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Have You Found Any Good Goodies For Yourself Lately?

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  • Member since
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  • From: SE Michigan
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Posted by fmilhaupt on Sunday, March 31, 2019 10:31 AM

Last month at the Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club's show, my best find was an Overland Models C&O G-9 2-8-0 that the owner was selling for well under $200-- probably less than he'd paid for it in 1979, or about a quarter to one third of what they've been going for on eBay recently.

I've always thought that the G-9 had character, even if it was never used on the line I model in Michigan-- it is one of those models I've liked, but couldn't justify spending the going rate on. For the asking price, however, it went home with me. Now it's in line for a paint job and a sound decoder, behind the power I'm working on for the home road.

-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.
http://www.pmhistsoc.org

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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Sunday, March 31, 2019 1:46 PM

Southgate
Lone wolf, I live in Bend OR, just a few miles from Prineville. As it says right on the boxcar, the City of Prineville owns it's own railroad. I see those cars around here.

That's cool you get to see those cars. I love them because I used to live in Portland when I was a kid and it reminds me of it. They also give a distinct feel of where they come from and what is loaded in them. When I see them on my southern California layout I know that they are full of lumber from Oregon or northern California.

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/uo1524.jpg

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/lp52010.jpg

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/bn247908.jpg

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/summit2.jpg

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/cpl7716.jpg

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/wp38134.jpg

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/yw25134.jpg

Off topic: A girl I knew from school lives in Bend and she loves it there. Also I just read that the only remaining Blockbuster Video store is in Bend.

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
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Posted by crisco1 on Sunday, March 31, 2019 8:22 PM

  My friend found me Intermountain autoracks for $25.00.  They

are selling on Ebay for $125.00.  I could only buy two.  I think they

might be on Ebay as I write this post for $116.00.

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Posted by maxman on Sunday, March 31, 2019 8:40 PM

Lone Wolf and Santa Fe

 

 http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/uo1524.jpg

 

http://trainweb.org/lonewolfsantafe/lp52010.jpg

I'd like to see a prototype photo of lumber loaded that way.  Looks impossible to me.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, March 31, 2019 9:04 PM

Banded stacks of lumber loaded and unloaded from boxcars is a huge subject of Interest to me.  I hope one day someone here posts pictures or a video on how they did it. 

For years I have often wondered but have not had a clue on how this is done.  Sure would be interesting.

TF

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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, March 31, 2019 9:26 PM

There's videos out there, and there is a guide to loading and unloading "closed car lumber loads", and the lumber is not stacked in the staggered configuration that  Lone Wolf's box cars are.

The forks have complete access to stacks just inside the doors.  Do a search for closed car lumber loading", you'll see what I mean.

Mike.

 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, March 31, 2019 10:16 PM

I didn't have the right word terminology when I have tried to look this boxcar thing up in the past.  Thanks MikeYes

A new boxcar recruit came in on Saturday.  This is the problem with me and eBay sometimes.  I keep finding new favoritesLaugh  This one doesn't come around very often and when it does they try to charge way too much.  So it took me awhile to finally get this one.

Simon,  that's a great undecorated steamer for your birthday on the turntable.  What road name are you eventually going to put on it?

Mike,  I like the Illinois Central Loco and the Rio Grande caboose.

Lone Wolf.  I did find your box cars, most of them on eBay in N-Scale.  Some unique boxcars.  A more modern era than I am modeling but still cool though.

TF

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, April 1, 2019 8:45 AM

Beware of Rio Grande box cars on Ebay.  Many models don't match any the D&RGW actually had.   Every now and then I buy stuff on impulse because they are shiney and sometimes I end up with foobies that way.

According to Jim Eagers book and the RGM&HS (see link below), D&RGW leased 350 second hand (ex-NH?) PS-1 40 box cars in 1966.  They were all painted brown as far as I can tell:

https://www.rgmhs.org/data/freight/1993/boxcars.html

All the photo's on RR-fallenflags are brown.  I prefer to try to get models that match the real thing wherever possible, especially since I don't have unlimited funds.  Of course Of course YMMV.

 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by jk10 on Saturday, April 6, 2019 8:52 PM
Been to a few shows in the last month. Always look for shortline boxcars and anything Wisconsin Central that I don't already have. I'm also a fan of grain hoppers. I finally found a Bay Line 50' boxcar for a good price at the last show. Today, I found a Tangent MKT grain hopper for a very good price compared to other Tangent rolling stock at the show. There were several other deals and finds that I was happy with at both shows. A local artist who does drawings of local depots had prints for a few towns I've lived in and where I grew up, those I'm looking forward to getting framed and hung on the wall sometime in the future. Always like finding deals or a new shortline or per diem boxcar to add to the collection.
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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, April 7, 2019 2:26 PM

riogrande I appreciate the data table you provided for the gold and silver Rio Grande boxcar I posted.  I can see the data on what you're saying is true. 

The thing I like about micro-trains is they give information on each car they sell.  Rio Grande repainted this car in 1959 according to MTL.  The first two numbers coincide with the bottom numbers on the chart you provided.

The same car could have fit into the transformation era I'm modeling before it was repainted, but it doesn't nowSad  I got to admit I end up with a few of these.

TF

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Sunday, April 7, 2019 6:20 PM

emdmike

Hit some big jackpots at the train show ... I found this PFM/GOM DRGW Caboose for $18!!!       Mike the Aspie


Eighteen is a good price for a brass caboose but an educated guess, it was so cheap because unforunately the GOM D&RGW caboose is a bit of a foobie. 

I owned one once and discovered they got the windows completely wrong on once side - which should be off-set from the other side rather than mirror image.  Since, for me anyway, the holy grail was to have correct D&RGW cabooses so I sold mine and shopped for the Overland version, doesn't have that same major mistake with the side windows.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Sunday, April 7, 2019 7:04 PM

I went to the Decatur Train Fair yesterday with a few years worth of bonus cash saved, and came out with some good stuff!  What I brought home this time:

Rivarossi GN 2-8-2, near mint in the box
Rivarossi GN passenger cars
Tenshodo GP7
Hobbytown chassis kit
Mantua USRA 4-6-2 kit (original all metal with "power drive")
P2K SW9 shell
Kato N gauge Unitrack kit
Kato N scale EF57
Athearn 89' high cube boxcar
Lionel type V transformer
20 pair box of Kadee #5s

I have a few N scale trains, so I thought I'd put together a small 2' x 4' layout with a simple loop of track.  I'm also working on a 3-track 4' x 8' O gauge layout, which will be collapsable into two sections for storage, so the type V transformer with 4 separate controls will do great for that!  And I'll of course have some work to do with those other kits, but that Rivarossi 2-8-2 was smooth as silk with nothing more than a little fresh oil!

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, April 7, 2019 7:12 PM

jk10

A local artist who does drawings of local depots had prints for a few towns I've lived in and where I grew up, those I'm looking forward to getting framed and hung on the wall sometime in the future.

 

Nice jk 10.... If your local to my neck of the woods, I could pretty safely venture to say you bought art from John Cartwright.  I know John Cartwright well.

We talk at the shows all the time.  Great guy.  I am waiting for him to finish the Orr Depot, Orr Minnesota.  Anticipation is going on a couple years hereWhistling

TF

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, April 7, 2019 9:14 PM

I just nailed down one of the ultimate finds for myself.

.

I found this cabinet in an "antique" store in Monroe, Georgia today.

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It has six drawers that are divided into five sections. It is 34 inches tall, 30 inches deep, and 26 inches wide. It is the perfect size to fit under my layout beneath the waterfront section. I am going to use it to rotate out the cars to and from the car float. Each drawer is the perfect size to hold one set of cars for the car float.

.

All I need to do is add appropriate foam cradles to the drawers.

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This cabinet is seriously overbuilt and heavy, just the way I like things. The whole assembly weighs a little over 300 pounds. Each drawer weighs 25 pounds. The rollers are actual steel ball bearings. It will surely last forever.

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It even has those great double-extension drawer slides so you can use 100% of the drawer depth from front to back.

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What a score! Perfection!

.

.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Monday, April 8, 2019 5:05 AM

Now that I work at the hobby shop, I see many great items come and go each week. Picked up this lovely brass Overland CP wide-vision caboose. great detail!

 

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, April 8, 2019 7:27 AM

Timonium MD spring show was over last weekend.  Picked up the following:

- Tangent blue Rock Island 4750 hopper, long OOP.

- Accurail 40' green Penn Central boxcar with ACI and COTS added nicely

- 40' Athearn PFE trailer, apparently the only paint scheme actually correct for it

- Atlas Georgia Pacific 50' plug door box car (when visiting nearby MBK; they only charged me $16 show day discount).

- Green cutting board

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Eilif on Monday, April 8, 2019 5:35 PM

SeeYou190

I just nailed down one of the ultimate finds for myself.

.

I found this cabinet in an "antique" store in Monroe, Georgia today.

.

It has six drawers that are divided into five sections. It is 34 inches tall, 30 inches deep, and 26 inches wide. It is the perfect size to fit under my layout beneath the waterfront section. I am going to use it to rotate out the cars to and from the car float. Each drawer is the perfect size to hold one set of cars for the car float.

.

All I need to do is add appropriate foam cradles to the drawers.

.

This cabinet is seriously overbuilt and heavy, just the way I like things. The whole assembly weighs a little over 300 pounds. Each drawer weighs 25 pounds. The rollers are actual steel ball bearings. It will surely last forever.

.

It even has those great double-extension drawer slides so you can use 100% of the drawer depth from front to back.

.

What a score! Perfection!

.

.

.

-Kevin

.

 

 

That is a fantastic find!  I found a map/art chest on our valentines weekend in Kalamazoo.  It's not nearly as sturdy or impressive as that one, but the drawers are perfect for HO stuff stored on it's side.

Blogged it here: https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/2019/02/organization-architects-cabinet-for.html

As purchasing "for myself" in general, I'm a bargain basement buyer so while I do mostly stick to my lines and era nearly all my railroading purchases are something "colorful, unique or at a price you just can't refuse."  

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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Posted by dh28473 on Monday, April 8, 2019 6:46 PM

What make are they

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Posted by rrebell on Monday, April 8, 2019 7:09 PM

Comment on something earlier but forgot to state I picked up a Westside Model class A climax, vertical boiler for $225 out the door, they ussually go for alot more, mint in box by the way.

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Posted by Eilif on Monday, April 8, 2019 9:15 PM

dh28473

What make are they

The Chest of drawers?
I have no idea.  Got it at a resale shop and it has no marks on it.

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, April 8, 2019 9:28 PM

I wasn't sure what he was talking about.  Maybe your freight cars?  I donno! ?

"What make are they"

Since he didn't quote to anything, he could have been talking about anything in this thread.  Confused

Both Kevin's file cabinet and your chest of drawers are great!

Mike.

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, April 8, 2019 9:40 PM

Speaking of drawer cabinets, check out the metal cabinets this guy posted in the Sunday Photo Fun topic in the link below!  Makes everything else look like child's play.  He estimates between the three of the can store 2000 train cars.  That's serious storage!  They look like map cabinets from my days working at the geologic survey.

http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/thread/7458/sunday-photo-fun-april-2019

 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by maxman on Monday, April 8, 2019 9:54 PM

riogrande5761
They look like map cabinets from my days working at the geologic survey.

Print (drawing) Files.

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Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, April 8, 2019 11:52 PM

Similar to some blueprint storage cabinets, too.

Wayne

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Posted by Southgate on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 5:02 AM

Nice scores, guys! Helps to know I'm not the only one who gets this stoked.

Well, I just picked off a "lot" sale of MEW (Model Engineering Works) 44 tonners on the 'bay. 44 tonners are my fave loco! Many of these are unassembled brand new still. Maybe I should hold off saying how many or how much. You'll think I'm nuts.  I REALLY wanted this bunch and bid accordingly.

Watching it close in the last minutes, I was more nervous than usual on these things, and hiding it. I was sitting there quiet in a chair, but inside I was jumping all up and down. So, it's sitting there, way cheap... Finally, Five seconds. 4, 3, 2--- then, predictably, the snipers hit; Bam-BAM!!! BOY did it Jack! But, my number was higher. I Won, and by a safe margin. (I Hope it wasn't any of you guys)

Only THEN did I go grovelling to my wife about-what-I-done, after the fact. Something I don't do. "Hi Hun-ney"Whistling...

She was pretty OK actually, but said please do check with her beforehand on things like this. (She keeps the books in order) 

But, Hey, final price per unit is about what ya pay for an old BB Athearn freight car.  They're OLD school. I'll enjoy tinkering with them. They're all metal construction except electric insulation. I saw no signs of Zinc rot.  Dan

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 5:56 AM

riogrande5761
Speaking of drawer cabinets, check out the metal cabinets this guy posted in the Sunday Photo Fun topic in the link below!  Makes everything else look like child's play. 

.

Those are just "flat files" for storage of artist prints or blueprints. They are really not very well suited for model trains, unless you just want to store your collection. I would never use one for my equipment.

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I have a friend that has two of them filled with BATTLEFOAM custom cut foam trays for storing his wargaming figures, and THAT is impressive, but way out of my price range. Wargamers love flat files because not only are they good for protectingthe collection, but they also make a sturdy foundation for your gaming table. I cannot justify $1,000.00 in custom cut foam for my army men. My army men are stored in plastic boxes, poor guys.

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Flat files are too deep front to back to fit under most layouts. They are usually 36 to 42 inches front to back. Also, the shallow drawer height forces you to store HO equipment on the side, which is bad for well detailed equipment.

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Flat files also rarely have roller slides, unless you are willing to spend over $1,000.00 per base unit. This means your equipment is getting jostled everytime you open of close a drawer.

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Also, the drawers are so shallow that you cannot even put a foam liner on the bottom of the drawer. The flat files I have seen will barely clear an HO car on the side. If your equipment rocks when you open the drawer, it could jamb against the drawer above. Ouch.

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I will build inserts for my cabinet to hold the equipment on a 15 degree angle to one side to allow easy loading and unloading, less rolling, and reduced potential for equipment damage.

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If you have room for flat files (remember, it also requires over 36" in front clearance to also get the drawer open), and you just run freight cars with molded on detail, then they might work OK for you.

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Used flat files tend to sell really cheap. Since no one stores paper blue prints any longer, there sure is a glut in the market. There was an industrial building in Tallahassee that must have had 100 of them and sold them for $300.00 each last year.

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The cabinet I found is absolutely perfect for my needs. It will fit nicely into the space available, and will hold my treasured custom detailed/painted equipment safely for going on and off of the car float.

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If you need to store 2,000 freight cars in flat files, you probably have a problem.

.

-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 8:04 AM

SeeYou190
Those are just "flat files" for storage of artist prints or blueprints. They are really not very well suited for model trains, unless you just want to store your collection. I would never use one for my equipment.

Hello.  That is what he is using them for; store his collection.   Surprise  I guess you can agree to disagree with Mr. 12bridge on these.  They sure look good to me. 

If you need to store 2,000 freight cars in flat files, you probably have a problem.

Who are you to be judge and jury for someone if they want to store 2000 cars?  I'd say the problem lies elsewhere - ahem.

Gotta love this hobby.  Topic is gone "south" and I don't mean geographically.   Black Eye

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 10:10 AM

riogrande5761

 

 
SeeYou190
Those are just "flat files" for storage of artist prints or blueprints. They are really not very well suited for model trains, unless you just want to store your collection. I would never use one for my equipment.

 

Hello.  That is what he is using them for; store his collection.   Surprise  I guess you can agree to disagree with Mr. 12bridge on these.  They sure look good to me. 

 

 
If you need to store 2,000 freight cars in flat files, you probably have a problem.

 

Who are you to be judge and jury for someone if they want to store 2000 cars?  I'd say the problem lies elsewhere - ahem.

Gotta love this hobby.  Topic is gone "south" and I don't mean geographically.   Black Eye

 

First off there are different heights for flat files (about 2" seem to be common theirs days) and in my youth there were ones that were really thin and ones much thicker (went to art school and they used them for papers for art). so the person proubly wasn't aware of this. Second you complain about saying "if you need to store 2'000 freight cars in flat files, you proubly have a problem", this is just normal banter. We always say someone has a problem when someone has too much of something logicly speaking, I don't know why you took offence. I could get into the psychological reasons for this but don't want to get this thread locked.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 12:04 PM

Nope, nope nope, we don't need any more "psychological reason" for a thread on finding stuff you think is cool.

It's already turned in that direction, don't need any more.

I guess Kevin is really offended by "flat files",  and that's as far  "psychological" as we need to get.

I made some "built-in" drawers under my lay out for storage.

But I digress, back to finding cool stuff for your lay out.  Smile, Wink & Grin

Mike.

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Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 12:09 PM

nice work

 

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