A Fire on a Desert Island

[Anonymous]

In a previous question I asked to rate different brands on an ascending scale. The responses were good, but I was looking for more loyalty behind specific brands; hence, I reword the question.

Okay, work with me--imagine one or two situations--you are on a desert island with no hobby shop in sight and no access to eBay. You can have only one engine, one freight or passenger car, one train accessory (you already have the track and power supply); what would those three things be? Please be specific and include brand.

If that does not work for you, then try this: you are caught in a house fire and in your hurry for safety you grab only one engine, one car, and one train accesory. What would those things be?

Thanks in advance.

Alex

 

[Frank53]

I like all brands of trains made in the USA, specifically New Jersey, between the years 1946 and 1960 or so that have names that begin and end with the letter "L".

[Blueberryhill RR]

In a previous question I asked to rate different brands on an ascending scale. The responses were good, but I was looking for more loyalty behind specific brands; hence, I reword the question.

Okay, work with me--imagine one or two situations--you are on a desert island with no hobby shop in sight and no access to eBay. You can have only one engine, one freight or passenger car, one train accessory (you already have the track and power supply); what would those three things be? Please be specific and include brand.

If that does not work for you, then try this: you are caught in a house fire and in your hurry for safety you grab only one engine, one car, and one train accesory. What would those things be?

Thanks in advance.

Alex

 

A portable generator, so I could run my one engine and one freight car.

[otftch]

I agree with Frank.

                Ed

[Anonymous]

I was hoping to find out what are the most prized trains possessions among this forum.

[Roger Bielen]

If you are doing a survey with an ulterior motive come right out and say so.

[Anonymous]

No survey at all. Just want to know from fellow O scalers what pieces they treasure the most and why? There are no ulterior motives whatsoever. Why the suspicion? This no study, no hidden marketing agenda, no survey--just a guy wanting to know of all the train pieces a man owns (or maybe wants to own) what would be his most prized and why? A "generator" was cute, but didn't answer the question, or maybe it did.

[anjdevil2]

I agree with Frank

[Frank53]

Most prized train, would be this one - my Lionel 726:

 

[Anonymous]

Okay, okay, I am a former N-scaler (over twenty years of collecting), who sold all his overseas models to get into a scale that is bigger and badder, and most definitely smokes red, white, and blue. I want to know what the veterans here consider to be the best of the best. BTW, Frank, the pics of your layout were inspiring.

[Frank53]

any of these would do as well:

[Jumijo]

I like my post war Lionels. But I'm hard-pressed to say which of my trains are my favorites. There's only one or two that I wish I didn't buy. An RMT Beep and a Lionel James.

Jim 

[Frank53]

There's only one or two that I wish I didn't buy. An RMT Beep . . . 

Jim 

why's that Jim - I thought they were pretty decent?

[laz 57]

There's only one or two that I wish I didn't buy. An RMT Beep . . . 

Jim 

why's that Jim - I thought they were pretty decent?

 

Me too JIM,the Beep was a lemon for me. Also the Scale Bershire from K-line is a lemon for me now I can't get parts.

laz57

 

[Jumijo]

There's only one or two that I wish I didn't buy. An RMT Beep . . . 

Jim 

why's that Jim - I thought they were pretty decent?

It runs too slow for me. I bought it for my kids, so they could run it. Kids don't want slow. It's nice for what I paid for it. I just wish it had a little more giddyup to it. I'm not down on RMT. They make nice stuff. The RMT cabooses are very nice, as are the Buddies.

[FJ and G]

in no particular order, I'd grab my MTH F-3, a Moonpie, and RC, and the serving lady

 

 

[Frank53]

a Moonpie, and RC

you must be from Alabama

[cnw1995]

Hi Alex, I would grab one of  my Western Hobbycraft Johnstown Traction Company trolleys. For my passenger car (I'm cheating), I would grab my powered Corgi Birney, and for my freight car (I'm still cheating), I would grab my Lionel 520 Boxcab

[Anonymous]

I'm just getting my feet wet again with this hobby.  I own one new Lionel set (The Lionmaster Canadian Pacific Freight Set), my childhood trains (and my Uncles early Post War Set) are still at my parents house.  So pending my family (including pets) are safely out of the house I would grab the CP locomotive, caboose and the CAB-1 controller as I run out the door.

Jerry

[cnw1995]

Ooooh, nice set, Jerry. That was like me too. 'Cept my first set was the Lionel Ballyhoo circus train. And there were my dad's pre-war and post-war trains still at his house. Now I have 'em with me and have passed on the set in favor of trolleys.

[palallin]

I can't stop at just one loco, one car, and one accessory.  I'd have to grab the two trains--one Marx, one MPC Lionel--that my grandfather gave to me when I was very young.  Neither is remarkable, but, despite their relative cheapness, their lack of scale fidelity, and their not being the roadnames I currently want, they ARE this hobby for me.  However, to make up for being greedy about the trains, i will forego any accessories.

[Anonymous]

"Neither is remarkable, but, despite their relative cheapness, their lack of scale fidelity, and their not being the roadnames I currently want, they ARE this hobby for me."

This is what I love about O scalers--they really do get the hobby--they really do understand what it is all about. I wish there would have been some of this in my N scale days. Counting rivets on an engine with a magnifying glass isn't my thing. Not to say that it should not be done in O scale, but it is nice to be in a scale in which the hobby can be a little more imaginative. The Toy train guys and the hi-railers have a lot to offer. Alex 

[kpolak]

any of these would do as well:

He did say the island only had tubular track...right???  It doesn't matter who's name is on the cars.  It'll run best on tubular.

Kurt

[Frank53]

He did say the island only had tubular track...right???

Kurt

I sure hope so, or I'm not getting stranded there!

[anjdevil2]

HMMMMM........My '49 2020 T-2 w/6020W tender and (when it comes...) my RMT CNJ Beep...

[traindaddy1]

I agree with Frank53... Any one of the five engines in his photo (which I have) would be taken. It would be difficult to choose between the Lionel New Haven EP5 and the Lionel Santa Fe F3. Probably, I would go with the NH.  It is a strong, quiet and great looking engine. My choice of accessory and car would be the Lionel automatic milk car 3472 and platform.

[Frank53]

It would be difficult to choose between the Lionel New Haven EP5 and the Lionel Santa Fe F3. Probably, I would go with the NH.  It is a strong, quiet and great looking engine.

although I like the 2350 New haven, it is not one of my favorites, and I would choose the New York Central.

However, as a runner - the 2350 is primo - very very smooth and very very quiet - much more so than the F3's.

[Jumijo]

There's only one or two that I wish I didn't buy. An RMT Beep . . . 

Jim 

why's that Jim - I thought they were pretty decent?

 

Me too JIM,the Beep was a lemon for me. Also the Scale Bershire from K-line is a lemon for me now I can't get parts.

laz57

 

Laz,

What's the problem you're having with your K-Line scale Berk? 

Jim 

[pbjwilson]

Well I'm going to go with a more literal approach. If I'm on a desert island, I'm not going to have an electric supply. so my choice would be....

 Bing wind up train

and a Paya wind up toy plane

 

[underworld]

I'd grab this engine, from about 1928

the 1906 gepackwagen, both Marklin and a scratchbuilt engine house.....got to keep it out of the weather!!!

underworld