Skip to main content

I purchased a very reasonably priced repainted circus train consisting of the #353 and tender, 2 flats (without loads), and the coach. It is actually a very good looking repaint, smooth running engine, and the cars are in great physical condition. The loads that are available for purchase (IMHO) seem to be at unreasonably high prices, including at the "attic" website. I realize they are intended to look whimsical but can't understand why even the repro's are $65 plus? I guess it must be one of those supply and demand/only store in town things. My question is how do the pins in the wooden block hold the loads in place? Is magnetism involved or do they actually "pin" the loads in place? The "attic" repro prices are more reasonable than what the original pieces are demanding, so I will probably bite the bullet. When smitten with the toy train hobby, my logic seems to have "left the building" 

Rich 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

The pins go through the wooden piece and into the holes in the flat cat.  The large head of the pin stays above the wooden piece and hold the load in place.

I am told that the repo loads have been made by the same company who makes a new batch when all the parts guys together decide that they need them.  I was told by Doug Peck that no more batches would be made because the price was going to be too high and the demand is falling off.  So you may want to consider purchasing before they are gone.

Hi Guys,

    When the first loads for the Circus Set came out I paid $50.00/three piece set. Now I have heard the sets have risen in price. Best to git them now before the price is hiked up again.

    The set is held on by the axles on the center cage is trapped between the pegs in the wooden planks. Then the remaining two hitch to this one to stop them from moving forward or back to roll off the flat car. Those pegs are spaced lust far enough apart to stop the center cage from moving but didn't bend the axles.

    At the time I bought mine I purchased them from Bill Parr's Hobby Supplies. You might want to check with him he might still have a couple of sets. When I bought My Circus Set I was able to get it from a friend of mine and it was in the box and some of the boxes inside there but not in any condition and it was missing the cutouts. I have since bought a retro set and of boxes and the cutouts to complete my set. The Engine and Tender plus the flat cars with loads and the New Haven Passenger car were in Mint condition and very little play where.

    I enjoy running my Circus Set around my little layout I used to have but unfortunately today it is in the box like most of my trains.

    When you have yours complete you will probably enjoy it as I do it is one of my most favorite pieces in my collection and roster. The Circus Set runs so smoothly and quiet that I ended up visioning it traveling through the night with all the animals and Circus people on board.

Happy Railroading

Don

    

Hi Don, thanks for explaining how the pins function with regards to holding the loads to the cars. I've tried setting diecast vehicles on the flats but only in a few loops they were teetering to the edge ready to fall overboard. I only run my modest collection of AF around the tree at Christmas as AF was my first Christmas train as a child. There is a whimsical and colorful aspect to the loads, and I did go ahead with ordering from Diane's attic. Sadly, by the time they arrive the tree and layout will be down, so something to look forward to next year! Thanks for sharing your stories on your set, and the imagery of the Circus Train running silently through the night for its next venue!

Rich 

Smoke Stack Lightnin posted:

Hi Don, thanks for explaining how the pins function with regards to holding the loads to the cars. I've tried setting diecast vehicles on the flats but only in a few loops they were teetering to the edge ready to fall overboard. I only run my modest collection of AF around the tree at Christmas as AF was my first Christmas train as a child. There is a whimsical and colorful aspect to the loads, and I did go ahead with ordering from Diane's attic. Sadly, by the time they arrive the tree and layout will be down, so something to look forward to next year! Thanks for sharing your stories on your set, and the imagery of the Circus Train running silently through the night for its next venue!

Rich 

Hi Smoke Stack Lightnin,

    The pleasure was all mine, Thank You. My Wife heard me talk about the set my friend had and she went to him and made the deal so she could wrap it and give i to me for Christmas. You can imagine how surprised I was and tears came to my eyes when I opened the package. That was about a year before I joined the Train Collectors Association.

    I had accumulated four AF sets before and the Circus Set made five. Those were a1948 Black Diamond Freight, a 1952 Silver streak Passenger set, 1954 Rocket Passenger Set, a 1956 Trailblazer Freight set and then the 1950 Circus Set. 

    The Black Diamond came when I was only two years old. at the time they all ran and are still running today. Thank you for your response I hope that you can have your Circus Set up and running next Christmas. Thank you also for letting me rant on about my experiences and trains.

Happy Railroading

Don

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×