Scratching an AHM itch...

Thanks for sharing.  AHM made some really nice stuff.  The Rivarossi locomotives and rolling stock were probably the best but the Mehano (I hope I got the name right) was right up there too - IIRC, most of the Mehano production was licensed by Rivarossi but made in Yugoslavia.  I enjoyed the summer sales.  Somewhere I have either the July or August 1967 Model Railroader that had the double-page advertisement for one of these sales.  I was able to buy what seemed like a lot of rolling stock to me (including HOn2-1/2 MiniTrains) because the discounts were so large.  I liked the metal wheels on the rolling stock and the large flanges didn't bother me because they operated fine on my code 100 Atlas snap-track layout.  I especially liked the AHM full-length heavyweight coach.  That was the first heavyweight passenger car I owned that looked right.

Great back story and photos.  Thanks for sharing, but be careful.  That HO itch can turn into a rash as attested to by HO trains in my display cases, loops and stub sidings of HO track on my layout, and membership in a local HO club that never existed just a few years ago.  All of which started when I dug out some Tyco and Mantua HO trains from my childhood.  Then I bought some Rivarossi, added DCC to the layout, and branched out into more classic and modern brands.  See, that itch can spread pretty fast.  If so, you'll love it.  HO has a virtually endless variety of new and old locomotives and rolling stock to enjoy.  

Rivarossi really did up the game in HO locomotives back in the day.  When the primary players were Mantua/Tyco, Bowser/Penn Line with their diecast or high doller brass.  Their Heisler logging engine still runs and holds up better than anything Bachmann has made in recent years for the logging modelers. Rare to see one of the Heislers that doesnt run.   I have one of the Casey Jones ten wheelers, with a NWSL regear kit in it so it will run at realistic slower speeds.   The missmatch in gear ration to the motor was the only real downfall to the Rivarossi line.  Stick one of the regear kits in and they run sooo much better.  I also have one of the deluxe USRA 0-6-0's thats been regeared.  Rarely run now, but memories of my years modeling in HO scale at the local club.   AD

@Dennis Holler posted:

I recently got nstalgic and dug out some of my childhood ho trains that still exist. ...  You can see the AHM MDT SF switcher on the back of the layout ...I

I had AHM, Rivarossi, Tyco, and Cox HO cars and locos in the early to mid 70s. Many I bought at Two Guys department store. I think the freight cars were about $1 and the 0-4-0 docksider and MDT Switcher were maybe $3.99? Good times. Sadly I abused them and there were few that survived the trauma in one piece. The running gear on the B&O 0-4-0 and the Reading MDT Switcher were destroyed, yet I kept them all these years. In the last year and a half I dusted off the HO layout that was last worked on circa 1994 and have memorialized these engines as "background locos" in a yard. Half of each engine's shell is glued to the backboard and the destroyed missing wheels are hidden by a Chooch Enterprises stone wall.

John