Getting to the Chicago Show

Posted on March 24, 2015 by George Losse

Not our train but a Southbound Amtrak train pulling into Trenton Station

This year’s Chicago O Scale Show started out a little different for me. My wife could not make the drive with me from New Jersey and she really didn’t want me to make the drive by myself. So to keep peace at home and still get to the show I needed a different means of travel to the show.

I have no desire to ever fly again. So, I opted to take the train out and back. This was partly due to the fact that I would not be riding the train alone. Turns out three other Proto48 modelers, Michael Rahiley, Matt Forsyth and Theo Rahak, were taking the train to the show also.

The trip started out nice enough, Michael and I got on an Amtrak train in Trenton for the ride to New York Penn Station. From there we got on the Lake Shore Limited which wasn’t as limited as the name implies.

I have photographed along the Hudson River many times. I even participated in a Day-in-the-life kind of shoot on the Hudson that resulted in some of my photographs being displayed in a Museum show back in the early 1990’s. I have also rail-fanned along there as well many times. Now I was on the train that just flashed through the scene, and the locations that I had spent time at were passing past my window.

Michael watching the Tappan Zee Bridge go past.

The layover in Albany waiting for the Boston Section of the train to come into the station

The train stopped at Albany where it was joined by the cars from the Boston train. We were also joined at this point by Matt and Theo. We all talked for hours before trying out the train diner car. That was an experience I always wanted to try. How was it? I’d equate it to a good diner back here in Jersey, not the best but not the worst either.

Matt Forsyth and Theo Rehak in the dinning car

Most of the trip west was after the Sun went down so there was not much to see out the windows. But if you have sent some time around either Matt or Theo you would know that they both can tell a colorful story. Our conversations lasted longer into the night than most folks in our car probably would have liked.

The morning brought another trip to the diner car for breakfast. Then we had the pleasure of the rather flat countryside of Indiana and Illinois to enjoy.

We arrived at Union Station in Chicago and from there caught a commuter train out to near the hotel. I have to say the commuter rail system in the Chicago area is very nice compared to some I’ve been on in other places.

Michael walking on the platform at Chicago Union Station

Inside the commuter train

Our commuter train at the station I still can’t remember the name of

On the return trip Amtrak seat Matt and Theo in the section of the train that was headed to Boston. So we ended up spending most of the trip back in the cafe car. Again many stories were shared on the trip back.

Inside the dinning car at breakfast time

The two locomotives that brought us from Chicago with the Boston section

Our Cafe car

The Boston section pulling out of Albany. Our train which will take us to New York City is on the right.

2015 Chicago O Scale Show

Posted on March 17, 2015 by George Losse

This year’s Chicago O Scale Show was fantastic as usual. It had new models, old models and models for every budget. It is THE one show each year that can’t be missed.

For me the highlight of my trip was finding four sets of Overland Reading T-1 decals. A big thank you to Jim Mucka for pointing them out to me, I had walked right by them a dozen times. They will work nicely for both my T-1’s and the K1’s I’m building. That made my trip.

I spent a portion of the day helping out Rich Yoder while he delivered his new release of the ACL Ventilator cars. I was amazed how big the line was for picking up the cars. It was also nice to see how many people were also reserving the newly announced Mather cars.

Kohs had a painted version of their PRR FD-2/FW-1 project. They looked fantastic, glad I’m not modeling the PRR anymore.

John Pautz of American With & Signal had his Proto48 turnout kits on display.

Glacier Park was there showing off their new General American Transportation Corp. Composite Gondola. I was disappointed that they had a delay in their production and did not have any kits for sale at the show. But it should not be too long before they are available.

I had the chance to talk to a new vendor at the show, Union Station Products out of Memphis. They have been producing lightweight passenger car sides in the smaller scales and are now offering O scale car sides. They were showing smooth side and fluted side car sides along with a Budd Fluted Roof Wrapper.

Proto48 PRR 2D-F8 Trucks are available From RY Models again.

Posted on February 28, 2015 by George Losse

I heard from Rich Yoder today, of RY Models. He has just received a second batch of the Proto48 PRR 2D-F8 50 ton planked trucks. They are in stock again and available on his website at $48 per pair.

I picked up some of these trucks the first time he imported them. They sold out fast.

I’ve only seen this production in the photos he sent me today. They arrive with treads polished, trucks blackened ready to install.

I look forward to seeing them in person in a couple of weeks in Chicago.

More Images from My visit to the Coal Regions

Posted on February 21, 2015 by George Losse

Tamaqua, PA. Looks to date from the early 60’s but still very neat.

Here are some more images from my last trip into the coal regions.

Close up of the car wash sing.

The right end of the of the car wash.

They view of where the Mallet shed was located in Tamaqua. The gas station that was across the street from it is still there. On the left of the image.

Looking right down on what was the engine house in Tamaqua.

Coaldale, PA

Coaldale, PA

Mahanoy City, PA

Concrete curbing in front of the station area at Mahanoy City.

three bridges just past the Station area in Mahanoy City.

The steps that went up to the Station at Mahanoy City. This is behind the station.

Coal Township, PA with remains of the Glen Burn culm pile behind the town. Check out the single light traffic signal.

Coal Township, PA

Holiday Decorations in a Park in Coal Township, PA.

A plastic choir in Coal Township, PA

Looking up South Center Street in Coal Township, PA.

A Visit to Coal Country

Posted on January 4, 2015 by George Losse

Tamaqua Station 2014

My wife and I took a nice ride up into Coal Country this past week. It was a nice warm Winter day, good for exploring the different towns that all too often are just names on an old map.

Tamaqua station looked nice decorated for the holidays. But it does seem a little empty in front of it with only one track left.

I’ve noticed a few folks on the web talking about their traffic on their sites. I usually don’t pay to much attention to that because in my day job I work on sites and there are too many people focused on the numbers. But I thought I’d take a look on my server and check to see what they were. In the last year, I had over 100,000 visits and over 270,000 page views. That’s not bad for a personal site without advertising. Thank you for visiting.

2014 Strasburg O Scale Show – November

Posted on November 16, 2014 by George Losse

On Saturday, I attended the November Strasburg EOS Show. It was another fine show, will attended by both table holders and attendees. It’s nice to see this show continue to grow. I was able to move some more of my models that do not fit my current modeling direction.

Not that much new since the Cleveland show to report. Rich Yoder did have another display model on his table of another Mather boxcar. This was the smaller height car as seen in these photos below.

2014 Cleveland O Scale Show – November

Posted on November 2, 2014 by George Losse

Yesterday, the Cleveland O Scale Show was held in Kirkland, OH. This show was even better than last year. The attendance appeared to be up over last year and was steady throughout the day.

The hit of the show was the Indianapolis P48 Association Portable P48 Layout. There were a lot of kids of all ages stopping and watching the action on the railroad.

The rest of the room had something for everybody, new models, used models, sample models from a few dealers, parts, paints… just about anything you could think of.

Rich Yoder had samples on his tables of his soon to be delivered Ventilated Boxcar run.

Many of the variations of this run of cars.

ACL car in one of the early paint schemes.

The C&O boxcar version.

He also had a representative model of his newly announced Mather car project. The project will include the regular height and extended height boxcars, stock cars and a reefer. Reservations are beginning and the models are due the Fall of 2015. Rich should have materials on this project on his website this week.

Rich was showing samples of his soon to be released Fox trucks.

Rich had a sample of a new PRR 2D-F8 50 ton truck. The sample had new ribbed back wheels and polished treads. He says this is how the new run of these trucks are going to come in. You’ll like the new look.

Bob Hiel had samples of the soon to be released Sunset 3rd Rail’s GM’s “TRAIN OF TOMORROW”. It is a fine looking model. Too early for my 1952 modeling era, but very nicely done. I have seen photos of this train at the Reading Trenton Passenger Station. So it did make it onto the Reading Railroad, not sure how many places it was displayed.

Bob also had a sample of the PRR P70FAR from Golden Gate Depot Model Trains.

Finally, here are some more images of the Indianapolis P48 Association Portable P48 Layout. It’s not the biggest layout but it ran great during the day. The curves are tight but that is what’s needed sometimes. It is a great example of how Proto48 can work in smaller spaces.

The GP-9 in the photo is a stock Red Caboose model with the original drive. It ran nice, slow and steady all day long.

A Model I Once Owned

Posted on September 30, 2014 by George Losse

Above is one of the locomotives I sold off through my For Sale Page. Since I’m not modeling the PRR as my primary road any more, it became surplus. Along with over 24 other steam locomotives, and unique PRR equipment. Happily most have new homes now.

I sold this locomotive to a guy I never meet, only corresponded with him by emails. He then shipped it up to Matt Forsyth for some upgrades.

Today, Matt sent me a link the this video and as he said, “It’s been extensively rebuilt and accurately re-detailed.” Matt also installed newest QSI Q3 sound for steam. He says he still has yet to install the headlight lens and the coal load for the tender, then it will be shipped to it’s new home.

Here is what it looked like when I sold it.
I’d say Matt did a really fine job on this locomotive.

Back from the Dead

Posted on August 31, 2014 by George Losse

Yesterday, while driving around, I stopped into a Barnes & Noble to see if the last issue of RMC was on their shelf. It was, so a copy came home with me.

I read through the issue when I got home. There is a very nice article on Great Northern’s Plywood boxcars in there and some good coverage of the Spring Prototype Modelers meet in Malvern, PA.

I had an email waiting for me that sent along a copy of a press release from White River Productions and Carsten Publications. Railroad Model Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad were sold to White River Publications and will continue to be published.

No More Rumors

Posted on August 23, 2014 by George Losse

Yesterday, August 22, 2014 the rumors were put to rest with a post of the Railroad Model Craftsmen’s Facebook page.

It is with regret that Carstens Publicatons, Inc. will be closing permanently at close of business on Friday, August 22, 2014. Carstens Publications, Inc. has been a leading publisher of leading hobby magazines for over 50 years. Unfortunately the current economic climate has placed us in this position. Discussion is continuing with several parties who expressed desire to take on the continuance of the magazines. At this point there is still hope that all three titles will remain in existence. But I can offer no guarantees. We thank you for your patronage over the years, and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.

Henry R. Carstens, President
Carstens Publications, Inc.

The cover above is from the February 1983 issue of RMC. It was the first time my name appeared inside an issue. I supplied photos for Eric Neubauer’s article on the PRR G32c gondolas. That started my relationship with RMC. They later published multiple modeling articles and prototype drawings of mine. I also drew illustrations for other people’s articles over the next few years. They really helped me when I was fresh out of art school.

One of the things I liked most when doing the illustrations was taking the ride up to Newton, NJ to drop off some drawings. I’d meet and have lunch with Bill Schaumburg. He would talk about all kinds of stuff, not just what was happening in the hobby but that always came up. When I first read the news, those visits is what first came to my mind.

I will miss the magazine, but I will miss the people and the conversations more.

Modeling the Reading in Proto48

Modeling the Reading in the Summer of '52

Author Archives: George Losse