Chuck

I'm with you on the updated Challenger die-cast frames! Toss that captive driver design which is about impossible to work on and use sprung drop in Big Boy die-cast drivers! And make another run of passenger cars along with the baggage car! Some new paint schemes that go along with the "new" F Units that are in production! I watched new old stock 3-car sets sell in a few days for at or over $1,000.00 and the add-on cars sell for $400 each.

MTH announced new items for 2024 so maybe more to come later this year? https://www.mthtrains.com/news/834 I also heard rumor about some new MTH One-Gauge tooling in the works?

Outstanding! Great work! I especially like using golf tees for the horns!

I don't know but I don't think that Revolution board will do all that the MTH electronics is capable of. A better option would be to send your Hudson to Ray and have him swap out the older MTH PS2 electronic boards with the new PS3 boards. PS3 is DCC compatible then you could wire in this Revolution Board.... https://www.rldhobbies.com/dcc5acommand-boosterstationonboardrx.aspx I'd think that would open up most all the MTH PS3 features to the Revolution like in sync smoke chuffing, all sounds including the passenger station sounds, light controls etc. The older PS2 electronics are not DCC compatible. Will it work? I don't know as have never read of anybody doing it but in theory all should be fine. I've thought about doing the same via Airwire and their Adapta board which is just a small DCC command station.

I just looked thru your Jeep page and that's remarkable as it looks like real!

Those are kinda cool! Interesting as they show a ship date of 5/1/2024 while the original MTH F Units had a ship date of 12/31/2023 but now no date. I predict maybe 12/2024 as they're still shipping some SD70's.

Nice!

That didn't take long!

Frank, Here's a new USAT NYC J1E sales listing... https://www.trainz.com/collections/g-scale-model-trains/products/usa-trains-r20001-g-new-york-central-j1e-hudson-steam-locomotive-5344-vg-box?queryId=1560fa07e8e13860913cbb9b05b77ca8&objectId=43684252287098

Brutes!

Yeah the big KD's work better than the 1:32 version. I was online pricing them as now up to like $10 a set??!! Can you cut the center out of the airlines and then use some small wire insulation to make them flexible? I've thought about doing that but with all other ideas it's on the back burner. One warning...don't break the cab sun shades as MTH shows no stock of those. What's odd is a few months back they showed all kinds of them in different colors but have since pulled them. I think they kept them for warranty repairs for ones damaged in shipping?

Here's my entire SD70 fleet!

Eggies Just watched the Hudson run by video as I must have missed that one After that was you riding a snowblower!

Well it's hard to believe that I'm back working on this GP40 project a year later! Last summer I came across a Aristo GP40 chassis complete with the drives, truck frames, fuel tank & handrails in like new condition. I'll swap all that out as what I'm using now is "will sort of fit" parts from USA Trains. The drives I'll put on a GP9 that is used with all cracked axle gears. I did manage to soda blast the parts clean so ready for painting...maybe this week. GP40 drives are unique using a large motor with built in cooling fan.

Looks like you're right on with dimensions and everything! Yeah that final 10-20% of detailing takes like 90% of the time.

The one you built looks pretty good! That NYC version looks really great! Here's my collection and I have one more that'll be here on 12/26

Hi and welcome! I do see them come up for sale every now and then and I'll alert you when I see one. And there is talk from USAT that they will be producing more...in the distant future.

Oh Joe, Forgot to post that these engines have a quilling horn I was looking at the soft key menu and #1 was SPW...took a bit for that to sink in as used to seeing that with steam engines. So activated it and wow...it works!

I like your Spirit version so much that I put one on layaway I've eyed up that NYC version as well but just can't do it. Prices these days are getting ridiculous in the aftermarket...I mean $380 for a USA centerflow hopper...really?? Those roadrailers you have bring some serious $$$.

Joe, You've had it for awhile now and was wondering what you thought of it? I had another come in From Ray! Also have 3 more on layaway as I think that they're magnificent I've been dabbling in other sound decoders over the last year and always come back to DCS PS3 as they're way too easy to work with...and I'm very fond of the cab chatter and FYS/ PYS. At one time thought about trying a Lionel install with either RS5 or Legacy but with max. voltage of only 18V AC, very limited parts available and no way to change sound files that's not an option.

See if this will work... Just click on them a few times and they'll open a new window with larger images.

30thSt, I dug thru my files and found one. I'll scan and post it on here later this evening. I found it at Lionel by using a Google search for Lionel 78-5102-250 as that's the document number and it came up for me as a .pdf file but when I link it here it won't load?? I'll just scan my copy and upload it here as a picture as it's only 1 page long.

Hi Louis, Just the two biggest headed screws under each hatch. The control panels with switches stay with the engine. Come to think of it there is no wires to mess with when pulling boiler top as all those connections use springs and contact pads. Only real thing to watch is the handrails where they go thru the running boards at the front. When reassembling they're never in the right position and can scratch the paint. Black felt tip marker makes for easy touch-up painting of paint chips and scratches. Those are a beast of an engine and hope you got it for a decent price! I'll bet if USA makes them again they'll be over $5K...heck the new Lionel Big Boys that are shipping cost $2,800.00 or more!

Glad that Ro had the parts! Few years ago when the parts guy Mike was there spares had better prices. After Ro Sr. passed away then that Mike retired. Hey, You can remove the whole boiler top with cab by removing 4 phillips head screws located under 2 hatches. Put a pile of towels or blankets next to engine that are built up to say running board height. Remove the 4 screws and lift whole boiler top off and roll over and set on towels. Be careful as the wires for marker and number boards don't have a lot of slack. After you have that off you can unplug those wires and set out of the way. After that's removed you can roll engine over a lot easier to work on the bottom. It also makes engine lighter to "carry". Seems there is only a few screws and you can remove front engine pilot then you can work on the compressors really easy! Just keep an eye on the headlight wires. The USA Trains die-cast engines are really some of the easiest to work on! Have fun!