Sunday, May 15, 2016

Wind Turbine Loads

I notice from the Model Railroader product news page that American Model Builders has announced wind turbine blade and nacelle loads.

While wind turbines are common on Tehachapi, Beaumont, and Altamont Passes in my area, it's unusual to see all the turbine components shipped together. In fact, I normally see the blades moving by highway, while the nacelles go by rail. Here are two nacelles that seem similar to the AMB model, riding on a Kasgro heavy duty flat:

They appear to be on a Mojave-bound manifest at West Colton. I would guess that the covered hoppers, returning to Mojave empty, are being used as spacers. These are heavy loads. However, the elbow-shaped device to the left of the AMB model seems to travel separately:

These are loaded in twos on QTTX flats, mounted over the trucks.

It looks as though two of the nacelle kits would provide loads for one Walthers (or similar) heavy duty flat and one Athearn or Intermountain 60-foot QTTX type flat.

1 comment:

  1. Some excellent prototype information and photos for adding good looking modern loads to a model railroad.

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