SF 2-10-4:
Deck plate added. Some brass tread, wire and tubing.
Just noticed that the smoke stack is hinged.
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"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.
Post your non-O scale stuff here!
SF 2-10-4:
A little test run on the upper yard and I was getting a short. Noticed sparks coming from the tender wheels. Noticed that one side of the truck had two loose screws plus the side frame is slightly warped on one end (allowing the insulated wheel to contact it). Was going to try to straighten the side frame but, figuring that brass casting may be brittle if force was applied to it, so I just rotated the wheel sets 180 so the insulated side is along the other side frame.
Drilled sound holes in the tender bottom frame and drilled out the tender backup light.
All seems to be running well. Presently, left the open frame motor in the boiler as the engine is running quietly.
Good to have a stash of metric screws! Needed some to put the coupler on the tender.
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Is this what they mean by clean coal!
My new coal loads don't have all the dust on them like the old one's have!
At the last train show, someone was selling everything in a box for 2 bucks a bag.
Lots of car loads so I bought a bunch.
These resin logs make this car really heavy, now!
Using my building platform to glue up a bunch of culverts for 'gons'. Some thick CA and alignment of all the parts makes the job go pretty quickly.
First layer:
2nd layer of culverts: just the left 2 get wood spacers as the right two will be glued to them.
Still need cables and strapping and wood side supports.
A little multi tasking and start some 50 footers.
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Great find and again some great work being done there! I love the idea and task of making things like that! I am working on a special project for a forum member now. But he has no idea, it's my way of saying thank you!
Mike,
Yep, a lot of car loads can be made 'cost effectively'.
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New revenue generated!
Some matte lacquer sprayed on to the loads to hide the CA.
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Seemed like a good time just to 'run trains' 
video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
Right before the big game!, I get to go shovel snow! 
Another hour, and I'll turn the game on. Should be a good one. Not 'rooting' for either team. It's been a pretty mild winter here in Cincinnati, Ohio. I think we've have a couple snow falls in the 3-4" category. A lot of the country has been getting 'hammered'. It was pretty cold here, yesterday, 20's, but it's suppose to be 50-60's the next few days.
Here's a video of Bob Lawson's layout. He lives about 10 miles from me. His scratch built buildings have an incredible amount of detail (and there are a lot of them).
Turntable backup:
I purchased this turntable as a backup to my 35 year old geiger turntables, which have been out of production for some time.
Northern Pacific A-5 4-8-4 northern crossing Chumstick canyon trestles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
D&RGW L-131 2-8-8-2 east of Seattle, Washington:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
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Engines were stopping at one location.
Found out they were shorting out.
The transition from spline roadbed to flat plywood now had a good one scale foot difference in height.
Had to stick a riser under the plywood to raise it to the spline roadbed.
Funny how things can move after only 38 years :[]
I find the thick foam packing sheets does wonders on saving the knees when kneeling on yard tracks.
A new 'chopper' just arrived.
Also, picked up some spike holding pliers.
They work a lot better than a pair of needle nose pliers.
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Looks like you might of had a small earth quake!
Video:
Great Northern railway in the cascades mountains.
Another railroader brought over his micro camera and we mounted it on a car and pushed it along my layout.
Bad news; it sure shows all your discrepancies:
The good news: at least my new trees look nice! Laying down individual wooden ties definitely give a random tie appearance.
Don't need to watch after the camera goes into the tunnel for the last 30 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
Nice little video, thanks for sharing!
If you didn't think ahead 30 years, you will, eventually, need one of these!
Topside creeper.
Purchased it from micromark. I thought it was made for modeling purposes but the manufacturer (traxion engineered products) shows it for access to your vehicle motor, etc.
The hardest part was getting the 77 lb box from outside down to the basement.
It went together quickly: probably an hour.
I can now access that track that is 5' high and 3'-4' back along the wall
The front casters has locking tabs.
The upper step section has 3 adjustment locations for tilting the upper section.
The height is also adjustable.
For storage, I had to angle, rotate the base to get through the laundry room 32" wide door.
Some release pins allow the base legs to fold up into a tidy, vertical position.
The legs tend to fall forward so I'll put a bungee cord around them.
Very well made and sturdy.
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Full length feature movie (14 minutes).
Cab ride on the GNRW from Seattle, Washington to St Paul, Minn.
stuff:
1. ordered a BLI 3 track signal bridge. Idiot: I burned out one of the green LED's.
Nothing intricate: just have the green LED's lighted.
2. Watching a very old VHS. Cool cold winter scene with a GN O-8 2-8-2 mike.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
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Some new heavy weight passenger cars arrived.
These are 3 pullman cars from Walthers. There was a good sale at $34 each so I bought them (3 different types of sections). Along with the other cars, they will be painted 'pullman' green. The cars even come with extra decals for specific lettering: nice touch.
That makes a respectable 11 car train. Also, bought some walther's heavy weight diaphragms .
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I would love to be able to have a layout like that but in large scale and set in the late 80's era of the BN. The two GP10's on the short line here when I was a teenager were ex GN units that the BN rebuilt into GP10's. I have one of the number glasses and the huge Prime digital flasher beacon off one of the units. Some of the GN paint was still visable when we sanded the unit down to repaint into the shortline's colors from BN Cascade green/black. Mike
GN H-5 pacific in 2010 (pulled onto a turntable) video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbBpDehe36E
GN P-2 mountain in 2010 (static display) video:
New arrival to the GNRW:
Pennsylvania J-1 2-10-4 texan by Westside.
Being in Ohio, I need a few engines for my local fellow railroaders (that's my story and I'm sticking with it!). Besides, it was only $213. In 1977 they listed for $230 so, after 40 years and inflation, I figured it was a good buy
This is another engine that's never been run or, maybe, just test run a few feet. I think the pictures of it scared off a lot of bidders due to foam damage. I've never seen foam this decomposed.
BEFORE:
A little lacquer thinner in a ultra sonic cleaner (although it could also be done by hand). A brass brush was used on the hard spots. The foam doesn't attack the brass as it is smooth with no deterioration so no marks will show when it is painted. The brass only shows a patina.
AFTER:
A deck plate will be added.
One step was broken while I disassembled it. I like the new solder/paste combo that I just obtained as a little paste on the two surfaces, clamp and resistance solder and it's done, quick and easy.
Never seen attachment like this for the cab. It slides on rails for removal, the hand rails hold it on. Now I can, easily, add cab detail.
Drivers show no wear. The coupler was never added.
For a few months, Pennsy borrowed some SF 2-10-4's for use in Ohio so here's a comparison. The SF texan is about 3' longer, both engine and tender.
New foam cut for the box.
Tender/engine headlights plus marker lights will be added along with a lighted cab.
The boiler will also get the dark green and the tender a red deck.
For those who claim that all early brass steam is noisy and the open frame motor and gear has to be replaced:
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New arrival on the GNRW.
N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 by United.
This is definitely one of my older engines as it was made in 1962. I picked it up for a very reasonable price of $296 (including mailing) as the drivers were binding.
Original box and how they packed them back then: no foam.
I figured I could fix the problem.
One of the back drivers was very loose on the axle. I used some dikes and knurled the end of the axle and then used an NWSL quartering jig to re-mount the driver onto the axle.
Tender trucks were, not only backward for the hot side but they were too far in on the tender. The mounting hole on each truck is offset so a 180 rotation plus swapping trucks to the other end of the tender fixed that.
Who ever painted the engine, did a nice job on the paint. They tried to add the decals over a dull surface so the decals are too shiny. I'll have to use some solvaset to seal them and apply a sealer over the engine.
The engine ran pretty quietly without the boiler but is noisy with the boiler. Will need to, next, diagnose that: but at least she now runs .
Back then, they really put large lead weights in the boiler as this engine weighs a 'ton'.
One of the reasons I bought the engine as I'd like to collect some the iconic engines of the past that, in my mind, were memorable steam engines. IE, N&W J and Y-6B, B&O EM-1, Pennsy S-2, Q-1, T-1, etc.
You don't see couplers like this very often! I think it is called a baker coupler.
The engine has very little run time on it.
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WOW that sure looks great, I am sure glad you know what your doing! LOL I would be lost.
Thanks, Mike,
Working on brass since the early 70's, one picks up a few tips! Nothing really hard, just keep taking things off until what's left that's binding, is the problem.
N&W Class A updates:
Back head detail:
I cut and soldered some brass sheeting to the boiler.
Used some Lenahan's back head detail kits that I've had for 20 (or more) years.
They had a 1052 and a 1053 (left to right) and the 1052 seemed to fit the back head best.
I used kwik JB weld to secure the back head to the brass stock and attach all the detail parts. Kwik JB weld sets up in 5 minutes and has metal particles so I'm hoping nothing comes loose if I strip the paint for repainting. The back head parts are cast pewter so no soldering can be done.
She's noisy but a good runner and back together for my next operating session in a few weeks.
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You never know what you'll find
Went to the local train show just to 'get out of the house' and socialize, not expecting to find much that would interest me.
My booty:
I use some homemade 'hand helds' for the two yards and logging area and found some manufacturer's professional look 'hand helds' for 20 bucks.
Found a nice old Athearn O gauge GN box car kit that will do well on the lionel track for 10 bucks.
And the 'best for last' find, a very nice Sunset N&W J 4-8-4 for only $250. Never had a coupler on the tender and only test run for the last 34 years when made in 1983, back when it sold for $450. Another 'iconic' steam engine that I wanted.
Basic back head detail. Will add a deck plate. Runs very quiet as it has a can motor.
Front coupler rotates.
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Been wanting to do this for a long time (no, not that!)
A rarity for these days. On the way home from the train show, I stopped and took pictures of the viaduct in Hamilton, Ohio.
My full size chevy truck for reference.
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Cool stuff:
Not a large train show but lots of vendors (60) packed on the floor, stage and halls plus 5 layouts open in the converted school house.
OK, here's the cool stuff:
powered lift bridge. track dead if bridge up, bridge won't move if train on bridge.
A friend had his new BLI big boy at one of the clubs. Cast boiler, lighted marker,number boards, lighted markers on tender, lighted cab, smoke not only from stack but also from the whistle (like Lionel's BB).
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Well look at you, from all the pictures it sure looks like you had a fun day and some great finds!
How can you 'go wrong' going to a train show
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N&W J 4-8-4:
Update:
Had to replace the black drive shaft tubing: broke after only 35 years!
Air piping got bent back and broke off when I tried to straighten it. The soldering paste and resistance soldering fixed that.
I put the scale size kadee coupler on the tender. Would like to do everything but, with 650 cars, that ain't happening :[]
Test run video:
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Three new arrivals:
PRR T-1 4-4-4-4 by alco.
Engine was made in 1977.
Lucky it arrived safely. The sender put it in the original foam but it completely disintegrated.
Not sure if it came with the can motor or was converted. The gear covers were off and the sender put the screws to hold the cover in a small plastic container, which opened, and there was no way I was finding those small screws in the pile of foam. I had spare screws in my 'screw' box plus they were philips so it was easier to install them.
Alco made the front set of drivers articulated, not scale, but I guess they did that to negotiate tighter curves. With minimum 48" on the layout, I doubt if it is noticeable.
Who ever painted the engine did a nice job. It has some green added to the black per PRR prototype. The tender is also green: I did not know that! Two working headlights were also added.
Need to put the oxide red on the tender deck.
As well as add a coat of satin finish.
Comparing the very dark green to a black engine.
New foam cut for the box.
Test run Video:
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PRR S-2 6-8-6, also by alco.
I think the engine came with a can motor as the motor mount looks factory made.
Ditto for the previous PRR T-1.
No coupler ever mounted and wheels look brand new.
With 8 wheel trucks and tender skirting, I can see why it wasn't run much as those trucks don't move a whole lot under that tender!
Came with elephant ears. No easy way to mount them other than glue so will tap/screw them to the running board.
Test run video: another quiet running engine.
Nice when you can have the entire roster of a railroad's certain class of engine!
Lionel made a lot more of these than Pennsy ever did!
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N&W auxiliary water car by NWSL.
Another brass that's never seen couplers or wheel wear.
New foam was needed.
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My local Div 7 train show:
One day event.
My booty:
A couple nice paper back books on NP northerns and UP 8444 (844)
Tunnel portal.
7 very old (50's-60's) car kits from Ambroid, silver streak and athearn.
Old MCR DC pack for powering accessories.
Some lionel 'lock ons'.
A bunch of Cal scale brass castings.
Old Athearn kits are all metal.
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One iconic and the other, well, just different!
Iconic:
NYC J-1B Hudson 4-6-4 by Sunset.
This one is so unused that the protective foam along the trucks was never removed. Has a can motor.
Test run video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
Just basic cab detail.
Didn't know these engines were so small. They are quite a bit shorter in height than a N&W Class A.
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Just Different!
Santa Fe 2-10-10-2 by westside.
Westside is the only one who has made this engine.
It reminds me of a baseball bat! I like the big 'Ol steam pipes along the top of the boiler and the cow catcher on the tender.
Open frame motor and no cab detail. At most, only test run.
Had to replace the rubber on the universals.
Test run video: this one makes some noise;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
Center driver is blind.
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Prepping for Saturday's operating session.
Had one spot on the layout that had some derailments. A rail joint was slightly out of alignment.
Three engines lost 'steam'.
UP big boy:
Never had one of the straight pins on one end of the universal missing, before.
A quick fix.
This one has lighted engine/tender lights plus lighted tender/engine classification lights plus cab light.
GN N-3 2-8-8-0:
After about 20 years, the black universal tubing on the front drivers went 'south'.
NP Z-8 4-6-6-4:
Nothing major but one of the valve linkages fell off one hex head bolt.
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Forget about that engine!
A nice Key AC-3 FP 2-8-8-2 came up for sale on ebay.
Thought I'd check brass trains on it and the gauge is way off. Surprised Key even sold them like that. I think I'll pass on that one! If one had some drill rod in that axle size, it could be redone. I've had wheels out a 'tad' but that looks more like narrow gauge! Surprised brass trains able to sell it at such a high price: I guess those people that are just collectors and don't really do anything with them but look at them, it's OK.
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New arrival.
B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 yellowstone from Westside.
They ran these in Conneaut, Ohio; east of Cleveland where I grew up.
Made in 1979, can motor and basic back head detail.
Shorts, sometimes, due to the brass brake rigging touching the insulated side of the driver tires.
This fall, I'll probably strip it and re-paint it and add working headlights on engine and tender and working marker lights.
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Just arrived.
Burlington O-5B 4-8-4 closed cab, oil tender. Burlington interfaced with the GN. President Hill owned stock in the Burlington and tried to merge it, NP and GN but the ICC put a kibosh on it. Burlington pulled the GN passenger trains from St Paul into Chicago.
Another engine that's been sitting in the box for the last 30 years.
Unusual functioning close cab plate: instead of the usual brass construction, this one is cloth.
No coupler mounted so, at most, it was test run.
Very nice cab detail:
Drop front coupler:
Tons of detail: piping, running gear, etc
Sliding vent hatches.
Even has the lanyards to the bell and whistle.
Can't beat the price and detail of an Oriental Limited and Samhongsa combo!
Test run video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
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