The K-Rex

Since I haven't managed to accomplish much this week (night shift will do that!) I thought it might be interesting to put up a picture or two of Slate Creek #45, a Bachmann K-27. It is the largest locomotive to date on the Slate Creek roster. This locomotive is doubly special in that it received the whole "K-Rex" treatment from Dave Goodson of Northwest RCS ... the suspension is locked at the #1 and #4 drive axle to prevent excessive lateral play, the counterweights are all hand shimmed (this was before Bachmann started providing corrected counterweights) and the electronics are all brand new from pilot to bunker. The locomotive has RCS Radio Control, NiCd batteries, and Phoenix 2K2 sound, with a specially made mechanical chuff timer to replace the optical one. The headlights have been replaced with incandescent bulbs, as have the lamps in the class lights on the smokebox. The tender now has a rear headlight; at the time of these photos it had not yet been installed.



No.45 carries the standard Slate Creek graphics, and eventually will receive a round number plate on the smokebox, and the same graphite treatment that all Slate Creek locomotives are gradually being given, as well as a crew, authentic tender coal, and other details. I'm even considering getting hold of a road pilot to provide a variety of interchangeable "looks" ... though I have to say the plow is one of the reasons I particularly like this locomotive. Of course, I'm cheating: This photo is actually on the locomotive's shakedown run on Dave's Colorado Consolidated after the K-Rex treatment (he took the photos too!) ... I have a couple photos of #45 on my railroad, but his makes it look that much nicer! (We'll do more on mine later with roster shots of everything, and with the eventual scenery!)