We have had 2 parallel running posts the past few days,
What (if any) changes would you like to see at CTT? ......
Dissapointed with the latest issue...AGAIN ..........
Both talking about what we want to see in the magazine and / or what we see that we don't like. Now I'm a post war guy, a modest layout, tubular track, a ZW transformer. I like to see the big fancy hi-rail layouts that are covered in CTT. I like to see that there a lot of layouts that still use tubular rail track. There are lots of articles and stuff I like to read in CTT. Now I'm not really into the pre-war Standard Gauge stuff, but I do read the stories, but hey, I know there are lots of you out there who are, after all this is Classic Toy Trains. So under the post of "What (if any) changes would you like to see at CTT" I asked about maybe a story about the old Buddy L Trains. Bob Keller posted that CTT had run 2 stories about Buddy L back in 1991 + 1995, ( 16 and 20 years ago ), and that " I doubt if that topic will ever be revisited ..."
So - I guess my question is, Is 'Buddy L " a Classic Toy Train ? " Who out there collects Buddy L ? Does any one have a Buddy L layout ? Does Buddy L merit another look in CTT, or not ? I don't know a lot about Buddy L, but from what I have seen it looks pretty cool. Yes, it was a toy train, but for a Toy, it looked pretty good to me, almost semi-scale.
OK Guys + Gals, have at it, what do you think ?
Steve
Buddy L is kinda a Universe unto itself, they were large- VERY LARGE, very heavy, very expensive in their day, and had NO MOTORS, they were garden push trains as originally concieved, the track was very stout, it was close to Gauge 3 but NOT gauge 3 which was the first possible strike against it, it might have caught on more because Gauge 3 was a common garden gauge in England during the 1920's and had a few practitioners here as well. They also made an O gauge narrow gauge industrial train that seems to be easier to find. But what really did them in was the stock market crash, demand for very expensive childrens toys dried up overnight.
During the 1990's a reproduction run of Buddy L stock was made (mfr?), but it was expensive and had a limited production run. I would agree another look at Buddy L stuff would be neat. They made some tremendous models, ever see the pile driver or steam shovel - that actually worked? they're awesome! It would be interesting to see side by sides of the Gauge 3ish models with the O industry stuff with the repro stuff. Its still very uncommon today due to its rarity and collecting commands a mighty hefty price of admission, this stuff is EXPENSIVE! $1000-$1500 minimum for a fair/good condition steam loco WITHOUT the tender, $2000-$2500+ for very good, thats been a fairly consistent price on Evilbay, basic cars between $75 to $800+, special cars like the pile driver? $1500 to $3500 and up based on prices I've seen this stuff go for.
Have fun with your trains
I suspect the name you're trying to think of is T-Reproductions, they made a motorized version of the classic Buddy-L Pacific(?) in the 90's.
One thing that may shed some light on the subject is that more often than not I see Buddy-L trains on the diecast side of ebay rather than the model railroading side. So might that suggest that Buddy-L trains would be more at home in magazines about diecast cars? I tend to doubt it, but that's at least how ebay logic seems to play out.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Becky - Maybe so .. but they look like pretty cool trains
I'm still disappointed that Bob Keller said that the Buddy L subject would not be revisited again. Is there any body out there who has Buddy L trains ?
On an episode of American Pickers, the guys came across somebody who had a freight consist of Buddy L displayed on a shelf. I didn't see if they were on track and I don'r think the guys bought it, all I remember was thinking, "*** those trains are huge!"
steve24944 Becky - Maybe so .. but they look like pretty cool trains
Oh they are! They're toootally cool! I remember seeing one every year in a "hall of antiques" at the Cuyahoga County Fair when I was a kid back in the 70's. Engine, tender, tankcar, boxcar and caboose. And out of everything at the fair no matter what year it was, it was that train I wanted to see! A year or two ago I saw it at a trainshow at the local UAW and it was like seeing an old friend! A friend with one hefty pricetag I might add!
Steve,
If a manuscript with beautiful hi-res images of pristine condition trains with supplemental material came into the office, we'd consider it.
Otherwise, we've covered the subject.
I will toss out the idea at the next staff meeting of cobbling together a pdf of odd-ball manufacturer features (Buddy-L, Hoge, Colber) so people who don't have the back issues can access the information.
Bob Keller
California State Railroad Museum has a Buddy L collection as part of their Toy Train display, they might also have some information on them.
Ogaugeoverlord Steve, If a manuscript with beautiful hi-res images of pristine condition trains with supplemental material came into the office, we'd consider it. Otherwise, we've covered the subject. I will toss out the idea at the next staff meeting of cobbling together a pdf of odd-ball manufacturer features (Buddy-L, Hoge, Colber) so people who don't have the back issues can access the information.
How about having a monthly or bimonthly feature called "Classic Toy Trains Classics" where older articles get reprinted? Or better yet, where previously featured layouts get revisited?
Just a thought.
I remember some time ago - like back in the late 80s - Model Railroader ran a feature called The Heritage Fleet showing classic Lionel and American Flyer Locomotives and operating cars. CTT could revive that idea, like a playboy centerfold. Include the really old stuff like Buddy L.
There is too much new material in our files to reprint old articles in the magazine. That is what our pdf collections are for. Roger runs a "Collectible Classic" in every issue which sort of fills the bill.
Interestingly, the MT Heritage Fleet series is the source of CTT's creation. The MR staff expected negative feedback and it got a lot of positive feedback. As they say, the rest is history.
Maybe there is hope for Buddy L yet. I just watched Bob's Train Box and he starts out by talking about the tooling for Buddy L being found in China.
Hi all,
There's a dealer who exhibits in the Orange Hall at York who had a complete Buddy L train this last October (16 cars, engine, and tender, IIRC). They were asking over $30K for the complete package. That's well out of my price range, but it was sure neat to get up close and personal with the set.
Probably the best reason/excuse for CTT to take another look at Buddy L is because one of the major manufacturers has made new Buddy L compatible trains in the last year. The Lionel Corporation "Brute" by MTH was offered two ways. The one I own is the modern PS2 version, which was gauged down to Standard Gauge. The other version (#11-2009-0 and #11-2010-0) is not the typical build-a-loco powered conventional engine, but rather a push toy gauged for Buddy L 3.25" track. As I recall, Mike Wolf said the the Buddy L club had been consulted to ensure the gauge and couplers were done properly.
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