'Super Index' - NOM Modeling Blog

I'm reorganizing the Blog Pages here to clean up the home page.  This should be a faster way to get to certain articles and pages.  If you want the fastest way, use the "Search" tab to find directly related materials on this blog space.

Freight Car Modeling & Articles

    Freight Car Overview Index - SP & Multiple RRs Cars.

    SP Boxcar Recap for Modeling in 1950-1955 Era - Overview of building a 1950s SP boxcar fleet.

Passenger Car  Modeling & Articles

    Index for Modeling Pullman Pool HW Passenger Cars - Overview of Pullman Pool HW Car Models

    Index for Modeling HW SP Passenger Car Classes - Overview of SP HW Car Models

    Modeling SP HW Coach & Chair Cars (Part1) -  A general overview of models available circa 2016 and general idea of what SP cars looked like over the years.

    Pre-review of the Prototypes for GGD's 2025 Common Standard Harriman Passenger Cars in HO Scale - Pre-release speculative guesses as to which historic cars could be modeled from the upcoming Golden Gate Depot's new cars.

    SP Passenger Car Statistics - (Part 1) Dining Cars (1930s-1950s) - More in-depth car-by-car research on the SP's HW Dining Cars (data-roster info from SPHTS Passenger Cars Vol.4 book), with extra assignment data from various sources.

    SP Passenger Car Statistics - (Part 2) Lounge Cars (1930s-1950s) - More in-depth car-by-car research on the SP's HW 'Full' Lounge Cars (data-roster info from SPHTS Passenger Cars Vol.5 book), with extra assignment data from various sources.

    SP Passenger Car Statistics - (Part 3) Chair Cars (1930s-1950s) - Not Published Yet

Passenger Consist Modeling

"Pike-Sized Consist" means a train that will fit on most smaller layouts, usually 3-5 cars long, or compressible to that length easily.

SP Nos.51/52, the San Joaquin Daylight - All streamlined Chair Car train from LA to Oakland with through connecting cars LA-Sacramento, which I'm modeling between 1948-1952 era with kitbashed cars.
    In the works, I'm still working on a lot of the specialized cars for this consist, but have at least partly finished some of the specialized cars with MTH Daylight car kitbashes about 8-10 years ago.

SP Nos.53/54, the Sacramento Daylight - A Pize-Sized Consist - A little common WSM SP 4-4-2 steamer in Daylight-paint, a few headend cars, a brightly painted 60ft Combine and an articulated set of Daylight chair cars on the through connection with the San Joaquin Daylight at Lathrop?  What more could you want?
    Modeling the Sacramento Daylight (Nos.53 & 54)

SP Nos.55/56, the (Tehachapi) Mail - Slightly larger than Pike-Sized Consist, but can be compressed running Mail, Express, Perishable Reefers, and a Rider Coach on the rear.  Prototypical use of Rivarossi HW RPO/Baggage model for ex-EPSW SP cars!
    Modeling Mail Trains 55 & 56, the Tehachapi Mail

SP Nos. 57/58, the Owl - The LA-Oakland overnight Chair-Pullman train over Tehachapi.
    Modeling the Owl (Part1) - Post-WW2 to Korea
    Modeling the Owl (Part2) - Korea to 1960
    Modeling Owl (Part 3) & Photo Analysis (Part 7) - Sept 26, 1953 Consist for No.58 - Updated as of May 2025, with expected GGD Dining/Lounge and Chair cars coming soon.

SP Nos. 59/60, the West Coast - The LA-Sacramento overnight Chair-Pullman train over Tehachapi.
    In the works... Many of my cars are mostly finished, but I've not written up this article yet.

SP Nos 94/95, the Starlight - Slightly larger than Pike-Sized Consist, but can be compressed
    Modeling the Starlight (Nos. 94&95) - A Pike Size ... - LA-SF Overnight Chair-Sleeper train started in 1949 with cars from the discontinued Noon Daylight.

SP No247, the El Dorado - Another great Pike-Sized plus consist that can be trimmed down.
    El Dorado, Statesmen, Senator at the end of this post about the upcoming Golden Gate Depot cars, I include the consist for the 1953-54 El Dorado, which would make a great 4-6 car train, based on the prototype's 8 car consist.  It's as close as you're going to find for an all "Parlor/Chair" SP passenger train, using only high-end Chair Cars and HW Lounge cars for the premier Oakland/SF to Sacramento business and state representative's traveling needs.

SP Nos 327/328, the Shasta - the "original" Pike-Sized Consist from 1987 MR Article
    The Shasta, a revised "Pike-Size Train" from 1987 - Just 4 cars: a Baggage, Chair, Cafe-Lounge/Diner, and a HW Pullman sleeper!

SD&AE Passenger Trains - San Diego connections east

    SP-SD&AE Passenger Trains (Part 1)

Passenger Car Kitbashes & Projects

Modeling articles on specific cars and classes, with more detailed information on how to build or kitbash to get the model to be closer to the prototype.

MDC/Athearn Harriman Kitbashes
    Diners

    SP HW 77-D-2 Diners from MDC Kitbashing (Part 1) - SP 10096 Diner & SP 10910/T&NO 931 Cafe-Lounge/Diner from MDC parts

    SP HW 72-D-3 Cafe-Lounge & Diners from MDC Kitbashing (Part 1) - SP 10913 Cafe-Lounge & SP 10014 Diner from MDC parts

    Baggage and RPOs
A Baggage-Express Car from an old RPO-Baggage, Kitbashing with MDC parts
    SP 6102 - Kitbashing a RPO from MDC/Athearn Parts

Basics of MDC 60ft Baggages
    MDC/Athearn 60ft Baggage (Part1) - Mechanical - What do I do to bring an Athearn/MDC Harriman Baggage up to standards for truck spacing, details, etc to make them more accurate?

Walthers-based Kitbashes
    Chair Cars & Coaches
SP 1050 Chair Car - Clerestory Chair from Walthers Paired-Window Coach
    SP 1050 Coach (Part 1) - History of SP Coach & Chair Cars - Kitbashing an Ex-EPSW coach, (Part 1).
    SP 1050 Coach (Part 2) - Modeling Update - SP 1050, Ex-EPSW Coach kitbashed from Walthers Paired-Window Coach (Part 2)

SP 2337 Chair Car - Clerestory Chair 73-C-1 stand-in from Walthers Paired-Window Coach
    Modeling Clerestory SP Chair Cars (Part 1) - SP 1050 - Using a Walthers Paired Window Coach
    Modeling Clerestory SP Chair Cars (Part 2) - 73-C-1 SP 2337, 2344, 2346

    Baggage Car
AC&F Clerestory - 70ft model
    SP 6515 - Ex-EPSW 66ft Baggage - Walthers ACF - Creating a nearly accurate model of ex-EPSW Baggage car
    UP 3067 from Walthers 70ft Baggage - finishing a "Modernized" UP Walthers arch-roof baggage car, stand-in model.

Resin Models
A Southern Car & Foundry 69-BP-30-2/3 RPO-Baggage
    SP 5199, a SC&F 69-BP-30-3 (Part1)
    Building SP 5199 (Part 2)
    Building SP 5199 (Part 3)
    Building SP 5199 (Part4)
    Building SP 5199 (Part 5)
    Building SP 5199 (Part 6)

    Building SP 5199 (Part 7) Finishing

San Joaquin Daylight Protection RPO/Baggage
    San Joaquin Daylight RPOs (Part 1) - SP 5124 - what needed to be changed to model a 70-BP-30-2/3 than the standard SC&F resin 69-BP-30-2/3 class model.

Model Power Coach
Kitbashing and Upgrades to a Model Power Coach
    Modeling SP 2701 (Part 1) 60-CC-1 from a Model Power Coach
    SP 2701 (Part 2), 60-CC-1 from a Model Power Coach
    SP 2701 (Part 3), Lighting a 60-CC-1 by Model Power

Soho 60ft Coaches
    SP 60-C-5s, (Part 1) SP 1005 - A WWII Chair Car?
    SP 60-C-5s, (Part 2) T&NO 777 Coach

Other Passenger Articles

    What color is SP Dark Olive and how do I get it? - Article on SP Dark Olive Green, and my search for a good color paint.

    Railway Post Offices - What and why - Article on RPO cars.

    Index of SP Lightweight Passenger Car Models - Overview of SP classes and models

    MTH Daylight Psgr Cars - Review & Mods - Modifications I've made to MTH Daylight cars to make them operate better.

Engine Modeling & Articles

    IMRC Cabforwards - 10 Years of Experience - Long form story of dealing with these models - resurrected from my ancient blog circa 2006 with updates.

    SP GS-series Painting & Deskirting Dates - Research page

    Locomotives of the Southern Pacific (Spotters Guide Book) - Research page