CLOSED////////The Coffee Pot is still on and over 3 years. Here we gather as friends with trains.

[Jumijo]

 

You don't like the Lionel cab-forward, Hobo?

[Buckeye Riveter]

You don't like the Lionel cab-forward, Hobo?

Does Weaver make one, too? Or 3rd Rail?  I know I have seen them.

[jefelectric]

 Knowing most of the experts are here .... I can't find a suitable cab forward in O scale . Want to rebuild an engine in appropriate drive scheme to be one . Question is .... since I was HO man most of my life .... can a O scale engine be rewired to run as a full functioning cab forward ? In other words when I place controller in forward it will actually run in reverse and in reverse it will run forward. A fellow here locally said get one with a lockout but I want forward and reverse without programming my tmcc as I sometimes take my engines to places without those facilities. I can easily build the brass compartment/cab face and change couplers with modifications to modify one but am wondering if only rewiring the motor will do it . Would rather use one of the modern tmcc engines and need all input you learned fellows can give me . 

If it can't be done easily with tmcc ... I'll go with another type engine.

Hobo, There is a Williams cab forward on the auction right now.  Lionel made one in Lionmaster in 2005 that might be in some shops yet.  Maybe the big boys like Trainworld or Just trains.  3rd rail made one in the past, not sure what years or if any can be found.

[Anonymous]

 Oh yes I love the lionel cab forward ! I just wanted something different and thought maybe it could be done . I researched and there were many different cab forwards built excluding the ones that all the manufacturers have for sale. I just love building the different rolling stock/engines that can't be bought over the counter . I saw quite a few of the williams models on ebay and like a dummy let them go . The lionel lionmasters are fabulous but untouchable as far as re-detailing ! You would'nt believe the extra detailing I add to alot of them . Am finishing my brass snowplow blade for my engine now . Shovels and pokers in the engine cab and etc. But can it be done ? The conversion ? If all else fails guess I'll have to buy a ready made unit but really want to scratch/convert an engine . You get alot of eyeballs and questions when you walk into a club with a "one of a kind piece "  !

[rtraincollector]

Thanks John!

BTW - Laz, John, Mitch, et all in SEPA...

While I was at the York trainshow I ran into a fellow who was looking at the C&O F-19, the seller had the Chessie TMCC Cranesounds caboose, but no TMCC crane.  The buyer mentioned that some LHSs had both the Crane and Caboose... I would be interested in either the Chessie, Conrail, or MoW versions... have any of you seen these lately and if so where?

Much appreciated.
Brent

Not sure which crain but think its conrail but local hobby shop has one for sure as I've asked him about it last week just curious because of the price knew it wasn't your normal crane. not sure about caboose but do know crane for sure

www.deltavilledepot.com

 

[csxt30]

Good Evening Everyone !! Glad it's Friday, let the snow begin !! Just kidding !! But if it does snow a lot now, I shoudn't be working out in it !!

Thanks Chief for the idea on the bilge pumps for the backup sump !  That sounds good !! I keep forgetting what could happen if the electric goes off !!

Boy, I'm getting real close to getting my income tax refund now. Just need my W-2s & I can pay for my new Atlas steamer !!  If anyone runs across a good idea for a Pennsy caboose that would look good behind it, let me know !! Maybe I can squeeze that in too !!

Well, hope everyone has a nice weekend & not tooooo much snow !!

Thanks, John

[1688torpedo]

  Hello All!   Boy oh Boy!  The Chief must be working very hard on his layout in order for us to get the Snow we have now!. CSXJohn- Hope your basement dries up soon. Not good for your Track or Trains with all of that Dampness. I would not want a layout in a basement due to such problems as leaks or Sewer Backups that some folks have to contend with! Lionel made a Black/Red Porthole Caboose that should go good with your Atlas Engine. Maybe Charlie Siegal has one or you can find one at a show. They made two versions of which the first came out in 1996 as a seperate sale item & another one for one of their mid-range sets called the "Keystone Express" around Three Years ago. Gryzboski's in Scranton might have some of them also. Take Care all.

[Roger Bielen]

Hobo, could switching the motor leads, and back-up/head-light wires accomplish what you want?  As far as the electronics would know the engine is going forward.  This assuming the motor is a DC type with electronics converting AC to DC.

[A&Y Ry]

Digging around in the basement at our mountain cottage today and found an old Lionel Service Station Special set called the "Southern Freight Runner" (#6-11704, labeled "Made In America"). I do not recall when the set came out but I know I haven't operated it in more than 15 years---used to run it on carpet at Christmas but I boxed it up, stored and forgot about it when my mountain shelf RR with Williams Ps-4s, Mikados and other steamers was built in '92. The set is a Southern GP-9 with toolcar, tanker, hopper, operating coal dump car and caboose--all lettered for the SRR.

Also found the Lionel models (4 cars--two powered ) of the old Lackawanna Electrics that I commuted on daily (5:50 a.m.)from Morris Plains,N.J. to Hoboken Terminal during the '70s.[then under the river on the Tubes to 34th st.]. These train boxes are also prominently labeled "Made In America". The Lackawanna Electric prototype cars I rode were made in 1918 and 1922 and still had the old rattan seats in the "70s.

Felt like it was Christmas for awhile there this afternoon. I brought the GP-9 and cars to Greensboro tonight. Gonna lube and clean up the set for a test run tomorrow.

 

 

 

[rtraincollector]

Dewey by my price guide it says it was made in 1987. hope that helps you remember lol.

Hey all not much happening tonight. just trying to look here and there on the Internet.

Laz will try to remember to bring and drop one of those off at the house next week so I can get you some good measurements on those pallets and show you what they look like. Have one in back of my work truck but keep forgetting to take it off when here for lunch or have a different truck for some reason.

You all were talking about old cars the other day well my work truck is a 1987 Chevy C-30 dually with a flatbed on the back and it has about 230,000 miles on it with the original 454 in her. the main problem we have with her is she like to eat starters I've been driving her for 4 years now and we have put in 4 starters. its about time as I here the normal sounds she gets hard to start like you have a bad battery and then she kicks in strong. Every so often she sounds like your turning the key and the motor is running but its not. but she is still a good truck I'll miss her when they replace her and that's what there talking about. (she runs on propane)

Here's some pics from when I was working over at the receiving plant the other week.

Propane car being emptied what we do is pump vapor in to push the liquid propane out to our tanks.

Line of 5 cars we are pumping. actually there are 3 behind as I took the pick

Actual pumping station.

 

[jefelectric]

Also found the Lionel models (4 cars--two powered ) of the old Lackawanna Electrics that I commuted on daily (5:50 a.m.)from Morris Plains,N.J. to Hoboken Terminal during the '70s.[then under the river on the Tubes to 34th st.]. These train boxes are also prominently labeled "Made In America". The Lackawanna Electric prototype cars I rode were made in 1918 and 1922 and still had the old rattan seats in the "70s.

Dewey, I have a 2 car set of those that I'm planning to convert to TMCC, when time allows.  Now that I've got a start on my catenary I'll have to get at it.  I completed the installation on the old layot main today.  That is about a third of what I'm planning to do.

Here are a couple of pics of the catenary.

 

 

It gets a little ugly at the switches.

[ChiefEagles]

Howdy.  On Niece's laptop.  Had her B'day party [chilli and then the cake and icecream].  Did not do much on layout.  Got out all my bathtub gons and diecast big hoppers.  Got too many hoppers.  Miss Edna called.  SWITCHES ARE IN!!!!!!! Off to Todd's early tomorrow AM.  Will not stay long so I can get back and get them installed.  Got to go home.

[dwiemer]

Evening everyone.  Finally put the last of the decorations up and took down the Christmas layout.  You can take the tree,  the Holly, and the mistle toe, but please leave the trains.  I got a Lionel truck with the Tank car on the back.  It looks very good, and even though it would not go well on the layout, it will look great on a shelf in the train room.  I have been searching for the K-line shanty, no luck yet.  If you see one at a store or hear of one, please contact me.

Got my Father in law coming to visit tomorrow, so again, layout work is delayed.  I do hope to get some train time in this weekend.

Dennis

[jefelectric]

Evening everyone.  Finally put the last of the decorations up and took down the Christmas layout.  You can take the tree,  the Holly, and the mistle toe, but please leave the trains.  I got a Lionel truck with the Tank car on the back.  It looks very good, and even though it would not go well on the layout, it will look great on a shelf in the train room.  I have been searching for the K-line shanty, no luck yet.  If you see one at a store or hear of one, please contact me.

Got my Father in law coming to visit tomorrow, so again, layout work is delayed.  I do hope to get some train time in this weekend.

Dennis

Dennis, exactly what 'shanty' are you looking for?

[Blueberryhill RR]

Also found the Lionel models (4 cars--two powered ) of the old Lackawanna Electrics that I commuted on daily (5:50 a.m.)from Morris Plains,N.J. to Hoboken Terminal during the '70s.[then under the river on the Tubes to 34th st.]. These train boxes are also prominently labeled "Made In America". The Lackawanna Electric prototype cars I rode were made in 1918 and 1922 and still had the old rattan seats in the "70s.

Dewey, I have a 2 car set of those that I'm planning to convert to TMCC, when time allows.  Now that I've got a start on my catenary I'll have to get at it.  I completed the installation on the old layot main today.  That is about a third of what I'm planning to do.

Here are a couple of pics of the catenary.

 

 

It gets a little ugly at the switches.

John, that really looks good. I love those " Electrics "

Chuck

[laz 57]

Thanks John!

BTW - Laz, John, Mitch, et all in SEPA...

While I was at the York trainshow I ran into a fellow who was looking at the C&O F-19, the seller had the Chessie TMCC Cranesounds caboose, but no TMCC crane.  The buyer mentioned that some LHSs had both the Crane and Caboose... I would be interested in either the Chessie, Conrail, or MoW versions... have any of you seen these lately and if so where?

Much appreciated.
Brent

 

BRENT, BARRYS in ELIZABETHTOWN has The MOW Crane (and the crane car I think?)  I saw the crane in the shop and things were busy friday afternoon and got to talking about the Conrail and he thinks he might have them also?  If you want to give a call and ask the number is

BARRYs Train shop 717-367-4745  he is open Saturday from 10-4.

Hope this helps?

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Got my Father in law coming to visit tomorrow, so again, layout work is delayed.  I do hope to get some train time in this weekend.

Dennis

Excuses, excuses!!!!!  That is all I hear.  Never will get that layout so you can run trains.

Home again. 

[laz 57]

Got my Father in law coming to visit tomorrow, so again, layout work is delayed.  I do hope to get some train time in this weekend.

Dennis

Excuses, excuses!!!!!  That is all I hear.  Never will get that layout so you can run trains.

Home again. 

THAT COMES FROM KING OF THE CARPET RUNNERS.

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Have to give him a hard time.   Hey, opened all my new Lionel Coaling Stations.  They do not have the slide thing and the little handle sticking out of the side of the building to pull and drop coal down the chute into a hopper car.  Got out my old one and sure enough, it had it back in the early 80's.  They are going backwards.

[dougdagrump]

Evenin' All.

Watching the Phoenix auto auction, some people have a whole bunch of disposable income it seems to me. But I guess we all have our addictions.

In reference to some of the earlier posts I saw about the TAS EOB, on another forum it was indicated that the Atlas engines that come with TMCC & EOB the max speed setting is deleted to make room for the EOB. That is one feature that I like because once you set it you didn't have to worry about anyone sending your loco flying off a curve.

Almost forgot !

Chief, Speaking on behalf of all SoCal's "We Surrender". Enuff of this COLD weather.

Most of my plants are history, Malibu had snow on the ground, it's still cold enuff at nite that if I had the equipment I could make snow. Will have to take out a second mortgage to pay the utility bill.  

 

[dbaker48]

Chief, Speaking on behalf of all SoCal's "We Surrender". Enuff of this COLD weather.

Most of my plants are history, Malibu had snow on the ground, it's still cold enuff at nite that if I had the equipment I could make snow. Will have to take out a second mortgage to pay the utility bill.   

 

 

[Brutus]

Watching Psych, just watched Monk, and ready for bed.  Got my new Lionel Flatcar in the mail today - going to fill it up with a load of wood (scale-ish fence posts) from thin dowels.  Also, I just bought a Wabash Bunk Car - smoker and illuminated.  Inspired by all you guys, I stopped at Radio Shack and picked up a soldering iron, solder, 4 buttons (two on/off and two on/off-momentary), as well as two small project boxes.  I really enjoyed that thread about accessories and noted that the kids like it best when they can push buttons and see the stuff work right in front of them.  I'm going to put buttons on the edge of the layout to control the hobo campfires, music (tower), sawmill, and lumberjacks.  I actually need to pick up another on/off button - they only had two in stock.

Dropped off the pinewood derby car.  BTW - dry lubricant is allowed under current rules.  Came in a little overweight by 0.3 ounces.  Took off one washer and we were over by 0.1.  So, I took off another and we were under by 0.2.  Now - if I was smart, I would have put the first one back on - but I didn't think of it in time and just handed the car over.  Oh well.  Why are these things so non-standard?  Weird.

Snow expected tomorrow night and Sunday across the St. Louis area.  Derby tomorrow morning, then stuff with friends in the evening and a birthday party Sunday, so might not get to work on either the basement or layout this weekend (again).

[A&Y Ry]

Thanks for the info on the Lionel set RT---I now think I bought it from a Memphis Dealer during a trip there in spring 1988. Also bought Williams Southern brass from him later.

Impressive and admirable work on the detail of building that catenary John. I have only seen one o-gauge catenary set up in real life but it was enough to convince me that my patience and skill is not adequate for the job.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Morning All,

Got to work today, handed out assignments and checked email and here then back to work.

Buckeye, have a good time at the train show.  I wish I could go! 

Just got a 644 Brownhoist crane, needs hooks and rigging, anyone have one with the rigging and can send a pic so I can see what it should look like please.  Been looking at others on the bay, and have not seen what I need to see yet.

Got to go

Jim

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a sunny 23 degrees. Going up to only 30, today. But sunshine is on the menu. No snow on the ground. Looks like a nice day.

Today, I will spend some time working on the layout. Have all the lumber I need for the new benchwork. Switches came yesterday, and they look good. Lots of work ahead. Have plenty of time.

Later, we are getting company. Kids are suppose to come down for a visit. This will make their 3rd attempt. I'll believe it, when I see it.

Buckeye...Have a great time at the Columbus show. Wish I could have joined you.

Time to board the Dining Car for breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Saturday.

Chuck

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Gonna be headin' out to the antique & collectible toy show at the local Tall Cedars hall in a little bit.  It's a true flea market type setup, and there are always goodies to be had...if you take your time and really scan.  Purchased my Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Britains) last time from a nice old guy, perhaps he'll be back this time.

rtraincollector - thanks for sharing those tankcar pics.  That little railroad spur looks quite interesting, and would be pretty easy to recreate on a layout.

jefelectric - I was going to recreate the wye at Perrryville, MD at one time.  The area had cat all throughout, as this was where the electrified PORT ROAD (PRR) met the North East Corridor.  You are working in a much tighter space than I would ever dare.  Still, your cat looks pretty darn good.  If someone had produced a nice E-44 (and no, I wasn't paying $700 for a brass electric), my layout would look way different...

[dwiemer]

Dennis, exactly what 'shanty' are you looking for?

John, I am looking for the K-Line operating Watchman's shanty.  kind of like the automatic gateman, but in scale.  I have decided to make a lower level on the layout that will have things like the gateman, crossing gate, etc. and will have push buttons for the kids to operate them.  This will allow the kids to enjoy themselves, and yet let me run trains.

Dennis

PS: Chief, those items will be packed in GRITS, so they will have to get through the Grits to get the prize in the bottom.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Off to Todd's.  Switches are in.  Want to get them installed today.  Wife has Red Hat [and she is not old enough so she wears Pink Hat] dinner and spouces have to go.   Really, not too bad.  Let me go.  Later

[rtraincollector]

Thanks for the info on the Lionel set RT---I now think I bought it from a Memphis Dealer during a trip there in spring 1988. Also bought Williams Southern brass from him later.

Impressive and admirable work on the detail of building that catenary John. I have only seen one o-gauge catenary set up in real life but it was enough to convince me that my patience and skill is not adequate for the job.

Dang we crossed paths and didn't know it I lived there in 88 in fact from oct 84 to nov 88 you probally went to the one on popular ave or sycamore drive

[spankybird]

Good Morning All from NE Ohio

where the temp is 23 deg and we missed all the big snow, only pick up an inch or two!

Buckeye - have fun at the train show.

John - layout looks great!

Doug - wait until tonight and see what some of those cars go for! you have to love the Barrett-Jackson on Speed Ch.

Look what we pick up this week in 1/43 scale

The car, not the girls!

tom