Buy anything cool lately?

Regarding the lock with the keys attached by chains. Made no sense to me as to why have a lock with a key permanently attached? The ground throw example makes a lot of sense to me. Sounds like an early "Lock Out Tag Out" safety system to me. The attached key allows any crew member to unlock the throw when the operation is completed. On electrical panels we had multiple points to attach locks but each electrician had his own key to ensure the lock was removed only when he was done. Unfinished work kept the panel from being energized.   Of course I do not know in this case - never worked in the industry.

Bill,

I started my RR career in the signal department of the C & O RR. Those locks look like signal locks for junction boxes and wayside signal bungalows. The skeleton looking keys are for switch stands and the hex key with the extended ears is for a raco junction box lock. The smaller keys may be used for ctc cabinets in dispatch centers or tower control cabinets.

SYE

New DSC handheld.  Wow!  New something else would have been more exciting.  I put this with AC,tires or a new washer.

My father hired on with Southern in 1961 or 62 as flagman.  By 1970, he was promoted to Road Foreman of Engines and transferred to Alabama.  He remained in that position until retirement .  I wish I had asked about each lock.  I have many more items coming soon.

Got these today from bill at Ready2Roll in Miami..

MTH 30-2310-1 FEC F3 ABA Set and MTH 30-68027 FEC 60" Streamlined Passenger set...been wanting one of these for a while now..

Saw this on eBay recently and I just wanted it. I spent the month of Feberuary in the Netherlands that year and watched a lot of trains. It would have been for sale when I was there and I for sure would have bought a copy then had I seen it at the time (I still have the Dutch model train magazine I bought in Amsterdam).

I’m backlogged on posting new cool stuff since the end of May when I got the Legacy system which I fell in love with quickly. Basically it’s been four categories of purchases since May: 1.) I wanted to get things that can take advantage of what Legacy offers, 2.) major on changing my Amtrak fleet from 15-16” cars to 18-19” cars as well as  acquiring some Motive power, 3.) some freight purchases, 4.) tinplate.

So I’ll finally start with this post. I’ll try to keep it chronological and keenlike items together

starting with Legacy components:

WiFi Control System, Two Ser 2 , DB-9 cable, rewritable module, two PDI cables(early May from Nick Smith)

have had ups and downs with the WiFi but the SER 2 has seamlessly allowed me to integrate DCS and two TPC’s(and with the included y-cable the original command base) Works Great!

Next up freight:

K-line O scale dieCast DTTX stand-alone Thrall with prototypical classification and measurement decals(Mid May)K-line made the only true o scale 40 foot well car with 40’(10” scale length) containers(Atlas has done this as well). Unfortunately, the majority of their gundersons/thralls have a 48’ on the side, which isn’t a correct representation of the well. Hence, I was excited when I was finally able to land this  TTX Thrall with the 40’ symbol(a panel of to the right of the TTX symbol)

Also, something cool that came with this Thrall- a detailed instruction book with decals to change a 40’ Unit to a 48’, decals to make the 40’ more prototypical, and decals for there Spine sets. Pic below:

K-Line O scale 13.5” diecast Conrail gondola in Penn Central Livery with both RR’s abbreviations(Mid July)I thought this was really cool as it has both PC and CR, unfortunately, previous owner used permanent marker to black out the CR, did my best to wash it off without ruing the white CR letters

Last but certainly not least, my first big purchase in the changing of my Amtrak fleet....

Lionel O gauge Amtrak Cab End(Control) Car(6-35454)- End of May

Lengthwise shot- I got this for cheaper than the going rate as the box was missing and there was a small nick on the top that a cleaned up. Unfortunately, it was packaged very poorly-in a cardboard box was about an inch longer, wider, and taller than the car Wrapped in bubble wrap. I couldn’t believe it- hence it arrived with the strobe bar in the back broken. I emailed the seller and after some snide comments he refunded the shipping. Have had to reattach 3 Times since then- but I still love it!

That wonderful back end

Jope you enjoy- more to come!

steve

Well I managed to secure a zw for free over the weekend! Don't know anything about it except it doesn't work, should be receiving it in a couple weeks. If she can be repaired, I'll have a replacement for my old zw which is worn out, if not, I've got parts to rebuild her

Just picked up the MTH Amtrak TURBO TRAIN. I followed Eric Seigals review on how to put it together and requires a little patience. Once it’s running it is awesome. Handles 072 curves with ease. Interior lighting sets the mood at night.

Tontee, the steam shovel was one of two flatcar loads, originally sold between 1960 and 1963. They were both P&H prototypes. Besides the steam shovel, there was a P&H crane. In addition to the flat cars, both kits came in a P&H box, and a small booklet telling about the prototypes. This is info from Greenberg’s Guide to Lionel Trains, 1945 to 1969, vol.1.

@Artie-DL&W posted:

Tontee, the steam shovel was one of two flatcar loads, originally sold between 1960 and 1963. They were both P&H prototypes. Besides the steam shovel, there was a P&H crane. In addition to the flat cars, both kits came in a P&H box, and a small booklet telling about the prototypes. This is info from Greenberg’s Guide to Lionel Trains, 1945 to 1969, vol.1.

Thanks Artie..I thought that it might be early 60's vintage but what is confusing is that the box is labeled as an MPC release.  Probably left over stock they were liquidating.

Tom, I think MPC re-released them, as did later owners of Lionel. I also liked the Allis—Chalmers bulldozer and road grader on flatcars. My favorite is the operating sub, of which I had an original, and later acquired a U.S. Navy version, as my son-in-law is a Navy Senior Chief. I still need to try it in the bathtub, though!😄

@Artie-DL&W posted:

Tom, I think MPC re-released them, as did later owners of Lionel. I also liked the Allis—Chalmers bulldozer and road grader on flatcars. My favorite is the operating sub, of which I had an original, and later acquired a U.S. Navy version, as my son-in-law is a Navy Senior Chief. I still need to try it in the bathtub, though!😄

Artie you're correct.  I checked in my Greenberg's Guide;  1970-1991 Volume 1 and it was issued in 1976-77 & 1980 with the 9158 Penn Central Flatcar.  Type (A) was flatcar only; (B) w/steam shovel with black treads, (C) with gray treads, (D)with steam shovel kit, unbuilt with black treads, and (E) unbuilt kit with gray treads.  The guides comments that it's hard to find with the steam shovel kit intact.  However, the kit in question has Service Station labeling so I suspect it may have been a replacement kit.  There is no listing for a 9158-101 in any of the MPC era guides or mid 70's catalogs on hand here.  

P.S.  Let us know how the sub works out in the tub.

Been doing a lot of buying lately.

First is a Lionel ATSF F3 B unit to go behind my Menards F7. Bought it here on the forum.

Next up are some detail parts and decals for the track cleaning car I am building

The pot belly stove will go into an old caboose that I'm using for a yard office.

Finally I picked up GRJ's isolated track relay. I am replacing a 12v ice-cube relay that chatters when lighter cars are on the block. The only noise I want ice cubes to make is when they clink on the side of my glass of scotch.

Now to find the time to build everything.

Bob

Nice haul Bob. Can't wait to see that track cleaning car

@coach joe posted:

Nice haul Bob. Can't wait to see that track cleaning car

Thanks Joe. My goal is this.

My AEC "Glow in the Dark" train is growing (received these recently):

AEC Glow-In-The-Dark Tank Car (6-26102):

And this one at the same time: AEC Glow-In-The-Dark Boxcar (6-26215):

Going to be added to these already purchased "Glow in the "Dark":

AEC Security Caboose (6-36718):

And finally this one (is not "Glow in the Dark", but will make a good addition to the above cars) - DODX LOTS 2009 Radioactive Waste Flatcar w/Radioactive Containers (6-52552):

Today I received a K-Line Golden State Streamliner which I got off ebay to convert it to a troop transport for my military train.  I decided to make my own decals too.  Happy how it came out.

I know they're not the best pictures , but it is in very nice shape. 1950 773 I picked up at a secondhand store today in Wisconsin . I also recently picked up a post-war Canadian Pacific 2373 set with passenger cars and all the boxes and original wrapping paper

Very cool, MattR