WHAT TRAINS DID YOU RUN TODAY?

Electrics Rule!

A New Haven I-5 Streamlined Hudson passes by the Scranton icing station, and other businesses and will swing around the reverse loop and pass by the Scranton passenger station before heading back toward New Haven.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lh3aR9mgVHQ9qwwMA

Still being tested by Alco, the 2012 is being used by the New Haven for freight duties. The alco is an MTH locomotive.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vnU1rtf9a3rN9MCu9

Toy Story 4-4-0 debut in the ‘Disney Home at Marceline’ section of the Keokuk-St Joseph Railway.  Fun sounds and lights - especially the added Monsters Inc Scream Tank car.

Running passenger trains led by MR E-1,PPR GG1, PRR B-1

https://youtu.be/31FGoXEm4Gc?si=PGr7GOu_uaVWWqhT

@Bill Park posted:

Still being tested by Alco, the 2012 is being used by the New Haven for freight duties. The alco is an MTH locomotive.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vnU1rtf9a3rN9MCu9

Magnificent trains and layout, Bill, as usual. Arnold

A long train of early K-Line - USA made - cars pulled by a pair of powered Unique Art Rock Island F units.  To get the engines to run properly I had to disconnect the reverse units.  Two powered units will pull a nice train.  I was running a train of 8 aluminum passenger cars.  No problems pulling the train but the consist drew 6.5 amps.

@pennsyfan posted:

Running passenger trains led by MR E-1,PPR GG1, PRR B-1

https://youtu.be/31FGoXEm4Gc?si=PGr7GOu_uaVWWqhT

Nice wall of trains pennsyfan!

@cbq9911a posted:

A long train of early K-Line - USA made - cars pulled by a pair of powered Unique Art Rock Island F units.  To get the engines to run properly I had to disconnect the reverse units.  Two powered units will pull a nice train.  I was running a train of 8 aluminum passenger cars.  No problems pulling the train but the consist drew 6.5 amps.

You nugged me to give my USTT (US Toy Trains) Metroliner some exercise. My tinplate table is only 6x6 so it had to share time with the Blue Streak which was already on the track.

This morning I ran a long string of Lionel "Chemical" tank cars pulled by my PostWar Illinois Central F3 A-B-A** set.

***Yes, a PostWar Illinois Central A-B-A, see Yes, a PostWar Illinois Central F3 2363 "dummy" A unit (warrenvillerailroad.com) for the story behing them.

Pulling up the rear is a Lionel SP caboose that I custom painted a while ago.

@Lionelski posted:

This morning I ran a long string of Lionel "Chemical" tank cars pulled by my PostWar Illinois Central F3 A-B-A** set.

***Yes, a PostWar Illinois Central A-B-A, see Yes, a PostWar Illinois Central F3 2363 "dummy" A unit (warrenvillerailroad.com) for the story behing them.

Pulling up the rear is a Lionel SP caboose that I custom painted a while ago.

I checked out your link John, great job and great story to affirm where the trailing A unit came from.

An Alp 44 and a yet to be repainted as NJT, a PRR MU set. (Hypothetically)

9-11 Tribute

Lionel Vision Line Genset #300 Roll by with the 9/11 Tribute Miami-Dade Fire Engine 3.

Ran New Haven EP-3 #0360 and DL109 #0719 on my 12'-by-8' layout today.

MELGAR

Ran a new to me Illinois Central City of Miami 10 car passenger set headed by 3rd generation K-line Milwaukee Road F units. The cars draw 2 amps while the engines under load are 3 amps. Ran these a little faster than usual with transformer control. These should have TMCC. 

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of NJT; I ran an Atlas Alp 44 with Atlas Comet-2 passenger cars. A Lionel GP-38  NJT 4300 with 2400 style NJT passenger cars. A Lionel NW-2 NJT 500 with a NJT work train. The Lionel work train comprised of NJT Ore cars, tank car flatcars modified with bulkhead ends, gondola and extended vision caboose.

I hadn't run my K-Line Boston & Albany #403 4-6-6T steam locomotive recently, so I gave it a run today - 09/30/2023. It has the original electronics so it runs best above 10 Volts AC and somewhat fast. The video shows it running at 42 scale miles-per-hour on my 10'-by-5' layout. The B&A used these engines in commuter service around Boston, and they did run fast. The chugging at that speed sounds very realistic to me and seems to be at four chuffs per revolution. The quality and detail of the model are outstanding. Probably my nicest steamer...

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

I hadn't run my K-Line Boston & Albany #403 4-6-6T steam locomotive recently, so I gave it a run today - 09/30/2023. It has the original electronics so it runs best above 10 Volts AC and somewhat fast. The video shows it running at 42 scale miles-per-hour on my 10'-by-5' layout. The B&A used these engines in commuter service around Boston, and they did run fast. The chugging at that speed sounds very realistic to me and seems to be at four chuffs per revolution. The quality and detail of the model are outstanding. Probably my nicest steamer...

MELGAR

Nice moderate speed, Melgar, for me to run mine like that, I need to have my K Line B&A tank engine pulling at least several heavy passenger cars.

Guest operator and forum member Chris Vigarito demonstrates his capability with the Legacy remote control keeping two Lionel Mohawks  and a Lionel FM C liner chugging along at safe distances on my NYNH&H NYO&W layout. Good job Chris, you can come back again.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6EUKHEFX4wS2L1Bj6

I ran my MTH Premier model (20-21458-1) of Maine Central F3 #686 today. Shown on my 10’-by-5’ layout with a short freight train running at 19 scale miles-per-hour. Extended vision caboose #670 is an Atlas O model. The model of Bangor & Aroostook boxcar #1407 was made by Crown Model Products and the model of MEC single-sheathed boxcar #36123 was made by Atlas O.

MELGAR

Actually yesterday.  A 1990 Lionel scale Hudson with 6 18" heavyweight cars.  Replaced the bulbs with LED bulbs and cut the current draw from 7 amps to 3.5 amps.

Thomas the Tank Engine on an oil train.  The bogie tank wagons and brake van are Lima converted to 3 rail.

Union Pacific Challenger pulling a train of prewar hoppers with an 817 caboose with LED marker lights.

Yesterday I ran one of my pw 2502W sets. Budd cars 400, 2559, 2550.

I ran my prewar set #296 consisting of a 253 electric and 607 607 608 passenger cars.

@pennsyfan posted:

I ran my prewar set #296 consisting of a 253 electric and 607 607 608 passenger cars.

Hummin' right along. I can smell the ozone from here.

Bob

Legacy M1b, MTH Daylight, MTH Hudson, Lionel 1-700e, and a Lionel 11711.

Watchin' the Fords go by courtesy of my little PW 2037 Adriatic:

Scale boxcars by Weaver for Eastwood Automobilia. Modern 027 MUSA boxcar, PW flatcar & PW caboose by Lionel. 1/43 T-Birds by Dinky.

Ran my new Lionel Fezziwigs Christmas set last night. Still looking for suitable power but the Strasburg Plymouth will do for now.

Bob

Ran an intermodal train today. Lionel Dash 8 leader with Williams SD45 second unit with a train of Lionel TTUX cars.

MTH Union Pacific Challenger with 12 816/2816 hopper cars and an 817 caboose.

TCA A-B-A F units and 9 TCA passenger cars, ca 1998 - 2001.

12 car 816/2816 coal train pulled by MTH Rail King challenger.

1990 scale Hudson pulling 9 car TCA streamliner.

I ran my GG1 in commemoration of the last run of the proto type.

@cbq9911a posted:

12 car 816/2816 coal train pulled by MTH Rail King challenger.

Bookin'! Nice!

Today, we ran our New Haven EP-3 0360 on my grandfather's 12x8 layout.

Didn't run my Unique Art F7s today, but created a Christmas card with them.  The 2nd engine in the video is a customized powered A with a prewar coupler.

My grandsons visited this week and ran trains on my 12'-by-8' layout. They squeezed into the back of the layout (where I seldom venture) and took the photos and videos.

MELGAR

Ran my Shay tonight just for giggles 🤭

Photos and videos show Boston & Maine F2 diesel #4257 (model by Atlas O) on my 12'-by-8' layout pulling a B&M wood coach (by Lionel) and two heavyweight coaches (by MTH). The last car is Boston & Maine #1.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

Photos and videos show Boston & Maine F2 diesel #4257 (model by Atlas O) on my 12'-by-8' layout pulling a B&M wood coach (by Lionel) and two heavyweight coaches (by MTH). The last car is Boston & Maine #1.

MELGAR

You have such an interesting layout and you operate cool consists. Thank you for sharing.

Jay

Lionel Legacy Southern Pacific 2-6-0 M63 Mogul with mixed freight. Fun little engine!

I ran my Electroliner with a CN&W IR pulling Electroliner bodies to the shop.
Backstory is I bought the original set marked down because the shells were not in great shape cosmetically. This summer I found prototype shells on Stout. So the old shells are going in for repair. 👨‍🔧

Lionel 736 with 2046W tender (custom rear light LEDs) pulling American Flyer prewar 3/16" scale O gauge cars.  Die cast hopper (retrucked postwar), box, gondola, tank, flatcar (postwar with prewar truck at one end, Flyer coupler at the other.  Marx 3/16" tank and hopper cars, sheet metal Flyer caboose.

A Flyer knuckle coupler will couple with Lionel knuckle couplers if the height is correct.

Ran this 23 car fast freight with a FM Train Master on the point.  

Well It was a fast freight until it slowed down  ; )

Enjoyed running some trains while I did wash today.

@cbq9911a posted:

Lionel 736 with 2046W tender (custom rear light LEDs) pulling American Flyer prewar 3/16" scale O gauge cars.  Die cast hopper (retrucked postwar), box, gondola, tank, flatcar (postwar with prewar truck at one end, Flyer coupler at the other.  Marx 3/16" tank and hopper cars, sheet metal Flyer caboose.

A Flyer knuckle coupler will couple with Lionel knuckle couplers if the height is correct.

Pictures??
I just happen to see a Marx 0 gauge car on the bay.  It had that fork type easy release coupler. How difficult is it to install a knuckle coupler?

726RR Berkshire with Flyer 3/16" cars and an MTH Rail King Challenger with a 9 car TCA streamliner.

A LionChief Plus 2.0 Alco RS-3 PRR 4410 (2134400) pulling around 20 boxcars, and

A LionChief Plus 2.0 Berkshire Polar Express (1932090) pulling my "Harry Truman Campaign Train"-  5  MTH Heavyweight PRR passenger cars, a Baggage car, plus a flatbed carrying two autos.

@ScoutingDad posted:

Well It was a fast freight until it slowed down  ; )

ScoutingDad - actually the fast freight  slowed for a yellow signal ... LOL!

New York Central Alco RS-3 #8223 was running on my 10'-by-5' layout.

MELGAR

An FM "C" Liner heads a passenger local with a head end postal car toward New Haven while a burly L-2a Mohawk heads a load of empties towrd Maybrook.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sreRojZSZnvJDC6QA

A New Haven (Lionel) L-1 Mohawk rounds the Scranton reverse loop in order to head back toward Cedar Hill (New Haven) with mixed freight.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MdQYPCky1c72Kzvm6

An FM "C" Liner heads a string of mixed passenger equipment headed for Scranton Pa. Typical New Haven, you would see different passenger cars mixed together from whatever the railroad had to spare.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DJDiqWLjcdv5vMSw7

Bill,

The layout and New Haven equipment are looking really good.

MELGAR

My train for today was powered by a model of Long Island Rail Road H-10s 2-8-0 Consolidation #111 made by MTH in 2006 (20-3230-2, PS2, MSRP $699.95) with scale wheels and no traction tires. Traction is satisfactory but the flanges are small so I only run the engine straight through the Atlas O-72 switches on the outer loop of my layout.

The Long Island Rail Road was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1900 to 1966. Consequently, hundreds of locomotives designed and built by the PRR ran on Long Island, including nineteen H-10s 2-8-0 Consolidations – road numbers #101 to #119. They headed freight and passenger trains from the 1920s until the end of steam in the 1950s. H-10s engines developed more than 53,000 pounds of tractive effort. During potato harvest, they hauled hundred-car trains of potatoes from the east end of Long Island into New York City. #111 was built in 1916 and retired in October 1955.

The videos show #111 pulling two MTH LIRR wood passenger coaches on my 12'-by-8' layout – first running slowly and then running fast.

MELGAR

The Polar Express, behind a 736 Berkshire.  These are the 10th Anniversary cars from 2014.  I've given the cars names.  Haddon Sundblom is the artist who created Coca Cola ads featuring Santa, which defined the modern image of Santa.  Robert L. May wrote Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  George Bailey is the hero of It's a Wonderful Life, played by Jimmy Stewart.

Christmas trains running around the tree.

A 10th anniversary Polar Express and an American Flyer orange stripe streamliner.

Had to share this shot with the new backdrop. What a visual difference it adds to the layout.

Gene

Very nice Genemed, adds good depth perspective.

I busted out my postwar Lionel 2056 and ran it with my Vision Class A. It’s incredible seeing these two models running together, built 72 years apart.

I ran a 2333 that was given to me. I was shaking it down before I took it to the club Christmas layout.

Shakedown run for Christmas 2023....

@RSJB18 posted:

Shakedown run for Christmas 2023....

Now, it you had been running under command control, the engine would have started up in the right direction

Nice consist, Bob - especially the bobber caboose. And, at least, the crew talk doesn’t sound like Alvin and The Chipmunks!!!

@Apples55 posted:

Now, it you had been running under command control, the engine would have started up in the right direction

Nice consist, Bob - especially the bobber caboose. And, at least, the crew talk doesn’t sound like Alvin and The Chipmunks!!!

It's a LionChief. I had the remote in my hand and hit the throttle into reverse....

Fat fingers.....😂😂😂😂

Yea, Santa is a nice touch.

Running Billboard reefers and a lot of em!

I have a set of KLine C&O Passenger cars that have I am converting to LED’s. Trying 2 methods. The first cars will us using the kit from @gunrunnerjohn. The set comes with everything needed to convert to LED. The entire process from start to finish took me about 60 minutes.

I finished up one car about 30 minutes again and plan to test it tomorrow.

The second method will be slightly different and can be completed until the connectors come in. I am going to attempt to use the light bulb board in the passenger cars utilizing a pre populated 18 inch LED board. Should be interesting once I assemble all the parts.

I had to order the wire harness which I found on amazon for pretty cheap: https://www.amazon.com/daier-M...Female/dp/B01DUC1O68

@Dennis Holler  Dennis there have been a few comments on S curves in a layout and potential problems. I think yours takes the cake running trouble free.  Thanks for posting.

@RSJB18 posted:

Shakedown run for Christmas 2023....

The Christmas cheer that was mentioned: that wouldn’t by chance be scotch would it? Very nice consist Bob.

Jay

@ScoutingDad posted:

@Dennis Holler  Dennis there have been a few comments on S curves in a layout and potential problems. I think yours takes the cake running trouble free.  Thanks for posting.

Thanks, I got to say, I have been a little surprised i haven't had more challenges.  There were a couple of trouble maker cars that had to be removed or moved further back.  I run the heavier Atlas and MTH reefers up front  and all the wood kit built ones make up the back half of the train.  I was able to get close to 20 wood and prewar cars before they started pulling off the track on curves due to relatively light weights.  So if I weighted them I think they might fare better. I did clean and polish most all the wheels and axles on the pre/postwar and kit built cars so they shoul dbe as good as they can get.  That MTH K4 is actually missing one of it's tires lol so she does get a little slippery.  I must say, the worst offenders have been a few of the newer cars both Atlas and MTH where couplers would not stay closed under load.  Solution was the switch to Kadee #745's and they have been bullet proof...  Surprisingly so have the prewar box couplers lol.

https://ogrforum.com/...1#179087886848856851

salute to you…… Running and autographed boxcar!

so fun. My grandsons favorite

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

The Christmas cheer that was mentioned: that wouldn’t by chance be scotch would it? Very nice consist Bob.

Jay

better video going around the S curves lol

American Flyer "Illini" passenger set, made between 1922 and 1924.   Pulled by a Lionel 259E.

@RSJB18 posted:

Really, Bob??? I thought you were an electrician??? You should know better than to put water that close to electricity - get those ice cubes out of there before they dilute the alcohol (which, I’m sure, you were going to use to clean your track)

P.S. really sweet engine!!!

https://ogrforum.com/...7#182466531691084537

yes, yes, you had me at scotch… cheers

The weather was gloomy today in Connecticut so I spent more time than usual in the basement with my trains. Metro-North #412 is a K-Line model of an EMD FP10 that I hadn't run in a long while. The real locomotive ran on the Hudson Line in New York State and Connecticut between 1991 and 1995. I wanted to run it with Metro-North State of Connecticut passenger cars by Atlas O but the couplers wouldn't cooperate so videos show it with New York Central heavyweight cars on my 12'-by-8' layout.

Edit 12/18/23: Metro-North supposedly listed these engine as FP10s. Other sources say they are F10s since they did not have the 4-foot extension behind the rear trucks to house a train heating boiler. If so, they are F10s and the model is correct.

MELGAR

Great looking consist Melgar and the narrative is interesting too. Thanks

Amtrak F7 #102 is an Atlas O model delivered in 2015 (30134002) with TMCC. Photos and video show it running on my 12’-by-8’ layout pulling Metro-North Commuter Railroad Comet II coaches #6255 Noah Webster and #6268 Fairfield County of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The 21-inch models were made by Atlas O in 2008 and are item 6241. I rode on these cars when they ran in Connecticut.

This train was a test run. When I ran these cars behind another brand of engine, its rear coupler opened and the train broke in two. The Atlas O locomotive with the Atlas O cars operated properly on Atlas O track and O-72 curves.

MELGAR

Prewar Flyer 3/16" scale O gauge die cast consist.  Locomotive is an Industrial Rail Atlantic.  Hopper is the 1946 die cast hopper, which is the same as the prewar die cast car except for trucks.  Stock car is a relettered S car with O trucks.  Flat car is an S car with O trucks and an adapter coupler.

The Atlantic has no problem with pulling 5 die cast cars (1 pound each) on my layout.

On dreary Winter afternoons, I go downstairs and amuse myself with my trains and layouts. Lately, I've lubricated several of the older PS1 locomotives that I run most often, including New Haven Railroad EP-5 #371 today. Afterwards, I let it run for a while...

MELGAR

My Toymaker Santa Express is doing some track maintenance cleaning with two Lionel cars I received as gifts in tow: a B&M welding car and a Tootsie Roll single dome tank car. After a months worth of trains circling the tree, the track needed some maintenance.

Lionel 784 Hudson with a misbehaving E unit and a custom Vanderbilt tender.  Runs fine, except that you can't lock the engine into one direction.

Fired up our Lionel Milwaukee Road Legacy 4-8-4 S-3 Northern #261 and had it pull our Christmas layout consist.

Also ran MTH Illinois Central 0-6-0 USRA Steam Switcher (30-1268-1)

Not today, (I’m out of town), but a few years ago.  Going to run her at the club this weekend.

Rock Island Rocket.  Marx E7 A-B diesels and K-Line cars.  The Marx diesels are better proportioned to the cars than either Lionel's or K-Line's Alcos.

I remember back in the early 1960's, my father took me to the Southern yards in Princeton, Indiana.  He pointed out an NW-2 switcher and said "We call those butt head engines."  Now I have a butt head engine.

Odenville Bill

A Weaver Nickel Plate Berkshire with a string of freight cars heads for Maybrook while another Weaver Engine, a New Haven I-4 Pacific heads through Roscoe, New York with a short local.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VmWReXNkJRfcS3aEA

@Bill Park posted:

A Weaver Nickel Plate Berkshire with a string of freight cars heads for Maybrook while another Weaver Engine, a New Haven I-4 Pacific heads through Roscoe, New York with a short local.

Bill,

Your railroad and trains are terrific. Please take some photographs, write an article about the layout and what you have done to build it, and email to Allan Miller, editor of OGR Magazine. I know you are continuing to work on the layout, but there is more than enough to include in an article right now.

MELGAR

Grandkids ran trains all day

Hi Mel, If you keep twisting my arm, I won't have any other choice. Is your offer to take a look at it first still on the table?  Thanks for the compliments.  Bill

I ran Long Island Raid Road Alco RS-3 #1553 with three MTH Premier heavyweight steel passenger cars including #2000 “Montauk,” a parlor car. The locomotive is an old K-Line model with a sound system that needs 10-volts track power to play. So, at just above 10 volts, the train is running pretty quickly – at 50 scale miles-per-hour – but I guess that’s prototypical. Everything – including trains – moves fast on Long Island.

MELGAR

To moderate the speed a bit, If it has 2 can motors, wire the two motors in series  this will moderate speed to a more reasonable level

Late last night, I went downstairs to my train room and noticed that more trains than usual on my 12'-by-8' layout were Long Island Rail Road - my local railroad as a youngster. So, I took photos of the LIRR equipment, including LIRR G-5s 4-6-0 #21, LIRR Alco RS-3 #1553, LIRR GP-38 #277, and parlor cars Jamaica and Montauk #2000.

MELGAR

@ThatGuy posted:

Grandkids ran trains all day

Now that’s a great day in my book.

Ran a few after dinner last night. My son's gaming set up is next to my layout (used to be all my space..... ), and he wanted to show us the new PC he built with a friend, so since I was standing there anyway.....

Bob

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Now that’s a great day in my book.

It’s what it’s all about…… have a happy and healthy new year