Front End Friday

@Sitka posted:

Have a great FEF PW Lionel , MPC and Williams running the rails. Buy a Veteran Dinner

Nice "mix" of trains, Mark! I really like that PRR rectifier; I don't see those very often!

Kicking off FeF with a bit of fun:

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the BEEP Vortex, and a powerful ally it is."

Front End Friday...ATSF style. If you have time, please check out my new video I posted in this folder highlighting my Lionel Santa Fe "Warhorse" set.

Here is a link to my YouTube channel to watch more of my O Gauge videos:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DonaldKeiser1981

Thanks.

Donald

Happy FEF.

Don, I don't know how you do it!  Another awesome video!  Bill

A New Haven DL-109 AB set haul revenue freight on the Maybook line. The New Haven rostered 60 A units but didn't purchase any B units. At York this year I spied a B unit in hunter green with gold striping and couldn't pass up the chance to have it run as a pair even if it was not prototypical. The two units with twin motors each have some great pulling power.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pBeSmaZsF3X2XLwb9

Happy FEF…..a recent purchase postwar GG1 2332 with postwar cars and a postwar 2046 pulling prewar cars.

John

@Bill Swatos posted:

Nice "mix" of trains, Mark! I really like that PRR rectifier; I don't see those very often!

That was a New Haven MPC That was in rough shape that a got on ebay, So I decided to paint and copy after my dad's Lionel HO Pennsy.  Thanks Bill how did you make out on people sent you a few emails where to look to purchase. Mark

Our motorman is in the front end of an R36 Worlds Fair #7 today, ready to pull out on the El and make it all the way to the Fair,  As I kid, I would always make sure to get in that first car and ride looking out of that front window next to the motorman.  It was the best spot in any train!

@Fendermain posted:

Happy FEF…..a recent purchase postwar GG1 2332 with postwar cars and a postwar 2046 pulling prewar cars.

John

OHHHhhhhh she's a keeper fer sure!! We Love running ours and on the carpet around the tree she pulls her 6.5 pound frame smoothly and quietly! Thanks for sharing... Our "Stripes" are faded more than yours... I bought a set of decals and when I got them, I couldn't install em. I also was pointed to some "painters" who do exceptional work as I thought she would look classy when the grandkids ran her for the Next 50 years.. lol. So, "The path diverged in a woods.... and I, sat and ran my GG! again without doing a dang thng..." lol

Thank you for the share

Snow fighting front ends!

RDC front end has pushed some snow.

A flanger and rotary plow front ends.  These front ends take care of business in a serious way!

My guilford road power all lined up for front end Friday

Moved some equipment around last weekend in the regular railroad chess match.
Wound up with my PRR 44 on the warehouse spur.....

Bob

Have a good front end all! Williams shark nose rounding the bend

A new Union Pacific Lionel Legacy F7.

Well hello everyone, here we are on F.E.F. and the first Friday in 2023.  I have been pretty busy with the "de" decoration of the house so have not really had a chance to take new pictures, so I thought I might just present a portfolio of how various manufacturers handle that all important front end especially when trying to keep the price down.  So here we go:

The Champion, of the inexpensive boiler fronts, is this Japanese pair from the 1960's:

This Tank switcher from ALPS

A "cable following" floor train from TN. Look at the level of lithograph on this lady, the Japanese clearly were far more elaborate, even with their inexpensive trains than other makers.

Next our friends from the UK and their French subsidiary, Hornby and French Hornby.

The French Hornby MO series locomotive was first produced in 1933 and remained almost unchanged for over 30 years.  This version with a removable key and smoke deflectors dates from about 1956.

The UK Hornby type 20 locomotive, dating from about 1954 and lasting until the end of Hornby "0" gauge in about 1962.

Finally for this line up, the Germans- always practical and realistic.  This version from HWN is one of my newest acquisitions and it dates from about the 1950's to the 1960's although it is marked "made in U.S.zone" which if accurate would date it to before 1952.

And a Konrad Dressler from about the 1950's.

But NOBODY, when he let his imagination run wild , can top MARX!!  A floor toy from the same era, 1950's.

Best wishes everyone, Happy F.E.F. and Happy New Year

Don

@Miggy posted:

OHHHhhhhh she's a keeper fer sure!! We Love running ours and on the carpet around the tree she pulls her 6.5 pound frame smoothly and quietly! Thanks for sharing... Our "Stripes" are faded more than yours... I bought a set of decals and when I got them, I couldn't install em. I also was pointed to some "painters" who do exceptional work as I thought she would look classy when the grandkids ran her for the Next 50 years.. lol. So, "The path diverged in a woods.... and I, sat and ran my GG! again without doing a dang thng..." lol

Thank you for the share

Thanks Miggy….these are beasts for sure.  Good looking running under that tree.   Sometimes it is best to admire these mechanical marvels just as they are.

John

gp30

Here is my PRR S2 front for today.  As I mentioned in another post, it had a hard life before I bought it. Took a while to straighten the smoke deflectors, but not sure what to do with the Keystone.  It sticks out from the boiler on a short piece of rod.  I'm afraid if I try to straighten it I will deform the thin metal the Keystone is on.  It is not that noticeable unless you look at it straight on, but I know it is cockeyed.  Guess I will think on it a while.

My son, Chris, at age nine building a complex Lego model that he received for Christmas, 2004.

The following two photos show Chris' final product, a Canadian Railway, Royal Hudson that still adorns the ledge in our basement train room today. It took Chris most of the week between Christmas and the New Year to complete the project. He had no help from anyone in this creation. A belated Bravo to Chris!

Meanwhile, on the Great Northeastern Railway's tracks, a 3-unit B&O F-3 diesel is finished on the service track and leaving on its day's assignment.

HAPPY  FEF.        This time FRONT END of my Christmas present  .           Gunrunner John steered me in the right direction for installing LEDs in the headlights for this ps2 / 3 volt Genset.

.

@Randy Harrison posted:

My son, Chris, at age nine building a complex Lego model that he received for Christmas, 2004.

The following two photos show Chris' final product, a Canadian Railway, Royal Hudson that still adorns the ledge in our basement train room today. It took Chris most of the week between Christmas and the New Year to complete the project. He had no help from anyone in this creation. A belated Bravo to Chris!

"  A belated Bravo to Chris ! "...........DITTO  Randy.

What a great project and dedication for a young person .

Happy Front End Friday everyone, we have been busy today traveling to our hobby shop for getting our new CW80 transformers that finally arrived, but I was shocked to see my good friends Christmas tree floor display. Rich Hane, a friend of many years has his 70 year old Lionel train set running smoothly and effortlessly under his tree. So, for today, this is my friends beautiful Lionel train from the 50’s. Happy Railroading Everyone

Here's my FeF late evening at the repair siding where things are a bit busy. Several front ends actually, EMD SW8, CAT crane, front of a shack, Dodge Power Wagon and a Ford Stake Side. Ignore the caboose in the background!

@CAPPilot posted:

Here is my PRR S2 front for today.  As I mentioned in another post, it had a hard life before I bought it. Took a while to straighten the smoke deflectors, but not sure what to do with the Keystone.  It sticks out from the boiler on a short piece of rod.  I'm afraid if I try to straighten it I will deform the thin metal the Keystone is on.  It is not that noticeable unless you look at it straight on, but I know it is cockeyed.  Guess I will think on it a while.

I've got one of these with the big deflectors in HO from BLI. I can't imagine a few keystones didn't get banged out of alignment on the real locos in service. It adds to the realism! Very nice! Who's the maker?

@Sitka posted:

Have a good front end all! Williams shark nose rounding the bend

Uh-oh! Nowhere to run! Love the Sharknose in Tuscan, BTW!

@Strap Hanger posted:

Our motorman is in the front end of an R36 Worlds Fair #7 today, ready to pull out on the El and make it all the way to the Fair,  As I kid, I would always make sure to get in that first car and ride looking out of that front window next to the motorman.  It was the best spot in any train!

Yep! I was a CTA kid and loved that seat. The Pullman 2000 series was new then. The Chicago skyline looked like it was following the train when we were heading west on the Lake Street line. I wish I could get those green & cream cars in 3-rail.

@SIRT posted:

                 EL's testing out reworked curves this week...

Gorgeous

@Bill Swatos posted:

I've got one of these with the big deflectors in HO from BLI. I can't imagine a few keystones didn't get banged out of alignment on the real locos in service. It adds to the realism! Very nice! Who's the maker?

The maker was Williams.  It was sold by 3rd Rail when Williams went bankrupt.

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Here's my FeF late evening at the repair siding where things are a bit busy. Several front ends actually, EMD SW8, CAT crane, front of a shack, Dodge Power Wagon and a Ford Stake Side. Ignore the caboose in the background!

"  Ignore the caboose in the backround  " .......?.......it might just be me Scott but that is the FRONT END of the caboose isn't it  ?

Nice grouping in this photo .

@Dallas Joseph posted:

"  Ignore the caboose in the backround  " .......?.......it might just be me Scott but that is the FRONT END of the caboose isn't it  ?

Nice grouping in this photo .

Dallas, I stand corrected, you're right, that is the front end of the caboose! LoL And thanks for the compliment!

Good morning, guys. FEF "Santa Fe style".

Look for a new video next week featuring the Lionel Santa Fe PA ABA.

Donald

Here is the front end of an R12 on the #1 line getting ready to pull out while the maintenance guy finishes eating his sandwich -

Three New Haven Hudson Type model I-5's sit idle waiting for the rush hour in the New Haven yard

Happy FrontEndFriday all!

#204 heading out.

John

Here is a picture I took from my bucket truck this morning. This nice display is mounted on the second story of the DuPage Childrens Museum Naperville Illinois.

Have a good Front end, waiting around for some rail time have a good weekend!

Hello FEF’ers.

It is late 1949 and the photographer caught an OEG415 getting ready to head out on a commuter run.

The Pennsy had a lot of Doodlebugs (60 or so), but only five gasoline powered Brill 660s that were received in 1930.  All were upgraded with a diesel engine in early 1942 after a disastrous fire caused several deaths.  Some lasted into the 60s.  I really like the detail on this scale 3rd Rail model.

3771 and 3398 in the shop today.

Thomas, Annie and Claribel round the curve leading away from the harbor on a winter night on the way to their last station stop and a well-deserved night's rest. A Coca Cola truck waits patiently at the grade crossing for the train to pass so the truck can proceed with its nightly deliveries.

Have a great…FEF!!! 🚂😉

Happy FEF!

PRR FM H10-44 on a reversing move out of the warehouse spur.

Amtrak leaving the Naperville station.

Well hello all F.E.F. fans, There are usually a lot of "war bonnet" pictures and although those are beautiful, I thought I might counter today with a couple of "lightning bolt" views of those same F3's.  These are "chicken wire" F3's from 1950-52.  

Best wishes for a happy and healthy weekend.

Don

Here are my ends of the front kind for this fine Friday!

Can never have too many pictures of the good ol NYC postwar growlers! Happy fef all. stay safe and warm!

FEF from Menards.

@Donnie Kennedy - "Right On!" with those lightening bolts - yours are "lookin good"

@Steve "Papa" Eastman - Great view Steve, I am assuming when you put, "from Menards" that these engines are the new (not yet really open offered) F3 engines from Menards.  Never saw the blue livery, is that also from Menards?

Great photos everyone, Dave Ripp that is quite a picture of the Amtrak train thanks for posting.

Best wishes for a great weekend

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

@Donnie Kennedy - "Right On!" with those lightening bolts - yours are "lookin good"

@Steve "Papa" Eastman - Great view Steve, I am assuming when you put, "from Menards" that these engines are the new (not yet really open offered) F3 engines from Menards.  Never saw the blue livery, is that also from Menards?

Great photos everyone, Dave Ripp that is quite a picture of the Amtrak train thanks for posting.

Best wishes for a great weekend

Don

Yes, both are Menards engines. The blue came out a few months ago as a A-A combination, again only a couple hundred produced.

Steve

FEF, Dorfan Crocodiles.

Steve

Wow, time is flying so fast now that I can actually see the hands on my clock moving, but here’s my selection for this really cold Friday the 13th…. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry - Great pictures, I see that your yellow SF is now an ABBA with 2 B's , neat!!

@Steve "Papa" Eastman - quite an array of Dorfan "crocodiles for sure, If I remember correctly those came apart in two halves for assembly. OBTW here is a real crocodile, these things are enormous (from the German Technical Museum)

Best wishes for a great weekend'

Don

Unfortunately this loco & tender are having to be sent back for a full refund. Too many problems and negatives to mention here. Disappointed and frustrated. However, I did at least manage to take a few pics of it in situ. On the STD42 curve loop on the upper platform of The VintageHubby's new in-progress Wide Gauge/Standard Gauge Basement Layout. A repainted original Lionel Standard Gauge 1835E with its 1835W tender. With reproduction Lionel blue & silver 309, 321, and 312 passenger cars that I have had for a number of years.

MTH B&O 384 Standard Gauge Passenger set

@JohnnyWalker,  wow, that’s a beautiful picture, standard gauge steamer, a great smoker, a beautiful background, I just had to make a comment. I thank everyone for the likes. Happy Railroading Everyone

@W&W posted:

AMTRAK ACELA approaching NYC Grand Central Terminal on The South Fork Railroad.

Craig, I can't see these images. Perhaps it is only my computer, but I'm seeing all the other posts.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Amtrak leaving the Naperville station.

California Zephyr. Naperville was one of our old "haunts" as a buddy and I rode our bicycles all over the Chicago area in the mid '70's to early '80's. This was the Burlington Northern ROW then. I spent many a warm summer's night riding the streets along these tracks and train-spotting. The humid night air smelled of grass and all the flowering plants and trees mixed with warm creosote. It was wonderful. The freights were usually flying by the time they got out here. It was a blast watching 'em (and standing too close). The BN E9 and stainless Budd bi-level commuter coaches that ran on this line back then were Chicagoland's nicest-looking commuter consists. Metra? Phooey!

Thanks for the flood of fond memories, Dave!

@3rail posted:

Front End Friday...ATSF style. If you have time, please check out my new video I posted in this folder highlighting my Lionel Santa Fe "Warhorse" set.

Here is a link to my YouTube channel to watch more of my O Gauge videos:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DonaldKeiser1981

Thanks.

Donald

Donald two weeks ago it was gorgeous NYC Hudsons, and last week a bold ATSF Hudson.  I believe there are never too many pictures of Hudsons.

See, what did I tell you?  Never too many Hudsons!

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Happy FEF.

Johan has the most polite railroaders in the world.

@Strap Hanger posted:

Our motorman is in the front end of an R36 Worlds Fair #7 today, ready to pull out on the El and make it all the way to the Fair,  As I kid, I would always make sure to get in that first car and ride looking out of that front window next to the motorman.  It was the best spot in any train!

Yes it was!  Even in the subway tunnels where all you could see the signal lights up ahead until you neared a station.

Hey Miggy while that speed may not be prototypical it sure was typical on most Lionel floor layouts regardless of whether the motive power was electric, steam or diesel!

Randy I've got the same Royal Hudson sitting in a box waiting for me to convert the spare bedroom into a train room so it can be on display again.  Chris did a good job.

A sky background and we'd be asking, "Is it real or is it Memorex?"

A day late I know, but...

...I just realized I can do this!

Left to right: Atlas/Roco F9, Enhorning F7, Kato F3, Intermountain FT, MTL F7...

Mark in Oregon

So apropos that Sitka has an ARR GP7.

@coach joe posted:

A sky background and we'd be asking, "Is it real or is it Memorex?"

Great photo ! Nice scale diesels. What manufacturer?

Ron H

Thanks Ron, they’re OMI O scale locos.

John

A Frisco Front End Friday

Here's some more post war front ends. As Donnie said earlier, you can never have too many pictures of the good old NYC postwar growlers!

My g-g-g-generations:

L to R, PW Lionel Lines Adriatic, MPC NJC Blue Comet, Modern/Wellspring NYC 0-6-0 Dockside. FeF!

@coach joe posted:

Hey Miggy while that speed may not be prototypical it sure was typical on most Lionel floor layouts regardless of whether the motive power was electric, steam or diesel!

Yeah! Ain't no fun if ya' can't highball ever' so often! Yee-haaaa!

Happy Front End Friday everyone!

My SP H12-44 in the engine facility of our railroad.

Happy FEF everyone.  My daughter’s K-Line PRR engine today in honor of her birthday tomorrow.  

No new aquisitions lately so delving into the archive of Casa Fatmanos ...

Probably posted before , but its just so gorgeous ...

John Van Riemsdijk  4-4-4- controlled clockwork from late 1940's ....

And his Browner brother ..

And their 0-6-0 relative ....

https://www.binnsroad.co.uk/ra...s/vanriem/index.html

Front End Friday. Lead unit #54L passes the Interlocking on an early morning run to Chicago.

Here is a link to my new video featuring the Lionel PA's.

Santa Fe PA ABA Video

Donald

Amtrak on The South Fork Railroad

Happy FEF.  Given 142 pages, this is probably a repeat, but still my favorite.  Granpa's steamer, ~ 1880.  Still works pretty good!

More postwar fef. This is just a smooth runner!

Happy FEF!

Happy FEF — Atlas SD40-2 with PS3

Here's my ends of the front kind for this fine Friday!   I took these photos of Canton RR locomotives at their yard in Baltimore City back in 2019.   Primarily a switching road, the Canton RR is Baltimore's oldest railroad which serves the harbor, factories, and warehouse in the Canton section of Baltimore City.

Happy FeF!  Here’s a front end shot of a subway yard track underneath our layout. The No5 train is about to pull out into the mainline -

RickO....Winston Link?? 😉

I am going to take my K-Line Shay down from the shelf and run it this weekend.  Video to follow.

ADDED: Well, no video.  Sounds work, but it does not move.

Have another great FEF…🚂😉!!!

These are all FEF re-runs, but, I think, worthy of a re-visit.

An MTH, PRR, K-4s on a VERY RARE freight assignment on our former Christmas store layout at Richardson Farms in White Marsh, Maryland.

A K-Line, C&O Allegheny glides through the night on track #2 past the Terryville Suburban Station on the Great Northeastern Railway's (GNR's) tracks.

This is Lionel Post War splendor! A PRR S-2 steam turbine locomotive and a Santa Fe F-3 Diesel leave Union Station in the City of Christopolis for their respective destinations.

It’s 1941 and William Jeffers has just received his order for his new class of 4-8-8-4 locos….happy Friday

Happy FeF Morning! The sun shines in Paradise, California after weeks of constant rain!

Happy FEF, lots of great photos posted so far today!

I’m still getting modules put back together and laying some more mainline, but having lots of fun doing so.☺️

John

Have a great FEF all! Some PW Lionel and a Williams Sharknose have a good weekend!

Early morning equipment check at the Charles Street Yard...

FEF, Mantua Camel Back

Pic taken from the back side of the Main Floor “Showcase” Layout.

Rob Leese you've done magnificent work on your Frisco locos.

Ron H, beautiful triple play of locos.

Fatman, that makes me want to rethink tinplate.  Absolutely gorgeous and in great shape.

TnkMarx, the light bulb inside is making that whole MP15 glow.  Maybe it's got a nuclear reactor in place of the Detroit Diesel.

Bob who are the manufacturers of that RS3 and caboose?

jgtrh62, are you hand laying your track?

Doing a run through check for tomorrow's switching duties .....( Railking ps3 ) 

HAPPY  FEF  everyone .  God speed.

AMTRAK ACELA approaching Grand Central Terminal on The South Fork Railroad.

Wow, so many beautiful Fronts for reviewers, and I’m getting into the thread late. Happy FEF Friday folks. @W&W, that’s a beautiful Acela on a beautiful layout, @Dallas Joseph, that’s a beautiful switcher on a really nice layout, I think Maryland and Pennsylvania?, beautiful paint scheme,

@leapinlarry posted:

@Dallas Joseph, that’s a beautiful switcher on a really nice layout, I think Maryland and Pennsylvania?, beautiful paint scheme,

Thanks for your comments Larry .       Yep it's a Scale RK Maryland & Pennsylvania with a standard paint job and I just added the caution striping to the plow and frontal area.

@coach joe posted:

jgtrh62, are you hand laying your track?

Coach Joe,

all the track in those photos and all turnouts I build are hand laid, but I will use flex track for most of the rest of my layout.

John

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, so many beautiful Fronts for reviewers, and I’m getting into the thread late. Happy FEF Friday folks. @W&W, that’s a beautiful Acela on a beautiful layout, @Dallas Joseph, that’s a beautiful switcher on a really nice layout, I think Maryland and Pennsylvania?, beautiful paint scheme,

Still a great looking layout enjoy looking around what you have on that layout, Wish I had room for a bigger layout like the old house with a turntable like yours WTG! God Speed! Mark

An accumulation of photos of club members' trains:

@coach joe posted:

Rob Leese you've done magnificent work on your Frisco locos.

Ron H, beautiful triple play of locos.

Fatman, that makes me want to rethink tinplate.  Absolutely gorgeous and in great shape.

TnkMarx, the light bulb inside is making that whole MP15 glow.  Maybe it's got a nuclear reactor in place of the Detroit Diesel.

Bob who are the manufacturers of that RS3 and caboose?

jgtrh62, are you hand laying your track?

Joe- the RS-3 is a MTH PS-2 model. The caboose is a RMT AristO series.

Bob

Larry what a great looking selection of front ends.

John the track work is amazing.

Bob I thought that was a RMT caboose but I thought the RS3 may have been K-Line.  I thought they made one in that scheme.

@coach joe posted:

Larry what a great looking selection of front ends.

John the track work is amazing.

Bob I thought that was a RMT caboose but I thought the RS3 may have been K-Line.  I thought they made one in that scheme.

K-line did one but it was closer to a blue and orange color instead of the prototypical gray on the MTH model.

https://www.worthpoint.com/wor...lirr-long-3843203349

Turntable, yards on The South Fork Railroad

Happy FEF!

Here’s the front end of a an R12 on the 7 line waiting to pull out of the station -

PW Lionel Prairie Type 2026 from 51-53 along with GG-1 2332 from 47-49 racing around the bend, Have a good FeF. And a good weekend. Nothing like the smell of a good PW motor working the rails!

Here's my ends of the front kind for this fine Friday!

RS 1 about to go in the hole to clear the main for an oncoming passenger train.

10 minutes later one of the brakeman of the RS 1 takes this shot from the rear deck.  A Pennsy PA1 in charge of a secondary passenger train wizzes by at 70 mph.

Two more Atlas Premier PS3 SD40-2 engines just released…. Enjoy FEF

FeF Western Roads. Happy Friday!!!

Lionel SP F7 AA set LionChief Plus 2.0.

Lionel F7 ABA set Legacy.

This front end does not show up often on my 10'-by-5' model railroad.

MELGAR

Some of my Red, White, and Blue fleet.

A few engines.

A modern Lionel NYC Hudson on the "ready" track.

@Sitka posted:

PW Lionel Prairie Type 2026 from 51-53 along with GG-1 2332 from 47-49 racing around the bend, Have a good FeF. And a good weekend. Nothing like the smell of a good PW motor working the rails!

Must be a late night needin' all that coffee yer haulin', Mark!

Great Northern SD7/9, Sunset Thirdrail model.

Mel, those New England roads will lease power from anyone.  Besides those GN colors look right at home as summer gives way to fall in the northeast.

TGIFEF

Have a great weekend all!
John

Happy Front End Friday!!!

I like F-3's     

Happy FEF!

Bob

It’s FEF again…have a great one!!! 🚂😉

Happy FEF !!!! 🙂  
3rd Rail MP E6s / Eagle paint on left and Jenks blue on right.    
Cheers !!! 😜