Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
Mike thanks for the post! I had many of the same issues and have had them in storage for three years now because of just how poorly these cars track in full consist length. On my home layout can go around maybe once at incredibly slow speeds to allows trucks to track, no problems with all other cars. Note I also have the UP City Series with a 16 car consist and I can run all day with NO issues at home or at the club, same with Walthers Hiawatha set running a 12 cars!
Coupler pockets are another poor design on these cars. I understand With they attempted to do but in function they simply don't perform. I may take these apart as well, as after negotiating my curves on my layout the couplers do NOT recenter after leaving the curve. The coupler pockets stay off to the side in which they moved to negotiate the curves. So far with my limited use and not getting to break my cars in the only way to recenter and bring cars back to close coupling distance is to stop the consist and actually backup and remove tension from coupler pockets. BLI was a little to aggressive on their multi swing coupler box design.
I did do some minor tinkering when I first purchased and one that did help two of my cars was to remove the wiper bar,similar to Kato SD40, and replace with ultra fine flexible wiring. This allowed much better truck movement as it could rock from side to side without the stiff spring and more freely front to back with wires instead of bus bar spring contact. Honestly I simply hated having to rebuild every car out f the box but I guess this is what you will have to do unless you have larger than 30" radius curves and billiard smooth table and track work.
Once again I will take the time and do some more tweaking to see if they can be improved to operational reliability. These cars are beautiful and have a great presence on the layout and for shows and their poor operation is disgusting for the dollar amount.
Mike,
Thanks so much for posting this info you have experienced, I have the full sets as well but haven't set them to use as yet but it will be nice to have your information handy should any problems arise, it will give a direction to the diagnosis of any problems.
Mark
RMR
Mike:
I have the first run of the CZ set--all 10 cars--and what you're describing on the latest run was also a problem with me for the full train--mainly the trucks. After some adjustments, the ful train now runs quite well (I have 34" minimum radius and 2% interrupted grades), but even on the first run of these cars, there was some adjusting to do.
So it seems as if BLI didn't address the truck problem between runs of these cars. However, the time spent tinkering was well worth it--it's one incredibly handsome train.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I have ten of the first production, and also had to spend time on them. I still have one car that derails on occasion (35" min radius). I think its floor was not installed right on one corner, but got off onto other things before fixing it.
Hal
At the risk of being annoying..........my apologies But........................................
GUYS, PLEASE post some photos of those gorgeous cars!
Include photos of the areas highlighted in your posts. - Thanks
OK, now I'll go duck and cover.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
An update. Started having derailment issues with one of my mid-train CZ cars. It turns out that one of the two prongs that form the kingpin on the truck had broken at the bottom where it joins the rest of the top part of the truck frame. This caused the truck to pivot upwards on the inside end of it, pretty much due to the way the truck is balanced.
A call to BLI promptly brought a new pair of trucks (I found another truck with the same problem while checking the fleet over) at very reasonable cost. I probably cracked these in the first couple of sets of cars I adjusted the gauge on, before I learned to be just a little gentler.
Thought I'd mention it, as it's the kind of hard to diagnose problem that shows up depending on your line's maintenance practices...
Otherwise, these cars are running well. I'm very happy about my investment in them and BLI's service/support. Antonio, I may even try to get some pics up.
twhite Mike: I have the first run of the CZ set--all 10 cars-- t--it's one incredibly handsome train. Tom
I have the first run of the CZ set--all 10 cars--
t--it's one incredibly handsome train.
All 10 cars ... the original 1949 six train sets supplied actually had 11 cars in them including:
- 1 baggage- 3 dome-coaches (middle had a conductors office at one end)- 1 dome-lounge- 1 diner- 2 10-6 sleepers- 1 16 section sleeper- 1 10-6 trans-continental sleeper- 1 Dome-observation
http://calzephyr.railfan.net/
In 1951 six 5-6 sleepers were added to the train and the consist then had 12 cars until the late 1950's when the 16 open section sleepers were dropped to low patronage so the train was back to 11 cars. Starting in 1963 the 16 section sleepers were converted to 48 seat coaches and based on demand were placed ahead of the dome-coaches near the front of the train. Those trains could be 12 cars long also, but the length of the CZ was fairly constant until around 1966 or 67 when the train began adding or deleting cars seasonally. In winters the train often had fewer coaches and sleepers and was sometimes as short as 8 or 8 cars. Conversely in summer the train could be at least 12 cars long.
I too have a set of the CZ cars but no place to run them right now. I originally only purchased the original 7 D&RGW RGZ cars for a Rio Grande Zephyr, but later purchased an addition 8 cars of mostly mixed CB&Q, WP names so I can assemble a fairly prototypical 12 car train evenly distrubuted between the 3 owners (15 BLI CZ cars total). I still need to hunt down the Silver Colt and Silver Pine D&RGW owned cars issued in the last run but sold out. Current going prices are insane so I'll just wait out the scalpers - don't need them that bad.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Antonio,
Finally, just for you, a few pics...at least until the wife says it's time to go have a few beers.
Here's a view of my Houston-Portland Zephyr in Durango. Long story about that, but passnger traffic is up on my Four Corners Division of the D&RGW
Here's the HP Zephyr's motive power, 5671, poised at the refinery just west of the station in Durango.
A little higher angle shot shows the RGS freight has arrived as the HPZ is in town.
RGS Goose 5 is ready to leave with the morning mail from the PO, as the HPZ doesn't carry an RPO. The RPO is run on the local La Sal Flyer, which delivered mail from Salt Lake City around dawn. You can also see 345, the Dunrago switcher, tied onto a pair of three-way coupler cars used on the dual gauge track to intermix SG and NG rolling stock, pulled by a loco of either gauge.
The Silver Sky brings up the rear of the HPZ as it makes its brief stop in Durango to pick up tourists visting Mesa Verde National Park. The HPZ is composed of rolling stock downgraded from the recently updated and more famous California Zephyr, a great train the American public can't get enough of.
This is the overview that breaks the magic, but gives you some idea of how the track is configured at Durango.
More later...
Here are three shots from further down the line...
The HPZ, concluded by the amenities of the Silver Sky, passes Rio Grande Junction, where the RGS departs from the dual gauge traffic to struggle north to Dolores and beyond.
Here the HPZ passes through Hesperus, Colorado. It's a small coal mining town that is the end of the third rail and narros gauge operations. Coal mined at Hesperus provides considerable traffic for the narrowgauge. There is also a grocery distributor, a farm coop & elevator, a stockyard, and a lumber yard that depend on the railroad for fast. economical service.
As the HPZ glides through the last of the dual-gauge switches at Hesperus and onward toward Dove Creek, Colorado and Utah, we bid a fond farewell to the ever-scenic Four Corners Division until we next meet...
Beautiful pictures!
That almost looks like a Rio Grande Zephyr with the dome-coach ahead of the dome-observation and an ABB set pulling, except the baggage car sould be substituted with a Pullman Standard combine painted grand gold above the corregations! I can't tell if those are sleepers near the front of the train or 48 seat flat top coaches.
Do you have an F9ABBA set with steam generator equipped B units to pull it? Or an F3ABBA set, ditto? Athearn Genesis F7A #5764 is a perfect diesel to head up the CZ in it's final years of operation!
Jim,
Yep, I have the F9s, just got tired of running them and, well, they don't have sound
The P2K Fs stole my heart with their sound. It's QSI, but OK by me. I think the new P2K F units are Tsunamis? But they're not in the budget right now. Things have been rather Blackstone-oriented in the purchasing department lately.
I only wish I could run mine! Gorgeous! I have the P2K F7ABBA set from that run also, and one of the AB sets has the QSI sound option. The sound snobs complain it sounds like an underwater submarine and the only thing worth having is the Tsunami. All of my Genesis F units are non/sound but the only sound you could get in those was the MRC, which I've heard was terrible. Maybe some day I'll get a Tsunami and see what all the fuss is about. I didn't know Walthers switched over to Tsunami. Certainly Athearn Genesis F units have shipped with Tsunami starting in about 2009.
If you haven't gotten the "moderized" Genesis F7A #5764, I'd suggest you get that one. I believe it was among the first Gensis to come with Tsunami sound and that engine was assigned to the CZ very often during it's last 4 years in the last 60's. Money was tight so I got the non-sound version of #5764. I wish Athearn would have offered #5761 as that one usually was paired with the former in an F7A/F9B/F9B/F7A set #5761, 5762, 5763, 5764 set. The two B unts were the surviving F9B's that ran on the RGZ also. The other two F9B units #5772 and 5773 were wrecked between 1965 and 1967. One of them was mixed in with F3ABBA set #5521-24 when it left the rails under a tracks undermined by a rain storm.
BTW, those passengers might get cold with no steam generator! Might have to model the PB steam generator to put into the power consist!
I don't have any narrow guage stuff, that is a completely different world and certainly no budget for it right now. I felt stretched to pick up the Genesis Western Pacific FP7A to hand off the CZ to in SLC.
I belong to a modular club and when we set up we are ninty feet on a side, perfect for running the long CZ or Broadway Limited consists. Two of our members do exactly that, setting up these two trains and then they are obliged to sweat bullets trying to make it around even once without a derailment or train break. I feel sorry for them because they've made a big investment and this is their only chance to really run them. Meanwhile, I usually put on a eight or ten car rake of old Athern Blue Box cars and they roll 'round and 'round for hours without any trouble. It's all in the trucks. Athern's old trucks are simple and rugged and they can adjust to just about any track conditions. Perhaps this is something for these more delux brands to ponder?
JimValle I belong to a modular club and when we set up we are ninty feet on a side, perfect for running the long CZ or Broadway Limited consists. Two of our members do exactly that, setting up these two trains and then they are obliged to sweat bullets trying to make it around even once without a derailment or train break. I feel sorry for them because they've made a big investment and this is their only chance to really run them. Meanwhile, I usually put on a eight or ten car rake of old Athern Blue Box cars and they roll 'round and 'round for hours without any trouble. It's all in the trucks. Athern's old trucks are simple and rugged and they can adjust to just about any track conditions. Perhaps this is something for these more delux brands to ponder?
I haven't tried running my BLI CZ cars but I've read that may of the cars need the trucks tuned up by removing some flash from the bolsters and gauging the wheels. Gauging wheels is pretty standards stuff - I've had to do that to most of my Athearn and MDC kits I've built, and the truck bolsters can be cleaned up. After doing those thing there isn't any reason why these cars should run as good as the foobie Athearn passenger cars.
JimV,
Re CZ running quality, all I can say about it has already been said above. You may want to send a link to it if you think it'd be helpful to them. Most of the trucks are fine, but the wheelsets will get every time if they're not adjusted. Fingers will be sore
But it's worth it for the improved running qualities.
I wish I could stretch the legs on my Houston-Portland Zephyr, but there's only so much room in the basement. There is a small amount of straight track, mostly in the hidden backside of the dogbone against the wall. The rest is like the Rio Grande itself, curving and on a grade, as it's a sort of no-lix, deck and a half. Min radius on the main is 28". About half is hidden trackage, although it's all accessible to varying degrees. I simply can't put up with regular derailments. Things get fixed or go to the junkyard if not fixable as far as running quality. And I now have the confidence to go fast -- relatively -- if visitors really want, with the adjustments I've made.
Backing up on grade is a different matter
But the CZ, RGZ, HPZ whatever would rarely do that and the physics are different. I'm not going to hold that against BLI on my layout. It's a rugged piece of mountain railroading
BTW, if you do need a few new trucks, a pair was $15 shipped to my door from BLI.
Jim5761,
I went with all sound in the four P2K units I bought. This gives me enough sound to run most or all SG covered wagon-led freights, plus the HPZ, with sound. I do like having multiple engine sound lashups, as there is a difference from just one unit sounding. More someday, especially if I can squeeze a TSU-750 into a Westside C-25, my current workbench project. If I can do steam Tsunamis, diesels will be a cinch. It's a lot cheaper to install at this point, if you have a good fleet to work through. I converted to DCC 4 years ago, so have a good base to build on in adding sound.
I do have the 5764, except it's on a local freight right now. But my passengers aren't without heat. B units in the HPZ consist with steam are 5763 and 5773 behind the 5671. As a secondary line, more than a branch really, the Four Corners Division makes do with a bunch of F units displaced from mainline service. The super says to mix up the power in whatever way keeps the shop busy with minimum delay to operations, so some of the operational practices are somewhat less formal than working on one of those divisions closer to Denver...
BTW, I guess I missed the sound 5764, but I think that was intentional as I don't think the Tsu was available yet then, it was the old school unimpressive sound? But I can't swear to it. I used to have a link a website in Europe somewhere that listed all versions of Genesis F units graphically and in detail that would make a good reference. Maybe I'll come up with it later...
NG is in my soul since 1967. I've actually thinned the Genesis F units out to help pay for more Blackstone. That will become more clear as I post photos of the layout. Durango was meant to be an interchange and basically where the SG trains ran through otherwise. But then I squeezed in some more standard switching action with the deck and a half. Figured I'd need some place to operate SG stuff while I painfully built all the NG stuff.
Blackstone then changed that equation in a very, very satisfying way.
The NG is now operating well years before it otherwise would have been. So I both got lucky, with Blackstone, and made my luck, by building a HOn3 layout with decent size and an operationally complex traffic flow. But more on that later, elsewhere.
I like the WP and even have a book or two, just too unfamiliar with it. Probably a good thing for my budget. My backup prototype is the Monon, with the DSS&A in third place. If it was traction, it'd be the Illinois Terminal, but I really don't think there's enough time in this life for a fourth prototype.
Just go to Athearns site and check under Genesis F7's and then click on D&RGW. That will pull up most if not all of the Genesis F7's in D&RGW. It definitely lists a sound version of the #5764 F7A, but whether or not it is MRC or Tsunami isn't clear.
I did look up Athearn's announcement of the Tsunami sound units and that was April 29, 2009, The single stripe D&RGW F7's were announced in January of 2008 it looks like those might have been a little before the Tsunami was included. Darn.
BTW, Mike, I'm assuming you have the Genesis F9ABB's 5771, 5762, 5763, and F9AB 5774, 5773. Shame the other F9A was wrecked in late 1967! Aside from those and the Proto 2000 F7s', what other F units are you running? The Genesis single stripe F3's are very nice. I did get the #5541,5542, 5543, 5544 ABBA set and the F9m (F3 rebuid) #5531. Do you run any Stewarts?
I had some Stewarts, but sold all except the FTs. Great runners, but the way the strip was handled above the cab area really started bugging me once I found out about it. Unlike in real life, model railroaders spend a lot of time looking at the roofs of engines
The FTs power my MAIN train made up of Walthers troop sleepers and Pullmans. It's a little before my modeled era, but I like it and it's popular with visitors.
I also have an adequate supply of various Rio Grande road-switchers when I want to shift the era forward a bit. My cut-off date is roughly 1974, when the first of the tunnel motors arrived -- and I graduated from high school.
Then there is my growing fleet of NG diesels, all of which are repainted in some version of the road-switcher paint scheme. I have a SP GE #1 that is used mostly for log trains. There are two GE 70-tonners converted to HOn3, There is #4, a Whitcomb looking beast built on an Athearn switcher chassis I purchased from a guy who converts these and sells them on fleabay, #28 is an Australian import model of a C-C DL-531, based on a Powerline shell on a K&M Engineering HOn3 drive. It powers my San Juan, which passengers detraining from the HPZ and local trains can transfer to in order to travel east.
I've got plans to chop my Kato NW into another NG diesel once I can come with another shell to do that (RMC, Aug 2010).
Yeah, I know it's weird.
I too have some Stewarts (2 phase I F7AB sets and 3 phase II F7AB sets all in 4-stripe). I model 1965-1990 so our era's overlap. Based on mid-1960's Utah freight trains, there are regular use of 4-stripe dirty F7's in all various combinations. I like the running qualities of my Stewarts so I figure if they are weathered up, the nose mold parting line is less noticable. I'm not sure what the strip is. Do you mean the black stripe coming to the point on the roof which should be rounded? In the 1960's have you looked at the roof of the typical F7A? They are black with soot so you wouldn't see the roof stripe anyway.
Two reasons I don't do FT's. One is of course era, they were gone by 1965, but also there are no models in plastic that are correct for D&RGW FT's after the early 1950's when the numberboards were modified to look like F7 numberboards, only most of them were home made square corner number boards. The Class lights looked like frog eyes. As one magazine caption put it, they were so ugly only a mother could love them! =P Or a Rio Grande fan I suppose!
Ah! You graduated from high school 3 years before me! Oh thank heaven for 1977! If you cut off in 1974, then the early 70's is an exciding time for Rio Grande freight. I have the Rio Grande Odyssey DVD and you can see why it was called the Action Road. It was fast frequent freights and they are rushing across the system. None of this super long slow freight train stuff ushered in by the SP. I've got about 9 GP40's and 10 GP40-2's, a couple of GP35's and 7 GP30's (p2k) and 9 SD45's to help rush freights before tunnel motors were delivered. UP to 15 D&RGW tunnel motors and hoping for a few more.
Cheers
Yes, it was the pointy stripe that got under my skin. You're right, weathered right, you'd not notice it.
I really wish someone could give us some "modernized" FTs. Or at least an easy to use part that could be applied to put credible "ugly" numberboards on the Stewart FT. Then there is the issue of the side numberboards, which I kind of like for some reason.. Which is why I have just one set, powering a train that was already archaic by 1950
But it looks great. And if we ever get the local train show revived, I plan on running them on the sectional club layout that one of my fellow NMRA members belongs to, along with my CZ motive power and cars. They're crowd-pleasers, yet I can still work the CZ into the layout's op plan by repurposing it to the Houston-Portland Zephyr.
The RGO is my all time favorite SG tape, even though there are some slicker looking ones. I even replaced my VHS copy with the DVD, as it makes it easier to slo-mo and stop for reference purposes.
My road-switcher collection is not as extensive as yours. Got 4 P2K GP30, 2 Athearn GP35, 3 of their SD45, and 3 tunnel motors. I just never was that taken by the GP40, on the RG or any other road. Pretty much after my time in terms of dominating the motive power fleet, I don't miss them, but that's just one of my peccadilloes. Haven't been in a 70s mood lately, so have been running the covered wagons instead.
Well Mike
You are definitely missing the prime diesel of the Rio Grandes 2nd generation fleet. It was the GP40 that was the heart of their short fast frequent freight motive power after 1965. It was the most numerous diesel of the 2nd generation. It's why I have so many and may get more eventually. I was very pleased when Atlas offered their GP40-2 with the low nose gyra light (FINALLY!). Six of my ten GP40-2's are the Atlas, one of them being from the RGM&HS unnumbered run. I believe they are still for sale from that organzation *wink wink*. The scenes of the SFF freight trains show lots of the GP40's!
Had a typo in the diesel roster above, was 7 GP30's, not 40's! Oops. I do love F units so even though I first discovered the Rio Grande in the 80's when taking trips to Colorado, I've back dated my interest to include the 1960's. Right now my D&RGW F fleet includes 11 Genesis F's, 13 Stewarts and 4 Proto 2000. A few are repeat F9's which may be detailed for RGZ service (70's details including spark arrestors).
I just picked up Rio Grande in Color: Volume 5 for a bargain price at todays train show so I've got a new resource for 2nd generation diesels. Now I"m waiting for a bargain on Crest of the Continent since $79.95 is just out of my price range in these trying times. If you like covered wagons, you will love Rio Grande in Color: Vol 3 - lots of 1940's - 1960's photos in color!
CZ along the Gorge. First run series with all the attendant issues note in the thread. You think for the current price points, the manufacturers would get it right - both locos and rolling stock.
Instead, it is appears they follow the lead of the 50s to 70s American auto industry of let the dealer fix it And we would be playing the role of dealer in this scenario.
Nice shot, dd.
I've got a similar spot that I'm really looking forward to taking a shot of the Zephyr in, but it's only roughed in and not detailed enough to bother with taking a pic yet.
Yeah, those problems...it could be worse, much worse. Documenting problems --whether or not they have solutions -- turns the light onto quality issues. Specifics helps, so that's why I did the original report. People oftentimes say something's 'junk' with a vague wave of their hands. Obviously, there are some issues here, but some really splendid models also. And BLI has been responsive whenever I've felt the need to contact them about something.
About those GP40s...Even before the Rio Grande bought the smurfs, running GP40 screamed "Conrail!" to me for some reason. Heck, I even liked PC, but Conrail has always been a big personal turnoff. Weird, yes, but I even got rid of the blue box DRGW GP40 bought long ago once I made the cutoff. Anything B-B and pre-GP40 I like, but...
Long live the F units and tunnel motors!
mlehmanJim, About those GP40s...Even before the Rio Grande bought the smurfs, running GP40 screamed "Conrail!" to me for some reason. Heck, I even liked PC, but Conrail has always been a big personal turnoff. Weird, yes, but I even got rid of the blue box DRGW GP40 bought long ago once I made the cutoff. Anything B-B and pre-GP40 I like, but... Long live the F units and tunnel motors!
Ah, you've been tained by growing up in the northeast. Bummer that. I didn't get exposed to Conjob until I moved to NY in around 1989 and again in 1994. I finally moved away in 09. Only minor benefit is I did get to see a decent amount of RR action coming through Syracuse and other parts. I cut my teeth mostly on bloody nose SD45's and tunnel motors in Davis and Sacramento California. So you might say the D&RGW was a natural progression of that interest, just trading scarlet and gray for black and orange!
Well, it's a strange disease this model railroading. For me the disease is to model trains I got to see and are in the books that suppliment those memories in the early - mid 80's in othe line between SLC and Glenwood Springs, among others. That means a full mix of whatever the D&RGW ran. I think D&RGW in some ways is an easy RR to model because they had a rather small variety of all EMD loco's after the mid-1960's.
I will say my old bb Athearn GP40's are going to take the most work to get finished - but I'd rather practice installing the nose gyra light on it than a KATO! But this is why I love the new Atlas GP40-2, Athearn SD45 and SD40T-2. Gyra light comes with it, out of the box!
Due to my fond memories of the SP near my old home town, I have been collecting a small secondary roster of bloody nose. As a modeler, I can justify it because SP units pooled with D&RGW in the mid 80's and later. Got 3 SD45T-2's and 5 SD40T-2's so far. Noticably absent are the SD45's with all the details from Athearn but a new run is due late October - there is one KATO SP SD45 but it will have to represent a late 80's rebuild since it has no light packages and standard windshields. Now that I've totally derailed this CZ thread....
riogrande5761 Ah, you've been tained by growing up in the northeast. Bummer that. I didn't get exposed to Conjob until I moved to NY in around 1989 and again in 1994.
Ah, you've been tained by growing up in the northeast. Bummer that. I didn't get exposed to Conjob until I moved to NY in around 1989 and again in 1994.
There, you nailed it, but really more the Midwest. My attitude was I don't drive to Colorado to see no stinkin' Conrail units...
Nah, but they never struck me as archetypes of Rio Grande motive power like the units that came before. I really only got to Colorado twice in the 70s, but reading the mags and seeing pictures of them just wasn't nearly as interesting as those that came before.
I can completely see being big fans of the GP40s. They're the F-units of the 70s and 80s.
Weirdly, I had some exposure to the SP in the 60s, but it never rubbed off, although I do like their looks.
So little time and money, so much to model...
Ah yes, I tend to think of Conrail as a northeast RR but they did go all the way to Chicago didn't they? Basically Albany to Chicago though NY and PA into OH and IL if I understand the basic routes. Of course D&RGW did end up with some Conrail/NYC/PC geeps didn't they? And I will agree, it is only grudgingly that I bought two of the Atlas "Kansas City Orange" GP40's for post 1983 operations. It always bugs me to see the dark orange GP40's with no low nose signal light, but they were a reality none the less.
The GP40's were the 1970's and 1980's equivelent of the F units, the work horses of the freight trains for sure. I agree, they are not as exciting or handsome as the F units and a bit mundane. At least the GP30's and GP35's were new and unique looking, especially the GP30's. I've got 7 of those and really wouldn't mind having a few more. Gotta get the low nose lights corrected some day and re-number two of them as they are duplicates (3 phase I and 3 phase II but only two road numbers were made for each.).
Yes, I had the SP coming by my housing development in the 70's and the mainline passed right through Davis between the bay area and Sacramento so lots of traffic. I remember traveling along the causeway, a long elevated bridge over the flood area between Davis and Sacramento and seeing the SD45's and SD40T-2's on the freight trains. The tunnel motors were distinctive with their blocky rear ends, tho at that time I didn't realize as a teen there were SD40 and SD45 versions. Now Athearn is offerning beautiful version that people in the past would have said are brass models! They have all the light packages and correct snow plows, all the major prototypically correct details are there! Woo woo. But same for D&RGW SD45's and SD40T-2 too!
I know this is a very old post, but wanted to say how helpful Mike's comments are. I recently bought what looks like a NOS 11-car BLI Zephyr mixed set on eBay (still had silica gel packs in each box). I ran into the same problems with derailments running the full set. I shaved down the flash on the king pins as Mike suggested, and did some lubrication which helped a lot. I also added weight to the baggage car. But the trucks just aren't very free rolling, which I think is the essence of the problem. All the drag amplifies any issues - it's the cars at the front that are jumping the tracks.
Question: I have some wheelsets that are out of gauge - that's the next step. Did you take the truck apart to regauge? I'm concered about breaking some of the plastic. Any tips?
Thank you!
Jim, Louisville, KY