Buy anything cool lately?

Joe_pgh posted:

I added some Woodland Scenics hobo figures to one of my boxcars.  Fairly inexpensive and easy to do, and looks pretty cool...

 

Joe, I knew you were from Pittsburgh by the last half of your Forum name.  (For the uninitiated, PGH is THE abbreviation for Pittsburgh)  I need to get some hobos too!!!  Boy my Grandmother used to tell the stories about cooking for hobos that rode the B&O up at Bakerstown Station.  I looked at your profile, and see you just joined the Forum recently, and got back into trains rather recently as well!  Welcome to the Forum!!  This is THE best place to be in my opinion!  

Mark Boyce posted:

Joe_pgh posted:

I added some Woodland Scenics hobo figures to one of my boxcars.  Fairly inexpensive and easy to do, and looks pretty cool...

 

Joe, I knew you were from Pittsburgh by the last half of your Forum name.  (For the uninitiated, PGH is THE abbreviation for Pittsburgh)  I need to get some hobos too!!!  Boy my Grandmother used to tell the stories about cooking for hobos that rode the B&O up at Bakerstown Station.  I looked at your profile, and see you just joined the Forum recently, and got back into trains rather recently as well!  Welcome to the Forum!!  This is THE best place to be in my opinion!  

Thanks Mark.  Yes, I just got back into the hobby recently, and have found lots of really good information searching this forum over the past year or so.

I see you are from Butler PA not too far from Pittsburgh.  There seems to be a good number of Pittsburgh area members on this forum.

Joe,

You are right, there are a lot of Pittsburgh area folks here!  They know the right place to be!!

Picked up a couple more pieces last night. Now just need to wait for delivery.

A REA Box car is heading my way too.

Bob

This arrived Saturday and I don't even remember ordering it...

Mill City posted:

This arrived Saturday and I don't even remember ordering it...

Isn't it nice when you get a gift from someone you don't know.....LOL

Some new things are coming in the mail !   The K-Line box cab has been received, tested and a big smile is on my face.  The Nuclear Reactor is another story however, but one which ended in a very fair settlement between myself and the seller.  Basically, the motor spins but the arm does not move.  I've had it apart and cannot seem to figure out why, as the gears all seem fine and mesh properly.  There is a tiny PCB in the motor compartment.  I cut the two wires coming from the binding posts that power the motor and tested them with AC & DC power.  The motor seems to spin on DC, so I imagine the PCB converts the AC transformer power to DC.  

Anyway, I may just try and experiment with this accessory as it wound up costing me next to nothing.  

Cork roadbed came yesterday afternoon and this morning my cattails, glue and my gar graves items........Pic....Paul

Paul, I see another Cavaliers game in your near future!!

Dan Padova posted:

Mill City posted:

This arrived Saturday and I don't even remember ordering it...

 

Isn't it nice when you get a gift from someone you don't know.....LOL

LOL, Dan. I'm fairly certain that next months credit card statement shall reveal that this little surprise was indeed not a gift.

Was out looking for some lemax ground spotlights at the big box craft centers and came up empty.  What I did notice was the 80 percent off holiday stuff.  loaded up on extension cords, miniature white led lights, trees, and alot of other misc stuff.  Spent all of 20 dollars and came home with lots of good stuff.  Before making it home tried the little local garden center that sometimes has lemax stuff. Shut out again but did come across these metal trailers that are exact same size as lionel and mth ones.  Usually 19 dollars but 75 off so about 4.50 each.  Bought their last 3.

Nice finds Bryan. What scale is the trailer. .... Paul

paul 2 posted:

Nice finds Bryan. What scale is the trailer. .... Paul

No markings and no company name but as you can see looks perfect next to o scale person.

I agree, it looks great Bryan!

The trailer is awesome!   Excellent find!  

Jim 

Dan Padova posted:

................ The Nuclear Reactor is another story however, but one which ended in a very fair settlement between myself and the seller.  Basically, the motor spins but the arm does not move.  I've had it apart and cannot seem to figure out why, as the gears all seem fine and mesh properly.  There is a tiny PCB in the motor compartment.  I cut the two wires coming from the binding posts that power the motor and tested them with AC & DC power.  The motor seems to spin on DC, so I imagine the PCB converts the AC transformer power to DC.  

Anyway, I may just try and experiment with this accessory as it wound up costing me next to nothing.  

Did that big bag of coal actually come with the reactor?  Seller made a goof if so.  The small metal balls and glow in the dark pellets are correct here .  I don't think the reactor could process the stuff in that bag.

I assume re: the arm not moving, you have the clutch (lever on the "roof") in the right position? One way is for the crank to manually move the arm , the other way engages the motor to do so.  I assume since you said you've had it apart this was investigated, in which case I probably can't further help. 

I will say I damaged one of these a long time ago when I forced that clutch, though, so it does need care.  I think I screwed up a gear that is not available separately unless you buy the big motor assembly from Lionel (~ $70 IIRC).  I bought a less than new (but really nice) reactor at a York meet for only a little more than that one year.  I later bought the motor assembly during one of the Lionel 1/2 off parts sales in November.

-Dave

Sure did, Springfield 1911

Dan Padova posted:

Some new things are coming in the mail !   The Nuclear Reactor is another story however, but one which ended in a very fair settlement between myself and the seller.  Basically, the motor spins but the arm does not move.  I've had it apart and cannot seem to figure out why, as the gears all seem fine and mesh properly.  There is a tiny PCB in the motor compartment.  I cut the two wires coming from the binding posts that power the motor and tested them with AC & DC power.  The motor seems to spin on DC, so I imagine the PCB converts the AC transformer power to DC.  

It has been at least 10-15 years since Lionel did the "nuclear reactor."  I wonder why they haven't re-done it by now?

Matt Makens posted:

Sure did, Springfield 1911

 

 

 

 

Nice piece, Matt. Congrats...

Thanks Jon, waited a very long time for that.

I picked up a Lionel hand car today at the Greenbergs show in Oaks, Pa for $20.00, new in the box.  This is the one from the late '80s I believe.  The box shows $29.00 but the guy had two of them marked down to $20.00 each.  

RadioRon posted:

It has been at least 10-15 years since Lionel did the "nuclear reactor."  I wonder why they haven't re-done it by now?

2010 for the one they did later with the red dome instead of chrome: link. (and other cosmetic differences - to the best of my knowledge, they are identical functionally)

-Dave

A few trains showed up this weekend,  First the Marklin R890 set showed up.  It's not bad, one loose wheel, no key and pretty scratched up roofs on the cars.

Also got another 265E, this time a 1935  Black one. The shell is great, the cab is crumbling, the tender has some rust and I should have gotten he Blue and Silver 600/601/601 Pullmans that went with it but I pondered too long as usual. That said, with a nice Black 261t this will be my start to a Silver streak set, just need the hard part, Chrome 619 and 618. I'll probably borrow some of Steamer Dave's stash of JB Weld to rebuild the cab.  I figure there is enough left to give a repair a shot.

AmeenTrainGuy posted:

Question about the handcar, is there a way to give it a better electrical connection? Also is that prototypical? If so what roads had that type of handcar?

I doubt a better electrical connection is possible.  It does have a copper slider that contacts the center rail in two places.  I believe all four wheels pick up current from the outside rails.  Only one axle is powered though.

Hand cars are indeed prototypical.  I'm not knowledgable enough to say which roads or how many had them.  I will say that this "O" gauge version is not nearly as detailed or proportionately correct as Bachmann's large scale version.

Here is my Bachmann large scale hand car in action.

https://youtu.be/zwEg1aqUBVw

Dennis Holler posted:

A few trains showed up this weekend,  First the Marklin R890 set showed up.  It's not bad, one loose wheel, no key and pretty scratched up roofs on the cars.

Also got another 265E, this time a 1935  Black one. The shell is great, the cab is crumbling, the tender has some rust and I should have gotten he Blue and Silver 600/601/601 Pullmans that went with it but I pondered too long as usual. That said, with a nice Black 261t this will be my start to a Silver streak set, just need the hard part, Chrome 619 and 618. I'll probably borrow some of Steamer Dave's stash of JB Weld to rebuild the cab.  I figure there is enough left to give a repair a shot.

 

nice finds Dennis. I looked at a couple 265Es at the show, but they both had bad wheels.

Dave, I've been buying up wheels for those motors as a few sellers have been letting them go for a few dollars each and I think they are new old stock.  We could probably fix one up for you, also for reference, the grey 259E has the same motor and wheels meaning if you can get one of those cheap with good wheels, well, you know..  See the lower picture, they have the same rear mounting bracket, just bolt it in.  Only difference is the 259E version has a headlight mount installed up front.  The CV does not use that, so you could remove it or leave it, either way is fine.  Eventually though, I'll get some of Harry's wheels, these can't last for ever!

A very nice set of AMT extruded aluminum smooth top passenger cars marked for Santa Fe.

Bogie

I'll probably get around to a 259E..might be a while since I picked up two K4 projects at the show that I wasn't even looking for. I was on the hunt for some more 1630 type cars. The only two I found not in a set were two nice for me.

I also snagged this off ebay for just a few bucks. I can't tell what year the postmark is for the year...

I've been to this place a few times over the years.

without digging into the stamp collection, I think your post card could be pre 1900

Lee,

Nice postcard.

I see "Feb 15" and on another line "19" on the left.  It is possible that there is an "11" on the right-hand side to offset the "19".  A random sample of 1 cent postcards that I have in front of me include 1907 and 1911 -- one has the date split into two's thus, "19    07", like I think your post mark stamp also shows.

What do you think?

Tomlinson Run Railroad

TomlinsonRunRR posted:

Lee,

Nice postcard.

I see "Feb 15" and on another line "19" on the left.  It is possible that there is an "11" on the right-hand side to offset the "19".  A random sample of 1 cent postcards that I have in front of me include 1907 and 1911 -- one has the date split into two's thus, "19    07", like I think your post mark stamp also shows.

What do you think?

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Yeah, it's 1911. A pal of mine looked at the postmark and it's in a different spot than they put it later on. I hadn't noticed this as I was looking in the wrong spot.

I pulled out all the stuff I have from that RR (the ET&WNC, the line I model now in On30) and I realized I have several postcards and most are photos of this spot. It rivals a lo of the stuff you'd see on the old D&RGW and thankfully there are tracks there today.

I was on the look out for this one for years and now found one (on eBay):

It is 2-rail 0 gauge.

Regards

Fred

Have always liked the D&H so have been picking up the occasional locomotive from time to time. RK PS3 U30

A little something to add character (and light) to the layout.

Cool

c.sam posted:

Have always liked the D&H so have been picking up the occasional locomotive from time to time. RK PS3 U30

they are sharp looking engines. I've been seeing several of them for sale lately...getting closer to putting money on one.

Bob

Deuce posted:

A little something to add character (and light) to the layout.

Tin plate bird house??? Sorry... couldn't resist.

Deuce posted:

A little something to add character (and light) to the layout.

 

Great find, looks like it is in real good condition.
Do not have one, but always keep looking at trains show for one in good condition with a good price

RonH posted:

Deuce posted:

A little something to add character (and light) to the layout.

 

Great find, looks like it is in real good condition.
Do not have one, but always keep looking at trains show for one in good condition with a good price

The next thing I'm hunting for is a Marx Lighted Switch Control Tower. I think they would make a good pair.