Buy anything cool lately?

You know there was/is another solution to the low bridge problem - raise the bridge. I did not have enough clearance for my K-Line Stack cars so I took the Lionel Bridge apart and added a 1/2 inch of wood blocking beneath the girder section and got rid of the steel base. I now have enough clearance and did not have to modify 15 cars. Made pegs from dowel rods to attach to the screws which previously fixed the girders to the base plate. Easy solution with a bit of effort.  The MTH Premier Stacks are huge and won't fit through my tunnel - a much different problem than a bridge. So no Husky Stacks or Auto Carriers for me - sold all of those off. All the old Lionel truss bridges I've found are not tall enough for the larger cars and need to be modified. The MTH bridges seem to be fine.

Well, yeah actually, I did. Now, mostly everything I buy I would definitely classify as cool, but I usually don't pop it here, guess because I don't want to post every time I buy, lol. That being said, this is a worthy post. Mainly because as usual in this hobby, I got some support and direction to find this engine. I had been chatting with Pat(harmonyards) about finding a great Hudson model, and the Kline J1 is the ticket. Now, I had been looking on eBay for a while at various other ones, and had mentioned something about one on one of the other topics. Well, Pete(Norton) messaged me and we talked a bit about this such engine. He directed me to the TCA site where this number was sitting there waiting for me. The eBay option didn't pan out because the price was high, and the seller didn't accept my generous offer but countered higher than my offer, still less than what he was asking.

Instead I got this one of the TCA site, which the gentleman was very reasonable, and extremely encouraging to keep collecting(which I always intended to do), don't have to tell me twice. It arrived yesterday and I was so beat I didn't even try to unpack it. It was extremely well packed with no damage to the outer shipping box(came USPS, seller had issues with UPS last time shipping)

I only opened it a bit to take a peak as this will be heading to Pat for some tender loving upgrading. Oh, I guess I may have to wait for the weekend to take it all out to get an even better look at it.

Congratulations, Dave!

Thanks Mark.

New order from ModelTrainStuff.com arrived today!

As expected, the red paint on the locomotive and caboose is a bit too bright IMO, and the couplers on the rolling stock (minus the flat car) are the new, flimsy type Lionel (for some reason) started doing in 2018 which is disappointing, but considering the price I got it for from MTS, I’m satisfied.

I’m likely going to convert the locomotive and cars to scale Kadee couplers and ask a friend  to weather this, anyways. That walkway needs to be painted black, too.Fortunately, the locomotive worked as should out of the box, and I love the 5 horns, 5 bells, and updated cab chatter.

I bought this K-Line four car aluminum WA State DOT Grain Train 3 Bay Hopper set  off of eBay a couple of weeks ago.  These are very nice cars.  I have been collecting the Grain Train cars for sometime starting with the Weaver cars.  Larry

@ScottV posted:

I don't know what I got.   LOL. A large package arrived from Mario's today that I didn't purchase. My birthday is coming up in about 13 days. I've been ordered to keep my nose away from it.  

Mystery package (birthday gift) was opened today. A Conrail T1 , plus mail car & a smoking mechanical reefer. 😄😄 Love it!!

(apologies: i originally posted the update in the wrong forum. deleted there/added here).

Very cool Scott! Happy Birthday!

Very nice Scott. Love the CR blue on the steamer. Looks cool 👍

Fantasy or not, that is a beautiful loco. Should get plenty of compliments.

@FECRailroaddog posted:

Picked up the "Pink Lady" today from Bill over at Ready 2 Roll Trains in South Florida. Beautiful Engine.

@FECRailroaddog posted:

Picked up the "Pink Lady" today from Bill over at Ready 2 Roll Trains in South Florida. Beautiful Engine.

Killer!  One of my favorite railroads! Just got an SD40-2 in the FEC Flagler scheme #711 from Trainworld this week since this is one of the four road names I collect😁

@MikeH posted:

Just arrived from Mr. Muffin's: MTH DL-109/100 (20-21374-1)

GM&O "The Rebel"

Love it Mike!  

I am super excited about these comet coaches and Septa AEM 7. The best I can tell these were never offered with the metallic paint. Could these be prototypes? The aem was a shell when I got it.

Just a few projects I completed recently😁

Well, I paid for it, but I haven't received it yet.  I just picked up the scale Lionel PRR T-1 Duplex on eBay, something I've been looking for.  I was considering the MTH PS/1 versions for command upgrades, but this one was cheaper and already has command, so I went this way.

Well I got this today that I got off the bay for what I think was a fair price. I still need to put a battery replacement in it before I put it on the tracks. It was sad to see the bell mount a little bent and the bell was just laying in the box. I hope it will be an easy fix!

Great looking engine Mike. I too hope the bell is an easy fix for you. Looks like it will be.

Mike, it is a really nice looking engine!  

Looks great Mike. I'm sure the bell can be fixed. I will reserve comment on the defilement of the tender 😂😂😂

Thanks everyone, I hope to get it on the tracks soon.

Bob, don't worry, it's safe for awhile. Might even be a winter project.