I went to the Great Train Expo here in my hometown, which honestly can be a disappointment. I went this year because the guys from Silicon Valley Free-moN were going to be there and it's an easy walk from my apartment. I'm so glad that I did. I picked up a couple of Western Pacific goodies. The first is a Micro-Trains 50' box: 020 by WPZephyrFan posted Oct 28, 2016 at 9:10 AM It has a surprise inside, what I think are supposed to be rolls of paper or newsprint: 022 by WPZephyrFan posted Oct 28, 2016 at 9:12 AM And then I found a vender with two Kato WP Mikados. Both were the same road number which is probably a good thing for my wallet: 023 by WPZephyrFan posted Oct 28, 2016 at 9:06 AM
I just got my Kato #838 with the Loksound package. As always, a very nice loco. Ran well out of the box. My first sound anything. Too bad all I have setup in N is a project inglenook I am working on. I also have a serious Z scale infection that I can't shake so hobby funds have to be allotted one way or the other. So many trains, so little cash. Trey
Just got 3 Atlas ARA boxcars that I'd pre-ordered months ago. Always a nice surprise when something finally arrives. 20161111_130652 by Rocket Jones posted Nov 11, 2016 at 2:49 PM
Picked up a few new locomotives for the first time in over a year. But more importantly, I have 130 decoders that are halfway through installation!
Just ordered my Mike McGrattan memorial gondola from Rapido http://rapidotrains.com/mike-mcgrattan-gondola/
Just received four NJ International signals that were on sale . Also bought a few of these little voltmeter / voltage converter boards on eBay. At only $2.00 apiece, I thought they would be fun to tinker with. I'm impressed! In the photo, I'm using it to step down a 12 VDC power supply to 5.0 V. It also works as a digital voltmeter capable of measuring DC voltages from 4 to 40 volts. A possible use is displaying the voltage from a variable DC power supply. The price is certainly right! - Jeff
Picked up a couple of Red Caboose Green Bay and Western Thrall door boxcars from a friend. Had him hold them, from a couple of weeks ago. Have the following 3 books, by Dan Abbott: The Colorado Central The Gilpin Era Colorado Midland Was able to have all 3 books signed by the author! Asked if he'd be willing to sign them for me. Said since I was gracious enough to bring them in, he'd be happy to! Problem is, next time we meet, he said there would be a test! A good day!
My 4th Quarter “Warbonnet” (Journal of the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society) came with a renewal notice. I am sending in my $40 renewal, unlike “Model Railroader” which I have allowed to lapse, and am sending most back issues to the recycler. I am keeping all 40 years of “Warbonnet” and “Santa Fe Modeler” and “Southwestern Prototype Modeler” (ATSF).4th quarter cover is a classic scene of railroading- engineer and firemen checking their watches. Introduces an 18-page (!) article on Santa Fe timekeeping service, standard clocks, watch inspection regulations. Interesting, but I will probably not ever “use” this information in modeling or operation. Still in general, “Warbonnet” is the most USFUL publication I have.
I bought a house with an open basement... so I could make room for a bigger layout. Now the challenge is figuring out the layout in a 13'x8' space. Fun challenge...
I recently received a Kato UP FEF #838 with Lok-Sound factory installed. I also just purchased two NP U-boats by Hornby at $50/unit. That was one terrific sale. Staying cool and having fun with it........ Shades
Last week I got a pair of Micro-Trains autoracks (SP) for $25! The rack train is filling out nicely. Just need to get all of them weighted properly so they stay on the tracks!
I just got an Atlas S2. It is DC, but I got a TCS decoder for it. Nice running loco. One thing is the head light is lit in the opposite direction of travel. Forward travel, rear light. Am I missing something? The decoder will let me change it, but I don't get it in DC. Anyway, nice switcher. Trey
Thanks Hornby for the 2 SW-1s on the way. They still have paint and decals that will need to be applied but if not for their sale this would have never been an issue.
I hear you loud and clear! I picked up four Lok Sound decoders already preloaded with sounds for four coupled steam locomotives. The plan was to install them in two Kato2-8-2's and two B'mann 2-8-0's. Then life got in the way and the installs never happened. As a result, those decoders were my last big hobby purchase. I did pick up some of the new MT Scale Couplers to see if I could replace the Unimates I am using between my ABBA sets of FA/b1's and sharks. So far looks like they will work. Will be nice to couple them without having to lift one coupler over the other.
