American O-Gauge in Germany - relaunched

[martin67]

Hi all,

my name's Martin and I'm living in southern Germany in the greater Munich area. Although being a member on this board for some 12 years now, I wrote almost nothing. This is about to change. Have to tell you my story.

It all started 30 years ago, when I discovered a Lionel NY Central Flyer starter set in my luggage after my return from a trip to the US. Actually, I knew I was supposed to be there, as I put it in. I bought this set as a souvenir in Chicago after travelling all the way from Louisiana through Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, ending up in Illinois for my return flight. I really loved this set, the somewhat basic looking 4-4-2 and the tinplate O-27 tracks. This got me into O-gauge. A year later I went to New Orleans again and bought me a K-Line Alco AA in SF warbonnet colors. Back home I subscribed to CTT magazine and signed up for the K-Line Collectors Club. I remained a KCC member and CTT subscriber until approx. 2002, then my interrest slowly shifted back to HO scale again and the O-gauge stuff was stored away and subsequently sold. Except a Williams New Haven E60 and the K-Line Millenium Club Car, which I kept, because I loved them too much.  

I began building several layouts in HO, then in N, again in HO and took part as an exhibitor on train shows from 2009 on. 

Only last year they asked me, if I would do a different layout for 2023, I agreed. Didn't know what to do I suddenly came across that box with those old CTT magazines. Let's do O-gauge! Honestly, American O-gauge is not really common in Europe, Lionel is not a household word as it is in the US, it's more or less unknown to the normal audience. Might be an eyecatcher on the show, I thought. 

As said, I only had less than a handful of pieces left from my initial collection, and only four lousy pieces of O-27 straight track. 

I started from scratch again, found LEMAX buildings in the after X-mas clearance sale, searched websites for trains. My knowledge was from the turn of the century, so I was quite surprised that tubular track is almost absent. I found MTH slowly leaving the market, K-Line gone (well, this I read back when it happended), and Lionel looked quite different. Not to mention Bachmann and Williams and what's left from it. 

The second hand market, however, looked quite good. I managed to get a WBB freight set with a Virginian Trainmaster in the US, and found a very good source for used stuff in the UK. I also found out buying used American O-gauge in Europe is rather cheap due to its limited popularity. I got me a Williams by Jerry Williams EMD F3 AA-Set and some aluminum passenger cars, which I repainted in "AMRoad"-paint scheme from the 1970's movie "Silver Streak" with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. And some other stuff, too. I even managed to buy Menards track, even if they do not ship abroad. All good enough for a 320 x 180cms exhibition layout. 

Just writing a monologue without pictures is rather dry, so here's what I did mid November 2023 on our annual train show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Martin

 

[Flintlock76]

Great work and a great story Martin!  Thanks for sharing it with us!  

And remember, three-railers have three times the fun!  

[martin67]

Thanks mate! 

So, what was the train show like? The HO purists didn't like it so much. Too different, too little modelling.And too much phantasy needed. The kiddies and especially their moms loved it. Lots of colors, fast running trains, lights. And my remote controlled Bachmann (ex K-Line) dump car. This was the busiest car on the show, carrying load after load of chocolates.... Think this was the main factor for the love of kids and moms 

The pictures are from the running session before the show, had to test and check everything...

Martin

 

[pennytrains]

Great job!  .  The Silver Streak looks fantastic!  .  Love that movie!

[martin67]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate! It was strange, almost nobody could recognize this train, even if the movie is quite popular here in Europe. I thought before that this will be the no.1 eyecatcher on the layout. I had a couple of other movie related items on the layout, the Griswold house, or a few cars and trucks. There was some feedback on them, but not on the train. Not sure if people get into details or just see a red and silver train running around. The train itself was rather popular, just because it was red and silver and had lights in it. Probably, a Santa Fe Streamliner would have had the same effect.

I will write a "making of" of my Silver Streak shortly in a new thread....

Cheers, Martin