I always thought a neat idea when building the layout would be to have a MoW (Maintenance of Way) train parked near the current phase of construction on my layout.
I’m currently building a ficticious CSX line in the foothills and piedmont region of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia. I just ordered my first ‘pumpkin orange’ CSX MoW car… a crane tender and bobber caboose mounted on a flatcar. I’m hoping to get a matching crane in the next day or so, and I’m also looking at several other cars to build a varied consist MoW train, including a couple MoW boxcars, CSX MoW GP40, and looking at the Difco Side Dump cars that Walther’s has in CSX pumpkin orange as well.
Anybody else have MoW equipment on their layout, whether stationary, or the occassional train that runs through? (pics would be cool!)
I’ve built up an SP, MOW wreck train. The Steam Hook is an old Athearn cast metal model that came with more details than the plastic ones made now. Picked it up as a kit from a swap meet.
My MoW equipment that I keep around. 250 ton crane with tender car, ballast hopper, service gondola, transfer caboose (office), work flat, wood side 40ft boxcar for dry storage, old F7 to pull it all.
I don’t know what it is about MoW trains, but I think they’re some of the most unique and interesting of all trains. I’m probably going to put together a couple different MoW trains on my layout. I plan to have a rock quarry on my layout, so I can fill MoW ballast trains there, plus I love ‘wreck’ trains, and with my level of modelling skill (slightly experienced beginner) I’m sure I’ll need the wreck train to come rerail all my many derailments as I get started! lol
I have the crane and gondola to model a CB&Q wreck train. Also have a rotary snow plow and planning on a flat car with the wedge plow on the front. Probably go ahead and get some single sheathed box cars and some old heavyweight passenger cars to paint in CB&Q MOW orange as well.
Well I hope to do it right the first time (track laying) so rather than get in a rush and lay all the track at once, I’m going to do it in stages. Easier to do it that way than get in over my head, and lay a bunch of bad track, only to be fighting derailments all the time.
I have a 40 car work train,… maybe not what you would find running amock along the rails, but it works for me. I can’t match up to fundys MOW train , but mine isn’t to bad looking.
Three walthers work train kits…two # 2’s, one # 1, a bachmann 250 ton crane and tender, a Athearn 250 ton crane and tender, a bunch of scratch built MOW cars ,pile driver flat, Walthers American crane for pile service, two athearn baggage cars {painted like NS MOW cars,…and I’ll have to look at what else is in the fleet.
I’ll post pictures if anybody whats them…
Patrick
Beaufort,SC
Dragon River Steel Corp {DRSC}
Jeremy - If I could borrow your thread for a moment to ask a pertinent question. I have a green MOW 40 ft boxcar. It has data but no RR. It just says MOW. Does each RR have a unique color or scheme for their MOW cars? Or do they label them with the Rd Name like any other car? Not really sure how to use this boxcar as intended. I model the NYC so should I decal it as such?
Terry[8D]
I think mine (look above, about 3 feet above your monitor) are old Tru-Scales. I dirtied them up some with India Ink, although when I started they were 40 years old and never been washed.
I have a work train that comes in every once in a while and parks for a “few days” on the back track that comes off the house track. It is basically a crew dormitory, a cook car, and a shop car.(mechanical). Occasionally I will add the boom car and crane, but usually not.
I model the PRR and it originally had gray MOW equipment but then changed to yellow. I have 17 pieces of MOW equipment which includes 2 cranes and 1 tender, 1 snow plow, 2 caboose, 4 track laying pieces, and the rest are converted freight and passenger cars. Walthers sold a lot of these cars a few years ago. They are probably still available. Most railroads converted many of there old out of date cars for MOW service. You can scratch build your own just as easy.
I think there is a crane available that works via DCC.
I have a few MOW models, a ballast spreader and a tie worker whatever its called, but they’re sitting in the boxes or partially constructed for later attention.
I have a few items under construction - a scratchbuilt composite gondola, a covered hoppper for locomotive sand service, and a wreck tender converted from an old MDC Pullman car. I’ll post some photos…
I believe there was a thread posted a few months back where everyone had placed pictures of their MOW equipment. Fundy had the biggest selection, if I recall. [:D] Here’s my MOW crane. It’s the pride and joy of the Cedar Branch & Western.
A DCC operated crane would indeed be a fantastic idea, by the way!
Bob Boudreau (hope I spelled it correctly, apologies if I didn’t, durn French last names!) is his name. I understand he has quite a collection. He also has quite a reputation for his fine modeling skills.
I have a MOW train made up of Tru-Scale, Tichy and MDC cars–run it every now and then when it isn’t parked in the Deer Creek yards. Gives my little Rio Grande 2-8-0 something to do when it isn’t hauling the Sierraville Turn. It’s fun to run.
Tom
