FWD Piggy-Packer

Here's a pre-production photo of our HO scale FWD Wagner Piggy-Packer. The strongman logo on the FWD units are different than the Raygo Wagner ones. FWD's are the earlier models.

CSX Piggy-Packer!

Here's a pre-production shot of our HO scale CSX Piggy-Packer. Noticed the logos on the left and right sides are different - just like the real thing!

A Vanishing Breed

On my recent travels, I am always on a lookout for a little bit of history. My interest in history, if you haven't noticed, is in our Wheels of Time trains and vehicles. So case and point: the once ubiquitous searchlight signals that I have taken for granted for so many years are almost completely vanished from the American railroad landscape. A  few photos for the record: Two from Sacramento which are no longer around; one recently taken in Redding; and one preserved at Niles Canyon. So when you are on your road trip this summer, check it out. See how many searchlight signals you've find. And by the way, the great thing about model railroad is that you can still recreate it in miniature! Happy model railroading!

HO PC-90 Piggy-Packer Update

A few of you have asked about the schedule of our HO scale PC-90 Piggy-Packer so here's the latest.

Pre-productions samples should be arriving next week. Once approved (if no mistakes in pre-production models), then production will begin. I anticipate 1.25 months for actual running of production + 1 month for shipping. Estimated shipping to all looks like mid-Sept.

Just FYI - the time when I initiate production with the factory to pre-production time is typically taken up by a) queue for factory production time, b) lead time for acquisition of parts, c) development of paint mask + pad print tooling, d) any mold work prep. So figuring out the schedule is more of an art here than a precise science.

However, we are almost here!

Highball. A photo intermission.

In early June, southbound Union Pacific 5293 brings the "Dirty Dirt" into Santa Clara - where the former SP Newhall Yard used to be. The train is "turned" so it can head up through the Alviso line. The destination: Columbia Jct., Utah.

FRED is removed and will be brought to the other end of the train.

Three unit set of GE runs around train after Amtrak's Capitol Corridor clears the tracks.

The time-honored practice begins: coupling, joining the air lines and opening up the air valve.

Waiting for the clear signal.

Highballing tonnage across the salt flats in the South Bay.
Enjoy.