Buy anything cool lately?

I also picked up the Williams 70 ton Rutland diesel. I got it yesterday. Regrettably, nothing else jumped out at me at Trainland so I came home with just the one engine.

I have a ERR mini commander and sound set that I was going to put in a Kline Boxcab but I may follow John's lead and do this one first. It's a nice looking engine with decent detailing. As John said, metal hand rails would have been an improvement.

Here's the maiden voyage (with Williams sound). It would have been nice if they added a cap to hold the sound when changing direction.

@RSJB18 posted:

I have a ERR mini commander and sound set that I was going to put in a Kline Boxcab but I may follow John's lead and do this one first. It's a nice looking engine with decent detailing. As John said, metal hand rails would have been an improvement.

A big clue about removing the handrails for disassembly.  The little square pads at the bottom have some sort of glue on them.  After breaking one handrail, I figured that out.  What I did for the rest of them was to take my flush cutting wire cutters and gently squeeze around the base right on the chassis until the glue broke free.  That allows you to remove the handrails much easier, hopefully without damage.  Only the bases are glued, the ends of the rails stuck into the plastic shell are not glued, those just gently pull out.

That's a good deal on the 70 tonner.  I was in Trainland just before Thanksgiving and that deal wasn't yet available but I did snag the CN 44 tonner I posted previously for $129.  I wish this one was available at that time.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Good plan, it is a royal PITA.  You can read about it here.

Williams 44-Ton Upgrade with ERR CC-Lite, Sound, & Electrocouplers

Yep, I left the stock couplers on it.

Thank you for the link, John!  I don’t remember seeing this back six years ago.  I bought the 44-ton with the idea of repainting it to match a photograph I have of the unit that was at the power station I worked at too many years ago.  I wouldn’t feel as bad messing up the bargain basement Williams than I would messing up the more expensive MTH 🤪

Bob, the Rutland engine really looks great!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

A big clue about removing the handrails for disassembly.  The little square pads at the bottom have some sort of glue on them.  After breaking one handrail, I figured that out.  What I did for the rest of them was to take my flush cutting wire cutters and gently squeeze around the base right on the chassis until the glue broke free.  That allows you to remove the handrails much easier, hopefully without damage.  Only the bases are glued, the ends of the rails stuck into the plastic shell are not glued, those just gently pull out.

Thanks for the tip John. I already broke one rail on my 44 ton, I wasn't too eager to fiddle with these even though they are thicker. I have a nice pair of flush diagonals that will do the job.

@coach joe posted:

That's a good deal on the 70 tonner.  I was in Trainland just before Thanksgiving and that deal wasn't yet available but I did snag the CN 44 tonner I posted previously for $129.  I this one was available at that time.

I saw the sale a few weeks ago and was on the fence because I don't model any of the road names. Then I looked up the Rutland and found a winner. Yes- the inventory in the store was a little low. They had one of the new Lionel LC 0-6-0 tanks in the case but I want the Brooklyn Eastern model and they didn't have it. The shop was busy which was nice to see.

I have a LIRR RS-1 w/ PS3 on pre-order so I will be back there soon I hope.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, the Rutland engine really looks great!

Thanks Mark. After buying their 44 tonner I figured the 70 would be of equal quality. I can't justify $400 + for the PS3 models, even thought they look great.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Thanks Mark. After buying their 44 tonner I figured the 70 would be of equal quality. I can't justify $400 + for the PS3 models, even thought they look great.

The MTH 44-ton locomotive is great... except...

It has a major issue over almost any kind of switch!  It's been written about here before, it appears it's actually connectivity through the wheels and not a problem with center track pickups.  I haven't spent the time to stick some wipers on the wheels to see if that solves it's problem, right now it's a shelf queen.

@coach joe posted:

That's a good deal on the 70 tonner.  I was in Trainland just before Thanksgiving and that deal wasn't yet available but I did snag the CN 44 tonner I posted previously for $129.  I this one was available at that time.

Sounds like some good deals at Trainland .

How much would it be for giving it the command  control systems minus , of course , the electro couplers ? 🤔

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Sounds like some good deals at Trainland .

How much would it be for giving it the command  control systems minus , of course , the electro couplers ? 🤔

That would be Trainworld, not Trainland.  As it turns out, the url www.trainland.com just redirects you to www.Trainworld.com.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Sounds like some good deals at Trainland .

How much would it be for giving it the command  control systems minus , of course , the electro couplers ? 🤔

The two boards (MC and RS) were about $225. I don't intend to do EC's but will upgrade the lighting.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

A big clue about removing the handrails for disassembly.  The little square pads at the bottom have some sort of glue on them.  After breaking one handrail, I figured that out.  What I did for the rest of them was to take my flush cutting wire cutters and gently squeeze around the base right on the chassis until the glue broke free.  That allows you to remove the handrails much easier, hopefully without damage.  Only the bases are glued, the ends of the rails stuck into the plastic shell are not glued, those just gently pull out.

John, What would you use for replacement stanchions and railing? Pat B.

@lpb007 posted:

John, What would you use for replacement stanchions and railing? Pat B.

That's the $64,000 question.  I once build replacement handrails for a Lionel Trainmaster, but it was a PITA by the time I was done.  For the 70-ton locomotive I put the old railings back on.  I had only slightly mangled them before I found the trick to removing them.

See arrow, that one was my screwup.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

That's the $64,000 question.  I once build replacement handrails for a Lionel Trainmaster, but it was a PITA by the time I was done.  For the 70-ton locomotive I put the old railings back on.  I had only slightly mangled them before I found the trick to removing them.

See arrow, that one was my screwup.

I see plenty of 1:1 locos with bent rails.

Call it weathering

@RSJB18 posted:

I see plenty of 1:1 locos with bent rails.

Call it weathering

I had to blow up the photograph before I was able to see what the arrow was pointing to.  You recovered nicely, John.

Doing this as three separate posts.

First set, my new buds at Berwyn's delivered 6 cars which were part of their custom runs. 2 Burlington reefers, 1 Soo, 1 Grand Trunk and 2 ICG boxcars. Also ran into Tim at the Wheaton Train Show last weekend.  I've met him once at his Berwyn store and he recognized me mask and all. I was at a disadvantage, but he made a few comments so I quickly figured out who he was. He has quite a talent at remembering faces and people. Not bad for meeting someone once!

I received two Sears Robuck trailers today from Stockyard Express. I have not opened them yet.

2nd Set - As long as I was on the topic of the Wheaton Train Show.  Here are a couple of cars I picked up. GN hopper, State of Main and C&NW boxcars. Bought the GN to replace a Railking version and could not help myself with the State of Maine Box car. I've seen it on several layouts and it sure stands out, so what the heck.  At the bottom right I picked up a bunch of pines and assorted trees all 8 to 16 feet tall. The firs are what caught my attention. I think its a bottle brush tree with the branches swept down then covered with fine ground foam.  Got several ideas from these trees, so for a buck a piece I figured it was a decent deal. 

@ScoutingDad posted:

Doing this as three separate posts.

First set, my new buds at Berwyn's delivered 6 cars which were part of their custom runs. 2 Burlington reefers, 1 Soo, 1 Grand Trunk and 2 ICG boxcars. Also ran into Tim at the Wheaton Train Show last weekend.  I've met him once at his Berwyn store and he recognized me mask and all. I was at a disadvantage, but he made a few comments so I quickly figured out who he was. He has quite a talent at remembering faces and people. Not bad for meeting someone once!

What a great looking train. I love the midwest theme. Tim is great I've know him for many years.

@ScoutingDad posted:

2nd Set - As long as I was on the topic of the Wheaton Train Show.  Here are a couple of cars I picked up. GN hopper, State of Main and C&NW boxcars. Bought the GN to replace a Railking version and could not help myself with the State of Maine Box car. I've seen it on several layouts and it sure stands out, so what the heck.  At the bottom right I picked up a bunch of pines and assorted trees all 8 to 16 feet tall. The firs are what caught my attention. I think its a bottle brush tree with the branches swept down then covered with fine ground foam.  Got several ideas from these trees, so for a buck a piece I figured it was a decent deal.

This scene looks great and you read my mind. I was wishing for a better view of the bridge and here it is.

ScoutingDad, Nice looking cars and what a great looking layout!