riogrande5761 I bought a couple of Hex Frog juicers to power the frogs on my layout which is under construction. I figure I'll need about 7 of them at least to power all the frogs. Got 4 so far. Next month I plan to pre-order the new TCS UWC-50 throttle, preorder will be cheaper. Doughless cowman In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure. They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile. Have fun, stay safe, Richard Slow speed setting for Athearn Genesis with Tsunami2: (also might work for Tsunami) CV215 to 15......thats it! (actually anywhere from 5 to 40 depending upon how you like it) Then for smoothness: CV3 to 50 (acceleration momentum) CV4 to 25 (deceleration momentum) And get rid of that annoying fake clickitty clack: CV153 to -0- Good to know. Among the Genesis geeps last fall, Athearn did 4 numbers of Rio Grande GP7's. However the D&RGW got ride all their GP7's in 1972 except for 5108 which lasted into the 80's, so I did buy that one with DCC/Sound. The Genesis GP9's I bought a few years back were offered with Tsu 1 which reportedly has less than stellar motor control, so I bought those DCC ready instead.
I bought a couple of Hex Frog juicers to power the frogs on my layout which is under construction. I figure I'll need about 7 of them at least to power all the frogs. Got 4 so far. Next month I plan to pre-order the new TCS UWC-50 throttle, preorder will be cheaper.
Doughless cowman In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure. They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile. Have fun, stay safe, Richard Slow speed setting for Athearn Genesis with Tsunami2: (also might work for Tsunami) CV215 to 15......thats it! (actually anywhere from 5 to 40 depending upon how you like it) Then for smoothness: CV3 to 50 (acceleration momentum) CV4 to 25 (deceleration momentum) And get rid of that annoying fake clickitty clack: CV153 to -0-
cowman In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure. They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile. Have fun, stay safe, Richard
In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure.
They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile.
Have fun, stay safe,
Richard
Slow speed setting for Athearn Genesis with Tsunami2: (also might work for Tsunami)
CV215 to 15......thats it! (actually anywhere from 5 to 40 depending upon how you like it)
Then for smoothness:
CV3 to 50 (acceleration momentum)
CV4 to 25 (deceleration momentum)
And get rid of that annoying fake clickitty clack:
CV153 to -0-
Good to know. Among the Genesis geeps last fall, Athearn did 4 numbers of Rio Grande GP7's. However the D&RGW got ride all their GP7's in 1972 except for 5108 which lasted into the 80's, so I did buy that one with DCC/Sound.
The Genesis GP9's I bought a few years back were offered with Tsu 1 which reportedly has less than stellar motor control, so I bought those DCC ready instead.
2020 was a year for me to buy, so things are/will be slow for 2021.
I looked at one of those RioGrande GP7s. Actually ex-RioGrande patched for Rock Island. They looked really nice, but the still more modern non-as-built modifications were still too old for plausibility in my era.
My CV settings are for switching and very slow speed performance on the lower speed steps. Might not be suitable for mainline lash-up running.
- Douglas
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Track fiddler I'm buying my old train set back TF
I'm buying my old train set back
TF
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Seems like lots of new stuff going on the layouts these days. For me, January brought a Canadian Pacific F7B, a SW1200RS and a mid-train dome car. The first piece of my 16 car version of "The Canadian".
On the horizon is maybe a second mid-train dome car along with two baggage-dormitory cars and a bunch of the Bud Manor Sleepers. I also have pre-ordered two of the Rapido 10 wheelers.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Mich's NASA SW1500 looks great, as does Ed's "Big Liz". Wouldnt mind having either one of those.
Though for myself, nothing yet so far. Hopefully - the year is still young. So we will see. I know what Id like to get. So my only anticipation is which item will i come across first.
PMR
I can't believe it got here already. I only purchased it two days ago. It was what was in the other box.
My favorite childhood flatcar when I was only 9 years old. Brand New Old Stock from 50 years ago ends up on my kitchen table
Happy
I will be so careful with these cars being replaced. I have a second chance. The big difference today from when I was 9 years old is I have respect now.
Doug,
Thanks for the tips, will try them next time I get the locos ot to enjoy. Will have to put a printed page in the box so I can find it when I'm ready.
Thanks again,
Huh!
"When it rains it pours"
Look what just came in the mail today!
I don't model HO scale, I model N. There must have been some alternate motive when I bought this. I wonder what's in there
HO, HO, HO I suppose it may be a little late for that. I wonder who I'm going to send this to And I haven't even opened the package that came with behind it yet
SeeYou190Thank you. I just ordered one, and the side-door gondola too. More projects for me! These have some serious potential to become great looking one-of-a-kind freight cars. -Kevin
I agree Kevin!
"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang
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L. ZhouHi Kevin, the Amazon link is here
Thank you. I just ordered one, and the side-door gondola too.
More projects for me! These have some serious potential to become great looking one-of-a-kind freight cars.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
micktropolis I recently picked up an old Athearn blue box SW1500 in a NASA livery and I'm now in the process of hunting some Walthers heavy duty 4-truck flat cars for this to pull but they don't seem to come up often (if anyone has a lead let me know...). The previous seller hardwired the trucks to the motor and it runs nice and smooth at low speeds, if not a little noisy. I replaced the old 42" iron sintered wheels with NWSL 40" nickel silver wheels and will be sending it off for a professional DCC and sound install. I don't trust myself with something this small.
I recently picked up an old Athearn blue box SW1500 in a NASA livery and I'm now in the process of hunting some Walthers heavy duty 4-truck flat cars for this to pull but they don't seem to come up often (if anyone has a lead let me know...).
The previous seller hardwired the trucks to the motor and it runs nice and smooth at low speeds, if not a little noisy. I replaced the old 42" iron sintered wheels with NWSL 40" nickel silver wheels and will be sending it off for a professional DCC and sound install. I don't trust myself with something this small.
When I got back into the hobby more vigorously 20 years ago, that was the very first loco I had purchased in about 25 years. Got it at a train show.
I destroyed the collector NASA possibilities when I rubbed out the emblem in preparation for my freelanced shortline rebadging.
Yes, wiring the trucks and replacing the wheels are upgrades that are worth the effort.
In addition to a bunch of small light bulbs and 200 passenger seats from Palace, the biggy was my new Zephyr Express:
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
SeeYou190Can you provide an Amazon link, or a description I could use to find it? -Kevin
Hi Kevin, the Amazon link is here: https://www.amazon.com/Scale-Simulation-Train-Carriage-Vehicle/dp/B08JK9ZZVT, but you can also find it on ebay for a little bit cheaper by typing in "1/87 simulation train" into the search bar.
I love hearing about and seeing all the goodies here.
I am no stranger to the feeling of anticipation and the excitement you guys felt when the doorbell rings and the dog starts barking or the cat runs to hide under the couch The UPS truck is running in the driveway and you know by now your package is here
Thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading about and looking at all the good stuff you guys have got recently
L. Zhou. The Bachmann stuff, yes Interesting reading your post about how you discovered the same Bachmann tooling on your cars. I found that exact same thing to my surprise with an Aurora Postage Stamp car and a Minitrix car with the exact same tooling.
It was my 9th birthday and my Grandfather gave me the Bachmann Spirit of 76 train set. I can't remember a better gift and I can still feel the excitement of that day to this day.
I still cherish that locamotive with sentimental value as it sits under the TV on the fireplace mantel.
It has been replaced with Brand New Old Stock that I found on eBay. A young 9 year old runs his trains as fast as they can go. Overtime I wrecked them all but now I'm replacing everything piece by piece.
Three left on the list. A silver Southern gondola, a brown Western Pacific boxcar and a Penn Salt three dome tanker.
These locomotives and rolling stock are approximately 50 years old. Primitive and toy like in appearance. But they hold so much sentimental value to me from that 9 year old kid. I still think they're Great!
Too many to list here, but some of the new items are Tangent models, mostly from the new run of 4750 covered hoppers.
L. ZhouI ordered a toy (or toylike) HO scale China Railway P70 boxcar off Amazon for about 14 USD, black version.
Can you provide an Amazon link, or a description I could use to find it?
Nothing for me. I bought 2 brass engines last year.
CN Charlie
Trainman440I couldnt ever afford one of those...
Opportunity knocks?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-PRR-BRASS-Class-FF-1-Electric-engine-BIG-LIZ/193878106145?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Tempting ?
Cheers, Ed
Im so jealous Ed! I saw that auction, glad it went to a fellow forum member. I couldnt ever afford one of those...
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
I've got a penchant for oddball electric locomotives. A while ago one of these "Big Liz" PRR ff1s popped up on eBay. I had my price "ceiling" in mind and it was passed by several hundred dollars.
PRR_FF1_3931 by Edmund, on Flickr
I sort of had regrets "should have just raised my top bid" but, oh well. Lo and behold, the seller relisted it and explained that both the winner and second bidder backed out and it was relisted. This is an omen, I thought.
PRR_FF1_3931a by Edmund, on Flickr
As it turns out I won the auction at a lower price than what I was in for on the first go-around
This is a smooth-running machine with a pair of Swiss-made motor gearboxes. Only 75 were made. It makes a nice addition to my PRR motor stable
PRR_under-wire_2k by Edmund, on Flickr
Any time now the new DD1 electric from GHB Models should be available. More juice-jacks for the roster
Thank you, Ed
Bought a few decoders and some other Digitrax stuff, think I bought just a bit too many UP5's.
My winter 'project' has been once a month or so to buy and install a sound decoder. I still have some very nice engines that I hardly ever use because they don't have sound yet - plus a couple of older engines that haven't been converted to DCC at all yet.
We'll see what happens if/when the next stimulus check comes. Since I'm doing OK (working from home) I'd like to use some of the money to help out local small businesses...like the local hobby shop.
For my b-day on the 23rd of Jan, I got three Athearn builkhead flatcars. They are perfect for my lumberyard and to create a lumberload.
I purchased the new Walthers HO blast furnace with stairways and ladders for my N scale steel mill. I am slowly and carefully in the process of painting each part as I assemble the kit.
I had a few things come in a Bachmann Hi Railer and some Atlas plate girders. Also my trolley poles and a Heinz Pickle car from eBay.
Joe Staten Island West
I have things on order, but not arrived yet. A CMX track cleaning car, which I believe is at the post office awaiting pickup, and a Genesis TB&H GP-9, and a Genesis Canadian Army motif SD-70ACu, both on pre-order.
The Backshops - A blog dedicated to modeling projects
I didn't need another engine. But, since I'm a firefighter AND part of the proceeds go to charity.....
ScaleTrains HO Scale ES44AH, with LokSound DCC/Sound. This is spot on and I'm impressed. It was scheduled to ship around thanksgiving, but didn't ship until after the new year.
Terry
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel