Question about inherited n scale trains...

[Anonymous]

I received a few nscale trains from my father in law. I am trying to figure out the model and make of these 4 engines... I already tried looking online but I cant seem to find them. (Basically I want to know what train they are modeled after)

here is a link to thier pictures... I tried to get the best one's I could be I wasn't able to get real clear photos for some reason...

http://photobucket.com/albums/f74/welovetrains/

password is trains


here are the details on each train:

Atlantic Coast line... Road number is 500. Colors are Silver with Purple and Yellow. Lifelike brand. Numbers are stamped on the bottom in white.. 09095...

Seaboard Coastline Road number is 1201.... It is painted black with yellow stripes.

Atlantic Coast line Road number 109... Colors are black with yellow stripes.
This is a kato no. 17718

Burlington Switcher.. road number 9280 Colors are Red wiht silver and white... This is a bachmann

Any information you have about any of these it would be soo much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Dr. John]

The Atlantic Coast Line unit is an E-7 or E-9 made by EMD, used almost exclusively in passenger service in the 1950s and 1960s. LifeLike has had some winners and losers in their N scale line, so I'm not sure about the running quality. It is a pretty accurate model in N.

The Seaboard Coast Line unit is an Alco RS-3. These were used extensively in freight service by many railroads from the 50s into the 80s. A few remain in service on short lines and museum railways. Your particular N scale model was produced by Atlas back in the late 1980s. These are usually good running models and very accurately scaled for N.

The Atlantic Coast Line # 109 is and EMD GP-7, used primarily for freight service but occasionally seen in passenger service. Yours is a Kato model sold by Atlas. It is an older version sold in the 1980s that has the incorrect truck spacing. Still, a potentially good runner.

The Bachman switcher is based roughly on a Plymouth or Whitcomb industrial switcher (I believe). These were used primarily by industries for switching duties (chemical plants, mills, etc.) They are scaled somewhat oversize to accomodate the motor.

You might also want to post this on the Model Railroader forum. Most of us on this forum are into O gauge and S gauge.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dr. John

The Atlantic Coast Line unit is an E-7 or E-9 made by EMD, used almost exclusively in passenger service in the 1950s and 1960s. LifeLike has had some winners and losers in their N scale line, so I'm not sure about the running quality. It is a pretty accurate model in N.

The Seaboard Coast Line unit is an Alco RS-3. These were used extensively in freight service by many railroads from the 50s into the 80s. A few remain in service on short lines and museum railways. Your particular N scale model was produced by Atlas back in the late 1980s. These are usually good running models and very accurately scaled for N.

The Atlantic Coast Line # 109 is and EMD GP-7, used primarily for freight service but occasionally seen in passenger service. Yours is a Kato model sold by Atlas. It is an older version sold in the 1980s that has the incorrect truck spacing. Still, a potentially good runner.

The Bachman switcher is based roughly on a Plymouth or Whitcomb industrial switcher (I believe). These were used primarily by industries for switching duties (chemical plants, mills, etc.) They are scaled somewhat oversize to accomodate the motor.

You might also want to post this on the Model Railroader forum. Most of us on this forum are into O gauge and S gauge.

Thanks! I actually got here from the model railroader website so I didnt even look! Thanks for the information though!

[DSchmitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dr. John

The Atlantic Coast Line unit is an E-7 or E-9 made by EMD, used almost exclusively in passenger service in the 1950s and 1960s. LifeLike has had some winners and losers in their N scale line, so I'm not sure about the running quality. It is a pretty accurate model in N.

Actually its an E8 or E9. The E7 had square windows not port holes and "chicken wire" instead of louvers below the roof line.

[Dr. John]

Whoops! You are absolutely right. I always got them confused. Thanks for the correction.

[FJ and G]

I'm guilty too of not being able to tell diesels apart. I can tell a sharknose from and RS-3 and basic things like that but wouldn't know the difference between a GP40 and a GP40-2 and so on.