enginear joe

Looking for this engine. Any road name. Need the parts only for another switcher build. Let me know the condition and the price. Joe jwpcfv (at) msn.com

I posted a couple of threads in the for sale column. They are no longer for sale. I want to delete them. How could I do that? I can't even seem to edit the title? Some forums ask that you change the title to say please delete.

Yes, the idlers were severely worn and allowing the wheels to slip. I was told that USA changed the splines first on the axles. They also changed the plastic in later versions, I was told.

I bought the NWSL delrin gears for the K-Line engines. It seemed like a good solution and they even seem slightly flexible as the axles were inserted. These were much cheaper than the USA version? $10 something versus 25! I'm interested in how they hold up to wear also. At least the USA axle gears I'm looking at, don't show much wear. I had some idlers that were stripped. It was Paul's idea also to add the glue. I used Gorilla brand super glue, as it's tougher.

I think the best thing about this fix is that it traps the split so that the pieces shouldn't let go down the road. You can adjust the tightness of the brass sleeve by the depth of the ribs that the cutter made. It seemed like the NWSL axle were just a hair thinner. The ribs are also smaller so re-using a used, split gear, probably made the job just a bit tougher. I added glue to help keep things tight. The price of the fix made sense to me. I bought new wheels and gears for my SD70MACs and it would have broke the bank to swap all the rest of my engines.

Paul Norton posted a fix on another site for the USA axle splits that occur. I'm trying it out using the K&S metric brass tube that seems just a hair too loose. I tightened it by running the cutter around the tube pieces just enough to indent it and make some ribs. I'm swapping out the wheels with larger NWSL ones.

Wow, what a story that was!

Yes, the outside axles have ball bearings so the wheels only turn. The middle axle is a solid one and the whole thing spins. It's a block of solid oak and the axle sitting in a groove spins surprisingly well. It rolls better than any other piece I have! I bought the engine all torn apart. I did get the power trucks and will put the engine back together someday. The trucks were all machined up to probably fit something else that didn't work out for the builder?

too expensive for me. It does look good. I'd better stick to diesels.

very nice

Just making a mock-up of the switcher to see where I'm at on the build. Lot's of details to iron out. There's also a pic of the homemade trucks on a Dash 8. The middle axles are solid and float freely while the ends are firmly attached ball bearing axles.

No, I'm saying where has this GP60 been? How long ago did they announce it? How far along is the dreyfess? How about the Allegheny? How long should one wait? Should I place a preorder?

I've been staring at the price of the Fine Art Models Allegheny on the bay for a little while now. It is stunning. I wish MTH made one! It makes sense how MTH aimed their production at the modelers of the time. Going forward, will they move to modern equipment???

I've found some thinks there last year that I was looking for. I never saw the Big Boys there though. I got a tanker and a Amtrak car. I wonder if there's more than posted on his site.

Sure Ray. Now you're just teasing me. They do look good. I'm trying to amass a good diesel fleet!!! (they sure would look great pulling a long string of those Russian blue Erie hoppers!)

I wanted a custom painted CSX with William J Clinton on the side. After being out of work it fell off the schedule. MTH released this one and I grabbed it at Jason's train shop during a visit. He made me one heck of a deal on it. I always wanted to add president's Clinton's name on the side!

Yeap, can't seem to post the picture's link on RRpics? Look up CSX rd#1992

should I move that scratch build up to the top of the list and add one for U???

I also left G scale when I realized how many more choices MTH made in O scale two rail. Imagine this shot in a garden RR!

I say a few of the Big Boys, because when I was able to afford them, they were gone. When they made the last run, I was out of work. I got my job back and had to catch up with overdue bills first. By then, they were only offering a Triplex which I had zero interest in.

Ray, I would not argue with your facts. I have different timing as the way I lost my job and I was seeking more modern equipment when I came back. What I was referring to with all that babble, is they released a Dash 8. Then a Narrow nose version. They never made the modern era EMD's. They never produced any of the other modern era GE's. Looking from their other lines, I would have expected such engines as AC6000s, ES44s, AC4400s, GP38s, GP40s, SD40s, SD50s, SD60s, etc. etc. Instead they made PA's, VO1000s, F3s and F7s. I don't know how these sold? The F's were some of the most iconic diesels right? The VO1000 and even the PA would have a certain market. It maybe larger than I'd guess. I would bet a modern era diesel would have outsold it but, I'm not even in business. By the way, I have always stated that the MTH products were the best value in G scale period. I have had to learn to install PS2 in competitors diesels. I have had to purchase many more of them, then I cared to. There wasn't any other choice. There are some people that can't figure out how to run MTH. Apparently, they can't tell which wire is the red one going to the TIU??

I think I'm up to ten or twelve Dash 8's. How many more can I buy? I'm going to gut a couple and convert them to ES44's. What else can I do???

I think you hit the problem. MTH says G scale is a niche market. They release engines, that appeal to a few of that market. They complain that they don't sell like they should. They only made a limited number of Big Boys to keep the value up. I think they have to change their market strategy instead of abandoning G scale. I was out of work when they released the GS4 (series). I might have bought one. It really didn't appeal to me. None of the older diesels appealed to me. I don't want a GG1 or a Triplex to be honest. I probably don't represent the market mass. MTH's releases missed my target of modern equipment on the rails. I always had hoped of more equipment like the Dash 8 series. Even more modern cars to run with them. At least I got some new tanker paint schemes coming.

I got both types of AML hoppers now. I have to say I like both. When I start running long trains outback this year, I'll see how they hold up. I do like them so far down cellar!

Chuck, I got lucky with mine. When it shorted nearly right away, the spark was so bright, I saw it across the RR bench. When I inverted the loco, there were burn marks between the wheel and tire where the carbon brush rubbed. The carbon was pointed OK but the arc jumped!