Was there ever a road name no matter what you bought you had problems?

Ironically, or not, Penn Central.

I only have 1 UP, but it works just fine. It may be needing a new smoke wick soon, but that was probably my fault. It's about 3 years old. Just ordered some wicks MTH today. Try BNSF, I have several of those and no problems with them either. They are Lionel Legacy and MTH Premier and RailKing.

 

rtr I know it's a coincidence and not indicative of every UP loco made! Thanks!!

I have maybe 60 UP locos.  No more than the usual issues.  I think one had problems.  I also have a WBB Train Master that was Southern when I bought it that I repainted UP.  Had lots of mechanical problems with that loco, but I don't know whether I would say it is a UP or a Southern loco.

problems because of the road name? one of the more foolish[ of many ] topics i have seen on this forum.....jim

wow! Funny you should mention this:

 

1) Long Island Railroad DD-1 developed herky jerky

2) Two in a row Long Island Railroad MU sets bad right out of the box

3) One of four Long island Railroad passenger cars shorting out the layout every chance it got with no visible reason.

4) UPDATE...my 3rd LIRR MU set which I kind of thought was not 100% right...sure enough, the rollers are kind of stiff and causing problems.

Nope, I don't buy based upon a road name. I buy what I like which means several road names are included in our layout. We have no issues tied to a specific road name.

I think it is odd that almost everything made during the prewar era carries the, "New York Central Lines". If one is lucky you can find the, "Penn R R". Rolling stock that carried, "The Lionel Lines" appeared later on.

 

I've never had a problem with any particular prewar item other than finding original repair parts (NOS).

 

God's Blessings,

"Pappy"

Should have put a smiley after that one, the BNSF part was meant to be just for fun.

Only when I go to show off the layout, that something goes wrong, due to the Foo Fighters, regardless of road name!

Ralph

You just don't "get" it, sorry...

UP engines and rolling stock almost always run better after receiving a nice N&W paint job....

 

Gilly

 

My UP #80 Coal Turbine did toss every one of it's traction tires on it's first pass around our club's modular layout. I'm certain it had absolutely nothing to do with the age of the tires or the fact that it was pulling 50+ cars.

 

This sucker is going to look awesome in gloss black with a pretty Tuscan red stripe trimmed and lettered in gold.

Jeff T -

 

I guess some of us are just "foolish" enough to get the joke. Some, apparently, aren't.

===

 

For the life of me, I cannot come up with a Cursed Road Name - EXCEPT that I missed a

FedEx loco (signature) delivery today, and I almost never miss one, but, strangely, I forgot to watch the tracking, and the road name is: Union Pacific! (2-8-8-0)

So-o-o-o...

 

=====

If you leave your UP locos out all night on the roof (a clear night, certainly), perhaps the bad mojo will be dispelled.

 

(Now, if you are parking them near any SP locos, well, no one can be responsible for

the outcome.) 

 

Don't get them wet or feed them past midnight either!

The funny thing is I know it's purely coincidence, but I am a little gun shy of buying another UP! 

 

I guess I'll stick with BNSF!

90% of the trains that I buy are Milwaukee Road.  I do have some chicago and Northwestern but I run them only rarely.  So, naturally, my problems  surround the MR engines because that is what I have the most of.  But, in all honesty, I can't complain about the MR engines I own. 

 

Let's see;  as for electrics, I own a Weaver Little Joe which has had EOB installed.  The original K-Line electronics have long since been replaced with Electric Train Company upgrades.  Runs like a million bucks and pulls better than any other engine I own.  Then I own an MTH BiPolar and a set of Box cab electrics.  Wonderful running engines and really impressive to any visitors to the layout.  For diseasels, I own a set of 3 A-B-A F-7's from K-Line (along with an assortment of switching or branch line engines).  These K-Line units actually had six motors, to include those in the "B" uniti.  I have removed the motors from the "B" unit, keeping the other four motors in the engine.  Also have a set of A_B_A FM C-Liners from MTH, along with an Alco S-2 which is a common workhorse for the layout.  Also own both Atlas FM Eire builts, the 1948 version and the 1950 version.  to further help our passenger power pool, we have a Lionel E-6 A-A set as well as a Williams E-7 A-A set, all of which are wired for TMCC.

 

Also own some steam power from the era, including the Claas A Atlantic ( Weaver), the Class F-7 Baltic (Hudson) (from MTH)and a K-Line Pacific in Hiawatha colors.  In standard steam, we have an F-6a Hudson from Weaver and an S-3 Northern to handle long, heavy passenger consists.  We also maintain some of the smaller locomotives like a class K 4-6-0 and a 2-8-0 consol. to handle the switching duties.

 

I'm about done in purchasing more new lokies for the layout.  Got enuff.

 

Paul Fischer

I know it's not quite what you had in mind when you asked the question but, I have a B&O GP9 that should carry the cab number 666. 

The engine itself runs fine but, every time I have had it on my layout, bad things seem to happen.  Some examples from over the years; Thanksgiving 2012, the refrigerator dies; February 2013, middle son totals car;  May 2014, dishwasher dies.

And no; I will never risk running this engine again.  Heck, I might even consider letting it go to a new home where it can continue to work its evil.  :-O

Curt

Now you're talking! BNSF has a better maintenance program, and they also make sure the engines are in top operating condition before shipment to the new owner!

Funny you should mention this. I bought a MTH SP SD 9. With volume set at 100, you could barley here it. Swap the PS2 board into a different engine, no issues. Dropped the PS2 board from another engine,  same issue.  Droped another board and speaker from a donor engine(UP RS3 ). Same issue. Picked up another SD9 and do a shell swap. Board shorts out. Finally I swap in a Williams board that I sourced from BNSF. No issues ran like a champ. Come to think about it. SP merged with UP.  The UP RS3 died the next day.

You mean the lack of Penn Central stuff, right?

 

By pure force of hobby evolution my road name of choice has turned largely into New York Central. I have a lot of PRR stuff too. And who can ignore those gorgeous Chessie diesels?

 

Anybody with persistent road name problems please know that you have a friend at OGR. I'll take those accursed cars for a fraction of the price and remove the gremlins from your operations...

 

I am just a nice guy like that....

I really was right! BNSF saves the day once again!

UP cant even keep their Steam engines in operating condition. Yeah I went there.  My fleet is pre merger. CB&Q, GN, ATSF.  My parts source informed me that the board came from thier engine rebuild program.