Your GHI

Well Arnold I am not sure if it meets the requirements of GHI but lately I have been on an MPC 9700 Series boxcars kick, I think I have picked up about a dozen of them since the first of the year. Just ordered 6 more today from a forum sponsor.  An item that is really close to GHI is a set of MTH  FM C-Liners (20-2637-1 or later) after seeing a set running on this forum I have been looking for them.

Rick, good job, reading Allan's article and remembering GHI.

A recent GHI of mine was Pullman green NY Central Madisin Heavyweight passenger cars that run well on 031 curves.

Finally got them when I purchased these 15 inch K Line passenger cars from a local train nut and friend known as Ringo Rick, who is a fanatic about The Beatles as well as O Gauge trains. Ringo Rick recently purchased them and liked them, but knew these cars were a GHI of mine, so he kindly offered to sell them to me.

Here they are in action with an MTH Proto 3 RS-3 diesel on the point:

It's so nice to actually get something that was a GHI for a while.

This was a super GHI for me because when I got them, they was even better than what I craved for so long because the K Line cars had passenger figures sitting in the seats and a drum head that lights up in the back of the observation car.  Arnold

I am in the process of building my layout and due to that and not owning a control system for legacy engines at this time, I have decided to stay with semi scale for a couple of years so my GHI is the lc+2.0 Hudson. It will be my first non set engine. Still trying to decide between NYC and Lionel Lines.

@Keith1366 posted:

I am in the process of building my layout and due to that and not owning a control system for legacy engines at this time, I have decided to stay with semi scale for a couple of years so my GHI is the lc+2.0 Hudson. It will be my first non set engine. Still trying to decide between NYC and Lionel Lines.

Keith, IMO, that's a great choice based on your circumstances. It was LC+ that introduced me to speed control. 

GHI????? Is this a trick question?????

Yes- My just arrived LIRR RS-1 from MTH w/PS3. When Trainworld announced the LIRR engines I quickly decided it was a GHI. Last run from the original MTH and my home town line.

Bob

Well?

*edit -  I should point out that I've been collecting models of GG1s now for 39 years .....

This is my GHI: as I model the Lackawanna, and Erie Lackawanna, I approached Malcolm (Brother Love) to build me a model of the Lackawanna’s unique home-built cabooses. Here is the result:

I was working on a response to that article as well.  I see someone beat me to it.  There should be a dedicated area for people to leave responses to articles that appear in the magazine.  I had wanted to comment on the "Are You A Lone Wolf or A Groupie?" article as well. (A certain song from Scrooge The Musical answers that question.)

I almost cried my eyes out this weekend when I lost a bid on an item on <<auction site name>> when a sniper came in at the last second (not that I wasn't sniping as well).  And those Atlas TTX Gunderson Maxi-IV's...sniffle.  At least I made up for it by getting two Kato TTX (new logo) Gunderson Maxi-IV's yesterday...and an Athearn UP Katy SD70ACE since I can't seem to get the Lionel garden variety...and some Rock Island boxcars...maybe a few other items...my memory is like a sieve these days.

In short, judging from my Watch List, I must be heavily afflicted with GHI syndrome.  Oh well, I can still walk through my house...but just verily.

Anthony

Anything labeled Menard's Beta Engine seems to make a lot of the forum into GHI's.

My "must have" items have changed dramatically over the years.  In the early 1960's, I had my heart set on a Brunswick Lionel GG-1, which Santa did bring me for Christmas one year.  Many other "must have" items were out of the price range for someone with a paper route as the primary source of income, although relatives were very kind with their gifts during those grade school years.  Nothing extravagant, but always very enjoyable.  

When I returned to model railroading with our oldest "young" son in the middle 1980's, my "must have" items included some of the beautifully decorated MPC locomotives and sets -- particularly the Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4, and the Norfolk & Western No. 611 locomotives.  Both of those had reached astronomical prices due to scarcity, and, the rapid return of many baby boomers to the hobby.  Being "late to the party" for desirable MPC items was not the best scenario!  Fortunately, LTI later reintroduced both of these stunning locomotives with better sound, and TMCC --at a far more reasonable price. I could continue with the list, but I did maintain an interest over the years in adding some of the newer editions of my postwar "GHI's" that were not in our budget or basement space allocation as a young boy.

I take it, GHI means Gotta Have It.  I’m pretty satisfied with my small collection of prewar standard gauge trains right now, so I don’t gotta have anything.  I was one click away today from snagging a really nice looking 385E from Trainz today at a good price I thought, thinking it would be an upgrade from the guy I have now and I could sell him and upgrade for say $150, but after further evaluation I’m pretty sure it is a restore, not original paint, and tho it said it had an operating whistle, seeing the bottom of the tender told me otherwise.  Didn’t gotta have it anymore.  Gotta fix a couple of engines I have now to operating like new. Gotta Have That first.  

Cheers.       W1

I would buy one of these if I could find it.  It would be my final model railroad purchase, so I suppose that qualifies as a GHI since I'm in my golden years and in disposition mode.

Predictable I guess.  Took me many decades to get one.

That’s a beauty.  Congrats!

@MartyE posted:

Anything labeled Menard's Beta Engine seems to make a lot of the forum into GHI's.

Like I said, is this a trick question?

Another great topic Arnold and great responses from everyone.  I haven't torn the plastic off Run 323 yet so I haven't read it yet but here's my take on it.  Self imposed financial constraints have pretty much negated GHIs for me but I've got plenty of WHIPs, Wanna Have It Please.  Here's a WHIP that once I justified the price became the closest thing to a GHI.

METCA has this handsome Manufacturers Railway Company produced by Lionel.  While I have quite a few pieces of Budweiser equipment the connection to AB and St. Louis was not the impetus to buy this boxcar.  My Dad spent 30 years working for Metropolitan Roofing Supply in the Bronx, their trucks were green with gold lettering and a big gold MRS on the doors.  Alas by the time I was ready to pull the trigger they were out of stock on the METCA website.  I reached out to fellow forum member Lionelllc to see if there were indeed sold out.  His first response was that they were indeed sold out.  Several days later I received an e-mail from him stating he had forgotten about the one METCA took to shows, I was welcome to it if I wanted.  I followed his instructions and my purchase was complete within 5 minutes of reading his e-mail.  I tell you the people on this foum truly are the best.

My GHI has been any NYC subway train that I fondly remember commuting on. I have plenty already and no need for more, and am desperately running out of track siding space, but offer one for sale that I don’t already have and I will buy it.  They will always be GHI to me.  

Oh, and as for the other article in the latest OGR edition, I’m a hybrid in Alan Arnold’s 2 group categorization - a lone wolf modeler that also loves to post and engage with like minded friends on the OGR forum.

@GG1 4877 posted:

Well?

*edit -  I should point out that I've been collecting models of GG1s now for 39 years .....

Leapin' lizards, Jonathan--that's really some collection!

@Artie-DL&W posted:

This is my GHI: as I model the Lackawanna, and Erie Lackawanna, I approached Malcolm (Brother Love) to build me a model of the Lackawanna’s unique home-built cabooses. Here is the result:

Artie, that is a gorgeous caboose, I love it--Malcolm did an incredible job for you. I had to retain the picture in my reply just because...

@William 1 posted:

That’s a beauty.  Congrats!

Ah, yes--I know the decades-long wait was worth it for John.

Thanks, Tuscan Jim! Malcolm is very detail oriented in his builds.

I lived between Grand Concourse and Jerome Avenue up at the north end.  The 4 and the D were readily accessible making a trip "Downtown" easy.

Hobby-go-lucky -

@hobby-go-lucky posted:

I would buy one of these if I could find it.  It would be my final model railroad purchase, so I suppose that qualifies as a GHI since I'm in my golden years and in disposition mode.

your listed email bounced as undeliverable. Please send me an email.

@RSJB18 posted:

GHI????? Is this a trick question?????

Yes- My just arrived LIRR RS-1 from MTH w/PS3. When Trainworld announced the LIRR engines I quickly decided it was a GHI. Last run from the original MTH and my home town line.

Bob

Bob, since you like Long Isand trains, I thought you might like this MTH Railking Proto 3 Long Island  B6  switcher:

It was a prior GHI of mine, and it's nice that it's now a GI (got it) or HI (have it). Arnold

@William 1 posted:

I take it, GHI means Gotta Have It.  I’m pretty satisfied with my small collection of prewar standard gauge trains right now, so I don’t gotta have anything.   

Gotta fix a couple of engines I have now to operating like new. Gotta Have That first.  

Cheers.       W1

Same here, other than the"Standard Gauge" part. 👍

This is, after all, just "stuff".

Pretty satisfied with what I have now; plenty of projects to keep me busy. 😊

Mark in (windy today) Oregon

I just posted this on another thread so if anyone sees it twice my apologies but I feel it applies here as well.

When I got my first trains as a kid I had received three sets. (they were hand-me-downs) One was the The General which did not have a caboose, one was Lionel Lines and the other one was a Minneapolis & St.Louis, "The Peoria Gateway" set with Lionel PW FA and caboose. My favorite was the M&STL because it was the only one I had that was from a prototype railroad.

So recently, I have been on a kick (GHI) to find scale items from the M&StL. I found an Atlas double sheathed woodside boxcar from Atlas from sponsor The Public Delivery track and it is on its way here. Just this afternoon at the Greenberg show in Edison I found a 1937 40' AAR Single door boxcar also from Atlas. I wonder if a scale M&STL caboose has ever been done?

Pic of the car I got today:

I have several levels of "Havits".

GHI - Gotta Have It - is reserved for items that have not been cataloged yet.  These are Items that I have made a personal commitment to purchase when/if they are announced.  If I missed the boat on these items I would be kicking myself for quite some time.  I have had the manufacturers call my bluff on several occasions.  I carried out the commitment on each occasion and  am glad I did.

WHI - Wanna Have It - These are items that have been cataloged that weren't on my wish list.  These get pre-ordered so I don't miss the boat.

LHI - Liketa have It - These are items that have been produced.  I want to see the item before I commit to purchasing.  If I miss the boat on one of these items I won't lose any sleep over it.

LWIF - Look What I Found - These are the impulse buys at hobby shops and train shows.  Often, these items are on my radar, but don't fall into the above categories.

Tom

The 520 was also my GHI as it was part of my first train set.It now resides in my display case .