January 2019 stuff...

Well, we've made it to 2019 and did not have to do much breakage to get to this point. What we did do was reach at least one decision, the Arizona Southern will now have at least two locations that will be getting regular deliveries of coal. One a cement plant and the other a copper smelter. Coal, at least in sizeable carloadings is a new concept for us and should work nicely into the planned operations scheme.

We have a number of coal hoppers, mainly MDC, gifted us by the Downey Pacific and Western. When Richard, Gerry, and Dennis upgraded their D&RGW coal fleet, the older 70 ton cars seemed to drift in my direction at prices too low to argue over. Dennis painted some for the AZSO and gifted them to me and these I will be using as well as the D&RGW cars in this service.

Plus a couple of others seemed to find their way here as well.

Looks like an importer of fine Mexican Cuisine will also be joining the AZSO family, more news on this as it develops.

That's all for now, drop a line if the mood strikes you, but most of all; Enjoy Your Trains!

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 2019!

Well, we are in the final hours of 2018 and the shop crew rolled out their last two cars of 2018 before heading out to their respective celebrations tonight for some well deserved debauchment. They have tomorrow off and the company threw in some amazingly tasty homemade tamales for all present today. This is a tradition that has become a holiday staple here at the Arizona Southern, and is always well received by our amazing people.

Oh, and before I forget, here are the last two cars turned out by the crew:

With that I hear the dinner bell a calling, and I'm about to lock up the place for the rest of the year. The entire crew will be back at it on Thursday, when our regular operations will resume.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The countdown is well underway. My time is not really my own for the foreseeable future. I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Chanukah is in the rear view mirror for 2018, but I hope that was a blessed time for those who celebrate that cleansing of the temple; thanks Judah... 

Thanks for reading this, leave a word if the mood strikes.

December 2018 Stuff...

Not a lot new for December, heck my head is just barely over November's craziness. Not that I'm anti-holidays or something else like that, it just seems that I'm always in catch-up mode, that's all. Where did 2018 go?

Take for instance the fact that AZSO has two seperate ore operations planned for the next layout. There will be two railroad segments modeled, each having its own seperate ore operation. One using tight bottom cars between mine and concentrator/smelter, the other using the older bottom dump ore cars we've had forever. The northern segment will interchange with the Santa Fe for the most part, while the southern segment will have more SP and NdeM transfers and power showing up. All in all this will require a bit of logistics before we can play trains.

Other industries will include "The King" on the AZSO, which is cement. Carbon black various chemicals, oil, old tires, food stuffs for both man and beast will round out what moves on our rails for the most part.

Oh, and one last thing of note. AZSO has just taken delivery of an ancient Varney smooth sided ore car model, you remember those metal cars from when dinosaurs ruled the earth right? While not 100% certain on how, we mean to turn this one off car into a cab car like the one at Magma AZ Copper, now at the AZRR museum in Chandler, AZ.

Thanks for visiting with us, leave a comment if the mood strikes you.