Roster evolves

Acquisition week here for the Great Falls RR. I have gotten a hold of some prime pieces for amazing deals that I couldn't pass up.

First off, Kato Smooth Side Union Pacific passenger car set. The two 4 car sets are just amazingly detailed and look fantastic running along the Great Falls. In fact, my Challenger has had no issues (Aisde from the odd derailment caused by overhanging rock faces) in getting the 8 car train all the way around the layout. Looks fantastic doing it too... check out the vid!



But thats not the only thing that came in the mail....

My Lt. Mountain finally got back from its DCC install, and operates very well. Unfortunately its tender is still Rapido mounted...and my Vandy tender for it has a really low coupler...so it's not pullin nothing right now!

I also got a few cars in the mail... CN Through Baggage, CN Express Reefers, both in the green/gold. The Baggage cars seem to be propper shades of green, and are done by Lifelike/proto2000. the Reefers are from Athearn and are a lot darker than what I would call prototypical. But apparently they are 'weathered' ...even though all it looks like is that the paint is faded. The Trucks are bad on the athearns too...not very smooth, but the couplers are better than decent. I also found a few BC Rail cars and CN cabooses at Hobby Wholesale that I've been anxious to get for quite a while!


Also in the lineup for incoming over the next two weeks are:
Bachmann Heavy Mountain DCC equipped
Bachmann J-Class 4-8-4
Atlas 2 Truck Shay
Lifelike CN 3 dome tank cars (set of 6)
Lifelike BC Rail Boxcars (set of 3)
Lifelike CN Baggage cars (yes more!)
Lifelike CN & BC Rail cabooses (yes...MORE!)

At the local hobby shop I also got quite a few things on order...but their taking an eternity to get... I'm at three months now from my initial order... oh well.
Bachmann Heavy Mountain DCC equipped
Concor CN Green/gold/black passenger cars (coach, dinner, RPO)
Lifelike/Proto2000 Berkshire 2-8-4

I've learned that the shells from the Concor passenger cars will fit onto the Kato running frames with little to no modification. So if I can find good deals on Kato passenger cars I'll be grabbin them to do the modification. I've also learned that Rapido is going to be doing the CN green/gold cars in n-scale in the very near future! So I'm very excited for the *gasp& $45.00/car rolling stock! At least they come lighted... still compared to the $130 it cost for the 8 Kato's and 12 light boards... I'm a lil flabergasted at that price PER CAR!

I need to focus on buildings and scenery now... my layout is already at it's MAX for what it can handle for rolling stock and motive power... in fact I think it's a lil over populated since the UP passenger sets showed up... and now with the Shay on the way I gotta get me some logging cars.... maybe I can expand somehow....