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Post by slowfreight on Sept 29, 2015 23:02:33 GMT -5
So I've taken a liking to NJDOT's 70s-era diesel trains to Bay Head, better known as the Jersey Builder. Running unrepainted ex-GN coaches behind a GP40P, they were a funky little outfit that can actually challenge the Valpo Dummy for variety. www.flickr.com/photos/jackdk/20943733342/sizes/o/Walthers did the coaches very nicely, in both original and big sky blue paint schemes. And recently somebody's been selling them cheap on ebay and I decided to take the plunge. Never mind that I haven't finished the Comet cars or that it's a total distraction from my core Chicago efforts. I now have 5 coaches inbound and an excuse to tackle the GP40P kitbash that I don't have time for. One of the sky blue cars may get turned into BN green/white if I can find a good reference photo. There's still more cars being listed on the 'bay, so anybody interested in joining me? Anyone got good detail photos that they're willing to contribute while I figure out numbering and lettering for the cars? |
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Post by backshophoss on Sept 30, 2015 1:25:56 GMT -5
"Jersey Builder" or "Bay Head Builder" were slang names of the Bay Head Trains that swapped E-8's
for GG-1's at South Amboy for the trip to NY Penn,all the ex GN and BN coaches were "patched"
NJT,then put online replacing many ex-PRR coaches that were worn out/unsafe/death traps at best(PC era)
The NJCL was known as the "New York & Long Branch" at that time,the joint operation of the PRR and CNJ,
untill Conrail was created.
This was the last service to use E-7's in the Commuter power pool,along with some
ex -Southern Ry E-8's still in the Green/white/gold Crescent scheme after SR joined
Amtrak. They were "patched" as well
Also used in the service were a small fleet of E60's from a trade with Amtrak.
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Post by slowfreight on Oct 2, 2015 21:40:44 GMT -5
First coach arrived today. I see that there was some variance in cars as not all the ex-GN coaches are a match. Hopefully, I can find some credible matches but need help with the photo sources.
Also can't tell for sure, but it looks like prototypes had folding traps that were just left open all the time instead of being replaced with rigid steps.
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Post by backshophoss on Oct 2, 2015 23:14:18 GMT -5
They did retain the folding traps,unless a trap mech broke,a few got fixed steps,
Back then everything was cycled to the ex-CNJ shop at E-port,if equipment required major repairs.
BN"Hockey stick" Cascade green/white,Traditional GN Green/orange,and GN "Big sky blue/white.
Some of the PRR red and CNJ blue/yellow stripe cars were in the mix as were a couple of
pvt "club" cars(1 was the "Blue Comet" HW obs car)
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Post by slowfreight on Oct 3, 2015 16:09:34 GMT -5
They did retain the folding traps,unless a trap mech broke,a few got fixed steps, Back then everything was cycled to the ex-CNJ shop at E-port,if equipment required major repairs. BN"Hockey stick" Cascade green/white,Traditional GN Green/orange,and GN "Big sky blue/white. Some of the PRR red and CNJ blue/yellow stripe cars were in the mix as were a couple of pvt "club" cars(1 was the "Blue Comet" HW obs car) Did any actually wear hockey sticks? I've seen what looks like BN green and a white stripe that went the length of the car side vs. the traditional hockey stripe. |
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Post by backshophoss on Oct 3, 2015 19:04:28 GMT -5
The white stripe drops to the underframe at an angle at one end of the car,hence the
"hockey stick" tag,this was also done to BN F units.
If you have access to the mid '70's BN annunals,there are pics of the F's and passenger cars
with this scheme.
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Post by slowfreight on Oct 4, 2015 12:39:36 GMT -5
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Post by backshophoss on Oct 4, 2015 18:05:19 GMT -5
All 3 are correct,for BN cars,I hate to use the term PRR side or CNJ side,but the "Hockey stick" cars were on the Bay Head-NY Penn trains(PRR side). I was at S Amboy the last day of Engine swapping before the opening of the Long Branch Catenary extension. The slides are well buried in storage.  |
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Post by slowfreight on Oct 8, 2015 23:11:52 GMT -5
The rest of my Jersey Builder cars arrived today, pics to follow soon. I have 2 Orange/brown and 3 blue. One of the blue cars may become the BN green scheme. All will have GN lettering removed and get NJDOT logos/numbers. I will also deskirt the orange/brown cars. Modeling the open traps will be a challenge.
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Post by tmurray on Nov 10, 2015 10:10:19 GMT -5
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cab4
Member
Posts: 149
Primary Railroads: Conrail, NJ DOT, Amtrak, SEPTA, NJT
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Post by cab4 on Nov 10, 2015 16:35:24 GMT -5
Wow, I hadn't been here for months and I was about to make a thread about my own Jersey Builder progress... But I'll answer the questions here. Basically, there were three car types on the Jersey Builder- AC&F 44 Seat Coach, ex GN, exx UP, QTY- 6 AC&F 60 Seat Coach, ex GN, QTY- 4 PS 48 Seat Coach, ex GN, QTY- 25 Notes for the specific Car Types- AC&F 44 Seat: The Walthers GN Big Sky Blue is perfect. Some of these eventually got the NJ DOT blue-bird paint, but you can't go wrong with these. Patch out the GN and apply NJ DOT logos- DONE. SO far as I know, all 6 of these cars arrived in the blue scheme. I haven't spotted any of the 44 seat coaches in the Empire Builder or Burlington Northern schemes. AC&F 60 Seat: Again, the Big Sky Blue is perfect. There was at least ONE of these with the Burlington Northern paint, but no Hockey stick. SOME of these cars lacked the "conductor's window", but I have a slide clearly showing a Blue 60 seat coach with the window, so the walthers model works. I have not been able to find a photo of one of these in New Jersey with the Empire Builder paint, which is a shame because I have an HO 60 seat coach like this. If you are picky, I believe that Brass Car Sides makes an side that is Walthers compatible without the window. Might work since you may be planning to repaint some anyway. Pullman Standard 48 Seat: Here is where things get tricky. Clearly, these are the most numerous Jersey builder car, but no RTR model exists. Brass Car Sides makes sides that can be laminated onto an old Rivarossi car, but isn't good for the TSP cores. Laser Horizons makes the same car but compatible with the Train Station Products Core kits. Right now, I'm having trouble isolating the motor on my Overland GP40P, but it runs relatively smoothly. Once thats done, it should be ready for some train shows!  |
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Post by backshophoss on Nov 10, 2015 19:22:05 GMT -5
A thought on isolating that motor,use tape around the motor mount area and nylon/plastic screws,
if attempting to reuse the old motor,if repowering with a "can" motor,double sided tape seems to
be the common method to attach the motor to the frame.
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edgecrusher
Member
Posts: 31 
Primary Railroads: Monon, RI, NYC, PRR, C&EI, CNW, Milw......
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Post by edgecrusher on Nov 10, 2015 21:42:33 GMT -5
I've used automotive gasket sealant to mount motors. Its electrically non-conductive and has the added benefit of damping some noise too.
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Post by slowfreight on Nov 11, 2015 9:52:19 GMT -5
Wow, I hadn't been here for months and I was about to make a thread about my own Jersey Builder progress... But I'll answer the questions here. Basically, there were three car types on the Jersey Builder- AC&F 44 Seat Coach, ex GN, exx UP, QTY- 6 AC&F 60 Seat Coach, ex GN, QTY- 4 PS 48 Seat Coach, ex GN, QTY- 25 Notes for the specific Car Types- AC&F 44 Seat: The Walthers GN Big Sky Blue is perfect. Some of these eventually got the NJ DOT blue-bird paint, but you can't go wrong with these. Patch out the GN and apply NJ DOT logos- DONE. SO far as I know, all 6 of these cars arrived in the blue scheme. I haven't spotted any of the 44 seat coaches in the Empire Builder or Burlington Northern schemes. AC&F 60 Seat: Again, the Big Sky Blue is perfect. There was at least ONE of these with the Burlington Northern paint, but no Hockey stick. SOME of these cars lacked the "conductor's window", but I have a slide clearly showing a Blue 60 seat coach with the window, so the walthers model works. I have not been able to find a photo of one of these in New Jersey with the Empire Builder paint, which is a shame because I have an HO 60 seat coach like this. If you are picky, I believe that Brass Car Sides makes an side that is Walthers compatible without the window. Might work since you may be planning to repaint some anyway. Pullman Standard 48 Seat: Here is where things get tricky. Clearly, these are the most numerous Jersey builder car, but no RTR model exists. Brass Car Sides makes sides that can be laminated onto an old Rivarossi car, but isn't good for the TSP cores. Laser Horizons makes the same car but compatible with the Train Station Products Core kits. Right now, I'm having trouble isolating the motor on my Overland GP40P, but it runs relatively smoothly. Once thats done, it should be ready for some train shows! Great info! Where do you get the decals? And which car types appeared in Orange/Brown? flic.kr/p/dwxPFBI've got 3 blue and 2 orange/brown. One blue will probably become a BN green broken hockey stick, with the conductor window blanked after repainting. FWIW, any photos/scans/slides you can share are greatly appreciated. I haven't found much outside of flickr. I will eventually kitbash a GP40P after I get the cars done. I needed this project on the stack like a hole in the head, but for some reason I really think it's a cool train! Alas, by the time it's done I won't live anywhere near here anymore. |
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Post by backshophoss on Nov 11, 2015 19:18:03 GMT -5
When the Southern Railway finally joined Amtrak,some of the E-8's that were not picked up,
were sold to NJT,after a quick patch job at E-port,wound up on the NY+LB on the Bay Head jobs.
So SR green and gold were added to the Rainbow of colors on the "Bay Head Builders".
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