Yesterday, my son and I went train watching. We saw six double-headed NS unit trains–11 Dash-9’s and 1 Dash-8. Today, I read an article on Dash-9’s. They listed all the major purchases of Dash 9’s since 1993 and included the likes of UP, BNSF, CSX, in totals about 12 companies. NS wasn’t mentioned, but a Quebec railroad was listed and pictured that had bought only 15 since 1993.
I looked through ads in the Jan. MR, and for all N-scale listings, I could buy only SD-40’s and SD-9’s in NS. I asked at a hobby shop who made Dash-9’s in N-scale. He said, “Bachman, but you really don’t want one.”
Did the NMRA put a hex on NS? Is it a race thing, because they’re black?
Did the model companies look at NS and figure that anyone living in NS country is going with PRR, NYC, or the Jersey Transit Authority? I literally have more choices of engines with Amtrak.
I wanted to take a break and model something where I didn’t have to bash and paint everything like I’m having to do with the early SP, the California Western, the Northwestern Pacific, and the Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
I thought Norfolk Southern was a safe bet. I guess I guessed wrong, eh? Should I switch to something with bumble-bee colors?
I chose NS to model because I believed your statement to be true. My search of ad listings in MR have shown otherwise. Likewise sites such as Brooklyn show listings with “Sold Out” flashing next to them. In you know good sources of the NS big boat flotilla, especially the Dash 9’s like I’ve seen around here, I’d like to know them.
Chip, if you’re going to have to paint for your roadname, you really can’t do much better than NS. A can of black spray paint and some decals ought to do the trick. Seriously. It’s not like you’re trying to paint the BNSF heritage schemes.
In fact, as I drift toward Penn Central and Conrail, I’m looking less and less at pre-decorated units. One is all black, and the other all blue. The only challenge is lining up the decals.
Chip, I’m having the same problems you are, The only thing I can buy are GP38-2s, SD9s, SD70Ms, Soon, I’m going to be buying 2 NS SD40-2s and 2 NS D9-44CWs from another club member. The only companies that have made Dash 9s in NS is Kato, and They havn’t run those since 1998. I’m hoping that Someone will run some Dash 9s becuase they’re 1/3 of NS’s Fleet
SPACEMOUSE - for the longest time, NS has been dateless for the prom. But since the merger with CONRAIL, they’ve discovered mascara & lipgloss! CONRAIL’s last new engines were the SD80 MAC’s, and they were painted with white faces. Now, NS is putting a bold pony on their sides and the white face on their brows. The other night I was trackside, and a freshly painted GP38-2 rolled up, and it was classy looking. But NS still has 10,000 Dash-9’s (plus or minus a few), all of them as exciting to look at as a washing machine…
GEORGE - hate to bust your bubble, but NS is slowly switching over to the B&O style CPL.
What article about dash 9s did not mention NS since they have purchased hundreds? What publication omitted them
“I read an article on Dash-9’s. They listed all the major purchases of Dash 9’s since 1993 and included the likes of UP, BNSF, CSX, in totals about 12 companies. NS wasn’t mentioned”
Atlas made a SD-9. I saw it in the walthers magasine about 2 years or less ago. There are many NS n scale locos on the market today. Kato SD70, SD80, SD90. Atlas GP-38 high nose, GP-40 low nose, SD60, I think a GP50?, B23 high nose SD50 GP30. LL Proto- GP 60. Those are the ones I no of. Seems to be a pretty good amount of locos no?
The Norfolk Southern is the last of the major roads to use an all-black “dip job” paint scheme. Back in the 60s and 70s this was very common however with the Reading, Penn Central, Norfolk Western, Western Maryland and others using a black coat with contrasting lettering. Also back in the very early days of the diesel, some roads that later would become quite colourful, such as the Delaware & Hudson and Soo Line used mostly black paint with minimal contrasting details.
Haha, actually nearly all steam locos for all railroads came in black, so I don’t think that’s the case But in the post-color TV age, I think people expect more from their loco schemes. It’s all relative though. the SP scarlet0-and-grey scheme looks dismal compared to most roads, but most SP fans, myself included would think of it as rather dignified.
Um, Trains has had several large articles on NS, including a COVER SHOT of them with a GE Dash 9 so to say Trains mag does not publish that NS is a large user of GE products is the opposite of reality.
But in the post-color TV age, I think people expect more from their loco schemes. It’s all relative though. the SP scarlet0-and-grey scheme looks dismal compared to most roads, but most SP fans, myself included would think of it as rather dignified.