Benson, Arkansas

[broadoak]

The Alco visitor this time is from a genuine short line called Delaware Lackawanna who run a freight service from Scranton PA to Carbondale and to Mount Pocono.
The model belongs to my old friend Andy Knott who bought them from a model shop in the USA via E-bay. He brought it up a couple of weeks ago to have a run on my Benson layout. It is DCC fitted as are most of his locos.










Peter M

[broadoak]

I have found a couple of pictures to show the ore cars being worked through the loader and the two F7 road switchers waiting on the team track. Then rolling forward prior to running round the loaded cars.
When exhibiting I liked using the two F units but my other helpers did not, they always ran conventional road switchers like an SP SD45 or an SP SD7 Cadillac.
The blue box Athearn Cadillac growled from new and it still does some twenty odd years and many hours of trouble free running later.





Peter M

[broadoak]

The photographs of Andy's Shay locomotive in the yard at Colonel's Crossing.

Peter M

[broadoak]

A couple of pictures showing RI #947 an EMD SW1500 switcher wearing the bankruptcy blue livery she wore in the later part of the 1970's. She is seen arriving with two RI empty covered hoppers to be loaded at the Western Grain Co elevator at Colonel's Crossing.
In the foreground is the premises of KAP lumber, who manage much of the forestry in the area.
In the background is the depot and a water tower. The latter belongs to a local preservation society who run the occasional train. Although I have never seen a steam loco on the layout myself.
 
Peter M

[Stese]

truly wonderful modelling!

[broadoak]

Thank you Stese, it was fun to do.
Taking photographs is another activity that gives me pleasure, low down ones look the most realistic.

kind regards Peter M

[broadoak]

My old friend Andy Knott, the guy who took these photographs comes up from time to time to play trains. He has only a small layout at home so it is a good way of giving his locos a bit of a gallop.
He is the owner of this all singing and dancing Conrail GE B23-7 road switcher. Two wires connected by crocodile clips to my DC set up and we had the benefits of full sounds etc.





Firstly we see No 2810 about to rumble over Colonel’s Creek with a small pulpwood train.



Conrail #2810 a GE 23-7 four axle switcher spotting cars at Benson.
The large building (Redwing Milling) is a scratch built grain elevator complex made from a plasticard shell covered with corrugated iron sheeting. I re-scaled an N scale drawing in a magazine of an actual prototype in Montana. I painted it white originally but it looked a bit too stark, I think it looks better in this more muted shade.

Peter M

[broadoak]

Two GP38-2’s on the joining track between Benson and CC. The loco nearest the camera is fitted with dynamic brakes, note the blisters on the hood sides at the top above the number.

Peter M

[broadoak]

A Boston & Maine geep is setting back with a cut of pulpwood flat cars in the siding next to the Midas Cement facility in Benson east yard.
The model is another of Andy's who always brings some locomotives from eastern road for a run, as at this time he didn't have a layout at home.

Peter M

[broadoak]

A few pictures of an SW1500 no 1318 wearing the UP livery with Mopac lettering which it wore for a short time.
The switcher is seen working the yard at Colonel’s Crossing having brought in a train of covered hoppers from Hope AR.
I read in an American railway magazine that these locomotives could be very hot to work in during the Summer due to the large area of glass, a bit like a greenhouse I should think!
 







Peter M