Trains.com

Hey,,, It is June. Coffee Pot. Not cooking today either, but dead June bugs for all.. .POT is some 19 years old now. Locked

5055 views
73 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2023
  • 131 posts
Posted by El Fixes Things on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 11:24 PM

Hi all

Vacation trip to the Cape is fast approaching... I got my new 2332 GG-1 up and running Tuesday, and it runs like a dream.

In cleaning it up, I noted that due to where the E unit is mounted, and how the mounting bracket is designed, the worm on the motor shaft throws grease from the gearbox up into the E-Unit! Well, I felt that it would be wise to do something about that. The challenge is that Lionel had to put an opening in the bracket for the E-Unit pawl to drop down all the way. So I had to carefully make a little grease shield that dips down enough to clear the pawl, but not so far it hits the worm. I succeeded on that front though!

I also got the two 2600 series coaches up and running. All but one of the door springs needed to be re-positioned, and turns out that's a real pain in the butt to do! I also had to repair some broken screw holes on the 2628, and a bent collector bracket on the 2627. Everything's happy now though. 

I've wanted some aluminum coaches for a while so I'm definitely keeping that 2533 coach. Would like to have the full set one day. On the fence about keeping the 2343s... I have a set of 2353s that run great (serviced them myself a few years ago) so I don't need them... but I can feel them calling to me. They're shinier and less scuffed and scratched up than my 2353s. They have all their number boards. They look oh-so-very slick. I don't "need" them, but... I do kinda want to hold onto them. We'll see, I have time to think it over.
I like the boxcars and caboose, but I could willingly part with the others. they're in nice shape, and I'm happy having my rolling stock be more play-worn pieces. 

Choices, choices! Good thing I'm not really on any sort of timetable with this descision-making.

-Ellie

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, June 22, 2023 8:46 AM

KRM
 I did it,,I scored a new Menards Beta 4.5 test engine. Senta Fe, War Bonnet Diesel.

Congratulations!  Please give us a review after it shows up and what your thoughts are about the piece.  

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, June 22, 2023 8:49 AM

El Fixes Things
Vacation trip to the Cape is fast approaching... I got my new 2332 GG-1 up and running Tuesday, and it runs like a dream.

Good job on the G Ellie!

As far as sitting on the fence with the other articles obviously there's no rush as to a decison as to what to do with them.   You don't have to feed and water them or take them for walks either!  You've got plenty of time. 

 

KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
Posted by KRM on Friday, June 23, 2023 1:28 PM

Flintlock76

 

 
KRM
 I did it,,I scored a new Menards Beta 4.5 test engine. Senta Fe, War Bonnet Diesel.

 

Congratulations!  Please give us a review after it shows up and what your thoughts are about the piece.  

 

 

Just picked it up. Here it is opened box. Next to run it later. Looks good.

    

 

 

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • 8,048 posts
Posted by fifedog on Friday, June 23, 2023 5:42 PM

Kev - checked it out a couple times, more so to see your layout. Gave it a Yes too.

KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
Posted by KRM on Friday, June 23, 2023 6:26 PM

fifedog

Kev - checked it out a couple times, more so to see your layout. Gave it a Yes too.

 

Fife,, I can tell you this right Now it does not like pulling five 2500 series early 50s post-war passenger cars up my grade. Does it but slows. Not sure if it is wheel slip or power need.  But it is a great looking unit and a great price. Production may cost more but Menards seems to be looking at keeping cost down, When your looking at the videos just go to the rest of my stuff on youtube and you can see tons of my layout as the years have passed. Wink   myssei94   is my Youtube channel.

Update, I think this is the perfect conists for this engine. A full set of 2500 series Lionel post war passenger cars. 

 

 MOV05813 Menards Santa Fe Engine - YouTube  

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 1,986 posts
Posted by 8ntruck on Saturday, June 24, 2023 10:18 PM

Yup. I agree.  Those cars are perfect to that loco.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • 8,048 posts
Posted by fifedog on Sunday, June 25, 2023 8:18 AM

Mornin' guys and gals. Sunny and 73 along the Patterson Creek cut-off, where FifeMax has needed to go outside 4x since 0300.... Wifey will be helping out Middle Princess again today, and I will head to caboose...eventually. Painting project almost finished, which is good, as tomorrow is move-out day for our museum.

  • Member since
    June 2013
  • 642 posts
Posted by smokey1 on Sunday, June 25, 2023 10:13 AM

Morning all.

70* going to 88* today. 

I have a prewar 520 dual Flood light car that one side will not take a bulb, It just can't reach the threads. I'm trying to think of something I can try, but not sure what. I may try removing the part that the bulb needs to touch to complete the circuit ( it can come out) and cut the wire and solder the wire to the bottom and hope I don't twist the wire free while putting it back in. 

Otherwise not much going on here today. Hope all have a good Sunday. 

Kevin that does look good together. Nice Santa Fe set up. 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, June 25, 2023 10:35 AM

KRM
Update, I think this is the perfect conists for this engine. A full set of 2500 series Lionel post war passenger cars. 

Kev, it looks fantastic with those 2500 series cars!  I'm glad that Menards engine's working out for you, YouTube reviews I've seen in the past year showed it as a "Close, but no cigar!" unit.  Pretty but "buggy" if you know what I mean. 

Now if they'd put a switch in it for conventional control I might consider getting one myself.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • 8,048 posts
Posted by fifedog on Monday, June 26, 2023 8:19 PM

Evenin' guys and gals. Raining cats and dogs, with Lightning, which means I'm stuck holding FifeMax widdle pawz. Woof. Hope this passes quickly.

Did get to the railroad museum, and hauled 3 loads of artifacts up to the chapter caboose. Tried to select mainly "hands on" stuff, that visitors can touch and hold. Did my best to avoid the info kiosk theme, but lost that battle. Most of the chapter's collection went to the Allegheny County Museum. Very little has gone to dumpster, so far... After 3 hours, I was spent.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 10:55 AM

Aloha. Boy, the smoke in the air from the Canadian wildfires is really thick yesterday and today -you can smell the burning and it hurts my eyes, even running the a/c. It sure is hazy though it is nice and cool  Last night, we took the youngest out to a local deep-dish pizza place to celebrate his 21st bday that he happened whilst we were all out of town. Then I spent the rest of the evening responding to a few headhunters who wanted me to apply for other jobs. I hope Home Depot delivers the pallet of materials we've been waiting for today. I am getting conflicting text and email updates from them. Maybe I'll make meatball subs for dinner tonight... 

The F unit looks great, Kev!
Fife, it is worth passing that stuff on. I've brought all my C&NW stuff to their historical society which is now at the IL Railway Museum.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • 8,048 posts
Posted by fifedog on Thursday, June 29, 2023 6:24 AM

Dunce doh... Read SPF. In a fog...

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month