Last week we were able to visit the River City 3 Railers open house.
Happy Independence Day!
Scott Smith
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I had a very hectic weekend last week, and posted nothing until late Saturday with nothing more than a few photos of my PRR Shark consist with a brief mention of the fact that I had made an improvement to them. Well, this week I have time to post more.
The improvement to which I’m referring has to do with the gap between each engine. I Should mention that I’m referring to an ABBA set of the five stripe PRR units released a number of years ago in Lionel’s regular line, not the earlier version with the gold horns. I always thought they were great looking engines until a couple of years ago when I purchased their next release of these units in Pennsy’s single stripe scheme. All of sudden, I noticed that the five stripe units had a huge gap between each unit due to very long couplers.
On the PRR single stripe version, the units when coupled were much closer together due to a shorter length coupler and looked much better. So the search was on for six of the shorter length couplers to install on the five stripe set to improve their appearance.
One would think this would be an easy task, but NO ONE at the Lionel parts department understood what I was looking for, and when they finally did, they could not come up with the part numbers since they did not yet have a parts diagram available for the newer version. But FINALLY, after making many calls and sending many e-mails over almost a year, someone came up with the part number for me. So I quickly ordered six of them and retrofitted the five stripe units with the shorter shank couplers. What an improvement that made. See for yourself…
Here is the spacing of the units as they came out of the box:
And here it is after I replaced the original couplers with the short shank version:
You can really appreciate it in the following two images that I posted last week:
Now here are a few more that I shot during the past week of the same units crossing Sherman’s Creek and passing through “View” interlocking at Duncannon, PA:
And for the grand finale, here’s a video pulling a highly accurate mid-1950’s coal drag along the Juniata River in central Pennsylvania. The unit train consists of Lionel GLa’s, Atlas H21’s, and a few Weaver H39’s:
And don’t forget…this is no ordinary railroad I’m modeling. It’s the GREAT STANDARD RAILROAD OF THE WORLD!!!
That’s it for this week! Enjoy!
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Happy Independence Day!
Please take the time to remember and pray for our Forefathers that sacrificed so much to give birth to our great country!
Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
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A 2022 Christmas Layout memory 
Leaving no doubt as to who owns this layout 
The plastic train to the right was a decoration on my retirement cake
walt
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My model of Boston & Maine ten-wheeler #2074 was made by Lionel (Legacy, 2131050, MSRP $749.99) in 2021. The engine is a model of a New York Central F-12 class 4-6-0 built by Alco in Schenectady, NY. Many railroads used similar engines.
Ten-wheeler steam locomotives were widely used in passenger service during the early years of the twentieth century but were soon replaced by more powerful 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives when wood passenger cars were replaced by heavier steel cars. Boston & Maine #2074 looked quite similar to Lionel’s model. It was built by Baldwin in 1898, scrapped in 1939, and ran in commuter service around Boston.
In the photos and videos on my 12’-by-8’ layout, B&M #2074 is pulling two Lionel wood-sided passenger cars made with tooling purchased from MTH.
MELGAR
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More pics from the Open House last weekend.....
Have a great and safe weekend, folks!
Peter
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Set up of the Trading Hall at the TCA Convention in Burlington, VT.
Next week, pictures from the layout tours.
Peter
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Happy 4th of July weekend!!!!
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Some more progress on the mountain this week. Building wood supports, placing portal locations, and building tunnel liners. Its a slow process but I'm really enjoying it. Eventually I'll plaster clothe everything and add rock molds.
- Jason
We had a great trip to New York last week with one of the biggest highlights being an amazing visit with the super gracious Ben and Junior at the NJ Hirailers!!! We can’t thank you guys enough for all of the time you gave us and in-depth information about the club and layout. It was special to be able to see buildings on the layout from Marty Fitzhenry’s layout and to learn about how the club acquired so many unique items. These guys are awesome! Wish we could have spent all day there, but we had an 11 hour drive ahead of us. We can’t wait to get back there!
THANK YOU BEN and JUNIOR!!!
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Just a few pics from NJ Hirailers.
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Happy Independence Day to all!
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@bigtruckpete posted:We had a great trip to New York last week with one of the biggest highlights being an amazing visit with the super gracious Ben and Junior at the NJ Hirailers!!! We can’t thank you guys enough for all of the time you gave us and in-depth information about the club and layout. It was special to be able to see buildings on the layout from Marty Fitzhenry’s layout and to learn about how the club acquired so many unique items. These guys are awesome! Wish we could have spent all day there, but we had an 11 hour drive ahead of us. We can’t wait to get back there!
THANK YOU BEN and JUNIOR!!!
So now imagine around 100-150 like minded trainiacs and Chef Vinny's good cooking. You know Trainstock is worth that 1 hour drive.
I love this sign, one of my trains in my neck of the woods.
@coach joe posted:So now imagine around 100-150 like minded trainiacs and Chef Vinny's good cooking. You know Trainstock is worth that 1 hour drive.
Is the kitchen back in business? I thought the fire dept shut them down and they have to bring food in.
My slightly late birthday (June 6th) and father's day gift to myself arrived in the mail today.
MTH Premier Maine Central Alco RS-11.
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Here's some pictures from my recent vacation.
Trackless train at the Short Pump Town Center Mall. (Virginia)
Dollywood #70
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA theme park train.
And a stop at the River City 3 Railers open house in Midlothian, VA on our way back home.
Have a great and safe Holiday weekend.
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Thanks Scott for getting us started for this fine weekend!
Today in Patsburg businesses are getting ready for what looks to be a tremendous Independence Day week! There's a great anticipation that there will be lots of refreshments consumed by Patburgians.
Lots of 7 UP will be on hand for those who desire a refreshingly cold fizzy drink. 
The Beer Depot is well stocked to supply backyard barbecues, baseball games, and friendly get togethers with an ample supply of libation ... Now at good prices! 
The jingle of the bells puts everyone in a Good Humor. The perfect antidote to high temps! 
The Patsburg Volunteer Fire Dept has waxed and shined their patriotic pumper for the big July 4th Parade! 
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@bigtruckpete posted:
Just a few pics from NJ Hirailers.
When I saw the upper photo in the post about the NJ Hi-Railers, I just had to ask about the split entry house in the upper photo. these houses are a dime a dozen in the Northeast and Midwest, but I have never seen one on layout (possibly since they have to be sunk down into the terrain), and I've always wanted one for my layout. So I finally built one and finished it about two months ago. Here is a picture of it sitting on my layout that I posted on Weekend Photo Fun when I completed it back in April. Then I saw the photo in bigtruckpete's post and I had to ask who built this and get all the details about it. Especially curious about the source of the windows. So can you fill me in? Its a great model and its the only one I've ever seen besides the one I built...I want to hear all about it!
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@pennsyfan posted:Is the kitchen back in business? I thought the fire dept shut them down and they have to bring food in.
I hadn't heard about that. I believe it's 4 going on 5 years since I moved south and none of the return trips has coincded with Trainstock.
@PRRMiddleDivision posted:Here is the spacing of the units as they came out of the boAnd here it is after I replaced the original couplers with the short shank version:
Are the couplers able to be remotely uncoupled Neal ? 🤔
@Dallas Joseph posted:Are the couplers able to be remotely uncoupled Neal ? 🤔
On the original ABBA set, other than the couplers on the pilots of the A units , only one of the couplers on the powered B unit was an electrocoupler. The other five were all dummy couplers. Lionel does not make a short shank electrocoupler since there is not enough room for the coil. Hence, none of the replacement couplers between the units are operable. The same is true for the single stripe version which was released a year or two ago
Some of the freight cars in my red, white, and blue fleet. Not all celebrate our Independence Day, but all celebrate our country.
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@PRRMiddleDivision posted:On the original ABBA set, other than the couplers on the pilots of the A units , only one of the couplers on the powered B unit was an electrocoupler. The other five were all dummy couplers. Lionel does not make a short shank electrocoupler since there is not enough room for the coil. Hence, none of the replacement couplers between the units are operable. The same is true for the single stripe version which was released a year or two ago
Thanks Neal. 
@PRRMiddleDivision posted:
Neal.....I believe the split level house on the NJ HighRailers layout is a replica of Marty Fitzhenry's home.
Peter
@walt rapp posted:The plastic train to the right was a decoration on my retirement cake
A followup to my above post. My retirement cake with the plastic train on it.
walt
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@Putnam Division posted:Neal.....I believe the split level house on the NJ HighRailers layout is a replica of Marty Fitzhenry's home.
Peter
Yes it is. Made by Alex M. for Marty, it even has a layout inside the window on the lower level.
@Craignor; awesome display!
I've been working on rebuilding a lamp post I made several years ago from a turned porch post. I decided to make it RR themed. The top is a weather vane that has a silhouette of a steam locomotive, and when I get a second F7, they will be back to back as the top. The sign boards will be engraved with our last name on the left, and Wrong Way RR on the right. There are two boards in the rear that will read station and freight. I may add a third for machine shop. The lantern is a Lehigh Valley RR lamp that someone electrified at some point. I installed an LED flickering flame bulb in it for effect.
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@pennsyfan posted:@Craignor; awesome display!
Thanks Bob !
Neal, I have a question about the short shank couplers you installed on your PRR Sharks. What is the Lionel part number?
@Putnam Division posted:Neal.....I believe the split level house on the NJ HighRailers layout is a replica of Marty Fitzhenry's home.
Peter
Peter, thanks for letting me know. I’ll have to get in touch with you off the site and see if you have more details about it you just never see these model layouts line is meant to be sunk down into the terrain which you can see from the garage I’m not sure if this model is but I’d like to hear more about it. Thanks for filling me in.
@ncdave posted:Neal, I have a question about the short shank couplers you installed on your PRR Sharks. What is the Lionel part number?
Dave, you are one of several people who have asked me this including a number of emails I got off the site. I will look on the shipping box for the packing list attached to the box it was shipped in and see if it’s in there. I know it’s hard to believe but when I kept contacting them nobody seemed to know what I was talking about and I’m not sure if they even gave me a part number, I think whoever finally took care of it just threw them in a box. But I will check and see if I have the part number.
@NJCJOE posted:
Joe,
THANK YOU so much for that link! I am going to read the entire thread. Those houses are so common in the Northeast and Midwest, I could not believe I had never seen one modeled on a layout. I just had to have one on my layout, and until I saw that picture in the post above, I thought I was the only one who had ever modeled one on a layout. Obviously not! Again, thanks so much for digging this up and providing the link to the post about the model from 2016.
Neal (and, everyone).....here is a link for the background on Marty's house
https://ogrforum.com/...enry-s-home-pictures
Also, I'm back from Vermont and I will post pictures fromm the the Convention layout tours next weekend.
Peter
