Auel Trucks...

I am pretty careful when insulating.  I use collets, a lathe, and a crankshaft drill, and even then go to a press that keeps the wheels parallel.  I have never been able to press freight car wheels without an alignment jig.

Mark - just put some cardboard under the couplers to space them down.  Or buy the special Kadee pads.

@bob2 posted:

Mark - just put some cardboard under the couplers to space them down.  Or buy the special Kadee pads.

...of course; thanks!

Mark in Oregon

Thought I would add this too, an Auel coupler and draft gear off an old boxcar I have... Interesting setup to both automatically align the coupler and give some springiness to it.

@Johnbeere posted:

I thought so. Not great to just turn around and sell it all for profit.....

Want to control what happens to the stuff, make the highest bid. People flip stuff all the time. It is neither illegal or immoral. The items are not sacrosanct, they are just things.

Simon

Oh, I'm not upset over it or anything - by turning around and selling it it has given a wider audience a chance to buy it.

Just for laughs, I put those Auel trucks under the caboose I scratch-built some 25 years ago:

Mark in Oregon

Strummer, nice looking cabin, but what's that black thing between the rails??? :&lt

For all you Auel fans, Carl's daughter Jeannette Gatch, took over the business, located in North Huntingdon, PA

I recall seeing ads in the classifieds (Leasepool) of an issue of the late O Scale News, one from Ms Gatch: Some of the late Robert Parri's dies have surfaced, while in another ad someone asking: Anyone know the whereabouts of Robert Parri's dies?

I don't know if the two ever hooked up, but I got a good laugh from the coincidence.

Robert Parri, for those who don't know, hand made highly detailed freight cars. I think Parri may have worked for Carl Auel, but I can't say so with any certainty.

Simon

@Simon Winter posted:

Strummer, nice looking cabin, but what's that black thing between the rails??? :&lt

Simon

Thanks!

Actually, I'm using big test loop of Gargraves, with both a 2 DC section and a outside-center rail section, so I can alternate between the two.

I find that both 3 rail and scale wheels run just fine on this brand of track, so why not use 'em both...

Mark in Oregon

I've actually been considering getting some Gargraves track... The ability to run both two and three rail trains on the same track is pretty appealing, considering I collect both two and three rail O scale.

By the way, is that a Walthers caboose on the left edge of that photo? I have one that looks very similar - same color too.

Yes, it is a Walthers car.... good spotting!  Photo?

Mark in Oregon

Here it is, quite a nice old caboose. I purchased it on Ebay a while back. Is it about the same as yours?

@Johnbeere posted:

I've actually been considering getting some Gargraves track... The ability to run both two and three rail trains on the same track is pretty appealing, considering I collect both two and three rail O scale.

It's working out quite well for me; and changing between AC and DC only takes a minute. Plus, Gargraves seems much more affordable...

Mark in Oregon

Sounds nice, probably going to go ahead and do it. Another plus for me is that it's 'historically correct', they were making this track back in the 50s, so it's not out of place. Are there any differences from the track they make today and what they made back then?

By the way, is there a recommended transformer to use for 2 rail DC?

Track: can't say for sure, but I would doubt it. I like Gargraves; it's worked out really well for me.

I find the "power pack" that works the best for my All Nation Ten Wheeler is an old ( pre zip code) Model Rectifier unit. Simple, no pulse power and seems to handle the big open frame motor a little better than some of the newer packs I have...FWIW.

Mark in Oregon