Barry B, Dave H, Ted H - thanks!

Walt,

'Enquiring' minds must know - what did you get for the second tinplate set?

Lacking information, Walt....

All three are good guys, to be sure, but you really should likely not leave folks here wondering.  Obviously something that took place at York, but you might just a well not post anything (on a public forum) if you're really not willing to share a bit more in the way of details.  That's especially true if they did something good for you, 'cause there's far too little "good stuff" posted most of the time.

Allan: sorry, but I really couldn't find the right words without maybe saying something that would make Barry embarrassed or angry with me.  If you feel that I should then I will.

I bought the new PS3 tin-plate 'O' Baby Blue Comet set.  Took track and my DCS system to York to be able to test it at the hotel.  When I tested it on the track I could not add the engine to the remote.  Tried for an hour - all kinds of things.

Friday, right away, went to use the test track in the orange hall that has DCS hooked up and couldn't add it there either.  I was ready to return it to Side-Track hobbies as bad.  But I thought if I could bump into Barry and/or Dave first then maybe they could help me out, even if meant proving there was a problem with the engine.

It was 9:30 AM and Barry was setting up.  Asked him for help and to cut it short, he took the time to have me set up my system with track and everything right there on the spot and try to add the engine.  Couldn't do it for a while.  He asked Dave H. if this engine had a DCS/DCC or 2-rail/3-rail switch on it (I had the bottom still covered with those foam pieces that they pack it with so the bottom wasn't visible).  Dave said he thought so.  So we took the foam off and Barry flicked the switch from DCC to DCS (apparently MTH thinks DCC should be the default???).

Too 3 or 4 more tries to get the engine added.

OK, now what there would make him mad at me???  Nothing, except I improperly gave someone else credit for an OGR forum thread and Barry mentioned it was him and once again he didn't get the credit.  He said it not meanly and for anyone that knows Barry he isn't a credit-hog, so he was just semi joking with me.  More importantly, Barry and I have had a long-standing DCS mentor/student relationship going back to 2002 when he first helped me.  It's kind of a standing joke now between him and me about all of my travails and him coming to rescue.  I don't feel comfortable saying the above because I didn't want anyone to think that Barry got offended by me not giving him proper credit - he didn't in any way.

So I thought a nice PUBLIC Thank You would say to Barry "see, I do appreciate and acknowledge your help".

Swanko: couldn't find much at York in terms of tin-plate.  Side-track hobbies was the only place that had command sets, and not much at that in 'O'.  Wanted an electric but also liked the colorful NEW Christmas set.  Al called his store and they said they would have it in house in 2 or 3 weeks.  So I ordered it from them after Al PROMISED I would have it by Thanksgiving at the very latest.

= walt

So, Walt, did the Blue Comet eventually get added to the remote properly after "3 or 4 more tries"?  Ya kind of leave us hanging there.

I have a good number of MTH/LCT O gauge tinplate engines and only had a problem with one that required service.

I still think you should consider one of the 254E electrics.  Nice little engines that will handle O27 just fine and look good doing so.

Allan, no wonder you're such a terrific editor for all of these years!  You catch EVERYTHING!

Yes, he finally got it to add.  After he flicked the DCS/DCC switch and still had an issue adding it, he suspected my signal wasn't very strong at the moment.

It's going to take all of my will power to NOT buy a 3rd engine because those electrics look better and better.  Al just didn't have one in command.

- walt

Al of Sidetrack is a great guy.  I order my MTH stuff from him.

Quickest way to avoid the York buying temptations is to stay home.

You MUST get a third engine for your roster, Walt, because it's bad luck to have only two (I just made that up, of course).    

Walt,

I'm happy that I could help!

Now, if only someone would post a "thank you" for those darned seminars! 

THANKS for those great seminars, Barry!  I wasn't there, of course, but I'm confident they were first-rate presentations because I know how you put your heart and soul into educating others in ways they can make full and better use of their DCS system and equipment.

Hope I'm not too far off thread....

Walt,

Great to meet you and discuss our common lack of tinplate expertise as we waited for the opening at York!

I DID get the #299 outfit (with the 254 electric), that Allan has recommended, from Al at Sidetrack, and was really impressed when his son offered to carry the box to the car for me!  I took him up on the offer and asked Al if I could borrow him for the rest of the day.

Walt finished buying before I did because I got hung up on looking at tinplate buildings.  Maybe it's just me but the O gauge tinplate buildings look too small for O and the Std gauge buildings look too big!  Seems like the O gauge stuff should be about halfway between current O gauge and Standard gauge buildings, like 50% bigger. Hmmm, another dilemma.

And Walt, I agree with Allan, a third engine would allow you to have one for Christmas, AND an electric for "backup".  You always need a backup, you know!

Allan, you were certainly missed at this York.  As my wife and I ate lunch at Isaacs on Wednesday, I saw Jim (B) and Al (A) wandering aimlessly in the restaurant.  I told them to look on the other side of the restaurant for Marty and a bunch of the OGR gang.  Wouldn't have happened if you were there!

Ed

Extra points for Sidetrack:  My wife, who enjoys but knows very little about trains, had an lively conversation with Libby and her daughter-in-law while I studied every tinplate item in the booth!

Allan,

Aw, shucks - thanks!

Ed:  

Thanks for your comments.  You're right about those tinplate buildings.  I realize they are faithful repros of items from an earlier era, but finding things that are the right size for us O gauge folks, in particular, is a bit of a problem.  The Std. Gauge stuff is too darn big (although I still have some structures in that gauge) and much of the O gauge stuff--those houses, in particular--are way too small.  It does take a good bit of shopping around, and preferably seeing the item in person, to select things that are close to the size we expect them to be.

Walt should have gone for one of those 299 Outfits, as I had advised him earlier.  I hope you enjoy the one you bought.  I believe they're still available, so Walt shouldn't procrastinate for too long before picking one up.

I bought all three of my repro Ives 1694 Electrics from the fine folks at Sidetrack (two of them at York meets and one via mail order) and those beauties rank among my favorites)

Barry:

My pleasure, pal!  I know you take some hits for your enthusiasm on some other forums, but your knowledge and willingness to help has been of great assistance to folks here and throughout the world of DCS.  I've never had any significant problems with DCS (I use it all the time), but I have your book on standby on a shelf right under my Z-4000 and TIU for that eventuality.

Allan,

Now I'm jealous ! I have been looking for a repro Ives 1694 Electric for a while now.  Just last week I called the three places that the MTH product locator said had them.  All were not there.

I have a set of blue 1695 cars that would be a perfect match for the blue 1694 Ives repro (10-3023-1, in case you ever come across one)...especially interested because I was born in Bridgeport, CT where the Ives factory was, and now live just a town away.

Before York, Sidetrack had (3) 299 outfits in stock (minus at least one - mine), and Just Trains had some too (but not at York).  Walt still has some time to come around...

Ed

No need to be jealous, Ed.  One of those 1694s will eventually turn up for you.  I got all three of mine from Sidetrack.  I have the red version, the blue version, and the cream version with maroon roof.