Western Vermont/Boulanger Granite HH660/GE 44-tonner

[goddrauG]

Hello all,

In my free time (when I have it, anyway), I spend a lot of hours traipsing along Rick Kfoury's CV Champlain Division, especially the Western Vermont portion. The locos in the railroad's roster include an HH660 that uses one of the older MSTS models. Would there be any interest by someone to repaint the newer G-Trax HH660 in the paint scheme of these two locos, along with making a 44-tonner for the Boulanger Granite company in the black paint scheme? I feel like this would increase the accessibility of these paints and people's enjoyment of the route.

The locos can be seen below in the WV Fraser yard on the route. Rick did a beautiful job with the black and yellow stripe job on the WV livery, along with the solid black paint so frequently seen on small industrial railroads like BG. No 44-tonner scheme was made, but his lore does state that BG purchased one so it might be nice to have one. I’m also a sucker for 44-tonners.

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I would be incredibly grateful for this. Also, still wrapping up the QMI route so don't worry, haven’t lost sight of that route’s production!

[mindenjohn]

The HH660 is tricky because of the cabinet doors but I've had a go at the 44 tonner for you.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5e17oxx9 ... pnt6m&dl=0

[mindenjohn]

HH660s - the decal for these only allows horizontal names not two tiered as per the photo you posted. If these are acceptable to you I will put the nose stripes on the WV version and package. Please let me know. The engine used is the BnA from G-Trax.

[goddrauG]

They’re pretty good! Kinda frustrating that the decal is so uncooperative but I think they look well done regardless, could be counted as an alternative paint scheme for the railroad. I’ll take it!

[mindenjohn]

Here you go: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/eefniidk ... w6v54&dl=0

Edit:
Doing some research, the West Vermont Railway/Railroad changed its name in 1865 to Bennington and Rutland, so how the name sat on diesels is slightly moot?

[mindenjohn]

No prizes for guessing where the Western Vermont RR bought this RS3 - minimal repainting. Mind the mechanicals are probably worn out from heavy coal hauls.

[goddrauG]

Interesting stuff! I run a near-future version of the CV Champlain Division where I've rebuilt the Western Vermont back to its home yards of Fraser, VT. This hodge-podge of old equipment suits the "new" WV well, with my alternative history saying they needed to source new motive power.

The BG 44-tonner has been a wonderful addition switching the large granite facility and accompanying yards.

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[mindenjohn]

Would be interested to see your re-building.

[goddrauG]

Sure thing. The route's set in 2030, three years after the railroad was bought out by my fictional Thurmont and Branford shortline conglomerate, who re-extended the line back to the Boulanger Granite facility.

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The original pit was filled in during the 1980s and 90s, but the spur remains since building a new set of tracks to the current pit (not shown or built on my rendition) would be too costly. BG instead brings the granite to the spur and uses their old 40ft Central Vermont flats to move the rock around the property.

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The company's main outbound freight is excess gravel and other waste byproduct from the quarrying process, though they occasionally ship out finished granite products and import supplies in boxcars.

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Fraser's changed a bit, too: Fitzgibbon Bakery Co. has expanded and now ships in flour by rail. Meanwhile, the WV has torn down the dilapidated buildings by the waterfront and replaced them with a two track transload, which receives cars for a plastic pellets company, a pipe manufacturer, and a chemical factory.

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Across the river, most of the industrial buildings have had their spurs rebuilt, serving more or less the same purpose. The new addition here is Suburban Propane, who replaced Fraser Propane and moved across town due to safety concerns from the town's population.

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The last thing of note is that the Western Vermont power station has been bought by VELCO, who imports telephone poles by rail during the colder months.

Besides that, the line up to Wilkesboro Bend is pretty regular stuff. I mainly just re-laid the tracks and wrote some lore so I could run more modern rolling stock on this scenic part of the route.

[mindenjohn]

West vermont Power Station? Is that the electric Co-op?

[goddrauG]

I believe so. Shipping in telephone poles is a concept that I got inspired by after driving through Concord, NH in my home state and seeing a bunch of them transloaded off in the former yard. It's pretty good traffic during the winter months and after heavy wind storms!