Fm trainmasters

Yes. In fact, I've run Train Masters on curves as tight as O-31 so you'll be fine with O-42. That said, the TM is a big unit so the wider the curve, the better it will look.

 

Good luck and welcome back to the wonderful world of railroading.

 

Bob

 

 

Thanks for the help. My local hobby shop was saying no. Am pretty excited about this lay out.i still have 4 locomotives and quite a few cars that have not seen daylight since the early 60s

One other thing, I am going to run these like they were made to run (conventional). That said, the new stuff is very detailed. Can you buy the new Lionel, atlas, and mth in conventional form. I don,t way to use legacy or any other command control, but I do like the detail and maybe the sound.

I have a maroon roof Lackawanna, virginian(both fm trainmasters from th mid 50s. I also have a Texas special alco set and rio grande as set. Really am wanting to ad a few more fms and have always thought the war bonnet Sante fes were just too cool.

It's always good to meet another Train Master afficianado. If you're interested in acquiring additional Train Masters, I'd like to suggest MTH's new Premier model. The level of detailing is superb and includes prototypically correct features specific to the individual roads being offered. The model's electronics package puts forth reasonably accurate Fairbanks-Morse prime mover sounds.

 

Here's a link which contains images of a few different versions of MTH's new unit:

 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150221328044159.277125.85108529158&type=3

 

They're very well done models. I'm currently awaiting delivery of the CNJ (Jersey Central Lines) Train Master.

 

Regards,

 

Bob

 

    

thank you very much. I was going through my shop cleaning and reorganizing when I found them and pulled them out. well I guess I've got the train bug now and am spending hours on my I pad researching and getting ready for the lay out. You have been very helpful. My Lionel and o gauge knowledge lived in the 60s and just woke up in 2012!

Rick, in my own experience before I became more knowledgeable, I found I often received false information from hobby shops because they were more interested in selling me something new as I only do postwar. Ask here first. Welcome aboard.

Rob

How hard are the postwar fms to come by, and what are reasonable prices for nice pieces?

And they came with Lionel O31 tubular track which confirms the misinformation from your LHS.  But most of us would agree that they look much better running on wider diameter curves and O42 is definitely OK.

 

Bill  

Actually I got them with super o track, or at least that's what I have

I like Train Masters myself.  Was lucky to pick up a K-Line one at auction that will eventually get two railed and repainted into CNJ.  Yet another project to procrastinate on ....   Having said that, most three rail Train Masters will run fine on 031 even if they look a little big for that.  Not sure about the new MTH version though.  Looks like it might compare to the K-Line in terms of detail.

Rick, if you need more postwar diesels, I have surplus 44tonners and Sw's available...   I also have a set of ABA santa fe f3's.    Not sure of the exact details, but can dig them out tomm am.

thx and welcome back!

 

PS: legacy is quite nice too....

Rick946: You said that you received the FM with Super O Track; just a caution, if you are going to use the track and the FM with the Super O switch tracks. As is pointed out in the Super O switch track instructions, like with the Norfolk & Western Streamline locomotive, a section of straight track, (about 3" long) should be use on either side of the straight/thru side of the switch. This is due to the overhang swing of the loco's body, and the fact that they will  "hit" the switch box motor cover as they approach from a piece of curve track adjacent to the straight side of the switch. 

 

At an earlier time, when first getting back into the O Gauge train hobby, I had Super O and was running some FM's and kept hearing a "Knock" as the diesel rounded the curve and entered the switch. I finally tracked (?) it down to the corner of the diesel cab  bumping into the switch motor housing as it passed. I also experienced this with Elliot Well's, and later Williams  Metro Liners - the lead cab end of the unit.  So just a word of caution so as not to damage by chipping or cracking the shell.  Hope this helps - have fun with your trains.   Dennis M.

Well as others have said the 1950/60s TMs were designed for 031 track. However depending on the design, a 2000+ model might require wider curves.

The only one that will have issues would be the MTH 2-3  model with scale

wheels and fixed pilots.  Any traditional FM Train Master will have no

difficulty with 031 and larger.  I mean that's the way they were marketed

and operated for years under the Lionel banner.

Rick, may I suggest the K-line conventional version. It's got much better detail than most FM's and is inexpensive on E-bay. Don

Rick, there is a brand new, conventional with smoke K-line at a "buy it now" price of $175. Don

Lots of good information thanks. Scale rail, my e mail address is stringsliger1dot com. Email me about that Ana Sante fe.

Whoops, stringslinger1@me dot com

My next purchase with be a pair of the new  Premier Reading Trainmasters that Mikey just released but first have to replenish my train fund. 

In the present TRAINLINE, from the SP history soc., there are some pics of the FM's in black willow on commute trains in the Bay Area!

Sure - they came in sets with 031 curved track.  On one of my previous layouts I ran my 2321 on 027 curves!  They won't negotiate the curved side of the 027 switches, though, as they strike the motor housing.  But the curve itself is no problem due to Lionel's clever arrangement of the wheels.

Dominic, the Bay Area had the largest fleet including the ex demo models. I saw them all the time and of course never thought to take any pictures. They would turn them on a old turntable in the Bay Shore yard. Don

How long ago was it that you saw them, I never really knew when they retired fm,s. just that the maintenance was the problem

The last Trainmaster was retired around 1973. I don't know if any escaped the torch.

One Train Master has survived, up in Quebec at the Canadian Railway Museum. 

 

Rick, there are great FM's out there by Williams. If you are going conventional these are a great way to go for little money. They are almost identical to postwar Lionel in looks and detail. Try to get newer ones since they have flywheel motors. The older ones run great but stop quickly!!

I believe CP and N&W retired their remaining Train Masters in 1976. In fact, the N&W 173 was MU'd with Bicentennial SD45 1776 on an NRHS excursion on the Fourth of July that year.

 

Speaking of Train Master powered excursions, who'd like to turn back the clock to 1973 and ride in that open car listening to these two brutes working hard?

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=1048209

 

Bob

 

  

Okay, I have my shopping list (user any rail program). I am going to model a mining town in Oklahoma that my family had a lot of history with. Have a question, will trains like my fms go through the 22 31 Lionel switches. I think they will because they will handle the 31 curves. The fms should be the biggest stuff I use.

I have this book and I find it enjoyable and informative:

https://secure.witherspublishi...tent/fm-train-master

Here's more TrainMaster info. on Lionel TM diesel locomotives:

http://sap049.channeladvisor.com/t-FM_Diesels.aspx

RJL

Yes I have read this. The trainmasters are full of history and interesting facts. The town I am modeling is picher okla. thankfully frisco rr used trainmasters. The histories on pitcher mention a "baby trainmaster", ever hear of it?

Baby Trainmasters: Don

 

RJL, just ordered the book. Looks like a good one. Thanks Don

Found the number h 16 44

Whoops 16-66

Those, are great photos. Don, of the "Baby" FM Tain Master diesels.

Here is a little more info. on the "Babies:"

http://www.american-rails.com/...by-train-master.html

 

Don,

You're welcome and you're going to enjoy the book with it's info., some B&W and color photos.

Also, some of those beautiful Lionel PW FM Train Master H24-66 sweeties..., well, their color paint schemes are off, as the book bears out, but they're still beautiful!!!!!!

Ralph-RJL 

Surprised SP did not order the babies.

 

SP could not use the SDP45's on the Bay Area commute because they could not accelerate fast enough:  the FM's could even at 1200 less HP.  SP had to place something electrical in the SDP's for that to happen.  Then the SP could vacate the FM's. 

CNJ's Train Masters were replaced by the GP40P units at the very end of the 60's. These units were unique to CNJ with the exception of three Dash 2 variants delivered to SP. The GP40Ps didn't accelerate quite as quickly as the TMs but they still had plenty of "get up and go."

 

Bob