Custom Traxx to release new decal sets !
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After receiving an example of the new Transit Classics HO scale models of the San Francisco Municipal Railway Class K and Class L streetcars, Custom Traxx has developed and will shortly release four decal sets for these cars.
The first set, CN-169, will allow the modeler to finish the cars in the original gray and dark red scheme. this scheme was used from 1912 until the early 1940's. The set will include bronze gold numbers and striping along with complete set of destination signs and roof route letters. See car 181 below:
The second set, CN-171, will enable the modeler to finish the cars in the blue and yellow scheme, which was used in the 1940's. The set will include yellow numbers and round Muni heralds along with complete set of destination signs and roof route letters. Car 171 currently resides at the Orange Empire Railway Museum at Perris, California in this paint scheme.
A third set, CN-178, will enable the modeler to finish the cars in the green and cream scheme, which was used starting in the late forties and shared with the PCC cars for most of their operational lives. The set will include black numbers and round Muni heralds, cream "wings" along with complete set of destination signs and roof route letters. Car 178 currently resides at the Western Railway Museum near Fairfield, CA in this paint scheme.
A final set, CT-993M, will contain the dash signs used on the cars. Since dash signs use different colors for each of the lines, this set is more challenging to produce, so they will be provided in a separate set.
Decals sets CN-169, CN-171, CN-178 and CT-993M should be available during March 2007. As soon as these sets become available, they along with the final prices will be announced in the on-line Custom Traxx catalog at www.customtraxx.com.
Another long awaited set will be CN-007 for the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company (PSTCo) 1941 double-end "Brilliners" which were used in the Western Philadelphia suburbs until 1981. The set will enable modelers to finish cars in (1) the original 1941 scheme shown below:
(2) the early 1950s paint scheme that matched the 1949 Saint Louis "Quasi-PCC" cars by adding cream around the windows and the windshield. See photo of car #1 as shown next;
and (3) the simplified paint scheme as shown on car #10 worn from the 1960s until the PSTCo was absorbed into SEPTA in 1970.
This set will be available after the San Francisco sets are produced. As soon as this set becomes available, the final prices will be announced in the on-line Custom Traxx catalog at www.customtraxx.com. This set is being made primarily for the soon-to-be-released brass model by MTS Imports, Inc. but a limited number of sets will be available, hopefully by the East Penn Traction Club Meet in early May 2007. Preliminary work is beginning on a decal set for Kansas City all-electric PCC cars of the 501-585 (St. Louis Car Co 1947) and 725-799 (St. Louis Car Co 1946) classes and the Pacific Electric 1601-1618 steeple cab locomotives. Models of these 18 Baldwin-Westinghouse Class D, locomotives are scheduled to be produced by MTS Imports, Inc. Modelers with interest in these decal sets should contact Custom Traxx in the next few months.
World's Greatest Hobby on Tour Continues to Set Attendance Records!
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The World's Greatest Hobby on Tour (WGHoT) is in the third round of their great model train shows, having recently completed successful runs to Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Portland. The attendance numbers continue to escalate over previous shows. So far, 30,017 visitors in Atlanta, Georgia; 29,993 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 30,556 in Indianapolis, Indiana have visited these shows. (The Portland attendance numbers have not yet been released but the count had passed 24,000 at the time of writing). So if you are a model train lover, don't miss the last stop of this increasingly successful show in 2007 - Fort Worth, Texas, on March 17 and 18. For show details, go to wghshow.com. Trolleyville has been to these shows and endorses them. We always have had a great time!
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ATSF 4-8-4 3751 Visits Los Angeles Union Station
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For an entire week last month, from February 11 to February 18, Baldwin-built engine 3751 was on display on Track 12 of Los Angeles Union Station. It arrived on its own power after the short trip from Redondo Junction, where is it stored. It also left on its own power, gliding so effortlessly down track 13, making less noise than a model steam engine equipped with sound. Trolleyville was there to watch it leave.
Although this engine is clearly not a trolley, or electric powered for that matter, it is such a clean engine. The entire boiler looks as if it had been "Simonized" just the day before. The 1927 built locomotive looks so good that it had to be shown here.
Custom Traxx Closed for East Penn Meet! Custom Traxx will be attending the East Penn Meet this year as part of the MTS Imports, Inc. display and will be closed for orders from April 30th to May 6th. This is the first closure of Custom Traxx since its founding in 1992. Orders received during that time will be filled beginning May 7th. In case of out-of-stock conditions exist that can not be corrected within two weeks, customers will be advised appropriately. Mail Order customers are reminded that phone numbers are required on all checks submitted for payment. |
Another convert to the wonders of Digital Command Control!
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A few years prior to founding Custom Traxx, George Huckaby modified his home to include an 11' by 22' model train room. He planned and eventually started the model railroad in 1990. He had completed about 18' of the 66' benchwork planned for the "around the wall" type layout when he was diverted to found the Southern California Traction Club along with five other modelers in 1995. George was first President of the club and then a member of the Board of Directors. But after twelve years, in January 2007 he was no longer an officer of the club so he devote the effort to continue the layout.
After noting the changes in the hobby over those many years, and observing the MTH HO scale Pennsylvania Railroad K-4 Pacific Steam locomotive with its realistic smoke effects, DCC was the only way to go. The Digitrax Super Chief was acquired and the effort began. By the end of February, the three tables, containing about 3 tracks, each 18 feet in length were rewired with the heavier wire needed for reliable DCC operation and testing of three decoder equipped locomotives began.
The "round the room" layout will consist of two mainline tracks each containing 60 ft or one scale mile of track. There will also be a two track traction line. The layout will be operated mainly by DCC but will have the capability to operate DC/Analog locomotives.
The problems being encountered in building this layout are being recorded and passed to other members of the Southern California Traction Club but the best resource at hand is Bob Santelli of Allied Model Trains of Culver City, California. Bob was instrumental in facilitating the evaluation and selection of DCC components, troubleshooting and solving the problems that emerged and providing general instruction in operating the Digitrax hardware and software but also two 2002 vintage Broadway Limited (PRR GG-1 and PRR M1b) and the 2006 vintage MTH PRR K-4s Pacific locomotive owned so far. It was amazing what progress has been made in DCC hardware and software since 2002 when the BLI locomotives were acquired. And we have the feeling that we have not seen anything yet!
Model Railroad hobby shops, in general, have been getting progressively worse at helping customers with problems. However, the support from Bob and some of his colleagues have been superb in this matter. With the abrupt cessation of the long standing model railroad club discount last August by the owner, there are very few reasons for model railroad clubs to shop at Allied Model Trains for their routine needs, but the support on DCC has been nothing less than outstanding. For those of you who still have doubts and fears about embracing DCC, Bob is the one to deal with. He will guide and direct you and make sure that you enjoy it.