CPR SD40-2F #9020 "Red Barn"

This is a Kaslo/Southern Alberta Rail shell riding on a Kato SD40-2 drive system.

This unit is adorned with Details West parts, with the exception of the MU stand (Miniatures by Eric,) and the bell. (Kato gong on the kit-provided bell mount.) 

The trucks were modified by having the Hyatt bearing caps removed and replaced with Smokey Valley roller bearing caps.  The shock absopers were pillaged from my parts bin.  I believe they are from a GE U33C siderframe parts fret, or from a HTCR sideframe kit. 

The steps, cut into the fuel tank, come provided by Kaslo with the shell. Using the Kato chassis allowed them to be installed with ZERO milling to the chassis.  Just cut-n-fill!



Paints are Acrylic water-based tints from Badger and Trueline Trains.  Decals are by Microscale and weathering was accomplished using chalks and diluted washes.

These units were the last CP Rail locomotives delivered in "Action Red," which is noteworthy.  Their polished brass bells alluded to their status among the (at times) shabby CPR fleet SD fleet.  "Pride of the service," until the AC4400s started arriving. Luckily, I still spy them in service on the mainline in Eastern Ontario.  Having said that, the fuel-guzzling 16-645 is destined for storage before too long.  The new "GEVOs" can save CPR thousands of gallons of fuel per year, per unit.  The Red Barn, and it's tricloptic gaze will always be the pride of my fleet.

CN C44-9W #2650 "Teardrop"

This is a Kato C44-9W shell and chassis with a Kaslo "Teardrop" cab added to match photos of this CN unit, #2650, taken in Montreal, PQ. 

 Modifications to the unit include re-arrangement of the amount and placement of shock absorpers on the Hi-Ad trucks, addition of the oil retention tank to the af-portion of the brakeman's side of the fuel tank, and modifying the mounting straps for the air tanks on the engineer's side, to represent an "underslung" arrangement.

A miniatures by Eric horn and antennae decorate the roof of the unit. Cannon and Co. fuel tank fittings with custom-made brackets adorn both sides of the fuel tank.   A custom-made rear pilot was fashioned from styrene stock, using a mill file.  

 

Kaslo anticlimbers and ditch lights adorn each end of this unit. Hand-formed coupler cut bars were secured to the pilot faces with Details Associates brackets.  The speed recorder is a beautiful item produced by Details West in white metal.  The cable is single-stranded wire, cut to length.

Last, (but not least,) A-Line windshield wipers were installed after the unit was painted with Trueline Trains Acrylic water-based paints.  Decals are by Microscale.

CNR SD60F # 5512

This unit is built from a Kaslo kit, riding on a Life-Like/Proto 2000 SD60 drive.

Once again, the Kaslo kit came with virtually everything needed to complete the unit. I opted for Details West plough.  MU hoses and  trainline hoses are Detail Associates items.  Smokey Valley supplied the stanchions.  This time, however, I used the stainless steel etched wipers and I'm most pleased with their fidelity.

Sadly, CN has sidelined the SD50F and it appears that the SD60Fs days are coming to a close.  Personally, I associate these cowl units with "modern" Canadian railroading, and I will be sad to see them gone.

The Kaslo kit comes with etched window frames.  This allows for excellent detail and flush-mounted windows.  Did I mention the kits come with pre-cut clear acetate for the windows?  They do!

I opted to use Train Station Products Q-fans, and Miniatures by Eric 3-chime horn.  Gotta love CNR's paint job- It only looks tattered when the red/orange fades or chips. 

 For a time, (1984-1989,) CNR bought "Draper Taper" wide-cowl units exclusively.  They acquired SD50Fs, SD60Fs, Bombardier HR616s and GE C40-8ms.  The crew's complaints about poor sight-lines is the likely reason the Draper was phased out with the order for the SD70i and C44-9WL.

CNR GP9rm # 7052 and #4121

This unit is built from a CMLW/Kaslo resin shell, sitting on Life-Like/Proto2000 GP9 drive.  The shell kit comes with all the detail parts, (both resin and etched steel,) and options to build any 36" fan variant of the Pte. St. Charles-rebuilt GP9RM, of which CNR rosters dozens.

I opted to add Details West 

ploughs, MU hoses, Cal-Scale trainline hose and Details Associates MU stands.  A-Line wipers are a must if you want the scale model to appear "bulky" as it does in real life.  Although the Kaslo kit comes with a complete set of etched-bronze stanchions, I opted to use Smokey Valley stanchions instead.  Note the coupler cut bar and bracket- both etched details that came with the kit.  Beautiful.

Kaslo also produces the correct sized and shaped fuel tank for the CNR-rebuilt units, which comes with the sight glass.  The air tanks are from the stock chassis.  The air tank air trap system was scratchbuilt out of single-stranded wire, brass and plastic stock.  

The second unit, #4121, has some minor detail variations.  Of course, it also has a vastly different paint scheme.  The zebra stripes denote this GP9RM as a road unit.  The noodle is used on yard units. The major detail variation on this unit would be the 48" cooling fans, as opposed to the 36" fan found on #7052.  Minor variances include different ditchlights, (courtesy of Miniatures by Eric.)

This unit was painted and weathered to match #4121 as it was seen this past February in Ste. Hyacinthe, PQ.  Time hasn't treated it too well, but the challenge to re-create it's fatigue was a great opportunity.

 

Of personal note- #4121 was the subject of my first "railfanning" shots, in earnest.  It was the Ottawa Walkley Rd. yard switcher for years.