My first 3rd Rail locomotive: ATSF Mountain early

That is such an amazing model...you'll have a ton of fun with it.

GREAT looking loco!!!!!

I have a few 3rd Rail locos I bought on the secondary market....love them! 

Gorgeous; the ATSF Mountains are among the handsomest steamers around. I have

wanted this loco, but my collection is sufficient.

3rd rail items are indeed delicate - even flimsy - in spots. So long as you are

aware and are willing to fix/tune them, they are very nice. 3rd Rail paint is

usually the best-looking. 

That "tender piece" may be one of the air/brake hoses that would be mounted

near the coupler, on the rear tender beam. Can't really tell. This is typical 3rd Rail

detail-dropping and is part of owning their stuff.

I'm jealous. Maybe I can find one...no. Stop it.

3rdrail is the best. Enjoy

Hello  banelson............

Just remember to NOT pick up the engine from the boiler but leave it on the wooden track and to pick it up from the bottom as always be gentile when handing it.   I have Sunset 3rd S.F. 5011 which I purchased back in 2012 in the "boneyard" section.   If you can or have someone go through the engine before running it for first time after that don't be afraid to run it but enjoy it.   I liked S.F. 4-8-2 Mountains and will look really good with heavyweight madisons behind it.

Just my nickel's worth

Tiffany

That is a beautiful locomotive!

The delicacy bit about 3rd Rail locos is a bit of a canard. The same criticism applies to any brass locos; it's part of the shtick. I've found that the most fiddly part is getting 3rd Rail locos out of their packaging the first time.

My locos get transported back and forth to the club layout regularly. Haven't lost a part yet. I wrap mine in bubble wrap and tote them in a sturdy plastic tool box. My "worst" to transport is my C&O H8 2-6-6-6; keeping the two sets of drivers from flopping around and doing damage is a chore-but, oh, my, what a beast.

If I have a criticism, it is that their TMCC reception can be uncertain in areas of the layout where my Lionel equipment sails through.

Ben - I have all the 3rd Rail Santa Fe steam engines.  The Mountains (ATSF 3700 Class) were probably the best of 3rd Rail's Santa Fe engines.

If you haven't read this, it explains what a fine engine it is.

  http://www.3rdrail.com/sf3700-review.html

Your Sunset Mountain type is a home run Ben...get that layout up and enjoy. 

Sunset's version of the N&W Mountain type that has been on my roster for many years. Heavy engine with big shoulders nicknamed the "Water Buffalo". Plan to later head it for Gun Runner John to install TMCC Command.

Along with the "J" a favorite N&W locomotive.

Exception beauty; love the detail on this loco.  Just wish ATSF used coal tenders.

Wouldn't mind having one!

Good luck and thanx for sharing.

A very nice loco.  I'm seriously into Santa Fe and have been looking at the 3rd Rail Mountain for some time.  I nice model of an interesting locomotive.  

Thanks for sharing.

Just wish ATSF used coal tenders.

daylight - The 3700 Class Mountains did use coal tenders.  I think they were all or mostly delivered that way.  You could convert the 3rd Rail engine fairly easily, the oil cover may even be removable, I forgot.

Beautiful model. Enjoy it.

Thanks all.  It will be fun to get it running.  I am not bothered by the broken piece.  It's pretty amazing how much detail is there, it was bound to happen and if I didn't see it sitting in the box I probably would never have noticed it was missing.  Once I get around to gluing that piece back on I will probably return here for some advice on where to glue it.

When I get a layout going i will try to post a video of it running.

Do you guys have any advice on other 3rd Rail locomotives that have this level of detail?  This one seemed to be very finely detailed, but it is hard to get an idea for "wow" factor from the website videos and pics of other engines.  Maybe someday I will expand my 3rd Rail roster. 

As an aside, there was recently a thread about whether this forum effects purchase behavior.  I had posted in a different thread a few weeks ago that I had never bought a 3rd Rail engine even though I had admired them from afar.  My reservation had always been my familiarity with Legacy and total lack of familiarity with non-Lionel TMCC, etc. A board member named Hot Water remarked with no lack of certainty that I shouldn't have any reservations at all running 3rd Rail engines with TMCC with my Legacy trains. I noticed in the purchase behavior thread that he said this forum never sways his purchase decisions.  I figured anyone that self assured must know what the heck he is talking about so I said "ok then" and pulled the trigger. That makes me one of the lemmings (but a happy one)  

(Another member who seems to know what he is talking about (RickO) made a comment about the fine detail on the Legacy Mohawk.  I am now on the lookout to see one in person.  That is one I would never have thought about until I saw his  comment.  Again, lemming...) 

So we can chalk this sale of a forum sponsor's locomotive directly up to the OGR forum.  These things cost too much for me not to do some due diligence here.

Thanks,

Ben

I would suggest that, before you run the engine, check the bolts on the main and connecting rods on each driver, and make sure they're tight.  Then, follow the instructions that came with the locomotive, which direct the owner to lubricate the rids and run it slowly with the sound turned off to check for any binding or irregular rotation.  Then enjoy owning this fine locomotive model.

simply beautiful locomotive.

Ben thats one nice engine. Cant wait for the video of it running

Steve

Ben, congratulations! I considered buying it also, but pulled the trigger on something else. I know it will run as beautiful as it looks.

You will be so glad you bought it.

Welcome to the bright side of 3 rail scale.

Ron

I'm a huge fan of 3rd Rail stuff and this fine locomotive is no exception!  

I KNOW you're going to love this one!

marker, thank you for the review; I recall reading this some time ago.  Are your engines 2 rail?

 "having all of the 3rd rail engines"; I like your style.

My favorite 3rdrail engine in my possession is the SP AM2 Cab Forward; lot of nasty detail!