Late Spring 2025
We are now into the late spring of 2025; hopefully things will settle down for a bit and allow us to enjoy the spring and warmer temperatures. Things have been buzzing around here for a bit, that’s for sure. I have finished the MPHS F-7B projects and have delivered them to Doc’s Caboose in Kansas City MO. Those units are available for purchase on the MPHS website Company Store. I have likewise finished the canary GP15-1 for friend Jerel Eames. I am putting the finishing touches on the article and photos of the unit as well. I am now working on units for myself; with a few more Jenks Blue custom painted units and am installing the full light package and Soundtraxx Sound in them. These are Athearn Genesis GP38-2’s and a couple more GP15-1s. I am lining up a few older Genesis GP15-1s to retrofit and repaint in the near future for additional power.
Things on the home front are finally in full swing and I am finally going to be able to get my railroad and life back on track…it’s been a struggle for the past couple of years; and I couldn’t have done it without the support from very good friends and they know who they are. I am planning on getting the coal rolling again first off; with a new version of the Joppa Sub; but with more focus on the local operations and using Soundtraxx to enhance both sound and operations on the layout. Using Soundtraxx Blunami and their Sound car decoders will enhance the operations of train brakes and charging the brake lines at the completion of switching operations at the mines; as well as shuffling cars in West Frankfort. The added features of full LED lighting and such will likewise enhance the operations of each train as it makes it way along the branch.
I am eager to try out the new Walthers Code 83 and Code 70 Branch line track and switches. These are fine pieces of track; and have replaced my entire Micro Engineering track supply over the past two years while I was recovering from the divorce and resulting hardships. I am looking forward to trying out their new gray tinted road bed; but only on straight sections; as I see that trying to use it on curves right now might be a chore without a subtle notching of each section to allow it to smoothly be curved; even with the larger 42″ radius.
Likewise looking forward to new SW-1 and NW-2 engines from Walthers; as well as SD50’s; GP15AC’s; and KO&G cabeese from Athearn Genesis. Rapido C36-7’s are likewise in the future; as are Bowser MP SD40s. Hoping for a Rapido B23-7 in the near future as well; then the MoPac modern era diesel fleet would be 99% available. With a phase 3 U23B only lacking in HO scale as far as my wants or needs dictate. We also would love to see an EV Caboose in HO scale 1/87.1. Time will tell.
In the meantime, I am planning on the next big chapter and getting back to my own modeling. The future is definitely much brighter here than it has been in years. I will certainly look forward to June with great anticipation.
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