First G Scale Purchase!

JimJ Jan 20, 2020

  1. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    8564F6E3-8FC2-42B0-9A8A-0EC96B637FDE.jpeg Sometimes a locomotive just speaks to me and this Bachmann G scale 4-4-0 spoke to me during an internet search. I told my wife how our grandson would love for us to have a small garden railroad since he’s infatuated by trains. So yet another trip down the rabbit hole begins. I plan on a small oval of track with one or two pieces of rolling stock......for now.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rabbit hole. How perfectly described. Soon the back yard will be thousands of feet of track, and, and... Ha ha ha. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
  3. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice engine!

    Wish I had room for thousands of feet of track!
    Lucky if I’ve got maybe 200’. Would look good
    with 2-3 cars! But, then, eventually, you may decide
    that locomotive needs radio control and full sound!
     
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  4. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    Very true! I want to keep it simple but we all know how that goes.
     
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  5. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    I always love how great G scale steamers look. But then, to get some of the best you have to take out a new mortgage
     
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  6. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    She's beautiful!!

    (y)
     
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  7. E. T.

    E. T. TrainBoard Member

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    UH 0H! l recall my first G...didn't take long before it became an obsession! l now have 12 [maybe more] engines and who knows how many cars... The bank account has become a few thousand lighter along the way too! l just don't remember my 1st childhood being this costly...
     
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  8. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    I started the same way! Figured I'd get the USA NW-2, 2-3 cars and caboose.
    Now, close to a dozen locomotives, maybe close to 75 cars, standard and narrow gauge
    and maybe 150 feet or so of track, in front, down side of house, to backyard!

    Most obtained while I was working. My coal train, with locomotives/caboose, after I quit
    working, but well before i was able to get my disability benefits! Well worth it though!
    Plenty of nice comments on either the garden, and/or the trains in front. And with sound, if
    people don't see the train, they'll hear it!
     
  9. E. T.

    E. T. TrainBoard Member

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    0H MY! l just did a count, 19 engines, but 7 are battery and am in the process of getting rid of 5 of those. l have my eye on a couple more electrics, if and when l can talk myself out of the funds, hmmm, more track or more engines...
     
  10. E. T.

    E. T. TrainBoard Member

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    Jim, l forgot to mention this before, PRETTY :), and a little advice if you haven't read up on these. The Bachmanns with the leading 4 wheel trucks are quite often problematic... Multiple things to look out for to prevent derailment, especially on turnouts. The spring tension may have to be increased to keep the truck down, or decreased to prevent lifting of the drive wheels, watch the wire routing as to stop snags, and you might have to install a smaller slide washer or grind the screw head a touch for catchless side to side movement. l normally use minimal lubrication on my engines, but in this case you can hardly use too much. A little more, don't over load it as the drive gear is prone to split or strip on the axle, and the motor mounting can fail also, depending on which generation it is... lf you have any issues feel free to shoot any questions my way! l have worked on many of these both for myself and others.
     
  11. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    Thanks for the inside info. Yes indeed. It’s very finicky about level track on curves especially. I STILL need to get some crushed granite for my roadbed to have a good solid foundation. Right now it looks like an abandoned line overgrown with weeds. Too realistic for operations but I’ll work on it more this fall. Too many hobbies, too little time!
     
  12. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    However this little sucker is practically unstoppable!
    D125C773-244E-4B13-848F-119106DA3C5A.jpeg
     
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  13. E. T.

    E. T. TrainBoard Member

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    Aaaaaaaah yes, and the obsessive madness with "G" toys progresses...:ROFLMAO:
     
  14. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    Here’s a sad photo. I’m just getting over the Caronavirus and haven’t felt like spending time on the outdoor railroad. Looks like an abandoned branch line doesn’t it? I’ll get it back in shape this fall. Promise.
    0E6572C8-C37F-4309-ACAF-DA593BBDA4E2.jpeg
     
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  15. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Glad to hear you are feeling better Jim.
    My best wishes for you.
     
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  16. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Might make a cool pic of a train running through all that Jim.

    Extremely glad to hear you are getting over Covid-19. That is some scary stuff.
     
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  17. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    Thanks gentlemen (you too, Tom :) )! My wife and I have had fairly mild symptoms but over 2 weeks of no smell or taste is getting very old. Lost 10 pounds though.
     
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  18. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    5E15F0D0-E4F7-4258-BA5E-71B4C579E5EB.jpeg Here’s my first piece of rolling stock. It’s a Bachmann passenger or observation car with the lighted interior and drumhead. I had to loosen a truck screw as it wasn’t allowing easy swivel action and it derailed on a curve but all is well now with continued trouble free running. Since it was “slightly used” I put a dab of grease on the truck swivels.
     
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  19. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    C107F532-8E8C-4BAB-9D75-34B6153FC497.jpeg The family grows. Picked up a second hand gondola off the bay. $30! Cheaper than some HO scale stuff. Now I’m planning on expanding the garden and layout. For the grandkids of course!
     
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  20. mtaylor

    mtaylor Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is a beautiful locomotive!
     

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