From experience, I think the newest run of heavyweights are a lot better than the previous run. The lighting circuit and the inclusion of the MU plugs is what, in my opinion, makes the latest release that much better.
Painting these cars is not really that bad. The roof comes off with 4 screws. The trucks are a little trickier due to the wiring (and version you start with). I used blue painters tape to mask the windows, and it was really pretty simple. Then, spray. On the last car I painted, in 2011, I even removed all the brass pieces and painted those separately.
I think if you're really after a CZ set, your best bet is going to place a pre-order with a dealer or even USAT directly. I was looking at the Charles Ro website, and they expect them at the end of February, which means mid-summer 2015.
In this locomotive's case, it was due for major repairs / rebuild following the 1994 season. 1218 was already torn down in Birmingham, AL, and NS was still recovering from lawsuits resulting from injuries sustained by their own employees when 611's train derailed in the Great Dismal Swamp in the late 80s.
The key to this restoration is that it is not NS doing the work or maintaining afterwards. It is the museum, and they have put up a great plan for how to handle the locomotive and plan for its continued use. However, if NS wasn't willing to let it run on their tracks, it would have been a huge waste of money and time to restore it to operating condition.
I can think of one locomotive (Middletown and Hummelstown ex-CN #91) that is stored serviceable, but has only operated a handful of times. That one is a shame. It would have been cool to see it operate with 89 at Strasburg (not that it was ever even discussed).
There is another MTH hudson on ebay now,too. and it has a repaired front truck. I'd still lean more that way, since it looks like an acutal user is selling his engine.
Chuck, I did ask them for the odometer reading and he claimed he didn't know how to get that. Made me suspicious.
While I do not have immediate plans of bidding on an MTH hudson, I do get ebay notices whenever one is posted on the ebay site. Today, I noticed one that had a 499 starting bid, reasonable. I looked at the loco and the pictures show an engine that might have been run a few times under a Christmas tree. Nothing too much. However, the seller describes the engine as "Mint, never out of the box". I contacted him because I believe that's misleading, since the skates clearly show use (at least several hours worth, maybe more). ALso, the cab shows dust, meaning the locomotive has been out of the box for at least a little while and the tender coupler is a hook and loop (and appears to be somewhat busted).
The seller's response to this was 'he only removed the loco from the box, and tested it and took photos'. So, his description is correct, and misleading. It is the first time out of the box (for him), but not necessarily for the locomotive.
There are a ton of photos of the tour online now. I didn't take any, so none are mine. Shawn Conahey took a lot of photos of all the open houses he made it to, and got some really nice shots of my railroad.
Oh boy. One week to go, and I am hopelessly behind on several projects.
I finished painting the Korber station and now need to assemble it.
I got a new P8 sound board to replace the bad 2k2 board (Phoenix allows trade ins, even if they don't work. $80 plus the bad useless board and I get the latest and greatest!). Need to install in the mallet.
Ballast and level the double crossover.
Install split jaw rail clamps to replace questionable hillman and aristo clamps.
Make some windows for the Silverton station
Reletter an aristo connie as Strasburg Rail Road #90.
Oh, and I get a call the newspaper wants to come out and do another article and photo shoot. Tomorrow.
I am racing a half marathon in the morning (and hope to be faster than 1:20), and we're putting in hardwood floors next week (so the walls have to be painted and the carpet removed this weekend.).
The smoke unit was in my old USAT 44-tonner locomotive. Nothing modified, running straight track power. Smoke unit ran dry while I wasn't watching (how often does that happen?), and then there was awesome smoke! I had a 4" flame out the top of the cab roof. USAT sold me a new cab and new internals for my trouble. Not my favorite experience.
I would add my caution with the USA diesel smoke unit: Do not operate them without smoke fluid in them and watch them like a hawk! I had one catch fire. Not good under a Christmas tree...
I was looking at the MTH site and noticed that there are a few triplexes out there, stiil. Go to the MTH homepage and do a product search. I have no idea if the retailers listed actually have the locomotives, and I doubt you'll find them for $800 or whatever, but if ya gotta have it, ya gotta have it!
I checked the links and realized that the MTH Dash 8 Amtrak looked very familiar. Now I remember why! I saw two of them this summer, at one spot, where Hartman Station Rd crosses the Amtrak mainline in Lancaster County:
Hopefully you can see the above video. Luke was sort of excited....
I also note that one of the local shops, Nicholas Smith Trains, has the Dash 8 and the Amtrak cars that go along with it. Too bad they aren't Amfleet cars..
I'm in the process of painting and assembling this kit. I don't have any pictures of it yet, but it is easy to put together and very sturdy. I got mine from Star Hobby, and it appears to be New Old Stock. They also included a bottle of their thick glue, which is awesome. Sets up in about 30 seconds.
In the literature that was in the box, they show a 3 stall roundhouse. Now I have to find one because it is exactly what i need on my railroad!! Does anyone know where those kits might be found?
I had a friend pick up the Centerville station kit. I think it will be perfect for the newly expanded section of my railroad. I don't have a lot of space over there, so it is really like a flag stop.
OK, I found an old LGB headlight bulb assembly in my parts drawer, and cut and ground the new headlight visor to fit. Put it on the track, and everything is working great!! Actually, the light is so good, I think my son has a new favorite engine again!
I wonder if it will be a lot of talking and piano over the sounds and action of the 765. Luke would like it more if it was just the engines doing the talking, if you know what I mean!
The LGB 2085 is (probably) and approximation of the South East German railway #104. It appears to still be in service. Here's a link to a flickr page with a lot of photos.
As to what you should pull? Well, you could pretend it was visiting the HSB in East Germany, and get some of those HSB cars from Train Li. They're not that cheap, but they appear to be better detailed than the LGB approximations, and are likely in the same ballpark, price wise with he LGB. Also, this will give you a reason to seek out the 2080S or 21802 LGB HSB model of a 2-6-2T used on the HSB. The SER 104 is stored and supposedly operational in Switzerland. You could pull some of the older RhB train cars with it, and not be too far off.
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Lionel 4-4-2 Atlantic
in Locomotives
Posted
I forgot about the aluminum wheels. That isn;t going to work well with stainless track.