BHP Billiton SD40-2 released by Broadway Limited Imports

Hi All

You can now get a BHP Billiton SD40-2 from Broadway Limited Imports, in both the Bubble scheme, and the ex ICE blue and yellow.

3094 outside the Nelson Point locomotive workshops, its all the subtle details, like the step well plates,  and the low horizontal headlights.

Unfortunately all the locomotive painted in the BHP "bubble" or "Bunnings" livery are in fact rebuilt SD40 locomotives and not SD40-2, thus the BLI model is too long.
On the plus side the radiator grilles are the correct for the BHP model.

However check out the link below, and see for yourself.

http://www.broadway-limited.com/bli-2272emdsd40-2bhpironore3095bubblesschemeparagon2sounddcdccho.aspx

The other version offered is the rejected ICE SD40's these arrived still in the ICE blue and yellow, the example below, at the time is used as a yard shunter.

3078 in Nelson Point yard, and sports modifications for yard work, such as vents cut into the long hood doors for air cooling of the compressor, an Air conditioner  mounted on the walkway, a conduit mounted onto the roof, walkway flaps, and horizontal headlights.

Check out the link:
http://www.broadway-limited.com/bli-2274emdsd40-2bhpironore3078blueschemeparagon2sounddcdccho.aspx

A Pilbara layout is always on my Radar, and I have a BLI SD40-2 but in BNSF (thats another story), the sound system installed is quite realistic out of the box.    This model could definitely be part of your Pilbara collection.

Update:

As per Brad's request, BHP purchased only 5 SD40-2's that were SD40-2's from build, these locomotives were built with a longer frame than the standard SD40.  The rest of the fleet BHP purchased were SD40 locomotives rebuilt to SD40-2 standards.  However they still retained the shorter SD40 length frames.  The two pictures below illustrate the difference.

SD40 framed

SD40-2 framed, note the extra "porch" space

The BLI model has SD40-2 frames, where as they should be the shorter SD40 length.  No SD40-2 framed locomotive was painted in the bubble livery.
Also note the newer SD40-2 has the more modern radiator grilles.


Enjoy

Scott

Model Railroad Hobbyist $500 competition

Hi All

Model Railroad Hobbyist, has launched a competition for a beginner layout proposal, the aim is to create a complete operating layout with less than $500 USD.
Its a great competition, and gets you to think how you would create a layout, more to the point what would you model.
The US model market is such that you could accomplish this using a Northern American prototype.
As an extra degree of difficulty, do you think you could make an Australian layout for the same cost?

Click on the link below:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/add/article

Thanks

Scott

Alice Springs enters phase II Bow River

Hi All

Time for another update, I have started on Phase II, Bow river bridge.

Alice Springs looking south.

The Heavitree Gap, will be on this board.

Alice Springs yard looking north.

The Bow River bridge is on the board to the left.

All ready for "foaming"

The design Phase III, Phase II is at the bottom of the image.

Enjoy

Scott

Alice Springs yard update the industrial area is connected

Hi All

the intermodal area is now connected to the rest of the yard as is the industrial area, so its all moving ahead.

I have also started on the hard stand area.

to see final fits I have populated the yard with 1993 era stock.

thanks

Scott

Auscision's new locomotive UGL C43 C44ACi

Hi All

Just to let you know Auscision's new locomotive is the UGL C43 C44ACi.
Updated
I am not sure which liveries are going to be done at this time.
but there is plenty to chose from:
QRN 5001 to 5012 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=252884&nseq=92
QRN 5021 to 5039 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=398213&nseq=0
QRN 6001 to 6012  http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=303922&nseq=26 
QRN 6021 to 6032 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=407612&nseq=4
GWA's GWU 201 to 209 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=404704&nseq=6
PN 9201 to 9215 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=361427&nseq=30
ARG's AC, ACA & ACB class http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=294305&nseq=64
CFCLA CF4401 to 4406 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=388559&nseq=0
Xtrada XRN001 to XRN020 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=380381&nseq=0
SSR (this is the one they are advertising.)
CEY001 to CEY007 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=410530&nseq=1
PN 9301 to 9308 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=405595&nseq=2

The pipe side of this model looks like it is not half relief, yippy!

It seems strange that Austrains didn't have this on their radar, not exactly a one for one by any stretch, but the NR tooling would have been a great starting point.

As Glen rightly pointed out, there are close to the same number of UGL C44ACi running around now than NR's.
last count its up to 139 units.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Auscision-Models/136260326407914

So this model will fill the gap in the ultra modern theme, as Alice Springs could do with some GWU's.
and Barcoola could do with some 6000's

Enjoy

Scott

Alice Springs construction progress

Hi All

Alice Springs has come alive with a south side of the yard laid.  Here is some progress shots.

Doug came by for a construction inspection, I will let you know when we can start operating!

The CLP and 603 sit in the space of the locomotive depot, to the right is the end loading trackage, in the background is the main yard tacks, in the distance to the location of the goods shed.

The north end of the yard, trackage to the left is the going to the industrial  branch., the curved Peco Point the  northern end of the yard.

The yard looking east, at the west end of the yard is a set of double  crossovers, trackage to the left is the intermodal tracks, a new addition is a dummy track to the south side industrial sidings, in ultra modern Alice Springs, this road is used to store Sadabin's tankers, so I thought it would be a good idea to incorporate this section of trackage.

In the real Alice Springs the distance between the goods shed and the intermodal sidings are a lot wider, however this is the maximum width that I could build for operators to have access to both sides of the yard, the Fuller road system will be going in where the black Kenworth is standing.

The east end of the yard looking east.  The turntable is a Walthers build up, will fit within the 60mm thick  board.

The yard looking west, the track in the middle of frame is the carriage cleaning siding, I have also added a point to access the turntable, again as per prototype.

The southern end of the yard looking north. 

Intermodal sidings are to the right, main line and arrival and departure sidings are at the left.

The turntable control will be hidden behind a fence, now is a dirt bike store.

Enjoy.

Scott

Alice Springs Circa 1980

Hi All

With everything going crazy, things finally settled down to a low roar.  As such I have managed to wire and seal all the Alice Springs yard boards.  The Turntable is a Walthers 90ft built up.  The boards have been painted a base colour.

The end result is what Alice Springs might look like in 1980.

thanks

Scott