Least favorite train item

Mine wouldn't be an item but a feature that is missing.  I really wish MTH would add a pickup roller to their tenders.  I have numerous #5 and #7 atlas switches on my layout and unless you run these engines at a speed higher than 25 mph they stop.  

Boards...the electronic kind.  I used to collect/operate Lionel and MTH Vision, Premier, Legacy etc. The boards add a lot of capability but when they blow they are a nuisance and I don't like mailing my locos around the country.

So I got rid of 'em.  

Now everything is tinplate and controlled by simple, repairable electro-mechanical devices. Fun and easy repairs make life fun, which is where we are SUPPOSED to be with trains!

I never liked my father's Lionel "Scout." It always seemed a bit koo-koo, and was very, very fond of derailing, especially at switches, as well as on curves.

The musty, rusted, tar covered, cat littered junk that comes with the treasures...

(Note: I thrive on regular junk as it can be salvaged, kit bashed, or used as parts to breath life in to things)

Rob English posted:

So I got rid of 'em.  

I am moving in a similar direction.  I will keep most of the engines but strip their boards and simplify the controls.  I have come to *really* dislike CC and all its attendant paraphenalia.

This:

It speaks for itself. 

Trainlover160 posted:

Do you have a least favorite item?

Any of them that are broken and need work!

Oh, and that ugly monstrosity that appears in the previous post!

How can you not like a standard gauge Lionel 513 cattle car?  It’s a thing of beauty.

Least favorite.  I’m not a big fan of fastrack.  I love the command control capability but the product itself is a little cheesy.

Rob English posted:

Boards...the electronic kind.  I used to collect/operate Lionel and MTH Vision, Premier, Legacy etc. The boards add a lot of capability but when they blow they are a nuisance and I don't like mailing my locos around the country.

So I got rid of 'em.  

Now everything is tinplate and controlled by simple, repairable electro-mechanical devices. Fun and easy repairs make life fun, which is where we are SUPPOSED to be with trains!

Well said Rob.....

While I'm a nut for Christmas, with two decorated trees, each with a winter layout under them, I do not like Christmas, or other "holiday", trains. The railroads did not run special Christmas design trains back in the old days. However, I did conduct a poll among the 175 "passengers" riding in my trains, and learned that 60% of them were going home for Christmas.

My credit card statement!!

overlandflyer posted:

You may change your mind once you discover these:

Jeff Kane has the TT-100 and TS-162 adapters available, along with many of the other classic parts suppliers.

Do traction tires qualify?

MELGAR

The Lionel Freight Station. Stupid accessory and it's still on my layout. Hate it. Activate it and the figures spin back and forth. I'm waiting to find an accessory that will fit in that spot and I can take the hammer to this one. 

Roger

The Acela. Unwritten instructions...Run it for 5 minutes....take to get repaired, get it back from repair run it and it's fine. Take it out a week later..broken again. Repeat until you find someone to sell it to.

Scott Smith

Two pretty useless cars that came in my first set of trains back in the early 60’s... still have the cars for sentimental purposes, but would never run them!!! (Not my pictures)

The target car sides would rattle loose when running at anything higher than a crawl (not an easy feat with post war engines) even with the pin inserted, and despite the commercials of the day, hitting the target from one of the missile cars is next to impossible.

Hi Paul,

Funny thing, these two cars are two of my favorites. I bought the turbo car from Trainland new in the early 70s with money saved from my paper route.

Miketg

Santa Fe 3751 posted:

This:

It speaks for itself. 

I bet it will outsell a couple of the challengers in that group. 

Anybody remember the daylight?

Dave