Too late for Weekend Foto Fun, but---

[twhite]

Just thought i'd post a couple of pics of my latest project--resuscitating my oldest brass loco, a 1964 Akane Yellowstone. I outfitted it with a NWSL can motor, new articulated drive, Tomar 'track shoes', replaced the Worthington feedwater heater with an Elesco, replaced the front pumps with Cal-Scales, and put a new headlight on. Repainted it as a 'never was' Rio Grande 3900 series, and weathered it with self-adhesive chalk. It's older than dirt and now runs like the proverbial Swiss watch. And it can still pull stumps out of the back yard! See what you think.
Tom [:p][:p]


and a closeup of the New Front End.

[selector]

I can't believe that you have had 18 views, and not one comment, Tom. [:O] Well, lket me be the first to say that you have one great heavy hauler there. What's it like to have brass?

Good pix.. I like 'em.

[AggroJones]

Tom, just how powerful is that locomotive? You should keep adding cars to the consist until it slips out of control. Get back here with a number! [:)]
My layout won't allow me to test the maxiumum power of my engines. The most I can string is 60 freight cars around the whole thing. And my BLI AC-5 and Lionel Challenger both can start and move that train.

I hope someday to locate an AKANE M-4 and be able to afford it.

[dave9999]

Tom,
NICE!
I'd like to get my hands on something brass one day. One of my LHS has
some brass locos for sale, but I don't know enough about them to tell if they are good
or bad. Maybe I'll do some research.

QUOTE:
And it can still pull stumps out of the back yard!

Well it just so happens that I have a stump in the backyard that needs pulling up!
Let's put her to the test!! [:D] Dave

[twhite]

Aggro--45 cars up a 2.2% so far--it was a solid reefer train (natch). I'm breaking it in slowly--VERY slowly, that NWSL can gives it a top speed of about 45 smph. If it helps, the last used M-4 Akane I got cost me $450, and considering that when I bought THIS beast new back in '64 it cost me $105, that's not much of a jump. The M-4's tend to be in the $400 range, these days, though Caboose Hobbies had one a couple of months ago for $750, and from the description of the condition, I passed. I usually limit my trains to about 25-30 cars behind an Articulated--all of my curves and canyons and cuts tend to make even that amount look VERY long, LOL! But I'm going to add some more cars tomorrow--I'll let you know when it starts spinning out.
Tom [:P][:P][:P]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite
--I'll let you know when it starts spinning out.

Tom, you gotta keep those wheels clean somehow![:o)]

Seriously though, it's looking great. And with that kind of strength I bet it can even whup Spooky!