on parent road Elora Gorge & Eastern's main line, the tri-weekly mail and express has been forced to detour on the Grand Valley's parallel north/south line. Those E-units will have their work cut out for them on the GVC's twisting main, nowhere moreso than on the twin horseshoe curves on the 2.8% ruling grade that begins just north of South Cayuga. Even when, or if, they reach the summit at Park Head, their high-speed gearing won't be of much use, as passenger trains are limited to a maximum speed of 45 mph on the Grand Valley Sub. Here we see the train entering South Cayuga, in the land of minimal scenery.
EG&E E-9A 210 is an old Model Power unit, with a few cosmetic upgrades.
E-7B 212 is a phase II model built from two Model Power A units. Most of the body panels have been replaced to facilitate the installation of see-through screening in the various filter locations, some of which replaced windows on the prototype. Structural framing is represented behind some of the upper body openings. The replacement panels allow for a very thin appearance to the sheet metal around the various openings.
CNR 10459 is an Athearn 50' express reefer, detailed to more closely represent a CNR prototype.
CNR 11078 is an Accurail steel boxcar, modified with Athearn high-speed express trucks. All cars shown have added underbody detail, including brakes, along with free-standing metal grabirons and, where applicable, fabricated metal steps. All paint is from Accupaint, and lettering by C-D-S.
CNR RPO 7776 is a Rivarossi RPO, with a couple of extra windows in the baggage section, and scratchbuilt security grills over the RPO windows.
EG&E express car 2050 is a shortened Rivarossi coach, with most of the windows plated over. The baggage doors are scratchbuilt.
Grand Valley mail storage car 2066 started life as an MDC/Roundhouse Harriman RPO. Windows were plated over and larger scratchbuilt baggage doors were installed, along with new roof vents. The entire underframe is scratchbuilt. All passenger car diaphrams, by the way, are by American Limited.
GVC RPO 2064 is another Rivarossi, pretty much stock except for the usual upgrades.
NYC 4748 was built from an Athearn Pullman, using only the roof and ends. New scratchbuilt sides and doors, plus a completely reworked underbody. Trucks are from Rivarossi.
EG&E 2054 is a baggage car built by splicing together the end sections with the larger doors from two Athearn baggage cars. The windows are from an Athearn coach and the floor is scratchbuilt. The origin of the sprung, cast metal trucks is unknown.
CNR 8520 is an express car built from a shortened Athearn car. Only the roof and ends were used. The sides and doors were scratchbuilt with Grandt Line windows added. The underbody is also scratchbuilt, including the Pintsch Gas tanks. The four-wheel trucks are from Central Valley.
GVC 2070 is another Athearn roof-and-ends car, with scratchbuilt sides. The underframe and the Baker heater on the roof are also scratch, and the trucks are the old Athearn metal ones: rolls like a greased brick.
PRR/REA 2705 is a renumbered Walthers rtr (horrors!) express reefer. Redetailed following an article in RMC, and a completely revised UC brake system added.
CNR 11085 is another express boxcar similar to the 11078 shown earlier. Same upgrades as before, including the UC brake system, but this time with the more modern paint scheme.
GVC 2045 is an express reefer built by adding Athearn express trucks to an old Train Miniature 40' reefer. The usual metal grabs and steps upgrades.
Bringing up the markers, EG&E combine Onteora is the rider car today. She was built from the Rivarossi combine, with the original windows cut out and replaced with ones from New England Rail Service. The windows in the baggage compartment are from an Athearn Pullman and the doors are scratchbuilt. The underbody was stripped down and completely rebuilt.
I hope that you've enjoyed this little detour of head-end equipment on the Grand Valley.
Wayne
EG&E E-9A 210 is an old Model Power unit, with a few cosmetic upgrades.
E-7B 212 is a phase II model built from two Model Power A units. Most of the body panels have been replaced to facilitate the installation of see-through screening in the various filter locations, some of which replaced windows on the prototype. Structural framing is represented behind some of the upper body openings. The replacement panels allow for a very thin appearance to the sheet metal around the various openings.
CNR 10459 is an Athearn 50' express reefer, detailed to more closely represent a CNR prototype.
CNR 11078 is an Accurail steel boxcar, modified with Athearn high-speed express trucks. All cars shown have added underbody detail, including brakes, along with free-standing metal grabirons and, where applicable, fabricated metal steps. All paint is from Accupaint, and lettering by C-D-S.
CNR RPO 7776 is a Rivarossi RPO, with a couple of extra windows in the baggage section, and scratchbuilt security grills over the RPO windows.
EG&E express car 2050 is a shortened Rivarossi coach, with most of the windows plated over. The baggage doors are scratchbuilt.
Grand Valley mail storage car 2066 started life as an MDC/Roundhouse Harriman RPO. Windows were plated over and larger scratchbuilt baggage doors were installed, along with new roof vents. The entire underframe is scratchbuilt. All passenger car diaphrams, by the way, are by American Limited.
GVC RPO 2064 is another Rivarossi, pretty much stock except for the usual upgrades.
NYC 4748 was built from an Athearn Pullman, using only the roof and ends. New scratchbuilt sides and doors, plus a completely reworked underbody. Trucks are from Rivarossi.
EG&E 2054 is a baggage car built by splicing together the end sections with the larger doors from two Athearn baggage cars. The windows are from an Athearn coach and the floor is scratchbuilt. The origin of the sprung, cast metal trucks is unknown.
CNR 8520 is an express car built from a shortened Athearn car. Only the roof and ends were used. The sides and doors were scratchbuilt with Grandt Line windows added. The underbody is also scratchbuilt, including the Pintsch Gas tanks. The four-wheel trucks are from Central Valley.
GVC 2070 is another Athearn roof-and-ends car, with scratchbuilt sides. The underframe and the Baker heater on the roof are also scratch, and the trucks are the old Athearn metal ones: rolls like a greased brick.
PRR/REA 2705 is a renumbered Walthers rtr (horrors!) express reefer. Redetailed following an article in RMC, and a completely revised UC brake system added.
CNR 11085 is another express boxcar similar to the 11078 shown earlier. Same upgrades as before, including the UC brake system, but this time with the more modern paint scheme.
GVC 2045 is an express reefer built by adding Athearn express trucks to an old Train Miniature 40' reefer. The usual metal grabs and steps upgrades.
Bringing up the markers, EG&E combine Onteora is the rider car today. She was built from the Rivarossi combine, with the original windows cut out and replaced with ones from New England Rail Service. The windows in the baggage compartment are from an Athearn Pullman and the doors are scratchbuilt. The underbody was stripped down and completely rebuilt.
I hope that you've enjoyed this little detour of head-end equipment on the Grand Valley.
Wayne