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Semi-Streamlined Hemlock, Selkirk and Troy Railroad Locomotive and Train

I decided "my" railroad, the Hemlock, Selkirk and Troy, needed a passenger train. I started with the locomotive and designed a semi-streamlined boiler. The boiler started as a Gilbert 293. I removed all detailing above the running boards except the feedwater heater on the smokebox. This was to give the boiler a nice smooth appearance.

There were some pumps and other items that caused the original running boards to have step-up areas. I removed all of this detail to give the running boards a "straight-through" look.

Then I used brass strips to make skirting below the running boards that swooped down to the pilot deck. The end result is a sleek locomotive of a design used by several railroads that tried to spruce up their steam locomotives in the age of streamlined steam engines. I also made a piece of streamlining to fit between the pilot-to-boiler steps on the pilot. The image on this piece was made using the classic picture of an American Indian shooting an arrow into the sky. This was done on my computer.

The final touch was a Tuscan and cream paint scheme with gold striping and white lettering. The train is named "The Selkirk Arrow." (Hence the large arrow head on the tender. The shaft of the arrow continues along the entire train as the cream window stripe on the passenger cars.)


The first car of the passenger train is the full baggage car. This started life as a Gilbert 651 New-Haven style baggage car. I removed the rivet detail on the sides (and also had to fill in a large piece that had been broken out of one side between the baggage doors). American Models four-wheel passenger car trucks were used on this car.

The second car in the passenger train is the combination baggage/coach. This car started out as a Gilbert heavyweight combine. It required no modifications to use on my railroad but I did have to make a frame for it. American Models four-wheel passenger car trucks were used on this car too. It is named Mary Louise for my daughter.

The third car is a full coach. It started life as an American Models heavyweight coach and required no modifications. It is named Robert Adam for my father.

The fourth car is the Diner. It was originally a Lionel American Flyer heavyweight diner. To make this car sit even with the other cars I had to change the trucks because the Lionel trucks made the car sit too high. I used American Models six-wheel passenger car trucks on this car. It is named Mary Agnes for my mother.

The last car in the five-car passenger train is the observation. This is another product of American Models. Again no modifications were needed for this car. It is named Sandra June for my wife.

All cars had silhouettes made using my computer. The Tuscan and cream paint scheme makes for a striking train.


Here is the semi-streamlined Pacific pulling the five passenger cars making up the named train, the Selkirk Arrow on Jeff Hill's S Gauge layout. (4:18)

This picture shows The Selkirk Arrow (with four cars) running on my layout in March 2011. The fifth car was added shortly after this picture was taken.

The B-17 is a Lindberg model in 1:64 scale. It is one of the few kits offered in S scale.

The New York Central Mohawk 4-8-2 I built a few years ago can be seen on the far side of the B-17.


This is a short clip of The Selkirk Arrow running on the combined ACSG clubs layout for the S South setup in Richmond, Va. in July 2011. The HS&T passenger train is running on the Baltimore Area AF Club section of the layout. At the end of the clip you can see the Tuscan PRR K-4 I made pulling a train on the Tidewater Division's section of the layout. (28 sec.)

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