First locomotive

[michaelstevens]

Thanks "Sask", especially for the photos.
That is indeed a sad approximation of a Western Region Hymek -- the last example of the Western's Diesel-hydraulic independent identity.
Anybody know where you can get a good HO model of a Hymek ?
Chances should be good -- there's at least one operable (full size) copy in preservation.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

The first I remember was a battery operated double-cab European prototype set called the "red comet" I got when I was 6 or 7. Dont remember much except that it didnt work!

When I was 10 or 11, I got a Marx trainset that was pretty good for its time. Kind of a poor mans Lionel set. I remember playing with it like Gomez Addams played with his trains on the Addams Family, its amazing they survived as long as they did!

In case you're interested I can tell you a bit about that first set of yours. It was a Japanese-made copy of a Tri-ang Big Big train. Tri-ang (known for making OO Briti***rains) made a line of O gauge plastic battery powered trains geared toward younger children called Big Big trains from 1965-1972. Later a Russian company called Novo made these trains from '75-80. Today these are collectors items and are worth big bucks. That Japanese set is quite rare. I once saw a boxed set on ebay a couple years ago and it sold for almost $200. Having heard that I bet you wish you still had it. Incidentally, the engine is a model of a Hymek diesel locomotive. There's some pictures of the set at www.tri-ang.co.uk/BigBig/Red%20Rocket.htm .

[Anonymous]

Mine was a Tyco Penn Central GP20. Or was it an AHM delux dockside 0-4-0? AHM S2? The first really good one was an Atlas Chessie System SD35. Still runs good after 23 years.

[Anonymous]

mine was an Athearn BNSF GP38-2 sold it last year.

[vsmith]

The first I remember was a battery operated double-cab European prototype set called the "red comet" I got when I was 6 or 7. Dont remember much except that it didnt work!

When I was 10 or 11, I got a Marx trainset that was pretty good for its time. Kind of a poor mans Lionel set. I remember playing with it like Gomez Addams played with his trains on the Addams Family, its amazing they survived as long as they did!

[Anonymous]

My first locomotive is a bachmann CN GP40. When it's front truck got broken, I used a CP F7.

QUOTE: The rubber on the wheels has worn off now, but other than that it still runs pretty good.

You want to know something? I found that the Elastics used for Ortidontic works fits the wheels perfectly. Because I had a bag left over from my braces, I replaced all the rubber rings.

[Anonymous]

My first locomotive was a LifeLike CP Rail F40PH. The rubber on the wheels has worn off now, but other than that it still runs pretty good.

~ðrågóñsläµér[:)]

[michaelstevens]

Me too Brit, I mean bad running with a Hornby tank engine.
My 0-6-0 Jinty was so frustrating that I finally decided to permanently attach it to a brake/2nd with pickups (on the wheels) wired thru to the loco.
Now its the ever faithful branchline shuttle.

[Anonymous]

I still have my first electric loco - a Hornby 0-4-0 saddle tank. I think it's a bit like the proverbial "Grandfather's axe" that's had three new heads and four new handles, but is still the same axe. My loco still has the original motor and coupling rods, but the chassis block is new as is the bodyshell and a load of other small parts. I found a hobby store advertising spare bodyshells of the correct type and colour for the loco which inspired me to rebuild it. Unfortunately, it doesn't run too well - I think the quartering of the wheels may be slightly out. Interestingly, Hornby still make this loco today, in different paint schemes and with blackened wheels and coupling rods but the same shell, chassis, etc.

[dm9538]

My first locomotive was a Tyco Bicentennial loco motive its long gone after being painted in many experimental home road paint schemes but I learned alot. I still have my second (my first "real" locomotive ) an Atlas GP-38 it's 20+ years old and still runs like nobody's business

[ddechamp71]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

What was your first locomotive?

Mine was a Micro-Trains Santa Fe F7A.

[Nieuweboer]

My first (not born, that came later) was a Rivarossi IHB 0-8-0 with the motor in the tender. It didn't run badly but I just wasn't satisfied so I tried to remedie its running quality by trying to put a motor in the locomotive itself. Remember this was before the time when compact can motors became available and there just wasn't enough room in the boiler to accomodate a motor. Back to the tender it went and in the end it landed in the scrapbox where it still rests(peacefully I hope).

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

I wish I new? Lionel, Engine and tender were Blue and it came in a set 1974-1976 maybe

Any help from others would be appreciated carpenter Matt

Matt,
The locomotive you had was a Lionel MPC 8303 2-4-2 which was made from 1973-74. This engine was supposed to be based on the Jersey Central's Blue Comet, but the shade of blue was a bit too light. I'm interested in postwar Lionel myself, but I've always like the colour of this engine and am thinkng of perhaps getting one myself. You can see some pictures of it at www.thortrains.net/yule/ytownbr1.html

[Anonymous]

My first ever train set was a cheap little approximately TT gauge set that ran on one AA battery (i got two of these sets at the same time). My first electric train was a Playmobil G scale set with a red diesel switcher that I got when I was about 4 years old. My first HO train, like oprr, was a Bachmann Santa Fe Warbonnet F9 that came in a circle set I got on a summer trip to Minot, ND when I was about 5 or 6. That same year for Christmas I got another Bachmann circle set with a CP F9. My HO collection kept growing and my next engine, which I got for my next birthday, was a Model Power CP 0-4-0 (I had always really wanted a steam engine). I still have all of these trains today in excellent running condition (even those first battery powered sets) and my collection has grown considerably since then.

[Anonymous]

My 1st engine was a Lionel HO "Texas Special", and I still have it! [:D] Yes, it still runs, when I replace the rubber bands. (they last about a month) Crude by todays standard, but considering it's 39 years old, I guess it's not that bad. It served me well for many years. When I got my 1st Athearn geared loco seveal years later, I thought I had a Cadillac![:p] Now that engine is a "pig" compared to my Kato and Stewart pieces.
Gosh, things have changed in the last 39 years!!!!

[Anonymous]

Whats with everyone first engines getting stolen or broken. I still mine it is a santa fe F7 made by bachman. i am planing on puting the shell on a athearn body or a kato body.

[rf16a]

My first locomotive was an HO scale AHM 0-8-0, IHB #102, that came with a train set that I got for Christmas when I was about 3 or 4 years old.

I still have that engine. It is a little beat up but it still runs.

[Anonymous]

Athearn SD45 in CB&Q Chinese Red. December 1981.

[Anonymous]

An Athearn Milwaukie Road U 30 C, I was 14 and I got it at George's Trains. Now doesn' that bring back memories

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by themanfrompost


1st N scale was a concor f unit?? Great northern

I've got one of those - was probably my first decent US N-scale loco. Bought it secondhand for £16 and was very pleased to discover that it had a Fleischmann chassis, so it runs superbly so long as you remember to put a drop of oil on the motor bearings occasionally. The shell looks a bit odd - I suspect it's too wide and the nose looks a bit squashed as a result. Apart from that, it's a superb little loco. Now I just have to find another one to run with it! (Did concor make a B-unit as well?).

[Anonymous]

Hey leighant-

I've got one of those N-scale Arnold Rapido FA's- but mine is UP w/the wings on the nose. I got it about 28+ years ago with an entire set-styrofoam layout w/track, transformer, engine and freight cars. Over the years, things wore out, and I switched to HO scale. And, to top things off, almost everything else was stolen about 5 years ago, but I still have the FA-and it still runs like brand new.[8D]

My first HO scale model? Athearn SW1200-originally SP, which I stripped and repainted WC-one of many I did before everything was stolen(except a D+RG GP40-2 and a half dozen Miller Beer reefers).[8D]

[sparkingbolt]

Tyco F7 train set junk, replaced by equally junk Tyco Chessie System GE something. bought a few other junkers who's life spans were measured in hours till I discovered my first "real" model railroad loco, Athearn GP35. That was 1976. I'd still have it , 'cept I lost it in a fire in '97.

[AntonioFP45]

1st HO. My dad, bless his heart, bought me a Lionel O scale 0-4-0 (or 0-6-0) steamer freight train set train set in 1966. It was a thrill for me to see the headlght come on, see the smoke and smell the ozone and oil. The model railroading seed was permantly planted that day. Across the street from our Bruckner Blvd. 3rd floor apartment in New York City was a deep, wide ditch that housed the 4 track line of the Pennsy! From the images that I remember, lotsa GG1s and New New Haven electrics cruised by quietly. Was a thrill for a 3 year old!

[mustanggt]

My first loco was an athearn GP38. I got it 7 years ago. too bad it got stolen

[Anonymous]

An n scale Arnold S-2 in the B&O paint scheme--currently being repainted.

[Hawks05]

Athearn GP50 Burlington Northern (Orange and black striped front)

[Anonymous]

My first was an American Flyer Pennsy K-4 Pacific. 1st HO was a Varney 0-4-0 "Little Joe" Docksider. I actually got two HO locos at the same time, the Docksider and a Tyco 0-4-0 Booster.

[Anonymous]

1st would have been something by hornby
1st N scale was a concor f unit?? Great northern
This time around, in HO, with a plan would be a proto 2000 GP (something) in burlington northern

[Anonymous]

I wish I new? Lionel, Engine and tender were Blue and it came in a set 1974-1976 maybe

Any help from others would be appreciated carpenter Matt

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lupo

so my second "first locomotive" was a Rivarossi Big Boy, a 4884!

That must've been awesome.