Buy anything cool lately?

Sorry; 500 S Salisbury Ave,

jim pastorius posted:

Spencer !! ??   Is there a hobby shop or just at the museum??  My son & I are going there tomorrow.

Jim, FYI there are no toy train shops in Charlotte, not for years.

BUT, tomorrow Saturday the 25th  there is a toy train show just north of Charlotte at the Metrolina Expo Trade Center from 0900 to 1600 hours.  This is located at 7100 Statesville Road.

Ron

PRRronbh posted:

Allan Miller posted:

         

 

Yesterday's purchase at Dave Minarik's Mercer Junction Train Shoppe, along with matching steel-side cabooses and a couple of Ohio Central Coil Cars. Doing my best to keep the hobby strong!

Allan, Dave's Mercer Junction appears to be a Great place.  But, is there not any toy train places left in Youngstown?  Back in my day there was Amers, Triggs, Boardman Hobbies, and then TAS.  I know they are all gone, but nothings new to place them.

Or is it like Charlotte?  When I moved here in 78 there a few very good places.  Now for the last 5/7-years absolutely NOTHING.  Closest in in Spencer.

Ron

There are ZERO hobby shops/train stores in the immediate Youngstown area these days. A couple of area hardware stores have train sections, but there are no dedicated, full-service hobby/train shops.

Thanks for the NC info. Will check out the store. Not too sure about the show although I would like to go. My son is using a walker as he recovers from a stroke so the show might be too much.  Hope to have a good time.

"Cool"? Well...

1 - Lionel GM&O Legacy GP35 from an acquaintance. Good price; have the correct AAR(Alco) truck side frames to replace the Blombergs on order from Lionel Parts. Cool.

2 - Finally found an Atlas NYC "cat's whisker" F2 NIB A-unit; from individual. Faulty gears (chewed up; from factory, I guess) on one truck; will not move more than 1". Not Cool. Seller left me out in the cold. Not Cool, again. There's a word or two for those guys, but I'd get kicked off here if I used them.

3 - Not a purchase - but discovered that my Lionel ATSF Alco S2 switcher has crumbled internally at both gearboxes, or so it seems. Dead, jammed, mechanically (electronically very durable). Not Cool.

4 - Won a brass tender at auction, only to find out that it was mis-listed and described as "O scale", when, in fact it is HO scale. One forgets how small HO is (I don't handle it much). The seller said mail it back for a refund. So, not Cool, but it could be worse, if resolved acceptably.

You had to ask. 

There is a lot of ground to cover.  You may want to ask if they can help with a golf cart.  If not, I would bring a wheel chair.  I have been there many times and the round house alone is huge and there is a lot to see in the round house, but it is a long walk to the roundhouse.

Thanks for the info. Their website mentions a cart but he wasn't happy with that idea. Will play it by ear. Is a train ride worth it ??  

Yes it is, they have a recording telling you about the history of the property.  the whole town was developed around that Southern RR hub.  I found it interesting plus have been there for the 611 and Leviathan.  I am originally from Youngstown, Ohio, so am used to P&LE, B&O, C&O, Erie and Pennsylvania, so it was nice to learn about  Southern.  They have a great video in the roundhouse about steam engines and how they had to service them there.  Some nice auto's as well.  

A pic showing the latest acquisitions on the layout. My dd and I picked them up today from the seller. 

Just got the MTH DCS WIFI Module for father's day. Talk about awesome!!! Such a great leap forward in train control. Added the app to my wife's phone and my mom's phone so the boys can run trains with whoever is at home. Fantastic!!!

Allan Miller posted:

PRRronbh posted:

Allan Miller posted:

         

 

Yesterday's purchase at Dave Minarik's Mercer Junction Train Shoppe, along with matching steel-side cabooses and a couple of Ohio Central Coil Cars. Doing my best to keep the hobby strong!

Allan, Dave's Mercer Junction appears to be a Great place.  But, is there not any toy train places left in Youngstown?  Back in my day there was Amers, Triggs, Boardman Hobbies, and then TAS.  I know they are all gone, but nothings new to place them.

Or is it like Charlotte?  When I moved here in 78 there a few very good places.  Now for the last 5/7-years absolutely NOTHING.  Closest in in Spencer.

Ron

There are ZERO hobby shops/train stores in the immediate Youngstown area these days. A couple of area hardware stores have train sections, but there are no dedicated, full-service hobby/train shops.

Allen I am a native to this area.And there once were at least 5 or 6 hobby shops.There all gone now just memories now.

seaboardm2 posted:

Allan Miller posted:

PRRronbh posted:

Allan Miller posted:

         

 

Yesterday's purchase at Dave Minarik's Mercer Junction Train Shoppe, along with matching steel-side cabooses and a couple of Ohio Central Coil Cars. Doing my best to keep the hobby strong!

Allan, Dave's Mercer Junction appears to be a Great place.  But, is there not any toy train places left in Youngstown?  Back in my day there was Amers, Triggs, Boardman Hobbies, and then TAS.  I know they are all gone, but nothings new to place them.

Or is it like Charlotte?  When I moved here in 78 there a few very good places.  Now for the last 5/7-years absolutely NOTHING.  Closest in in Spencer.

Ron

There are ZERO hobby shops/train stores in the immediate Youngstown area these days. A couple of area hardware stores have train sections, but there are no dedicated, full-service hobby/train shops.

Allen I am a native to this area.And there once were at least 5 or 6 hobby shops.There all gone now just memories now.

I live in the Youngstown area and even if there were stores there, id be more opted to drive to Mercer. Such a nice store and owner. Nice purchase, Allan.

I guess we are lucky in western Pa. because there are still a few around.

Been wanting an Ives 30 for a while. Finally got one.

Steve

That is a cool engine !!

Got this delivered this week from Pikesville Models.  They were at York back in April displaying this S gauge motel.  I actually thought with the right paint color I could actually turn it into a prison.  I talked to them to see if they could make one in O scale and they said they would see what they could do.  Well it showed up this week and I really think it will be fun putting this together.  A picture of it from their directions is shown.

Also not train related but as a LONG time suffering Cleveland sports fan I also bought something really cool this week... a CAVS CHAMPIONSHIP t-shirt. 

Nice pick up on the prison!! That's exactly what I thought it was when I saw it too. You must have a lot of bad dudes around your layout!!��

as soon as I saw that I thought prison!

Bryan in Ohio posted:

Got this delivered this week from Pikesville Models.  They were at York back in April displaying this S gauge motel.  I actually thought with the right paint color I could actually turn it into a prison.  I talked to them to see if they could make one in O scale and they said they would see what they could do.  Well it showed up this week and I really think it will be fun putting this together.  A picture of it from their directions is shown.

Also not train related but as a LONG time suffering Cleveland sports fan I also bought something really cool this week... a CAVS CHAMPIONSHIP t-shirt. 

 

I want one!

I went to BJ's and bought 2 LED shop lights for above my layout.  40 watts, 4500 Lumens each.  Really lights up the space. $33.00 each.   Nice but for anyone needing a lot of light.  My trains are set up in the second floor of a 2 story garage and the ceilings are 10 ft high.

Went to the Spencer gift shop and bought a paper back book on rails to trails in Virginia. lousy day for photos but got a nice on of the 611 that will be next month's calender photo. i must say that the 611 is more impressive in person and just sitting there. Talked to the engineer and he admits to following the forum.

Saw the picture Bryan. Nice building. If I had seen it at York I would of thought the same thing. Looks like a prison. You will need it for the expanded red light district and all the arrests made there LOL...............Paul

Big Ken posted:

I went to BJ's and bought 2 LED shop lights for above my layout.

I have seen the light 

  I'm I really the only one that noticed Big Ken and his avatar posted again right after that last prison gig?

Rats! Packing the wrong tie .

MTH SD-60E, Veterans from my LHS, Brentwood Antiques.  More photos on my Post on OGR.

MTH Pennsy Gondola obtained from one of the good guys here on OGR!  Not as cool as the Veterans above, but I like it.

Yesterday, I bought a pair of AEC Mack trucks. On the sides, they say "fission control". Too cool. I also bought a small die-cast toy plane. It's not O scale like the trucks, but I couldn't pass it up. When I put it on the back of one of the trucks, it looks like a small spy plane being transported to a military base.

Why that's no spy plane,  paint that thing  brown and white, and you got

Penny and Sky King !!!!!!!!!

All  new in the box.........MTH VIA, 2 MTH Passenger Cars, K Line Aluminum Business Car and a Corgi

Heavy Hauler.

Last week I got my 3D print of the White Pass GE Shovelnose diesel.

There were some problems printing the finer details with my selected print media. 

On arrival several parts were broken or missing.

I went through and deleted or reinforced damaged parts in my 3D modeling program. I'm hoping shapeways will reprint this for free. Especially since the damaged plow is such an important part of the engine. I mean it is called a Shovelnose after all.

I am not satisfied with Shapeways. I ordered a N scale AEM-7 loco shell and it cracked when trying to use it. The guys told me I should glue it back together. Don't think I want to buy another because the price was pretty high.

Didnt buy it, but built it. Still a pretty cool tinplate boxcab, no?

anyone can buy something...but to make something with your own hands....

 Well for me and being recently un-employed, I did manage to win a 3rd Rail CNR U2g Northern for $500 at auction, with some $ I saved from a previous train deal.

   It's nice to get a break every now and again

Al

Bought a K-Line GG-1 w/TMCC & Railsounds on ebay. It's the tuscan red single stipe. My first GG1. Hasn't been delivered yet.  That's it for now. Waiting for the Lionmaster Class A...

I bought the services of John Will (Gunrunnerjohn) to upgrade my Soo Line SD40-2 from PS1 to PS2.  Here's a short video of me floor running it.  John also added the flashing ditch lights and upgraded the lighting to LED.  Now I can light my whole house with it!  I'm super pleased with the upgrade and extremely grateful to John for his excellent, quick work!

https://drive.google.com/open?...mSLkxLUM0dUVZYXUxanM

Basil, Soo runs, looks, and sounds great!  Another great job, John!

Went for a drive to my local hobby shop. To pick up this order from Bert & Tom.

I got to hold the Lionel Union Pacific 844, some other lucky guys order, I brought home this box.

trainroomgary posted:

Went for a drive to my local hobby shop. To pick up this order from Bert & Tom.

I got to hold the Lionel Union Pacific 844, some other lucky guys order, I brought home this box.

Yes, holding the 844 will be the closest I get to one also.  No Matter.  There are lots of other cool locos out there!!

Looks like the Pacific should be a winner.  I'm sure we will be seeing a Trainroom Gary review in the near future!

Managed to pick up a Lionel FEC ES44AC from a Forum member this week. great GE prime mover sound file included!  

It will get paired up with my FEC SD70 in a FEC tribute consist.

I picked up the Lionel tie-jector car.

Cool!  I'll say! 

I picked up my new Z4000 yesterday from our local hardware store that still sells a lot of trains.  That in McCormick's Hardware in Zelienople, Pennsylvania.  It is about a half hour away, and near my aunt's senior living facility, so I picked it up instead of paying who knows how much to ship. 

I have wanted one for some time, but always said later.  Last Sunday, I setup an oval of O54 track on the Patio Pacific to run my new-to-me Premier PS3 N&W J 611.  I took my ZW, TIU, Z500 for aux power, my breakers and diodes as I have read to protect the MTH electronics outside and hooked it all up.  Everything was fine, as I ran the J very slowly.  The first curve it lifted a driver off the rail, which I attributed to a slight unevenness to the concrete the Ross track was on.  I stopped and put everything back on track.  The next curve was level and smooth, and the driver came off the track slightly.  Then I saw a spark, and shut everything down.  When I checked, my breakers hadn't tripped as happened once on my O48 indoors with a freight car.    I put everything away, got on Jeff McCormick's Web site, and ordered the Z4000 and the next larger curve track that evening.

I was concerned I could have fried something in the J or the TIU, but after setting everything back up using the Z4000, everything tested out great!    I'll keep the ZW for now and if I find I don't use it on the new layout, I'll find another home for it. 

I've been by  McCormick's several times, but never had the time to stop in, or they were closed.

Got this caboose a few days ago. It's an MTH CA-1 model. 

Happy 4th of July,

Greg

www.youtube.com/trainbros89

Steamer posted:

I've been by  McCormick's several times, but never had the time to stop in, or they were closed.

Yes Dave; 8-5 M-F and 8-3 on Saturday.  It is worth the stop.  He  does not have any postwar trains, but has a good selection of contemporary Lionel and MTH.  His prices are competitive.  He has a small advertisement in OGR magazine.  Jeff is a real nice guy.  He told me his dad started selling trains years ago, and he has kept up the tradition.  www.cttrains.com

Shore did!  K Line scale PRR Mikado, new in the master carton.  Not train related but also purchased a new contrabassoon.  Cool to me! 

Shore did!  K Line scale PRR Mikado, new in the master carton.  Not train related but also purchased a new contrabassoon.  Cool to me! 

Mark I was usually in the area when I was up my Uncle's, but since he passed I haven't been up there much.

Billy Bassoon posted:

Shore did!  K Line scale PRR Mikado, new in the master carton.  Not train related but also purchased a new contrabassoon.  Cool to me! 

Contrabassoon is a really exotic sounding instrument!! I'm a trumpet player and have always enjoyed the sound of contrabasson!   Also enjoy your K line Mikado! great locomotive!!

Mark, enjoy the z4000. We have two at the club. Very good product.

Pat Kn posted:

Mark, enjoy the z4000. We have two at the club. Very good product.

Thanks Pat!

I got to use Forum member 'Mark Strittmatter's' Z4000 and liked it.  He said he got his shortly after they first came out, and is very pleased.  I'm glad to have voltmeters and ammeters now.  It was always a pain to connect my multimeter for checking.

I just got this very nice Wagon Queen Family Truckster. 

I find it very appropriate because today is my first day of Vacation. 

The white 77 Toyota Celica is also a new purchase. It is a NOS Solido.  I am slowly building up a nice late 70's early 80's car collection. You 1950's guys have it easy. 

Got a few random non-train things lately, like a headpace/timing gauge to display with my M1919 .30 caliber light machine gun (been looking for one of those for a while that didn't cost a fortune) and some stuff that was flown in the NASA orbiter Endeavour on it's final ferry flight to LA for permanent display (didn't pay a thing for that).

But as for train stuff, I can't wait for this book to show up:

Morning Sun always does a good job and I'm a big fan of the WP&Y as I've ridden it twice in the last 15 years. It's sad how few real train fans have ever seen this railroad, as it puts to shame anything along the old D&RGW for grandeur and scenery.

Silver Lake posted:

I just got this very nice Wagon Queen Family Truckster. 

I find it very appropriate because today is my first day of Vacation. 

The white 77 Toyota Celica is also a new purchase. It is a NOS Solido.  I am slowly building up a nice late 70's early 80's car collection. You 1950's guys have it easy. 

   First off, I pull-through turbo charged a Toyota exactly like that to near 180hp, and he still got 34mpg in it.

  The underrated Diplomat is a very predictable car to drive "Dukes of Hazard" hard.

Are those movie cars too?

    You need a red Italian sports car now

Maybe even something for the bumper from Wallyworld ....or a dog

  You'll need 2 red Italian sports cars now Bueller?....Bueller?...Bueller?

   You like sci-fi; ever see "the Hidden"?  "I need the keys". The opening and immediate chase scene with Dio blasting is the highlight really, but the repeated dead pan "I need the keys" is funny.  "You need a black, and 3 red Italian sports cars now" .

Ok ,"I'm out" before I get too lost in movies & cars.... Excellent!

I have been looking for 3 years for an oil column for my oil fired steam. One just doesn't find them anymore. I scored a scale brass ktm oil column last week at a great price.

The wife got me this for my Birthday/Fathers Day.

Silver Lake posted:

. You 1950's guys have it easy. 

Ain't that the truth!! Now try and find a lot of modern everyday drivers. It is getting better,but still a challenge. 

Glad you found some good ones. 

I bought a Weaver FA-2/FB-2 set off the bay a while back. Modded the FA to navigate 0-31 curves. Twin can motors in each. They did not appear to have been run much but the traction tires needed replacing and so far I have only done the A unit.

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

The wife got me this for my Birthday/Fathers Day.

Where did your wife find that     NEAT

tstark posted:

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

The wife got me this for my Birthday/Fathers Day.

Where did your wife find that     NEAT

Had it made at a Kiosk in the mall.

Steve

Hey Matt how are you today! I went to a local auction a couple of weeks ago on a sunny Sunday afternoon here in North West Arkansas. They had advertised 250 model train Items, H-O, O, G. About a dozen people showed. They didn't really have any collector pieces, but there were some box sets and lots of loose cars. Lionel, Marx, and American Flyer , and a few MTH. I collect Frisco railroad trains, and I bought about 10 white 6014 boxcars, 1 red one, and several other cars, I guess about 20 for  $10. I pick-up a old Santa FE Marx 21 powered and dummy, a Marx boxed #31875 set, and  other stuff. I got a G-gauge boxed set and extra cars. A Lionel KW transformer. And a #4 moonshine crock jug. The most a I paid for any of this was #35.00. Things went really cheap. Most everything works, lots of cleaning needed, a couple of things need some small repair parts, but all in all it was fun. So here are a few pics, like I said its not rare collectables but it makes long trains for my Frisco Locos.  Pete

Wow, Very nicely done. I like your choices of Standard GUAGE Accessories, People. Buildings and the Trains...Very Interesting, all you need now is The Brute....

I like mixing Standard GUAGE Accessories on my Looney Lines RR...Have fun Model Railroading....

Larry,

The brute!  I like that.  I didn't know you called it the Loony Lines.  There is so much to see on your layout!  It must be a treat in person!

   That's a great corner Larry. Unusual build up of "mountain " using the shelves, falls, etc and more or less skipping a horizon all together . 

Thank you Adriatic. If you are ever in Tennessee, Come see me. There are several really nice layouts in the Nashville area. My layout is a walk around and under and you can see through the middle to the other side...Happy Railroading...

Today was one of those rare occasions when I happened to drive to Atlanta on business rather than fly. Having my car with me allowed me to drop by Legacy Station before leaving for home. Just as I was about to leave the store empty-handed I ran across the Steam Era Classics car below in two road numbers. They will look good running behind my C&NW Northern.

I recently purchased a postwar Lionel 6828 crane car complete at a great price and in very nice condition too. It came with a flat car also, of which I already had another 6828 flat car only with no load. About the same time I also eyed the Lionel postwar 6827 P & H shovel flat car. Like the crane car the prices are very high and I decided to make my own version and place it on my extra 6828 flat car. I found a MPC shovel car that had the same yellow shovel load as the post war version minus the P & H logos. Out of curiosity I searched to see if there were any decals available to make the shovel load closer in looks to the postwar version. As luck would have it I found a set and ordered them! Here is my completed version of this car.

Just received this postwar 2356 Southern F-3 off eBay. Came just in time for my birthday(61). Looks good, but it does not run, both axles on one truck were seized, with a little oil and tapping they are free again. Now I have to finish cleaning them up.

franktrain

Len, those reefers are awesome. Im gonna have to get a few

leapinlarry posted:

Wow, Very nicely done. I like your choices of Standard GUAGE Accessories, People. Buildings and the Trains...Very Interesting, all you need now is The Brute....

I like mixing Standard GUAGE Accessories on my Looney Lines RR...Have fun Model Railroading....

Wow, your room looks pretty amazing.  Are photos of the room available in another thread?  If not, could you please start a new thread and show the room from different angles, close and far shots?  Please let me know, thanks

Beautiful Southern F3 engine franktrain! You have to love Postwar Lionel.

I found out about a company who'll make a custom RR shirt for about what a normal screen-printed one will cost, with whatever you want on it. So, I just had to make one for my layout's name, choosing it in tan so I wouldn't roast in it if I was out chasing trains in the (rare for here) sunshine.

I put the location as the far end of the layout concept, a real community in the area my layout's concept takes place, very close to where both my parents grew up...

Click this link if you want one for your own road name. The quality is really good, as whatever they use it looks and feels like screen printing.

Lionel 224E/tender but needs a front truck . Yesterday I bought a book,"Pennsylvania Petroleum, 1750-1872" published by the Pa. historical and Museum Comm. in 1947. The oil boom in Pa. was much like the Gold Rush out west and a very interesting and neglected part of our history. There were lots of RRs involved and the oil fields and towns would make a very neat and different layout. Unlike lumber you wouldn't have to make trees-the hills were stripped bare. In southern  Butler Co. where I live had their own oil boom around the end of the 1800s.  There were quite a few boom towns right in the general area. A creek that runs through the township flowed solid crude oil when a new well had a big blowout. They said the crude flowed down the hill in a solid sheet.  the pictures are pretty neat-oil derricks in people's front and back yards, money made and lost all in one week. The towns had banks, hotels, opera houses, stores, saloons and a few churches plus several schools. crazy time.

I received an SP business car, as a gift, from Sale Rail.  Thanks, Don!  I purchased an SP stock car.  Matt

Like many others I picked up my SD60E First Responder.  However; mine comes with a really stupid video.

https://youtu.be/tBaBPIYWCkc

This is the kind of stuff I do with my kids to keep them interested in trains.  LOL

Panther97 posted:

Like many others I picked up my SD60E First Responder.  However; mine comes with a really stupid video.

https://youtu.be/tBaBPIYWCkc

This is the kind of stuff I do with my kids to keep them interested in trains.  LOL

Panther;

That wasn't a stupid video... very nice layout, and I have to agree that the add-ons will interest the kids. Now, your choice of music on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired (I lived through the disco error once, and that was once too often!!!).

Fricken SWEET! I need to hav parades on my layout

Apples55 posted:

Panther97 posted:

Like many others I picked up my SD60E First Responder.  However; mine comes with a really stupid video.

https://youtu.be/tBaBPIYWCkc

This is the kind of stuff I do with my kids to keep them interested in trains.  LOL

Panther;

That wasn't a stupid video... very nice layout, and I have to agree that the add-ons will interest the kids. Now, your choice of music on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired (I lived through the disco error once, and that was once too often!!!).

  I can live with Disco Inferno, especially if the tower was a stand in for a burning Disco!!!  On the other hand if he was wearing a white polyester suit and forcing his kids to watch Saturday Night Fever while filming. That's taking the entertainment thing to far and may in some circles be considered torture.  Then again this is coming from a guy who used to do the Rocky Horror Picture show thing and has forced his kids to watch the movie.

I was given a nice set of Union Pacific's M100000 by the daughter of a friend who passed away. It came with three extra cars. Don't have room for the entire set in the living room. Don

That's great Panther97!  I made the mistake of having a 'serious' layout when our girls were little.  They weren't interested.

Matt Makens posted:

Len, those reefers are awesome. Im gonna have to get a few

Thanks Matt. The layout has been idle since maybe February. The new cars got me into the layout room this week. Once I was in the layout room I suddenly felt the urge to do some work on the scenery. I spent about an hour in there last night and another hour early this morning. Now I've got the itch to keep going. The chain reaction affect is really quite amazing.

Oh, and those cars really do look great behind both the Northern and my F3s. You should indeed grab one if you get the chance. It's a nice regional car for us upper midwesterners.

Panther97 posted:

Like many others I picked up my SD60E First Responder.  However; mine comes with a really stupid video.

https://youtu.be/tBaBPIYWCkc

This is the kind of stuff I do with my kids to keep them interested in trains.  LOL

I loved the video and the music. With the people on the train, I was wondering if YMCA would have been a more appropriate music. 

Pat, I had the exact same thought :-).  I do hope Panther97's kids were able to help the first responders (who ever they were) put out that "fire".

TomlinsonRunRR posted:

Pat, I had the exact same thought :-).  I do hope Panther97's kids were able to help the first responders (who ever they were) put out that "fire".

If you look closely there's a ladder company gaining access to the building in order to extinguish the fire!  LOL

Mark Boyce posted:

That's great Panther97!  I made the mistake of having a 'serious' layout when our girls were little.  They weren't interested.

Thanks, Mark.   The only thing truly attached on my layout is the baseball field.  I was going to build a serious layout but decided to go the toy train route.  This way my kids can mess with it and rearrange it as much as they'd like.

Panther97 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

That's great Panther97!  I made the mistake of having a 'serious' layout when our girls were little.  They weren't interested.

Thanks, Mark.   The only thing truly attached on my layout is the baseball field.  I was going to build a serious layout but decided to go the toy train route.  This way my kids can mess with it and rearrange it as much as they'd like.

I have been thinking on what kind of layout to build once I get our last daughter's room when she marries this fall.  I have seen some where the builder builds a lower level for the kids, and upper levels for a more serious layout kids can't reach.  My wife also suggested leaving my temporary layout in what is now a spare bedroom for kids and build what I want in the new room.  We won't decide until our daughter has moved all her stuff out and we work out how to utilize the spare rooms and what is now one  daughter's art studio.

Mark Boyce posted:

I have been thinking on what kind of layout to build once I get our last daughter's room when she marries this fall.  I have seen some where the builder builds a lower level for the kids, and upper levels for a more serious layout kids can't reach.  My wife also suggested leaving my temporary layout in what is now a spare bedroom for kids and build what I want in the new room.  We won't decide until our daughter has moved all her stuff out and we work out how to utilize the spare rooms and what is now one  daughter's art studio.

Tough decision.  I change my mind a lot.   So even without kids I probably would have moved things around a few times by now.   Either way, enjoy it!

Bought my first Tmcc Lionel steam engine. Need to buy a TMCC base for my MTH setup now. Been looking for a mogul for a while.

I finally bit the bullet and ordered this Lionel SP "Daylight" SD40 from Legacy Station. They did a superb job on this online order transaction-ordered Sunday, got it in Florida via USPS Priority mail on Wednesday.

It arrived damage free and is a superb runner just out of the box after an initial oil and smoke unit fill. This thing smokes like an MTH on the high setting, so I dialed it back so the smoke detector didn't get upset.

I thought when I first saw this in the catalog that it was a fantasy paint job. A little digging on the internet proved that the actual cab # did indeed wear this paint job. I think it looks great heading up a consist with my SP Trainmaster trailing.

D&H 65 posted:

I thought when I first saw this in the catalog that it was a fantasy paint job.

Yeah, this is where most railfans remember that paint job from:

So today I bought the 1990 Lionel #5340 Scale Hudson. She is now the pride of my passenger layout fleet and the pride of my entire collection as well. My Mohawk #3005 is the pride of my freight layout fleet. Here's a picture: 

D&H 65 that's a beautiful engine, as I bought the CHESSIE B&O Paint Scheme, and also the SP DAYLIGHT scheme, running them as a lash up. 

Also, SteamBoy, that's a nice Hudson, which was made during Mike Wolfs Shift at Lionel... Very Nice.  I wish that particular Hudson was a Legacy Model.

Thanks for Posting

I was 95 deg. here yesterday. I bought something COOL an air conditioner.

@LEAPINLARRY Thanks man. That #5340 was made at the Mt. Clemens, Michigan Plant in the United States (SCORE!!) and I also got a 40 minute DVD that shows how the #5340 Hudson was made.  I got this train bundled with the 6-19172, 6-19173, 6-19174, and 6-19175 passenger cars from 1997. So basically those passenger cars are the same age as me..but I guess those cars aged better than me honestly. About those passenger cars, here is what they look like: 

Btw, did this set ever had a combo car, dome car, etc? 

I bought a couple things I thought were cool the other day one is a key-wind ( clockwork) man on some type of motor the other was like a 50's ( maybe ) trolley that someone took the friction motor out of and put in a American Flyer prewar motor. It works good but I can only get it to go one direction at present 

I also bought...more stuff...yay...  Like this Bethlehem Steel Work Caboose from 2011, a 6910 Caboose from 1984, a Platform with Billboards with a Dark Green Roof (no picture for that one sadly), a NYC Flatbed with Log load (no picture of that one as well sadly, again), and that was pretty much it. 

Matt,

   Picked up an Engineers Cap from the Wellsboro, Pa RR 1992 version!  Will add this to the Christmas layout goodies for this coming year.

PCRR/Dave

I have been looking for 2 Lionel 2-6-0 Moguls for years.

And Ended up buying the 2 i've been looking to buy for years...In 1 week..Along with a pre-order of Strasburg coaches.

CN #89 W/TMCC

Strasburg #89 Conventional

When it rains, it pours... congratulations on your hunt.

SteamBoy posted:

So today I bought the 1990 Lionel #5340 Scale Hudson. She is now the pride of my passenger layout fleet and the pride of my entire collection as well. My Mohawk #3005 is the pride of my freight layout fleet. Here's a picture: 

I'm not into 3-rail or the NYC, but I must admit I love the looks of that, regardless!

Thanks man. It's ok about third rail cause I think the look of that middle rail looks ridiculous unless it's a mountain railroad where it has a cog rail. About the NYC, they are my 4th favorite railroad with 3rd being Baltimore and Ohio, 2nd being Union Pacific, and 1st being Norfolk and Western but sadly, there hasn't been a whole lot N&W O Scale models made over the years.  

Bought the lionel pioneer zephyr, waiting on it to arrive/

Last night I got to run my new Aerotrain on the club's layout. The mainline is down for track repair so I ran it on the upper line. I bought the Aerotrain set and three add-on cars. That gives me an engine and six cars. The engine, which is lighter than the cars, couldn't handle the six cars up hill. The wheels were lifting off the track under load. Through trial and error I found it could handle five cars. I might have to try more weight in the engine. I think the motors can pull the load. I just can't keep the wheels solidly on the track. Here are some pictures of the set.

Pat Kn posted:

Last night I got to run my new Aerotrain on the club's layout. The mainline is down for track repair so I ran it on the upper line. I bought the Aerotrain set and three add-on cars. That gives me an engine and six cars. The engine, which is lighter than the cars, couldn't handle the six cars up hill. The wheels were lifting off the track under load. Through trial and error I found it could handle five cars. I might have to try more weight in the engine. I think the motors can pull the load. I just can't keep the wheels solidly on the track. Here are some pictures of the set.

Pat, as a Pennsy fan do like these.

One thing there has been a thread here on the OGR about the lights in the end car melting the car.  One thread at least documented changing the lights out for LEDs if I recall correctly.

Ron

Thanks Ron. The specs on the set say LED lighting. I will check to make sure the tail lights are LEDs. Maybe the earlier version had incandescent lighting. I'll check to make sure. Thanks again for the heads up.

Almost worth time warping my layout five years into the future, just to include the Aerotrain in the roster.  

Is there only one motor in the engine, Pat?  I could see where that would greatly effect tractive ability and pulling power, much the same as  the performance of any traditional, single motored, plastic shelled Diesel.  If that's the case, I wonder how difficult it might be to add power to the rear wheels ?

Speaking of tail lights, I'll bet dollars to donuts that original Aerotrain sketches had tail lights positioned in the 2 overgrown fins, ala GM cars, rather than centered.  I deduce that damage susceptibility rationalized having them relocated where a drumhead might have traditionally been attached.

Still, whether it be this set or one of accurate dimensions, it might be worth building that time machine.

Bruce

brwebster posted:

Almost worth time warping my layout five years into the future, just to include the Aerotrain in the roster.  

Is there only one motor in the engine, Pat?  I could see where that would greatly effect tractive ability and pulling power, much the same as  the performance of any traditional, single motored, plastic shelled Diesel.  If that's the case, I wonder how difficult it might be to add power to the rear wheels ?

Speaking of tail lights, I'll bet dollars to donuts that original Aerotrain sketches had tail lights positioned in the 2 overgrown fins, ala GM cars, rather than centered.  I deduce that damage susceptibility rationalized having them relocated where a drumhead might have traditionally been attached.

Still, whether it be this set or one of accurate dimensions, it might be worth building that time machine.

Bruce

 

Not my pic.

Bruce,

The Railking Aerotrain has to motors. The rear truck has small pilot wheels in front of the two drive wheels. The front truck drives all four wheels.

The rear of the real Aerotrain actually had a red marker light and a white backup light. The model has two marker lights.

Yes, lots! I live abroad, and come home twice a year. I buy stuff before I arrive.

My last haul, in no apparent order is :

Lionel 25O box cab

Lionel dispatch board

lionel oil Derrick

lionel 115 station

a Marx 1404 signal 

a Marx automatic switch mans tower

plus s slew of spare parts.

I run MPC Lionel with Post war signals and transformers and Marx accessories.

its a tabletop layout and I love it

DohertyNJ posted:

Bought my first Tmcc Lionel steam engine. Need to buy a TMCC base for my MTH setup now. Been looking for a mogul for a while.

You can take the engine out of Canada but it appears you can't take the Canadian out of the engine.

Bruce

This piece of tinplate litho proves that Marx invented Z gauge.   There's no mistaking, the Honeymoon Express represents the UP M10000. 

Here the City of Sandy Eggo pulls into Glendale....the Honeymoon Capitol of the world.

Bruce

Not a 'head turner' ride, but I just got a 2017 KIA Sorento:

My 08 had almost 190K miles and was starting to develop what would likely become expensive fixes. So, as much as I liked it, I just went with the new model.

I've never owned a vehicle with a backup camera before. That'll come in handy when I'm backing up to my trailer for those times when I'm taking my WW2 to Jeep to shows...

stock photo of newest acquisition.  Wish MTH made a "Bandit" version with black Firebirds.  I would love a "star car" line from MTH: auto carriers with the General Lee, Rosco's police car, Bandit One, Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino, Bullitt Mustang and Charger, A-Team van, Fall Guy pickup, 1966 Batmobile

p51 posted:

Not a 'head turner' ride, but I just got a 2017 KIA Sorento:...

I've never owned a vehicle with a backup camera before. That'll come in handy when I'm backing up to my trailer for those times when I'm taking my WW2 to Jeep to shows...

IMO, once a driver has one on-board, it quickly becomes part of backing-up and parking: turning my head to look around; rear-view mirror; outside side-mirrors; back-up camera showing on a screen in the middle of the dash. I love it and am a better backer-upper for it.

FrankM.

You should never go to a LCCA train show with cash in your pocket...

You should neve got yo an lcca show in your pickup truck with a pocket full of cash 

Matt is right, Cabinet Bob!  Did you throw your tools away to full the tool box with trains too?  LOL. Looks like you had a great time at the show!!

WOW! Matt

"You should neve got yo an lcca show in your pickup truck with a pocket full of cash"

Must be a heck of a party at Big Boys house

Larry

Bought some new Standard guage track and crappy lumber for the new layout in my bedroom. I will be able to run a train from the bed-cool ??

Moonson posted:

p51 posted:

Not a 'head turner' ride, but I just got a 2017 KIA Sorento:...

I've never owned a vehicle with a backup camera before. That'll come in handy when I'm backing up to my trailer for those times when I'm taking my WW2 to Jeep to shows...

IMO, once a driver has one on-board, it quickly becomes part of backing-up and parking: turning my head to look around; rear-view mirror; outside side-mirrors; back-up camera showing on a screen in the middle of the dash. I love it and am a better backer-upper for it.

I handle auto claims for an insurance company for my day job, and you can't imagine the number of people who'll back into a car going down the aisle and they never saw it in the backup camera. So no, I won't be relying on it too much as I know you can easily miss stuff with it, as I see that every day.

I usually back into parking space and when I have to back out of one, I look very goofy, looking every direction rapidly like a dog trying to find the source of a sound...

The only time this camera will be utilized is in my own driveway, and when I'm backing toward my trailer on those occasions when I'll be towing something (which isn't very often). I still am pending the tow hitch/wiring to come into the dealer...

Mark Boyce posted:

Matt is right, Cabinet Bob!  Did you throw your tools away to full the tool box with trains too?  LOL. Looks like yyou had a great time at the show!!

Speaking of wayward tools and empty toolboxes, a little adventure I occasionally continue to "enjoy" happens when I need to go layout-diving. (I still wonderhow all that stuff got under there!) As I crawl around, amidst endless boxes for trains and a forest of wire-vines hanging everywhere (we actually did try to bundle & staple them all up, at one point, but found that the staples too often penetrated through the insulation to the wires, causing unhappy results; also, the banging of the staple-gun against the plywood was rocketing miniatures up into the air, disturbing scenery too much...)

...but I digress...

...I find tools , particularly wire-strippers and needle-nosed pliers, thought to have escaped to wherever tools go (in cahoots with missing socks, I suspect), that I haven't seen in years, apparently left in a handy spot, it seemed, as work progressed, but, alas, buried under mounds of everything before they could be gainfully employed once again.

This dubious drama has been taking place since the first plywood platform went upright back in 1995.

FrankM, the underworld explorer.

When I was in Raleigh staying with my son, I was driving his big Chevy pick up with a back up camera. Never used it, didn't like it, can't see enough. That is why God made your head swivel.

but but but...that means you may have to put the cell phone down for a minute.....

Steamer posted:

but but but...that means you may have to put the cell phone down for a minute.....

I never use mine when I'm driving. Don't even like using the GPS as they can (and sometimes do) tell you to go other than where you were wanting...

GPS-  All map quests wrong directions right at your fingertips.

  I saw a TomTom car the other day, it pulled into a dead end alley, I swear.

Half an hour later I counted twelve folks on just my side of the stoplight, with eyes or ears on the phone. I never thought there was good reason for self driving cars, but anything has to be safer than this.

If you can see your trailer ball on camera, your going to love it. I'd look into aiming it differently if you have to. Ive used one where the ball was in view and until the truck aligns automatically, it can't be beat.

I'm the oddball that backs into my spot so I can pull out. It's safer IMO. Illegal on govenment land really, but not private and I've never gotten a ticket. I really only use my side mirrors; like a trucker.

Underworld explorer, tame those copper vines with   hot glue by itself or with wire bread ties with the thick plastic coating.

I was at the hobby shop Tuesday to move some of the things for the club. Unfortunately, the hobby shop is on it's 'death bed'. The positive side, I picked up this Lionel Chessie System Artrain 25th anniversary celebration Reefer car.

Got this beaut in the mail yesterday.

I got a vehicle with backup camera in late 2014.  I use it, but also do everything else....if backing out of a parking lot there will be some bimbo pushing a stroller, on the phone, towing a couple of midgets, that is not on your camera screen, your engine is running, backup lights are on and car is moving....and...they suddenly appear right behind you, giving you the evil eye for not seeing THEM.  Drivers immediately turn into deaf and blind pedestrians in parking lots, so I don't depend on that small field of view.  Of course, when driving through a lot, I am amazed at how some people appear to accelerate back out of a parking space without looking, as though playing Russian roulette, relying on hope and the luck of the draw.   Got hit in Chicago once by somebody who backed into me in a very visible line of cars at a stop light.  I had to have been in her rearview mirror.

As for stuff recently glommed:  found a Marx crane to fill out a work train set, missed a Marx diesel that went for BIG BUCKS, needed to fill another boxed set, and have been accumulating mechanically working, but with beat-up and broken castings,  Marx #999 locos with the early spoked drivers, to bash into projects not expected to be commercially offered.

Bought my second flatcar with a load from Ralph Diggs (Ralphstrains). This is a flatcar with a camouflaged tractor for a military train I want to assemble.

Joe

colorado hirailer posted:

I got a vehicle with backup camera in late 2014.  I use it, but also do everything else....if backing out of a parking lot there will be some bimbo pushing a stroller, on the phone, towing a couple of midgets, that is not on your camera screen, your engine is running, backup lights are on and car is moving....and...they suddenly appear right behind you, giving you the evil eye for not seeing THEM.  Drivers immediately turn into deaf and blind pedestrians in parking lots, so I don't depend on that small field of view.  Of course, when driving through a lot, I am amazed at how some people appear to accelerate back out of a parking space without looking, as though playing Russian roulette, relying on hope and the luck of the draw.   Got hit in Chicago once by somebody who backed into me in a very visible line of cars at a stop light.  I had to have been in her rearview mirror.

As for stuff recently glommed:  found a Marx crane to fill out a work train set, missed a Marx diesel that went for BIG BUCKS, needed to fill another boxed set, and have been accumulating mechanically working, but with beat-up and broken castings,  Marx #999 locos with the early spoked drivers, to bash into projects not expected to be commercially offered.

Which Marx diesel would that be?

A reminder to the drivers "in a hurry". You are the ones that need to watch where you are going; foot traffic has right of way 90% of the time, the pedestrian just has more to lose .  And just because you're faster than a bicycle doesn't mean you have right of way. I guess you should have left sooner.

   Last spring, I was verbally assaulted by an idiot speeding down the sidestreet, while I was walking (too slow) in the street; by the husband of the cop that's supposed to write tickets for any cars blocking the sidewalk. Since they live a block over, I left a note on the windshield noting how the slow pedestrian issue might be solved :/

$180 fine x 9 weekly; my block alone could pay her salary.

Mike G sent me a Huff and Puff refer kit. I got it yesterday.

I think I'll be done with it tonight.

went to hobbytown USA today...$175 later:

So today I got two items from 2001 and 2003. First one is the Lionel N&W Auxiliary Tender that was meant to compliment both the A 1218 TMCC Model and the Y3 and Y6b TMCC models. 

Next, I have the Lionel N&W S1 #266 0-8-0 from 2003. Most people say it lacks the charm that the Pre-War 8976 and Postwar Switchers had but I like it cause the whistle and chugging sound are really phenomenal and authentic (the whistle sounds a bit "german" if you ask me). 

Btw how rare are these two items? 

Got some ICED TEA with my meal today.

Also, got some cool used in good condition RR books!

Just picked these two pieces of mth rolling stock at a local show. I thought the Chessie would be a good one to weather.

I found this book at Tacoma Trains today. They only printed 400 of them so they'll go for a lot in the future, I bet...

Saturday I decided to take a ride out to Stockyard Express in Oberlin Ohio. They were having an open house on Saturday. I didn't think I was going to buy anything but just before leaving I looked through some Woodland Scenic buildings and came across the Morrison Door Factory. The more I looked at it and saw  the detail on it the more I decided I wanted it so that was my purchase for the day. A pic of my buy............Paul

I got a find of a new Lionel Southern NW2 Lion Chief from my local hobby store marked down to !50 an early Christmas present to run under my tree.

I'm hesitant to even say this for fear of jinxing an unfinished deal, but over the weekend I found a 16 car set  of Atlas coalveyor hoppers. I've wanted these for quite some time, and WEPX is an excellent fit for my layout motif. Fingers crossed.

It really makes no sense that they aren't using the tooling

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I'm hesitant to even say this for fear of jinxing an unfinished deal, but over the weekend I found a 16 car set  of Atlas coalveyor hoppers. I've wanted these for quite some time, and WEPX is an excellent fit for my layout motif. Fingers crossed.

It really makes no sense that they aren't using the tooling

Build yourself a miniature steam plant to power that layout of yours, then slap a couple of Grinstein Green SD70MACs on the front end of those cars and use the train to keep your plant fed.

Len B posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I'm hesitant to even say this for fear of jinxing an unfinished deal, but over the weekend I found a 16 car set  of Atlas coalveyor hoppers. I've wanted these for quite some time, and WEPX is an excellent fit for my layout motif. Fingers crossed.

It really makes no sense that they aren't using the tooling

Build yourself a miniature steam plant to power that layout of yours, then slap a couple of Grinstein Green SD70MACs on the front end of those cars and use the train to keep your plant fed.

Len, technically the layout IS coal fired already, but I'll leave that part to Xcel Energy and just pay the bills. Much easier that way.

Now from a modeling perspective, you are pretty close. The power plant is located too far south to appear on the layout. The train will just come out of the hidden yard. If it takes the eastbound direction it is loaded, traveling west, it's empty. A little imagination is required for the westbound, because I'm not going to remove the loads. Too much hassle.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I'm hesitant to even say this for fear of jinxing an unfinished deal, but over the weekend I found a 16 car set  of Atlas coalveyor hoppers. I've wanted these for quite some time, and WEPX is an excellent fit for my layout motif. Fingers crossed.

It really makes no sense that they aren't using the tooling

Back in the late 70's early 80's I was a millwright at BFF (Berwick Forge and Fabricating) where they made some of the original bath tub cars. At one point when they cleaned out the plant engineers office, I acquired almost a complete set of prints for these cars. Over the yrs I cleaned out my shop and threw away the prints.  

Paul, I've oogled at the door factory in my LHS. It's a beautiful model and I wish we had room for it at the club. I'm sure it will look great on your layout. (I also love the name being a big Jim Morrison and the Doors fan.) 

Order this last week from Beth at Public Delivery Track and it came today. I really did not have much in the line of Bessemer. Now I will add it to the other Weaver flats I have. When I got this and opened it up I did say to myself I miss Weaver. A pic of my purchase...................Paul

Weaver M&St. L boxcar, Lionel standard O Johnson car that's been repainted.  They did a great job.  2812 gondola for my 2810 crane (my two tinplate pieces).  And an AF lighted caboose.

paul 2 posted:

Order this last week from Beth at Public Delivery Track and it came today. I really did not have much in the line of Bessemer. Now I will add it to the other Weaver flats I have. When I got this and opened it up I did say to myself I miss Weaver. A pic of my purchase...................Paul

Always like to see Bessemer!  I hear their trains at the bottom of the hill from my house.

Went to the Concord NH train show yesterday and found a few things.

1)  A baby blue VW convertible.

2) An MTH Premiere SP Tank car to add to my tank train.

3) A 3 story building with a Miller Engineering Coppertone sign on the roof.  I may have smoked the PS.  Have an email in to Miller Engineering for advice.

It was a decent little show and I walked away from a few other bargains that I wish now that I had bought.

paul 2 posted:

Saturday I decided to take a ride out to Stockyard Express in Oberlin Ohio. They were having an open house on Saturday. I didn't think I was going to buy anything but just before leaving I looked through some Woodland Scenic buildings and came across the Morrison Door Factory. The more I looked at it and saw  the detail on it the more I decided I wanted it so that was my purchase for the day. A pic of my buy............Paul

 

 

I bought mine last year at Chas. Ro.  It was followed by 6 other Woodland Scenics buildings during the past year.  My favorite is the Ethyl Gas Station....Lots of detail!  Woodland Scenics has disappointed with the last few releases, esp. the Theater.  It needed additional detail, eg a dumpster with spilled popcorn etc., maybe a few figures.  The built up Atlas Theater was better in mho.

Well I finally decided to 'jump'  into the Legacy world.. Forum sponsor Marios Trains had a sale last week  and I dove in.. I'd been checking prices, and his seemed to be among the best for the Legacy System.. I have had previously good experiences with them.. I have TMCC, so I expect that my wiring won't change much and from what I understand, I can run both together.. Just a steep learning curve for 'an old man'.. lol

One of my favorite paint schemes is the Santa Fe Warbonnet.  This week I pulled the trigger on an A-B FM Erie Built set from MTH in Santa Fe Warbonnet.   I can't wait for it to arrive so I can run The Chief with something other than EMD E's and F's!

Rolland

Direct from Hershey's Chocolate World.  They will be an addition to my Christmas layout

I love the Warbonnet too. I have the Lionel 8100 Series A-B-A Warbonnet from 1991 (6-11711) which is a re-production of the Lionel 1947 Santa Fe F3 Warbonnet. 

Scored a nice one. More pics in photo album forum....

Went picking at a local garage sale and came across a nice collection of postwar for sale. Looks like a 1950 681 set 2167WS with a ZW and a bunch of track. I really like the wood crates that they were stored in. The engine looks to be in good shape but the tender has truck issues and the ZW has some kind of switch installed. Now for the best part, cleaning and repairing to get this 66 year old train back to running the rails again.