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Anyone here into vintage HO? 1940s thru the 60s?

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Posted by Monon Railroader on Friday, March 1, 2019 8:13 PM

Hey All...

I'd have to answer "Kind of" to the question.

My interest in that era is with line more than the equipment. My Dad and uncles all worked for the Monon and I spent a summer toiling for the CI&L. I have some Alco RS-2's, an NW-2 and an SW-7 all being re-decorated proper colors.

Where I depart from the era is I want to belive the Monon didn't go away in 1971. In line for the paint shop are an EMD GP-60 and and a GE P42DC. Think it would be neat to see the P42 pulling a string of vintage Monon rolling stock with a little red caboose! :-)

Happy Weekending!

Amanda

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 1, 2019 4:00 PM

Never mind, I don't know how to do quote within a quote.  I must have been absent that day.  Smile, Wink & Grin

Mike.

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Posted by Jumijo on Friday, March 1, 2019 2:39 PM

After enjoying post-war Lionel for years, I naturally gravitated toward older HO trains. Simple to work on, and charming to see run.

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by zstripe on Friday, March 1, 2019 2:02 PM

mbinsewi

Is there an echo in here? or did the OP just answer his own original post?

Mike.

 

Mike....sure looks like it, to Me....LOL

Take Care! Big Smile

FrankLaugh

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 1, 2019 11:50 AM

Is there an echo in here? or did the OP just answer his own original post?

Mike.

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, March 1, 2019 11:42 AM

My old trains, mostly Athearn, were of that timeframe.  Most now have Kadees and metal wheelsets.  The rolling stock is fine, but the engines have been converted to dummies or sound dummies.

I have a whole train of old Mantua/Tyco operating clamshell hoppers, plus the unloading track.  I've replaced the couplers, trucks and wheelsets. it

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by I like Vintage HO on Friday, March 1, 2019 10:20 AM

I like Vintage HO

I just finished up a pair fo diecast Varney F7s and a Varney GG1.  

 

I just did the same thing.  The GG-1 went to my grandson.

 

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Posted by QRailrider on Thursday, February 28, 2019 9:53 PM
C.B.& O RR (California, Berwyn & Ohio RR) AnyWhere West/ The Route of the Breezes.
Does anyone have a complete list of Walthers Steam Era Classic heavyweight passenger cars?

 

Does anyone know what color Burlington MOW trucks were colored in the 50-60”s?
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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, January 14, 2017 10:48 AM

ATSFGuy

F3's and F7's ran in the 40's through the 60's. Some were retired in the early 70's, and some may have lasted a few more years in commuter service.

My trains are based on models that ran 50+ years ago, Athearn's website announced them, and I purchased them new in their "As Delivered" releases.  Just like the railroads.

Do you not understand this or what?

 

 

Oh, I see.  

You were being witty and it went right over my head.  

Ed

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Saturday, January 14, 2017 2:24 AM

F3's and F7's ran in the 40's through the 60's. Some were retired in the early 70's, and some may have lasted a few more years in commuter service.

My trains are based on models that ran 50+ years ago, Athearn's website announced them, and I purchased them new in their "As Delivered" releases.  Just like the railroads.

Do you not understand this or what?

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Saturday, January 14, 2017 12:41 AM

I like working on vintage HO trains quite a bit! I think my oldest one is a Penn Line lead Midget from the late 40's or so. Gave it a good cleaning, new belt, and it works great! http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/213012.aspx

I also did an early-mid 50's Hobbytown PA-1 not too long ago. Detailed the crud out of it, made some upgrades, and it's one of the best engines I've got.Big Smile https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGNF7CDM9aN6IYZRM-Mv--rwqFccGgAyZ

I've done a lot of other projects too, but I don't want to go writing a book here.

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by 7j43k on Friday, January 13, 2017 11:20 PM

ATSFGuy

With my ATHG SF A-B-B-A and MKT F3 A-B-A sets as well using steam-era freight cars in my freight trains, I believe I qualify. Big Smile

 

 

I think the discussion is about HO model trains that were produced 50+ years ago.  Was yours???

 

Ed

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Friday, January 13, 2017 10:52 PM

With my ATHG SF A-B-B-A and MKT F3 A-B-A sets as well using steam-era freight cars in my freight trains, I believe I qualify. Big Smile

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Posted by j. c. on Thursday, January 12, 2017 11:09 AM

i'l add this,the sad thing for vintage diecast is yardbird trains went out last year , they had lot of repair parts  for early  diecast locos.

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, January 12, 2017 9:02 AM

Here is my Tenshodo 4-6-4. My Dad brought it home from a business trip he made to Japan roughly 60 years ago. 

In this photo I ran it on my present layout a few years ago just before I converted to DCC. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, January 12, 2017 7:40 AM

mobilman44

A good number of my cars are Athearns from the late '50s and early '60s.  With IM wheelsets, KDs, truck weathering and a spray of Dull Cote, they are still running just great.  Also have a few Ulrich and Silver Streaks as well...........

 

That can be said for Athearn BB cars (except for the Railbox,ACF covered hopper and 5344 kits) since they date back to the late 50s.

As a example the RTR CN "wet noddle" 40' boxcar looks exactly like the one I bought when it was first released back in the early 60s.

The  F7 A/B hasn't changed since Globe produce them.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Thursday, January 12, 2017 6:10 AM

Sir Madog

 

 
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Why is it that Bachmann can pay attenton to such details and a company like Trix cannot?

 

Sheldon,

I am quite sure that Trix has very little interest in the US market and therefore does not care much about the lettering being correct or incorrect or offering an undecorated version. Their market is Europe and I would put a bet on Trix selling more USRA Mikes in Europe than in the US. The average German model railroader knows very little about US railroads, just like the average US modelrailroader knows little about European railroads.

 

Understood and agreed, that much more reason to spend my money with someone else no matter how nicely engineered the model is......but in my mind it still begs the question, especially in this day and age, why do they even bother?

Sheldon

    

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Posted by mobilman44 on Thursday, January 12, 2017 5:13 AM

A good number of my cars are Athearns from the late '50s and early '60s.  With IM wheelsets, KDs, truck weathering and a spray of Dull Cote, they are still running just great.  Also have a few Ulrich and Silver Streaks as well...........

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 11:46 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Why is it that Bachmann can pay attenton to such details and a company like Trix cannot?

Sheldon,

I am quite sure that Trix has very little interest in the US market and therefore does not care much about the lettering being correct or incorrect or offering an undecorated version. Their market is Europe and I would put a bet on Trix selling more USRA Mikes in Europe than in the US. The average German model railroader knows very little about US railroads, just like the average US modelrailroader knows little about European railroads.

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 8:49 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
.Why is it that Bachmann can pay attenton to such details and a company like Trix cannot?

Sheldon, don't you remember the old cereal commercial with the rabbit "...Trix, Trix, Trix are for kids..."Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

Regards,

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 8:29 PM

Well this is really a hoot, I hope they don't really have the tender lettering like this picture:

https://www.reynaulds.com/products/Trix/22816.aspx

Because it should look like this:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-s4527gga.jpg

$400 locomotive and they can't position the lettering properly on the tender?

I think I will buy a couple from Bachmann....which also has the correct headlight placement for B&O Q-3's for most of their service.....Why is it that Bachmann can pay attenton to such details and a company like Trix cannot?

Sheldon

    

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 8:17 PM

7j43k

Sheldon,

That would be "In only one (wrong) roadname?", I believe.

But they're also doing B&O.  Between that and the NYC they've done, that accounts for nearly half of all USRA light Mikes.

 

 

 

Ed

 

Yes, I know. It may account for half the quantity, but only 6% of the road names.

I don't know much about the ATSF, and I have no problem with manufacturers doing foobies, because they simply can't do every loco ever built.

But, but I have never understood the "random" choices of product that many manufacturers make.

But it matters not, because at over $400, with DCC and sound I don't want, I'm really not interested. I already have most all the locos I need.

Sheldon

 

    

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Posted by 7j43k on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 5:49 PM

Sheldon,

That would be "In only one (wrong) roadname?", I believe.

But they're also doing B&O.  Between that and the NYC they've done, that accounts for nearly half of all USRA light Mikes.

 

 

 

Ed

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Posted by ACY Tom on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 5:31 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

 

 
Sir Madog

 

 
ACY
I wish the Mike would be re released.

 

Back in the market - see here

 

 

 

 

In only one roadname? For a locomotive that was used by 32 different railroads, and who's later clones included even more railroads.

No wonder Trix has never gained much market share in the US, they simply do not understand this market.

Sheldon

 

That's funny. True, the USRA light was used by a whole bunch of roads. The funny part is that AT&SF (the one road name being released) was one of the roads that never owned one, and BLI has announced an accurate AT&SF 2-8-2 for future release. An  unpainted option would be a good idea, but I guess it wouldn't be too hard to do a repaint and reletter on this one. I'll have to think about it. It looks like the details on this one are a pretty close match to NYC (like the earlier release).

Tom 

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 4:57 PM

Sir Madog

 

 
ACY
I wish the Mike would be re released.

 

Back in the market - see here

 

 

In only one roadname? For a locomotive that was used by 32 different railroads, and who's later clones included even more railroads.

No wonder Trix has never gained much market share in the US, they simply do not understand this market.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 12:47 PM

ACY
I wish the Mike would be re released.

Back in the market - see here

 

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Posted by ACY Tom on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 12:09 PM

Marklin has a reputation for fine German engineering, and the items released under the Trix label are US-compatible.  Their Big Boy never appealed to me because it doesn't fit into my scheme, and I missed out on their USRA 2-8-2, which has a fine reputation. I wish the Mike would be re released. Now they have announced a UP Challenger. I might be interested, just because the engine appeals to me, but I probably won't go for it because it looks like it will be released as a black oil burner with smoke lifters. I would want it in the passenger gray paint scheme or as a traditional coal burner, but I can't see repainting or modifying the engine at that price. 

Tom

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 11:51 AM

I like Vintage HO
Thanks for showing me

You are welcome, Randy.

Marklin never really had much to offer in terms of US-prototype engines iand cars. There was a rather crude interpretation of an F 7 in the 1950´s and 1960´s, a nicely detailed USRA Mike and the ubiquitous UP Big Boy, and a handful of 40´box cars. Most of the Marklin stuff came over with GI´s returning home from their stay in Germany.

I never understood why Marklin never really took a keen interest in developing the US market for their products. Being European market leader in terms of quantity and quality seemed to be enough for them.

Marklin is still #1 manufacturer in Germany, despite their proprietary 3-rail AC system. I guess it´s a tradition to own a Marklin "train set".

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Posted by ggnlars on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 5:23 PM

Randy,

like you, I rehab and refresh these trains.  I came across an auction last year tha had several Gilbert/Varney HO diesels and cars.  Ten Lackawanna F2's and the same namer of depressed flats with transformer loads.  The cars were an easy fix.  The engines took a little more.  All but two came alive to almost like new.  The last two were just to far gone and were sold as parts.  All the items sold easily, so there are people out there who use or collect these vintage trains.

Larry

www.llxlocomotives.com

So many trains, so little time,

Larry

www.llxlocomotives.com

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Posted by I like Vintage HO on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 3:30 PM

Hello Sir Madog,

I take it you are in europe then. More likely Germany since that is where Marklin orginated.  I have not done much with Marklin.  I occassionally run into some on an auction or an estate sale.  

They are however very beautiful.  I have a friend in California that I usually sell them to when I come across any.  I just can't make room for more than one operating system.  

I came across 30 prewar Marklin passenger cars, most with the complete orginalbox and wraping paper.  Unfortunately, only 2 or 3 still had good trucks. That was my first exposure to Marklin.  I am surprised i don't find more of them here in WI. with it's German heritage, but I suppouse nearly 80 years has taken a huge toll.

Thanks for showing me.

Randy

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