The Longwood & Stony Creek SW1500 Project

[wctruboat]

In my quest for finding smaller railroads for the WCTR to acquire, we came across a small paper hauling railroad in north-central Wisconsin called the Longwood & Stony Creek.

The L&SC as we call it, hauls chemicals and raw products to a paper company in Tomahawk, WI. This freelanced road is a spoof railroad to the current Tomahawk Railway, of which we take much inspiration.

Currently, we own 3 locomotives which are due to be interchanged to the WCTR today, unless USPS screws up again. #11 and #12 are Proto 2000 SW9s, while the #14 is a Athearn SW1500.

Because the #14 looks out of place among the earlier first generation power, we are making a companion locomotive to it, which will be lucky #13.

Here's a quick overview of the power as it was before movement to the WCTR




#11 had some water cooler problems, which we are still trying to work out.

The #13 will be nearly identical to the #14 with very few modifications.

More coming later...

Phil

[wctruboat]

We will start off with a stock Athearn SW1500. I picked it up pretty cheap online for $17, as a dummy. Upon arrival here, the locomotive will recieve NWSL wheelsets, along with a updated Athearn motor and drivelines.

Off hand, details that will need to be added include:

Weed-cutter style plow
Ditch Lights
BLMA pilot replacement
Details West Airhorn
Speed recorders
Airlines on sideframes
All-Weather cab windows (a small WCTR modification)
Sinclair Antenna--Overland Brass
Lift irons
Grab irons
Atlas MP15DC grills
Bell
Keystone loco works SW interior

Photos to come tonight...Along with the next installment...

Phil

[Randy Earle]

Looks great Phil, this is one aspect of diesel detailing that you don't see much. Looking forward to your other photos.

[wctruboat]

The switchers arrived yesterday, in a somewhat deplorable shape.

To start, the engines had a few of the detail parts broken off...specifically every ditch light, the horns, bell, etc. Those were all glued back in place, and are looking good now.

First was the SW1500's test run. It ran like I expected...like a Athearn. I replaced the wheelsets with NWSL 40''s, and hardwired the motor. It runs pretty nice now.

The P2K switchers are another story, however. Have you ever see a movie where there is a car with a gutted motor, and all of the hoses and lines leading to it just hanging inside the hood? That's what both of the switchers looked like, except the circuit board was the part that had flown the coop!

I'll post a article on how I fixed this problem a bit later when I get some pics ready.

Some more research on the SW1500 gives me some new detail parts, or just updated details that I need to buy:

191-2002, Cannon Safety Treads for SW1500
990217 – Atlas MP15 Grill Top
990218 – Atlas MP15 Grill Front
990222 – Atlas Control Stand (if I can't find a Keystone SW Interior)
990202 – Atlas MP15 Radiator
9920238 – Atlas SD35 fan blades (for front radiator fan)

Phil

[sp3320]

Those switchers sure look familiar...oh wait I painted and detailed them several years ago. Glad they are working for your railroad Phil.

Dan

[Randy Earle]

Phil, sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Welcome to the Diesel Detailer.