Buy anything cool lately?

Waiting impatiently for pictures of the factroy

I bought some new MTH Premier SD-24s from @MrMuffin'sTrains.  Union Pacific and Burlington roads.  Early Christmas presents.  

John

Just bought the new Mickey Mouse hand car from C. Ro. I paid yesterday, and got it UPS today, Amazing! Nice piece.

New from the New York office:

Nice collection will you post again when you have it all out and organized?

New boxcar from Lionel, I’ll admit the paint scheme is what sold me.  Not disappointed with the paint, great colors, precision edges, and crisp lettering.

I’m not impressed with the rest of the package, considering the asking price of $80.  Trucks were too tight to swing, even after light oiling they caused derailment on O36 Fastrack.  I had to remove the shell and back off the attachment screws. Frame is stamped metal with zero undercarriage detail.  One side door will not stay shut.  Maybe I’m expecting too much, but I do like the paint scheme.

And Happy Thanksgiving!

@Kelunaboy posted:

New boxcar from Lionel, I’ll admit the paint scheme is what sold me.  Not disappointed with the paint, great colors, precision edges, and crisp lettering.

I’m not impressed with the rest of the package, considering the asking price of $80.  Trucks were too tight to swing, even after light oiling they caused derailment on O36 Fastrack.  I had to remove the shell and back off the attachment screws. Frame is stamped metal with zero undercarriage detail.  One side door will not stay shut.  Maybe I’m expecting too much, but I do like the paint scheme.

And Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't think you're too far off. For $80 I'd be expecting more and better quality too. You could buy 3 Menards cars for that money and get the same "quality".

It is a nice paint job though.

Bob

I agree with you and Bob.  For $80 we should expect more and get more than a fancy paint job, derailing trucks and stamped steel chassis with no detail.  MPC had sharp paint, stamped steel chassis and newly designed trucks with fast angle wheels and many in this hobby malign that production.

Well, I guess I have to add looking at @MrMuffin'sTrains auctions to my list of things to avoid… my first time ever bidding in an auction and I won all three items I was interested in at very good prices (plus a forth non-auction car). All items were “second hand” but you’d be hard pressed to see that in the cars. I must say I was very pleasantly surprised at how quickly the items shipped and arrived, especially with Thanksgiving falling in the week. I’ve added some interesting and colorful diversity to my mail train!!!

@Apples55 posted:

Well, I guess I have to add looking at @MrMuffin'sTrains auctions to my list of things to avoid… my first time ever bidding in an auction and I won all three items I was interested in at very good prices (plus a forth non-auction car). All items were “second hand” but you’d be hard pressed to see that in the cars. I must say I was very pleasantly surprised at how quickly the items shipped and arrived, especially with Thanksgiving falling in the week. I’ve added some interesting and colorful diversity to my mail train!!!

@Apples55

What make is the RPO in the above photo? Is it 2 or 3-rail? What is the total length of the car in inches. It is a GREAT model.

Thank you.

@Randy Harrison posted:

@Apples55

What make is the RPO in the above photo? Is it 2 or 3-rail? What is the total length of the car in inches. It is a GREAT model.

Thank you.

Thanks Randy. All four cars are MTH Premier cars, 3-rail, and app. 18” coupler to coupler. I have to agree, it is a great model. I have a couple of Lionel PRR passenger cars with those green trucks - they are growing on me

@Apples55 posted:

Thanks Randy. All four cars are MTH Premier cars, 3-rail, and app. 18” coupler to coupler. I have to agree, it is a great model. I have a couple of Lionel PRR passenger cars with those green trucks - they are growing on me

@Apples55

Thanks for your quick reply. Do you have the MTH number that identifies the heavyweight RPO (i.e. 20-XXXX)? I would like to put a search on Ebay if one becomes available.

Thank you.

@Randy Harrison posted:

@Apples55

Thanks for your quick reply. Do you have the MTH number that identifies the heavyweight RPO (i.e. 20-XXXX)? I would like to put a search on Ebay if one becomes available.

Thank you.

The one you pictured is 20-68001.

@Apples55 posted:

The one you pictured is 20-68001.

@Apples55

Thank you.

Just bought two ore cars and a coal gondola off Trainz. I received the new Lionchief 2.0 EMD FT in both NYC and PRR names earlier this year, so I need to put the freight haulers to work!

@Apples55 Fantastic pickup. If you can keep finding deals like that you should hang out in the auction more often

-Matt

Another Christmas present for me.  I purchased an MTH Southern Pacific Premier RS-11 from @mariostrains.  Very excited for it.

@MattD87 posted:

Just bought two ore cars and a coal gondola off Trainz. I received the new Lionchief 2.0 EMD FT in both NYC and PRR names earlier this year, so I need to put the freight haulers to work!

@Apples55 Fantastic pickup. If you can keep finding deals like that you should hang out in the auction more often

-Matt

I almost pulled the trigger on a couple of items from Trainz last night. Wanted to take advantage of the $25.00 off. Thought better of it and now the $300.00 is still in my pocket......

@RSJB18 posted:

I almost pulled the trigger on a couple of items from Trainz last night. Wanted to take advantage of the $25.00 off. Thought better of it and now the $300.00 is still in my pocket......

@RSJB18,

Bob,

The same thing happened to me. I'm not finding locomotives, especially steam engines, that I want to buy these days - either new from MTH and Lionel, or on Trainz. MTH is not making many steam engines these days and hardly any are in the road names that I buy. Lionel makes a steamer and then paints the same model for numerous railroads - none of which are prototypical. I guess I'm just particular. But the prices are putting me off too.

At the rate things are going, you'll be seeing me post the same old engines on Switcher Saturday and Steamday Sunday.

MELGAR

@Randy Harrison posted:

@Apples55

Thank you.

Glad to help. Randy. Hope you can find one online.

@RSJB18  and  @MELGAR-  OH NO...If you guys stop buying the expensive stuff the only place I will see it is in the catalog...!

I am in MELGAR's camp, I am sorry but $2000 -$3000 for a single locomotive is just beyond "hobby" level to me, I have often spent less than that on a car to drive to work!  At those prices, I don't much care what it can do including stand on its tender and sing the "Star Spangled Banner" its just not appropriate for me both fiscally and rationally.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

At those prices, I don't much care what it can do including stand on its tender and sing the "Star Spangled Banner"

That is rumored to be the next new Vision Line feature.

@GregK-  Now that might just tempt me to buy!

Don

Ha ha, Hey, I got something kind of new and it's not even broken!    Got this Robin Hood Beer Atlas woodside reefer... Man I do love these Atlas cars!

@Don McErlean posted:

@RSJB18  and  @MELGAR-  OH NO...If you guys stop buying the expensive stuff the only place I will see it is in the catalog...!

I am in MELGAR's camp, I am sorry but $2000 -$3000 for a single locomotive is just beyond "hobby" level to me, I have often spent less than that on a car to drive to work!  At those prices, I don't much care what it can do including stand on its tender and sing the "Star Spangled Banner" its just not appropriate for me both fiscally and rationally.

Don

@Don McErlean,

Don,

I've never spent anything like that for a locomotive. And these days, I limit my purchases to small and medium-sized steamers (switchers, Moguls, Atlantics, Ten-Wheelers, Consolidations) and diesels. The biggest steam engine that I run is a scale-sized Hudson... Small engines are the right size for my layouts.

MELGAR

This arrived today to complete my army train. Lionel’s USATC 18” stationsound diner #2327170. Isn’t it funny that Lionel can provide people in this car and not there 21” cars ??? The people in the car are dressed like what looks to me to be nurses and doctors. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part lol. Thank you Lionel you did a nice job on this diner, now please put some people in the 21 inch cars. I have 3 sets of 21 inch cars to open and put people that’s 22 cars.  

@MELGAR posted:

the same thing happened to me. I'm not finding locomotives, especially steam engines, that I want to buy these days - either new from MTH and Lionel, or on Trainz. MTH is not making many steam engines these days and hardly any are in the road names that I buy. Lionel makes a steamer and then paints the same model for numerous railroads - none of which are prototypical. I guess I'm just particular. But the prices are putting me off too.

At the rate things are going, you'll be seeing me post the same old engines on Switcher Saturday and Steamday Sunday.

MELGAR

@Don McErlean posted:

OH NO...If you guys stop buying the expensive stuff the only place I will see it is in the catalog...!

I am in MELGAR's camp, I am sorry but $2000 -$3000 for a single locomotive is just beyond "hobby" level to me, I have often spent less than that on a car to drive to work!  At those prices, I don't much care what it can do including stand on its tender and sing the "Star Spangled Banner" its just not appropriate for me both fiscally and rationally.

Don

I can't believe I'm writing this but I'm running out of engines I want/ need at the moment. Considering that I've got 3 diesels on the bench in various stages of repair, I really don't need more right now.

I'll get back to you when and IF I build a bigger layout one day..... I could probably double the fleet if I had more room to run some mid-size steamers.

(Gotta make sure I keep Paul @Apples55 off by back)........

Bob

@V. Tiberie posted:

This arrived today to complete my army train. Lionel’s USATC 18” stationsound diner #2327170. Isn’t it funny that Lionel can provide people in this car and not there 21” cars ??? The people in the car are dressed like what looks to me to be nurses and doctors. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part lol. Thank you Lionel you did a nice job on this diner, now please put some people in the 21 inch cars. I have 3 sets of 21 inch cars to open and put people that’s 22 cars.  

Hope you plan and can find the rest of the train.  we should cherish our veterans more

@MELGAR posted:

@Don McErlean,

Don,

I've never spent anything like that for a locomotive. And these days, I limit my purchases to small and medium-sized steamers (switchers, Moguls, Atlantics, Ten-Wheelers, Consolidations) and diesels. The biggest steam engine that I run is a scale-sized Hudson... Small engines are the right size for my layouts.

MELGAR

Me too on automobiles, but the worst part about that is that before I have them half built back to where I want them some body comes along and give far more than what I've got in it, for it Picked up a 63 Grand Prix for $500. barely got it to roll after two weeks  and before I got the trailer home somebody gave $3000 for it

@RSJB18 posted:

I can't believe I'm writing this but I'm running out of engines I want/ need at the moment. Considering that I've got 3 diesels on the bench in various stages of repair, I really don't need more right now.

I'll get back to you when and IF I build a bigger layout one day..... I could probably double the fleet if I had more room to run some mid-size steamers.

(Gotta make sure I keep Paul @Apples55 off by back)........

Bob

Moi??? Would I give you grief, Bob???

P.S. I did notice you left yourself a really big out… “need at the moment”… there are 86,400 moments in any given day

I don’t normally post anything here because most of my stuff is kinda pedestrian. But I received this great locomotive from forum member Chuck Hawley (cjack) last Friday for a absolutely fantastic price shipped to my home !

Its a Williams IC GP9 that he outfitted with Err TMCC control sounds and electric couplers and directional lighting !

This locomotive when set to 133 speed steps and using my Mth dcs controller is a very smooth running train !

Here it is MUed with a early conventional Mth C&O switcher that I put a err board in just for control.

Thanks again Chuck ! Also great job on a nice clean and neat installation of the err components (the big manufacturers could take a lesson from you !)

I have made two great purchases one was from Zinskys in FLA 5 aluminum Alaska bilevel cars and the other and that’s the fun one…..an Alaska MAC 80, TMCC/Legacy bi engine. It’s a freak and I love it down to it’s all flange wheel sets. That came from the good people at Trainz. I had to renumber on side of the cab and some touch up paint . They will make their debut, on the Christmas layout latter this month with video to follow.

preordered a billups crossing when they were released, hoping they arrive any day now!

I just got a call from Trainworld that my RMT Bethlehem Steel cars are being mailed out. YEA!

And a few minutes ago I got my 2023 Knights of Columbus, Keep Christ in Christmas,  Lionel boxcar.

When it rains it pours. Just got a call from Clyde at Stockyard express. Westinghouse boxcars are in!

@DMASSO posted:

I just got a call from Trainworld that my RMT Bethlehem Steel cars are being mailed out. YEA!

And a few minutes ago I got my 2023 Knights of Columbus, Keep Christ in Christmas,  Lionel boxcar.

I called them the other day about the RMT LIRR ore cars. They said late December. Hopefully they are right this time......

These two Lionel diners completes the eight car set. Great detail on these cars Lionel did a nice job. One is a station sound diner and the other is just lighted. They look great together. Btw I ordered 2 Dreyfuss Hudson’s my credit got hit so they will here soon. Bad month for credit card.

UPS dropped off the latest offering from the great gang at the Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers (NLOE)… another beautiful car with crisp paint details. Just a word of caution to anyone who purchased one of these (or any other center beam lumber cars currently offered from Lionel); there are three of those wire ties holding the loads in place during shipment which, on my car, were VERY tightly wound, and trying to untwist them caused some minor paint scrapes. I would suggest just cutting them to get them off.

@V. Tiberie posted:

These two Lionel diners completes the eight car set. Great detail on these cars Lionel did a nice job. One is a station sound diner and the other is just lighted. They look great together. Btw I ordered 2 Dreyfuss Hudson’s my credit got hit so they will here soon. Bad month for credit card.

I'll bet its a bad month for the credit card, but the do look very nice

Didn't have any steam switchers in the lineup. So, I took advantage of the Trainz sale over the weekend. A classic diecast K-line 94 switcher. Along with some really, really nice 4 bay coal hoppers. Wow, K-line did an impressive job on these, with real coal loads. And of course a Pennsy scale caboose to tag along.

Nice choice of steamers Donnie. K-line # 94 is a beauty.

K-Line did a nice job on those 0-4-0s and 0-6-0s.  There was a post a while back comparing it to MTH and I seem to remember that post indicating the K-line was a little over-sized and the MTY was truer to scale.  I've got an Anheuser Busch 150th Anniversary version of the K-line and think it looks great.  I'll have to get some pictures of it.