I know Halloween 🎃 just passed but I thought I would share anyway. I picked up the Lionel - Smoking 57' Mechanical Reefer with sounds back in September. The graphics are pretty cool and it smokes really well. It is a real eyecatcher on the layout. I also got just a simple blue office shack made by Lionel too.

NS1975, I really like that blue. That’s a color we don’t see a lot of on our layout buildings. It really stands out.

I bought a few things at the METCA Train show. There will be some videos on my YouTube sometime soon.

My brother in law bought his first O gauge train set and track but he needed a transformer. I found a brand new Z-1000 for him on FB marketplace for a great price. When I went to pick it up, the guy was selling a lot of items and I ended up buying some rolling stock 🤣🤣

Two CP Coil Cars and a GTW Gond w Load - Heavy Industry in the Northern Mid-West 1970s

Always wanted one of these. Now I got one! My first pre-war other than a few accessories.

@June posted:

My dad was stationed at Port Hueneme before heading to Vietnam. I'm trying to track down this Lionel TCA Seabees car for him for Christmas.  Wish me luck.

June,

  Although my dad was in the Army (Go Army, Beat Navy!), my father-in-law was in the Navy...I may have found one for you. My email is in the profile.

Tom

I recently picked up a nice, boxed PW 299 Code Transmitter Set with insert and instructions, a PW 410 Billboard Blinker w/box, 2 PW illuminated LTC's, a PW 6464-425 New Haven box car and a PW 262 Highway Crossing Gate.

I got 5 out of the 11 in the group of Lionel O Gauge Passenger Cars from the 70's in the Milwaukee Road colors in 1 group, then bought 1 more Passenger Car to make it an even 6 car group.

Then bought a Lionel Lines 64173 caboose.

Won a Southern Railking 4-6-4 Hudson Steamer from Cabin Fever Auctions . (Thanks)

It is PS2 with a bone chilling fantastic sounding whistle.  I absolutely love it.   Fantastic service from Shipping Saint as well.  I also picked up the six car older Crescent set from them and cannot wait to fix it up.  Love the Southern green color.  Running Conventional for now.

John

Picked this Lionel Pacific up last weekend. Made in the early 2000s when Lionel was making, what I consider, some of their best built engines. It came with a big Pittman motor, Odyssey Cruise, wireless tether, continuous fan smoke, but two chuffs. By replacing the two lobe cam with a four lobe made from scrap along with a second micro switch we get four puffs and chuffs. Total investment a few hours time and a 50 cent switch. Also added the deck plate, cab curtains, and shortened the drawbar.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Picked this Lionel Pacific up last weekend. Made in the early 2000s when Lionel was making, what I consider, some of their best built engines. It came with a big Pittman motor, Odyssey Cruise, wireless tether, continuous fan smoke, but two chuffs. By replacing the two lobe cam with a four lobe made from scrap along with a second micro switch we get four puffs and chuffs. Total investment a few hours time and a 50 cent switch. Also added the deck plate, cab curtains, and shortened the drawbar.

Pete

Nice work Pete.     Swa where others were disappointed with the two chuffs but you worked it out.   

Outstanding 👍

Well I have been looking forward to posting this item.  It is a little out of my normal lane, but I could not resist buying it.  I know we have some "subway" fans so I hope this will please them especially.  Back Story...My wife and I took a cruise down the Rhine river in October, it had been postponed 3 times due to various countries COVID restrictions so we finally made it.  We stopped in the very scenic Alsace Town of Colmar, France which is right on the boarder between France and Germany and went into the town for a tour.  Colmar by the way is the home town of the sculptor Bartholdi who designed the Statue of Liberty.  Anyway, as is typical of me, while many folks are admiring the beautiful architecture, I am on the lookout for toys and trains.  Well what do I find but a toy store that amongst all the dolls and such has a very small collection of train toys.  One of which is in fact a 1/43 scale replica of the modern trams that you see all over Europe.  So for about $30 US I got myself a 0 - scale model of a modern city tram.  Pictures follow.

Here is the box that caught my eye...note that it clearly states that the scale is 1/43 however the rest of the features are described in French so thank goodness for the pictures.  I did note that the box says the toy is for those 3+ years of age or older ...I guess at 77 I am qualified although my wife might not agree

Here is a side view showing the two sets of side doors.  Note also that their is a full interior.  The two center roof areas in grey contain large opening hatches that allow you to "populate" the inside if you desire.

The highly streamlined front end (or rear end for that matter). The operator (1 person) sits behind that large streamlined windshield.  Except for entering and leaving stations there did not seem to be many lineside signals so it appears the operator has a good deal of discretion in operating the tram once they get track clearance.

Another front quarter view showing the opening doors.  The station platforms are raised to the height of the door so there is only a small step to get in or out.  Fares are sort of on the "honor" system.  You buy a ticket (or more commonly a multi ride pass) and you are required to keep that on you and show it to an "inspector" should one appear.  Failure to have a ticket to show the inspector results in a hefty fine - so the incentive is to buy your ticket (which costs nearly nothing anyway).

This view shows the scale of the model.  It is about 16" from end to end about 17" over the couplers.

Well that is my "cool" purchase recently.  I have not figured out how to integrate this into my layout so I expect it will be shelf display for the time being.  It does have flanged wheels and very detailed trucks so modifying it to run on the track is withing the realm of possibility maybe even powered if you could find a small motor.

Best Wishes

Don

That is a beautiful model, Don. I hope you can figure out how to run it on your layout.

This is my new Lionel Vision Line Southern Pacific GS-6 #4460! I actually got this a couple week’s ago, but had to send it in to Lionel to have a binding issue fixed with the drivers. Turns out it needed a new motor and got it back after just nine days!

Artie-DL&W:  Thanks for your complement.  I agree that it will be a challenge to get it integrated with the layout , but that's part of the fun anyway.

best wishes

Don

@Craftech posted:

Won a Southern Railking 4-6-4 Hudson Steamer from Cabin Fever Auctions . (Thanks)

It is PS2 with a bone chilling fantastic sounding whistle.  I absolutely love it.   Fantastic service from Shipping Saint as well.  I also picked up the six car older Crescent set from them and cannot wait to fix it up.  Love the Southern green color.  Running Conventional for now.

John

Cool!  Exactly what I've been looking for.

@Don McErlean posted:

Well I have been looking forward to posting this item.  It is a little out of my normal lane, but I could not resist buying it.  I know we have some "subway" fans so I hope this will please them especially.  Back Story...My wife and I took a cruise down the Rhine river in October, it had been postponed 3 times due to various countries COVID restrictions so we finally made it.  We stopped in the very scenic Alsace Town of Colmar, France which is right on the boarder between France and Germany and went into the town for a tour.  Colmar by the way is the home town of the sculptor Bartholdi who designed the Statue of Liberty.  Anyway, as is typical of me, while many folks are admiring the beautiful architecture, I am on the lookout for toys and trains.  Well what do I find but a toy store that amongst all the dolls and such has a very small collection of train toys.  One of which is in fact a 1/43 scale replica of the modern trams that you see all over Europe.  So for about $30 US I got myself a 0 - scale model of a modern city tram.  Pictures follow.

Here is the box that caught my eye...note that it clearly states that the scale is 1/43 however the rest of the features are described in French so thank goodness for the pictures.  I did note that the box says the toy is for those 3+ years of age or older ...I guess at 77 I am qualified although my wife might not agree

Here is a side view showing the two sets of side doors.  Note also that their is a full interior.  The two center roof areas in grey contain large opening hatches that allow you to "populate" the inside if you desire.

The highly streamlined front end (or rear end for that matter). The operator (1 person) sits behind that large streamlined windshield.  Except for entering and leaving stations there did not seem to be many lineside signals so it appears the operator has a good deal of discretion in operating the tram once they get track clearance.

Another front quarter view showing the opening doors.  The station platforms are raised to the height of the door so there is only a small step to get in or out.  Fares are sort of on the "honor" system.  You buy a ticket (or more commonly a multi ride pass) and you are required to keep that on you and show it to an "inspector" should one appear.  Failure to have a ticket to show the inspector results in a hefty fine - so the incentive is to buy your ticket (which costs nearly nothing anyway).

This view shows the scale of the model.  It is about 16" from end to end about 17" over the couplers.

Well that is my "cool" purchase recently.  I have not figured out how to integrate this into my layout so I expect it will be shelf display for the time being.  It does have flanged wheels and very detailed trucks so modifying it to run on the track is withing the realm of possibility maybe even powered if you could find a small motor.

Best Wishes

Don

This is very special Don   I never saw one of these on a layout and I can't wait to see it flying down the rails on yours.  🤓

Thank you for your comments Dallas

Best wishes

Don

Found some good reading material at today’s WB&A TCA Meeting - Western Maryland Railway Company Rules and Instructions Governing…well, just about everything. Effective September 28, 1952.