Help with a Christmas loco :)

[jonadel]

Thanks for all the suggestions!  I think I found the solution and as soon as I receive confirmation on the order I'll let you know.

We have had a GREAT week in the train room!!!!  Both of us have literally spent 4 days down there just working at cleaning, throwing "stuff" away, tweaking small repairs and bringing out trains for the upcoming Christmas season.  It makes me appreciate how much we have and how hard we worked 8-10 years ago when we built this layout.

As we were surveying the rooms yesterday I mentioned to Sharyl that I would love to build a two track lift bridge so we could still get to the stand alone gas fireplace and expand to a 14' long run that could be 40" wide -- so tempting and I know how much both of us enjoy the construction part of layout building.  That would be a huge project but I sure enjoy thinking about it!

Biggest problem are all my magazines, we have 14 years of CTT and O Gauge magazines, they take up too much room but they are just full of great information, ugg.  Then there's 8 years of motor cycle touring magazines - 3 different companies.  I did make the decision to pitch two of those companies magazines away and just keep one.  Even though I'm down to probably my last two years of long distance touring I can use all of those articles for future car trips.

Both of us commented last night how relaxing it is to simply work in the train rooms, we lose total track of time when we are down there just putzing around.  What a great hobby!!!!

[hscsltb]

As far as sets go my lhs will sell sets without track and transformers at a discount.

[Penny Trains]

You can rule out an MPC DC general like the James Gang loco, it will only pull a short string of lightweight cars.  I'm not sure though if the newer generals like the one fifedog shows above pull any better.

A step down from the Berkshire in both price and detail level would be a 2037 2-6-4 steamer or any one of it's sisters with magnetraction.  I modified this one:

using simple parts (attached with tiny dabs of hot glue), some white paint and paper labels.  I made the labels on my PC, printed with an inkjet on plain 20lb paper and attached them to the loco and tender with a water based glue-stick.  The cars I used were small streamliners painted red and blue for the P.E. and labeled the same way as the loco.  Oh, I also switched the 2036's 4 wheel trailing truck for a modified 2 wheel diecast truck.  (I had to file down the loop end of the truck to get it to fit.)

Anyhoo, that's the only dedicated Christmas train I use.

Becky

[fifedog]

Visually, I like both of these:

And I'm even growing fond of this:

However, I'm not sure what kind of pullers they are, and i personally would only count on them to run a simple, level loop of track.

Any Berkshire steamer would fit the bill if you needed something more heftier.

[dougdagrump]

Jon, Looks as if you mite have better luck finding a secondhand RK diesel, gp-7/9 etc, and doing a repaint or buy the set and sell off the un-needed pieces. I also tried a search and couldn't find much of anything anywhere.

[jonadel]

We have been working diligently the last 3 days in the train room, massive amounts of cleaning while putting away some fun trains and bringing out some diesels/steamers that reflect the upcoming Christmas Holidays.  Yes, we are way out front on getting the train rooms ready as we are hosting Christmas here and we want to make sure it's a special one.

We pulled out 18 Christmas themed cars, some great K-Line animated cars and some beautiful MTH/Lionel box cars.  I'd like to find a diesel/and or steamer to lead the parade that have Christmas markings and in my short search I haven't had much luck.  There are some Holiday Train sets available but I don't want another "train set", I have more than enough track and small transformers.  I may just go with a Blue Comet steamer and be done with it as those are available.  It needs to be MTH PS 2 and could be Railking or Premiere.

Thanks for your help