Rolling into Fall

Happy Labor Day week ~

On Monday I ran trains for four guests who were visiting to celebrate my wife's birthday. Apparently there is a lot of anticipation on the street about the Electroliner's first scheduled run next month… I also updated the train inventory and planning spreadsheets, finding some interesting statistics. And, I planned out rosters for a future military train and some PW passenger trains. I'm planning to do some repair work in the coming week, so hopefully I'll have some good news to report next time! Until then, keep your rails shiny ~

Block Party Guests

Last Sunday our neighborhood had a block party and I invited the attendees to see the train room. We had about 5 guests and the trains ran well during the demonstration. Everybody got a stamped ticket and fun was had by all!

Special thanks to my wife and folks for helping to prep and host the event!

Keep those rails shiny ~

Little trains and the Night of the Rolling Frankencoach

There was some nice activity in the train room this week!

I started by reattaching a brake wheel on the new MTH Great Northern caboose. I think it separated during shipping, and some super glue fixed it right up. Over the weekend, I took down the F-unit roster and set up the new semi-scale roster. In the process, I inventoried 36 items. It's the first time running in Montana for most of these semi-scale cars. By "semi-scale", I mean that the engines/rolling stock are smaller than O-scale. Semi-scale cars are typically shortened models designed to decrease cost and allow them to run on smaller radius track (O-27). I began modeling with all O-27 equipment, so this was a fun nostalgic experiment, getting to play with these smaller cars again.

Now, just because a model train car is short does not mean that it isn't O-scale. O-scale, by my definition, simply means that the model is really really close to 1:48 proportions (1 inch on the model equals 48 inches on the real-life prototype). So, there are a lot of O-27 train cars and engines that fit my definition of O-scale. Good examples from my collection include GP7 and F3 diesels and 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 steam switchers. Also, all of my ore cars are O-scale, but by their nature are rather short. Semi-scale equipment is not O-scale, but they are a lot of fun to operate. I typically would not intermix semi-scale pieces with their larger O-scale counterparts, because in my opinion it would look silly. However, I see many real-life examples of long and short freight cars next to each other on the same train.

I have sold off the majority of my "modern" (meaning "not Post-War") O-27 rolling stock. I have kept a number of engines and passenger cars though, and continue to collect Post-War pieces, which are typically semi-scale. Most of these pieces are part of the current roster. On Track 1, I'm running a short Post-War freight, headed by K-Line C&NW S2 diesel #2320. This diesel has dual motors, and is a mighty little brick. It has always been very reliable. That is, until now. I attached it to 4 short Post-War cars, and quickly noticed that it was consistently derailing on two sections of curved track. I deduced that there was a weight issue. The Post-War cars, short as they are, are almost entirely made of metal, and thus much heavier than the plastic cars this engine usually pulls. Furthermore, I had included the #3472 operating milk car in the bunch, which has a lot of machinery inside it, making it almost as heavy as the locomotive. I removed the milk car from the train, effectively reducing the draw bar strain, and this resolved the derailing problems. The weight of the heavy cars was pulling down on the rear powered truck of the S2, and the unfettered front powered truck had enough oomph to push the flanged wheels off the track. This probably wouldn't be a problem on larger-radius track, but Track 1 is all O-31, and it is almost entirely curves.

Track 2 is hosting IC Pacific #2099, 5 ore cars, and an unmarked Post-War work caboose. The IC steamer is another really reliable locomotive. It has no bells or whistles, except for the fake bell and whistle, and the real air whistle. It runs very smoothly, and has no problem pulling the relatively light train. In reality, loaded ore cars are among the heaviest cars on a train. This ore train has the added drama of an AEC car loaded with radioactive materials, which has been placed as far away from the engineer as possible! The unmarked caboose is a Lionel #6120. This variation has a hole in the roof for a smoke stack.

On Track 3 we have the IC City of New Orleans passenger train. I remember when my father bought this set in the early 90's and we displayed it on the floor of the family room as soon as we got home from the Wheaton, IL train show. Originally a 6-car set, Lionel released a dining car and a full vista dome car a few years later. The two Alco FA engines were manufactured by K-Line, as an alternative to the matching Lionel 2-6-2 steam locomotive. Like the K-Line S2 diesel, the lead FA unit has dual motors. The second FA unit was fitted with trucks that were power-ready, so a few years later we purchased a motor, gears, and an E-unit in order to energize the dummy. So, the set now has 3 motors instead of 2. Since this was a DIY project, and the second engine typically runs in reverse, it makes syncing the E-units a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, the lead FA unit can be locked into forward, so it just takes a few tries to get both engines running in the same direction. A quirk is that sometimes the former dummy unit switches into neutral randomly as it travels along Track 3, so the operator (me) has to pay pretty close attention to the movement and sounds of this train. The passenger cars are all fully lit and perform with excellence - it's really a sharp-looking train.

And the C&NW Pacific-powered Rockfordian is running on Track 4. This was the first full train set I purchased myself in the mid 90's. It's a pleasure to run this train in my own house for the first time. The steamer is noisy and has only moderate pulling power, but the feel of its metal and the smell of its running motor and drivers produces a feeling of magic that can't be beat. This was the first steam locomotive model I purchased, and I still remember getting it in the second hall of the Wheaton train show (now called the "Great Midwest Train Show"). I had to pay for it and the passenger cars over two separate visits. On the subject of the passenger cars, these are sometimes called "baby madison cars" due to their small size. I call them "semi-scale heavyweight cars", and they've had an interesting history in my employ. Originally, our layout in Illinois had about a 6" rise, so the train had to go up and down all the time. The locomotive's Magne-traction feature helped a lot, but the cars required some modifications to run smoothly. I think I added some weights to keep them from wobbling or derailing as the track elevation changed. After a while, I abandoned the graduated inclines and changed the configuration of the train layout, and then this train had an easier time running on flat surfaces. The cars run well on Track 4; they just need some electrical work to get the lights to remain on consistently. I recall issues with bulbs and pickup wires that will need to be revisited. These cars have a funky way of sliding off the shell by depressing some hidden tabs. I believe there's a video online that shows the process to help take most of pain out of the endeavor. The Rockfordian name is a moniker of my own design; there never was a real passenger train called this.

All in all, setting up and running these trains is a delightful trip down memory lane, and I plan to keep all of these semi-scale goodies on the active-service list!

Last night I unpacked some new stock. This should be the last new stuff for a while, which is fine - I'll have plenty of things to keep me busy soon! Anyway, this shipment involved the completion of the Northern Range heavyweight set. Last month I ran a 4-car abbreviated version of this train, and I recently found some good deals on the final components of this train. Up to now, the Northern Range consisted of 6 scale heavyweight cars, 5 of which are Pullman coaches or sleepers, and 1 is a similarly-painted Santa Fe coach (Granite Canyon). I also added a head-end REA car to complete the look and carry some baggage. However, one REA car isn't enough to contain all of the baggage for 6 car-worths of passengers, so this week I added the Pullman Van Twiller combine, to provide more luggage space and some more seating. That brings the heavyweight count up to 7, which is where I'd like it to stay. So, naturally I purchased another heavyweight car - the Santa Fe Cafe Observation. Why? Well, the Granite Canyon had a lot of problems with trucks and electronics (see a previous blog post or two). I found the Cafe Observation for just $11 and decided it was worth it for the parts. Last night, I proceeded with the macabre task of swapping the chassis of the Granite Canyon for the chassis of the Cafe Observation. There were a few complications, but the operation was a success, and the Frankencoach Granite Canyon is... alive... Alive... ALIVE! I did take the time to reassemble the Cafe Observation, because that's just the kind of microferroequinologist that I am. It's still a striking-looking scale observation car, and might look great as somebody's decoration. I'll bring it with me to the NMRA show in Missoula next month and see if I can find a new home for it. Northern Range now consists of up to three head-end cars (two are waiting for new 3-rail trucks from Atlas), Pullman combine Van Twiller, Santa Fe coach Granite Canyon, Pullman coaches Willow Range, Willow Valley, and two Willow Rivers, and sleeper Highland Falls. That equates to a real-life train that's over 700 feet long. It will look exquisite on the train layout of the future!

The other item I received was a vehicle. It's an intricately detailed M35 Army cargo truck manufactured by Corgi, and it appears brand-new. It will show up in the town of Red Stone, the settlement closest to the military base, picking up some shipments at the freight depot. Until then, it will be stored safely in its box.

I'm expecting some train room visitors in the next week, so I'll provide a report next Thursday! Keep your rails shiny ~

The semi-scale roster

The IC-powered ore train

The Rockfordian

Van Twiller combine

Granite Canyon fully powered

And, my bride got to ride on a short train today!

I saw the (PostWar) Light

This week involved some Postwar searchlight car endeavors. Many years ago I received a PW Lionel #3620 Searchlight car, but it was missing the searchlight assembly. I found a reproduction unit at the monthly train show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Illinois, and used it for many years. Earlier this year, the reproduction searchlight assembly got damaged (cracked). I recently found an original PW searchlight assembly online and had it shipped to Billings. The #3620 now has all original, functional parts for the first time in decades.

Last month I obtained a #6520 PW Lionel searchlight car at an estate sale. While the car has many good features, it also requires some work. One of the couplers is broken, it is missing the searchlight lens, and the wire running to the bulb is disconnected. This week I was able to replace the lens, and I attempted to re-solder the wire running to the bulb. After several attempts, I found this to not be worth the trouble. Next month I’ll be headed to western MT for a train show, and I’ll see if I can sell/trade the car there.

Also this week I received 5 new pieces of rolling stock. I purchased these scale cars online: K-Line ATSF Dynamite boxcar, K-Line Kraft Cheese reefer, K-Line Union 76 tank car, Lionel US Army tank car, and a Lionel Philadelphia Quartz tank car.

Next week there should be a few more new arrivals, which will be the last new modern stock for a while.

Until then, keep those rails shiny ~

An original searchlight housing (L) and the reproduction housing

Handle with care

For the cheese lovers

Orange and blue oil

Contents are classified

Off to make some sodium silicate!

Electroburgers on the menu!

This week marks the triumphant return of the Electroliner to active service. I bought the Electroliner new in the early 2000's. It is the only brass model I own, manufactured by 3rd Rail/Sunset Models. It is a beautiful scale model, but from day one it has had problems. While troubleshooting these problems, I quickly learned that I don't want to invest in any other brass models in the future. They are very finicky.

Earlier this year, I had the motors serviced in Michigan. This week I performed the final major work, which involved swapping two motor lead wires in the head unit (#802). The photos below show the 'Liner laid out on a foam "workbench", with wires attached to the roller pickups and wheels. It kind of looked like it was connected to life support, or was possibly part of an experiment being performed by Dr Frankenstein. Regardless, this allowed me to power up the train while it was laying on its side, and confirmed without a doubt that the front and rear motors were turning in the opposite directions. I also saw that the rubber tires on the front wheels had degraded to the point that pieces of them were whipping around. I removed the offending pieces of rubber. Later this year I'll apply some Bullfrog Snot to these wheels to provide more traction. Anyway, I opened the shell on the lead unit and unplugged the wires that lead to the motor. I cut the two wires and swapped their placement on the motor connector. I reconnected everything and powered up the Electroliner again, and all the wheels were running in sync. I can't prove it, but I think this was a problem from the factory, as the 'Liner had never run smoothly on the layout in Illinois. The two motors working against each other caused the rubber tires to fall apart, and eventually resulted in one of the motors being damaged (repaired earlier this year).

I placed the Electroliner on Track 4 and tried it out. I found that it has some trouble with electrical flow on the west side of the layout at slower speeds. But when I opened up the throttle, it zips around the whole loop flawlessly. The sounds and horn features work too. There is still some work to do: the aforementioned traction tire repair, the interior lights are out on the rear unit, and most of the interior window frames need to be reattached. But, I've placed the train back on the active roster, since it is performing very well on the track. I've now run the Electroliner more in Montana then I had in Illinois, and am very pleased with its performance. It has a GREAT "clickity-clack" sound which is quite realistic. I know this because I've had the pleasure of riding on the original #801-802 Electroliner at the Illinois Railway Museum. They are currently restoring it again, so we'll all have the chance to ride it again in the coming years. I won the race though: my Electroliner got fixed before theirs!

Also this week another historic Lionel Postwar 6464 car was added to the roster. The red Minneapolis & Saint Louis 6464-525 boxcar is from the original 1957-1958 production run. So far I've collected 5 of the 29 original 6464-series boxcars, and it's been fun so far!

I've updated some of my model railroad spreadsheets to reflect current train prices, and improved the layout on a tab containing Postwar Lionel information. I also purchased some more rolling stock, which will be detailed in next week's blog post.

Keep those rails shiny ~

Electroliner on the operating table

Electroliner rounds the SE curve of Track 4

6464-525, nearly 60 years old

More Red

Hello, today I received the two new Great Northern cars I mentioned in last week's posting. After clearing the train table (of various paperwork that was being sorted), I tested them out.

Petersen Supply Great Northern Stock car #63172

MTH Great Northern caboose #X54

Another Postwar 6464 car should be coming soon! Keep your rails shiny, and see ya next time ~

GN Stock car and Caboose

New O scale rolling stock for the roster

Building the Great Northern empire

This year, I'm focusing on purchasing Great Northern rolling stock. On the train layout of the future, GN will be the 3rd-most represented railroad (after C&NW and NP). At the beginning of 2016, my GN roster consisted of a Mikado steam locomotive, a reefer car, a hopper car, and an express mail car. Since then, I've acquired two Postwar Lionel 6464 boxcars, a Lionel boxcar, a Weaver boxcar, and coming next week, a Weaver stockcar and MTH caboose. I've also had some repair work done on the Mikado steamer. So far, my plans to beef up the Great Northern stock has been working!

Ultimate plans for the GN will include another boxcar, a pair of flatcars, two ore cars, two more reefers, another stock car and another caboose. Additionally, (and further down the line) I'll be adding an F3 or FT diesel-powered streamlined passenger set, a Geep diesel, and a small yard steamer. Photos of the new GN equipment will be here next week. Keep those rails shiny!