Scuttlebutt

The opinions expressed on this page are mine, unless credited to a contributor. I strive to be factual and honest. Let me express my deepest regrets if I get it "wrong" or if any sensibilities are offended. --Jim Dufour

Further to the recent post here that Charlie Lehmann has decided to retire the Railworks brand name comes the following, which is quoted from the most-recent customer newsletter of Crown Custom Imports.

Allow us to introduce our new company! Our name is "CROWN CUSTOM IMPORTS". We are the new owners of what was formally RAILWORKS. Over the past 20 years Railworks has produced some of the finest HO scale models and some of the more unique locomotives and rolling stock. Our intent is to continue what Railworks started with one significant difference. In an effort to curb the spiraling cost of quality brass models, we will discontinue all wholesale dealer sales. We will be selling direct to you, the model railroader, at or near what the wholesale cost used to be. Buy direct from the importer and SAVE

All inventory purchased with Railworks, will be available to you direct. All you have to do is write to us to reserve the new models that are planned. Our monthly newsletter will keep you informed as to the status of the new models. To place an order for in-stock models simply call your order in to us. Payment may be made by VISA, MASTERCARD or DISCOVER CARD. Payments may also be made by Check or Money Order.

The new model reservations listing [Contact CCI for this listing. Their contact info is below. -jrd] indicates those models that were previously planned by Railworks and are now among the models planned by Crown Custom Imports. The first new model from CCI is the PRR F-22 HD Steel Flat Car. This car includes a removable load bridge to span a long load across 2 or more flat cars. This car is scheduled for a July 2004 release and is available factory painted and lettered. This is followed by the New Haven "Besler Steam Train", the New Haven FCD Mack railbus, and then the Rutland G-34's including the "Whippet" and Rutland 4-6-0's. Send your reservations in to CCI directly and our newsletter will keep you up to date as to progress.

The in-stock listing contains those models that were in inventory as of the purchase date by CCI. We have also received the remaining PRR "FM" 40' steel flat cars and they are currently in stock as stock #CCI-360. All other listed models are in stock. Place your order direct with Crown Custom Imports by calling 631-692-8805.

Included with this mailing are brochures of many of our upcoming models and a few that are in stock. We look forward to hear from you!

Crown Custom Imports does not have a web site, so call or write to them for reservations and purchases. I have rewritten the following tables to include the new CCI stock numbers for the planned Rutland steam locomotives. If you haven't reserved what you want yet, now is the time to do so. Let's make these models a reality!

Crown Custom Imports Upcoming HO scale Rutland 2-8-0 Consolidations
CCI stock #	Description	Comments
CCI-100	G-34d. 2-8-0 w/ 7,500 gallon tender, unpainted.
CCI-101P	G-34b #15 w/ air compressor on pilot, 7,500 gallon tender, factory painted.
CCI-102P	G-34d #31 w/ stoker, 7,500 gallon tender, factory painted.
CCI-103P	G-34d #28 THE WHIPPET, factory painted.
CCI-104P	G-34d #26 without stoker, 7,500 gallon tender, factory painted.

Crown Custom Imports Upcoming HO scale Rutland 4-6-0 Ten Wheelers
CCI stock #	Description	Comments
CCI-105	F-11a. 4-6-0 #50-57, w/ 6,200 gallon tender, unpainted.
CCI-106P	F-11a. 4-6-0 #50-57, w/ 6,200 gallon tender, factory painted.

On a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Charlie Lehmann and Railworks for taking a chance and producing all those great Rutland models, models that I believe would otherwise never have been done. And I want to especially wish Charlie well in the future, no matter where and how he spends it. Thank you, Charlie!

A number of readers wrote to alert us that Kadee's web site has announced that the next HO scale PS-2 covered hopper from them will be lettered for the Rutland (road number 508). The image posted looks as good as the previous their recent PS-2 releases. And speaking of the previous Kadee PS-2's, they have been very good sellers and most have sold out quickly. Just a word to the wise.

If you are a member of the Rutland Railroad Historical Society, you may want to consider ordering your's from John Cook, owner of the Caboose Corner hobby shop. John wrote RtR:

KADEE has announced the release of the Rutland Covered hopper #508 in their new covered hopper series. The list price of these cars is $37.95. Caboose Corner will sell these cars to RRHS members for $30.25 plus shipping. I will be placing my first order by Friday April 23, 2004.

Anyone interested in purchasing one or more of these cars should notify me as soon as possible at

"Bowser has lettered its HO GLa twin hopper for the Rutland. Photo at www.bowser-trains.com.

Atlas O will be lettering its 1/4" scale USRA double sheathed boxcar for the Rutland in two road numbers with "Route of the Whippet" lettering. Photo at www.atlaso.com. I suspect the ends won't be right for the most similar Rutland cars, and several modelers have complained that the vertical boards on the sides are too wide."

From John Atherton comes word that Model Power will be doing an N-Scale USRA Light Mikado.

Note: following is an email in slightly edited form that I recently sent to Broadway Limited Imports regarding the announcement on their web site that they will produce a model of the USRA Light 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive in various road names, but not the Rutland. -jrd

To: Broadway Limited Imports
From: Jim Dufour
Subject: USRA Light Mikes

Greetings,

It was called to my attention by a number of my readers that you are planning to produce at least one run of USRA Light Mikados in HO scale. This is great news! Are you aware that the Rutland Railroad rostered a small fleet of these locomotives? You might also be interested to know that the Rutland, despite being a relatively small road, still warms the hearts of an enthusiastic and dedicated group of modelers. (I offer this web site as proof.)

Through the years we, the "Rutland Faithful", have assisted a number of model manufacturers and brass importers with their Rutland projects, supplying research and photographs, and virtually all of these projects have resulted in successful models in the marketplace -- a win-win situation! Among these manufacturers would be Railworks, Athearn (who did a version of their Genesis USRA Light Mike lettered for the Rutland), Intermountain, Atlas, Westerfield, etc.

Perhaps we could persuade you to add the RUTLAND to the list of roads that you will be producing? I am sure that it would be a good seller! If you should decide to do so, please feel free to contact me. I would be glad to help in any way that I can.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Dufour, editor
Remembering the Rutland

Have you ever noticed the variety of side window panes used on the Rutland vans? Just using the #25-#35 series as an example, I have seen photographs showing cars with all single pane windows, cars with one 4-pane window, as well as cars with one 2- or 3-pane window. This all probably varied further depending on time period, as well.

Just by chance, I recently discovered that Grandt Line's "Outfit Car Window" (Grandt Line part no. 5059) is a perfect fit for the side windows on the recent Railworks models. This casting is of a 4-pane window, but one could easily modify it into a 2- or 3-pane window as was found on many of the Rutland vans. Thus you can adapt an Overland, Railworks or other model to have the correct window configuration.

Trevor Marshall writes to mention that his two-part article on modeling the Rutland GE 70-Tonner #500 in O scale will be published in Railroad Model Craftsman. It is a two-part article and includes instructions on the installation of DCC and sound. Part one is in the October 2003 RMC.

Brass importer Division Point has announced a run of HO scale USRA Light Mikados that will include a Rutland version. The subject page on their web site includes an image of Rutland 34. A summer 2004 release date is listed.

Railworks Update
The Vans Have Arrived!!!
Trucks are available separately
(08/10/03)

The Rutland three-window vans from Railworks have arrived and should be on your dealers' shelves (or better yet, in your hands) as this is typed. The examples that I have seen are beautiful! The colors look right, the details are amazing (how about those curled, tin awnings over the windows?), the lettering is crisp, and the trucks roll like the bearings just had good dose of oily waste added by a car knocker. Once again, Railworks has raised the bar for importers while delivering a model of exceptional quality from the roster of a relatively obscure railroad to a small but dedicated group of fans. Everyone wins!

Those of you who would like to swap out the trucks in order to more accurately model a particular van should be aware that Railworks has also imported examples of all the trucks used on this run (Arch Bar and the two versions of cast trucks). I would also suggest that this is a good way to upgrade the accuracy and rolling quality of earlier brass runs and kit-bashing projects in your collection. Needless to say,. these trucks would look at home on the cabooses of many railroads other than our beloved Rutland, so don't be surprised if these trucks sell out quickly. They are available from Crown Custom Hobbies. For details and pricing on these and other unique detail parts contact Bob Lehmann at Crown Custom at 631-692-8053. Crown Custom, of course, also handles all runs of Railworks models.

Railworks HO Scale Rutland/VTR/GMRC Vans
RW stock #	Description	Comments
R-455	#28. Archbar trucks, KC brakes, unpainted.	new addition to run.
R-455P	#28. Archbar trucks, KC brakes, f/p, oxide red, yellow lettering.	-
R-455.1P	#28. Archbar trucks, KC brakes, f/p, cherry red, white lettering.	-
R-456	#25,26,30-33,35. Cast trucks, AB brakes, unpainted.	new addition to run.
R-456P	#25,26,30-33,35. Cast trucks, AB brakes, f/p cherry red.	-
R-457P	#25,26,30-33,35. Cast trucks, AB brakes, f/p green & yellow.	-
R-458	#40-47. Cast trucks, high cupola, SUF, unpainted.	new addition to run.
R-458P	#40-47. Cast trucks, high cupola, SUF, f/p cherry red.	-
R-459P	#40-47. Cast trucks, high cupola, SUF, f/p green & yellow.	-
R-460P	Vermont Railway #1-4. (ex-Rutland) f/p red. Four numbers on decal sheet.	Ex-Rutland #43-46.
R-461P	Green Mountain Railroad #40. (ex-Rutland) f/p green.	Ex-Rutland #40.

Railworks HO Scale New York Central Cabooses
RW stock #	Description	Comments
R-462	NYC 19000-series standard wood caboose, undec	Unpainted
R-462P	NYC 19000-series standard wood caboose, f/p	Factory painted with NYC oval
R-463P	NYC 19000-series standard wood caboose, f/p	Factory painted without NYC oval

The Rutland G34 Consolidation run has been revised. (see table below). These are due during the first quarter of next year.

And the BIG NEWS!
Reservations are now being taken for the Rutland F-11a 4-6-0 Ten Wheelers (see table below). These, along with a run of similar NYC F-12a's, are also due during the first quarter of 2004.

The locomotives will feature directional constant lighting, installed working knuckle couplers, window glazing where appropriate, correct number blocks for applying your own number, and factory-applied lettering. Whew!

Railworks Upcoming Rutland 2-8-0 Consolidations
RW stock #	Description	Comments
L-2841	G-34d. 2-8-0 w/ 7500 gallon tender, unpainted.	note change in description from previous list.
L-2841P	G-34b #15 w/ pump on pilot, 7500 gallon tender, factory painted.	note change in description from previous list.
L-2842P	G-34d #31 w/ stoker, 7500 gallon tender, factory painted.	note change in description from previous list.
L-2843P	G-34d #28 THE WHIPPET	factory painted.
L-2844P	G-34d #26 w/ stoker, 7500 gallon tender, factory painted.	model number added since previous list.

Railworks Upcoming Rutland 4-6-0 Ten Wheelers
RW stock #	Description	Comments
L-2861	F-11a. 4-6-0 #50-57, w/ 6200 gallon tender, unpainted.	New listing due first quarter 2004.
L-2861P	F-11a. 4-6-0 #50-57, w/ 6200 gallon tender, factory painted.	New listing due first quarter 2004.

Trucks and Parts In Stock at Railworks
RW stock #	Description	Comments
D-008	BROOKSIDE DAIRY SIGNS, 2ea.: BELLOWS FALLS FIRST NAT'L STORES	Mounted on brass sheets, ready to apply to car sides.
T-011	4 WHEEL PASSENGER TRUCKS, GOOD FOR RUTLAND, NYC, DL&W, ETC.	-
T-030	NYC R-1X CAST 4 WHEEL TRUCKS W/ BOLTED PEDESTALS	-
T-031	NYC R-2X CAST 4 WHEEL TRUCKS W/ INTEGRAL PEDESTALS	-
T-032	RUTLAND MILK CAR TRUCKS	-
T-041	B&M 4 WHEEL PASSENGER TRUCKS, GOOD FOR COACH, BAGGAGE & MILK CARS	-

Jim Abbott of Highball Graphics wrote us to announce the release of their HO scale Rutland steam decals. The set is Highball Graphics part number L-167. According to Jim, "It will do two models and is $6.00. [The set] also includes the white centers for the axle ends" of the drivers. We all know what a pain these can be to apply with paint and brush. Check out the Highball Graphics web site at www.mgdecals.com.

Steve Wagner wrote to mention that Atlas plans to release an O-scale model of their extended-vision, steel caboose painted for the Rutland in two numbers, available in both two-rail and three-rail versions. You can visit the Atlas web site at www.atlaso.com for more information.

Westerfield 10106

Al Westerfield reports that his Rutland 1924 box car kits are far enough along to be featured in an ad in the next issue of Railroad Model Craftsman (see images above and below.) According to Al, "There will be four models, auto and box, original and modern. The kits will not be ready until early March as some of the patterns need revision and some of the models are only faked at this point, requiring the production masters to be assembled."

Keep checking Westerfield's web site at http://users.multipro.com/westerfield/ for details, or contact Al at:

WESTERFIELD
53 RIVER LANE
CROSSVILLE, TN 38555

Telephone: 931-484-7233

We assume that the kits will come with another of Al's thorough historical studies. In the meantime, you can have a look at Jeff English's capsule history of the 8000-series cars in RtR.

Westerfield 10107

Westerfield 10156

Westerfield 10157

Kadee has just released a second run of their beautifully-executed PS-1 in the Rutland green-and-yellow scheme. This time the road number is 248. The model is rendered "as built" in 1956 with 7-foot, 5-panel Superior doors. The model features a "galvanized" roof. The Walthers stock number is 380-4905 and the list is $34.95.

A sidebar from yours truely: Did this web site have anything to do with Kadee's decision to do number 248? I can only speculate. But I have to believe our earlier PS-1 Forum and subsequent editorial may have played a role.

I am not sure how many of our Rutland friends model in O Gauge, but a local hobby shop has a number of Williams #FC36 O-gauge 40' boxcars done up as Rutland #105. From what I was told, someone ordered "a bunch" and never showed up to purchase them. Although this is not a model of an actual PS-1, it may be "good enough" for some High-rail pikes (like mine!). It is available from:

Rensselaer Trains and Hobbies
102 Troy Road, Rte 4
E. Greenbush, NY 12061
tel. 518-477-7676
Hours: 10am to 5pm (closed Sunday and Monday)

Rutland PS-1 #400 (expected spring 2003)
p/n U2135S - 2 rail w/ plastic trucks & couplers - $33.95
p/n U2135SD - 2 rail w/ die cast trucks & couplers - $43.95
p/n U2135LD - 3 rail w/ die cast trucks & couplers - $43.95
p/n U2135L - 3 rail w/ plastic trucks & couplers - $33.95

Rutland RS-3 (expected spring 2003)
p/n U5544S - 2 rail $279
p/n U5544L - 3 rail no sound - $279
p/n U5544LP - 3 rail w/ sound - $329

p/n K691-4161 - Rutland flatcar w/ Unknown Soldier load
and a "green & yellow" flat car with a Vermont Marble load

I self-publish New England Railroad historical data booklets. I have a series of these booklets that could help modelers and historical buffs. These are available in limited quantities.

New England Railroad Heritage Series:

Volume 1...40 pages, structure plans, maps, equipment notes, passes, railroad history facts...CV, Rutland, D&H, Maine Central, B&M, NH and HT&WRR $5.00 US postage paid.

New England RR Data-packs:

Data-Pack No. 1...CV Railway operating diagrams, 1989, 40 pages, station by station. $5.00 US postage paid.

Data-pack No. 2...Rutland Ry papers...a collection of stationary used by the Rutland in the latter years. 24 pages of forms, tags, and train operation forms...Fund Raiser...profits from this data-pack go to the Rutland Railroad Historical Society...$3.00 US postage paid.

Data-Pack No. 3...Brattleboro, Vt. 36 pages of maps locating industries, railroad maps, TT, notes and drawings...$5.00 US postage paid.

New England Railroad's Papers...40 pages of interesting stationary used by the B&M, MEC, Rutland, CV, St.J&LC, NH and BAR...$5.00 US postage paid.

I am currently working on additional titles.

Published by:
George Dutka
1007 Griffith St
London, Ontario,
Canada
N6K 4B8

I believe Railway Design Associates HO scale kit No. 103, Vermont Passenger Station, is actually the Rutland station at New Haven, VT. I also think that RDA is no longer in business. If anyone has missed out on this kit, they may be interested to know that Model Railway Post Office, Hewitt NJ (telephone orders at 800-328-6776) still lists this kit in their latest direct mail flyer (received 9/30/02). The listed price is $15.95 Anyone who would like to see what this kit can look like should refer to photo 5 in the Don Janes' layout article in 2001 Great Model Railroads (Kalmbach).

According to my good friend John Young the Locomotive Workshop will be releasing an O scale Rutland 4-8-2 Mountain in kit form. The cost is rumored to be in the $695.00 neighborhood and requires a deposit of $75.00, which probably starts the process of "building" the kit. Call or write to the Locomotive Workshop for further details....and then tell me what they are so I can get the word out!

Ralph A. Notaristefano of North Shore Depot has just released a new decal set in HO scale for lettering the Rutland's wood milk cars in the late steam/diesel era green and yellow paint scheme. This all-new set includes numbers and material to decorate either a #350 (ex-DL&W) or a #340 series milk car. The decal printing is crisp and clear. The herald is correctly scaled and readable and may be used for other modeling projects. History, directions and prototype photos are included. The set sells for $3.95 plus 85 cents for shipping and handling.

Roger Dumas of the Steam Shack has received a new batch of NINE new InterMountain PS-1's painted for the Rutland, with at least two kinds of doors different from the ones on the last batch. These cars are of the same quality as the recently released 400 series except these have Kadee instead of the Intermountain couplers. The new cars include:

All have correct data and printing for their particular road number, etched metal roof walks and brake stands, correct trucks, correct brake wheel and metal wheel sets. They are all weighted and assembled by Intermountain.

The numbers available are 104, 127, 159, 168, 239, 256, 288, 345, 376. According to Roger, "We did our very best not to duplicate numbers of previously run Rutland cars by us or anyone else."

(Image below is from a previous run. My thanks to Steve Wagner for the heads up --jrd)

Rich Yoder at Rich Yoder Models has loaned me a pre-production model of his O scale brass GE 70-tonner. Based on the pre-production model, it's going to be a fantastic unit. And with Atlas O doing the RS-1, and a good starting point on the RS-3s available from Weaver, Rich's 70-tonner is the final piece for someone wishing to model the Rutland diesel fleet in O scale.

The pre-production model nicely captures the lines of the prototype, and the modeling is crisp. All bending and soldering work is clean and well executed. The coupler cut levers are set up to actually work, if one wanted to add San Juan working couplers, for example, and the model will be available in standard O scale (two rail) and Proto:48.

This is a pre-production model, and there are changes to be made. Rich tells me the slope on the hood from cab to front is too steep and will be corrected. As well, he plans to have more work done on the sideframes.

The biggest change will be a full cab interior, which the pre-production model lacks. This will be most welcome, as the locomotive's large windows make it easy to see inside. I have only done a cursory comparison of the detailing on the model to that of Rutland 500, but it looks good so far: The model sports the twin headlight and the two sets of louvers on each side of the body, two sets of three on the engineer's side, and a set of three and set of two on the fireman's side. For Rutland 500, the single-chime horn would have to be removed and replaced with a more correct horn, and its location moved slightly. I've just checked the Microscale online catalog and they make O scale Rutland diesel decals (Catalog #48-618).

Inside, the model has a powerful can motor -- it will pull the walls off the train room, I suspect. It draws surprisingly little current, even under load -- well under half an amp in our test. All eight wheels are powered via an engineering (slippery) plastic chain drive, and the engine is quiet and smooth through all speed ranges. Rich is considering replacing the chain drive as he thinks it's too noisy. I thought it was nice and quiet as is. The motor will also get a flywheel, although the pre-production model runs wonderfully without one.

Pickup appears to be four-wheel, but wipers could easily be added to the other four wheels if required. I had no problems with power pickup during my test run.

The model will retail for $299 (U.S.) -- comparable to most better O scale plastic diesels. Pictures of the preproduction model can be seen at www.richyodermodels.com, and Rich can be contacted via e-mail at: richyoder@richyodermodels.com.

It may be time to dig out those HO and O scale milk car projects in your closet that have been languishing due to the lack of proper decals. Highball Graphics has continued to add to their catalog with the additional milk car decals, with more promised in the near future. The word on the street is that the Hood's cow placards (two versions, even!) are the most accurate yet.

Here is the text of an announcement from Jim Abbott via the Milk Train list on yahoo:

Hello Milk Car Modelers! Just a note to let you know I have added 3 new Milk Cars sets to the Highball Graphics line. First is Set# F-191 B&M #1900-34 50' Black Steel Milk cars. I did this set to compliment the recent release of the REA style Express Reefers from Walthers in HO Scale. With a few small modifications this car will represent the #1915-34 single door cars. The set will also do the #1900-14 double door cars if someone gets brave and wants to build one. The second is set# F-193(HO)/FO-193(O) Hood's Dairy "Grade A" Milk Cars with the large Cow herald. and the third is set# F-194(HO)/FO-194(O) Hood's Dairy "Dairy Experts" Milk Cars with the Cow herald and banner. All of these sets can be seen and ordered at www.mgdecals.com. Any questions feel free to email me at info@mgdecals.com. More sets are in the works so stay tuned!

Thank You and Happy Modeling!!

Jim Abbott
Highball Graphics

Atlas has announced an O scale RS-1 and will do a factory-painted version for the Rutland in a "limited edition". Scroll to the bottom of the url below. (The photo is, I believe, the HO version).

- Trevor in Toronto

John Greene reports that all of the available kits produced by Rutland Car Shops are now available from Bethlehem Car Works. Mike and Randy are still working on future RCS kits and as they become available they will be sold and marketed by BCW. For a complete listing of available kits contact BCW at:

If you missed out on the Rutland flanger kit from Rutland Car Shops, Central Hobby Supply in Syracuse, NY has several of them in stock. CHS also has one each of a few of the other RCS kits, mostly structures.

Central Hobby Supply also stocks their own painted and lettered kit for the NYC standard wood caboose, which is nearly identical to the Rutland 3-window cabooses with truss rods and the short "gun turret" cupola. The marked price is $22.95.

[Followup: Bill Nalewaik followed up on Jeff's comments with a telephone call to Central Hobby Supply. He was told by CHS that the caboose kit is a "craftsman type" kit in styrene and that the usual cautions attributed to this type of kit apply here as well. -jrd]

The recent run of Boston & Maine Railroad wood milk cars by Railworks has already sold out at the importer, according to owner Charlie Lehmann. Of course many dealers still have them on the shelves, but for how long? Given the quickness with which they sold out at the importer and the continued interest in milk trains, one would be advised to move quickly if you have the intention of purchasing one or more of these fine models.

These beautiful models were built in Korea by Woo Sung and come in three versions: 1600-series, 1700-series with ice cooling, and 1700-series with Thermo-King mechanical cooling. All three versions are available either painted or unpainted...if you can find them. The enameled Brookside signs, which were such a fixture on many of the prototype 1700-series cars, are included in a separate bag with the models of that series car (four signs per bag: two of the Bellows Falls Co-op Creamery type and two of the First National Stores type). All of the painted cars are lettered sans road numbers, which are included on a decal sheet, as was done by Railworks with their recent Rutland models. [If you need a refresher course on how to properly install these "water decals" visit the Railworks Forum in the Modeling the Rutland section. Read all of the entries to ensure that you understand how best to apply them.]

All of the models come with mounted plastic couplers which are housed in a Kadee-type box, making their replacement with a true Kadee No. 5 or a No. 58 an easy proposition.

Rutland modelers should take note that although 1700-series cars decorated with the enameled signs normally did not venture beyond Bellows Falls, Vermont, technically they could be found on the Rutland in the yard there. Ice cars without the placards frequently traveled beyond Bellows Falls all the way to the O&LC. Note, too, that the painted version of the 1600-series car is done in Pullman Green, which would date these models to the years up to the end of the Second World War. The 1700-series cars are factory painted in B&M's Passenger Red which would make them appropriate for the era spanning the mid-1940's to the late 1950's.

Railworks No.	Description
R-324	B&M #1700-1724 4-door wood milk car w/ice cooling U/P
R-324P	B&M #1700-1724 4-door wood milk car w/ice cooling F/P
R-325	B&M #1700-1724 4-door wood milk car w/mechanical refrigeration U/P
R-325P	B&M #1700-1724 4-door wood milk car w/mechanical refrigeration F/P
R-326	B&M #1600 series 4 door wood milk car w/ice cooling U/P
R-326P	B&M #1600-series 4 door wood milk car w/ice cooling F/P Pullman Green

Preface: Bob Ring recently asked if the upcoming Life-Like HO scale USRA 0-6-0 switcher might be used as a starting point for any of the Rutland's switchers. Jeff Ashworth provided the following response.

The USRA 0-6-0 is covered in Linn Westcott's classic Steam Locomotives published by Kalmbach.

The USRA 0-6-0 is not a good starting point for any of the Rutland 0-6-0s. About all they had in common was 51 in. driver diameter (except Rutland #107 had 57 in.). The USRA locomotive had symmetrical drive axle spacing, main rod connected to the rear driving axle, piston valves, and Baker valve gear. The Rutland locomotives had asymmetrical drive axle spacing, main rod connected to the center drive axle (except #107), slide valves (except #106 and 107 had piston valves), and Stephenson valve gear (except #106 and 107 had Walschaerts). If you can overlook these and many other differences, perhaps the USRA model in Rutland lettering could pinch hit for #107. But #107 didn’t come to the Rutland until 1946.

Good friend Rob Davis has started a Yahoo e-list concerned with milk trains. Here is the text of Rob's introduction to the list. Chat with you there!

Friends,

Anyone with a passion for the dairy industry's use of the rails, please join us at :

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/milktrains/

Rules are simple: topics related to milk train history and modeling are allowed, and personal jabs are not. I look forward to the group augmenting the nascent Surviving Milk Cars list. See you online!

-Rob Davis
Moderator of the Milk train and Dairy Industry Yahoo Group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/milktrains

Peter Berg and I have been discussing the proper sound combination for the Rutland RS3's. Peter emailed Sountraxx to ask if they sell an Alco sound chip that includes the distinctive Alco turbo "whistle". We also wanted to know if the Alco sound can be purchased with a Nathan P3 horn (the present Soundtraxx web page lists the P3 as only available with the GE sound). Here is the reply from Soundtraxx's Larry Larsen :

Peter,

No, the turbo is not in the ALCO sound. I will pass your request on to the President of our company.

823218 DSD-150 decoder for ALCO with Nathan P3 $179.00

825218 DSX sound only decoder for ALCO with Nathan P3 $129.00

Larry Larsen
Customer Service

(12/18/01) Five Chime Consultants Airhorn Guide is a great web site featuring a wealth of historical and technical information on air horns.The site includes nice images and information on the many variants within a major type, as well as sound files of horns in action -- even sick ones! The page dedicated to the Leslie S3-J horn mentions the Rutland:

Though produced for less than a year, the S-3J found application on several railroads. The L&N, Illinois Central, Frisco, Rutland, and the Vermont Railway are believed to have purchased the horn before production ceased. None are known to still be in use today.

As far as I know there is only the Alco sound available that you heard on [the Sountraxx Alco] unit. It does sound good although it is not entirely correct for 251 engines such as an RS-18 or Rs-11. I believe that the decoder represents a 244 egine found in RS-3's. The RS-1's and early switchers had a 539 engine and sound different still. I can remember hearing them when I first started on the railroad in 1972. The RS-1 [GMRC 405] at Bellows Falls also has this sound. All this aside it still sounds great. I have been buying my DCC stuff at a place called Miniature Locomotive Backshop in New York state. He is very helpful and has good prices. He just told me yesteday he has several speaker sizes that are good for HO that I was unaware of.

Product Review:
Rutland PS-1 Box Cars from Steam Shack
by Dick Dermody
(10/14/01)

In recent years, there have been four releases of PS-1 boxcars in the Rutland yellow and green paint. One of those was by Kadee, a car with excellent detail and a controversy-provoking "galvanized roof and roof walk". The three other releases have been based on various iterations of the Intermountain PS-1 boxcar model.

The first, based on the 8 foot door model of the Intermountain PS-1, was a custom car in kit form by Express Station Hobbies. They produced two three car sets of cars, with road numbers 309, 326, 339, 352, 376 and 393.

The second group of kits was offered by The Steam Shack following Intermountain's release of the 7-foot door PS-1. These cars were numbered 100, 118, 194, 220 and 295 and were offered with doors and lettering appropriate to the car number.

The most recent release is also by The Steam Shack and covers the final series of Rutland 8-foot door boxcars in the 400 series. Specific car numbers are 405, 418, 427, 433 and 444.

Most notable in this recent release are the efforts Steam Shack has made to upgrade the cars. While the first release were all kits, selling for about $25.00 per car (if memory serves), this set is more expensive, selling for $34.95 each or $31.00 if purchased in a set of five.

What accounts for the increase and in my opinion is well worth the difference, are the additions Steam Shack has made to their first release. Specifically, they have added:

So basically for an increase of about 6 bucks (presuming you buy a set) you get a fully assembled, more finely detailed model of a Rutland boxcar. Didn't take me too long to do the math and snap up a set.

First, (and this is an Intermountain problem) the right car side stirrup should only have a single rung, but this double rung style was a rare Pullman-Standard stirrup that Intermountain has not chosen to correct. Many modelers will probably elect to replace these parts with the sturdier A-Line parts anyway.

Second, the riveted end seam on the roof molding should be painted the same black as the car ends. While this is easy to correct on the kits, the assembled cars with the roof walk end supports in position make it somewhat more difficult. With a fine brush or a black decal stripe, it should be correctable.

Finally, if you're a galvanized roof adherent, this car will disappoint, as both roof and roof walk are yellow. The good news is that making the roof galvanized should be a relatively easy mask and spray operation. For me, I like them as is.

Overall, the model leaves a great impression. The paint job is thin, shows detail well, with crisp lettering and separation lines. Parts are neatly cut from the sprues and mating of parts has been done very little evidence of glue or bonding.

Yes, I know $31.00 a car (set price) seems high, but I was willing to pay $25.00 for the kits, and I can't add this level of detail parts for six bucks and I'd still have to assemble the car. In my opinion, these are the best to date of the Intermountain based kits. The finish, lettering and level of detail rival the Kadee cars and these cars are available.

My recommendation: Go snap these cars up so Roger Dumas of the Steam Shack will be encouraged to do another run with more numbers.

Ray Muntz sells Rutland passenger/milk car decals in S Scale. There is a limited number available at $7.00 a set plus $1.00 shipping/handling per order. They are the same as Ray's recent HO set -just larger (see list below). Unlike the HO set, the S scale set is only available in dulux gold. These decals were prepared as a joint effort of several members of the Rutland Railroad Historical Society using photos, tracings, and Rutland RR lettering diagrams and they capture the unique Rutland style of letters and numbers.

Ray is also selling a limited number of Rutland sets in 1" scale. These are available in dulux gold only and are strictly for passenger cars (they do not include the word "MILK"). Each set will do one car and sells for $8.50.

--Letterboard letters for 2 cars - good for passenger or milk.
--Letterboard letters for 2 cars - for 300 series milk, but ok for passenger.
--4 sets (2 sizes - 7ft & 9ft wide) of below-the-belt rail lettering.
--2 sets for milk cars with middle-of-the-side lettering (S & HO only).
--3 sets of "MILK" (S & HO only) - this will be the limiting factor for lettering milk cars.
--1 set of "Route of the Whippet" for milk cars 1 set of wt/capy for milk cars (S & HO only).
--1 set of RPO lettering with distinct Rutland style.
--Selected car numbers for every class of car and 0-9 for creating numbers for other cars.