Sunset 3rd rail

 I have 8 3rd Rail locomotives and I have no real complaints with mine. I have two different versions of the CPR Mikado and they are absolutely worth the $$$.

  I have met Scott at York and he is very approachable and awesome to deal with

 I am quite grateful for the Canadian Steam and Diesel models he has produced thus far

Al

CAPPilot posted:

I do want to mention that I tried to purchase a 3rd Rail PRR S2 - twice.  These were used and from different sellers.  However when I received them a lot of the wheels from the pilot truck, training truck, and tender were loose in the box.  When I tried reinstalling them they were very loose and one truck had a cracked side frame.  Both were returned.  I think that was an early 3rd Rail engine.

Received some interesting additional info on that 3rd Rail S2. It was the first engine sold under 3rd Rail's brand but not built by Sunset.  It was actually a Williams brass product that Williams could not make the final payment on when the engines were ready.  Sunset made that final payment, received the engines, made up some boxes and sold the engines under the new 3rd Rail brand. 

It makes me feel better that those S2’s were not really a 3rd Rail product.  They were not the quality product they have produced since.

Here's one of the 35 3 rail Rock Island Rockets - (yes it is a car short - I just haven't photographed that car yet )  It came well packaged, it looks great, and on a test run it ran just fine. (The CEO has promised me floor running rights in the near future so I can have more time to run this gem).

Charlie posted:

GG1 4877 posted:

A sampling of 3rd Rail / Sunset Locomotives.  Not all the greatest photos as many are off my cell phone. 

EMD FT from 2014:  The logo on the nose is made from etched brass to replicate the bronze plate that adorned the prototype.

Jonathan, I really like this Santa Fe set (early FT's). Always, thought the paint scheme really stood out, maybe it was the slight big of red, I don't know, but it seems like the as delivered schemes usually are to my liking. Thanks for sharing.

Charlie

Charlie,

Thanks for your comment.  There is a funny story about this ABBA set in that when the FT was being produced there wasn't really a road that stood out to me, but I knew I was interested in a set.  This paint scheme jumped out at me the most.  After receiving the set, my interest in the ATSF in general began.  Now I even belong to the historical society.  The ATSF in now my favorite road east of the Mississippi.   

Hancock52 posted:

Sorry for the blurry screen grab but in any case I can’t ID what appear to be scale size Santa Fe passenger cars in one of Jonathan’s videos. The full length dome car might be MTH but looks longer and is not, I think, the GGD Santa Fe Great Dome:

Also the business car at the end doesn’t resemble anything I know of from Lionel, MTH or GGD. Are these K-Line cars?

The cars belong to the club as I didn't feel like bringing my own that day.  The first three cars are MTH and the final four are K-Line.  Having the E6s now, I am looking to get a GGD '38 Super Chief. 

Found a photo of the J1.

The N&W M that so many people said would never get done!

I own seven 3rd Rail models, mainly articulateds but a few rigid frame models as well. Most of mine have been gone through and once you've had them apart and tend to their little issues as Tom referred to above, the 'scary mystery' of these highly detailed brass models is removed and they are fun to operate, especially when you upgrade them with ERR and the new Sunset 3rd Rail smoke unit and see your results. It becomes more personal as a part of that locomotive is your creativity.  BTW, I'd much rather disassemble a 3rd Rail model anytime over a Lionel JLC Y6B, JLC Allegheny or their JLC/Legacy Big Boy or any other high end highly detailed model made by Lionel, those things are a bear!!!  

Now, standing up a bit for the modern die cast models, I have two 3rd Rail N&W Y6B's and one JLC N&W Y6B and with the three of them sitting side by side, I dare anyone to locate the Lionel model. Lionel did such a fantastic job with the level of detail that it matches pound for pound with its 3rd rail cousins. I just recently got the Lionel model back from gunrunner John where he added the super-chuffer system with the rule 17 lighting and the improved smoke unit performance. Now, it sits there with the two 3rd Rail models with their ERR upgrades and 4-chuff per revolution and perform so much more realistically.

Proud to own all my Locomotives, 3rd Rail, Lionel, MTH, Weaver, Atlas and K-Line. Look at the photo below, one is brass  (3rd Rail), the other die cast (Lionel).  With CAD programs which are available now, die cast models can host a level of detail to challenge even the most detailed brass models, even Kohs' models.  Look out Koh's, Lionel might be comin' for ya!!  LOL

-Ralph

I enjoy most of my engines.  A few definitively do not run as well as I would like.

One of those not so great running engines is a 3rd Rail model.  The engine is really nicely detailed and ran well under conventional when I first got it.  The issue is the ERR upgrades.  If you buy a conventional engine like an older 3rd Rail with the intent on having someone else upgrade it, make sure you get someone that knows what they are doing with a brass engine.

I am no longer buying older, non-command engines to upgrade.  Between the initial cost of the engine, upgrade, shipping, repairs after shipping, and having an engine with less capability than the new ones, it just doesn't make since to me anymore.  If you do your own upgrades, that is different, but my less than steady hands makes that hard for me.  I have two new 3rd Rail models (L1 and F3) that came with command and they both run great (as well as look great).

I recently received my PRR F3a and 3rd run E7 in 2 rail. 

Life has been so crazy lately, I actually forgot I have an RDC from the second run (Plastic) waiting for CNJ decals (and a second one in 3 rail I promised to custom paint and sell to friend and fellow CNJ enthusiast).  Pictures when I have time!  Finally I forgot that I have a 3 rail SP Mikado that came out of PeterA's collection. 

The F3s are gorgeous.  At first look the 3rd run E7 is so much more refined than the early ones.  I need to do a side by side on those.

I can't believe how bad my memory has gotten since I've been working from home most of the time and rarely leaving my house.  Photos of all this weekend.  Gives me something productive and fun to do.

All manufacturers make good products. What separates 3rd Rail from the pack is the detail but also they tend to make rarely manufactured pieces, so you can pick-up some unique engines.

@SD40-2 posted:

All manufacturers make good products. What separates 3rd Rail from the pack is the detail . . .

. . . and customer service.

Scott is a gentleman just like his pop Mort before him.  I have been buying Sunset for over 30 years and have never been disappointed.  I am a 2 rail O guy so I may be in the minority here but I would stack my Sunset stuff up against anything else out there, especially for the price.  I have a Strasburg 4-8-0 that runs like a Swiss watch plus a couple of the newer plastic F units but my fave is that Erie Russian decapod from 1993!  

Scott is the Mann  2 rail 3 rail he delvers the best   thanks

thanks SCOTTj

Awesome pics everyone. I’m loving everything but I need to stop looking at this thread. I keep seeing Scott’s words,”Sit on the fence and you”ll just have sore butt, nothing else.” It’s pretty sore now. I have seven engines but most are in boxes. The are my absolute favorites. The D&RGW L-105, however, will be on permanent display.they are packed in boxes.