Walthers HO El Capitan - Video

I've watched that video many times.... and it's still bad *ss!

Hey Jim I want to see your new GGD set run!

Erik,

 

Believe me, NOBODY is more anxious then ME to see that baby in action.  Problem is, our train club's next open house is not until August 1st.  We have dedicated the month of July to finishing wiring the yard tracks and powering up the 32 newly installed ROSS Custom Switches.  We are also doing some major cleanup and construction.

 

In addition, our club is having a professionaliy built control panel installed to handle all the switches and power to the 20 legs in the yard.  Call the arrival of the El Capitan a bit of bad timing.  But, I am NOT complaining.  I opened up all 12 cars for a brief once over to make sure nothing got damaged during shipping and I give the set             a full 12 thumbs-up.

 

Hang in ther guys, somebody will have a video up long before I will.

Jim,

 

You could always bring it over here and video it yourself. I'll just have to move the steam powered mail/express train off the outside main.

Jack,

 

Thank you for the offer.  Only problems are:

 

1. All my Warbonnets are at the club.

 

2. I'm not the guy with the digital video camera.

 

Other than that, we are good to go.  

Well, darn!  I don't know anybody with a digital video camera either. As to the motive power, we could always us the UP A-B-A E9 set, since folks want to see the cars anyway.

I hope Atlas and Sunset can match that SS look on their new engines.  I'm envious of those who have the red warbonnets on order.  

 

Jim, what kind of grade will you be pulling your GGDs on?  My experience has been one Sunset motive unit per four cars on a 2.2% grade on continuous slope through curves.  Anymore cars than that, and the engine bogs down and has no acceleration.  (Based on GMToT and NYC 1938 20th Century Limited testing.)

 

I notice in the video that the train doesn't move at high rail speed.  I wonder if it is because of motive power limitations or by design to improve the camera view.  Going through the Rockies westbound, our Amtak Zephyr slowed down for the meet with the eastbound, and then sped back up to about about 70.  In fact our gal engineer was constantly changing speed for our enjoyment of various scenic highlights.

 

Now one of the experts can weigh in and correct my sense of prototypical operation.

 

 

ZERO, our club layout is flat.  

 

Motive power will be alternating between:

 

MTH F3's ABBA with two powered units.  

MTH Alco PA's ABBA with two powered units ( don't know if these will be able to handle the full 12-car El Capitan) as the powered units seem to be on the light side.

Atlas F7's ABBBA with 3 powered units.

 

Jim,
I'm going to try and get over there to visit for the August open house. Haven't talked with you guys in a while and I'd love to see that El Capitan as well!

 

- RICH

Same issue here, Jim. Complete Super Chief set, complete El Cap set and nothing to pull them with. Waiting for an Atlas ABBA set and Scott's ABBA set. Thought about ordering a third B from Scott for a Combined Chief, but held off thinking that someday, perhaps, Scott would come through with a run of FP45's. I think I may have screwed-up by not ordering the third B. 

 

Rich,

 

I hope you can make it.  I was talking with Eddie last week and he is going to try and get out the on 8/1 as well, sort of a Class Reunion.  With Jack, Lou, Mark and myself the old IHMD will be well represented.

 

The foot print for Chuck Conn's Inland Steel Mill has expanded to 400 square feet, with more and more detail being add each week.  It should be about 90% completed by August 1st.