Most of my HO and even my G scale are "vintage" or "old", whichever term you prefer. But, I know my older brass will be running long after that new fangled train with unknown quality metal castings and lots of throw away electronics as long bit the dust. Same for the older Blue Box era Athearns, while I moved up to brass from them, they served the purpose thru the years I was unable to afford a brass or higher quality locomotive. The estate tables at shows are my sweet spots to be, along with any dealer with brass. Only thing I buy brand new is track. In G scale, my live steamer is an Aster 4-4-0 from the mid 1970s, and Kalamazoo trains from the early 80's. I have some brass that dates back into the mid 1950's. So count me in as a lover of older HO trains. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Two large and powerfull steam locomotives I like to run are a pair of PRR J-1 types. Both are old brass locos. The first being the newer of the two being a KTM made model of 1966 that was a AHM release. The other one I think is a early 60-62 HOTCO, HO Trains Company release. I Have some nice photos and have posted then in a edit on 8-15-19. Both have excelent detail the KTM differs in having outside sanders as though it has been modeled from a loco that has been in service for awhile and has had it sander pipes replaced.
7j43k hardcoalcase ...and a Varney SW-something diesel. Jim The Varney was (and is) a phase III NW2. The SP&S's NW2's were phase III. It is the only phase III available. Ed
hardcoalcase ...and a Varney SW-something diesel. Jim
...and a Varney SW-something diesel.
Jim
The Varney was (and is) a phase III NW2. The SP&S's NW2's were phase III. It is the only phase III available.
Ed
A belated response... and so it is a NW2 phase 3! As a steam guy, all diesels look the same to me .
In doing some follow up, I found that there was a brass model from Oriental Limited. Didn't see a price, but I had a hunch that upgrading the Varney version would be a very attractive alternative. I hope your project went well!
That's another one I have, a Varney NW2, in B&O. Was at my grandfather's. He had a train layout set up, just 3 nested ovals on a 4x8, no turnouts. One loop ran a Varney set with the NW2, another had the ATT Stephenson's Rocket set, and the smallest had a Tyco trolley. I might still have the power pack the ran the two outer ovals, a twin throttle unit, where he had penciled in what the maximum speed we were supposed to run at.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Actualy I dont know what vintage is. I know it as old stuff. The time period may be different to everyone. Maybe it is just a polite and proper way of refering to old sfuff. Being 73 does that make me a Vintage person?
At the Hamburg trainshow last Sunday I found and aquired a Hobbyline train set. It is named "The Ridgerunner". It is set number 446. A PRR freight pulled by a Brunswick Green Alco FA1. Also 10 other HObbyline freight cars. Eight in their boxes.
Here's the set; #446 "The Ridgerunner" 1955. The box this set comes in is not the newer style one which was used for some 1955 sets. This style box is the same as sets issued starting in 1953.
50's and 60's is not my era. I settled into 80's-00's and actually got rid of a fair amount of stuff from from that era. However I've got some items from that era that I like and will be holding on to. A couple old Metal boxcars, some flats, etc. that will find use into the early 80's on my little short line.
I'm also halfway through building a Silver Streak EJ&E wood sided boxcar kit that I'm putting together just for the experience (never built a wood kit before) and because I like EJ&E.
This week, on a whim, I picked up a Revel 1958-59 HO Trains catalog at a resale shop. It was a hoot to read through their late 50's HO offerings in full color and it actually contained one car that I have.
Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading.
I am sorry that I didn't get the photos done till now I had to much fun running these old trains.
Here are the first two large passenger set made by HObbyline.
Today I am running two old HObbyline passenger sets.#451 The Erie, Lake Cities Express and # 456 the PRR Trail Blazer.
At the top a recient photo of the ERIE's Lake Cities Express. Below that is the Pennsylvania RR Trail Blazer also by HObbyline. This photo was taken on my old layout which I had to take down.
Above is the Califorina Zephyr as shown in the 1955 HObbyline catalog. Ths second of the 4 passenger car set. For me a hard one to get. I am thinking that when things get a little less busy I.ll repaint and letter Penn line or varney cars to make the set till if luckey I can find it. Micro-Scale still makes a decal set I can use.
Years ago in the Early 1980's I kitbashed a HOTCO, new one, 0-4-0 camelback into a 0-6-0C using a mantua drive. The tender is a kitbasher Mantua switcher tender which is shortned and a height extension added to coal bin.
You know, Frank, there's something about Camelback locos that's always appealed to me.
Russ
Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ. Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/
I've always thought that vintage trains were easier to operate, and maintain. Some of my personal favorites in my roster are,
These locos I would suppose are some of the easiest to maintain, which makes me into vintage model trains. No pics available, due to a technical difficulty (it's not not knowing how)
"Your never too tall to play with trains"
-Liam
speaking of camelbacks, Well your namesake the Erie had a bunch of them.
frank
toptrain Russ Well you namesake the Erie had a bunch of them. frank
Well you namesake the Erie had a bunch of them.
As did the DL&W and, IIRC, the NYO&W and CNJ, too.
Mantua in the 1940's and 50's made a line of HO scale locomotived made of cast metal and brass. They made 3 or 4 little 0-4-0t and 0-6-0t tankers. next largest would have been their small switchers of which the one I liked was the 0-4-0C camelback. A 4-4-0 named Bell of the Eighties, a 2-6-0 called the Mogul, a 4-4-2 Reading Atlantic P7 class. next would be a 2-8-0 Reading I class. The next a 4-6-2 Pacific said to be a Reading prototype again but I will say it was CRR of NJ, Baldwin Pacific. This is the model I chose to show today.
The Baldwin built 4-6-2 pacific.
Here is my other old mantua pacific as CNJ 822. I used a all metal tender made for the latter all metal Mantua 4-6-2 and 2-8-2 types.
Here is another one of my old kitbashes a B&O Hayes 10 wheeler.
I have a lot of HO locomotives but I do suspect that this 0-4-0t saddle tank and another I have, another 0-4-0t saddle tank are the most valuable locomotives I have. They were both made in Japan by the New One Model Toy Works, some searching came up with this address.
#315 KOEMON-CHO ADACHI-KU, TOKYO JAPAN.
In 15 years of trying to find out who distributed these two tankers, I found out nothing about of who marketed them.
New One produced models in kit form and ready to run that were imported by Nat Polk of Polks Hobbies, Ho train Company, IMP, International Model Products. Another company was Silvine, who sold sectional track, switches, power supplies, and other HO products. The locmotive; New One made for Silvine was a 0-4-0t side tank Teakettle, B&O #25.
Does anyone know anything about the locomotive below.
It is B&O 0-4-0t saddle tank #62.
Here is the second of my mistery HO locomotives.
New Haven 0-4-0t saddle tank loco #60.
The cab, frame, and cylinders of the New Haven #60 look exactly like the super piece of junk sold by Life Like, they just called it the Tea Kettle. But it had a square tank, not a round one. Even the colors of that model are the same, including the background of the number decal.
I don't think the one I had even made a full hour of run time before it died.
Randy, The square tank is called a side tank, the round tank is a saddle tank. You could not be more correct when speaking of the plastic Life Like Teakettle. The little reduction gear would fail and lose teeth and Life Like just kept on making them by the thousands, because they sold and were cheep, and parents thought them cute, and they were that, just not relieable. Now the one's you see in my photos do not use that speed reduction drive, but do share the original drive from the Silvine teakettle. the original all metal Teakettle B&O saddle tanker #25. This one just keeps on going.
Here is a photo of 60 year old all metal Teaketle that is just fine.
Here are two Vintage HO fright trains running made up of old vintage cars. Maybe you will recognize some.
toptrainfright trains
Fright train?
Sorry, but it´s Halloween, so I could not resist!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"