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@geysergazer posted:

Well, I have to start with the venerable Lionel "GP7-GP9" which crude stamped handrails notwithstanding actually is a scale proportioned model. Length and height are scale and width is close, a [scale] 3" too wide. Also truck wheelbase is correct for a Blomberg at 9' (something MTH never did manage -theirs scales 8'3").

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Although not my first , I remember when I first bought the old Lionel  2380.   I didn't realize it was a scale engine.  Back in the early days of carpet railroading I was delighted with it and when I activated the horn I could have sworn I must have had the real thing in the back yard.   Loud horn ??? ......yes it was very loud . 😨   

My first scale Boston & Maine steam locomotive was a K-Line Berkshire that I bought at the clearance sale by the manufacturer as K-Line was going bankrupt. My second one was a Mountain that 3rdRail was discounting to clear out their inventory. My third one was the last Pacific  that Weaver made as they announced their closure. My first diesel, a RS-3, was made by Weaver for Charles Ro and this has been followed by many Boston & Maine diesels that were made by Weaver, MTH, Lionel, and Atlas. Recently, I have purchased and/or ordered several scale steam and diesel locomotives by Lionel from Charles Ro.

The first scale engine I purchased was a Williams brass USRA Pacific for my father-in-law.  He always talked about traveling behind K4s when in the navy, and I thought this was a K4  It was a long time ago.

Wms USRA Pacific 001

The first scale engine I bought for myself was a Lionel Chessie T1.  I really liked it although it was not a great puller.  I had Williams cars to go with it, but soon it did not fit my layout's theme so it was sold.  Bad move.

Chessie steam set3 002 [2)

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  • Wms USRA Pacific 001
  • Chessie steam set3 002 (2)
  • Chessie steam set3 004 (2)
  • Chessie steam set 001
Last edited by CAPPilot

The first scale loco I acquired was my Dad's prewar Lionel 700E Hudson. It was his most-prized item in his collection and always was in a prominent place in his train room. It, along with the rest of his collection, has been in my care since he died 19 years ago, and it is also on display in my train room for all to see when they visit. It's in pristine condition and runs very well, but since I don't have T-rail track, it's a shelf queen under glass.

The first scale loco I purchased myself, just a few years ago, is the Williams Crown Editions Southern Pacific Daylight GS4. In addition to looking fantastic, it's also a great runner, especially since Gunrunnerjohn converted it to DCS for me 2 years ago. SPDaylight700e

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  • SPDaylight
  • 700e

My first scale engine was a MTH Pennsy 2-8-0 H10 Consolidation with Proto-Sound 2.0 (20-3055-1). I was 13 years old. I pre-ordered it from the catalog and was so excited. I worked at the local train shop and paintball shop that year to earn the money to cover it when it came in. It is still one of my favorite engines with the best detail and sound. I fall into the generation where MTH is the equivalent to Lionel for most when they were young... owning an MTH Premier engine was a big deal!

I had an American Flyer PRR K5 No 310 for Christmas of 1949 and Gilbert advertised their trains as 'scale models'. I was only 5 and believed the advertising. Was always glad that Santa liked the 2 rail trains too!  They depicted 'the other brand' as "Too toy-like" with 3 rail track and short proportions.  LOL!

I reentered trains in early 1988 when I owned/operated a hobby shop north of New Orleans and became a Lionel, Williams, Weaver, and when Mike stared I became a MTH dealer.  Probably one of the Williams Crown Edition brass steamers was our first true scale purchases. We had the GS4 Daylights, Southern Mikados and Pacifics, and the Weaver brass scale GG1s and Empire State Hudsons and Dreyfus. They were all well received.

@c.sam posted:

I reentered trains in early 1988 when I owned/operated a hobby shop north of New Orleans and became a Lionel, Williams, Weaver, and when Mike stared I became a MTH dealer.  Probably one of the Williams Crown Edition brass steamers was our first true scale purchases. We had the GS4 Daylights, Southern Mikados and Pacifics, and the Weaver brass scale GG1s and Empire State Hudsons and Dreyfus. They were all well received.

Wow Sam!!  This is the first that I have known you owned and operated a hobby shop at one time!! 

Grew up with 7 family members in a fairly small house. My first "layout" was HO scale, mounted on plywood. It slid underneath the bottom bunk bed in the room I shared with my older brother. Dreamed of O gauge trains like my friend had in his spacious basement. Time went by, trains fell out of favor. Low and behold it's 1995 and I just bought my first house within walking distance of Trainland in Lynbrook, NY. I pay the store a visit and immediately notice the wall of PW trains for sale. An employee says to me "Why would you want to buy those old trains when for way less money you can own these." He then goes on to show me a new line of trains made by MTH called RailKing. They were about the same size as PW trains as far as I could tell, brand new and reasonably priced. Just had to get past the fact that another company other than Lionel could actually manufacture trains! I took the bait and purchased what I thought was a scale GG-1 freight set. Figured out after a while the GG-1 was way short but ran the **** out of that train. A few months later, at a train show, my first actual scale engine purchased was a Custom Trains TrainMaster in Erie Lackawanna. Came in the no frills black and white box. Shortly after that was either a Williams NH EP-5 or an MTH Alaska F3. Both were scale and I've never looked back!

I discovered 0 scale 2 rail quite by accident by picking up a copy of the old 0 scale 48/' magazine in the early 90's.   The engines were so refreshingly proportioned that my first purchase was three brass UP Challengers and an  C&O Allegheny by mail order followed by a Big Boy and two cab forwards all in the same month.  After coming from short squatty trains to see these beautiful models I was smitten.  Just could not  believe how right they were, and still are!

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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