patrick

268 on a short stock extra at Tincup. The stock cars are relatively inexpensive Bachmann Big Hauler models which have been modified by adapting the lateral roof walks so they follow the slope of the car roof, not horizontal. This immediately improves the look of the car. Styrene billboards were also added for the Rio Grande lettering, reporting marks, car number and data. This modification prevents the car door from opening fully but in my opinion the improved appearance is worth it. I have tried in the past to remove factory lettering from Bachmann cars with little success however several ligh coats of paint from a spray can does a good job of covering them.The decals are adapted from a boxcar set . The model is about 1 1/2" too short and differs from the prototype in many respects but I feel it does capture the atmosphere of the prototype and has been a fun project and I'm hoping to do a few more.

Very sad news. Michael's wagons were a huge part of the character of the South Waterford Line.

I wish I had escaped before last November.

268 on a coal extra on the Tincup branch. The 268 is an Aristocraft model which has been fitted with a Piko R/C unit and rechargeable battery. The truck dump was construed using leftover pressure treated lumber which was cut down on a friend's table saw.

Switching Tincup freight house

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One year ago this area was a badly maintained lawn. Things have improved somewhat since!

One year ago this area was a badly maintained lawn. Things have improved somewhat since. Not sure about the lawn though!

More progress on the Tincup freight depot. In the background of the first photo is a Rio Grande sign, a gift from Maureen who was insistent that the railroad had a name!

My current project, Tincup freight house.

Finally a pure Rio Grande Western consist! 20250812_165526.mp4

https://youtu.be/rH-Lx8iFqvw?si=QrjRDT4p2VYpFUpO 468 in action in and around Gunnison in the early fifties.

The railroad finally has an identity, the Tincup branch of the Denver and Rio Grande out of Gunnison Colorado about 1950. The decision was pragmatic, I already had a great running Aristocraft C16 locomotive which just needed to be relettered and a number of Rio Grande freight cars. Bachmann Big Haulers boxcars, gondola and stock cars in Rio Grande livery were available at very reasonable cost. I removed the factory lettering from the C16 with brake fluid and relettered it for Rio Grande 278. A second Aristocraft C16 268 in the D&RGD bumble color scheme was found on Ebay at a very reasonable cost, The previous owner adapted the locomotive to run on battery power and removed itspickups, It has two wires running from the motor to the tender. I plan to return it to battery power by installing a Piko r/c unit and rechargeable battery. Both 268 and 278 worked lightly laid branch lines out of Gunnison Colorado in the early fifties. 268 was painted in the then new diesel color scheme in 1959 for the Chicago World Fair in 1949 and retained this scheme until retirement when it was donated to the city of Gunnison where it is on display. 278 is also preserved. I imagine the railroad to be an imaginary branch out of Gunnison to the real town of Tincup, a town Malcolm Furlow used on his San Juan Central project layout in the Model Railroader in the 1980's and has inspired the railroad.

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A few pictures from today's running session.