Rabbit holes and Rio Grande…

Frustrated in my search for Canadian road switchers in N scale I found myself browsing the manufacturers websites to look at the current ‘art of the possible’. Apart from old Atlas tooling and the ‘wrong’ Broadway SW9 there isn’t much 4 axle power out there, until I stumble upon the Scaletrains GP30…

This urge to enjoy a new model and dream of the model railway it could inhabit.

You see it’s hard to believe that this (click me) is actually N scale. It’s incredibly exciting to see something so wonderful available straight out of the box. It’s not Canadian mind… 

My search continues, frustratingly scouring second hand sources for the Atlas GP38 in CP Rail, which would probably suit the operation I have in mind here… 

Meanwhile, that chance encounter with the GP30 gnaws away at me - I share the link with Chris, the original instigator of the entire N scale adventure, as I know he’ll appreciate it…

“That sure is a tempting machine isn’t it!”

We both share some superlatives, marvel at how well it captures the character and move on…

…but I’m not done.

Several days later I’m still finding myself circling back around to it.

I’m digging out my two books on the Rio Grande.

I’ve got in mind a layout scheme where it would look great.

I’m finding a Trainworx caboose to go with it…

“Those Trainworx cabooses are gorgeous. 

Sorry.

Not helping”.

Last night I almost bought the pair, this morning I cancelled a few British pre-orders to justify it…

It would serve as instant gratification, both in stock, both exciting models.

But why has this happened? A few weeks ago I was happily lost in CP Rail barge operations in British Columbia… they share a yellow caboose. Trying to rationalise, I think this 'rabbit hole' is a response to two things occurring together, with perhaps a dose of the dopamine hit of a potential new purchase.

Taking the obvious point - there is a lack of N scale four axle CP Rail road switchers currently available, full stop . More though, even those that have been available lack the quality of the ScaleTrains GP30 model. I love the Rapido CP van, it is genuinely a beautiful model -  but I can’t get a quality action red locomotive to go with it. The Atlas S4 is beautiful but it’s a terminal switcher, they weren’t used on locals with a caboose… this sounds petty but whilst I take a more artful approach to my modlmaking, the railway touch points need to be right.

The second and less obvious point could be a long held, childlike excitement about the Rio Grande. Colorado mountains, hulking great steam locos on the narrow gauge and yellow and silver passenger trains in the Royal Gorge… so pure ‘secondhand source’ inspiration, fuelled by my one ‘Trains’ book I owned as a child. Nostalgia too, my Dad’s favourite diesel model was a treasured Bachmann Spectrum GP30 in Canadian Pacific that he picked up in Victors. I remember him bringing it home and us setting up track on the dining table watching how slowly and quietly it would move, a total revelation compared to the Lima and Mainline OO models I had on our British layout. Today an adult, connection through the GP30 feels like a thread back to the relationship with my Dad, a very treasured memory.

Summing this up then, yes, Rabbit holes can just be an inspiring photo, and there are plenty of example of that in the ‘Layout Design’ section of the blog - but with me they often hold deeper meaning and promise of connection points. Sitting here and pondering this morning, bathed in warm sunshine with two snoring dogs it has been useful to reflect on the reasoning behind this latest obsession, this urge to enjoy a new model and dream of the model railway it could inhabit. Whether the personal ownership of these feelings and reasoning helps me avoid the almost inevitable purchase remains to be seen but it has hopefully filled your coffee break. Until next time, more soon…

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