WHAT TRAINS DID YOU RUN TODAY?

River City railfans got a treat as two heritage units, CSX 911 and MRL 4404 found themselves on an intermodal train with more than meets the eye. As the train was high priority, five flatcars containing the vehicle and beast mode props for the upcoming Transformers movie "Rise of the Beasts" were attached to the front for transport to the next location for filming.

NYC F3 AA lashup hauling an early evening freight:

Crew's enjoying dinner in the extended vision "Pacemaker" caboose

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Junior, I have found MTH F units to have realistic sounding horns, but I'm no authority on the real locomotives.

Like you, I'm interested in what others say about the MTH horns.

The Nathan P01235 that only went on Amtrak's GE E60's was the most melodious air horn ever, but nothing beats the fat "blaaaat" of the Leslie A-200, standard horn of the PRR, for getting one's attention. This was particularly important for the GG-1 which was nicknamed the "widowmaker" since it was so quiet at speed. MTH's A-200 version seems OK, but I don't think any manufacturer has chosen to reproduce the P01235.

@Bill Swatos posted:

NYC F3 AA lashup hauling an early evening freight:

Crew's enjoying dinner in the extended vision "Pacemaker" caboose

Looking good Bill 15 boxcars and a caboose nice run,

Another horn Lionel missed was the Westinghouse electro-pneuphonic on the Lackawanna MU cars.

I recognize the GG1 horn was a unique sound.   I'm surprised the E60 not having the standard AMTRAK 5 chime.

@Ed Samsen posted:

Another horn Lionel missed was the Westinghouse electro-pneuphonic on the Lackawanna MU cars.

I recognize the GG1 horn was a unique sound.   I'm surprised the E60 not having the standard AMTRAK 5 chime.

Indeed. The Amtrak GE E60's were apparently a unique case as the guy at Amtrak who chose the horn bell pitches was a former bandleader, of all things:

http://atsf.railfan.net/airhorns/p01235.html

Some of these E60's went on to later service with the NJT. Frankly, I'd just about kill to get one of these horns and a compressor setup to blow it like those heard in the link above. You wouldn't happen to have a link to the sound of one of those Westinghouse EP horns, would you Ed?

Hi Everyone. Been running this one for the last week. Great rendition of this wonderful work horse. Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Hi Everyone. Been running this one for the last week. Great rendition of this wonderful work horse. Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Dave

Dave great looking loco and sharp layout! Mark

Mark thank you. I really like the unit. Just like most, the layout is a work in progress.

Dave

@Trainbros89 posted:

@Bill Swatos posted:

Nice electrics and consist! Are both units powered?

Thank you and yes, both units powered!

MTH PS3 NY Central F3s hauling Williams NY Central passenger cars passed the Polo Grounds and across the George Washingmachine Bridge:

LOL, Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

MTH PS3 NY Central F3s hauling Williams NY Central passenger cars passed the Polo Grounds and across the George Washingmachine Bridge:

LOL, Arnold

Benjamin Frankfurter would be proud!

Love the looks and sounds of this MTH Railking PS3 New Haven EP5, which is running nice and smooth on DCS:

Is the horn realistic? It sounds realistic to me.

A pair of Hudsons pulling S scale O gauge freight cars.  1st Hudson is a Flyer 570; 2nd Hudson is a 1990 Lionel 1-700.  The Lionel Hudson pulled a longer train while drawing less current.  S (3/16") scale cars have the proportions of narrow gauge (36") freight cars in O scale.

Extra, extra, read all about it:

The Beverly Hillbillies have struck it rich:

Black gold, Texas T!

LOL, Arnold

PS: Listen to the horn of that MTH PS3 CSX diesel in the above video. I know very little about real trains but that horn sure sounds realistic to me.

"You load sixteen tons, what do ya get,

Another day older and deeper in debt:"

That's an LC+ D&H RS3 on the point hauling hoppers and gondolas with coal loads. Arnold

Saint Peter don’t ya call me cause I can’t go, I owe my soul to the “hobby store “.

Lionel CCII Niagara and milk cars

Today I ran my version of Rock Island’s Train #18, “The Plainsman,” at the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club.

An F-3  AB set head a Scranton bound passenger train. The lead A unit is a Lionel unit I painted 30 years ago and the B unit is MTH. The passenger cars are painted in NYOW Mountaineer colors. The baggage boxcar is also MTH and a special run by JR Hobby Shop in Syracuse

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EqcSCKcADLNPM6AQA

Yankees v. Redsox, game begins in 15 minutes. Who will win the rubber game of the 3 game series?

Fans riding the subway hoping to make it in time for the 1st pitch.

Watch out for the rats carrying slices of pizza in the foreground. LOL, Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari

The subway passengers saw a real heartbreaker, Red Sox 3, Yankees 2. Someone has to buy Aaron Judge a new big toe to replace the old one very soon.

my recent purchase from E-Z catch

Ran my Mr. Muffin's custom run unit for the first time...it's a winner!

Dave

A Lionel MPC era FA2 Southern Pacific ABA unit from way back in 1975 still rides the rails as it hauls Lionel post-war 2400 series streamliners from 1956 on the Shenandoah Short Line.  I couldn’t buy this engine back in 1975 because I was just starting a family and the price was just too high for me.  Anyway, just to satisfy my old long standing desire I bought these for a song at one of the auction sites.  Inexpensively made but still running good.

Have you thought about making a full "Baby" daylight?  Take a bunch of "Beater" 2400 series cars strip and repaint to SP daylight colors.

I did similar for a D&H Laurentian  MPC Era shells on late postwar 2 magne traction axles QSI reverse at the time ROW Diesel Roar and 5 Chime horn both units powered second A slaved to the lead unit

@MELGAR, you have started a very interesting thread and we are now on page 44, and there’s lots of beautiful trains and videos to review. I plan to go back to see the pictures I’ve missed. Here’s some trains I’ve began to run again. Happy Railroading Everyone

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LtU6Z2VajbL2C3od6

Well I'm not quite sure how to describe this action. How did a much newer engine get on my 50's layout. It actually belonged to a friend of mine who wanted to see it run. He enjoyed seeing pull all those reefers,

@Bill Park posted:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LtU6Z2VajbL2C3od6

Well I'm not quite sure how to describe this action. How did a much newer engine get on my 50's layout. It actually belonged to a friend of mine who wanted to see it run. He enjoyed seeing pull all those reefers,

A little "Hustle Muscle" is good for the sole....

Yesterday, I ran my JLC Rio Grande Challenger with a 34 car train at the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club!

Two of my smoothest conventional runners traversing the railroad empire:

The Chessie System diesel is a K Line, the NY Central F3s are Lionel diesels probably from the late 1990s. Arnold

Here is this week’s Whistle Stop Wednesday Videos….

Well, it's 96 degrees here in northern Utah at 1:30 pm and is supposed to reach 96. So, I'm back inside beating the heat in the cool basement and running my summer trains which include Union Pacific's Yellowstone Special pulled by a Lionel Legacy F7 A & B and a UP freight train pulled by a Lionel early Legacy GP7 & GP9B. My Legacy GP9A is in for repairs, but the dependable GP7 has been filling in nicely.

After weathering the turntable, I ran my Lionel Legacy RS-27.

Gene

Only my most entertaining:

Annheiser Busch beer car, Yogi Berra/Ballantine Beer custom weathered box car and two Bronx Zoo cars with giraffes ducking under the telltale, hauled by a Legacy 0-6-0 steam switcher with swinging bell. Arnold

Very cool Arnold. I guess they’re on the way back from the All-Star game.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Very cool Arnold. I guess they’re on the way back from the All-Star game.

Judge and Stanton are almost as tall as the giraffes. LOL.

If you want to entertain little kids, get the Bronx Zoo giraffe car and triggering mechanism and install it on your layout. Chances are that it will be the little kids favorite thing.

Ran my Williams 746 that I added an MTH ps1 smoke unit to!

On Saturday, the guest operator at the Empire and Eastern Division of the TTOS picnic here was Don Klose and he ran two locomotives on the layout with Legacy. Today I decided to try it and it worked out. Two New Haven Mohawks haul short trains so the operator cut down on the derailment possibilities.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/B3e8GT8dvt1sbr48A

@Donnie Kennedy posted:

Ran my Williams 746 that I added an MTH ps1 smoke unit to!

Nice!

Photos show my new Lionel model of New Haven Railroad Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner #792 (2233291, MSRP $599.99). The video shows today’s test run with three New Haven boxcars and a caboose on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

Melgar, the new acquisitions look very sleek. That’s a lot of quality in your layout.

Jay

PRR G5 5741 with a local freight; PRR GG1 with the Broadway limited, JC Camelback with a passenger local.

https://youtu.be/AESa163tfEE

Just two. 44  cars on the upper line and 43 on the lower.

@John H.....

Holy Cowski! Those freight are crazy l-o-n-g! How large is your layout to handle such length trains? They look fantastic.

@Junior posted:

@John H.....

Holy Cowski! Those freight are crazy l-o-n-g! How large is your layout to handle such length trains? They look fantastic.

Thanks very much. The table is 20' by 16' in a U shape, with each part of the U 7' wide. O72 on the outer track; O60 for the inner.

@MELGAR Mel- that new C-liner looks sharp. The LIRR ran a bunch of them, I just don't have the space for them on my current layout. One day.....

@pennsyfan Bob- Nice load that G5 is hauling! They were work horses.

@John H John- Beautiful layout and train room. Those are some long consists! Nice

Bob

@John H posted:

Just two. 44  cars on the upper line and 43 on the lower.

Very nice John. Question,; when the lower level train disappears, where does it emerge?

@RSJB18 posted:

@MELGAR Mel- that new C-liner looks sharp. The LIRR ran a bunch of them, I just don't have the space for them on my current layout. One day.....

@pennsyfan Bob- Nice load that G5 is hauling! They were work horses.

@John H John- Beautiful layout and train room. Those are some long consists! Nice

Bob

Thanks Bob; there are so many other engines looking for run time; but I never seem to take the G5 off the track. 🥹

@pennsyfan posted:

Very nice John. Question,; when the lower level train disappears, where does it emerge?

The outer line rises up over the left side of the U. You get to see my unfinished sections. I have four storage tracks and a main line under the narrow section, and three storage tracks plus the main under the wide section where the farm is.
Thanks to everyone for all the likes.

@John H posted:

Just two. 44  cars on the upper line and 43 on the lower.

Very impressive, John, with lots of freight cars. But, no passenger trains? 🤔

@Yellowstone Special posted:

Very impressive, John, with lots of freight cars. But, no passenger trains? 🤔

Thank you, Vern. I have a RK Hudson and 6 NYC cars parked under the upper level. I was worried about coupler failure so I stayed with one train on each line. Only one opened, so I might get brave enough to try it next time. With the train taking up half of the linear distance on each line, I would have little collision avoidance time.

@John H posted:

Thank you, Vern. I have a RK Hudson and 6 NYC cars parked under the upper level. I was worried about coupler failure so I stayed with one train on each line. Only one opened, so I might get brave enough to try it next time. With the train taking up half of the linear distance on each line, I would have little collision avoidance time.

John,

You need some of those elastic bands that the girls and ladies use for their pony tails. They are better than rubber bands.

@pennsyfan posted:

John,

You need some of those elastic bands that the girls and ladies use for their pony tails. They are better than rubber bands.

Or, he could open the coupler, put 2 or 3 drops of Zap a Gap glue inside then quickly close the coupler before the glue dries. Then you have a permanently closed coupler that will not open no matter how many cars it’s pulling behind it. 😉

@John H posted:

Thanks very much. The table is 20' by 16' in a U shape, with each part of the U 7' wide. O72 on the outer track; O60 for the inner.

Nice! Mine is 12x18 feet running 072 and 054 curve inter-mixed.  I "can" ru. long trains but it looks foolish. Soon as the caboose passes a station, you see then engine.....WHA? 😁

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ogYEiPxVA5T7cKu98

A New Haven pair of DL109's heads a coal drag bound for Cedar Hill NH

New Haven Railroad FL9 #2043 is a Sunset/3^rd Rail model made in 2012. It just returned from Sunset following a repair. Videos show a test run on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

Looks and sounds great.  Powerful engine.

It’s taken me a month to get these two New Haven diesel locomotives running together on my 12’-by-8’ layout. New Haven EMD FL9 #2043 (Sunset/3^rd Rail, 2012) has just been returned to me after repairs. New Haven Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner #792 (Lionel 2233291) required a return to the dealer and was exchanged. Photos and videos on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

@MELGAR , hi Mel, Wow, I love the quality of Third Rail Sunset models and your diesels are simply beautiful, the layout is amazing, it’s fantastic. Thank you for your contributions to our hobby. I ran these trains today and will do a video sunday. Happy Railroading Everyone

A pair of New Haven FA's head an empty bunch of coal hoppers back to Maybrook and Scranton. FA's are first generation Weaver's. The lead unit was custom painted in New Haven green and gold.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2bruqAe2EX1mreau6

Well today still running my USCG trains since yesterday (4Aug) was the Coast Guards 233 birthday!

Here's a Santa Fe freight and Union Pacific's Yellowstone Special, circa 1960s.

I ran the PRR G5 with a mixed freight; a PRSL Consolidation with passenger coaches, along with a CNJ Camelback with coaches and a BMT Subway set. All under the supervision of my 1 1/2 year old granddaughter, Marlowe. This was the first time she saw my layout. In the video my son Eric is pointing out different scenes to her.

@pennsyfan posted:

I ran the PRR G5 with a mixed freight; a PRSL Consolidation with passenger coaches, along with a CNJ Camelback with coaches and a BMT Subway set. All under the supervision of my 1 1/2 year old granddaughter, Marlowe. This was the first time she saw my layout. In the video my son Eric is pointing out different scenes to her.

I think you’re developing a future helper/enthusiast. It’s nice seeing her eyes light up.

Jay

Well, I finally got my Lionel Legacy Union Pacific GP9 back after 7 weeks from having a sound board changed out. But, it mates well with my dummy GP9B pulling a 1960s-era freight. Then, the UP Yellowstone Special, this time from the other side of the layout. 😉

@Yellowstone Special, Vern, your UP GP7 is a beauty, well worth the wait…. @MELGAR, Mel, this is a fun to review thread, lots of nice trains… Happy Railroading Everyone…

@leapinlarry posted:

@Yellowstone Special, Vern, your UP GP7 is a beauty, well worth the wait…. @MELGAR, Mel, this is a fun to review thread, lots of nice trains… Happy Railroading Everyone…

Thank you, Larry. UP’s Armour Yellow paint isn’t an exact match on both GP9 units, since the B came out years before the Legacy GP9A. But, close enough. Also, I was just test-running them together pulling a Santa Fe freight, thus the SF caboose on the end. 😉

Nice trains you have there.

Actually ran this Sunday at the club. CNW fans will immediately identify what's wrong with the consist.

@AGHRMatt posted:

Actually ran this Sunday at the club. CNW fans will immediately identify what's wrong with the consist.

Matt: I’m not, never have been, or ever will be, a club guy. Also not a CNW fan and know very little about this railroad, being a Santa Fe and Union Pacific fan. So I don’t know what’s wrong with the consist, unless the CNW didn’t have full-length dome cars (just a guess). 😉

But nevertheless, I think it’s an awesome train. 👍

Once again Matt poses a question which triggers an internet search. Presuming this source is reasonably accurate, CNW never owned/operated any Dome cars.  I am rather surprised on how few made it into service and how little time they lasted until Amtrak.

History of Dome Cars

@ScoutingDad posted:

Once again Matt poses a question which triggers an internet search. Presuming this source is reasonably accurate, CNW never owned/operated any Dome cars.  I am rather surprised on how few made it into service and how little time they lasted until Amtrak.

History of Dome Cars

@ScoutingDad:

A good read on dome cars and thanks for the link.

Vern, BSA Troop 305, Teton Peaks Council, early 1960s 👍

@Yellowstone Special posted:

Matt: I’m not, never have been, or ever will be, a club guy. Also not a CNW fan and know very little about this railroad, being a Santa Fe and Union Pacific fan. So I don’t know what’s wrong with the consist, unless the CNW didn’t have full-length dome cars (just a guess). 😉

But nevertheless, I think it’s an awesome train. 👍

Correct. CNW didn't have a full vista dome car until around 1971 (post-Amtrak) when the acquired one from the Milwaukee Road for the business train. I bought the car for laughs and grins and as a trivia item. Besides, it doesn't look bad in a consist.

I have a NYC dome for similar reasons. I know the Central never had a dome (I imagine there would be just a few clearance issues) but I like domes and it's fun looking in the train.

Speaking of New York Central domes...
As I was getting ready to put the boxes away I thought it would be neat to have a quick run of all of my current NYC passenger equipment in one train, usually I keep it to about six cars.
Ignore background mess of the Living Room Central as it were.

I ran New Haven EP-5 #371 (20-2195-1, MSRP $349.95, 1999) by MTH on my 12'-by-8' layout today. This PS1 engine (with BCR) is one of my favorites.

MELGAR

I ran my three PW Alcos with PW 2400 cars.

I ran New York Central Alco RS-3 #8344 (MTH 30-20816-1 with PS3) on my 12’-by-8’ layout today – with two “lightning stripe” PS1 passenger cars. Commuter trains looked like this north of New York City in the 1950s.

MELGAR

@pennsyfan posted:

I ran my three PW Alcos with PW 2400 cars.

At proper post war speed as well! 👍👍

@MELGAR posted:

I ran New York Central Alco RS-1 #8344 (MTH 30-20816-1 with PS3) on my 12’-by-8’ layout today – with two “lightning stripe” PS1 passenger cars. Commuter trains looked like this north of New York City in the 1950s.

MELGAR

Looks great Mel. The humble but mighty RS3 served many roles during its time.

Bob

Ran this before going over the mountains to my grandsons 8th birthday.

A New Haven L-1 Mohawk  heads a string of loaded reefers toward Cedar Hill Yard in New Haven and leased power Nickel Plate 759 pulls a fast passenger toward Scranton on my fictitious NYNY&H-NYO&W  layout

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GCGWCpuGoWA7Xtwo6

A freshly outshopped New Haven I-5 Hudson type heads an stainless steel passenger express toward Cedar Hill. This engine was totally overhauled with a new can motor a new transmission, new electronics  and some new side rods from the Harmon shops in Shiloh, North Carolina. It now has a 100 step motor allowing for excellent startup and creeping speed.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iAwqASqfD8wNchMPA

@Bill Park,

Both engines look terrific. I can't believe @harmonyards made the rods. Nice machine work...

MELGAR

I ran GE 70-ton Rutland Railroad #500 (Williams by Bachmann) and tested the tracking of my new MTH Premier Rutland #36 wood-sided caboose purchased from forum sponsor Public Delivery Track. It took about 14 months from pre-order to delivery but this locomotive now has a correct caboose...

MELGAR

My train running for today was somewhat unusual. I recently purchased four new MTH Premier wood-sided cabooses (2 Boston & Albany, 1 New York Central, 1 Rutland). Some people have complained about the tracking of these cabooses through switches due to the design of the pickup rollers. Therefore, I have been running each of these cabooses through the Atlas O-54 switches on my 10'-by-5' layout to make sure they track properly and don't derail - which they do not. As shown in the second video below, in some cases when the caboose is pushed backward through the curved path of the switch, there is a noticeable bump as the pickup roller crosses the straight rail. In most other cases, the car tracks smoothly through the switch. Many solutions have been proposed by forum readers. I still have one more caboose to test but, so far, they seem to operate satisfactorily on my layout...

MELGAR

Three NYO&W F3's await assignment in New Haven's Cedar Hill Yard.Two are old Lionel units and the one on the left is a new MTH unit from JR JCT in Syracuse,

A pair of NYO&WF units heads a passenger consist of old NYO&W Mountaineer coaches headed for Scranton PA.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pdRN4j6vnBuzLsxx5

Not great quality, but I ran my Long Island GP-20’s and my PC GP7 with mixed cars:

CUT P-motor has taken over for the Niagara.

I had quite a bit of freight traffic in town. CNJ FM was lined up behind PRR E-44 on track 1. Track 2 was busy with an Erie Lackawanna AS616 tank train. The Reading  Camelback local managed to sneak through on the local track.
https://youtu.be/1YU7FDpKyOk?si=n5jjyHCj6P_vLC5W

On another thread today, someone posted the MTH PS1 Jersey Central Trainmaster hauling boxcars.

Coincidentally, I have the exact same locomotive, it's one of my favorites, and today I ran it and made a video of it hauling freight cars with heavy loads. Here is the video:

Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

On another thread today, someone posted the MTH PS1 Jersey Central Trainmaster hauling boxcars.

Coincidentally, I have the exact same locomotive, it's one of my favorites, and today I ran it and made a video of it hauling freight cars with heavy loads. Here is the video:

Arnold

It's fun to see another one of these on duty, Arnold! Mine has one particular "quirk" that I can't quite figure out. When I go into neutral after forward, the engine sound attenuates considerably after about 10 seconds. Neutral after reverse does not result in the same behavior. I've tried resetting to default per the manual to no avail. Does yours act similarly?

@Bill Swatos posted:

It's fun to see another one of these on duty, Arnold! Mine has one particular "quirk" that I can't quite figure out. When I go into neutral after forward, the engine sound attenuates considerably after about 10 seconds. Neutral after reverse does not result in the same behavior. I've tried resetting to default per the manual to no avail. Does yours act similarly?

Not at all, Bill, the sounds, smoke and overall performance of my MTH PS1 Jersey Central Trainmaster has been flawless since I bought it brand new approximately 20 to 25 years ago.

However, I have a Lionel Legacy diesel switcher with a problem with its sounds that I will bring up on a new Forum thread, probably under Lionel Products, later this morning. It's sounds went bad yesterday (now it has no sounds or a little static) and I suspect the problem is with its speaker.

I wonder if the problem with the sounds of your Trainmaster also has to do with its speaker. Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Not at all, Bill, the sounds, smoke and overall performance of my MTH PS1 Jersey Central Trainmaster has been flawless since I bought it brand new approximately 20 to 25 years ago.

However, I have a Lionel Legacy diesel switcher with a problem with its sounds that I will bring up later this morning on a new Forum thread, probably under Lionel Products,  later this morning. It's sounds died on me yesterday, and I suspect there is a problem with its speaker.

I wonder if the problem with your Trainmaster also has to do with its speaker. Arnold

Good to "hear" your Trainmaster does not have the same problem as mine. I believe my problem is in the sound electronics as every other sound is fine, right down to the crew "chatter" which plays at normal level even while the prime mover idle sounds are attenuated. I got my Trainmaster from Trainz for $175, so I can't really complain. One other detail is that mine came with a BCR installed, likely after the 8.4V NiCad battery failed. Are you using a BCR, as well?

@Bill Swatos posted:

Good to "hear" your Trainmaster does not have the same problem as mine. I believe my problem is in the sound electronics as every other sound is fine, right down to the crew "chatter" which plays at normal level even while the prime mover idle sounds are attenuated. I got my Trainmaster from Trainz for $175, so I can't really complain. One other detail is that mine came with a BCR installed, likely after the 8.4V NiCad battery failed. Are you using a BCR, as well?

Yes

The video below shows, IMO, awesome MTH PS3 NY Ontario & Western F3 AA units hauling freight cars with heavy loads through My Little Town; I ran this train on my layout and took this video earlier today:

When I saw a video of this locomotive running on Bill Park's fabulous layout, I had to have it. Within minutes of seeing that, I purchased mine from our Forum Sponsor, JR Junction. Arnold

Very nice Arnold and I hope your crews are getting holiday pay.