OMI SD70ACe BHP Billiton Iron Ore

Well up until a year and a half ago I was a diehard N-Scaler then I learned the error of my ways building a layout for my uncle now I still have some N sclae bucause I love the passenger trains but O gauge is so much cooler

My first "scale" scale was N in grade school 1989-1998 then I made the move.

stunning models.

There are some serious dollars involved in this thread-wow.

 

Peter

Erik,

I enjoyed watching your photos of the UP Heritage D&RGW SD70ACe & the BHP Billiton SD70AC/LC.

Based on your postings in the OGR Forum I had formed an opinion about you that you were into passenger cars of western railroads & the locomotives used to haul those passenger cars. Since you own the SD70ACe which is primarily a freight locomotive, do you also model freight trains?

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

I have an extensive freight collection also with focus on 1930's-1950's. I do find a primary interest in transitional era late steam early diesel passenger operations west of Chicago. Focus on 1939-1953 era. I am not really a collector; I have what I want to see operate or have interest in. Glad you asked; what about you?



       

Erik,

I got into model railroading in 2005 in HO scale. Almost a year later, I decided moved to O-Scale (2-rail) but I miss HO models of Electric locomotives in O-Scale.

I mainly collect modern intermodal trains. I just started buying Atlas-O Trinity grain cars after reading Ted Hikel’s covered hopper guide in the 3RS forum. I used to have Norfolk Southern equipment since it was the only railroad in the town I lived in for 7 years when I first came to his country. Now I live less than a mile from a BNSF line & 2 miles from a Union Pacific line. So I mainly have BNSF equipment along with a couple of Union Pacific equipment.

Since you enjoy running your trains, where do you run them currently since I might have read some time ago that your club had to vacate the Denver Union station during the renovation.

I also enjoyed seeing your sketches & photos on the Key Imports website? How are you associated with Key Imports?

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

Naveen, I am positive that the current HO mid 20's-40's guys doing modern railroading are going to migrate to O in their retirements. These guys demand prototypical correct proportions and 1/48 dimensions like the have come accustomed in 1/87. No 3 rail or G scale couplers on a O scale model. Stay with it Naveen it's a great hobby. And don't feel like you have to collect every possible road number and car like in N Scale these days. Concentrate on a consist or a tight era time frame with maybe one day or week in mind that will save your marriage from the $50,000-$125,000 you will spend on brass!

Hahahha

 

 

Wow, Erik, Overland has even captured the non-steering, non-radial HTSC trucks on these BHP SD70ACe unlike the common HTCR-4 radial truck on most other SD70ACe. I just revisited your post to see if Overland captured these unique truck details. I am impressed with the level of detail & unique features, Brian & the folks working for Overland Models have captured for these models.

When I was at the EMD facility in Muncie this week, most of the locomotives they were building were these BHP SD70ACe. So I got familiar with these locomotives up close. I saw some being built, some after being painted & few undergoing tests. These are truly the Cadillac of locomotives with many high-end options like a dorm refrigerator, microwave & a toaster (looked like a small pizza oven) inside the cab. It also had more speakers than a traditional SD70ACe & supposedly a better audio system. To the extent I understood it, they couple 3 trains, each with 2 locomotives & over 100 cars carrying iron-ore coupled back to back with only 1 driver & they seem to make sure this lone driver is well taken care of. They even had these removable covers over the stairs, also captured by Overland to make sure the driver, doesn’t fall overboard when moving between the locomotives. So I was shocked when I opened the doors to the paint booth & the first thing I saw was the HTSC markings on the truck castings that were at my eye level. They seemed to have every premium option on these locomotives & I did not expect to see the HTSC trucks.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan