N
NP2626
Guest
I'm going to do a bit of complaining here. I'm sure other Model Railroaders can appreciate where I'm coming from. I model the Northern Pacific, the N.P. was signed into existence by none other than Abraham Lincoln. It was one of the earliest transcontinental lines (either 2nd or 3rd to complete it's main across the U.S., depending on who is telling the story). To me, this information alone should make the N.P. stand out. I don't understand why it is so poorly represented by the manufacturer's! The Great Northern and Milwaukee Road are far more popular for some reason.
My big reason for venting here is the fact that I have done enough kit bashing and decoder installations, making something that isn't, into something that looks like something N.P. I have grown tired of these processes and want to buy locomotives that already have DCC sound decoders in them, like everyone else gets to do. Of the six N.P. Steamers I have, only one of them was an actual Northern Pacific locomotive, an 0-8-0 switcher sold by Walthers as N.P. #1172, with DCC and sound. I have one Northern Pacific Y-1 Consolidation brass loco by PFM. The rest are all something else, repainted and lettered for the N.P.
Of the nine diesels I own only 4 had to be repainted for the N.P., so diesels are doing a bit better as far as representation is concerned. Of the nine, two came with sound decoders and I installed decoders in six of these locomotives and one is a dummy.
Given the true importance of the Northern Pacific, I don't get why the N.P. has to be one of they most overlooked railroads as far as power is concerned! Don't get me wrong, I am eternally grateful for the fact that I was able to do the modifications to the locomotives I have! If we look at all my rolling stock, we can see that rolling stock does not suffer with the problems that power has, as there are plenty of freight cars in N.P. Livery!
I completely understand why Free-Lancing was so popular in the 50s 60s 70s and 80s. You had to use what was available to even have a model railroad back then.
Off my Soap Box, now!
My big reason for venting here is the fact that I have done enough kit bashing and decoder installations, making something that isn't, into something that looks like something N.P. I have grown tired of these processes and want to buy locomotives that already have DCC sound decoders in them, like everyone else gets to do. Of the six N.P. Steamers I have, only one of them was an actual Northern Pacific locomotive, an 0-8-0 switcher sold by Walthers as N.P. #1172, with DCC and sound. I have one Northern Pacific Y-1 Consolidation brass loco by PFM. The rest are all something else, repainted and lettered for the N.P.
Of the nine diesels I own only 4 had to be repainted for the N.P., so diesels are doing a bit better as far as representation is concerned. Of the nine, two came with sound decoders and I installed decoders in six of these locomotives and one is a dummy.
Given the true importance of the Northern Pacific, I don't get why the N.P. has to be one of they most overlooked railroads as far as power is concerned! Don't get me wrong, I am eternally grateful for the fact that I was able to do the modifications to the locomotives I have! If we look at all my rolling stock, we can see that rolling stock does not suffer with the problems that power has, as there are plenty of freight cars in N.P. Livery!
I completely understand why Free-Lancing was so popular in the 50s 60s 70s and 80s. You had to use what was available to even have a model railroad back then.
Off my Soap Box, now!
