Well, that was pretty painless.

It is now early December and we made it through all of the pet turkey funerals and whatnot. The next hurdle is Christmas for most of us, but I must not forget Chanukah as it is almost upon us. We here at the Arizona Southern want to wish you all the happiness the holidays can give, and pray that we all stay safe and well.  I can hope can't I?

Not too much modeling lately, more like taking photos and shipping purchases on my little EBAY page. It's been a crazy ride this year and had more sales of things than in the past years or any recent memories. One very popular item was a wide vision caboose decorated with HAPPY HOLIDAYS on its sides. Not my style, I prefer the forbidden terms Merry Christmas, but it is what it is I suppose and I'm glad for the spike in sales. Most of the items on the page are train parts and body shells, mostly Athearn stuff that they no longer make available and the few remaining modelers like to use in kitbashing their own equipment.

Not much left to report right now, so I'll leave you with hope for the future, may 2021 be a better year than the one we just had. May things calm down and may things begin to head back towards normal. 

Take care,

John Huey

Thanksgiving 2020

It was up until the Chinese crafted virus was sent over here that I had a place, and an extended family, to celebrate things like holidays and birthdays with, I really miss those weekly gatherings. Every year we had a big Thanksgiving party for everybody who cared to come. A custom was started there, one of going around the room with folks talking about what they were thankful for. Often it was quite emotional, while at other times just as inspirational; it was always good. It gave anybody who wanted to, a chance to share themselves with the rest of the group.

This year will be the first time in a while that little tradition will be missing, so in that vein I want to say a couple of things here about some folks I'm thankful for; thankful that they are still a part of my life, starting with my family; Lisa, Matt and Marissa. Most of my circle of friends lives a long way out from Simi Valley CA, and we don't get together as often I'd like. Friends like John G, Jon C, Juan Carlos, Mark A and Mark B (now that is funny), the modeling goddess, Bill and Rosie, Hammerman, Jaybawb, Brian and Lupe, Debbie, Erin and George, Sounddude, Leslye, Joe D, Charlie S, William V, Jim J, several different Bill's, and the list just goes on and on it seems. Thanks to all of you for being there, it really makes a difference. Know that I miss the heck out of those who have graduated from earth school too, your absence is not a source of joy, rest easy my friends.

AZSO #5913, built and painted by yours truly circa 1988.

The latest addition to our caboose fleet.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

John Huey

November 2020 Happenings

Thanksgiving is nine days away as I write this, and I'm wondering if we will even have anything to celebrate; or if it will be legal to do so. 2020 is a year which won't be missed, that's for sure, everything seems to be in confusion or turmoil. Never thought I'd miss normal or boring times before this mess started. As a citizen of California, we can't have too many people over for Thanksgiving; instead we will be holding a funeral for our pet turkey's on that day, funerals are allowed up to 50 mourners.

ON THE MODEL RAILROAD FRONT:

Been working on a couple of other things, cabooses mostly, with a few other projects getting some traction at the same time. Not much else to report anyway, not even sure if anybody is still reading what's posted on here.

Consolidated Copper Company 3183 was finally returned to service this month, it had been sitting derelict on some out of service trackage near the old mine workings for ages.

The shops removed the well worn archbar trucks and replaced them with some leaf spring Bettendorf's for a smoother, safer ride.

This car will see service on the El Cobre Branch as that serves Consolidated Copper who has reopened their operations earlier this year (Arizona Southern timeline is mid 1976).

Thanks for reading, leave a note if the mood strikes, and have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. 

Stay safe, John Huey

Granite Rock GP35 Comes For A Visit.

Howdy, this is just a quick report to say what was observed a day or so ago near Siete Madres, AZ. Extra 442 North had an offroad unit in its consist, an EMD GP35 of all things, working the White Rock turn. I managed to catch a couple of images that I want to share here. Its not all that often that an EMD makes it this far North in Arizona Southern territory, so it's worthy of note. Here is what was captured, Granite Rock 104.

Click on any photo for a larger view.

That's all for now, feel free to write or just say hi.

As always, Enjoy Your Trains!

John Huey

Athearn Genesis Union Pacific Caboose Observations

Hi folks, just passed another birthday, more than I care to think about really, but there it is, another one in the rear view mirror. Last year I pre-ordered one of the U.P. CA-8's with DCC and Sound, just because I thought it would be fun. I remember hearing the UP hacks having and using whistles while switching and thought that would be a fun detail to emulate. Well funny thing was, I got a call from the place I ordered the car a day or so before my birthday, which turned out to be a funny coincidence. They shipped quickly, the car was in Illinois on Wednesday, and I had it the following Saturday, one day after the "big" day; pretty great service if you ask me.

The model is pretty darn nice. The cupola is a little wide, sticks out about a scale inch or so beyond the cars side, which is obvious, but not a deal breaker. All the other points on the model are spot on. The trucks, the markers, the railings, the grabs, the paint and lettering all up to normal Athearn Genesis standards. The car is a real beauty.

What I did not realize when I ordered this model was, I was buying something quite more than a model train car, I was buying something therapeutic for today's troubles.

The "clickity-clack" sound on jointed rail is a sound I'd not heard in decades. The DCC chip in this model has that sound as an option that matches the speed of the car (more or less), so I just set the throttle at the desired cadence and enjoy the sound I once was so fond of; music to my troubled soul. 

Well done Athearn!

Thanks for visiting, write or comment should the mood strike ya.

Enjoy Your Trains,

John Huey

Visited the Colorado Model Railroad Museum

Needing a time out, a chance to get away from the insanity of SoCal for a few days, the wife and I went to Colorado for our anniversary. While there one place we went to was the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in Greely, Colorado.

A most interesting place to visit if you get the chance, both I and the wife had a great time at the museum. Both of us coming away with some more modeling ideas. Let me post some photos as they are a lot more entertaining than my words.

Click on a photo to see a larger version...

So, in conclusion, let me say if you get a chance to check out this place, both the wife and I recommend that you do so.

Colorado Model RR Museum Link:  https://www.cmrm.org/

Thanks for visiting, drop a note or say something if the mood strikes.

Enjoy Your Trains,

John Huey

A Local Cement Dealer Goes High Tech

Greetings from the rattle snake infested fringe of the Sonoran Desert region of southern Arizona. A sparsely populated area to be sure, yet we have a tight knit community which shares many similar values. Those that don't fit in do not seem to stay around too long, funny how that seems to work; ya just gotta love the desert. Folks out here are practical, they don't throw something away because it has a few years on it, they keep it up, fixing as they go along, which gives this area a lot of interesting cars and trucks to look at, stuff long since crushed and made into razor blades by city folks still are in use out here. So it was a little suspicious to the locals when one of the cement dealers on the outskirts of Siete Madres showed up with a set pneumatic dump trailers a little while back, sometimes new things have to be gotten used to I guess. To the dealers credit, the new trailers were not really new, just new to this area. 

Seems the manager of the local no tell motel is also a big trucking fan, as most of the photographs coming out of this region seem to be taken behind his establishment; we're sure this is just a coincidence. All the rooms have very good air conditioning and trust me that is a very big draw when a working person needs to catch up on their sack time.

The trailer models are from Shapeways and they needed a lot of sanding. They were bought several years ago and have languished in a box due to work required to get them somewhat presentable, between some filler and a lot of sanding they have come this far, so they are finally being shared here.

Thanks for visiting and reading this far. Please leave a comment, good or bad, or just say howdy if the mood strikes.

John Huey

Arizona Southern RR

April 1st Report

I guess this is what house arrest must feel like, well except I can leave to go to the market and such. I don't go all that often though as we live in earthquake country and routinely have a few extra cans around the house along with other supplies. 

This situation has given me the impetus to start building some more models, model trucks to be more precise. The latest "rig" is a cut down White Freightliner. It began life as an Athearn model that was found on FeeBay and then it was heavily modified after it arrived here in pieces. I only wish I could have just started from scratch with it as a few things were not done as well as they might have been and the photos were strategically missing the bad news. Then again, I like a challenge and now I know that I'll need to address the problem areas in the near future. Still though, its not too bad, just not as good as it could have been, you be the judge.

For a bigger image, just click on the photos...

....and another view...

...and one final photograph.

This has parts on it from Alloy Forms, A-Line, Athearn, and Plano. It was a fun repair job, but the photos tell me what else I have to do. This truck is the lone WFL in a sea of Peterbilt cab overs owned by Thunderbird, the only other odd duck is a lone Kenworth W900.

Well, that's all for now, thanks for dropping by. Leave a note or drop us a line if the mood strikes you.

Enjoy Your Trains,

John Huey

What happened to January and February?

It's been a little bit busy here these past few months. A good friend has been ill and I've been helping him with his business to keep things afloat. Things are looking up now and the crisis is past, all that remains is the healing, which seems to be going well.

Most of the hobby projects are scattered to the winds right now, mostly in boxes awaiting their eventual call to action. It seems that my interest has turned to truck models lately and those have been a fun break from boxcars and such. 

Whilst digging for some parts I came across a relic from my days as a transition era through 1965 SP modeler.  It's a PIE rig powered by an International R-190 tractor made by Classic Metal Works. The rig features a bunch of add on parts from makers like Alloy Forms and such, plus some paint and a decal or two. I'll post a few images to show some earlier work. I really like trucks of all era's, they are a weakness of mine to be sure. Pretty sure I need a display case just for them now.

A little thing like a license plate helps out more than one might think.

A Mini Metals 32' trailer and International tractor.

A little nostalgia never hurt anybody that I know of, and seeing this rig reminded me of some good times now in the rear view mirror.

I felt the need to check in here just to say we're still alive and well, and needed a subject to fill in for the lack of useful information these posts are famous for; it's all just fun and games really.

Thanks for reading this far, drop us a line if the mood strikes and let us know whats going on with you. 

Enjoy Your Trains,

John Huey