In honor of York Week, a couple of items from Mr. Muffins...

First, from Lawn-guy-land... love the ‘64 -‘65 Worlds Fair theme - I went quite a few times as a kid growing up in Brooklyn (by subway, not the LIRR ). And the MAP scheme is great.

Second, another MAP hopper - anyone surprised it’s New Haven???

And, finally, a PRR boxcar - I’ve always liked when they used a larger keystone...

Finally got to a train show in my area....bought an excellent condition Lionel 6346 Alcoa Quad Hopper for $25...

LGB RIGI cable car set.
Hopefully it’s not too terribly large for my O scale layout.  Researching it, apparently this particular model was only for dealers to display in their showroom, to operate continuously,  and has a nifty plaque stating just that.  

That would look great around a Christmas tree. And it would look super on my layout!

Fly-planes play-trains, when you get that up and running I would love to see a video of it!

The cable car reminds me of what was on one of only two layouts I saw growing up.  The man had his basement full of train layout with a snowy mountain in the back corner with a cable car going up the mountain.

@Mark Boyce posted:

The cable car reminds me of what was on one of only two layouts I saw growing up.  The man had his basement full of train layout with a snowy mountain in the back corner with a cable car going up the mountain.

Mark, that's why I want to see it. Maybe I can scratch build one! Lol

@FlyPlanes-PlayTrains posted:

LGB RIGI cable car set.
Hopefully it’s not too terribly large for my O scale layout.  Researching it, apparently this particular model was only for dealers to display in their showroom, to operate continuously,  and has a nifty plaque stating just that.  

@mike g. posted:

Mark, that's why I want to see it. Maybe I can scratch build one! Lol

Yes Mike, I think you probably have the skills to scratch build one.  You certainly have the mechanical skills.

@FlyPlanes-PlayTrains Thank you for sharing your neat purchase.  It brought back a good memory from 55 or more years ago!!

Mike g., and Mark B. Yes, the cable car project would be very interesting, and I to would like to see the LGB RIGI Set work. I would even like a set as I think it would work well with O Gauge... April 2016, while on tour in Seoul Korea, we ride a cool cable car. It would be a nice accessory, and with LED lighting be a focal point type scene. It was a very safe and fun ride. Happy Railroading Everyone

That's a couple of neat photographs, Larry!  What a great experience!

Thank you Mark, it’s do to my wife being Korean, from Busan. Now, my dealer just called to say my ne Fake News Stand is ready for pick up. Wow, I’ll go get it next week, after the election. Happy Railroading Everyone

I guess I have Williamsitis.

I keep getting good deals on those wonderful and simple Williams locomotives.

Here is my latest purchase from the BAY of E.

Williams Chesapeake and Ohio BL2

I had the Lionel caboose " I am a caboose hoarder" and I think It looks like a nice pair.

I bought this one from TRAINZ.com and I will suggest when you purchase from them request to ship via FED EX ground or USPS,

NOT SMARTPOST! It took forever to ship that way.

Larry, that is the second Fake News stand I have seen this week.  I think I need to get one also!!  I do think I recall you saying before your wife is Korean.

Harleyhouse, that is a great looking BL2!!

Bought the 56 Halloween Rickety Railroad Station for my Petite Standard Gauge & O Gauge Halloween Layout (2020). Its been 7 days of waiting for Priority Mail and it still has not arrived. Sooo bummed. Its the last piece of the Layout puzzle, hoping it arrives before the 31st. As of yesterday it was still in VA, and I'm in KS.

Just landed Williams Brass K4 number five for $64.....I've managed to pick up several of these over the years for pretty cheap.  Just another project I guess lol. In the past I have picked up other Williams K4's for $60, $75, and $139 and then $200 for the streamlined version.  I love K4's!!

Got really lucky, and through  a friend, got my grubby paws on two of the rustic kits that were, l think, only available at the Narrow Gauge Convention, several of which l missed .  The corner store, that l had bashed others into that format, and the garage.  With no interesting rolling stock, glad there are structure kits and Menards buildings to provide  a background.  Sure got a lot of work ahead of me.  

@harleyhouse posted:

I guess I have Williamsitis.

I keep getting good deals on those wonderful and simple Williams locomotives.

Here is my latest purchase from the BAY of E.

Williams Chesapeake and Ohio BL2

I had the Lionel caboose " I am a caboose hoarder" and I think It looks like a nice pair.

I bought this one from TRAINZ.com and I will suggest when you purchase from them request to ship via FED EX ground or USPS,

NOT SMARTPOST! It took forever to ship that way.

I have the same engine. I highly recommend changing the motors to series wiring. It will run much better at slow speeds.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

I have the same engine. I highly recommend changing the motors to series wiring. It will run much better at slow speeds.

Bob

And the lighting works better also!

Mike G., nice haul from Menards.  Those flats look great as does the water tower. Your mother in law came through big.

PRRRick, those K-Line Pacifics were neat for lower end steam.  I've got a NYC in gray "Lightning Stripe" paint and an Anheuser Busch.

Thomas, nice score on that Pennsy steamer.

Paul, can't say I've ever seen that LawnGuyLand map hopper but it is show stopper.  I always liked the map series and I remember a trip to that World's Fair from the Bronx, probably aided by the 8mm home movies taken by my parents.

@charles mcdaniel posted:

And the lighting works better also!

And I find the switches on my layout work better when voltage is applied at a proper level. These engines are rockets at 6V but my old Lionel switches hardly move.
K-line diesels are the same.

This MTH Rock Island 50' box car. I have no affiliation/connection to Rock Island, I just thought this color and the "Rock" logo are cool looking.

Early morning ebay shopping. A Great price so I hit the BIN button.

Trainz.com New in the box Boston and Maine GP9 horn only.

Arrived in 3 days with FED EX shipping.

Looks great with a matching B&M N5C caboose by Williams and a Williams B&M boxcar.

I guess you really can’t have too many trains - a few freight cars from Nicholas Smith...

And finally... I picked up another Lionel C-420, compliments of Nassau Hobby’s York Sale (this was one of their exclusive runs - have always liked this paint scheme).

The past couple weekends I purchased some freight cars and a bug called standard gauge bit me. There are actually about 7 menards freight cars total, but 4 were already put up in my storage unit when I took this photo

Ordered my log load for my AF Wide Gauge log car.

@franktrain posted:

I picked this up on a trade for some repairs I did. Been at the bottom of a box for a while! Lionel Milwaukee Road postwar 2351 from 1957 one year only. Wires needed replacing, E-unit cleaning and some touch up. Horn works also, has a good crack on one nose just super glued to stabilize it. I wonder where it will end up in the next 63 years?

First run.

Nice save on the #2351, Frank! Looks great, runs great; commendable...

On a recent RV trip to Branson, Missouri had a chance to visit the local Menard’s in Hollister, Missouri about 4 miles from the RV park.  We do not have a Menard’s here in Alabama.  They have a great selection of buildings and freight cars.  I did purchase two lifesaver tankers, also a Lemax Lighted RR crossing signal and a lighted Christmas tree.

From EBAY, I just picked up a bunch of Spur O (O gauge) people made in Germany by a company called MERTEN.

They are really nice and different from the usual offerings. I never heard of MERTEN before - have you?-

I bought two Lionel girder bridges.  I found two "US STEEL" bridges for $5.00 each.   I retired, the first time, from US STEEL in '99.  The placement is not final.

Bill

@Dennis Holler posted:

Just landed Williams Brass K4 number five for $64.....I've managed to pick up several of these over the years for pretty cheap.  Just another project I guess lol. In the past I have picked up other Williams K4's for $68, $75, and $139 and then $200 for the streamlined version.

Wow; you can hardly buy an HO steamer for that kind of dough. How is the quality of this "Williams" stuff?

Mark in Oregon

This week’s purchases: a log load for my original AF wide gauge log car, a Dept 56 RR station for my small Xmas layout, and the two color bulb set for my Halloween RR station. Will share pics when these arrive.  

@Strummer posted:

Wow; you can hardly buy an HO steamer for that kind of dough. How is the quality of this "Williams" stuff?

Mark in Oregon

They run great really, the only downside is the crappy Seuth smoke unit and the QSI reverse.  The QSI is fine too when it works.  So I guess I have 6 Williams brass now and one Weaver T1 in Brass.

I have the Williams Streamlined K4 and I think paid about $200 for it.  It's really nice no issues at all.

The L1 2-8-2 is also in great shape, I found it semi local  about 45 min away and it made a nice present from my mom who still likes to physically purchase presents.  It was $175

Then I have two prewar version Williams K4's which I think were the earliest K4 they made, but run/ran fine.  One of them took a tumble off the layout and mashed the fragile brass pilot so it's been staying in the box for a while.  Paid $139 and $75 for those.

The last two are the later Crown edition Postwar pilot K4's and both of these are really basket cases, paid $60 for one and $64 for this most recent one but it is complete but has clearly been dropped, the cab is broken free and there are a few dents in it. So 4-6 are current runners with two projects. So $713 for SIX Brass Williams steamers is pretty good to me even if a couple are serious projects.  Four of the six are nice layout runners.  Here are a couple of them, can't beat em for the cost.  Always tempted to buy some ERR upgrade stuff for them.  I even managed to pick up 4-5 MTH smoke units so I could add real smoke units to them just have not gotten off my but and upgraded them yet.

Stopped by Legacy Station on Saturday to pick up a pre-order of some MTH 19th century passenger cars (no pics of those just yet) and fell in love with the MTH Restored 4014 Big Boy. The whistle steam smoke effect is what ended up selling me:

While at the store, I had the opportunity to bump into @ericstrains.com who also picked up a 4014. He posted a short video the same day:

@mattrain posted:

Stopped by Legacy Station on Saturday to pick up a pre-order of some MTH 19th century passenger cars (no pics of those just yet) and fell in love with the MTH Restored 4014 Big Boy. The whistle steam smoke effect is what ended up selling me:

While at the store, I had the opportunity to bump into @ericstrains.com who also picked up a 4014. He posted a short video the same day:

Nice seeing you there!

-Eric Siegel

@mattrain posted:

Stopped by Legacy Station on Saturday to pick up a pre-order of some MTH 19th century passenger cars (no pics of those just yet) and fell in love with the MTH Restored 4014 Big Boy. The whistle steam smoke effect is what ended up selling me.

Matt the Big Boy is awesome! Something tells me if I was in the store with you and Eric I probably would have bought a Big Boy also!

Got my two car beer reefer set from the NJHR's today.......pic ......Paul 2

Buy anything cool lately?

Yes, but I'm not one to brag. Don

@scale rail posted:

Buy anything cool lately?

Yes, but I'm not one to brag. Don

Wow!

Legacy or DCS? 😂😂😂😂

Got another Scale Craft Reefer kit.

Gee Don, last time I posted pictures or comments about my autos on this forum, I was tattooed and the posts were removed by Alan promptly. Maybe you will fare better.

@scale rail posted:

Buy anything cool lately?

Yes, but I'm not one to brag. Don

Don, when did you go into the private i business? 

Williams Blue Goose with matching 6 car Williams Madison passenger cars.

My Pennsy passenger car sets (20-65043 and 20-69043) came in.  Both the five car set and the two car set are NIB.  I found it interesting that MTH made the five car set, the sleeper/diner set, the full length vista dome and the RPO in 2004, but didn’t come out with the baggage/coach set until 2006.  Also found it interesting the changes that were made in two years.  The newer cars have better trucks, better couplers, frames on the diaphragms, black grab rails and included passengers.  My one disappointment is that the 2006 baggage REA car didn’t have the stripes or keystones shown in the catalog and website.  Maybe that’s what the prototype looked like.  The sets are a good color match for each other and for the Williams Tuscan GG1.  Some of the 2004 cars have light bulbs rattling around inside, but that doesn’t matter.  I will change the lighting to LED and add passengers.

Was at my local grocery store yesterday and came across these cool candles with trains on them. Locomotive and several passenger cars. Needles to say I purchased two packs.

Gary 🚂

• I just got these ore cars.
• 

LCCA B&M smoking bay window caboose from 2015 New in box.

I bought it for my Williams B&M BL2  A close color match and although not a prototypical Paint scheme.

They do look good together.

I found a Lionel 6-18005 1-700E Hudson Locomotive that was affordable. After very little trackside maintenance it runs like it’s new. It even looks new. It’s the best 30 year old train I could have wished for. The best part is that it’s American made. I’ve been using it to smoke up the train room all evening. I considered upgrading the electronics, but it works so well I’ve decided to leave it alone and just operate it. It was pulling the freight I already had on the outside loop. I boxed up that consist and put passenger cars behind it. It’s surprising how well it pulls without traction tires. I’m sure the flat top rail helps. The last photo is a 6-19163 Lionel Lines observation car that I replaced the rear door with a modified Empire State Express item that was made to fit.

Just received this Railking RS3 in the mail from Grzyboski's Trains. I was slightly disappointed that MTH didn't offer a second road number or a dummy unit. Would love to pair it up with another unit. Unfortunately my layout is no more, so I can only run it on a small loop right now.

Got me a new tool caddy. https://www.micromark.com/Tool-Organizer_2

I seldom post on this topic, but I thought I would share this one I bought at the Monroeville Greenberg show yesterday.  I found these used Legacy GP7s, one powered, one not powered on one of the local brick and mortar train shop's table.  Yes both have a little more wear than I would have liked, but everything operates great on the powered geep.  The glaring deficiency on the powered one is that the magnetic held lid on the short hood is missing.  I see the little round magnets on the shell came unglued, so the lid was lost.  The bell and both of the flip down walkways over the couplers are missing.  The non powered one is missing one of the flip down walkways.  There are a few spots where the paint is chipped, but not much.  What sold me was he wanted $150 for the pair.  I can fix them up as time passes for that price.  I like the Great Northern paint scheme, it adds some color to my black Western Maryland Rwy layout!

Mark I was surprised to see you go for the GN paint scheme.  But it will definitely add a pop of color. $150 ofr a pair of legacy GPs, that's what a set of conventionals usually brings. Good deal even with the minor deficiencies. 

@coach joe posted:

Mark I was surprised to see you go for the GN paint scheme.  But it will definitely add a pop of color. $150 ofr a pair of legacy GPs, that's what a set of conventionals usually brings. Good deal even with the minor deficiencies.

Thank you, Joe!  Yes they are out of my normal interest, but at the price, I couldn’t pass.  I posted about them over on the ‘What did you do on the layout today’ topic, and Carl ‘Pingman’ gave me the link to the parts list for the similar  GP9.  I ordered everything except the missing bell with the hope they will fit.  I had looked up this GP7 earlier and all that was listed were 4 internal parts.  With the Lionel half price weekend, they came to only $30, and I ordered an extra of all just in case.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed!  👍🏻

@CoolHand posted:The last photo is a 6-19163 Lionel Lines observation car that I replaced the rear door with a modified Empire State Express item that was made to fit.

Did you use a scale obs car door and make it smaller to fit a 15" car?  If so, how did you do it?

I ask because I bought a scale Texas Special door last year to cut down to fit a 15" car for a custom painted Texas Special train but have not gotten to that project, yet.

Great buy finds everyone! I give me hope that one day I will find a steam engine at a good price! Keep posting your finds as it gives me ideas of where to look!

My wife wanted an "old fashioned Christmas locomotive", meaning a 19th century one with a diamond stack, once I asked her a few questions. Or as she put it, "Something like the old locomotive on Petticoat Junction".

This was going for $180 brand new with remote, spare traction tires, manual, and smoke on ebay, as a pull from a Lionchief starter set. I put it on my watchlist, and a week later got an offer to buy it for $125. At that price, I couldn't pass it up. She really liked it when I unpacked it.

As the saying goes- happy wife, happy life

Plus I have Christmas cars from a late 80's set to pull behind it.

This

@Pingman posted:

Did you use a scale obs car door and make it smaller to fit a 15" car?  If so, how did you do it?

I ask because I bought a scale Texas Special door last year to cut down to fit a 15" car for a custom painted Texas Special train but have not gotten to that project, yet.

Great minds think alike. Yes Carl, it seems as though the door I used was scale because it was much too large. I used a X-acto razor saw to trim a little off of the top and the bottom. I placed 400 grit paper flat on my table and used it to carefully remove material until it just fit.I had to use the edge of the table to remove the material that I didn’t want without removing the tab that locates in the slots at the top and bottom.
I decided NOT to glue it into place so that the car will disassemble properly. Good luck with your project. Please, post photos of it.

@CoolHand, thanks for the tips.  It will be a while before I get to this and I wish I had a LIONEL 15" obs car rear door for comparison, but this is what the O Scale Texas Special door looks like:

Like yours, this door will need to be carefully trimmed to fit the 15" car.

Thanks, again.

My latest Ebay purchase.

I live by the old Bessemer and Lake Erie line now Canadian National

So I thought I should add this one to my collection.

Williams New in Box with FREE shipping.

Does finally retrieving all of my trains from storage and finding things I forgot about count? Because if it does I have a heck of a list.

@Bill T posted:

From Dixie Union Station, MTH Armco coil car.

Hi Bill

Love your photos of the Kodak Park RR.   One of the cars is a coilcar.   Was Armco connected with Kodak and the car was a regular at Kodak Park ?    I live in New Zealand  away from the action.  Do you happen to have a roster for the Kodak fleet,  1960-70s or thereabouts.

You live in New Zealand? We're watching "800 Words" on Netflix and it shows lovely scenes of your beautiful country. It's on my bucket list. That is if we're ever comfortable to travel again.

Ill have a answer for this thread Saturday night, got a two day auction to go to Friday and Saturday, should have a lot of cool stuff to show then.....

Lionel CSX First Responders Unit

Biscuitag97, Wow, that’s a gorgeous CSX First Responders Diesel, well detailed, super paint scheme, “Operation Gratitude” on the side says it all. Mine is do in this week says my hobby shop. Happy Railroading Everyone..

I Just purchased this great Lionel BerWind GLa hopper for a very reasonable price on EBAY.

I've had this MTH Farm Equipment depressed center flatcar for a while but wasn't impressed by the 1/64 Ford backhoe that it came with.  I've always wanted a submarine car so when I saw this LEGO sub I had an AHA moment.  Picked it and the snowplow up for loads.

@coach joe posted:

I've had this MTH Farm Equipment depressed center flatcar for a while but wasn't impressed by the 1/64 Ford backhoe that it came with.  I've always wanted a submarine car so when I saw this LEGO sub I had an AHA moment.  Picked it and the snowplow up for loads.

Looks really cool, Joe. LEGO has sure came a long way since I was a kid!!!

An off the beaten path thrift store score...

$20 for three pieces of rolling stock, with the two        Lehigh Valley items being new in their boxes!

Tom

NWJ Hirailers latest beer reefer.

I have been getting further into Pre/Post War collecting. My local shop happened to receive both of these from an Estate Collection. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. 763e and 773 Hudsons.

1. LIONEL - Southern 86' scale Autorack #159166

2. Woodland Scenics - O scale lighted Police Car w/flashing red light.

@NS1975 The light-up cars look great!

Acquired another one of these for my collection the other day.  6060 (right) arrived by mail yesterday morning from the MTH warehouse auctions.  Figured I'd line them all up for a 'family photo' of sorts!

@biscuitag97 posted:

Lionel CSX First Responders Unit

How good did they get the red? Does it look like the real thing? Very nice pictures. Thank you for sharing them!

Bill

Well the auction didn't go as good as I hoped, and I was only able to pick up one engine from there, a MTH Rail King Virginia EL-C (forgot to take a picture after buying it but here's the photo from the auction). However, the next day I was at one of the places I regularly find trains, and found a KMT set. Considering how slow things have gone in the train department for me this year, not a bad weekend.

No pics yet, but hopefully very soon! Sent payment out yesterday, and the two items were shipped out yesterday too. Bought a wonderfully repainted and decaled original AF Wide Gauge 4010 tank car, done by Dave Corbett of Wisconsin, and 'upgraded' my original AF Wide Gauge 4011 unlighted caboose I bought from him to an original AF Wide Gauge 4021 lighted caboose. Both bought from Dave C. Very excited!!!

I once scoffed at these 0-8-0 switchers but when I saw this paint scheme in the big book I just had to have it. Great piece of WWII history.

MTH Premier Reading and Northern bay window caboose for my R&N consist. Very nice car and super hard to find. Been looking for one for awhile now!

will have a surprise for head end power shortly!

Just pulled the lever on a Lionmaster Legacy Challenger (with whistle steam) that the buy it now was only $30 more than the cheapest TMCC Challenger listings on ebay (when shipping was included). 30 day return policy and 99.8% seller rating so I went ahead and got it.

Santa is bringing Legacy Norfolk Southern this Christmas.  Can’t wait to see the look on my son’s face.

My neighbor Sam entered his 80th year this past summer. We were talking one afternoon and the subject of my O-Gauge train obsession came up. He lit up and told me about the Lionel engine he was given as a child. He brought the engine out of an old box. It had not been run in over 40 years. It had rust, missing parts, no tender, etc. I took it to my local shop and they did a fantastic restoration. I now own the engine and can pass along it's story.

Passing along the story with the train is the best part.  I see a next gen in your avatar, another passing along story in the waiting.

Picked up my 2nd MTH Conrail Dash-8 narrow nose diesel. These are quite rare nowadays as they haven't been made in 10 years. #4034 joins #4041 in my Conrail roster. A tip of the hat to Bob at Atlantic Rail for helping to make this happen.

My Christmas present. I know this is it because my wife told me "You'll have to order it so you get exactly what you want." So I'll have to download some of the 3D files from here on Christmas.

just these...

Picked this up at Michael's for just $3.59. They have a great Lemax selection.

@Quietman posted:

My Christmas present. I know this is it because my wife told me "You'll have to order it so you get exactly what you want." So I'll have to download some of the 3D files from here on Christmas.

Let us know how it works Please!

@mike g. posted:

Let us know how it works Please!

Sure will. Once I get the bugs worked out of me first (with this being my first 3D printer).

Hit the BIN button on another Ebay Auction Williams GP9

Jersey Central in light use condition Until The USPS got a hold of it.

It arrived with the outer box intact but upon inspection It had taken some HARD hits!

Bent frame and hand rails, broken fuel tank mounts, broken coupler, bent motor mount, popped window and one light scratch from the hardware flopping around.

Well I took pictures and started rebuilding it with extra parts I had. In an hours time I had everything straight windows glued back in motor mount fixed

longer screws for the fuel tank fixed that problem and a new coupler from the parts box.

I know most are thinking ...SEND IT BACK but I got a great deal and after sending a message and pictures to the seller he rufunded half the price.

I also bought a Matching Jersey Central caboose by Lionel NIB for $20.00 so for under $60.00 I think the set turned out well.

The locomotive runs great and has true blast sounds. 

Harley house ,I am glad you were able to get everything fixed and the seller worked with you! Now a days that means alot!

Well as for me I got this at my door, all in great shape and ran it and it seams everything works great! Len forum member is a man of his word! Thank you so very much sir!

I know its not my BNSF, but I have always liked the paint scheme!

Great looking Pony Mike. I've seen quite a bit of NS out west on Virtual Railfan so it should be right at home. Don't forget to check the battery. Put a BCR in and you will be good to go.

@harleyhouse posted:

Hit the BIN button on another Ebay Auction Williams GP9

Jersey Central in light use condition Until The USPS got a hold of it.

That's a shame. At least you were able to fix all of the issues. They are great engines. I have a few Williams and have them wired in series to slow them down to a crawl. Nice and smooth at low speeds now.

Bob

I decided to pull the trigger on trying out Super O.

Mark, the CNJ GP9 and caboose look great.  Well worth it even though you had to do repairs. 

Picked up a well cared for 1615 for $75... Lubed it up and tested it out on the carpet while the layout is being built.  Runs like a champ!

@RamblerDon keep the YouTube vids coming. Looking forward to seeing that track on your layout!

Matt,

Terrific 1615 switcher.  I need one in my fleet.  Thank you for posting the video.  My wife and I watched it several times, laughing when the whistle blew.

Bill

@Chris1985 posted:

@RamblerDon keep the YouTube vids coming. Looking forward to seeing that track on your layout!

Thank you! I will need way more track if I'm going to change the layout over. I haven't made that decision yet though.

@Matt Kramer posted:

Picked up a well cared for 1615 for $75... Lubed it up and tested it out on the carpet while the layout is being built.  Runs like a champ!

Sweet looking 1615, they are great runners, I have two but neither one has a whistle like yours. :-) 

With all of the posts about Christmas layouts lately thought I'd post this.  I picked up a Dept 56 animated gondola a few months ago at the Goodwill store.  I found it by chance as it was sitting on top of a cabinet in the furniture section, not in holiday section.  It had no power supply but I took a chance on it figuring I could do repairs if needed.  I found a suitable wallwart at home, plugged it in, and it works perfectly.  The coolest thing about this was the price.   I've seen these go for $250 and up on ebay.  I got this one for $20.  Now I need to figure out how to squeeze it onto my 4x8 layout.

This has been building up for AWHILE. I believe November 7th, ever since then I’ve been on a hot streak.

In order to free-up memory on my phone, I’m gonna post these out of chronological order. First, last night:

Had my eye on this for 2 years- last night it was 50% off so I snagged it. 2 Rail scale kit apparently but B-C Models, meant to be a SP Daylight.

Also, my first corrugated auto carrier, a Postwar triple dome Sunoco tank car, and a prewar 654 Sunoco. The auto carrier and Postwar tank car were $5 a piece. Unfortunately, the auto carrier is somewhat damaged but it’s servicable:

Also hit the parts and track bins. Bought the 2 frames and light blue Postwar body underneath my hand. In my hand is a piece of Ives clockwork track. The bin had loads of prewar track, will definitely be going back and hope that I can find enough Ives pieces to make a circle!

Now jumping back in time to last weekend. Saw my favorite vendor at another local antique mall for the first time in months. Picked up a Lionel  Penn Central dump car and Kusan Louisville & Nashville flat for 5 each and a K-line 42” wide radius switch as I’ve been having trouble with my realtrax left switches.

K-line Wise radius switch. Works fine with my AIU

Modified the Penn Central dump car, which was missing the part that would tip the load. Used a dremel so it can be used as a CoFC

Or a ToFCEe

Much more to come!

Please note that this post is extremely long because 1.) I haven’t posted any of my cool buys the last 3+ weeks and 2.) ive been dealing with health issues, brought on by a work-related injury that  keep me in bed for long amounts of time and require focus on other matters. Because of how the process has unfolded with other parties having to get involved  (you do the math).

The reason I’m sharing this all is in the hope that everyone realizes this long post isn’t  StevefromPA bragging about all the stuff he bought in a short amount of time. If I could’ve, I would’ve still shared separate posts soon after I bought them because I think theyre cool and I enjoy all of them.

That said, I hope that you enjoy the trains, accessories and the stories behind them that I’m going to share with you in this long post.  quick background:  focus has shifted to freight. roadnames- Pennsy, CSX and it’s predeccessors, the Lehigh Valley and generally East Coast, but especially northeastern, railroads. Also, I’m really getting into intermodal and unit trains.

Starting with my biggest get-Monday before last. I was at a local train store and there were 2 LV snowbird Alco C628s. Labelled simply “Weaver”. I asked to see them, hoping one might have TMCC(the store doesn’t label things properly). I turned one over and saw a Proto 2 sticker on the bottom! I asked if that changed the price, the clerk said no, and I have finally acquired a command control Lehigh Valley engine!!

It’s an early proto 2. 5 volt board. Recommended o-42 curves but works on o-36 as well!

Next-Purchases I made today at what is now officially tied for my favorite hobby store. 1 hr drive but totally worth it. All o gauge was 25% off.

CSX quad hopper. CSX was on my list of things to get, unfortunately, the size may be a bit too small. Hhoping it looks good with my CSX consist

BNSF Husky Stack with working ETD: $23(price posted to show what a deal this was!

It might be older but Just last week I waited at a RR crossing as these flat cars passed by.  

All my previous unit trains were single car purchases- this is my first set purchase. Thus  no hassle of having to order connectors and/or long hex screws. This guy also comes with an extra plain truck, extra screw(or2), and  connectors

Hitting the rewind button to November 7th to the 14th.

This C&O Gondola caught my eye in the consignment case(I added the freight later). Didn’t know the. Mfg but The details looked great -as did the price l Thus, I bought my FIRST modern Atlas train. Will definitely be keeping my eye out for Atlas in the future!

Pennsy trailer on TTX flat

from the same store as PRR ToFCEE and the LV Alco.K-Line by Lionel C&O flat with freight car kit, which was the big draw and included - 4 chocks, 2 bulkheads, springs for chains, and stakes. I’ve been using it as an auto carrier type or ToFCEe. NOTE: it usually doesn’t carry an oil tank truck

At my nearest local hobby shop, set break-up PRR flat car with bulkheads, stakes, and freight load:

From ebay-Yellow TTX Maxi Stack with evergreen containers.put into unit with N&W maxi stack. Ordered the necessary screw yesterday so I could connect the CSX

Also ebay-3 pictures of Comet/ Authenticast And Swedish African Engineer soldiers by Holger Erikson. 30mm height. The 3rd picture has  best quality figures and has Lionel figure in the background for size comparison

4 German Soldiers

The seated figures in the military vehicle are the new ones. Came with pegs on the bottom that I shaved off. Pretty cool poses

as states above, my favorite  3 soldiers. Lionel state trooper in the background

last Friday, again,at my nearest LHS: MTH RK Lehigh Valley Husky Stack from the owners personal collection. I’m from the Valley and live there, he has his entire life. Sold it to me for original retail price. Great guy

Along with the LV Husky Stack, I bought picked up this Bethlehem Steel boxcar- traditional size, plain black box that said EDI and Lebanon PA on the side. I believe it’s a Frank’s Roundhouse. The scale green LV Caboose is by Weaver., like it better than my Williams that weighs too much

I know I posted this phot in my last post, but wanted to point out the N&W auto carrier. $5 at an antique market, had to add a tab on the bottom row to keep the cars in

Steve, First of all I hope you recover from your injuries very quickly.  Second, those are all great items you purchased over a period of time!!!

@Matt Kramer posted:

Picked up a well cared for 1615 for $75... Lubed it up and tested it out on the carpet while the layout is being built.  Runs like a champ!

Wish mine was in that shape, lol! I bought mine a couple years ago when there was a brief price inflation on them, didn't over pay but still. Mechanically she can't be beat, I've had her haul 20 postwar hoppers backwards on a grade, the engine itself has some paint nicks but no dents or broken markers, however the tender has a little warp on the bottom of the shell, but its still one of my most reliable engines.

Got me a C&O passenger set off of eBay. Lionel 6-19087 C&O 4 Car Heavyweight Passenger set

Just picked up my Lionel items yesterday; they are all designed and only available by METCA.

I picked up an empty Auto Loader from my buddy and loaded it with K-Line Jeeps that I picked up in the Purple hall years ago. I just unpacked them this morning.

Indeed I did.  Check out this 2 car Baby Madison passenger set.   I will use these when running some excursion trains. 

Just received this from a forum member.

Lionel New Haven RS-11 with Command, railsounds, etc. It's from a NH freight set break-up. I have the same engine in D&H so the two will work well together on my layout.

I have wanted a coupler on the rear of my truck for awhile, just for fun.

Did a search and I found this coupler on Etsy. It is made out of solid aluminum and weighs 5lbs. Cost $49. It came unpainted, I painted it flat black with a rattle can.

Looks good, I think.

Christmas, at least from a hobby perspective, came early this year.  I bought a Forum member's train collection.  It's fun to open boxes even if they aren't wrapped !

Best deal happened 3 weeks ago. Found it on craigslist. When I made a post on this initially, I hadn't gone through all of the boxes yet. Here's the final tally.

2 UCS tracks, 4 RCS tracks, all with controllers. 16 O22 switches with their controllers (still have the insulating pins). All of them work. Many of the controllers need rewiring as the insulation is brittle, but one of the boxes had about 60 ft of flat 3 wire cable. Also at least 30 ft of 16 gauge speaker wire and other misc wires.

Haven't counted all of them, but there are over 20 SPST switches.
There's a operating crossing gate, a non operating gate, an American Flyer O gauge 90 degree crossover, and two O27 switches with controllers plus enough O27 track for, I'd guess, a 4x6 ft layout with a siding.

There were 4 track power clips and 4 153C accessory contact switches. There was an controller for a 497 coal loader too. Which is good because mine is getting flaky.

Several cans of ballast in individual colors, each about 12 oz in size. There's white, light gray, dark gray and black. Also about 4 cups in volume of Lionel coal, including 2 original bags of coal. Some extra barrels for a barrel car, and some extra logs for a log car. There's some misc RR crossing and stop signs.
A 1033 transformer, needs a new cord. A V transformer, needs new cord. Also two No 167 whistle / direction controllers, probably used with the V.

And last, about 200 ft of used Gargraves track with wood ties, never been ballasted or glued. A number of O31 to Gargraves adapter pins are in a bag, and there are several short pieces of O31 track that have some of the adapter pins in them on one end. I'm guessing these were used as adapter tracks to go from the Gargraves to the O 22 switches.

Lots of little stuff I haven't inventoried yet, various screws, hardware and other misc items

Price for all of this?

$150

I think I did pretty good.

Trestleking,

FUN! I hope you find a surprise treasure in the bottom of one of those boxes, like, maybe, a Blue Comet or a 773!

I would like to share in your box opening fun - please post pics as you do so

I agree Quietman. I too think that you did pretty good!

Have fun!

@Craignor posted:

I have wanted a coupler on the rear of my truck for awhile, just for fun.

Did a search and I found this coupler on Etsy. It is made out of solid aluminum and weighs 5lbs. Cost $49. It came unpainted, I painted it flat black with a rattle can.

Looks good, I think.

That's pretty cool.  I like small sporty cars a lot more than SUVs or pickups, but I'm thinking about buying one just so I can put that on the back.

Got an MTH Z1k for $45 including shipping as soon as it popped up as Buy It Now. This is my first "modern tranformer". The brick with this thing is a beast,, I'm loving it so far. It cycles my 681s sticky e-unit with no problem at all and the whistle sounds better than my 1033 with diodes installed.

I also purchased a PE loco from a forum member.  I have a Williams GG1 coming today too,  will post pics when it comes.

@Lionelski posted:

Trestleking,

FUN! I hope you find a surprise treasure in the bottom of one of those boxes, like, maybe, a Blue Comet or a 773!

I would like to share in your box opening fun - please post pics as you do so

Lionelski, not many surprises, mostly MTH stuff - which I like.   One mystery box which held an older Lionel GP7 and lighted caboose.  Darn thing runs pretty smooth.  No horn on these ?

A pair of UP E9's from the custom Mr. Muffins run:

@vash44 posted:

A pair of UP E9's from the custom Mr. Muffins run:

Wow! Those are beautiful. I really like the roof detail, ditch lights, & paint job! Are both units on each powered? If so thats a lot of motive power...

@vash44 posted:

A pair of UP E9's from the custom Mr. Muffins run:

@yash44

Those are first class models!!!!!!!

@Randy Harrison posted:

@yash44

Those are first class models!!!!!!!

Thank you! The Lionel/Mr Muffins team did a wonderful job on these models!

I got some fun MPC operating cars and a rare car also lately.

I had a friend that wanted to trade locomotives, so we were both happy. I traded a 1999 Shay, for a 2000 model Southern Mountain locomotive. Also my CSX 1st Responders Diesel arrived. Everything works. The reason for the trade is I just had no room for a logging train, and I love the green Southern steamer. I’ll have it upgraded to the newer sounds and Gunrunner Johns chuff stuff, super fan driven smoke system, ERR sounds, etc. I also got my new Fake NewsStand, pictures will follow. Happy Railroading Everyone

fo

Just picked this up for $250, my first set of 18" cars.....

I bought a lionel MI jack on ebay but I have to order a replacement part to fix it. But I think it was worth it.

@Darrell posted:

Just picked this up for $250, my first set of 18" cars.....

Great looking set. love those Sharks

I always wanted a set of sharks, and what could be better than Daylight Sharks?

Her Majesty, the 773:

I've wanted one of these for so long that now that I have one, I think I could be happy never buying another locomotive.

Of course, we  know that won't happen because that is not the nature of the beast. LOL, Arnold

I have three different Milwaukee Road milk cars now😊 A red and orange one, a blue one, and this one. I can die happy now. Off the bay. It’s too bad the USPS saw fit to damage yet another package containing a train of mine. The car seems perfectly intact. The window box suffered a thrashing. At least it did it’s job.

A new iMac so can get back on the forum and communicate with my doctors.

Not sure if I picked this up before or after the old Mac died.

I bought this extra M2 Bradley to paint in desert sand.  But before I do that since the turret  is plastic  will see if can cut the TOW assembly off and trim it to repossession in the transport possession.

And last purchase reminding me of home land ago.

Back in the day in my home state we could legally drink 3.2 beer at 18.  My high school buddy and I stopped at the ZANZIBAR on Market Street to drink our first legal beer, a Schlitz June 1964.