This is welcomed news, but I’m going to hold out and wait for Athearn to offer a GP35 in their Genesis line. Considering what Athearn has released already, it’s only a matter of time. Perhaps Kato has the same idea and is using this announcement to stealing market share from Athearn's inevitable GP35 release.

Kato probably didn’t update the tooling that was developed in 1992, so we’re getting a 22 year old model in new paint schemes. One a more positive note; there should now be an abundance of drives available for swapping into older Proto GP30s.

Mark

Thought this was worthy of mention. As I continuously comb through different sources on the web for freight car modeling of the late steam era, I stumbled upon this. In a post on modeling the ATSF Valley Division, Third & Oakland districts, what the heck???, an excellent corner photo of an XMr is there. From that point the Reading Modeler is mentioned in great detail, along with mention of all the info regarding the XMr. This is a great shout out to ALL who made this site happen, and continue to make it happen!!! The post goes on to mention if F&C could get a 100 pre-orders on this boxcar it will be produced, Steve has a print which I furnished to him after the RPM meet in March so this kit can happen!!

Now for something entirely different......

I am putting the finishing touches on a Walthers 150 ton coaling tower for a friend. I am probably not the first person to think about this, however I was thinking about the operations aspect of the structure. At 150 tons, this creature can barely feed six T-1's the 26 tons of coal they will each need before needing to be replenished itself. So for every six T-1's your hostler puts under this particular dock during your steam powered operating sessions, you must also remember to shove three 50 ton hopper cars into the dumper too.

Do your sessions include the hostler aspect of going from the roundhouse to the service pit and then to the head of the train? What about enroute water stops and coal loading after so much operation time?

I run "diseasals", same practice required, just different fuel.
Do I need a life, or what? lol

Just received this notice from Iron Horse Hobbies in Reading for a custom run of XMs boxcars from Accurail for $18.95 each or 72 for all four.

www.ironhorsehobby.com/sendpress/eyJpZCI...dmlldyI6ImVtYWlsIn0/

Thanks for posting the announcement Rob. Those cars look great, but are a little too old for my modeling era.

On a separate note: I rode the first of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway October trips to Jim Thorpe this past weekend.

This was a diesel powered trip; steam should be running both days next weekend.

It was a very nice trip, although I have to comment that the ride go “bumpy” as soon as our train switch from former Reading track to the CNJ line. I overheard one of the conductors tell another passenger that the R&N has plans to do roadbed and trackwork on that line soon.

But our train was gliding along on the Reading!

By the way, if any member here worked on that excursion, you get an A+ for service, professionalism and just making sure everyone had a great time!

Mark

Model Railroad Open House Schedule...

The list is active and can be found at www.modelrailroadopenhouse.com

It starts up on October 25th ending Nov 30th and covers eastern PA (all the way out to State College) New, Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

Is anyone in the RM group a layout host? I would make a point of adding that as a stop on my tours. Looks like Saturday Nov. 15th is Berks County Day. I see Jim and Carol Adams on the list, not sure if they are on RM)

What, Tom's layout isn't on the list? LOL,I should talk, ya'll could stop by and look at my cement block walls, I have painted some of them pale blue, I could hang Plan A, B, C, D, & E on the wall or former plans from former residences that I no longer live at.

Rob