I'm waiting semi-patiently for a display case from Historic Rails to store my Richmond American.

Quote from: rogertra on February 25, 2008, 02:51:24 PM

Why this facination with sound?

Every sound equipped loco I've heard sounds like a tinney 1960s transistor radio.  No exceptions.

I'm 100% convinced that people who go gaga over sound equippped locos have convinced themselves that what they are hearing is far better sound than what is actually there.

So go ahead, spend the money and in a year or so you'll be running most of your sound equipped locos with the sound turned off.

And Bachmann, NO SOUND should always be an option for those of us with ears that don't lie.

When I run my trains, the sound is always perfect.

Because it's all in my imagination. 

Quote from: TonyD on February 21, 2008, 12:39:47 AM
I have no reference near me, but I THINK the exposed steps but a passageway with diaphrams and doors was called 'an open vestibule' between old open platforms and the closed vestibule, which is the newer system with dutch doors and diamond plate over the steps....which, at one time you could lean out of and take nice snapshots....ancient history.....

Thanks! Nice to know there's a name for that arrangement! Always good to learn something new about trains! 

Quote from: Yampa Bob on February 20, 2008, 06:03:26 PM
I have 10 locos, and I'm saying "whoa".  What is it about us modelers that we can't be satisfied with one loco and a few cars?  Must be an addiction, a train junkie.

You can say that twice and mean it. How else does someone end up with 15 computer paper boxes and then some of rolling stock in a one-bedroom condo? 

(Computer paper boxes make great storage for boxed rolling stock, BTW. They're not so big that they get real heavy when they're full.)

Quote from: Woody Elmore on February 20, 2008, 01:34:05 PM
Hmmm.... I guess  I should see if I can sell my CB radio, 35 mm camera and cassette tape deck on Ebay. I bet I can get a great bargain on an HD DVD player!

Anybody interested in an 8-track player?   

Quote from: Guilford Guy on February 19, 2008, 02:55:47 PM
B&M had a few until 1947. The coaches look to be ex-B&M cars, can anyone confirm this?

It sticks in my mind that I read somewhere years ago that the Wilmington & Western coaches were old Reading equipment, but I couldn't say that's true under oath.

From my one visit to the W&W, I also seem to remember that the coaches are from the period where the steps were still "outdoors," with just a narrow, covered passage between the cars. But sometimes memory plays tricks. ... 

Guilford, I guess you know a number of Boston & Maine open-platform cars have been at the Strasburg Railroad since the early 1960s?

Ooo-eee! Nice photos--especially that action shot!

I've got a color photo of #98 and a two-car train hanging above me at my desk here at work, even as I write this.

(The photo over my desk was the back cover of a tourist railroads directory years ago.)

If all of the above fail, try calling an exorcist. Sounds to me like you've got a poltergeist.

 

Bob, GN, Gene,

Thanks much for all the suggestions! They are very much appreciated.

Jeff

Quote from: geoff on February 10, 2008, 01:43:18 PM
I will say this, I will continue to by detail parts, couplers and other small items at my hobby shop and any large items when their price is "close" to my best price. I am sorry but that's the way it is!

You're fortunate to have access to places that still carry detail parts. Nobody I have access to seems to carry things like detail parts and decals anymore, and if I only need a bell for a new locomotive, or decals for one car, I'd feel foolish trying to order such a small purchase on line.

More than half the time, or so it seems, when I go into a hobby shop looking for a specific item, they don't have it.

Thanks again to RAM, Don, and Gene for their advice on coupler conversion. Tonight I performed my first coupler conversion, and it was successful.

I installed a pair of Kadee #5 couplers on an MDC/Roundhouse "Overton" combine. OK, it was a simple drop-in replacement, which may not sound like much, but it's a big deal to me!   

Quote from: TonyD on February 05, 2008, 10:53:56 PM
OK Johnson Bar, now you owe me. This is from Ferrell's Virginia & Truckee, out a few years ago. The Bowker and Inyo arrived in Reno on March 22, 1875. The bowker became the Virginia switcher, renamed "Mexico', until put in the dead line in early 90's, then sold in July 1896. the Hobart Lumber family donated her to the Cal div. RR & loco hist. soc. in 1937. Shorty after it was made up for the UP movie. Now, I have a question. If it was a switcher, it didn't need a cowcatcher, it needed a solid coupler pocket & footboards. It didn't need a pilot truck either, unless this was to act as a fire engine, and get down the line fast if called for. There is a fine large scale model of one in the Nevada state RR museum, made many years ago by a fellow who worked from memory. How acurate this is-matter of faith and trust huh? But, his is alot of red, incluing the wheels, which is strange pocher on down didn't do this, and the brass and wood varnished natural. I would think all the stacks and smokeboxes were black, as that was a hard spot to keep pretty, until the aluminized/ graphite paints. I presume it didn't change much since built to preservation, maybe someone else can chime in about this....and- how is the Reno? must be rebuilt by now- the fire was years ago.....as I reread what you qouted from me, agh, not 'dissappointed' in the red I suppose, but -- really stunned???   

I've got the Ferrell book in my library, too, just not with me here at work. (I was interested to read that when the Genoa was retired, she was still burning wood, as God and the Baldwin Locomotive Works intended.  ) I can't recall if it includes any "period" photos of the Bowker. I've always thought it was kind of funny to have a pilot truck and a pilot on an engine intended as a switcher, but I think the I.E. James had 'em, too, so management must have had a reason. Maybe you're right about taking them out on the line for fire fighting? A fancy finish seems a little odd for a yard engine, too, even in the 1870s, but who knows?

I have no clue here as to what's become of the Reno. From time to time I think of changing the name and number on my most recent Rivarossi Genoa and running her as the "as-built in 1872" Reno. I believe the engines were identical--must have been Baldwin catalogue models.

Quote from: TonyD on February 05, 2008, 12:54:43 PM
I was disapoointed to learn the Bowker really was fire engine red.

No foolin'? When it was running on the V&T?

Holy cowcatcher! You paid $20 for that AHM Barnum car?  I've got two of them myself, early and late, from two different passenger set purchases. Now, if you'd gotten a Lincoln car for $20, I would have said you got a real deal.

I've never had cause to be sorry about my Mantua Atlantic. I have the one painted and lettered as the P.R.R. 7002 because I used to ride behind that engine at Strasburg.

If anybody is interested in the camelback version of the Atlantic, lettered P&R, I have one I'd be interested in selling. Not a thing wrong with the engine, it was just a mistake of mine to purchase it because I have no real use for it.

I have two of the AHM/Rivarossi Bowkers. Both tend to run best on curved track.    On one engine I clipped the plastic bell off the sand dome. Then I removed the pump from on top of the boiler and replaced it with a brass bell. I painted the whole engine black; I left the domes brass-colored, and painted the headlight brass. I also removed the wood load from the tender, added coal boards, and gave it a coal load.

Quote from: Atlantic Central on February 03, 2008, 11:57:20 AM
Still buying only DC locos like about 75% of the market from what I can tell.

Sheldon

I'm with you, Sheldon.