I’ve been looking at the details some of you are putting on your locos and I’m really into doing that. I’ve been looking at 1st Place Hobbies site, so I know where to buy the parts. I’ve never worked for the railroad so my problems is how do I find out the proper parts for my engines? I see ten different snow plows, 20 diff headlights,fuel tank fillers,speed recorders,ect. ect. (what the heck is an anti climber?[%-)])
Are there any tell all sources that I can use to educate myself? Books or web sites. I’m not much of a rivet counter but I don’t want to buy the completely wrong things.
MU hoses-I know that means multiple unit but what runs through these? Air? Electric? Hydrolic? How many go on what type of loco? I’ve seen all kinds of configurations in pics of real locos.
I really want to start doing this but I’m really lost as to where to start my research.
loather
Your best bet is to find pictures of the locomotives of the railroad that you intend to model and what time frame you want to have them represent. Every railroad has their own unique style when it comes to what you will find on a locomotive. As for the MU hoses they carry air. In addition to the trainline hose there is usually one set of 3 mu hoses on each side of the drawbar on both front and back of the unit. Another standard item would be a receptical just below the catwalk on each end for a jumper cable to mu between each unit.
Brent
Thanks. I’ve been searching pics on the web but they have two problems. They’re either taken from too far away or the plow areas are just a black blur.
For great photos, go to http://www.railpictures.net/ or http://www.rrpicturearchives.net . Both are great resources for locomotive detailing.
Whatever combination a particular road chooses to use the following applies…
Hoses carry air ad make half the jump between locos (or between loco and car – or between cars – there will be more hoses between locos than between loco and car as far as I can see from this side of the pond). The hoses are joined by glad hands. The fixed end of each hose has a shut off valve up against the pilot beam. Hoses are almost exclusively mounted on the face of the pilot beam.
Cables carry electrical control and other signals depending on how the loco is equipt. They usually make all of the jump from a fixed end to a fixed socket… so they are handed on most locos (i.e the cable is always on the left OR the right as you look at the loco). The recepticle/socket is usually to the other hand so that the jumper cable hangs across (well) above the coupling — at least this is the case where the cable and socket mounts are above the running plate/above the pilot beam. Obviously different things need to happen where they are mounted on the face of the beam… but then they still usually make the jump in one piece and don’t link in the middle. (Someone will now prove me wrong). The greater length of MU cables mean that it is essential that they are looped up out of use. They usually go to a blind socket close to where they are fitted so they tend to hang as a loop. (This helps you spot them on the loco). Both the working and blind sockets have sprung shut covers to keep dirt out when not in use. These are frequently painted - mostly red. I suspect that some locos are fitted with sockets only and that the jumper cables come with plugs at both ends… but haven’t got close enough to see… Someone enlighten us please?
The glad hands on the air pipes are painted at least when a loco/car comes out of shops. I don’t know what colour code you use for the different lines. The lines are arrange
Couple of suggestions that may help.
Walthers catalog, catalogs for the detail part manufacturers, and the associated websites will have pictures of many of the parts. Cross referencing the pictures with the prototype may help.
Forums, both this one and ones for specific RRs. Ask about a specific engine, RR and even time frame and somebody will most likely know what horns the unit had, where the bells were located, if it had a winterization hatch, all weather windows versus sun shades, correct snow plows, headlights, etc. Most will be able to tell which company makes the correct part and what the part number is.
Good Luck
Rick Keil
Yes the glad hand will win everytime when it smacks ya!!! I know. Kevin
Issues of Model Railroading (no longer published) and Railroad Model Journal (I do not know present status) had/have “Diesel Detail Close Up” features that provide a list of and location for specific details to add to your model for a specific prototype. Use the “Index of Magazines” to search for the particular issues that have the articles on the specific prototypes you are interested in.
Also there are several books out there that are complimations of articles on the subject.
Examples:
Modeling Santa Fe’s SD45-2
Model Railroading, January 2003 page 22
( ATSF, DIESEL, EMD, “HOFFMAN, ROBERT”, SD45-2, 
SUPERDETAIL, ENGINE, LOCOMOTIVE, MRG )
Electro-Motive Division SD45-2 as Erie-Lackawanna 3679
Railmodel Journal, December 1994 page 30
( DIESEL, EL, EMD, “MARRE, LOUIS A.”, SD45-2, SUPERDETAIL, ENGINE, LOCOMOTIVE, RMJ )
Diesel Detail Close-Up: ATSF EMD SD45-2
Model Railroading, April 1994 page 37
(
There are probably Yahoo Groups for your particular railroad. They can be a great resource. Do a search on the YahooGroups site to find.
Details West makes great detail parts. Also, dont worry about actually USING these parts, just about puttingthem on your locomotives. And, if your likee me, you had to put straight air hoses on your locomotives too.