Pine Street variety

Posted byTrevorPosted inCNR Pine Street in HO, DCC, Wiring, and Sound, HO Scale Equipment, Layouts I have designed or built, Locomotives

The spur on Pine Street in Thorold, Ontario – the subject of my HO scale exhibition layout – saw a variety of CNR diesel power over the years. In my narrow time window of mid-1980s to early 1990s, SW1200RS and remanufactured SW1200RM examples dominated. But I’ve also found photographs showing trains to and from the paper mill worked by remanufactured GMD1s and a SWEEP (CNR’s brief experiment with kitbashing).

So far, I’ve been running SWs on the layout – because they were my only models set up to take advantage of the Big Audio system I’ve developed. But I have had a model of a SWEEP for decades, and recently acquired an appropriate 1400-series remanufactured GMD1 – both by AJIN for Overland. The SWEEP required a decoder upgrade while the GMD1 needed a full installation – including PowerPack and speaker.

Decoders arrived this week and were installed within hours. The SWEEP was straightforward, as I was simply swapping a decoder.

CNR 7105 pauses between moves at the mil.

The GMD1 required de-wiring and tossing the directional/constant intensity lighting board, which also made room for the speaker.

Under the hood. An ESU PowerPack sits in the short (rear) hood, with the decoder located above the motor and the speaker+enclosure over the front truck. I do like how AJIN/Overland models disassemble, with easily accessible screws to drop the frame out from under the body. It’s not even necessary to remove the couplers!

The work was simple enough, although I mistakenly installed overly aggressive resistors on the lighting leads to protect the bulbs: As a result, they wouldn’t light! I swapped out the resistors this morning and all is well. I then weathered the model and tested it on the layout.

I had to trim the sanding lines slightly – they were just long enough to brush the turnout frogs and cause the DCC system to short. Once I discovered the issue, the diesel ran flawlessly.

CNR 1404 idles at the mill.
Their work finished, the crew of 1404 head south on Pine Street. I painted the Modelu crew figure, which I liberated off my 1900-series Rapido GMD1.
In addition to the SWEEP (left) and GMD1 (not pictured here), I have a fleet of 1300-series SW1200RS and 7300-series SW1200RM switchers to work Pine Street.

The GMD1 brings my Pine Street roster to six locomotives. Is that excessive for a three-turnout layout? I don’t think so (and you knew I would say that!) because this is intended to be an exhibition layout.

Having four different designs – all appropriate for the prototype – provides variety for show visitors.

At the same time, it gives me plenty of backup power in case one or more models fail during the rigours of exhibition. Even a pulled coupler could bring the layout to a halt, which is why I also have spare rolling stock.

Having a variety also means each diesel will engage in a short operating session with plenty of downtime – which should keep mechanical and electrical components happy.

Plus – and this is the most important point – I think it’s cool!

Published by Trevor

Lifelong model railway enthusiast and retired amateur shepherd who trained a border collie to work sheep. Professional writer and editor, with some podcasting and Internet TV presenting work thrown in for good measure.