, each ready to enjoy in operation or on display.

But that's not all — for the first time, Deluxe Edition Capitol Limited cars feature factory-printed car names and numbers in addition to factory-Installed LED interior lighting that operates on DCC or DC layouts, and Preiser passengers (150+ figures total) — a $59.95 retail value per car if purchased separately — yours to enjoy with no extra work needed!

Limited to just 400 sets and sold only as a complete 10-car train, each superb replica includes eight newly-tooled signature models for an authentic late 1950s consist with Baggage-Dorm-Coffee Shop, Strata-Dome Coach, Strata-Dome Sleeper, Twin-Unit Full Diner & Kitchen Cars, 5-Bedroom Buffet Lounge Observation, 16-4 Sleeper, 56-Seat Coach, 24-8 Slumbercoach and 10-6 Sleeper with Fluted Sides.

Deluxe Edition cars are scheduled to arrive in the same month as the standard models, with the first release expected in November 2014. Individual Deluxe Edition cars vary in price between $110.00 and $120.00 each.

Like the original Capitol Limited, we expect this collectible car set to move quickly! Remember, previous Deluxe Edition Name Trains have sold out at Walthers in a matter of hours, so check with a participating hobby shop to reserve yours right away.

The consists are outlined on the Walthers web site as follows:

Capitol Limited Consists
Streamlined in 1953, the B&O Capitol Limited remained an all-Pullman train until 1950s, when it was combined with The Columbian.

Here are some sample consists to help you get started.

Mid-February 1955 Baggage Dorm Lounge 16-4 Sleeper 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper - ATSF "Pine" Series (Washington - San Diego) Heavyweight 12-1 Sleeper 5-3-1 Strata-Dome Sleeper Heavyweight Diner 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper 1958 - #6 Chicago-Washington Eastbound Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage Slumbercoach 56-Seat Coach 56-Seat Coach 42-Seat Strata-Dome Coach 16-4 Sleeper Kitchen/Dorm (Twin Unit car) 64-Seat Full Diner (Twin Unit car) 5-3-1 Strata-Dome Sleeper 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper 1958 - #6 Washington-Baltimore Eastbound Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper 56-Seat Coach 56-Seat Coach Diner 24 Roomette Duplex Sleeper* 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Baggage/Buffet/Lounge 10-5 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Coach Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage * Pullman-assigned L.S. Hungerford, or leased ATSF Indian Mesa or Indian Song

Summer 1965 - #5 Washington-Chicago Westbound Heavyweight Railway Post Office Heavyweight Railway Post Office Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage/Lounge Coach Coach Coach 42-Seat Strata-Dome Coach Coach Coach 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 24-8 Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper PRR 13-Double Bedroom Sleeper 16-4 Sleeper 64-Seat Full Diner (Twin Unit car) Kitchen/Dorm (Twin Unit car) Mid-Train Lounge-Sleeper (former Observation) 10-6 Sleeper 14-4 Sleeper June 1968 - #5 Washington-Chicago Westbound Heavyweight Express Heavyweight Baggage Coach Strata Club (Snack Bar/Lounge, converted Strata-Dome Coach) Coach Diner 24-8 Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper Coach* Coach* Heavyweight Baggage* Heavyweight Express* * To Train #19 at Willard, Ohio June 1968 - #6 Chicago-Washington Eastbound Heavyweight Baggage Coach Coach Strata Club (Snack Bar/Lounge, converted Strata-Dome Coach) Coach Diner Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper* Coach* Coach 11-Double Bedroom Sleeper (C&O)* * From Train #20 at Willard, Ohio

B&O Capitol Limited Passenger Cars
Welcome aboard Baltimore & Ohio's famed flagship, The Capitol Limited - the newest WalthersProto name train in HO scale, featuring:

• 10 Authentic B&O Cars — Most Available in Plastic for the Very First Time
• Eight Newly-Tooled Signature Cars
• Based on Cars in Regular "Cap" Service from the Late 1950s to 1971
• Real Metal Finish Simulates Stainless Steel as Appropriate
• Paint Color-Matched to Original Drift Cards
• Prototypically Accurate Window Tinting as Appropriate
• Factory-Installed Steel Grab Irons
• Car Name & Number Decals
• Turned Metal Wheelsets
• Proto MAX™ Metal Knuckle Couplers

Baltimore & Ohio Diesel-Electrics
Roaring across the Midwest or scaling the Alleghenies, B&O's E unit fleet was entrusted to keep The Cap on time, all the time! Replicas of the road's E9 and E8Bm diesels, our models are complete with authentic details, correct paint and lettering, and available in your choice of Soundtraxx® Tsunami® sound for DCC or DC layouts or Standard DC versions, featuring:

• Limited Edition — One-Time Run of these Engine Numbers
• Based on Class DP-6 (E9A Units) and Rebuilt DP7-X (E8Bm) Units featuring:
  * Raised B&O Capitol Dome Logo
  * Brass Nathan M5 Air Horn
  * Single Headlight with Flush "Glass" and Gasket Detail
  * Flush Number Boards
  * ATS Shoe on Engineer Side Truck
  * Stainless Steel Side Grilles
  * Full Fuel Tank Skirts
  * Improved Steam Generator Details
• Available with Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound for DCC or DC Layouts
• Five-Pole, Skew-Wound, High-Torque, High-Efficiency Can Motor
• Helical Gears with 12:1 Ratio for Smooth, Ultra-Quiet Running
• Correct 36" Wheels
• Easy Multiple-Unit Operation
• Proto MAX™ Metal Knuckle Couplers

It looks like the train will be a great addition to anyone's layout.

Repairs Are Coming Along

I will soon have my Ann Arbor GP38, road number 7802, back from repair at Brasseur's Electric Trains in Saginaw Michigan I had the motor replaced. There are 2 others that I need to pay for and pick up. One is a New York Central F3A unit, and the other is a C&O Pere Marquette E7A unit road number 96. There is another New York Central ALCO PA unit, road number 4202, that I had just picked up that still has the same problem with it as when I brought it in for repair the first time. That will most likely need the motor replaced in it as well.
Once I have the Ann Arbor GP38 back on the tracks my Ann Arbor freight train will be complete. Once the New York Central ALCO PA unit is repaired and back on the tracks my New York Central passenger train will be complete. I am saving money to purchase the two Pere Marquette EMD E7A locomotives, road numbers 103 and 105, I have on hold at Mountain Town Hobbies in Mount Pleasant Michigan. I am hoping that I can get one of them for my birthday next month. That will complete the C&O Pere Marquette passenger train sold by Walthers as the 2013 named train. All in all my indoor HO layout in very near completion. I just have some landscaping to do to finish it off.

The N Scale Coffee Table Layout Is Progressing Just Fine

My N Scale coffee table layout is coming along, the bulk of the work is complete. I need to work on the edges of the table on the outside of the tracks and put down some more grass. at the bottom of the picture is roughly where the forest will go. I will most likely add another house on the edge of the forest. I still need to make the trees I will be using to create the forest. I am hoping I can enlist the help of my wife Sandy to do the landscaping around the houses. She did such a great job on my indoor HO scale layout. The layout is not modeled after anything in existence. I have called the small town "Salt Creek" after the original name for the village of Shepherd Michigan. There is a small farm, a church, a general store, a school, a hotel, a train station, and three houses. as you can tell there is still a bit more I need to add. The train I am running is an Ann Arbor freight train consisting of 3 box cars, a tank car, 2 covered hoppers, a coal hopper, a gondola, and a caboose. any more and my train will be to big for the limited space afforded by the coffee table.

Two Pyrofax Bottled Gas Tank Cars

Now I have 2 Pyrofax Bottled Gas tank cars road numbers 1366 and 1367 they really dress up the look of the Ann Arbor freight train. All I need to do now is to pick up the GP38 locomotive that I have in for repair at Brasseur's Electric Trains in Saginaw Michigan. Then the Ann Arbor freight train will be considered complete. it consists of 3 GP38 locomotives 4 boxcars 2 tank cars 2 3 bay covered hoppers 2 center flow covered hoppers 4 2 bay covered hoppers 4 coal cars 1 flat car with ends and a gondola. That's a lot of train.

New 11,000 Gallon Tank Car

After 2 weeks of camping I had accumulated enough pop cans to purchase an 11,000 gallon tank car at Mountain Town Hobbies in Mt. Pleasant Michigan. It is a Pyrofax Bottled Gas tank car road number #1366 that I am adding to my Ann Arbor freight train. I also put aside a matching car road number #1367. that I will pay for after we go camping again in three weeks. This will enhance the Ann Arbor freight train greatly and I will consider the freight train complete. I believe that Pyrofax Bottled Gas is part of Union Carbide.