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Menards Train set, no more Beta

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KRM
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Menards Train set, no more Beta
Posted by KRM on Thursday, October 12, 2023 10:32 AM

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, October 12, 2023 1:40 PM

Well, isn't THAT interesting!  Although I'm sure most of us suspected it was coming.

It certainly fills a need at that price point.  Hope it works out well for them!  

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Posted by fifedog on Thursday, October 12, 2023 4:02 PM

A couple of freight cars would've been nice, but ok. Good going Menards. YesCool

Wished Bachmann would remember it has the Williams line...Sigh 

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Posted by smokey1 on Thursday, October 12, 2023 4:54 PM

As Fife said a couple freight cars would of been nice, so would other railroad names

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Posted by pennytrains on Thursday, October 12, 2023 7:49 PM

Gotta start somewhere.  Being a Midwestern company the warbonnet was a logical choice.  Besides the postwar Santa Fe F3's are on just about everybody's list.  Wink

They could have lettered them "Lake Shore" or "NYC&HRRR" or even "Chicago Flyer".

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Posted by Bob Keller on Friday, October 13, 2023 8:49 AM

I'm a bit surprised, we were supposed to get a set before they announced it.

 

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Posted by smokey1 on Friday, October 13, 2023 9:04 AM

pennytrains

Gotta start somewhere.  Being a Midwestern company the warbonnet was a logical choice.  Besides the postwar Santa Fe F3's are on just about everybody's list.  Wink

They could have lettered them "Lake Shore" or "NYC&HRRR" or even "Chicago Flyer". 

 

People have been asking for otherr roadnames since they first brought them out. The most common asked I believe would of been NYC

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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Friday, October 13, 2023 9:15 AM

Bob and I have been waiting for this news to go public. . .stay tuned for more coverage soon!

 

https://www.trains.com/ctt/news-reviews/news/menards-releases-two-new-train-sets/

Rene Schweitzer

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, October 13, 2023 8:57 PM

fifedog

A couple of freight cars would've been nice, but ok. Good going Menards. YesCool

Wished Bachmann would remember it has the Williams line...Sigh 

 

Well, Menards freight cars are inexpensive enough when someone buys the set a few extra freight cars won't set them back much.

Oh yeah, Bachmann and the Williams line.  Is there anything more pathetic than someone who buys a company and then doesn't know what to do with it?  The last I heard from a very reliable source is Bachmann sold the Williams freight car tooling to Menards. Who knows what they've done with the rest of it.

Man, I wish MTH or Atlas bought Williams for a low-end product line!   

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Posted by pennytrains on Saturday, October 14, 2023 6:06 PM

Yooouuuuu said it!  Bow

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Posted by Dave45681 on Saturday, October 14, 2023 7:09 PM

Flintlock76

......

Man, I wish MTH or Atlas bought Williams for a low-end product line!   

 

 

While I can understand that sentiment from the perspective of current lack of Williams offerings under Bachmann, didn't Atlas buy the Industrial Rail tooling (not sure if it was all or partial) to fit that purpose?

As to this Menards offering, I agree it's interesting.  Not something I will be going for myself, but it's a new way to consider a "customizable" (if you will ;) ) starter set by buying whatever cars desired to go with it separately.  Convenience from the perspective of the track, power and engine/caboose offered together, but not forcing people to specific rolling stock to go with it may be a smart move.  We shall see. :)

-Dave

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, October 15, 2023 11:08 AM

Dave45681
didn't Atlas buy the Industrial Rail tooling (not sure if it was all or partial) to fit that purpose?

If memory serves Atlas did indeed buy Industrial Rail about 20 years ago and then THEY apparantly didn't seem to know what to do with it.  Mind you, at the time it struck me that Atlas wasn't really serious about the O Gauge market, at least not as serious as they are now. 

Speaking of Williams, I don't remember if I linked this video when it was first posted on YouTube a year ago, but it's a pretty informative "What happened?" telling of the Williams by Bachman story. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S94-4d02vxI

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Posted by pennytrains on Monday, October 16, 2023 5:25 PM

Oh yes, Atlas did buy Industrial Rail.  They put together a few sets iirc and then poof!  Nothing.  I had a fair amount of Industrial Rail rolling stock but didn't own any of their cabooses.  To me they looked way out of scale, even for O27.  I had a C & O Atlantic and while it ran well enough, it tended to lean back a bit on it's trailing truck like it was getting ready to pop a wheelie.

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Posted by philo426 on Monday, October 16, 2023 9:50 PM

Correct me if I am wrong,but is it necessary to redline the transformer to use the Lion Chief -like remote of the Menards set?

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:49 AM

philo426

Correct me if I am wrong,but is it necessary to redline the transformer to use the Lion Chief -like remote of the Menards set?

 

I don't believe so.  I've seen various YouTube videos where the posters were using the Menards F3's at less than maximum voltage on the transformer and had no issues doing so.  In fact speed control seemed to be a lot better than at max voltage.

I've also seen videos where folks have run LionChief trains at less than max voltage with no ill effects.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:54 AM

pennytrains
They put together a few sets iirc and then poof! 

Yes.  I'm glad I bought the Industrial Rail Public Service trolley set when I did, 'cause it sure wasn't around very long!  

Those IR trolleys were pretty good too!  I'm starting to grab the separate sale ones I see at shows for repaint projects, that is if the price is reasonable.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 9:01 AM

pennytrains
To me they looked way out of scale, even for O27.  I had a C & O Atlantic and while it ran well enough, it tended to lean back a bit on it's trailing truck like it was getting ready to pop a wheelie.

I remember the reviews of those Industrial Rail starter sets.  Scale-wise the reviewers said they were closer to S than O or 027 but were reliable runners and at an excellent price-point for starter sets. 

To tell the truth, and some may hate me for this, but if I knew someone looking for a good starter set today I'd tell them look for NOS conventional control ones.  Honestly I just don't trust the longevity of the new ones.   

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Posted by bigwally on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 10:32 AM

Flintlock76
Those IR trolleys were pretty good too!  I'm starting to grab the separate sale ones I see at shows for repaint projects, that is if the price is reasonable.

The issue with those iirc was the plastic gears which would strip on the axle and disengage from the motor. Got 2-3 years out of an IR Christmas trolley and had that very thing happen. Hope you have better luck!

It's not a lie, it's a gift for fiction.
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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 4:58 PM

bigwally
Hope you have better luck! Add Quote to your Post

Doing fine so far, thank you!  I've had it 15 years (Maybe, I've lost track!) and the only issue I've had is flaky operation when the pick-up rollers and truck wheels get dirty.  Mind you, I don't run it constantly, I've got a collection of trolleys so I rotate them on the layout. 

If you like trolleys keep an eye out for the Bowser tinplate O Gauge ones.  Simple forward-only operation but darn near bulletproof.  They've been out of production for years but turn up at train shows on occasion.

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Thursday, October 19, 2023 2:33 PM

philo426

Correct me if I am wrong,but is it necessary to redline the transformer to use the Lion Chief -like remote of the Menards set?

 

Short answer, NO

I find turning down the transformer power you can almost make them run at a scale walking pace.

Verry happy with my two Beta 4.5 engines. Yes

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by philo426 on Friday, October 20, 2023 7:51 AM

Seems like something to explore!

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