I saw an add in one of the 2007 Walthers monthly fliers for PK2 E8A locos for an unbelievable $49.95. After verifying that locos in NYC livery were available I ordered one through my local hobby shop. The following Thursday, NYC E8 #4089 turned up. I didn't even have to pay the shipping. I installed a Soundtraxx DSD100LC decoder and a 3/4-inch speaker to give the engine a voice. It is shown in the thumbnail at left as part of lash-up with NYC E8A #4040 and E7B #4105 at the head of a consist of mixed heavyweight and streamlined passenger cars. Looking back, I wish I had ordered two or three more of these great locomotives.

Every railroad should have at least one small switcher. The Proto 2000 ALCO S3, NYC #874 at right is a welcome addition to the Black River Valley Railroads locomotive roster. I purchased it (Feb. 2006) from a LHS at a price too low to refuse. I intended to install a Digitrax DH163LO "drop-in" decoder into it, but could not get the body shell to seat properly with the decoder in place. Instead of performing surgery on the chassis weight, I removed all the circuit boards and plugs and installed a Digitrax DZ123 decoder. There is plenty of room under the shell now and the locomotive performs brilliantly. With the decoder set for switching, this little S3 will move so slow it is almost imperceptible.

I changed a pair of Santa Fe F7s in the blue and yellow freight livery into NYC F7s #1663 and 2443 shown at left. I needed "Lightning Striped" liveried diesels for freight service so they would fit better into my primary mid-fifties operating era. I disassembled both units, stripped off the paint and started over. I painted both body shells black and applied the striping and lettering from Microscale Decals sheet #49. I detailed both units with the parts from a Walthers Diesel Detail Kit #933-822. I then added Details West MU hoses and Spark arrestors. I replaced the original Athearn headlight with a modified structure light encased in black shrink tubing. The A-unit #1663 has a Digitrax DH123 decoder hard wired into place. I replaced the original plastic wheels on the dummy B-unit #2443, with Athearn metal wheels and bearings for powered units to add weight and for electrical pick-up. A Soundtraxx DSD100LC diesel sound decoder and a 1.1-inch diameter speaker from Tony's Trains are installed in the B-unit. These two locomotives are electrically coupled with a Miniatronics miniature 2-conductor plug and wire set. This arrangement provides for 16-wheel electrical pick-up and all but eliminates the stuttering of the sound decoder. I lightly weathered both units using thinned paint and artists chalks. I am pleased with the way both units look and sound.

The P2K NYC E8A #4040 at right was purchased at the Midland, Ohio train show 2006. I had been looking for a NYC E8 for a long time and this one filled the bill quite well. It is virtually new, not even all the factory supplied detail parts had been installed on it yet. I removed the circuit board and hardwired a Soundtraxx DSD-100LC Diesel sound decoder and a 3/4-inch speaker and enclosure from Tony's Train Exchange. The sound could be better, but the 3/4-inch speaker is the best I could do without major surgery to the chassis. The loco runs very smoothly and quietly and can pull all twelve of my steamlined and heavy weight coaches and 3 express reefers around the BRVRR layout without a problem.

I purchased a third locomotive at the Miland, Ohio train show. This little P2K NYC GP7. It came with a Digitrax decoder installed and a cracked gear in the forward truck, but the price was right. I replaced the wheel sets with some Athearn units I had on hand and reprogramed the decoder to my liking. It is a sweet runner. Very quiet and can move so slow you have to mark the track and wait a few moments to see the motion. I dusted it and touched up the paint on the handrails which greatly improved its appearance. A great little addition to the BRVRR locomotive roster.

This matched set of ALCO PAs, NYC #4210, #4301 and #4208 are handy additions to the BRVRR locomotive roster. I needed a New York Central passenger diesel for the BRVRR to pull my mixed consist of heavyweight and streamlined cars. The PAs shown here are all I could find locally in late 2005. They are Athearn blue box kits. Number 4210 has its original drive. Number 4208 is a clone of its sister. The B-unit #4301 is a dummy, equipped with a Soundtraxx DSX sound decoder and two speakers. Both powered units have a Train Control Systems T1, 2-function decoder for motor and lights control. I replaced the truck mounted couplers on the front of both A-units with body mounted Kadee coupler boxes and couplers. Researching these units was difficult because photos of NYC PAs proved very elusive. The road numbers on the A-units were changed to reflect units I found on the Fallen Flags Website. The B-unit's number is one of the four PB1 units owned by the NYC. The locos are rounding the curve at the east end of the BRVRR layout.

At right, is my first set of NYC F-7s. This New York Central A/B set #1855 and #2425 started as Athearn kits in Burlington Northern and Canadian Pacific liveries respectively. I stripped and painted them, and applied NYC decals from Micro Scale on them. Walthers' dress-up kits, Details West spark arrestors, MU and air hoses completed the detailing as far as I wanted to pursue it for now. I matched them as best as I could to photos of these two specific units I found on the Fallen Flags Web Site. The A-Unit has its original Athearn drive with a Soundtraxx DSD-100 Decoder and a 1-inch speaker from Tony's Train Xchange, mounted inside the body. It runs smoothly and sounds awesome. The B-Unit #2425 in this photo also has the original Athearn drive with a Digitrax DH123 decoder for motor control.

Black River Valley Railroad EMD F7A #1116 is the first, and only, 'House' locomotive. It has an MRC chassis and an Athearn BB body shell. (I melted the original MRC F7A body shell trying to remove the paint). I originally installed a Lenz LE1000W decoder for motor and light control, but changed to a Train Control Systems T1 two function decoder for better performance. The simple light grey, red, black and white paint scheme was chosen because I am still a novice at refinishing models which are not black. The BRVRR herald on the nose was home-made with a Testors Custom Decal making kit. The black stripes on the body came from Microscale as did the numbers and letters. The engineer, windows, ports, cab details, handrails and grab irons came with the original MRC F7A body shell. Details West MU and air hoses completed the details. I weathered the body shell and trucks with artists chalk and Testors Dullcote. This is the first engine on the layout that doesn't look showroom new. Lenny Harlos graciously shared his weathering techniques to make BRVRR F7A #1116 truly unique. Thanks Lenny!

At right is one of two, Santa Fe 'Warbonnet' passenger livery sets. They are Athearn 'Blue Box' kits with Walthers detailing kits and Details West MU and air hoses applied. The A-Unit has the original Athearn drive train, with a Digitrax DH123 decoder installed for motor control and lighting effects. The gyra-light is really cool when running the trains in the dark. The B-Unit is a dummy. These two usually pull my abbreviated (5-6 car) Santa Fe Passenger Train.

Another set of New York Central F7s, both A-units this time. NYC #1719 is an Athearn 'blue box' kit that started in Pennsylvania RR livery. I repainted and decaled it in the late 1968 NYC livery for a little variety. I replaced the original Lenz decoder with TCS T1 decoder for better motor control. I installed a Walthers windows and detail kit, Details West MU and air hoses and spark arrestors. The companion is NYC #1872. It started as a BN dummy loco. The same level of detailing was applied to this unit as its parent. I installed a MRC 1626 Diesel sound decoder in this dummy A-unit to give voice to several of my non-sound diesels. It can be MUd to any loco, but normally runs in tandem with #1719. They are electrically coupled with a two conductor Minatronics micro plug & wires which eliminates the 'stutter' and provides 16-wheel electrical pickup.

My PK1 RDC-3 started life in B&O livery. In March of 2007 I stripped and painted it in NYC liveryand added a few details, mostly on the inside. I painted the interior, installed a home made light board, and put in a few passengers for effect. I installed a Digitrax DH123 decoder for motor and light control. It runs smoothly and very quietly. Although I was pleased with the outcome, it was too clean! Most of the photos I have of NYC RDCs show them grimy and worn. I spotted on some rust stains with a couple of different red-browns and streaked the top with grimy black. In August of 2010 I striped the front and rear of my NYC RDC#53. The arrival of the needed decals from Microscale meant that I had to take action. After removing the body shell, removing the window glazing and taping of the top and sides I sprayed on a coat of reefer white Testor's paint on the front and rear panels of the body shell. Once the paint had dried I applied black 8-inch (scale) stripes from Microscale sheet #91152 to each end. It took a little fiddling to get the right match on the entry doors, but I finally worked it out. Next I applied a few strips of 8-inch wide red barricade stripes to complete the design. A few touches with red and black Testor's enamel finished the stripe application. A liberal application of Bragdon Enterprises weathering powders and a couple of coats of Dulcote finished the job. For a larger image of my RDC click the thumbnail photograph at right above.