markoles

OK, back to topic: I ended up picking up a Chessie System 4-4-2, with a sound system added for a whopping $95! Also, metal wheels for lead and trailing truck and metal wheels on the tender. Cleaned the wheels a little to test it, but will likely be adding power pick ups to improve power pick up.

I'm just going to leave this here....

My first job was with Norfolk Southern based in Roanoke. I had a lot of time in the Roanoke Car Shops during my brief time there, but I gained an appreciation for the N&W that stays with me to this day. We often ride the Strasburg Rail Road and now that ex N&W 475 is carrying the LIRR G-5's 3 chime Pennsy whistle, it is becoming one of our favorite locomotives. Sorry, that hooter whistle is not a pretty sound from 10 feet away in an open car! Even if all they do is cosmetic restoration, having the three classes together in one spot will make for an excellent display: the J, the A and a Y.

On my first garden railroad, I used LGB track. The trouble is the joiners do loosen up over time and you lose the connections. I would recommend making a mechanical connection, rather than relying on the friction between the joiners and the rails, to maintain contact. Folks have soldered jumpers, others use clamps such as split jaw or hillmans. I have used the Aristocraft joiners, but they fail over time. The layout and gardens look good!

Chuck, He seemed nice at the fall show. I was OK with a PRR challenger....it would have looked good heading up my heavyweight train! What I really need (or rather, want) is a right hand stainless turnout for a yard/railroad reconfiguration project I am doing this spring.

Looks like good prices on the MTH stuff. he had a Clinchfield challenger that had been relettered for the Pennsylvania RR at the Fall ASTC in York.

Very cool! I hope there's a smaller locomotive in the new catalog, too. But not too small.

There is a group researching and designing a full size T1 to be built new. Sorry, no new engine photos to post!

They didn't go to the ECLSTS in 2014, and I think they were not there in 2013, either. I remember the last couple of times they had a booth there, their trains made slow, lazy loops with music being pumped through the speakers, rather than train sounds.

The website is updated, but there appear to be discrepancies on deliveries. Some of the F7s appear to be arriving in March, for example. I hope they are going to be at the ECLSTS this year. I'd like to see the diesels in action.

Chuck, hahaha!!

Did you guys see the Trainworld TV video from Toyfair? If I had glasses, I would get frames like the good Dr.

Those LGB coaches are pretty light and easy rolling. Still, I didn't expect to see so many after the German coaches... Jens, if you have them, run them!

Chuck, Take a look at this video I found of the BR-64 hauling a long passenger train:

Thanks guys!! I will keep an eye out for the bachmann rollers at the ECLSTS.

Hi guys, Any recommendations for stationary rollers? I have several engines that I'd like to be able to run for testing purposes on rollers. Has anyone used the Bachmann or Accucraft rollers? Thoughts?

Cool!

Jerry, You are right. I would expect the Big Boy to be re-issed. Maybe the Daylight and the Hudson. I would love to see them do the N&W J, based on the 4 coupled drive they used for the other northerns.

Chuck, You're right, brass track seems like the way they should keep it. The USA starter set is probably one of the best out there, since you don't get a watered down locomotive.

Don't forget SRC 90 has blind center drivers.

BR 24 looks cool!! I also like the wiring harness that goes between a steam locomotive and the tender.