12 Days of Christmas 2024

[hobo1960]

Apologies for the tardiness of my repaints for the 12-Days. I am dealing with "life" at present but I hope to get caught up today or tomorrow, hopefully.

Happy New Year

KB

[wopflyer]

Thank you for all of these repaints hobo1960!

[hobo1960]

Gday, all.

I'm continuing to work on my Christmas project but life continues to provide some distractions.

But fear not. Between dealing with things, I've been using my down/unwind times to plug away at these repaints, and I'm happy to report that things are coming along nicely (albeit slower than I had anticipated or hoped for).

But as a way of keeping anyone who is actually following this feed interested, I thought I'd share a few peeks at whats coming very soon.

So...

For Day Nine, we will have a set of cars I have long wished existed in the game - Live Poultry cars. At last, I finally found a car that provided me a canvas upon which to work a little magic. I still have more work to get them ready to share but I'm rather pleased with how they're coming along. Here's a peek:

kb_poultry.jpg

Day Ten will probably be a small set of Double-Sheath Boxcars. I've completed two so far but have two more I'd like to include, if I can get them completed. But, these two are ready to show what's coming:

kb_ds_boxcars.jpg

Day Eleven is coming together as well. Not sure how many cars will be included (hopefully all, but one never knows) -- some fun two-bay covered hoppers (several of which were requested by my brother):

kb_2bay_cvd_hoppers.jpg

So, that's it for now. I've not yet finalized Day Twelve but I have several items on the workbench. Just need to see how time management and life goes over coming days.

Thanks for following this project and for patience. I'll get these sets up and shared as soon as I can.

Cheers

KevinB

[august1929]

Some really great reskins - tremendous work - thank you for sharing

Rod

[hobo1960]

Happy Holidays

On the ninth day of Christmas...Live Poultry Cars

Poultry Cars.jpg

This is a repaint set for the G-TraX Double-Sheathed Boxcars form the BLE pack.

I am in love with steam era railroading and have always enjoyed Polutry Cars. I have always wanted some for the game and At last, I finally found a car that provided me a canvas upon which to work a little magic.

From the late 1800’s until well into the 1960’s Live Poultry Cars were used for the safe transportation of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and all types of live fowl. The Live Poultry Company patented the design and had more than 2000 live poultry cars in its fleet.

Hauling chickens, the Live Poultry Company also transported other fowl, including turkeys. A poultry car could carry approximately 1,200 turkeys that would eventually end up on the holiday dinner table.

These special “Henhouses on Wheels” were commonplace and featured wire mesh sides (to allow ventilation) and which tilted out to provide for 'self-cleaning' as much as possible. They featured multiple levels of individual coups, each fitted with feed and water troughs.

Because of their unique cargo, live poultry cars often moved in fast freights bound for major cities. Just imagine how many feathers you could have found trackside during the industry's heyday.

These cars could haul as many as 5,000 chickens, depending on their size. The cars would sometimes roll along the line, stopping in various farm communities along the railroad to pick up chickens. Once the car was full, the chickens would be sent to market in a large city such as Chicago or New York.

The Palace Poultry Car Company was formed in 1924 as was the only real competition for the Live Poultry Transit Company. Their cars were similar in function, but rode higher on the rails. Both companies would eventually become part of the North American Car Company, with a fleet of more than 3,000 poultry cars roaming the nation.

Turkeys were routinely shipped in live poultry cars until the 1920s. It wasn't uncommon for turkeys to be shipped from areas in Tennessee to points on the eastern coast in what were called "turkey specials". Turkeys were more difficult to ship than other birds and often experienced "shrinkage" or weight loss because they often refused to eat en route. Still, railroads often ran "turkey specials" just before Thanksgiving and Christmas to meet the holiday demand.

I think these all came out rather well.

Enjoy

Here's a few prototype photos:

Poultry Cars - Prototypes.jpg

https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/ivmzri9effbz2l4/Poultry_Cars.zip/file

Joyeux Noël

KevinB

[hobo1960]

This is a bonus car for my Poultry repaint set.

Poultry Cars - Bonus.jpg

This unique car is half refrigerated and half live poultry -- like the other cars.

This unusual car was designed to not only carry live poultry but also farm fresh eggs as well!

Prototype:

Poultry Cars - Bonus - Prototype.jpg

Enjoy

https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/vs2k590lueuw0vc/Poultry_Cars_-_Bonus.zip/file


Enjoy

KB

[hobo1960]

Happy Holidays

On the tenth day of Christmas...Double-Sheath Boxcars

DS Boxcars.jpg

This is yet another repaint set for the G-TraX Double-Sheathed Boxcars form the BLE pack.

I am in love with steam era railroading and have always enjoyed the colorful paints on the prewar boxcars and reefers.

I enjoy the challenge of painting the variety of colors and sometimes just plain fun-looking cars from the era. My brother (the avid model railroader) also asked me to do the His Master's Voice car -- it was fun. And isn't what the hobby is all about?

I think these all came out rather well.

Enjoy



https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/y67i0s3as6li7r4/Boxcars_DS.zip/file

Nollaig Shona Dhuit!

KevinB

[harryadkins]

Would you please share your layered texture files for the two poultry cars? I would love to see how you pulled them off.

Harry

[hobo1960]

Happy Holidays

On the eleventh day of Christmas...a collection of 2-Bay Covered Hoppers.

2Bay Covered Hoppers.jpg

These are repaints for the Kuju CementHopper.

Covered hoppers began appearing just prior to the Second World War and are one of the dominant car types still in use on railroads today. Early development of covered hoppers focused on smaller two-bay cars. A variety of styles eventually were produced well into the 1950s.

These versatile hoppers were used to transport granular bulk commodities, such as sand, concrete, powdered lime, sugar, and a variety of other items.

I have created a rather colorful collection. Again, to enjoy with my brother.

https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/o4a2pb58ssd0mqs/Cement_Hoppers_2Bay.zip/file

Веселого Різдва

KevinB

[hobo1960]

G'day.

I had a few last-minute additions to my repaint set for the Kuju 2-Bay Covered Hoppers.

2Bay Covered Hoppers Bonus.jpg

Enjoy

https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/9ud39n1w694su5h/2Bay_Covered_Hoppers_Bonus.zip/file

KevinB

[gtw5812]

Happy Holidays

On the ninth day of Christmas...Live Poultry Cars

Poultry Cars.jpg

This is a repaint set for the G-TraX Double-Sheathed Boxcars form the BLE pack.

I am in love with steam era railroading and have always enjoyed Polutry Cars. I have always wanted some for the game and At last, I finally found a car that provided me a canvas upon which to work a little magic.

From the late 1800’s until well into the 1960’s Live Poultry Cars were used for the safe transportation of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and all types of live fowl. The Live Poultry Company patented the design and had more than 2000 live poultry cars in its fleet.

Hauling chickens, the Live Poultry Company also transported other fowl, including turkeys. A poultry car could carry approximately 1,200 turkeys that would eventually end up on the holiday dinner table.

These special “Henhouses on Wheels” were commonplace and featured wire mesh sides (to allow ventilation) and which tilted out to provide for 'self-cleaning' as much as possible. They featured multiple levels of individual coups, each fitted with feed and water troughs.

Because of their unique cargo, live poultry cars often moved in fast freights bound for major cities. Just imagine how many feathers you could have found trackside during the industry's heyday.

These cars could haul as many as 5,000 chickens, depending on their size. The cars would sometimes roll along the line, stopping in various farm communities along the railroad to pick up chickens. Once the car was full, the chickens would be sent to market in a large city such as Chicago or New York.

The Palace Poultry Car Company was formed in 1924 as was the only real competition for the Live Poultry Transit Company. Their cars were similar in function, but rode higher on the rails. Both companies would eventually become part of the North American Car Company, with a fleet of more than 3,000 poultry cars roaming the nation.

Turkeys were routinely shipped in live poultry cars until the 1920s. It wasn't uncommon for turkeys to be shipped from areas in Tennessee to points on the eastern coast in what were called "turkey specials". Turkeys were more difficult to ship than other birds and often experienced "shrinkage" or weight loss because they often refused to eat en route. Still, railroads often ran "turkey specials" just before Thanksgiving and Christmas to meet the holiday demand.

I think these all came out rather well.

Enjoy

Here's a few prototype photos:

Poultry Cars - Prototypes.jpg

https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/ivmzri9effbz2l4/Poultry_Cars.zip/file

Joyeux Noël

KevinB

Kevin,

I have placed these within the game, however, they will not show in game? Is there a GEO file I need to copy? The directions are vague.

Thanks,

Galen

[hobo1960]

Good morning, Galen.

I'm not sure how to advise. I thought the instructions were clear and concise. As I've seen at least one user has added them, I assume instructions are fine but perhaps I'm mistaken.

Meanwhile, there should be nothing for you to do but at the folders to your G-Trax BLE folder, as per instructions.

I should mention, that these require the original BLE install, as I think there was a replacement route later?

Perhaps someone wiser than I might have a suggestion?

I'll be happy to help you via PM.

KB


-----------------

Kevin,

I have placed these within the game, however, they will not show in game? Is there a GEO file I need to copy? The directions are vague.

Thanks,

Galen

[gtw5812]

Good morning, Galen.

I'm not sure how to advise. I thought the instructions were clear and concise. As I've seen at least one user has added them, I assume instructions are fine but perhaps I'm mistaken.

Meanwhile, there should be nothing for you to do but at the folders to your G-Trax BLE folder, as per instructions.

I should mention, that these require the original BLE install, as I think there was a replacement route later?

Perhaps someone wiser than I might have a suggestion?

I'll be happy to help you via PM.

KB

I have the Original, just not sure as to how to get them to show. They look great!


-----------------

Kevin,

I have placed these within the game, however, they will not show in game? Is there a GEO file I need to copy? The directions are vague.

Thanks,

Galen

[hobo1960]

Happy Holidays

On the twelfth day of Christmas...RoadRailers

RoadRailers.jpg

These are repaints for the RCAP RoadRailers.

I have included a variety of prototypical, as well as pseudo-proto schemes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RoadRailers were a trailer or semi-trailer that could be hauled on roads by a tractor unit and then by way of a fifth wheel coupling, operate in a unit train on railway lines. The RoadRailer system allowed trailers to be pulled by locomotives without the use of flatcars, instead attaching trailers directly to bogies.

The RoadRailer concept was originally and idea introduced by Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in 1952.

The C&O began utilizing 29ft single-axle trailers in 1955 for service between Detroit and Grand Rapids Michigan. Trailers were attached to passenger trains and used for Mail and Express Service. This provided rail access to customers without rail sidings. The use of the trailers declined in the early 1960's, along with passenger services.

A revived interest in the concept began in the early 1980's with several short duration ventures by Seaboard Lines, Family Lines, Illinois Central Gulf, Conrail, and Union Pacific. In 1986 Norfolk Southern began RoadRailer service in a big way with its Triple Crown subsidiary. Later, in 1993, Conrail joined as an service partner. RoadRailer trailers evolved from Mark II, to Mark IV, and now Mark V bogies. The Mark V bogies were completely detachable. Trailers were manufactured by Wabash National Corporation of Lafayette, Indiana. The trailers utilized an onboard air system to raise and lower the trailers on and off of the bogies.

Triple Crown was by far the largest user of the RoadRailer trailers. Amtrak also used the trailers for mail service and Union Pacific ran a weekly priority train. Most are Dry Vans but some were converted to refrigerated and special auto carriers. Norfolk Southern and Conrail normally ran the unit trains with 100 trailers. Each train would have a Couplermate directly behind the engine, but occasionally there was an additional Couplermate at the other end to allow for connection to normal coupler cars.

The RoadRailer service ended on 25 August, 2024 with Norfolk Southern’s final run of Train 255.

This ended RoadRailer services in North America. I believe that they are still used in Australia however.

Cheers

Set 1
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/1q9h56j3yupyfam/RoadRailers_1.zip/file

Set 2
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/n9a010hpj8z9yj8/RoadRailers_2.zip/file

Nai Lye Hiruva Airea Amanar!

KevinB

[hobo1960]

Well, I made it!

It took longer than I had hoped but I did manage to complete another Twelve Days project. Along the way, I have learned some new techniques and tricks. I have also experimented with some creative solutions. I have enjoyed the journey.

After reviewing my efforts beginning on December 24th and finishing on January 8, I see that I managed to complete 80 repaints! WooHoo!

I hope people find enjoyment in my efforts.

Time to get my 2025 projects underway and shared.

So, stay tuned...

KevinB