I love my 310. But this photo shows something of a quirk the loco has: it can't tolerate bad track work.
But you can see right where the rear pilot wheel is that there's a bit of a hump in the track. Consequently it derails there every 4 or 5 trips around the circle. I stopped running it in favor of my 303 which is much more forgiving. It won't be long and I'll be taking the summer layout down and I can level the rails then.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Postwar Paul The 681 is a great engine. Highly recommend. Wish list ? I have slowed down considerably, but I still want a postwar GG1. And, of course a 773, and a 763e, but I don't have the cash to back that up... I'm a little thin in Flyer, only 4 engines and a handful of cars. I could grow more in this area. Would like one of their 4-8-4's, and a Pennsylvania pacific. The " holy grail" would be the 314AW, it would complement what I have nicely...
The 681 is a great engine. Highly recommend.
Wish list ?
I have slowed down considerably, but I still want a postwar GG1.
And, of course a 773, and a 763e, but I don't have the cash to back that up...
I'm a little thin in Flyer, only 4 engines and a handful of cars. I could grow more in this area.
Would like one of their 4-8-4's, and a Pennsylvania pacific.
The " holy grail" would be the 314AW, it would complement what I have nicely...
Paul,
Don't forget about the Lionel 783. All the quality of the 773 with the long stack motor, but much more affordable. I bought one back in 2011 and love it. Can't go wrong with a 2332 GG1 either.
As for Flyer, I've got a thing for the 312, 314AW, and 316 K5s. I will say that I feel that the 314AW is overhyped. I've always done well flipping them though.
My suggestion would be to set your sights on a large motor 336 Northern.
Jim
Yep. And that's why the 681 is at the top of my want list!
I think the 2035 is one of those Postwar classics ( which is hard to say , because there were so many). Sort of an iconic engine, and look. Like the turbines, and hudsons, it speaks of that era...
Postwar Paul Penny Trains Postwar Paul It growls as it heads down the track. My 2035 does the same thing. To call it "distinctive" isn't quite good enough! That 2035 is such a great engine. I'm glad I finally lucked onto one !
Penny Trains Postwar Paul It growls as it heads down the track. My 2035 does the same thing. To call it "distinctive" isn't quite good enough!
Postwar Paul It growls as it heads down the track.
My 2035 does the same thing. To call it "distinctive" isn't quite good enough!
That 2035 is such a great engine. I'm glad I finally lucked onto one !
Still looking myself. No luck so far, but one thing I learned collecting guns is the best tool in the belt you can have is patience.
Ever since I saw Becky's video of her 2035 "Blockbuster" I've had to have one too!
Thanks for the great advice ! Yes, that makes a whole lot more sense.
I also want to get some shelves up to display some trains, and liberate them from their boxes.
" Cage Free"
Around-the-walls offers more area, longer runs, and gentler curves. For example, around the walls of an 11-foot square room, with a 3.5-foot maximum reach from the edge, you can get 69.75 square feet and about a 40-foot run, compared to a square table in the middle of the room with 49 square feet and about 25 feet.
Bob Nelson
This room is 11' x 11'. Two 30 inch doors open inward in opposite corners.
Hint: it may be 11' by 11' square, but the space is a cube. Hmmmmm....
Here are some of my hair brained and half baked ideas...
1. The " wedding cake"
an island with larger scales circling the bottom, and progressively smaller scales as you go up
2. The " Flying Dog Bone"
an L shaped Dog Bone suspended, and occupying two adjacent walls.
3. The " Grass is always Greener"
two triangular shaped tables with massive bridges flying over a center aisle.
I know if I keep looking at the problem long enough, one day it will just come to me.
It usually does, sooner or later..
Folks, many great ideas, thank you !
I've been mulling over in my mind how best to tackle this.
And for Model Railroaders , it's never enough space. But I'm very thankful for what I do have, and will make the most of it.
Considerations:
this room will somehow need to fit
1. Postwar Lionel
2. American Flyer
3. HO Brass
4. N gauge
5. On30
please tell me I am not running a fever...
Ya know, I was just thinking. That "Engineered-Hardwood Central" might look a lot better with a Persian carpet under it.
Not a real Persian carpet, mind you. An inexpensive imitation from Lowes would be good enough. Preferably with a lot of red in it.
Pocket doors are a train room's best friend!
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
Bedroom doors almost always open into the room and can seriously constrain the design of a layout. Because of that, I reversed the door to my train room, by mortising the hinges to the other side of the door stop and filling in the original mortises. You could also consider simply removing the door(s) and storing them.
Yes, I have that issue , too! It's true, what was somewhat of a failed experiment for the Pennsy Was a gold mine for Lionel !!!
And so it goes...
still love the Pennsy
and love those Lionel Turbines
Paul
Ironic, isn't it? The Turbine worked a lot better for Lionel than it ever did for the PRR!
The whole sad story of the Pennsy Turbine was told quite well in a "Classic Trains" magazine issue several years ago. Too much to go into here.
The 681 is a very special engine. The drives and motor are so good, along with the smoke, and Magnitraction. What a sweetheart engine!!!
But it was a 1946 version 2020 that was my intro to Toy Trains. That one hooked me something fierce!! It is a completely different engine. It has the "Atomic" motor, and double worm gear drive. It growls as it heads down the track. It has the smoke bulb( which actually Does smoke, if you put a couple of drops on it). And the square 2466wx tender.
And, there is no E-unit lever coming out of the boiler shell, you just move a plug on the motor to shut off the reverser. It has it's own charm, and so different from the 681.
I lucked into a 681 Pennsy Turbine about a month ago. I wasn't looking for one but it was a case of "Right place, right time, right price." It's a LOT more impressive in person than it is in photos, and had a "Pennsylvania" tender as well. Couldn't pass it up. A great runner, puller, and smoker, and it dates from 1953, just like I do! We've both aged remarkably well, if I say so myself.
Yep, all those Turbines are sweet !
Really unique looking engine.
I'm looking for that same engine. Either a 2020, 671, 681, or 682. Doesn't matter to me. I've never had one but I to think that's one of my favorite engines!
My favorite Lionel engine
It's easy to get sidetracked...
As I start unpacking stuff
Gotta run a train, or 3. Getting a feel for track plans...
Thank you!
It's lot of work at the moment, but should work out in the long run...
Go, man, go!
I hope it works out well for you ! This moving stuff is quite an upheaval.We never realized we have this much stuff ! And the trains go on, and on, and I'm still moving them. Haven't gotten to the big furniture yet, got my priorities !!
It'll be a long slow process for me, wish you the best in your house hunting.
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