Bump N Go Trollies

[dougdagrump]

I've started roughing out a plan for our Halloween layout and was thinking of utilizing a Bump N Go trolley on an upper level. Unfortunately I know nothing of the trollies, looking for any info they you mite have. This is only going to be up for the one nite so economy is the key. Industrial Rail would probably fit the bill but are there any left at any of the shops or internet stores? [}:)]
Also want to wish Sandi a big "Howdy" and welcome to this little corner of the world. [:)]

[spankybird]

Here are several Bump-n-Runs that I have,

Industrial Rail, Like you said, if you can find one. Also if you need any parts, your dead.


MTH has sevel trolleys, look alot like Lionel, but alot more different colors – road names



One of Lionel newer trolleys



you could also consider different hand cars, this one is MTH



Lionel has also re-intorduced the gang car, this is an old one



hope this helps
tom

[dougdagrump]

I found some MTH at $44, was hoping to find some a bit cheaper. Thanks Tom.

[Anonymous]

I would be interested in seeing your finished pics of the halloween layout. Is it for the SDMRR museum? This is an neglected area of the hobby though there has been some "false starts" in the past. Like the Black Cave Flyer set of the 80's that I coveted as a kid.

I am waiting for the Reeds hobby shop guys to call and say "Come pick up your Transylvania Flyer General". I am waiting for the call any day now. $109 for a halloween themed engine. Can't be beat.

[spankybird]

HEre is a few pics of my halloween layout from last year





you can see more on my web page, just click on the icon below

[Anonymous]

As a dedicated trolley enthusiast (in O, Std. Gauge, and Large Scale), I have some of just about every trolley made today in those various scales.

In the self-reversing variety in O gauge, I have Lionel (postwar and modern era, MTH, and Industrial Rail). Of those, I have found the MTH to be the most dependable at reversing properly and consistently at slower speeds, followed by the IR versions. The Lionel trolleys, both postwar and modern era, tend to need somewhat higher speeds to perform properly. The exceptions to this are the modern era Lionel streetcars (no trolley poles, but Lionel still calls them trolleys) which seem to perform well, but because of their lighter weight, not as well as the MTH and IR versions.

My favorite O gauge trolleys are the scale models offered by Western Hobbycraft, but the maker of those cars is, at the present time, not actively pursuing his business for what I believe are personal and/or health reasons. His trolleys are not self-reversing in any case, nor are the O gauge trolleys offered by Bowser.

My personal feeling is that the MTH trolleys would probably be best for your purposes. IR, as others have noted, has apparantly pretty much disappeared from the market (they are now owned by Horizon Hobby). The Lionel streetcars--which is all they offer these days--are okay, but not as nice, or as smooth operating, as the MTH cars.

Strictly my personal opinion.

[dougdagrump]

emmaandy,
This isn't for the museum, insread of decorating our garage as we have for about 5 yrs we decided to do a halloween train layout. I downloaded a kinda funcky dogbone design that I am going to expand to 5x9. Like you I am waiting for my H'ween General, boxcar and caboose. I've picked up a few relatively inexpensive dump cars which we can use for candy delivery when only a few kids come at one time. I am considering doing a repaint or just some decaling on a trolley in a halloween scheme. We are watching Michael's, Wal-Mart, BigLots, etc for the halloween houses etc, already have a couple of items but only buying when I can find the rite price.
Should be fun if all goes well. [:D]
I'll take photos as it comes together.

[spankybird]

Our local Michael's has been advertising its Spook town already. I am planing on stoping by this weekend to look at it. Dept 56 already has it's holloween line out.

http://www.halloween.d56.com/product_landing.asp?sid=52562&strSection=villages

and we pick this up at K-Mart the other night



and the Tom Danels car

[Anonymous]

What a fun topic. I'm glad to see interest in this area is picking up.

I agree with Alan Miller on the trolley sumation I have only the Lionel and MTH versions I hope to pick up an Industrial Rails when the opportunity arises. I have several of their logging cars and really hope someone starts production again soon. Another option if you want to go narrow gauge is the Bachmann On30 sets. Their trolley is very nice looking and has an interior. I have seen them in sets with track, transformer and reverse units for under $70.

Spankybird very nice pictures of your layout. H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe would feel right at home. Woe to the politician who calls for urban renewal in that town. i have some of those Tom Danials cars and would love to see some Big Daddy Roth and Munsters cars cars done the same way.

I have a pretty nice collection of those Mega-blocks Dragons figures too. Very halloweeny. You sould keep an eye out for their new Pyrates line with pirates and skeleton figures with even more articulation. These would be perfect if you wanted to make a mini Pirates of the Carribean themed area.

Another thing to look at that may be closer to scale is the Heroscape game figures from that game I saw at Toys are Us. There are all kinds of goblins and dragons. Fun.

Keep up the good work. Love the pics.

[Anonymous]

I neglected to mention Bachmann's On30 trolleys. I have all three of the models they currently offer: Christmas, United Traction, and Hersey's. These are, of course, On30 models, which operate on HO track, but they are O scale in the sense that they are modeled in 1:48 scale but based on equipment that would operate on narrow gauge lines. They are smaller than their Lionel, MTH, or IR counterparts, but are more nicely detailed and certainly a good value.

The Bachmann On30 trolleys can be purchased separately, or in sets. Although they are not self-reversing, if you buy one of the trolley sets they operate in a self-reversing manner by virtue of the special track sections (E-Z Track) that come with these sets (only). Circuits build into the roadbed of the track cause the trolley to automatically reverse when it reaches either end of its route, wsithout actually striking the included track bumper.. The complete set also includes a trolley shed, which constitutes one end of that route. You can expand the length or configuration of the route the trolley follows by adding additional special (wired) E-Z track sections along the way.

The Bachmann On30 trolleys are very nicely made, decorated, and detailed. I haven't tried it, but I assume you can add passengers to really dress them up. And you definitely cannot go wrong price-wise. I don't have a copy handy, but check Trainworld's ad in a current issue of MR. They usually list the full Bachmann On30 line, and their prices are hard to beat. Most of my On30 equipment has come from Trainworld.