Buy anything cool lately?

@Former Member cool stuff man! I also have the Rock Island version of this bridge. If it wasn’t for issues with pantographs I would still have it up- so very smart on your part to test with the auto-loader!

I thought they looked like MTH. I have the PRR MTH heavyweight consist of 13 1/2” cars and couldn’t help but notice the similarity. Very cool!

-Steve

Lionel  Chicago & Northwestern Visionline StockCar - the 3 pack set. I think the Item number is 2026850.

I went on a little bit of a buying spree.

I couldn't pass on this Dash 9 demonstrator for such a modest price. This is my first TMCC engine and I mainly decided to buy it based on the sounds which IMO sound great. Not bad for 1997 technology but it still has the pullmor motors which sound a little dry so I'll check them over. Overall I'm very pleased with every aspect of it.

I also bought this railking superliner set. The rear coupler broke during shipping so I can only push with it right now! The locomotive is so-so performance wise but I really dig the cars.

Just received a nice set of Presidential Campaign Cars from 1976. They didn't come as a set; individually sold.

Looks like I'm going to have to find someone to repair the lights as only one of the cars lights on both ends. One is very weak.

And I'm missing the flag for one of the cars.

All three in one photo:

A couple banners I got back in January

@Drewski1992 posted:

Wow Frank!! Those are bad ***! I’m jealous. I love the open air deck at the end! I love riding in Ziggy'passenger cars and standing out on the open air deck it’s the most awesome thing in the world as matter fact I could probably do an entire trip standing on the deck because it’s just so invigorating to me to with all the sites sounds and smells.  Was this an idea that you came up with? Also what are the cars based on or paying tribute to?

I had the cars painted by Christine from CJB.  I told her the colors I wanted and the theme, she used her artistic talent to do all seven cars.  With the exception of one car with Buy War Bonds, the other six cars are named after battles and Admirals during the war in the Pacific.  The observation car is named Guadalcanal, the coaches and baggage cars are named, Pearl Harbor, Midway, Nimitz, Halsey, and Spruance.  I plan on sending another 4 or 5 more cars to Christine to complete my set.  I will use Vandegrift, a Marine General for one of the cars.  The other names I'm considering are King, Oldendorf, "Ziggy" Sprague, "Ching" Lee or Mitcher. Below is the Halsey coach;

FrankRazz

I picked up a second Santa Fe full length vista dome for my PA1 to pull around.  Both of the full length domes came with tan interiors.  The first one didn’t have passengers and before adding them, I painted the interior gray to match the five car set.  I didn’t paint the new one’s interior because it was too cold outside and it had a dozen or so passengers already glued in tight.  Just finished adding more passengers and LED lighting.

As I mentioned over on the what did you do on your layout thread, I just completed a major project on the back wall of the layout, so I had to reward myself by heading over to Grzyboski’s and purchasing some more trains (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it)

First up, I picked up two of the new Lionel 60’ boxcars. They have some nice graphics and detail (but they do have the new couplers )...

Next, I picked up a set of the Friendship Train boxcars. I had never heard of the train until these cars came out. I did an internet search and found some fascinating info about this amazing humanitarian effort just after WWII. I also found a video from Mr. Muffins where he suggested that Lionel may be making more of the boxcars... here we go!!! In a contemporary new reel, they showed a GG1 pulling part of the train, so I’ll have to get mine on the road.

@Apples55 posted:

As I mentioned over on the what did you do on your layout thread, I just completed a major project on the back wall of the layout, so I had to reward myself by heading over to Grzyboski’s and purchasing some more trains (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it)

Slip slidin' away.......😂😂😂😂

Liked the looks of Lionel's 120 Year caboose. Wanted it, but also needed it to compliment something I already had.

Figured it would be nice to trail the 6-car collection of National Lionel Train Day boxcars.

@RSJB18 posted:

Slip slidin' away.......😂😂😂😂

Bob... Bob... Bob... I take umbrage at your comment. I am definitely NOT slip slidin’ away. I have been in free fall for so long, I have no idea what “Slip slidin'” feels like

Just an FYI - the Friendship boxcars can run on O-31 curves...

And I didn’t even mention the new set of Vision Cattle cars (can’t wait to try the quillable mooooos!!!). And in cleaning up the other day, I found a DT&I Legacy Crane car and Boom car I picked up last year for a song (again, NOT Slip slidin' Away )!!!

You're not alone Paul. I just bought a MTH RS-1 from the forum. Pix to follow. 👍

@paulp575 posted:

Liked the looks of Lionel's 120 Year caboose. Wanted it, but also needed it to compliment something I already had.

Figured it would be nice to trail the 6-car collection of National Lionel Train Day boxcars.

What do the trucks and couplers look like underneath this caboose? Hopefully they didn't get the latest ones that are problematic. This caboose is something I'm interested in getting. The graphics look nice - any idea where it was produced?

@Randy_B posted:

What do the trucks and couplers look like underneath this caboose? Hopefully they didn't get the latest ones that are problematic. This caboose is something I'm interested in getting. The graphics look nice - any idea where it was produced?

They are a different type of couplers. They do have the little piece sticking out on the neck of the coupler. They don't have the thumb tack type of coupler.  They have a square piece that can uncouple - look something like the MTH couplers. It does say "Made in China" though.

@paulp575 posted:

They are a different type of couplers. They do have the little piece sticking out on the neck of the coupler. They don't have the thumb tack type of coupler.  They have a square piece that can uncouple - look something like the MTH couplers. It does say "Made in China" though.

Thanks for the info - that sounds promising. I really like the graphics although I don't usually go towards these types of products. I remember seeing the artwork and was glad they made the roof orange which they elected not to do on the previous Lionel N5B Lionel Lines caboose. I never thought 'Made in China' would ever be a source of relief! 

My Lionel 120 caboose came to my home just before Christmas, so it took a place of honor under the tree.  I hope that the Northeast caboose tooling gets used more in the future.

A couple weeks after New Years, my Transcontinental Railroad 150th anniversary train locomotives arrived.  Two beautiful steam locomotives.  Very quiet, too.  

Paul, great work on the building flats in the background!

Built something cool lately!