COLTAINER CARS

Here are several photos I took earlier this year of an old Coltainer car. Actually, the car and the Coltainer containers were not originally used together; I believe the spine car was originally used to haul a different, though similar, type of open-top container that was double-stacked on the ends only. The Coltainer was originally developed by Norfolk Southern to carry coal shipments by either truck or train, hence the name. I have seen this set-up in the yard at least once more, several cars were in a train on one the tracks used for locals. I believe that these containers are now used to haul scrap steel, a use which has probably saved them from being scrapped themselves!

MONTVIEW YARD FACILITIES

Here are some shots of Norfolk Southern's Montview Yard that I recently took.

An overall view of the shop buildings. Notice the lean-to roof added to the dismounted trailer, along with the windows. There is also a picnic table for the employees. The end building is apparently the office.

A closer view of the trailer and container joined and converted into a shop facility. Note the window A/C unit held up by a wooden post. A large propane tank is located along the side of the container 'crossing the T'. I have included a similarly modified shipping container as a workshop on my HO scale layout.

A shot of the M.O.W. trucks and storage trailers.

An office trailer is located at the far end. It's not permanently mounted on a foundation or blocks, but still on it's wheels.

The view from the opposite end. Note the ties stacked up. Just to the left, and out of the picture, there was also a stack of 40' rails, similar to the Life-Like SceneMaster load sets. The paved road is publicly accessible; the gravel portion in the distance is NS property (no trespassing). If you are looking to detail your modern-day model railroad yard, these photos should help you.

ANOTHER OLD GON STILL GOING

These three shots are of a old N&W mill gondola still in service. It is loaded with steel I beams.

As you can see, it still has it's 60's-era 'Hamburger Herald'! If any of you still have the old Walthers 50' 'waffle-side' boxcars, the CSX boxcar is the current-day match.

This last photo is for those of you who want to detail your model train track a little differently. In addition to the fresh ties set off to the side for future useage, notice the ballast. While fresh ballast has been laid on the outside of the rails, the old ballast is still present on the inside. Definately something different to model.

TRACK MAINTENANCE(?)

I know, it's been awhile since I last updated this blog, but I've been busy with my layout. Speaking of which, today I took these pictures of the yard tracks in Montview yard and may just try this on my layout.

As you can see, a good amount of grass has grown up between the tracks. There was a small amount of grass on the track on the right (farther up, out of the picture), but this track was the worst.
An attempted close-up of the grass. Given the relatively abundant rainfall we've seen over the past month, it probably should be no supprise that the grass is nice and green. Right now, it actually looks better than most of the lawns in the area!

Not a train pic, but two shots I took Monday morning of a 57' T-Bird hard top convertible parked out behind a local doctor's office. The car looks to be in excellent shape, inside and out. The license plate says it all -'LUCKY 57'!

Here are some shots I took of a transformer sitting in Montview Yard this morning. Whether this came from Delta Star or another place I don't know, but it was one of two awaiting movement. The other one was underneath the opposite bridge and I couldn't get a good shot of it. However, for you modelers who like oversized loads, these shots should help you accurately model the tie-downs and bracing needed. The car is similar to the Walthers depressed-center flatcar; note, however, that this car only has a brakestand on one end instead of both like the Walthers' car. The transformer is also similar to the one made by Walthers. Note also the rust stains on the car's deck, as well as the brake lines and piping. Speaking of Walthers kits, the two covered hoppers next track over are similar to the Pressure-Diferential hopper cars Walthers made years ago. If you have one of these cars, you can see how they have held up over the years. The first one seem to be 'painted' rust!

OLD CARS STILL GOING

Unlike last week, not much going on this week in Montview Yard. I did, however, get a few photos of an old Illinois Terminal gon. It still has it's ACI plate! It's probably about ready to join the old autos loaded in some of the other gons nearby. When seen from above, you can see the ground underneath along the sides. Hasn't been painted in a while, possibly since the N&W bought the IT in 1982.

I also took two photos of NS caboose# 555645. It, too, has seen better days. Notice that it still has it's roofwalks. I've been told that many, if not most, NS cabooses still do have them. In the Lynchburg area, NS uses cabooses for locals serving a Glad manufacturing plant and, apparently, a scrap dealer. Most other runs usually don't see a caboose, except for the occasional over-sized load- a branch off the main through the yard serves Delta Star, who builds transformers.