I was able to paint the barn this week - looks MUCH better than having it all white. Still have to add window glazing & paint the floor. The barn is a favorite of both my daughters who love cows & horses. Hooked up the UCS track for the Milk platform too. ( As much as I don't like mounting controls ON the board, my son is at just the right height to keep pushing the buttons if mounted on the side of the board, so...) Also got the Gateman & crossing gates hooked up too.
I'm still on the fence about adding ballast. It would def. improve the look, but not sure I want it w/ the little kids grabbing at the track all the time. Have to think about it. Besides the ballast, next up would be getting some plaster on some of the ceiling tile piles to make them look like actual hills.
While the Pickens is known for their bright orange U18Bs, the collection of ex CSX Dash-8s they roster are also worth shooting. A pair of them is seen arriving at the NS interchange in Anderson, SC. Pickens 5970 started life as CR 5077 & wound up on NS as their 4808 before becoming CSX 5970.
CSX K488-23 passes by the old C&O Depot in Alderson, WV on the CSX New River Sub. On the point is a BNSF Dash-9 in clean warbonnet paint.
NS 20R skirts the banks of the Conemaugh River as it heads eastbound through Johnstown, PA
NS Dash-8 8394 (ex CR 6187) is leading a late afternoon manifest through Mableton, Ga on the NS Atlanta North District.
NS ES44AC 8179 sits in Cresson with a grain train for interchange with RJ Corman. Ex Conrail Jordan Spreader 64637 is on the adjacent track. The Spreader was built in 9/79.
