I recently set up a new roster and ran everything through shakedown trials. I was not able to place all of the rolling stock as planned, because of a surprise I encountered with some Atlas boxcars. Some of the Great Northern boxcars have trucks that will not navigate the tight O-31 radius curves of Track 1. These cars are by no means long, so length is not the issue - it is the trucks! Anyway, I shifted some things around and now each track has a more diverse representation of rolling stock from different regions (just like real trains).
Another small obstacle was a coupler that wouldn't lock
shut, and a bit of wire took care of that.
The biggest shakedown snafu was a human error, and it was a bit costly. In my eagerness to run a BCR-equipped MTH PS1 locomotive, I failed to let the BCR charge for 60 seconds (as prescribed by the manufacturer). I used the Direction button on the MRC transformer remote, and that proved to be a no-no. The interior lights on the loco flashed brightly for a moment and then failed. Dang. The full damages are the cab lights, and both pairs of number board lights. At this time I don't know if there is a board failure or just the bulbs. Thankfully, all other lights and locomotive functionality are operational, and this has likely taught me a valuable lesson I won't forget.
Everything is 1:48 O-Scale this time around:
On Track 1 is a short Great Northern freight pulled by MTH GP9 #620, including an MTH outside-braced brown Chicago & Alton boxcar and an MTH wood sided brown Great Northern boxcar, and trailed by a K-Line Great Northern caboose with a handsome livery that matches the locomotive. This is the first run on the temporary layout for all of these. Speaking of "temporary", this layout has been in use for over nine years now! I'm still making steps towards the new layout's construction, but "temporary" may not be an appropriate term for this setup. Perhaps the "basement layout" or the "fifty six layout" (7' x 8').
The Great Northern Geep
Anyway, Track 2 is powered by the reliable Lionel Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 "ten-wheeler" steamer. Its 6-car consist includes an Atlas yellow Armour reefer with the "star" logo, a pair of MTH brown C&NW steel-sided boxcars, a pair of Atlas brown Great Northern boxcars (which can't navigate O-31 curves), and an MTH red C&NW CA-1 caboose. This is my first run of everything on this train except the locomotive.
Brown boxcars are also a theme this time
Track 3 is powered by another reliable Lionel steamer: the #4100 Frisco 2-8-2 mikado, which is celebrating 30 years of operation this year. The mike is pulling an eclectic bunch of freight with road names known for southern routes. Following the loco is an MTH brown Cotton Belt boxcar, a Weaver brown Illinois Central "Mainline of Mid-America" boxcar, two MTH blue/gray/yellow Missouri Pacific boxcars (the one with the gray roof comes from my Uncle's collection), a Weaver brown Frisco outside-braced boxcar with a pesky coupler, a Lionel silver Southern tank car from my Uncle's collection, an MTH orange Frisco hopper with coal load, and the Lionel brown Frisco wood sided caboose. This is the first run here for everything between the hog and the cabin.
Happy 30th to the reliable Frisco mikado!
Track 4 is the token passenger train of this roster, and I believe it steals the show. For the first time, my complete version of the Milwaukee Olympian Hiawatha is on track and rolling. This is the first time I've had any of these on the layout, and is the very first time some of the passenger cars have been out of their box. The entire train was manufactured by K-Line in 2000, and everything matches brilliantly. And yep, this has the full 21" passenger cars. All together this is one of the gems of my collection, and I'm excited to finally get it out and play with it! Motive power comes from an F3 ABA, which is followed by the train's express boxcar, and then a baggage car, parlor car "Maple Valley", dining car, coach car, and finally the extra-spiffy "Dell Rapids" skytop lounge car. Altogether a stunning streak of orange, maroon, and black.
Strength of the Olympian Hiawatha
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| The Dell Rapids Skytop Lounge |
Until next time, keep your rails shiny
