markoles

It would be very doable from an Aristo mallet. All you do is remove the fourth driver and cut that motor block at that point. You'd need to shorten the boiler shell, too, but that would be pretty straight forward. I noticed they've got a web cam dedicated to this move.

I like the chunky, funky look of the Reading camelback. The finish looks good, and the detail level appears to be geared more toward rough handling (aka, the details are large and do not appear easily broken). With two small kids, that's an important feature for me. The Reading camelback comes with the Tsunami sound installed in the tender on this and several other of the 0-6-0 / 2-6-0 locos that Piko has just released. My friend, Joe Sova, posted a video on his facebook page, and from that video, the sound seems ok. I suspect it is one of those 'have to see it in person' to appreciate it. I do like the fact that the sound is already installed and that I can easily trigger the whistle and bells. I'd expect that I'd end up having to do some surgery to get a REVO to work, but I could see it happening a lot like my LGB Mikado, where I am running the REVO to control the motor and trigger the sound inputs on the main LGB sound board. I do not get the correct number of toots or the headlights to work properly, but as I am typing this, I am wondering if I couldn't take another look at this and use the PWC- Linear converter I have to run the LGB board. Hmm.......

Getting notifications that these are arrived at dealers! Anyone getting one?? What is the QSI sound card / decoder worth?

When I see photos of storage places like these, it is a reminder that I need to come up with some outdoor storage for some of my rolling stock, too. I expect that I'd keep locomotives indoors, but freight trains could be left out in storage units. I like the Amtrak trains too. There are days when I kick myself for not getting the Genesis locomotives and 3 amfleets for $450 at the ECLSTS in the past years. Oh well. I didn't let that same thing happen last year when I picked up the 6 car set of aristo heavyweights and a pacific to pull them.

All, especially ED, the Unit trains of the Baaken crude from North Dakota to the East Coast refineries use a box car or a grain car as a buffer car between the locomotives. Since they do not turn the entire train at the refinery, there are box or grain cars at each end of the train. So, if you were to model a modern tank car train in the US, don't forget the buffer cars.

I am having an intermitten derailment issue with one of my new heavyweight cars. I always assume it is my less than stellar trackwork combined with a particularly bad double crossover. But perhaps it is also the wheels. For what it's worth, I got a box of USAT blackened wheels in 2005 or 2006, and installed them on my aristo 40 foot cars. These are the standard sprung aristo trucks. What I discovered is that the USAT wheels have a shoulder on them that pushes in to the side of the truck, creating a lot of friction. Further, the wheel itself is a smaller diameter, which allowed the brake shoes to ride the top of the track, as well. These wheels were made for the LGB and LGB copied arch bar trucks. They fit perfectly on my LGB tank cars and box cars, no issues there! And once the black plating is worn off, the brass underneath looks good!

Looks great! I put together a tank car train of LGB and Aristo tank cars.

Jim Miller hates the crossover there, though. When we operate 4 trains at once or 2 on the inner loop, it takes careful attention NOT to have head on wrecks there. However, I like the cross over, as it allows the trains to pass each other and does create visual interest. I had those bricks left over from an old patio we took out. I need to add two or three more layers of brick to keep my ballast from washing away. One thing I really like about the East end is that you cannot see it when you are sitting on our patio. So, you are forced to get up out of your chair and go over there to view. I think about adding a bench out there somewhere. Just to the right of that 5th shot is a huge oak tree. At the base of the oak is a baby japanese red maple, which is arching toward the tracks there. I am planning to let her grow until it makes a canopy and I can put a bench under there, too.

Hi guys, Thought you might like to see some pictures Luke (6) took on Sunday while we were running some trains. You can see that my track crews have been bad about letting the weeds grow. Also, Luke is not too steady with the camera, and so there's a lot of blurriness to these pictures! Oh well! Enjoy! This last one is my favorite. It sort of reminds me of his magic marker drawings.

Joe, I think it depended on the road, their bridges, and also the kind of trains that were operated. Axle loading is the reason you have the 6 axle trucks to begin with.

Chuck, That's the version I had back when they first came out. I hope you really like it! I've bought mostly freight cars from Trainz and all the stuff arrived in good shape. The one time I bought a playmobile freight depot, and what showed up was complete junk. They offered a full refund, but I split the difference with them instead, figuring I could build 'something' with the pieces. So far, that hasn't happened. Still, I'm only out $15. I find with auctions that I put in my highest bid, and if that's where I win it, so be it.

It's kind of amazing, when you stop to consider the number of roads that had their own steam engine designs, yet all the models tend to be of one or two roads. There was a vocal minority that was lobbying for USRA models of the light / heavy pacfiic and mikado, plus 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 switchers. The argument was that all those engines could use the same 15,000 gallon tender (ARisto did eventually make it with their first run of mallet locomotives) for a 4-6-2, 4-8-2, 2-8-2, 2-10-2, 2-6-2, 0-6-0, 0-8-0, so all they'd have to make for new molds would be the locomotive itself.

There have been several NYC hudson models made over the years. Most recently, there was: Aster: live steam and electric Fine Arts Models: J3A Dreyfuss and regular LGB: J3A MTH: J3A USAT: J1e and there may have been one or two other oddball manufacturers of this iconic locomotive.

Rich, Aristocraft was the company that made the heavyweight cars in large scale. They made two flavors of NYC heavyweight: two tone gray and an olive green. The Olive green sold out very quickly, the two tone gray cars were more easily obtained. However, none are available and there won't likely be more made for a while. Jim and I both grabbed a full 6 car set of heavyweights last year, and I can say that the last batch of these cars were superior to the previous releases for a few reasons. The biggest problem the older cars have is the power pick up for the lights is a bit flakey, and you get a dance party like strobe light. The last version included LED lights with voltage stabilizers and circutry to keep the lights from flickering. Also, the cars have electrical connectors so you can basically string all the lights together. Really nice. You could get a set of the Pennsy's and then repaint them. I've painted 3 of these cars, and it isn't that hard to do. Takes some patience, though.

Jens, I can almost smell the coal burning from my house, too. Just kidding. It's a good 10 miles away!

89 is a good choice, too! Don't tell her she's a 'small' engine!!

Hi guys, OK, the time is coming when Piko's Reading camelback locomotive should be arriving. Any of you guys order one? With a wife starting a new job, I'm holding off on buying anything for the trains (and I need to upgrade a 2k2 board to a P8, and get another REVO steam starter kit, so no new locos for Mark). I've been hearing bad things about the drive train on the Piko x-6-x drive. Here's hoping they make continuous improvements. Anyone?

Did you get that Pennsy Atlantic?

That switcher looks pretty good, Jim.

I was thinking it might be a wire inside the tender. Not sure what kind of electronics are in there.

Jens, a 10 coupled drive steam engine could serve as the basis for the 1924 Baldwin 2-10-0 of the Strasburg Railroad and also as the basis (maybe) for both 2-10-0 and 2-10-2T German models. However, I am not sure if the wheel base and wheel diameters are the same...

How cool is this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9oJFIZ_Hh8#t=103

DAng Ben! Maybe it is a loose wire somewhere?

As much as I like the big old steamers, I would really like MTH or someone to make a model of our favorite local steamer. I'll take this one for freight: and I'll take this one for passenger service!

Jim, Looks great on your railroad! I've been running my pacific + 6 heavyweights, but find the Pacific is a little 'slippery' on my tougher grades. Could be smoke fluid or bad track or a combination of the two.