Just picked up a new one and found out that besides the pick-up (only four wheels) the running is really not to bad. The 5-pole motor does have very good slow running characteristic and combined with a Digitrax DZ 125 decoder it is almost fun to run. It fits nice into my small layout where engine length really matters. Fred
In regards to EMD F7A's post, might be an idea to check if eBay US has done the same as eBay Aus and cancelled the OBO option in April. I always thought it was the best way to sell as well. I believe if you give people a price to work from, you stand a better chance of attracting buyers.
Yes, Mark, they are junkers, but a little above some of the rest...... Mark, I have two of these that came in a lot that I bought, and although they are noisy and no power and certainly worth the five bucks we all talked about, I say decent because they ran over my switches, didn't jerk or stall, and their sound didn't vibrate the paint off the walls. Decent, in my humble, yes, good? NO. I know your standards are very high in your encyclopedia, which I refer to before every purchase. But for its day it was pretty representative. Hey, look at the pre-Spectrum BAchmann junk, or the Mehano junk at the time, or even worse the Rivarossi stuff. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
The LL Little Joe was my first ever N scale locomotive. I was given the trainset. Ran great for a few years as long as it was on the flat and only pulling the 3 cars from the trainset! It doesn't run anymore. I think it picked up too much dirt once I had a layout in the garage, and I might have burned out the motor brushes trying to push it up a grade.
Well, this may or may not be humor. It may very well be a valuable item... to someone. But I will tell you I never have, nor will I ever purchase a $300 battery operated N-scale train or train set. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carrera-Tem...=200769987662&ps=63&clkid=8965665326486779666
Wow, that's hysterical. Take a look at the enlargements. I absolutely love the combination cupola/extended vision 85' ATSF caboose. Is there anyplace on the planet that ever had anything resembling a caboose like that? USSR? China? Atlantis? Now, who is going to clean the coffee off of my monitor? The absolute worst part is that that entire set appears to be such a POS that it's no longer made, possibly a collectors item, and might get the $300.
Too funny. I actually have that engine in my encyclopedia - http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/carrerae8.html I think I paid about $20 for the whole trainset and wound up simply tossing it in the trash when I was finished reviewing it. Cheers, -Mark
Taking another look, and while it's difficult to see.... It's even more irony that it's properly numbered. The warbonnet diesel is 307, and that ridiculous caboose appears to be 999583. At least they did their research properly. CCPL appears to be an Indian containerized freight company. Who knew? While there are three cars and a caboose shown on the box, it has two cars and a thingaboose in it. Hmmmm. I wasn't really suspicious this wasn't a good deal until that came up. Now I'm not so sure. Mark, I can't find that thingaboose or those cars anywhere in your encyclopedia. I think you need to get another set to properly document the rolling stock. If you get the set I'll give you $5 for the thingaboose. If you changed the handrails I think it would look better.
Not a bad runner for its era. That said it is not expected to get up with a 20 car train but is is a decent switcher on the level and straight away once broken in for about 6 to 8 cars. Not very reliable on an unpowered frog but that is due to the pickup system. Solved that issue by turning one into a cab forward critter and giving it a tender with pick-up and a leadtruck under the cab. One of my few locos that will navigate the 7 and 5/8th switches I have on part of my test track, the plus of the short wheelbase. But the bottom line is that the loco isn't worth more than $15-$20 new in box with factory air. It takes some tinkering to get a good runner.
For its era? Hell, LL/Walthers is still manufacturing and selling these things.... As far as the herculian efforts needed to get one of these things to operate as a reliable switcher (over turnouts with non-powered frogs and suchlike), the same could be said of just about any loco. But as far as your average "Joe Average Model Railroader" goes (IE, guys like me), I still stand by my "it sucks" rating. Frankly, I wouldn't pay ten cents for one because, "as delivered", I think they're pretty much useless. Just my opinion, though. YMMV. Cheers, -Mark
Some folks, such as John, seem to have a lot of talent and can tune up these things. While others like myself just can't work that same type of magic. :sad:
Some one is making a pile of money on brass loco's. http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Scale-Bra...861205?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item33773da6d5 Check out the other listing. Rick
This is an odd one....selling one n scale rail joiner if i read it correctly. But FREE SHIPPING! the interesting thing is that there are two bids. The postage alone will put the seller under water. http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-SCALE-TRA...l_RR_Trains&hash=item3377366544#ht_1027wt_922
