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TEST YOUR MEMORY ?
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In 1952 my Dad gave me a Mantua Shifter (0-4-0) as that was the normal kit to start with. I had a lot of fun with the plastic sided passenger cars that took three or four DAYS to build and never did run right. Mantua couplers were the standard and only the oddies used the Kaydee couplers. Remember having several cars with different couplers on each end so you could make a long train (nine cars)? <br /> <br />My first layout was built with Tru-Scale milled roadbed and brass rail. About half of the track was on hand laid ties. Atlas switch kits were the ultimate, you had arrived when you could afford to buy them ($1.95 ea). I bought my first brass loco in 1959, it was a Tenshodo 0-8-0 in kit form for $24.95 and I had to pay it out $3.00 a week. <br /> <br />Varney had a 2-8-4 that was availavle in several kits - you purchased the frame kit, which had the frame and running gear. Next you bought the boiler kit, and so on. You could buy the WHOLE thing at one time for $74.95 I believe, but who had that much money for a loco? <br /> <br />I still have some Red Ball kits that I build every once in a while. I've even got some Ulrich hoppers that will be built someday. I must admit that I never thought that I'd have every kit that Central Valley made because they cost so much ($2.95). EBay has been a good place to shop for the old kits and has really helped my model railroading empire. Just yesterday I was able to puchase an Alexander Coaling Station that I had to have as time and neglect destroyed my old one. <br /> <br />But really the good ole days were the ones last week - remember the window fan for cooling - sleeping on the front porch because inside the house was to hot. WALKING wherever you went because the bus cost ten cents. I don't want to go back.
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