Buy anything cool lately?

@Pingman posted:

Bob, that's known as model train creep -- modest expenditure (~$200-$300) becomes much, much bigger (~$2,000+).  (It's similar to how the Pentagon buys new aircraft, ships, etc. or big public works projects cost 10X more than originally budgeted.)

My buddy did something similiar:  got a super deal on a 4 car set of LIONEL Northern Pacific dome cars N/OB at Spring 2021 York never having owned any NP items previously; and, has since spent thousands acquiring two sets of ABA TMCC equipped F-3 diesels and a mix of 18 or so custom painted, LIONEL, and K-line passenger cars--all because he got a good deal on those first 4 dome cars.

WOW . I love this Carl , Mitch  and Bob.     This really gets the juices flowing for shopping. 

(  I've gotta find some way to supplement my fixed income )

On December 3rd I went to the Taylor Hose & Engine Company’s Trains, Die Cast Toys and Railroad Memorabilia Christmas Show in Taylor, Pennsylvania. It was packed!! Great little show as always. Unfortunately, this is my last train show on my calendar for this year. I picked up a Lionel Uncle Sam’s boxcar, MTH Norfolk Southern tanker, and a Lionel sign I couldn’t refuse the price on.

I picked up a new locomotive a few weeks ago too!!!! LoL $2 at Party City.

A little over a week ago I also got a Christmas cookie tin with a train on it. Pretty cool! My mom found it at Walmart I believe. Great find mom! Thanks!

@RSJB18 posted:

And the beat goes on.....

Another Reading car added to the fleet courtesy of a forum member.

You guys are a bad influence.......

Bob

Hey Paul the voices speak on Lawn Guyland also!

@coach joe posted:

Hey Paul the voices speak on Lawn Guyland also!

I've been trying to ignore the voices in my head for a long time Joe.

I'm fighting a loosing battle....

Bob

This was my Christmas present from my wife.  I had been watching this and another cylindrical hopper for some time waiting for a price drop, and Nassau Hobby put it up for a very nice price on Black Friday.  This is my first cylindrical hopper, and like all the other Lionel cars I've bought recently, I'm very happy with the level of detailing.

I tend to buy cars I don't already have since I think the grandkids are more interested in seeing unique ones whizzing by than a string of, say, ore cars (even though that is more prototypical), but I could be wrong.

LOL This latest conversation is so funny, I was packing up a car I have sold to a forum member, and I told her it was to put into the train room fund in case I need more track for my layout redo. She said I thought it might go into savings for something maybe for the house, I just smiled and walked away! LOL

Great buys everyone!

I posted these on the "Christmas Trains " thread but thought there might be some interest here.  These lithographed houses were found (they appear brand new) in a local antique mart.  They are clearly 0 gauge size and uniquely lithographed with a different scene on each of the 4 sides.  There is no product advertising outside of the scene on them at all.  Their cost was $4 each so of course I had to get all the different ones they had.  These will become part of the Christmas village when I put it together next year. The roofs are in fact 3 dimensional and thus either peaked or mansard as shown on the lithographed scene.

Best wishes and Happy Holidays

Don

Hello everyone,

  Even though I don't yet have a layout, purchasing things for it is still great fun. I have a large collection of 1:43 scale cars, so my layout will be more about scenery than tracks. That being said, since I grew up in the '70s, we all loved the movie "Smokey and the Bandit". Yeah, I still do! Anyway, since I'm planning on doing a large roadside diner, I'll need some semi trucks. I already have a black Trans Am so this was a no-brainer.

Found it on eBay by a man who customizes these trucks one at a time. It even has a Coors beer load! His eBay name is driverbob57. It's very well done and should be one of the highlights of the little world I'm creating. Hope you like it and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Tom

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

I needed to add something with fizaz to my Polar Express, so I just received these today from Train World Black Friday sale. I'm liking it! Happy Holidays!

Good thing I got the PE LionChief Plus 2.0 as it's pulling 10 cars now with electrical pickup rollers, that's a lot of drag and it has no problem. My original PE that came with the set would not be able to pull this consist.

Like you, I picked up the lighted tree car at Trainland.  This car is a perfect match for the Polar Express.  Also like you, I added the Lionel flat car with bell.

@RSJB18 posted:

And the beat goes on.....

Another Reading car added to the fleet courtesy of a forum member.

You guys are a bad influence.......

Bob

Bob your equipment is going to look like you moved to Pennsylvania.

Wow, long ago I had ordered the Lionel Erie Hobo sounds car from my dealer in Nashville, it finally arrived and I’ll post a picture with sounds as soon as I get it. I will have a good friend help me, videos are fun to do, but it helps to have help. Merry Christmas Everyone

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Bob your equipment is going to look like you moved to Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania for now. Probably switch to Western Maryland next. I like to switch up what I'm running every few months.

@Just Havin' Fun posted:

Hello everyone,

  Even though I don't yet have a layout, purchasing things for it is still great fun. I have a large collection of 1:43 scale cars, so my layout will be more about scenery than tracks. That being said, since I grew up in the '70s, we all loved the movie "Smokey and the Bandit". Yeah, I still do! Anyway, since I'm planning on doing a large roadside diner, I'll need some semi trucks. I already have a black Trans Am so this was a no-brainer.

Found it on eBay by a man who customizes these trucks one at a time. It even has a Coors beer load! His eBay name is driverbob57. It's very well done and should be one of the highlights of the little world I'm creating. Hope you like it and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Tom

Nice! I have been looking for this, and figurines. I've got the SP and Trans Am cars.

Had no idea Weaver produced this neat 15" UP sleeper car until I stumbled across it on ebay recently.  Its unique upper small windows represent the prototype UP sleepers documented by @T.Albers in this amazing build thread:

https://ogrforum.com/...oenix-aluminum-shell

And it's new to me extrusion adds additional interest.  It will be a very nice addition to the donor cars being assembled for a UP City of ... paint project.  Now, if I could just find a 15" aluminum, blunt end observation car.

(click on image to enlarge)

Merry Christmas to all!  And be safe --- it's getting very cold.

I bought a postwar 634 SF switcher on EBay 2 days ago. 

@Pingman posted:

Had no idea Weaver produced this neat 15" UP sleeper car until I stumbled across it on ebay recently.  Its unique upper small windows represent the prototype UP sleepers documented by @T.Albers in this amazing build thread:

https://ogrforum.com/...oenix-aluminum-shell

And its new to me extrusion adds additional interest.  It will be a very nice addition to the donor cars being assembled for a UP City of ... paint project.  Now, if I could just find a 15" aluminum, blunt end observation car.

Merry Christmas to all!  And be safe --- it's getting very cold.

Nice find Carl, what a cool UP passenger car! thanks for posting it!

I finally found a 10th anniversary Polar Express Streamliner set! Brand new !

I've got two new add-on cars also.

It took years to find, but it was worth the wait !  🙂

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Nice find Carl, what a cool UP passenger car! thanks for posting it!

Scott, same extrusion was used to create a Pennsylvania sleeper with anodized (shiny) finish:  ebay item:144866620385

After this purchase, found an MTH version that is very similar: item 165839453896

MTH version is smooth-sided.

Will now look for more of these Weaver Gold aluminum cars with similar ribbed roofs and sides.

Took me awhile to respond to this thread.

First regarding creep. I thought all I would ever want was an O gauge 4x8 traditional Lionel layout with all the operating stuff. None of that fancy electronics stuff. 2 or 3 engines for my grandkids to play with and some rolling stock and then poof. Nearly 40 engines later and about 100 rolling stock, Ross track and switches - I am truly stunned by what I have done/spent in the past 4 years. Most of it used except I had to have the new MTH BigBoy, my single highest dollar purchase to date. Sold the BB RailKing version I had to have until I got it and put it on my layout and was disappointed at its lack of presence. I have scrimped and saved all my life, and do not feel bad about spending a few bucks. But I am still a tightwad at heart.

@rsjb18 when I saw your post regarding the Reading hopper, I thought I have one of those, I wonder if it is a K-Line die cast? After searching the shelves I realized I did not have one, but probably was looking at one to add to the collection. I have several K-line die cast 2 bay and 4 bay hoppers. Great looking cars and a shame the company become a fallen flag. Here is my Milwaukee Road 4 bay hopper. I think the detail is really good. The cover pops off easily.

I have to go now ---  the voices want to have a conversation : )

BTW - some of you are a bad influence, (but not in a bad way), a former member ScaleRail got me hooked on the Milwaukee Road - that has been expensive! 

@Pingman posted:

Had no idea Weaver produced this neat 15" UP sleeper car until I stumbled across it on ebay recently.  Its unique upper small windows represent the prototype UP sleepers documented by @T.Albers in this amazing build thread:

https://ogrforum.com/...oenix-aluminum-shell

And its new to me extrusion adds additional interest.  It will be a very nice addition to the donor cars being assembled for a UP City of ... paint project.  Now, if I could just find a 15" aluminum, blunt end observation car.

(click on image to enlarge)

Merry Christmas to all!  And be safe --- it's getting very cold.

Hi Carl- Liked this project car - different from the usual found on Ebay. Thanks for posting it and sharing the information. I especially like the fluted ribbing on the car. I live in UP territory- Salt Lake City.  Your comment mentioning a "UP City of...paint project" resonated with me . I thought it would be fun to pass along my recent UP City of San Francisco/City of Los Angeles project I just completed awhile back. The City of Los Angeles was first- the City of San Francisco will be second. Need to complete another donor Postwar 2343-2353 chassis. The goal was to restore a trashed Lionel 2343 ABA  "the beast" with good bones but awful cosmetics.  I had saved an old set of Walthers O scale decals for years with both the City of San Francisco and City of Los Angeles combined in the packet. The decals are almost extinct now & very difficult to find in good shape not cracked from age.

So let the fun begin..many hours of tedious work - but worth it. The ABA's were stripped, painted, clear-coated to protect the paint and decals, & complete chassis and driveline overhaul. I had a early set of Williams cars which got computer scanned and color matched (grey and yellow) and pumped into spray cans at my local Superior Auto Paint store. The red midline was hand painted with a brush. Loved seeing it "alive " again and going down the layout.  So - some pictures to enjoy for everybody .

@GrandpaChooChoo- great restoration of a post war classic. Very nice!

Bob

@GrandpaChooChoo great job on the F-3s.

You should start a threaad on your great work and the UP train.  Would love to see more photos.

GrandpaChooChoo, WOW!

ScoutingDad writes:

“rsjb18 when I saw your post regarding the Reading hopper, I thought I have one of those, I wonder if it is a K-Line die cast? After searching the shelves I realized I did not have one, but probably was looking at one to add to the collection. I have several K-line die cast 2 bay and 4 bay hoppers. Great looking cars and a shame the company become a fallen flag.”

I’m sure Bob missed this, so I will presumptuously answer for him. This is a Railking 4 bay hopper from the 30-7017 Reading Freight Set. Plastic shell, metal sprung trucks and couplers, good weight for stable tracking, can handle O27 curves. As sold had a plastic coal load included.

The Texas Special set.  Got the set from a dealer who said the engine did not work, so it was priced super low.  Took a chance and the engine works fine.  Picked up the 3 car add on off EBay.  Always wanted this set with the 21 inch cars.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

ScoutingDad writes:

“rsjb18 when I saw your post regarding the Reading hopper, I thought I have one of those, I wonder if it is a K-Line die cast? After searching the shelves I realized I did not have one, but probably was looking at one to add to the collection. I have several K-line die cast 2 bay and 4 bay hoppers. Great looking cars and a shame the company become a fallen flag.”

I’m sure Bob missed this, so I will presumptuously answer for him. This is a Railking 4 bay hopper from the 30-7017 Reading Freight Set. Plastic shell, metal sprung trucks and couplers, good weight for stable tracking, can handle O27 curves. As sold had a plastic coal load included.

Thanks Mark.

@ScoutingDad- As Mark said it's a very nice car. Handles 027 curves without a problem too.

Bob

I purchased eight AMT passenger cars a couple of weeks ago on a Facebook Auction, they showed up earlier this week and I finally unpacked them today. I've wanted some of these for a number of years and got a great deal on these, plus the Santa Fe cars came in original boxes.

Here’s an early holiday surprise - Charles Ro shipped Lionel’s new 2022 run of the LEGACY Amtrak F40PH just in time for Christmas today!

Great detail, excellent graphics, and I love the sounds. The horn is awesome, but the CrewTalk is a very pleasant surprise! I love it!

Here’s one of my Christmas presents from the kids. It’s called traintrackr. It’s a NYC Transit map that lights up showing train positions. I still haven’t found out what the violet, blue and white lights are. It gets updates from transit.

@pennsyfan posted:

Here’s one of my Christmas presents from the kids. It’s called traintrackr. It’s a NYC Transit map that lights up showing train positions. I still haven’t found out what the violet, blue and white lights are. It gets updates from transit.

That runs the cool meter up to 100!

https://www.traintrackr.io/

@Mikado 4501 posted:

Here’s an early holiday surprise - Charles Ro shipped Lionel’s new 2022 run of the LEGACY Amtrak F40PH just in time for Christmas today!

Great detail, excellent graphics, and I love the sounds. The horn is awesome, but the CrewTalk is a very pleasant surprise! I love it!

Looks and sounds great! That horn sounds like the best KL5A in O scale! You really have my hopes up high waiting on those NPCU's!
She's gonna be waiting a long time for #9 as they discontinued the North Coast Hiawatha before I was born LOL. I like that detail though. It means its 1970-something and this locomotive is practically brand new

I didn’t buy it, but this sign was my Christmas gift

@RSJB18 posted:

That runs the cool meter up to 100!

https://www.traintrackr.io/

Thanks for the map Bob. So the color of lights match the lines and are not a status indicator. The status is indicated by movement on the line.  

@Brooklyn Corey posted:

I didn’t buy it, but this sign was my Christmas gift

COOL COREY. 

Where did this come from ? 

@mike g. posted:

LOL This latest conversation is so funny, I was packing up a car I have sold to a forum member, and I told her it was to put into the train room fund in case I need more track for my layout redo.                                                                                                                                                          ((  She said I thought it might go into savings for something maybe for the house, I just smiled and walked away! LOL ))

You bad Mike.   

( if she has left the room....................you go Mike )

Well, I just snagged the last of my BNSF locomotives -- a GE AC4400W with scale wheels and fixed pilots. I now have four GE's, two EMD's and a Genset. That should take care of things now that I was unceremoniously kicked off the Isle of Denial.

@mike g. posted:

LOL This latest conversation is so funny, I was packing up a car I have sold to a forum member, and I told her it was to put into the train room fund in case I need more track for my layout redo. She said I thought it might go into savings for something maybe for the house, I just smiled and walked away! LOL

Great buys everyone!

You are SO in the doghouse. Been there/done that.

A local antique mall find.
Being a huge fan of the midnight chief K-line/ Lionel trains I couldn’t resist these models.

Happy New Year,

Weston

@AGHRMatt posted:

You are SO in the doghouse. Been there/done that.

As the recipient of said car....I can sympathize and say.....you go Mike! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Dallas Joseph posted:

COOL COREY. 

Where did this come from ? 

My girlfriend said the etsy shop is called LiztonSignshop