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3rd rail division of sunset models question?

Marty RMarty ROGR Forum Member
I'm about to buy a Sunset Models GG1. I've seen it. It is beautiful. Can't run it (yet) as it will need an O72 loop. I'm going to join ocsmr. That may afford me a chance to run it before I get a year round home layout. I'm excited, but a bit nervous.

1) Will brass travel well, back and forth? I know it will break, if I drop it, but is it rugged enough, assuming good care?

2) What about parts? If a motor, or board goes? Then what? It will have TMCC. That tells me nothing, as my lionel is all conventional.

3) Do people run Brass at clubs/
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Alex WAlex WOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
1) The third rail locos are packed extremely well and fastened to wooden boards for shipping. If traveled with it and packed the same way it arrived to you, there will be no problems. Potentially a small detail piece may come off, but these are usually easily fixed with a dot of glue.

2) As for parts, I believe this loco is equipped with boards from Electric Railroad Co, so parts should be easy to get.

3) When it comes to clubs, the layout's I've seen seem to run anything the members want, so running brass shouldn't be a problem!

Lastly, 3rd Rail and Scott Mann provide a first rate product with equally spectacular customer service. If you have any questions about the loco I wouldn't hesitate emailing or calling Scott and his team.
Marty RMarty ROGR Forum Member
Thanks,
I have just searched sunset models on the forum. All the posts look great and I think it is neat that Scott Mann jumped right into a thread about sound and control. I liked his explanation about not using DCS. If I ever get a home layout for more than Christmas, I'lleither get TMCC or figure out the DCS TMCC control. Also, while control will be important, not sure what sounds are needed for an electric under way, so I won't stress that piece. Before reading the posts, I was nervous about a small company. Now, I'd still love to hear more about suset. especially from folks that have non steam, from them.
D500D500OGR Forum Member
I have 3rd rail/Sunset steam. Way too delicate to carry around; I hate to even handle it.
Often needs repairs out of the box.

It's not a bad product, usually, but I'm not a big fan (voice of experience). I know of two horror stories,
neither mine, thankfully.

But, I have one of their locos on reserve, so there you go!

The GG1 will probably be more robust, as the real GG1 was a smooth, "low-detail" loco.
Watch the pantographs - but this is true of any pantograph-equipped loco. Be careful and be aware, and
I don't see why your GG1 shouldn't be OK on a field trip.
Marty RMarty ROGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by bluelinec4:
I know the engine and I also know the club You will not be disappointed with either. The OCSMR guys and their layout are great. The 3rd Rail GG1 is a beauty and you will not see one like it as this was the only Old Rivets made. As for not needing DCS I disagree It is an awesome system


It's hard to express everything in a forum. I too like DCS. But as MTH won't partner with 3rd Rail (for whatever reason). It is moot. After reading that Scott has tried to get DCS support, but it didn't happen, I can live with that.
L & NL & NOGR Forum Member
I have run my N&W K2a at a couple of National Capital Trackers shows. The first time out one of our members didn't lock down the geezer gate and the pilot hit the raised track at speed, one small dent that you only notice when you turn the locomotive over. A little touch up paint and I was OK. Another time at another venue I was asked if I liked living on the edge, I don't mind depending on the venue.

Steve
rex desiletsrex desiletsOGR Forum Member
D500 said:
quote:
I have 3rd rail/Sunset steam. Way too delicate to carry around; I hate to even handle it.

Nonsense. 3RD rail brass details are delicate; to be expected and to be respected in handling. The basic brass structure is quite robust. IHMD folk (Hot Water, gnnpnut,m e.g.) carry their 3rd Rail steam around a lot with no reported ill effects. I carry my 3rd Rail steam back and forth to my club with no problems. They ain't like Lionel 736's that you can grab and throw around. I also have to treat my Lionel EM-1, Challenger, etc carefully, too.
quote:
Often needs repairs out of the box.

Often? I've had two (2) 3RD Rail locos that needed repair. Minor, and clearly the result of "tender" handling by the shipper. Never had an electronic problem out of the box.
quote:
It's not a bad product, usually, but I'm not a big fan (voice of experience). I know of two horror stories, neither mine, thankfully.

...and the horror stories were not resolved by 3rd Rail, satisfactorily? Contrast with horror stories with which we are regaled about Lionel and MTH products?

When the 3rd Rail GG-1 was released there was a thread or two on it. I recall something about curing tracking problems; you might do a search in the OGR archives. For me, I have the terrific Lionel scale GG-1 and had no need for the pricey 3rd Rail version.
KerriganKerriganOGR Forum Member
The repair issue may have been true for some 3rd rail steam years ago, but the last 3-4 we've purchased have been literally trouble free. For those with which we had teething problems Scott and his crew were very forthcoming with correcting the problems.

The NP Z-8 has stayed on the layout since received; operationally it's bulletproof.

quote:
Originally posted by D500:
I have 3rd rail/Sunset steam. Way too delicate to carry around; I hate to even handle it.
Often needs repairs out of the box.

It's not a bad product, usually, but I'm not a big fan (voice of experience). I know of two horror stories,
neither mine, thankfully.

But, I have one of their locos on reserve, so there you go!

The GG1 will probably be more robust, as the real GG1 was a smooth, "low-detail" loco.
Watch the pantographs - but this is true of any pantograph-equipped loco. Be careful and be aware, and
I don't see why your GG1 shouldn't be OK on a field trip.
sdmannsdmannOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERFORUM SPONSOR
MartyR,

Don't forget, we handle our customers in a straight forward manner. If you have problems, you can talk directly to the owner to get it resolved. We want to treat our customers how we would want to be treated. I can't tell you how angry I get when I have a quality issue with something I have bought and get the runaround from the store or company that made the product. "Well sir, you don't have this receipt so you can't get warranty service...." Not here... you get it fixed, quickly, without expense, or you get your money back (minus shipping). We are very responsive and flexible in our customer service.

On another note, you can't look at one project and judge another. Each is different, with their own set of challenges, quirks and problems. Some models the detail is very delicate and intricate, and others less so, by virtue of the prototype we are modeling. The production runs are very small. Think of them as pieces of art and you will understand.

But most of all, we want our customers to enjoy what they have purchased and we want them to feel that they got something special for their hard earned money. And we hope that will get them to come back for more. We have been around for 38 years... I think that alone is a testament to our dedication to the customer.

Cheers,

Scott Mann - China
jd-trainjd-trainOGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by sdmann:
Don't forget, we handle our customers in a straight forward manner. If you have problems, you can talk directly to the owner to get it resolved. Scott Mann - China


What Scott mentions is so true.

I got my new B&O T-3 last week (my first 3rd Rail engine) and was having some difficultly in getting it to run. I send Scott an e-mail describing my problem, he happened to reading his e-mail and I got a response in a manner of minutes. Turned out, I was just having difficultly in getting the tender plug to seat correctly in the female engine plug.

Here was Scott's response:

quote:
It sounds like the plug is either in upside down, or not pushed in
all the way. The tender plug that is. It carries the power to the
motor in the engine. Give it a good push. The red wire on the plug
should be top and to the left when it goes in properly.

Also, there could be a component loose in the tender. If you want to
open the tender and see, give it a go. If you break something, we
will fix or replace it for free anyway. Lets see if we can get it
running without waiting for 2 way shipping.


Realizing that often problems are just a loose wire, I thoughts Scotts' response of "If you want to open the tender and see, give it a go. If you break something, we will fix or replace it for free anyway. Lets see if we can get it running without waiting for 2 way shipping. was great.

Jim
H HOSO&NZOGR Forum Member
I have had one of their Big Boys for some time now and have had no problems at all. It is highly detailed and as such has a lot of small parts that can brake off. It is packed very well in it's case and when so packed travels well. But it is a chore to pack and unpack. It is not something I would cary back and forth a good deal.

Al
JT Jimmy TOGR Forum Member
Hi Marty I'm a member at OCSMR and also the club VP. You do not need to worry about running your trains at our club, we have TMCC/Legacy, MTH and conventional lines on the layout so you can run just about anything O-gauge you can think of. As for 3rd rail engines several members have and run them on the layout all the time. We look forward to you coming down any Tuesday or Friday night.

Jim Territo
OCSMR
Marty RMarty ROGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by sdmann:
MartyR,

Don't forget, we handle our customers in a straight forward manner. If you have problems, you can talk directly to the owner to get it resolved. We want to treat our customers how we would want to be treated. I can't tell you how angry I get when I have a quality issue with something I have bought and get the runaround from the store or company that made the product. "Well sir, you don't have this receipt so you can't get warranty service...." Not here... you get it fixed, quickly, without expense, or you get your money back (minus shipping). We are very responsive and flexible in our customer service.

On another note, you can't look at one project and judge another. Each is different, with their own set of challenges, quirks and problems. Some models the detail is very delicate and intricate, and others less so, by virtue of the prototype we are modeling. The production runs are very small. Think of them as pieces of art and you will understand.

But most of all, we want our customers to enjoy what they have purchased and we want them to feel that they got something special for their hard earned money. And we hope that will get them to come back for more. We have been around for 38 years... I think that alone is a testament to our dedication to the customer.

Cheers,

Scott Mann - China


Scott - Thank you. After I started this topic, I checked your site and emailed my concerns. I'm sure I will hear back during the week. They have pretty much been resolved here anyway. Looking forward to my train.
T turtle7OGR Forum Member
I am an old GG1 nut ( and a 6464 nut as well)-have many post-war size units from multiple companies and a number of scale GG1s from the likes of Lionel, MTH and Williams-love them all. One of my children bought me the Third Rail "Old Rivets" and it is absolutely my most prized engine. I have multiple Third Rail PRR electrics-and I can only say that the company is an absolute pleasuure to deal with.
SantaFe158SantaFe158OGR Forum Member
Just speaking for GG1's in general....

Be careful when carrying them around. I just got one of the Lionel JLC ones and it is massive and bulky. You have to be careful when putting it on the tracks as you have 20 wheels to get lined up with the rails (not too bad if you're careful).

GG1's are really cool engines. I like mine a lot.
MrMuffin'sTrainsMrMuffin'sTrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERFORUM SPONSOR
Originally Posted by rex desilets:

Nonsense. 3RD rail brass details are delicate; to be expected and to be respected in handling. The basic brass structure is quite robust. IHMD folk (Hot Water, gnnpnut,m e.g.) carry their 3rd Rail steam around a lot with no reported ill effects. I carry my 3rd Rail steam back and forth to my club with no problems. They ain't like Lionel 736's that you can grab and throw around. I also have to treat my Lionel EM-1, Challenger, etc carefully, too.

Just my opinion, but I believe the poster was entitled to voice his opinion without being judged as "nonsense."

T TrevizeOGR Forum Member

I find the brass details to be no more or less fragile then the brass details on MTH or Lionel.  There's just MORE of them :-)

 

I ferry my 3rd Rail Steam back and forth to the club all the time.  I got some plastic tubs for all my "stuff" and used the foam from the 3rd rail shipping boxes to make cradles for the 3rd rail engines in the tubs.  Use care, go slow and use the gloves 3rd Rail ships you.   I've lost count of how many 3rd rail loco's I have but basically I have 2 or 3 of every Santa Fe steam engine they've ever made.  Every single one of them runs like a Swiss watch and support from Scott and 3rd rail is top notch.   I haven't purchased an MTH or Lionel model in several years now, as I'd rather wait for 3rd Rail to make the models I'm looking for.   I find it is well worth the wait. :-)

 

 

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