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Just use the SD50s as run through power,Even though it may seem odd, they actually do get some odd power up there once in a while. There were a few GT units running aroud up there a few years ago.

You could trade the SD50's for some SOO SD60's.

Or you could paint the SD50's into Soo units, and see if any one can really tell the diffrence.

Hey I like the idea of painting them SOO and passing them off as SD60's

then see if you can sell them on ebay and see if anyone is paying attention to details

I started out modeling Norfolk Southern in W.V. I made the mistake of buying a BN painted BNSF SD40-2. From there things slowly progressed west. I started in W.V. then moved to Southern Ill. Moved onto the western Ill. and I've finally settled on Middle of freaking no where Iowa. On a Secondary of the BNSF. I've been slowly selling off all of my NS power. My Active roster consists. of 1 AC44CW, 1 C44-9W, 1 SD35, 2 GP38s, an RS11, a GP7, 2 SD40s, 4 SD40-2s, a B30-7A, 1 SD70MAC. Thats what has decoders but thats not everything. Anyways my whole point is I've always loved the ATSF, While I model BNSF a majority of my Power is all ATSF Painted. Part of the reason I also choose the ATSF/BN/BNSF is becuase of the abundance of locomotives in those paint schemes. So, Rather than model NS and have GP38s, SD70Ms, and Dash 9s and not very many at that, I choose the BNSF and family becuase its easier to find models of that power. If I could find all my CNW power that I have in HO, I would probably sell a lot of it off and buy it again in N scale and model the same line I want to model HO in, N scale. But N scale is really limited to main stream equipment. To me anyways there seems to be a lot of models of Chessie and BNSF Family out there but your really limited in the other stuff. the fact that Atlas and Kato only did limited runs of a lot of the stuff thats not main stream really doesn't help. Just my 2 cents

Excellent point GTW4633....I started out with LS&I a few years ago..bought all U30c and C30-7 off ebay..put decoders in most and then bought a Chessie System SD35..been hooked on Chessie ever since and sold all the Ls& i stuff. Knowing I could not afford to do everything I wanted to do in Chessie I went back to my first "love".... an area and not just a railroad...I always have enjoyed my visits to the UP and spent many a summer vacation from Sault Ste Marie to Copper Harbor and all points in between...........got hooked on E&LS, LS & I (again), CN, WC, SOO,..........I love the woods,, the colors in the fall,,,the "smell" of the air,,,It doesn't matter to me so much as what is available in a particular paint scheme as I have been custom painting for 15-20 yrs...so I just paint em up...as a boy I remember St ignace with soo line locos and the Chief....the railyards at Mackinaw City.....now all gone......so to me this time around I'm going with an "area" to model and bring in roadnames that I like or remember from my youth,,,,,,,,,,so if Chessie shows up in Gladstone yard pulling a loaded coal drag,,,,,well.......

progress has been a little slow on the yard,,,,but I managed to install decoders in all but 3 locomotives...now its time to start rotating them into the paint shop...2 units were completed today..both are SD45 painted in Wisconsin Central colors..here are a few pictures of how they turned out...number boards need numbers but had to "roll out the units" to make way for the next 2,,,,
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-52835
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-52834
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-52833

Those look AWESOME. I only just started doing painting. however I've only done HO so far. I might give some N scale a shot here soon.

Ditto!!!

Finally have some time to work on my layout. Got the next 2 weekends available. Should start some scenery and ballasting the track. Also found a great map of the Gladstone area about 1920's era......shows some great waterfront industries to model...here is a picture of the map....
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-53437

should make for some interesting switching.......

Here are a couple of short videos of gladstone yard action...really no sound but background noise and not real good with the camera yet.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpcIJiCqeTI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnxPafjuKTs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2hiqsPDGmE

Great progress. Looks like it's going to be a great layout.

I like the modern era you're modeling rdenman62

It looks like your layout is gonna be awesome! i started out trying to model the LS&I but i wanted more operations then just ore trains so i toyed around with a bunch of different options and i came up with and "All around michigan layout" so you might see a CN local running around with pulpwood cars and boxcars for the pulp and wood industry in the UP followed by a train with 86' ft high cube auto boxcars. anyway i love the theme of your layout and it looking great!
by the way i subscribed to you on youtube.

Yeah I was kinda like you....wanted a LS&I layout,,even had all the track work done....but decided it wasn't enough...variety.......anyways I'm pretty content with what I settled on now.....should keep me busy for at least hmmm..............................a few years......

Its been awhile since I did any work on my layout, especially during the last month or so. My mom passed away and my dog had to be put down....so I took some time off......but the best medicine to help with all the bad stuff is to get back to what you enjoy doing and that to me is model railroading. I have managed to do some work and post a video to show what I have gotten done to the layout room and layout.....staging area is about complete and most benchwork is up...anyways enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO2T6mcf-Bg

Very sorry about the passing of your Mom, rdenman62.

Ok here are some up to date photos on the progress of my layout. Eventually the scenery will be early to mid fall. The pictures show what I have gotten done in the area of landscaping. Another shows the staging area. This is actually my first attempt at scenery as the last 2 layouts I had never progressed beyond the track laying part. I think it turned out ok. Ballasting is ongoing and it may take a while. Waiting on an order of some "dirt" for the areas that need it. It may not be "accurate" scenery for the Upper Peninsula but there is always room for improvement....comments are welcome and any ideas that you think would help.....
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-55109
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-55108
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-55106
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-55107
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-55111
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-55110
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-55112

We enjoy the updates, rdenman62. Keep them coming.