Great Northern railway

Dayton, Ohio train show.

Miles: 40

New facilities; new in that most fairgrounds were built in the late 1800's.

2 buildings.

I've got the John Allen's 'time saver' on my logging railroad.

HO gauge.

Brand new books; a buck and 5 bucks.

S scale.

G scale.

Rocky owns Dixie station (3 rail) in Mason, Ohio.

He builds very nice large buildings.

John and Tracy owns Hamilton hobbies.

2nd building mostly layouts.

N gauge.

Legos.

These people brought about 5 small layouts.

HO gauge with upper level 'dual gauge'.

HO gauge.

Arnold used to own a hobby shop in Middletown, Ohio.

Train rides outside.

My 'major' purchase; 3 paper backs for a buck each!

Wow that is a amazing show! I bet you had a blast! Thanks for sharing.

Looks like a great time at that show, Sam!  Thank you for posting!

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

Videos:

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 freight and B&O E A-B passenger train:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSG_r6lI3xI

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 challenger at Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bG6lEOqYF0

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo2YFIYTpq8

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aY4V1l4rm4

B&O E A-B passenger train:

Departing Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rpAUkLLTtc

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TZNlyoj5PE

Nick and Bob.

A good 'smoker'!

Joe dispatching.

Name and red highlight follows each train indicating whether EAST or WEST.

Skykomish.

Nick and Bob.

My daughter and I flew in Bob's plane 2 summers 'ago'.

Hillyard.

Those 45 year old wooden ties haven't 'rotted' yet!

One of 5 functional water tanks.

Mark operating the B&O E A-B passenger train.

Near 2 tracks: one connects the mainline to the logging railroad and the other leads to a 'double switch back' going to the valley.

New delivery.

SP GS-4 4-8-4 in daylight colors.

Imported by BLI this year.

They had this engine on the 'refurbished' list at 40% off plus I got another 10% off since I belong to the 'conductors club' so I couldn't resist acquiring it!

Cast metal boiler and tender so very heavy.

Test run in the yard video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLL62I4Ib8M

The usual long, narrow box where the DCC wires from tender to engine are already connected.

I'm guessing they started this due to some people damaging the wire connector when the engine and tender were 'boxed' separately.

Interesting note.

I have circuit breakers on the layout so I don't worry about damaging decoders.

Spare parts.

A wrench to remove the side rods.

Surprised there is an extra set of couplers since the engine already has couplers on, both, the 'front and back'.

The usual 'clam shell'.

Now has a base to keep the engine and tender from 'moving' in transit.

I first tested the engine with address 3 to insure all 'works'.

I then placed it on the programming track.

Did a 'read' and selected the appropriate decoder and then selected 'open comprehensive programmer'.

Typed in the desired data and saved it.

Selected 'basic' and updated the address and wrote it to the decoder.

Selected the new engine and selected 'throttle' to test the engine.

All worked well under 'throttle' screen.

Fireman's side.

Marker lights and number boards light.

Nice close fit between the engine and tender.

Light cab with crew.

Tender headlight and marker lights.

Top views.

Engineer's side.

Nice; they put the 'stars' on the driver axils.

This is my Westside model that was imported in 1980.

I installed a TCS 1517 decoder along with headlight (engine/tender), marker lights (engine/tender), running board lights, cab light and fire box glow.

BLI is the near engine.  Just about identical.

The Westside model with the LED's.

I had one Bachmann NH DL-109 and just acquired another one.

I ordered 2 Loksound decoders with the DL-109 diesel sounds.

One will go in one of the NH DL-109 engines (the other engine has a 'non-sound' decoder).

The other loksound decoder will go into the Southern DL-109 along with a 'non'sound' decoder in the 2nd unit.

Very nice purchase!!

NMRA MCR DIV 7 meeting and 2 layout visits.

Videos:

Donald's PRR railroad 'walk around':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zed8PiGJ7B4

Paul's SP layout 'walk around'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftbQeq6ajUg

Meeting.

Awards.

Raffle table.

Contest table.

Company store.

Main presentation on Decoderpro.

Don and son's PRR layout.

An 'island' type layout.

These buildings are 'hand painted'.

One of the control panels and underneath...

One CAT-5 cable.

Paul's SP layout.

3 levels.

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

Videos:

Many of the freight cars are vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid kits.

Newly acquired SP GS-4 daylight 4-8-4 'road tested'.

Has a 'mars' light plus 'steam whistle' or 'air horn'.

Departing Seattle:

21 car train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCUek20H6d8

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-2pVc6X8UY

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEUWE1VKf7A

Entering Seattle's freight yard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59_ITGPx3aE

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 challenger and SP GS-4 daylight 4-8-4:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82Y2JHNLmCQ

PRR S-2 6-8-6 turbine freight.

26 freight cars.

Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVC8-LKhZ10

At Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOtktgQPBxM

Departing Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baFVhu8YbaQ

B&O E A-B 13 car passenger train:

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-2YSP7JP4U

By passing Seattle's freight yard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrVVUAL4jww

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 challenger 40 car freight:

Departing Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgLmjza-yUg

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YNqSEqzXco

Joe dispatching.

Mark operating the B&O E A-B passenger train at Skykomish.

Jerry 'road testing' the new SP GS-4 4-8-4 daylight at Chumstick canyon trestle.

Skykomish.

Bob operating the PRR S-2 6-8-6 turbine at Havre.

Waverly.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Mark's B&O at Waverly.

Havre.

Far end of basement between St. Paul (left) and mainlines (right) plus logging railroad.

Waverly.

Glacier.

PRR S-2 6-8-6 turbine at Willmar.

Joe and Bob.

Nick operating the UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 40 freight car train at Hillyard.

Havre.

Marias pass.

Willmar.

Main 'throat' into Seattle.

Jerry 'switching' cars.

Another fun evening!

PM a railroader's engine.

First time 'working' on a Bachmann steam engine.

A 4-8-2 engine.

The engine would run and then, periodically, loose power.

Found out that the engine drivers do not provide any electrical contact for the decoder.

The tender trucks are the only means of providing power to the decoder.

The two sets of brass contacts were not, consistently, conduction electricity as the sound would stop when moving the tender from one side of the track to the other side.

Removed one wheel set and the brass contact came off.  Friction makes contact to the center bolster as well as to the axles.

Cleaned the center and ends of the contact plus bent the contacts 'down ward' to get more pressure on the center bolster and axles which remedied the problem.

The back set of wheels on the front truck was not rotating.

Had to file some of the plastic off the 'arm' that connected the truck to the frame.

GNRW OPS.

Videos:

SP GS-4 daylight 4-8-4 18 passenger car train:

Has several 'articulated' cars plus a 3-unit articulated diner cars.

Departing Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_hs1BEPGVM

Marias Pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdzmYrCmBLM

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqeh2XpqZ7g

Glacier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aviZ-CQlXlE

GN RDC-3 #2350.

GNRW only had one of these.

Departing Whitefish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch_tog3KerQ

C&O M-1 2-D-2 + 2-D-2 steam turbine freight:

Many of the cars are vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid kits.

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43F-Vzke6Ss

Departing Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r4aRF8_oLc

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gVYUGicu6A

Glacier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H2YQgmiYIA

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcgfqebkAcs

Usual pizza first and then 'run trains'.

SP GS-4 daylight 4-8-4 18 passenger car at Marias pass.

GNRW RDC-3 at Tye.

C&O M-1 2-D-2 + 2-D-2 steam turbine freight at Chumstick canyon trestle.

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

videos:

RF&P grey boiler 4-8-4 14 car passenger train:

Unusual tender design.

The only decals I've ever used that had one decal overlay another decal for the 'blue' color.

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmiKjCGpw8s

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkKnEZF1c4A

New Haven EP-5 electrics 37 car freight:

The pantographs are 'motorized' and can be raised/lowered remotely.

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F39pwjkgb4

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBkzHJYjY9o

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0j01vUMjfw

B&O E A-B 13 car passenger train:

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGUMyhOtB5w

Joe dispatching.

Nick operating the B&O E A-B 13 car passenger train at Havre.

Mark operating the NH EP-5 electrics 37 car freight at Skykomish.

Jerry operating the RF&P grey boiler 4-8-4 14 car passenger train.

Glacier with passenger yard on the lower level.

Chumstick canyon.

RF&P grey boiler 4-8-4 passenger train at Hillyard.

Seattle yard viewed from 'access hatch'.

Several years ago, the far left track was extended into the next room for the passenger yard.

B&O E A-B passenger train on the track that bypasses the Seattle freight yard.

NH EP-5 electrics entering Seattle's freight yard.

Some of the layouts  in Novi, Michigan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWQE0BIkjTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfuRsK9GFm0

Ross club weekly Tuesday night.

videos:

NYC 4-6-4 Dreyfuss Hudson 12 car passenger train:

A good 'smoker'.

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOjWereVBKk

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfnG9cazO_Y

Bypassing Seattle's freight yard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1nvRd4y9Rw

Rock Island E-6 A-A 36 car freight:

Many of the cars are metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Amroid car kits.

Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd-IC-YATQI

Departing Havre:

The 'line man' came out and fixed the phone line!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UEbBKfdlrs

NYC 4-6-4 Dreyfuss Hudson and Rock Island E-6 A-A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx4fNhto5ns

B&O E A-B 13 car passenger train:

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QHCT9xENOg

Glacier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh_vhdq0agU

Nick operating the Rock Island E-6 A-A 36 car freight train at Hillyard.

View from the Tye 'access' hatch.

Mark operating the NYC 4-6-4 Dreyfuss Hudson 12 car passenger train at Tye

Jerry operating the B&O E A-B 13 car passenger train at Waverly.

Basin tunnel.

MMM: that tree on the track at Marias pass explains why one of the passenger cars derailed!

St. Paul's freight yard and icing facility.

Mark at Tumwater canyon trestle.

Seattle.

NYC Dreyfuss Hudson entering the passenger yard.

B&O E A-B entering the passenger yard.

Rock Island at Seattle.

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

Videos:

Bob's NYC E-7 with a 12 car passenger train:

Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPY0Gc3B9U0

Glacier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0MgnweZ0JQ

SP GS-4 daylight 4-8-4 with an 18 car passenger train:

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-UpM4JMxbs

Marias Pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwLmiLB3VQI

Departing Havre:

(B&O E A-B passenger train seen at Waverly)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itjyQfFMqwE

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 and SP GS-4 daylight 4-8-4:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fot7VJzWa-s

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 with a 36 freight cars:

Departing Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcIcw-oGDeY

Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hpr0WFQeB4

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpkrvQrCLyo

Nick operating the UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 36 car freight departing Seattle.

Tye.

Nick, Bob and Jerry.

Skykomish.

Not scale but functional!

There used to be a removable 'mountain side' hatch at this location.

When the new extension to the passenger yard was installed, the hatch cover was removed and this viaduct was added to make a more pleasant access for any 'de-railments', etc.

Mark operating the B&O E A-B 14 car passenger train at Tye that is above the Seattle's freight yard.

Nick and Bob at the far end of the basement.

Waverly.

Marias pass.

Havre.

SP GS-4 4-8-4 and UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4.

Passenger yard.

Nick doing some 'switching' at Seattle.

Springfield, Ohio train show at the county fairgrounds.

Miles:60.

A 'one day' event.

Been attending this show since 1980.

Has 2 buildings and one large hall connecting the 2 buildings.

Not sure why one of the buildings had 'drapery' hanging from the ceiling!

Lots of vintage buildings.

Several tables of brass but nothing that I couldn't 'live without'!

G gauge.

Nice G gauge scratch built wooden building.

Lots of photos and pictures.

Looked like they were just 'produced'.

Very nice C&O passenger cars.

Very nice wood kits.

My Gilbert electric set was in a metal case.

G scale.

'Cost effective' books.

Railroad 'playing cards'.

Didn't check if this was vintage or 'repro'.

Lots of vintage toys.

Dual gauge HO.

No 'need' for this in my basement!

This dealer always has the same 'spot'.

'Hefty' prices.

Lots of 'cost effective' buildings.

3 rail.

G gauge.

N gauge cab forward.

'Pre war'.

Scale S gauge.

Modules for sale.

This HO gauge layout has been at this show ever since I started visiting in 1980.

'Safety' signs.

Unusual item.

Gilbert 60's modular sections.

Can't buy the 'plastic' for that price!

Nice N scale products.

Vintage Marx stuff.

Not bad at 40 bucks a box.

Very nicely weathered plastic buildings.

S gauge.

G gauge.

'Pre war'.

Original Gilbert box sets.

15 bucks a picture.

Vintage metal toys.

Thanks for sharing!!!

Bob

NMRA MCR DIV 7 monthly meeting.

Christmas party chow.

Monthly raffle.

Contest tables.

Company store.

Zoom team.

Awards.

New NMRA Div 7 Youtube video review.

Chuck's HO layout.

Walk around video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An8mFkJas5o

David's HO layout.

Walk around video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JANS2P2nkII

Nice show and layouts!!

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

The club will be setting up their modular layout at Liberty Center shopping mall, Ohio this Thursday and will be open for 2 weeks starting this Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM, daily, so no weekly meetings for the next 2 weeks.

Nick brought his D&H diesel and Jerry brought his C&O 2-8-2 to operate on the GNRW.

Videos:

Nick's D&H diesel with 13 freight cars:

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CSzcSXylXg

Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5k-RSlx49A

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dofoYMxSMNM

Jerry's C&O 2-8-2 20 freight car train:

Many of the cars are vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid wood kits.

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsQ7Q1AlQas

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUUSn9SQaoM

Jerry's C&O 2-8-2 and NP A-3 4-8-4:

Waverly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNViLbCd3T0

NP A-3 grey boiler 4-8-4 13 car passenger train:

Marias pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXbcA_i1XNA

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9xrSoQm7p4

Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otbQzoo_CJM

The 'crew' checking out Nick's D&H diesel.

Jerry's C&O 2-8-2.

NP at Skykomish.

Nick's D&H diesel train at Waverly.

Mark operating the NP A-3 grey boiler 4-8-4 13 car passenger train at Willmar.

Fuzzy picture but Bob 'dispatching'.

'Meet' at Waverly.

Basin tunnel.

Mark and Nick at far end of the basement.

Nick's D&H diesel at Hillyard.

St. Paul's engine facilities.

Any engine painted by me gets a TCS 1517 decoder with lights (engine/tender), marker lights (engine/tender if needed), running board lights, cab light and fire box glow.

Jerry operating his C&O 2-8-2 at Waverly.

Havre.

Hillyard.

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Havre.

Seattle.

Yes, I do put drivers in my vehicles!

'post operating' discussions.

Today is the 135th anniversary of John Frank Stevens and his Native American guide Coonsah hiking over what is now Marias Pass on the former GN transcontinental railway.  At elevation 5,213 feet this is the lowest point on the Continental Divide across the Rockies in Montana.

Learned this today from Dr. Joseph Lechner courtesy of the TCA TTML.

My only experience with Marias Pass was on Microsoft Train Simulator and trying to get a BNSF freight train into a passing siding before an oncoming train arrived.  It did not go well for me.  If @Number 90 had been my supervisor, I would have received many demerits, a likely suspension, and other disciplinary action for my lack of applied skill on this incident.

Amtrak still has a station stop at this location just south of Glacier National Park. 

@GG1 4877 posted:

My only experience with Marias Pass was on Microsoft Train Simulator and trying to get a BNSF freight train into a passing siding before an oncoming train arrived.  It did not go well for me.  If @Number 90 had been my supervisor, I would have received many demerits, a likely suspension, and other disciplinary action for my lack of applied skill on this incident.

Don't lose sleep over it, Jonathan.  The 30 day deadline to assess discipline is long past. If your personal record was clear (or good) I would certainly have taken into account how much the other train was delayed, as well as your experience.  If there were no impediments on your record, and the delay was not great, we might have been able to clear it up with a letter of understanding.  Also, I believe that I have previously mentioned on this Forum, on some occasions, I got an employee to sign a demerit waiver in case the incident boiled over, but kept the waiver in the lower drawer of my desk and never sent it in to the Division Office if the Superintendent did not develop a burr under his saddle.  After enough time to be sure I was not going to get a "punch" form the Superintendent's Office, the waiver went through the shredder.

Things like this are self-teaching lessons for good employees, and usually never happen again.  So formal discipline isn't especially helpful, except for employees with poor work habits, who did their best work when they were carrying enough demerits that adding any would mandate dismissal.

But -- getting back to that layout:  WOW!!!  It's really great to see such a fine layout, and with all of that GN and NP equipment.

This is definitely an amazing layout and sure looks fun to operate on.

Thanks for the kind comments.

If I would have looked at my GNRHS calendar I would have 'noticed' the story about 'Marias pass'!

Having a dispatcher's panel that keeps track of trains and able to remotely throw mainline turnouts plus signals along the mainline for the engineers makes it enjoyable (and easy).  The layout is 45 years old which, to my knowledge, is, probably, one of the oldest private layouts in the country.

Sam, yes it must be one of the oldest!  It is one of the best as well!  The dispatchers panel was a great addition for a fun layout for a crew to run trains!

Ross club modular layout setup at Liberty center mall, Ohio.

Miles: 5 miles.

It opened on Friday (12-13-2024) and will be open for 2 weeks.

Located on the lower level of the mall.

A 3 track mainline with each mainline having it's own 'storage tracks'.

Video camera....

showing on a monitor.

The upper level has a 'riding train'.

Santa is next to the layout.

Can rent an electric horse to 'ride'.

That is quite a nice modular layout the Ross club sets up.  It looks like a lot of big modules to move to and from.  That mall looks like it is thriving.  Shopping Malls here in Pennsylvania are like ghost towns, being repurposed, or even being demolished like a big one in the south suburbs of Pittsburgh right now.

The mall is fairly new; built in 2015 plus it has living spaces built near it for easy access.

It's an indoor mall versus the 435,000 SF VOA outdoor mall that is a few miles from it and a few miles from my house.

The VOA mall also has 'tons' of restaurants along with all the retail stores that opened in 2004.  They sell just about everything one needs.

GNRW OPS for December plus PM a railroader's engines.

Paul brought his PRR sharknose diesel and Ben brought his kit built freight cars.

Videos:

Paul's PRR sharknose diesel freight train:

Departing Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRSbW_LlEog

Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOQE8qZaisM

N&W A 2-6-6-4 freight at Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHJ0CZzicPo

PRR P5A electrics freight departing Whitefish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybUebY79NU4

NP A-3 grey boiler 4-8-4 with some of Ben's freight cars:

Departing Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm7EZZiSmCg

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7UgkHPL2Hk

Burlington Zephyr departing Whitefish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IR2pvu_5yM

Just the 3 of us.  Joe was at his club's layout display so I did the 'dispatching'.

Figured attendance would be 'light' being just before Christmas but only need one to have a 'good time'.

Usual pizza before operating.

Ben's kit built freight cars.

Plus his tank.

Paul brought his PRR sharknose diesel.

Plus his 'printer generated' freight car.

Amazing detail the 'printers' produce.

PRR sharknose diesel departing Seattle.

Marias pass.

Tumwater canyon trestle.

PRR P5A electrics at Havre.

NP A-3 grey boiler 4-8-4 at Willmar.

Ben and Paul.

I failed a couple times trying to 'dispatch' and take videos at the same time!

Ben operating the NP A-3 grey boiler 4-8-4.

Paul 'switching' at Seattle.

Basement Christmas tree.

This N&W Y-3 2-8-8-2 had a 'valve linkage' failure!

One of the 'valve linkage' screws 'fell out' and I 'actually' found it!

With 1500' of railroad, I figure the odds were pretty slim!

============

A few days ago a railroader's motive power wasn't 'working'.

Easy fix on the programming track by inputting new engine addresses.

A nice DM&IR layout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWlXvSnxpr8

NMRA MCR DIV 7 monthly meeting, main presentation and 2 layout visits.

ZOOM group.

Raffle table.

Contest tables.

Company store.

Awards.

Main presentation on Cincinnati's 'incline railroads'.

Noah's PRR HO layout.

Video 'walk around':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFfsDvczc1Q

Greg's OO UK layout.

Walk around video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IffiFP7xgpQ

His 'war game' table.

All individually metal painted figures.

OO UK layout.

Those are both very nice layouts!!

New delivery;

D&RGW Krauss Maffai (A-A set).

Video: yard test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvwkwSfbGZw

The engines are made by PIKO plus my GNRHS quarterly arrived

I model 1938 and have mostly steam engines but I like unusual and these are unusual.

They are hydraulic operated, they did not 'mix' with the 'standard' diesels so few were sold to the USA and only SP and D&RGW purchased them.

This is my first engines by PIKO.

Today's diesels are expensive but I got 10% off plus they were 'marked down' from 'list' so I purchased them.

With the amount of detail, DCC and lights; PIKO has set the 'bar' high on these diesels.

Packaging replicates what BLI uses; 'clam shell'

Instructions located in a bottom slot like BLI.

Blown up schematic, DCC functions and other 'paper work'.

Outer plastic sleeve.

Nice; 2 extra pair of drivers with gear.

Soft plastic cover on top of engine like BLI.

Black base to secure the engine.

All wheels powered.

Not cheap but they 'bristle' with detail.

Mars light, 2 vertical lights, lighted number boards, green marker lights (and more).

Lots of air hoses.

Fireman's side.

I'm guessing those are sand hoses!

Can't 'man handle' this engine.  Some very delicate rear view mirrors.

I would have trouble duplicating that paint around the windows!

Those hand rails have to be close to 'scale size'.

Lighted engine area.

Very fine detail.

Rear head light when in reverse and more air hoses, etc.

Top view.

Fans move when 'blown on'.

Just noticed that there are windows on the back of the raised cab.

Impressive detail.

Engineer's side.

Delicate 'see through' vent.

Chairs have 'arms'.

Ran them first on address 3 to insure all's 'good'.

Programming track.

Read in the NMRA magazine that, at least it appears, that additional 'space' will be allocated in decoders so the manufacturer can input data so engine data will be 'automatically' updated to the DCC system.

This is what MTH does with their 3-rail; One can just follow a few instructions on the throttle and all data will be uploaded to the throttle.  On MTH engines the actual engine address is the in the decoder.

Did a 'read decoder'.

Selected this one of all the ones that were 'high lighted'.

General description inputted.

New address inputted and saved.

The trailing A unit got the same address but the 'locomotive direction' was reversed.

Both saved to the roster.

I was wondering why the 4003 was listed before the 4002; miss spelled 'Maffei' (fixed).

'Throttle' checked on the programming track.

Made a copy of all functions (other side of paper has it in English).

Oiled all the important 'points'.

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting.

They 'took off' a month since they had their modular layout setup during Christmas.

Videos:

Many of the freight cars are vintage metal Athearn/Varney and wood Silver Streak/Ambroid kits.

N&W J 4-8-4 10 car passenger train:

Departing Havre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNz80n8ng3I

NYC 4-6-4 Commodore 13 car passenger train.

Departing Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHO4isTXFsM

Departing Whitefish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ4cNnE-EVs

UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 37 car freight:

Departing Whitefish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbK3BoRvr_g

At Seattle's turntable:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2YB14i0Eiw

UP 2-tone grey 4-8-4 33 car freight:

Departing Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYwqHxR6p9Y

Nick operating the UP 2-tone grey 4-6-6-4 at Hillyard.

One of 5 functioning water tanks.

Mark operating the N&W J passenger train at Havre.

Joe dispatching.

NYC 4-6-4 Commodore at Chumstick canyon trestle.

Basin tunnel.

Nick and Bob.

Seattle's service facilities.

UP 2-tone grey 4-8-4 at Seattle's incoming track.

We lubricated Mark's diesel.

New delivery.

Kansas City Southern (KCS) E-3 A unit.

Imported by BLI in 2005.

I like the colorful look of this engine, it was made in the 30's when I 'model' plus it only cost what I pay to put a sound decoder into one of my steam engines!

It has the QSI decoder that is now 10 years old but I have found them to be reliable and a good 'sound'.

Video; 'Yard test'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfL1bmkW1tU

Back when BLI was using foam inserts instead of the new 'clam shell' inserts.

Nicely painted.

Bottom light constant while the top 'rotates' when engine is moving.

I like those early 'shovel nose' diesels.

Number boards are lighted.

All wheels powered.

Engine was already 'loaded' as 22 but needed to input all data into my roster.

programming track.

Did a 'read decoder'.

Only 'one option' for the decoder selection.

Description page.

Short address 22 written.

Roster update.

Throttle test.

GNRW monthly ops.

videos:

D&RGW Krauss Maffei hydraulic diesels 30 car freight.

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1_7LDn8vcY

Lehigh Valley 'John Wilkes' steam engine with 15 car freight.

Has 3 'potash' wood kit cars from Ambroid.

Skykomish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1aDnnnDSSU

Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiBeCep14F4

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ytg5UzdXo

Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rznJN-3IPdU

Kansas City Southern (KCS) E3 A diesel passenger train:

Willmar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hk6QyO4Wqw

Chumstick canyon trestle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE_lmSgf4Q0

Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Po-SE2QAo

Usual pizza before and cream cycles later.

Ben operating the D&RGW Krauss Maffei hydraulic diesels.

Skykomish.

John operating the Lehigh Valley 'John Wilkes' steam engine.

Hillyard.

I would have a hard time duplicating this paint scheme!

Chumstick canyon trestle.

Glacier.

GNRW mainline to the left; Swan River logging to the right.

Ben's new purchases.

The E3A is certainly a nice looking model.  You don't run into any E3's very often!

Visit to Eric's HO layout in Hamilton, Ohio.

video; 'walk around'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd9XW1O79h8

Printer generated cars.

Printer.

Surprised how cheap these are at 800 bucks for high quality results.

Picture made from duct tape.

A nice 1800's layout;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGorjxJxtOA

That is certainly a nice layout and other collectables!!