SteamPower4ever

As the 2015 catalog is dragging out, I can sneak in one more wish ... In my other scale (N) I've just purchased a model of SP 4449 on eBay. Seems like that has sparked something combustible inside me and I may be in love. In 1:32 scale I can only find the Accucraft model of 4449, but the price tag? ... sheeesh! So, my wish is 4449 in Daylight livery with DCC at an affordable price, please. Jens PS: It may not be just 4449, but a general FEF affection I've developed. 844 certainly has appeal too.

Must be a 'series' Land Rover owner. They have two tools in the case: a large hammer and a larger hammer I know - I've had two series III LRs. Thanks for posting that article. I didn't know about the USAT aluminium coaches, but they're proof of concept for my ideas about using aluminium extrusion for ATSF hi-levels. Jens

Man, that is nice work

I thought so - and I have noticed the better compound curves on your models, Bob. They're really great. I friend - a mechanical engineer - once told me that the most difficult thing to create is a compound curve. Jens

Aaargh ... droooollll Is it just me or are the nose curves of the real F units a little more ... rounded ... than the MTH models? You know, the cheek bones, so to speak. I've read somewhere that no picture ever has done the MTH models justice, so it could be lighting effects playing tricks with my eyes. Santa Fe Super Chief by Bob Reck, on Flickr

I think you'll be looking for the Piko part #36165. That # is replacement wheels for Silberlinge, which are pretty much identical to your DB coach. Jens

Hehehe ... Sometimes when I get silly ideas I can shrug them off after a while, but this one just won't go away. ... and then you me show a picture like that. Very cool Thanks Jens

On my commute home today I was thinking that once I get my F7s I have no suitable train for it right off the bat, so what will probably happen is that all the guys at the club bring their TEE coaches and we'll make a long TEE Chief or Super TEE or whatever. No cigar, but close. Fun for sure. The Trans America Express. That got me thinking. I'm not going to mess with the warbonnets, but what if I got myself one more set of F3s or F7s and painted them in TEE or Rheingold colors? Imagine ... DB Br103 184-8 by Marco Stellini, on Flickr E 10 1239 with the Rheingold by Patrick Schadowski, on Flickr Oooooooh ... shiny !!! Must resist ... Must resist ... Jens

If you have an hour to spare, here's a much better video from that incredible layout: Jens

Arggh ... an FEF-3 or a challenger would certainly be tempting, but not in 1:29 scale Jens

Just came across these videos from the spring modular meet at Borken. I wasn't there myself, but I thought you'd enjoy Jens Main line "cab ride" Branch line and depot "cab ride" ... train sequences start at 1:02

Joe, seriously ... When you need to have models with identical road numbers, then you have enough. Maybe. Not before.

Three B units will be motorised - I have an ABBBA set on order Two A units would absolutely be enough for every practical purpose on the club layout, but you know - on all the pictures I see of El Capitan and Super Chief, they used at least 4 units ... and so shall I. I'll sync the drives on a rolling test bench. That's exactly why I want to fit ESU decoders in the A units also - so I can fine tune and match all the speed steps on all units. Jens

I'm going to power the B units with NWSL trucks, ESU sound decoders and ESU smoke units. To get a decent consist - and the full DCC feature set, I expect to fit ESU decoders in the A units as well. And ESU smokers. Someone here expressed interest in the MTH PS3 stuff when I convert. As for the sound, I know it's not the same. ESU does have US sounds for download on their web site, so I expect to use those. I may try the Nohab sound just for fun, though. Five of those in a consist revving up ... droooooooool. Yeah, yeah, I know. That crazy dane Jens

Semi-official news from Heljan about the Nohab. Last I heard it was scheduled for Q3, which actually should be official. Now there's a video showing a prototype pulling 10 passenger coaches. They explicitly say it's a prototype, so there will be adjustments to sound and smoke as well as small parts added. They just want to show how it runs and pulls. The video is posted on an unofficial channel, but the channel owner does work at Heljan and the film is marked with their logo, so I guess Heljan's marketing dept. just haven't bothered getting their own official channel ... yet. For the record, the model is equipped with ESU LokSound v4 decoders - the same type I plan to use in my F7s. If all else fails, I know where to get the EMD 567 prime mover sound Jens

What harm? My wallet, that's what. So just following a train of thought (ha!), I ask myself what engine I'd like as a live steamer. Something none of the other guys have, so a Shay is out. The answer: UP 844 ... that would be cool. So I do a web search, and who's making an FEF-3 right now? Aster. Good thing I can't afford it because a similar kind of coincidence got me into gauge one in the first place. Jens

Stolen from the MTH FB page just now ... Jens

I like the 'prairie' section in the grass

Oh, you got me good, there. I never saw that coming back at me ...

Very nice engine, and a nice railroad you have. I see what you guys are doing - you're trying to get the live steam bug to bite me ... Jens

It comes and goes is my experience. Sometimes I'm frantically building a layout, sometimes I'm running trains, sometimes I'm building something else, and sometimes I'm far far away from the hobby. But never at heart. Jens

... and a few of my own pictures from the closing weekend of the 1998 season. Saturday was cloudy and snowy when I rode the train from Chama to Osier and back. Sunday was much nicer, the snow had melted and the yellow Aspen trees provided the most beautiful background imaginable when me and a bunch of other afficionados chased the train up to Cumbres Pass. The second picture is one of the best I've ever taken Jens

Whoa, nice page I just have to visit C&T again some time. Screendumps from this morning's departure at Chama: #488 to the left at the depot and a doubleheader - #484 and (I think) #489 - with the train ready at the platform Vamos!

Whuff!! Now is that nice or is it nice? It looks and sounds good. What was the result of the test run? All boxes ticked? Jens