NEW Affordable EMD SD70ACe diesels coming soon from Walthers Mainline

Walthers Mainline is introducing a new model to appeal to the model railroader on a budget. These new SD70Ace HO Scale models will be available at White Rose Hobbies for only $99.99 for DC models and $159.99 for models with SoundTraxx Sound and DCC. They are expected to be in the shop June/July 2015. Pre-Orders should be in by April 30th to ensure that you get the one you want. Email (dccinstalled@gmail.com) us to get on the list. You can also contact us on our Facebook Page, don’t forget to like us when your there to see more product updates and other product information.

The Walthers ACe’s will be available in 4 road numbers, 2 DC and 2 DCC for each of the following road names in the initial release:

BNSF

CSX

KCS

CN

NS

UP

Burlington Northern Santa Fe – BNSF
CSX
Kansas City Southern – KCS
Canadian National – CN
Norfolk Southern – NS
Union Pacific – UP

Click Here to see all of them and check out the details!

New 57′ Mechanical Reefers from Athearn Genesis with sound!

The highly detailed HO Scale 57′ Mechanical Reefer Athearn Genesis model is available with Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound!

PROTOTYPE HISTORY:

One of the greatest freight car innovations of the 20th century was the creation of the refrigerator car, commonly referred to as a “reefer.” The ability to haul perishables such as fruits, vegetables and meat products across the country was a major factor in the development of modern America. No longer did food have to be produced close enough to urban areas, so that it could be consumed before spoiling. At the same time, areas with additional capacity for agricultural production could produce more food, since it did not have to be sold locally.

For many years, reefers relied on ice bunkers to keep loads cool. After World War II, technological advances made mechanical refrigeration practical for a freight car. In addition, a mechanical reefer could be larger than an ice reefer because of the greater cooling capabilities.

Fruit Growers Express owned the largest fleet of reefers in the East. FGE was owned by a group of ten railroads, with Atlantic Coast Line and Southern being two of the largest original owners. Many of FGE cars were built at its Jacksonville Shops, including these 57’ smooth-side mechanical reefers.

 

Burlington Northern Fruit Express – BNFE

Fruit Growers Express – FGE / Solid Cold

Frisco – SLSF

UP / ARMN

Tropicana TIPX

Available in the following roadnames:

BNFE (Burlington Northern Fruit Express)

FGE / Solid Cold (Fruit Growers Express)

SLSF (Frisco)

UP / ARMN (Union Pacific / American Refrigerator Transit Co.)

TIPX (Tropicana

Check them all out here: HO Scale 57′ Mechanical Reefers

White Rose Hobbies Price

Soundtraxx Sound (MSRP $84.98): $64.99

Non-Sound (MSRP $49.98): $38.99

We’re going GREEN! Check out the 2 latest announcements from ExactRail!

Click Here for the 60′ Box Cars

The HO Scale Box Cars are available in Norfolk Southern NS, Conrail CR, Penn Central PC, Detroit Toledo & Ironton DT&I, and CSX/NYC ex-Conrail.

Click Here for the 65′ Mill Gondolas

The HO Scale  gondolas are available in Missouri Pacific MP, Southern Pacific SP, Chicago & Northwestern C&NW, & UP/MP

Introducing the Proto 2000 EMD SW9/1200 Diesels in HO Scale!

In Service: 1954 – Present.

Primary Assignment: Yard and industrial switcher, one preserved unit.

By 1954, railroads were buying diesels as fast as EMD could build them, and customer demand for more powerful units carried over into the switcher market as well. With the introduction of the new 567C prime mover that year, EMD rolled out its new 1200-horsepower SW9/1200 model, which shared the same basic body (with minor variations) and power rating with its predecessor, the SW9 (which had a 567B prime mover). SW9/1200s were produced through 1966, when earlier GPs began taking over yard chores, but these later SW models have lead long lives, with many still serving shortline and industrial roads long after “retirement” by the original owners.

Visit www.whiterosehobbies.com and search SW1200 today for more information or to Pre-Order!

Available in: North American Ethanol (North American Ethanol Series Scheme), CNW, Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England, NYC, Chessie/B&O, UP, CB&Q ATSF

HO Scale Gas Turbines are here!

The Big Blows are here!

Click here to see them now!

Overview:

After World War II, GE began work on a locomotive using a gas turbine power plant specifically designed for locomotive usage. The gas turbine had an advantage in that it could burn Bunker “C” fuel oil. Bunker “C” is a thick, low-grade oil that is a left-over when crude oil is refined into higher quality products like gasoline and diesel fuel. Being a residual of the refining process, it was both very cheap and widely available. GE’s locomotive gas turbine was about 20 feet long and created 4,500 horsepower, three times as much as a contemporary diesel.

GE’s test-bed and demonstrator gas turbine locomotive was completed in November 1948. Numbered as UP 50, it spent twenty-one months testing on the UP, covering 105,732 miles of operation and moving 349 million gross ton-miles of freight. UP’s first gas-turbine, numbered 51, was received at the Omaha shops on January 28, 1952. It had a full car body and a single cab. It carried 7,200 gallons of fuel oil and 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel. In addition to the gas turbine, there was also a 250 horsepower diesel engine. The diesel was used to move the locomotive around yards, power the auxiliaries, and crank the turbine. The locomotive weighed 551,720 pounds and was just over 83 feet long and stood 15 feet six inches tall. It rode on two sets of span-bolster AAR Type B trucks with a wheel arraignment of B+B-B+B. The gear ratio was 74:18 that gave a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour and a starting tractive effort of 137,930 pounds. Like contemporary diesels, the gas turbines were equipped with dynamic brakes.

On the demonstrator and the first six locomotives, numbers 51 through 56, the air intake was through banks of screened openings in the car body sides. These intakes would change through out the life of the locomotives. Locomotives 51, 52, 56, 57, and 58 had stainless steel Farr grills added to protect the intakes. Number 53 was changed to a roof mounted air intake which proved successful. The other five of the original group were converted to the roof air intake in 1953 and the second group, numbers 57 through 60 were delivered with roof intakes.

In late 1955, UP extended the range of the gas turbines by adding a 22,000 gallon fuel tender. The original assignment for the gas turbines was Ogden, Utah to Green River, Wyoming. When the second order was delivered, the gas turbines began operating further east to Cheyenne, Wyoming. With the addition of the tenders, they could run between Ogden and Council Bluffs, Iowa without refueling and that remained their normal operating range for the rest of their careers. Seven of the ten standard turbines were retired in 1962. The remaining “baby” turbines were retired in 1963 and 1964.

The Athearn model brings the various versions of the turbine to life with side grill and roof intake variations, with each road number as prototypically accurate as possible.