THE V.I.P JOURNAL

The engine in your photo appears to be an electric loco with pantographs, and not a diesel?

Tinplate Art posted:

The engine in your photo appears to be an electric loco with pantographs, and not a diesel?

Yowser! My first Letter to the Editor, and you are correct. I will probably remove the pantographs, as I will not be putting up wires for them in V.I.P. I have also corrected my post.

May I ask which manufacturer made that engine, and is it based on a European prototype? Also, what is the track gauge of your engine? I notice you are living in the famous west Mexican state of Jalisco, reportedly the birthplace of both Tequila and Mariache music, and also the location of the famous city of Guadalajara! Viva Mexico, and WELCOME to our forum! ☺

The engine is manufactured by Lego. The track gauge is 1.47 inches, making it bigger than O gauge. If it is based on a real engine, the real engine has a bad design: the front and back are identical (two engineers). If you are pushing a train, neither engineer can see anything.

But I just finished a test run on the floor, and it runs great.

Would it be impolite to ask your age? Many younger folks enjoy LEGO trains.

Tinplate Art posted:

Would it be impolite to ask your age? Many younger folks enjoy LEGO trains.

 

I'm 66 and happily retired in Mexico with my wife. We're both Americans.

I finished the log car, and it is so ugly that I turned it into a flatcar. You can do that with Legos.

I finished the bottom of the crane car, and then decided that it is time for a test run. I used half the tracks to set it up on the floor, and it survived its first run.

I, too, have built my share of LEGO trains, including the Harry Potter set. Mostly for my grandkids, who are now grown up. I am 76. The LEGO engines I built were all motorized. I never saw that electric loco but it looks cool! GOOD LUCK with your plan!

I just finished the crane car. It is better than the Lionel crane car my Dad had that was made around 1953, which I fondly remember.

Vincent Massi posted:

 If it is based on a real engine, the real engine has a bad design: the front and back are identical (two engineers).  If you are pushing a train, neither engineer can see anything.

There wouldn't be two engineers, just one.

Without knowing what country's railroad it's supposed to represent it's difficult to find a prototype photo, but this French locomotive is sorta close:

However, many European diesel and electric locomotives are double ended so they don't require turning.  If in "push" mode on a passenger train, there is a control cab car.

Rusty

Rusty, we had a trackmobile at the paper mill, and it had seats for a driver in the front and back. When it pushed cars, you couldn't see anything, but we had a man on the ground (often me) with a radio. Assuming that that loco is used as a switcher, the problem can be solved.

Vincent Massi posted:

Rusty, we had a trackmobile at the paper mill, and it had seats for a driver in the front and back. When it pushed cars, you couldn't see anything, but we had a man on the ground (often me) with a radio. Assuming that that loco is used as a switcher, the problem can be solved.

These double ended locomotives are pretty much road units.  The Europeans also have hooded locomotives for most switching duties.

Possible the worst "switcher" in the world was when the Santa Fe  added footboards front and back to FT-A units until more switchers could arrive:

I've done some switching also, at the Illinois Railway Museum using the Russian Decapod.  30 feet or so of boiler and 25 feet of tender doesn't enhance visibility much and we always had one or more groundmen as needed.

And the view wasn't a whole lot better from the cab of their Shay:

Rusty

Rusty, that is a good, informative post.

VINCENT: THAT is one cool crane car!

I'm not sure where I grabbed this shot. I don't recall any details on it today, but maybe someone could do an image search with it (that search engine doesn't respond to my browser lately.) It's about the closest I recall to Vincent's. I'm thinking maybe French or more so, Italian.

That is a famous French locomotive called "Femme Enceinte" (Pregnant woman). See here: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/2D2_5500

Regards

Fred

May 1, 2019

Plagued by a long series of delays, construction has officially began on V.I.P. 

Piles of building supplies, along with one overworked fork truck, litter the area. A temporary rail line has allowed the V&N Railroad to move equipment and a large crane around the site.

The chief delay has been caused by my need to go to Guadalajara on Friday and HOPEFULLY buy another train. Another delay involves sorting, storing, and retrieving equipment from several different containers.

Observers expressed surprise at the tight security when night fell.

With everything FINALLY stored where it should be, construction crews led by Vince "Iron Horse" Massi restored a temporary rail line for visitors. Executives are waiting for a final decision on tomorrows potential train purchase before making rail line construction permanent.

Observers also questioned why the security guards are using a 1936 Cord automobile.

V.I.P. PURCHASES NEW TRAIN SET!

Purchase Includes Additional Tracks.

Ending weeks of speculation, V.I.P. has finalized the purchase of a dead rail passenger train, along with a total of 40 pieces of track. The tracks are compatible with V.I.P.'s construction train, which is already in service.

Construction crews hope to have the train running within a few days.

SANTA FE RAILROAD CONNECTS TO V.I.P.!

Passenger line completed--but no passenger train.

Utilizing V.I.P.'s ability to connect to different times and places, the Santa Fe Railroad completed a connecting line to V.IP. today. V.IP. intends to become a major switching yard and hub for a variety of railroads.

Meanwhile, Ferromex, the Mexican rail system, finished constructing a passenger rail line. However, their passenger train is still under construction.

ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD BRINGS THE POWER OF STEAM TO V.I.P.!

V.I.P.  completes construction of longest single rail line on site!

Massive reconstruction and relocation of Ferromex's construction line, along with a still-unused passenger line, were necessary to add a fourth rail line to V.I.P., but the powerful 2-8-0 Consolidation will greatly increase V.I.P.'s ability to benefit from the power of steam

DINING CAR ADDED TO UNUSED PASSENGER LINE!

Mysterious sightings at V.I.P. continue!

FEDERAL INSPECTORS RAISE MORE QUESTIONS THAN THEY ANSWER!

A surprise inspection by federal regulators found all permits and licenses in order. But uneasy construction workers reported being questioned about super heroes and time travel. Inspectors paid particular attention to a 1936 Cord automobile used by security forces.

Workers also finished building a passenger car that looks exactly like the dining car finished the day before. Site manager Vincent "Ironhorse" Massi was heard muttering something about converting them both to gondolas.

V.I.P. OFFICIALLY OPENS!

Months of Construction Still Lie Ahead!

With the completion of the Hiawatha Passenger Line, V.I.P. has officially opened its rail switching service. Four locomotives are providing construction, freight, and passenger service. A fifth rail line is definitely in the works.

V.I.P.'s next major project is construction of a giant supercomputer. Towering hundreds of feet into the sky, the supercomputer will have a full staff of people inside, including living quarters.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON THE "ARCHIE HARRISON SUPERCOMPUTER!"

Supervisor Darby O'Gill explained that we have lost too any paths to computer success, and he is trying to restore them. "Computer in the 1950's actually had people inside them," he explained. "And computers often had computers inside them to help those people." O'Gill also explained that mainframe computers still have potential when used by people working inside a giant computer.

Today a mainframe computer, a portable crane, a bathroom sink, a secretaries' office, and an outdoor pizza parlor were installed.

Managers denied reports that a highly-trained security guard killed a dinosaur accidentally brought through a time portal by an unauthorized construction worker.

Vincent Massi posted:

I finished the log car, and it is so ugly that I turned it into a flatcar. You can do that with Legos.

 

I finished the bottom of the crane car, and then decided that it is time for a test run. I used half the tracks to set it up on the floor, and it survived its first run.

That's really cute, My cat loved trains. When I fired mine up he would run into the room to watch.

SUPERCOMPUTER WORKER FALLS TO DEATH!

With the uncompleted Archie Harrison Supercomputer already operating, a construction worker apparently climbed off the top into an observation galley on the west side. Unfortunately, the floor of the galley had not been installed, and  ROM Commodore plunged to his death inside the computer. Workers are unable to recover his body.

Site Manger Vincent "Ironhorse" Massi stated sadly that ROM will always be with us.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED ON ARCHIE HARRISON SUPERCOMPUTER!

For a virtual guided tour, click on each picture below:

C&O INSTALLS NEW RAIL LINE AT V.I.P!

Five Trains Now Running Successfully!

ELEVATED STOCK YARD INSTALLED!

After a week's vacation, Vincent "Iron Horse" Massi announced that construction has reached the point that rolling stock can be stored (and displayed) on V.I.P.'s new elevated stock yard. A rolling stock repair facility is due to be built on the same site.

Okay, Gang, I've been busy, I ran out of money, and I had problems with light-weight HO locomotives. But today I bought this beautiful six-axle Ferromex locomotive (I suspect that I am the only one on the forum who owns one) and now have five trains running successfully again.

I also purchased five HO scale construction workers and have placed them in the Archie Harrison Super-Computer.

SUPERHERO VACATION RESORT COMPLETED!

 Bruce Wayne announced the successful completion of a vacation report for superheroes who need a break. The reclusive billionaire deferred questions to V.I.P.'s new press secretary, Clark Kent.

Kent, who continues his job at the Daily Planet, told reporters  "I am angry at portrayals of Superman and Batman being enemies, when anyone who has read the comics for decades knows that Batman and I, er, that is, Batman and Superman, have always been best friends."

Although not intended as a retirement home, superheroes can stay there for extended periods in return for providing security.

Another outburst of criticism broke out today, when observers spotted Captain America in V.I.P. Critics repeated claims that the Captain is involved in time travel, and it is even reported that there are two Captain Americas, with one of them frozen in a giant ice cube.

Press secretary Clark Kent alleviated fears of time travel by explaining that the Captain was on a honeymoon with his 25 year old bride, Agent Carter. Mr. Kent ended the press conference abruptly when a reporter pointed out that Agent Carter had been born in 1915. 

Vincent, I do not know where I have been, but this is the first I have seen the VIP Journal!  Some of the items look familiar from other topics, but there is a lot of good information here!!  Having fun whether 6 or 66, that's what it is all about!!

Animal rights activists filed a series of complaints against V.I.P. today, when a group of dinosaurs appeared on the site. Superman explained that he had been on a mission in the past when he spied the dinosaurs about to be drowned in a world-wide flood.

Not wanting to alter the timeline, the Man of Steel brought the creatures to V.I.P., where they will serve as deterrents to trespassers, as well as keeping the grass cut.

That’s great!  I need some of those guys to cut my dad’s grass!

Nice. So what is happening with the naval/port/pirate episode?

Vincent Massi posted:

Okay, Gang, I've been busy, I ran out of money, and I had problems with light-weight HO locomotives. But today I bought this beautiful six-axle Ferromex locomotive (I suspect that I am the only one on the forum who owns one) and now have five trains running successfully again.

I also purchased five HO scale construction workers and have placed them in the Archie Harrison Super-Computer.

Is that a Walthers Mainline or Athearn Genesis? Having both, I can say they are both very impressing models...

NS6770Fan posted:

Vincent Massi posted:

Okay, Gang, I've been busy, I ran out of money, and I had problems with light-weight HO locomotives. But today I bought this beautiful six-axle Ferromex locomotive (I suspect that I am the only one on the forum who owns one) and now have five trains running successfully again.

I also purchased five HO scale construction workers and have placed them in the Archie Harrison Super-Computer.

Is that a Walthers Mainline or Athearn Genesis? Having both, I can say they are both very impressing models...

It is a Walthers Mainline, and it is the pride of my lay-out.

Incidentally, I was wrong. There ARE other people on this forum who have Ferromex locomotives, as well as other Mexican locomotives.