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Hey guys. Final gutting of the train room is in full progress and moving all the 100's of boxes upstairs to make room for the new layout. I "found" these old ROW brass cabooses buried on a shelf and dug out some pics I had on the old layout. Just wanted to share them and hope they bring back some memories.

The cabooses are nice for their day. Fully brass with marker lights. I was able to collect (4) of them in different road numbers many years ago.

I also had (2) of their articulated steam engines at one time. My memory is bad, I think they were Challengers and had a lot of "issues".

Not sure when ROW went out of business but it has been a while.

Post your ROW equipment if you got some, I would like to see it.

Thanks.

Donald

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I remember Right of Way Industries back in the 1990's.  IIRC they were based in Ohio and run by a man by the name of Bill Benson.  At the time they sold lots of high end scale stuff, with the first series of scale passenger cars that I can recall a line of high end brass engines and a huge transformer who's power rating trumped them all. They also offered accessories, lighting and track signals.   Right of Way  apparently went out of business under some very unfavorable conditions. The product line never resurfaced and AFAIK it is dormant. Sunset Models sells some similar stuff but the rumor is that a company in South Korea may still have a the tooling.

Originally posted by Dennis Lagrua:

but the rumor is that a company in South Korea may still have a the tooling

What tooling [what little of it] would you have for Brass models?

Well former ROWI switch lanterns are being sold by Steve Brenneson of Ross Custom Switches. Rowi's hand made switches was for crap but Steve B. of Ross improved on the idea and made them into a solid product.

The Rowi transformers are worth getting if you are a conventional running RR. I have the 480 monster that I traded  a Lionel postwar Z to obtain and the rowi has worked flawlessly for me.

Their articulated engines are good for people with tight radius curved layouts[ 042-072]

 

We had a set of the beautiful D&H PA's. Great Alco sound set and powerful as all get out with twin Pittman motors. No flywheels but with judicious use of the throttle they were quite smooth.  Lots of scale detail including windshield wipers, hoses on the pilots and multiple lights - front number boards, side number boards, center of the windshield, rear of each unit.

I'll post some photos when I get home later today. The sides were a handsome 'stainless' finish which stood out against the 'silver' painted trucks, pilots, and fuel tanks. Real beauties!

I shouldn't say this, but ROW equipment - brass locos, plastic Weaver-like cars (no experience with track, signals, switches) - is under-appreciated. Unusual designs - RK-like design, but scale-sized , per the 2-8-8-0's and others; interesting; their PRR T-1 is visually compromised (and articulated!), but has a charm all its own - it'll practically turn in its own length, and runs well.

My ROW pieces appear well-made. I believe that Ajin built them (the brass); Ajin made/makes a lot of 2-rail items.

(FWIW: I have read here(?) that Ajin, as opposed to Lionel's "usual builder", whoever that is - also built the Lionel NYC Niagara. Um. Maybe a bad day? Ajin is Korean, though I don't know if the construction is done there.)

Yes they made some decent cars and other items but the majority of their steam engines were plain JUNK. No if ands or buts it was junk. The prices he charged was outrageous for the time. 

I saw one engine that had the motor mounted by one screw through the top of the boiler. 

Stay away from ROW products. 

Those of you that went to York back then in the day should remember the layout that Bill would put up in the building next to the grandstand.  One of the magazines had a picture of it years ago.  Don't know if it was OGR or someone else.  It was pretty big.  They also displayed their products there too.

Rick

If I remember correctly the Bill Benson of R.O.W. was also involved in brokering the deal to sell the D&H Alco PAs to Mexico and helped Ross Rowland do a quick rebuild of Reading T1 2101 in a Baltimore scrapyard to become the 1976 Freedom Train engine on the East coast. Later I believe Benson got in trouble with the govt. and was facing some jail time. Then again maybe it was a different Bill Benson.................  

I can't forget ROW. About a third of the switches on my layout are from them. I have to say they look and sound much better in the catalog. They weren't too bad when they were new.

Unlike Ross, they lacked the splines that hold the ties in place. So when they were taken up from their original installation, they became unstable, with shifting ties and moving rails, i.e. they fall apart because they were only held together with super glue and cheap spikes.

If you are in the market for used switches, caveat emptor! I have seen numerous occasions where people try to pass them off as Ross, some deliberately, some unwittingly. They should sell for a lot less than Ross. Ask to see the bottom!

ROW B&O Docksider. The plug in back of the cab connects to a sound unit in a boxcar. The switch in front of the stack is for SMOKE UNIT / OFF - ON.

These locomotives were also called "Little Joes." B&O POWER, by Lawrence W. Sagle and Al Staufer, provides specifics, as follows:  "Class C-16 (Tank), 0-4-0, 19" x 24" cyl., 48" drivers,120000 lbs. wt., 28800 lbs. t. p. [tractive power]. These were oil burners. Nos. 96 to 99 were built by Baldwin in 1912.

Nos. 96 and 99 were changed to coal-burning, saddle-tank locomotives in 1912, with coal boxes replacing the oil tanks at the back. Small, slope-back tenders were added in 1926, with new cabs, entirely changing the appearance of these two locomotives. They were reclassified as C-16a. The weight became 109100#, tractive power 27600# and the steam pressure 180#. They were used in Philadelphia until retired; No. 99 in 1944 and No. 96 in 1945.

Nos. 97 and 98 worked at Mt. Clare, Baltimore, by day, and along Pratt street at night. Their numbers were changed to 897 and 898 in 1950. They were scrapped in 1951.

These were the famous "Little Joes," the Dockside Switchers. They served the industrial sidings and the piers along Pratt street, succeeding old numbers 31 and 316. No. 31 was the first to be equipped with a large cab enclosing the entire locomotive. The horses had become accustomed to the small street cars of those days, and it is possible that the B. & O. successfully hood-winked the equines. A colorful feature of the Pratt street line was the horseman who always rode a half-block ahead of the locomotive, blowing a horn to warn all that he iron horse was approaching. He also acted as a traffic policeman at street corners. Having held up the cross traffic until the locomotive had passed, he would gallop ahead to the next corner, all the while blowing loudly. The urchins of Southwest Baltimore would often plague him by calling him "Paul Revere." A city ordinance compelled the B. & O. to provide this outrider for the locomotives on city streets, and it was not until World War I that the practice was discontinued. Trucks and automobiles do not frighten as easily as horses.

The C-16 locomotives were very modern, with Walschaert valve gears, piston valves, and Ragonnet power reverses. They have been replaced by two small 400 h.p., steeple-cab, G. E. diesel locomotives. (p. 91)ROWB&ODocksider 001ROWB&ODocksider 002ROWB&ODocksider 003ROWB&ODocksider 004ROWB&ODocksider 005ROWB&ODocksider 006ROWB&ODocksider 007ROWB&ODocksider 008

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prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Elliot is right on da money, honey when it comes to describing the characteristics of rowi switches. Ross and even Curtis switches are much better built than rowi switches.

If I remember correctly, I spoke directly with Bill when I bought all those (about 100). I also bought a number of Curtis. There was the issue of delivery time, which was definitely in Bill's favor. He also had Curtis beat on price. But as I said before quality was "no contest".

The engines and rolling stock seem much better, but I have no real experience with them.

I live near Akron where Bill Benson was based out of. Purchased a few of his steamers and also his scale PA diesel sets. They were top quality at the time and one of the first digital sound systems although crude by today's standards. Still have one of the ROW power transformers and also the large ROW accessory transformer, both like new. He was certainly ahead of his time and his demise was a sad story.

Modelrailroader posted:

I live near Akron where Bill Benson was based out of. Purchased a few of his steamers and also his scale PA diesel sets. They were top quality at the time and one of the first digital sound systems although crude by today's standards. Still have one of the ROW power transformers and also the large ROW accessory transformer, both like new. He was certainly ahead of his time and his demise was a sad story.

I wad going to say Akron, Ohio. Benson was a bright star in the NE Ohio market but flamed out quickly. Old timers still remember ROWI when they get together at train meets, I imagine. NE Ohio was and is a great place for O gaugers. I miss that living out here on the west coast now.

I remember when Tom McComas and his crew did an interview with Bill Benson on ROW in the summer of '91 for their Toy Train Revue video magazine.

They did have some very impressive models, especially for the time, like the UP 2-8-8-2 and the GN 2-8-8-0.

One thing I really remember is ROW boasting that they could run their trains for over 2 WEEKS CONTINUOUSLY.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

I remember the "arc welder" super transformer!

Our club had one of their 400 watt transformers. Probably the ultimate device for the conventional operator but less than ideal in the command environment. With a maximum output of over 26 volts you have to be careful where you set the knobs and with an 8 amp limit it had less capacity than a modern ZW or Z4000. 

Imagine running a Post War Scout though. Probably would exceed the speed of sound!

Pete

Last edited by Norton

Forgot to mention along with the double stacks I have a number of his signals. I also remember his layout under the York grandstand. When I was living in western New York I even made a trip to Akron for one of his open houses there. My buddie that went with me bought a few of his switches and it seemed that a short while after we were back home they were starting to curl up. Even still I think he was one  who started the trend toward more scale engines. Just my thought.........................Paul

Have one of their three way switches, really didn't use it much [old lay-out too small-used it more for looks], have one or two of their Caboose Lite kits [beat Lionel over size lights]. I also bought one of their line pole kits and used it as a model to make my own.

I remember Bill Benson most for being a member of the group (with  Dick Kughn) that restored the Reading T1 2102 that the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern is again restoring. I remember going out to the horseshoe curve to see that engine going around the curve on a fan trip and back. After the BM&R owned it, rode behind it once, was a bad ride thanks to Conrail.

In the first decade or so LOTS members were the biggest from PA and OH. Started in Ohio. Talked to Bill once, seemed like a nice chap, ROWI went out of business like over nite. Never did get the story on their demise.

Last edited by redball342

I remember Bill Benson most for being a member of the group (with  Dick Kughn) that restored the Reading T1 2102 that the Blue Mountain and Reading is again restoring.

Actually, that was 2100. Here is a link to her current restoration

The Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern is restoring 2102. Here is a link

Dick Kughn and Mike Wolf offered an "O" Gauge model of 2100 (6-18006) in 1989. That was Lionel's largest steam locomotive to date. LionelRdgT-1ManualLionelRdgT-1Manual2LionelRdgT-1Manual3LionelRdgT-1Manual4Here are photos of her, custom painted and detailed as 2124 by Reading Steam Guru and Wowak. Jeffrey Steinbacher of J.D.S. Limited Productions installed a fan-driven smoke unit and (as long as he was in there) a LED headlight.

WowakT-1WowakT-1 001WowakT-1 003

 

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Readingfan: I don't want to start a fight but my understanding is that the group had at least two T1's. There are four still around 2100 being restored in OH, 2101 [Freedom train Engine] at the B&O museum in Baltimore, 2102 owned by Reading Blue Mountain and Northern, Port Clinton, Pa. being restored (Google their website), and 2124 on display at Steamtown, Scranton, Pa.

Don't know if Kughn was a member of the Ross Rowland crew that restored 2101 for the freedom train as mentioned above. Ross I believe was an adviser to the group that restored 2100 and 2102(?).

By the way, just read your bio, I also live in a Sears prefab.

Last edited by redball342
3rail 2 posted:
c.sam posted:

Here are the pics of the D&H PAs

DSC08259

Hey Sam.....I remember those PA's. Thanks for the picture. I always thought they were pretty nice.

But back in the day (25 years ago) didn't they cost over $1000 for an ABA set?

I always wanted a set of the UP's back then.

Donald

 

 

Yes Donald, they were well over $1000 when released - $1399 if memory serves me correctly! I traded some new items from our store inventory for these back then.

Please remember that they are BRASS models (by Ajin of Korea) and we're talking three units. Actually somewhat of a bargain when you think about it.

I had forgotten about the Double Stacks; a friend donated 5 or 6 of them to our club. They are still nice looking and sit real low which causes them to 'high-center' on uneven track. If I can locate a photo I'll post it later.

Last edited by c.sam
Patrick1544 posted:

I liked their products I have a few of their B&O type LED color position signals.  Work really nice and have a timing circuit built in.  

I am happy to hear that you and some others like the signals.  I use them too but I'm biased. 

Somehow I felt that it was time for a simple 3 color signal, hence the timer. 

The digital sounds and the transformer were more of a challenge but it was always a great time going out to record the real thing. 

Lou N

prrhorseshoecurve posted:
Originally posted by Dennis Lagrua:

but the rumor is that a company in South Korea may still have a the tooling

What tooling [what little of it] would you have for Brass models?

Well former ROWI switch lanterns are being sold by Steve Brenneson of Ross Custom Switches. Rowi's hand made switches was for crap but Steve B. of Ross improved on the idea and made them into a solid product.

The Rowi transformers are worth getting if you are a conventional running RR. I have the 480 monster that I traded  a Lionel postwar Z to obtain and the rowi has worked flawlessly for me.

Their articulated engines are good for people with tight radius curved layouts[ 042-072]

 

I have seen others on the forum make this same mistake. Brass models are almost entirely handcrafted. There is no "tooling," in the usual production sense. Once the manufacturer quits making them, there is very little of anything to put in storage, aside from a few cast parts. That's why brass locomotives are difficult to repair.

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