Thanks Jim, Corey tells me they are a relatively easy decoder install so I decided to go with it. In truth Laura really does like it. Pics to follow.
Two short clips showing MU AC4400 / SD70M leads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw71RVrYitI Geep Leads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asDrAj0SZYI
A couple of days ago I ordered a Kato JNR C62 4-6-4 steam loco. This will be my first steamer in a long time. I didn't want it to get lonely so I ordered a Tsubume (Swallow) passenger set to go with it. Should be a nice train. The EF66 and Asakaze look great! The dining car has table lamps that are lit! I'm purchasing some photographic equipment tomarrow (lights and such) so I can start taking some photos of all the stuff I have.
Guess which one I bought yesterday? Heh. Yeah, bought the first Atlas SD-50 a month ago, finally picked up a second one. I'm sure she'll be dirty in no time. The new one comes with a Lenz DCC decoder already installed and only cost $18 more than the non-DCC one did. Of course, I don't have DCC yet, or space for a layout, but I figure since I'm not spending any money on benchwork, track or scenery I can save up for a DCC system and decoders for the rest of my locos (only 4 other locos in the fleet so far, so not as expensive). Besides, I would have bought it anyway, I figure the DCC is just a bonus.
The 4400 and the Geep are old reliables of mine. Ya know, that black and red really look sharp together. Um, guess I'll need to do more "run through" power.
I haven't photographed it yet, but I was just doing a test of my most recent loco: A Bachmann 44 toner. It's very festively painted in red, and it runs very nice. It looked good rolling up and down the track, but I realized as soon as I applied track power that it has LED lighting in it. That's just too new wave and high tech for me, because real locomotives never had LED lights in them, and I am not the biggest fun of the cool white brilliance of most LED headlights. Train headlights are supposed to be a warm, glowing golden yellow which makes the white LEDs just seem so unrealistic to me. They're just too cool for me, ha-ha,
Forgive the poorly set up iPhone photo... this is my latest "acquisition"... an Intermountain F3A in Erie Lackawanna colors. It was an "out of the blue" gift from a friend who was mixing and matching to get himself a B&O model. Very kind of him, but surprisingly typical of the hobby demographic. I'm ever-grateful.
Newest arrival on the layout only took 40 years to arrive. A smooth running Kato GS4 chassis with the most excellent ATSF engine and tender shell castings, built by Jason Smith:
I don't have a good set-up here to take photos of my newest additions, but I figure if I wait for that I'll never get it done. Here are the latest additions to my fleet: PNWR nos. 1851 "Hillsboro" and 1854 "Beaverton."
My Kato JNR C62 4-6-4 came in a couple of days ago and today I got my Tsubame for it to pull. After cleaning the track, she's cruising around my layout. She runs like the proverbial Swiss watch.
My newest engine (#2715) sitting next to another one of its brethren, #2737. I just need to find #2745 to "complete" this set. I like collecting these as much as I do running them!
Still no Digital camera for pictures but ...... I got all 3 of the FVM ES44DC NS locomotives and the 3 new Kato F40PH units. Pretty happy with all of them. Decoders are up next. And in the near future, BNSF Executive scheme F7 ABBA custom painted by a a friend of mine.....
Got a couple of Bachmann Warranty jobs. My first Bachmanns...we will see how it goes. (Fingers crossed) . . :tb-nerd::tb-embarrassed: .
