A Tyco C430 gifted by a friend sheltering from 20 below weather in Minnesota. He also painted the vast majority of the motor vehicles on the layout. This latest effort is a take on the PC "worms in love" logo, as would befit the whimsical "Armadillo Central."
Got some new cars over the holidays! Rapido F30 Flat Cars for use in my piggy back trains, these cars were not favored for piggy back trains as the heavy weight of the cast body was not cost effective. Three more Scaletrains PS 4785CF Covered Hopper cars, fleet now numbers 8 PC, 3 PCB, 4 NYC and a couple of private owners. The PCB marking came about when after the bankruptcy filing the lessors wanted to be able to claim their cars if the PC went chapter 7 and dissolved. Rick Jesionowski
I'll see your GP 7 and raise you an SW1500 recently acquired from AFBound, AND a caboose. A NOS piece, it came fairly complete minus bell and some stanchions, which is fine, as adding fiddley stanchions all day almost exceeds my ability. I might suggest anyone inclined to take a peak in the Swap Meet section for AF's inventory, which is quite extensive and varied, and as seen here, of top notch quality. Runs like dream, as do these wonderful old BB pieces. They were the bomb back in the '70's; very, very little came close to the smooth performance. Typically, model rail heads prefer their equipment to run in the low to medium range of scale speed, and back in the '70's (and so on) everything was geared to Run 8. The Marx caboose- those of you laughing: Marx with its molded on detail is the King of El Cheapo, but I swear this stuff tracks as good as a top end Kadee car. It bangs over frogs, diamonds, and badly laid track without so much as a whimper. I have small, but cherished collection in my Tycoish inventory.
Newest additions to my fleet. T&P 50 ft boxcar for my ATSF layout. Also 2 Texas Mexican Railway Trailers for my Cotton Belt Spine cars.
Last week I got out to a local-ish train show in Salem, Ohio after church. I picked up some old Tyco flat cars for $2.50 each, which I am converting/upgrading and have described a bit, with photos, on the "weekend update" thread. But I also picked up a Athearn blue box, Conrail SD 45 for $30. Since it's DC, it joins the waiting list for a DCC upgrade. Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk
I got some new goodies in the mail today! All three are Athearn cars, a CSX FMC 50' Box, and WP FMC 50' double doo box and a WP Bay Window Caboose:
Just got these two BLI locos. A 4-6-2 pacific amd a 2-8-0 consolidation. The 2-8-0 was an oops. It was already shipped when I figured out what I did. All I wanted was the 4-6-2 and had to go back and reorder. They will be changed to DRGW on the 4-6-2 and Utah Railway on the 2-8-0. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Not a purchase, but free from railroad club member. A pair of Wathers GP15-1. Said they did not run very well, missing a few parts. Took them regardless. Not a bad deal! Quick maintenance, and a quick power check on one unit showed that it ran just fine! Ended up putting a drop of oil on bearings and running them back and forth briefly, on a 3 foot test track. Think all they need is a bit of run time to loosen up a bit more, and maybe clean the wheels a bit. All I really need, is a set of front handrails, 3 foot boards and a proper horn. Might consider holding on to them, and adding DCC. Or maybe sell, if there's any interest!
And now a quick question: Where can I find the few repair parts needed? BNSF GP15-1. Specifically: 1 front handrail 1 horn. After market fine, if I know what I need. 3-4 foot boards. Again, after market fine, if I know what I need. Email in to Walthers asking. Monday or later, for replay I'm guessing. Information, or leads appreciated. Thanks.
If anything, I would leave the footboards off. I have never seen a BNSF locomotive with footboards. Some BNSF GP15-1 have no snowplow (bare pilot), but not footboards. Handrails are easily made from brass wire and stanchions like those from Precision Scale or KV Models. BNSF GP15-1 have K3LA horns.
Footboards, or whatever makes up the front and rear pilots of both locomotives. According to Rail Picture Archives, the BNSF 1478 is not equipped with a plow. Just trying to replace the missing/broken parts. Will see what Walthers has to say next week.
Received reply from Walthers. Said they should be able to the parts needed. But, could not guarantee they’d be the proper BNSF colors. Also included a copy of the locomotive instructions. Worked out pretty good.
Well my lack of self control has struck again. I had to head into the city on Thursday, stopped by my favorite hobby shop, and came home with these. Bowser CP Rail SD40-2 with sound. This is modeled to reflect this unit as it was delivered in 1972. Deuce's bike shop. Don't know where it's going to go yet but it sure is cool.
Today's score from the Mount Hope, Ohio Train Show. I picked up the locomotive for $5 because the vendor hadn't had time to test it yet (hopefully I will soon). The W&LE bobber was $3 (and they operate near here). I got the McKeesport Coal Co. car because my Mom is from there (near Pittsburgh). And the rest of the Intermodal containers and semi-trailers that often run $10-$20 ea. I picked up for $2.50 to$3.00 and the trailer-train flatcar for $5.00. Oh, and the Massillon Railroad Club brought in over $500 in the 50-50 raffle (and keeps half). Overall, it was a good day. Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk