Midwest Monday

WORKING ON NEW LAYOUT

For the last 15 years I have mostly been collecting, throwing up a temporary layout here and there as time and life allowed.  80% of all the track / infrastructure I have purchased has been used so each layout is the normal learning process and working out a lot of bugs normally.  Very beneficial because you learn what works, what's fun and interesting and how to fix things (critical).  I have acquired a lot of realtrax, I think it's the best for quickly building temp layouts and experimenting.  Easy to change, generally reliable.  So now I'm finally in a place with space to build my first really large layout using the Gargraves, Ross and Atlas I have been strategically buying along the way.

I realize building the bigger more complex layout will take time, months for sure, maybe years.  So first, I have decided to build what I hope will be a modular layout using all the Realtrax.  This will allow me to have something to run during the time I build my first 'Big One'.  What I will start sharing with the group (unless you all find it too boring) is both my mid-west stock (most of my collection) with updates on the realtrax build.  My initial design is about 10x20.  I'm testing on the floor to make sure I like the flow and working out design flaws.  I designed it with several interconnecting ovals and a good medium/small yard.  What I wanted to do is to be able to run 2 or 3 long trains while making up / tearing down trains in the yard.  Will share layout design next week.

I feel most connected to this group of fellow enthusiasts and welcome any thoughts and suggestions along the way.  If anyone is offended by more lengthy posts or finds this to be a distraction, let me know and I will go back to posting just pictures and videos.  Jim

Cars going onto a Southern Pacific freight leaving St. Louis that even has clean engines on the train 😊

An AC&Y local heads out:

Tom

@DETROIT posted:

WORKING ON NEW LAYOUT

For the last 15 years I have mostly been collecting, throwing up a temporary layout here and there as time and life allowed.  80% of all the track / infrastructure I have purchased has been used so each layout is the normal learning process and working out a lot of bugs normally.  Very beneficial because you learn what works, what's fun and interesting and how to fix things (critical).  I have acquired a lot of realtrax, I think it's the best for quickly building temp layouts and experimenting.  Easy to change, generally reliable.  So now I'm finally in a place with space to build my first really large layout using the Gargraves, Ross and Atlas I have been strategically buying along the way.

I realize building the bigger more complex layout will take time, months for sure, maybe years.  So first, I have decided to build what I hope will be a modular layout using all the Realtrax.  This will allow me to have something to run during the time I build my first 'Big One'.  What I will start sharing with the group (unless you all find it too boring) is both my mid-west stock (most of my collection) with updates on the realtrax build.  My initial design is about 10x20.  I'm testing on the floor to make sure I like the flow and working out design flaws.  I designed it with several interconnecting ovals and a good medium/small yard.  What I wanted to do is to be able to run 2 or 3 long trains while making up / tearing down trains in the yard.  Will share layout design next week.

I feel most connected to this group of fellow enthusiasts and welcome any thoughts and suggestions along the way.  If anyone is offended by more lengthy posts or finds this to be a distraction, let me know and I will go back to posting just pictures and videos.  Jim

Jim your always welcome no matter how long the post are nice videos and thanks for posting

@Tom Densel posted:

An AC&Y local heads out:

Tom

Tom I feel like in East Chicago thanks for sharing

@DG posted:

Cars going onto a Southern Pacific freight leaving St. Louis that even has clean engines on the train 😊

DG. That’s one big B&O Boxcar thanks for posting

A GP9 leads a short Penn Central freight through a small town:

Tom

Happy Midwest Monday. Tom thanks for kicking us off and a nice run I might add. Here’s a favorite of mine my first sound locomotives a Weaver RSD12. Enjoy your week

Tom Densel - really neat and well done video, my attempts at this have not been nearly as successful, super job.  Lee I liked the NKP diesel I acquired an Alco RS-1 with sound a while back but have not yet been able to put it into service, it arrived from Lionel broken and nonworking, so its been repaired (they say) so we will see if that is true.

Today I have something perhaps a tiny bit off the subject...its not a "Midwest Railroad" per se but it most certainly is from the mid west.  This Lionel boxcar was made in the 80's for a special customer, "Town House TV and Appliances"  of Milwaukee and Oakton and especially their "super store" in Miles, IL.

Typical of the times, Lionel made these special boxcars in limited runs, especially for the Christmas Holidays, for the store to put into a regular Lionel set to increase sales and provide the store with some advertising.  These cars, like this one, were uncatalogued and not normally sold separately,  and while those for big customers like Sears or Montgomery Wards might be made in some volume, I expect Town House Appliances did not order too many.

Hope everyone is enjoying your 4th of July holiday...best wishes for a great week

Don

Pushing autoparts around Ohio on the day after the 4th

@Don McErlean posted:

Tom Densel - really neat and well done video, my attempts at this have not been nearly as successful, super job.  Lee I liked the NKP diesel I acquired an Alco RS-1 with sound a while back but have not yet been able to put it into service, it arrived from Lionel broken and nonworking, so its been repaired (they say) so we will see if that is true.

Today I have something perhaps a tiny bit off the subject...its not a "Midwest Railroad" per se but it most certainly is from the mid west.  This Lionel boxcar was made in the 80's for a special customer, "Town House TV and Appliances"  of Milwaukee and Oakton and especially their "super store" in Miles, IL.

Typical of the times, Lionel made these special boxcars in limited runs, especially for the Christmas Holidays, for the store to put into a regular Lionel set to increase sales and provide the store with some advertising.  These cars, like this one, were uncatalogued and not normally sold separately,  and while those for big customers like Sears or Montgomery Wards might be made in some volume, I expect Town House Appliances did not order too many.

Hope everyone is enjoying your 4th of July holiday...best wishes for a great week

Don

Wow Don never seen that one and it is beautiful

I want one....

@Don McErlean posted:

Today I have something perhaps a tiny bit off the subject...its not a "Midwest Railroad" per se but it most certainly is from the mid west.  This Lionel boxcar was made in the 80's for a special customer, "Town House TV and Appliances"  of Milwaukee and Oakton and especially their "super store" in Miles, IL.

Hope everyone is enjoying your 4th of July holiday...best wishes for a great week

Don

Town House was a great place to do business with.  Not only for trains, but for appliances and home electronics.

Rusty

Lee and beardog49 thank you for your comments on my boxcar, I sort of have a hobby within the hobby of collecting these little "plug door" cars especially the ones that were uncatalogued and made for commercial customers.  Its fun for me and I enjoy trying to find out about the cars and their clients.

Rusty Traque - Sir, you have really triggered my curiosity.  It appears you know something about "Town House Appliances and TV "   I unfortunately know nearly nothing.  Was this a large store?  Did they sell trains beyond the Holiday seasons or were they well known locally as a source for our hobby?  I would truly love to know more, if you can post a little bit of your observations it would be great.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Lee and beardog49 thank you for your comments on my boxcar, I sort of have a hobby within the hobby of collecting these little "plug door" cars especially the ones that were uncatalogued and made for commercial customers.  Its fun for me and I enjoy trying to find out about the cars and their clients.

Rusty Traque - Sir, you have really triggered my curiosity.  It appears you know something about "Town House Appliances and TV "   I unfortunately know nearly nothing.  Was this a large store?  Did they sell trains beyond the Holiday seasons or were they well known locally as a source for our hobby?  I would truly love to know more, if you can post a little bit of your observations it would be great.

Don

Town House was a fairly large independent home appliance and tv store.  Some of their cheezy commercials might have been cringe worthy, but it was a good store

They had a full time train department selling Lionel, Williams and K-line.  Mike Moore was the owner and active in the hobby.  He even held a swap or two at the store.  He was a true gentleman in my experience.  After Townhouse closed down (I'm guessing because of completion from the Big Boxes,) he opened a new store called Train and Toys of Yesterday a couple of miles away, I forget the exact location.  It remained open until his passing in 2010 as I recall.

Rusty

Well folks, I guess everyone is busy today but I could not pass up a Monday with out posting to our "midwest" thread.  I was fairly busy myself this morning the CEO decided that we needed to paint the front steps to our house.  Not as easy as it sounds as we are raised one full story off the ground!  But anyway, thought I would post my contribution this afternoon.  Rusty Traque, THANK YOU for the information on Town House TV and Appliances.  Now I have a great story to go with my boxcar.

Well today my contribution is certainly "midwest" the Minneapolis and St. Louis RR which advertised itself as "The Peoria Gateway". I Here is the #9775 Lionel boxcar from 1976.  Lionel at this point is still being produced under license by the Mills Product Company or MPC part of General Mills inc.  Interesting to me, now that we are 5 years into production by MPC, they apparently no longer feel the need to include the "MPC" logo along with the name LIONEL.  Earlier boxcars from say 1970-71 had the logo MPC below the word LIONEL.  Well anyway  at nearly 50 years old, I was pleased to find this fellow nearly new in his original box.  I liked the handsome red/white livery and it looks good going around my layout.

Best wishes for a great week everyone.  Happy Monday!

Don

Thanks Don - Yes, it's been one of those streaches where I'm not sure what day it is.

This is an old video - I don't think I had ever shared.  Good MwM to all!!!

A Penn Central freight passes through an industrial area in Northwest Ohio:

Tom

@Tom Densel posted:

A Penn Central freight passes through an industrial area in Northwest Ohio:

Tom

Tom. That’s one long worm. Thanks for sharing

@DETROIT posted:

Thanks Don - Yes, it's been one of those streaches where I'm not sure what day it is.

This is an old video - I don't think I had ever shared.  Good MwM to all!!!

Jim. Thanks for sharing nice little run.

@Don McErlean posted:

Well folks, I guess everyone is busy today but I could not pass up a Monday with out posting to our "midwest" thread.  I was fairly busy myself this morning the CEO decided that we needed to paint the front steps to our house.  Not as easy as it sounds as we are raised one full story off the ground!  But anyway, thought I would post my contribution this afternoon.  Rusty Traque, THANK YOU for the information on Town House TV and Appliances.  Now I have a great story to go with my boxcar.

Well today my contribution is certainly "midwest" the Minneapolis and St. Louis RR which advertised itself as "The Peoria Gateway". I Here is the #9775 Lionel boxcar from 1976.  Lionel at this point is still being produced under license by the Mills Product Company or MPC part of General Mills inc.  Interesting to me, now that we are 5 years into production by MPC, they apparently no longer feel the need to include the "MPC" logo along with the name LIONEL.  Earlier boxcars from say 1970-71 had the logo MPC below the word LIONEL.  Well anyway  at nearly 50 years old, I was pleased to find this fellow nearly new in his original box.  I liked the handsome red/white livery and it looks good going around my layout.

Best wishes for a great week everyone.  Happy Monday!

Don

Don. Once again thanks for kicking us off this Monday. This car is one of my favorites of the 6464 series I have the latest one of this. I’ll post it one day.

Sorry guys nothing from me this week very busy but thanks for sharing your pics and videos and Contributing to the thread. Have a great week

@Tom Densel posted:

A Penn Central freight passes through an industrial area in Northwest Ohio:

Tom

LOVE IT!!!  Tom - I don't think anyone in O Gauge has better PC cabooses then you, great video.  I would love to figure out a PC group / share to draw any of the other PC guys out of the bushes.

Pulled from the oldie file - not able to get new stuff this week.

Good MwM to you all!!!

Don, if you have any extra plug doors, let me know. I did find a couple of TOYS R US for good prices this week. Haven't arrived yet.

John

First generation diesel power on the point of this PC freight as it passes a small town grain elevator:

Tom

@DETROIT posted:

Pulled from the oldie file - not able to get new stuff this week.

Good MwM to you all!!!

Some beautiful switchers Jim. Thanks for sharing

@Tom Densel posted:

First generation diesel power on the point of this PC freight as it passes a small town grain elevator:

Tom

Tom that Worm on the the Head looks dirty and tired. Very nice manifest and run. Thanks for sharing

Here’s one from me a little late but I’m here. This may be a repeated.

Hi everyone, I know its Tuesday but traveled all weekend and didn't get home till late Sunday night then Monday activities just overcame the schedule.  So I guess I will try to catch up and post.  beardog49, at the moment I am away from my collection but in truth I since I retired I have not been acquiring too much so I don't believe I have any extra's but I will check when we get back home next week.  The "Toys are Us" cars are fun to find.  My recollection is that I got mine the "hard way", I bought them from Toys are Us !!  Keep on the lookout, they also made at least 2 "giraffe" cars,  larger than the plug doors but with the giraffe head mechanism out the top and the same basic livery design.  See below. 

Now for our MWM thread, here is the Marx interpretation of the Baltimore and Ohio.  First their F-3 fleet.

Next a couple of Marx B&O boxcars.  These are similar to the Lionel plug door box cars, most Marx collectors label them "medium" cars in that they are 8 wheel, auto coupler, but the doors do not slide. beardog 49 - you might try picking up some of these. Like the Lionel plugdoors they are not often considered valuable collectables (thus inexpensive) but they are fun to collect.  I have a "transition" car with Lionel trucks on one end and Marx on the other that allow me to run these with my Lionel engines.

Finally, classic Marx.  The 6" Marx B&O boxcar, sliding doors and all !

Well that's it for me, late Tuesday for a Monday post.  Sorry everyone but I hope you have a great week.

Don

Have not had an abundance of time to complete my test layout, work keeps getting in the way!!!

Hope all MwMers are well! JP

Hi Don, I started collecting the Marx boxcars a few years when I got  back in the hobby. I still look. I noticed that the prices

for marx 8 wheel cars like these has been creeping up lately so I have been buying reasonably priced good ones. Just got a

gorgeous black/orange lettering hopper this morning. Shipping is what is keeping me from buying a lot of things.

Saw a 6034 plug door for $70!!! plus $20 plus for shipping. A common conrail was listed $12.99 with $46.34 shipping!!!!

I emailed the seller, no response, but I am sure I will get "I don't set the shipping, ebay does".

A Penn Central freight train crosses the diamond as the tower operator does the roll-by inspection:

Tom

Guys your pics and videos  look great and thanks for sharing. Sorry nothing again for me.

Hi everyone...well I am back home in Texas and so its not as "late" as it would be if I was in Savannah (Central time you know).  beardog 49, I am just catching up and read your post last week on the Marx cars.  Nice Hopper by the way, these plastic 8 wheel cars are coming up in value as they are now almost 45 years old or older.  E-bay shipping, I also agree, is (sometimes) insane!  As you illustrated, they sometimes ask more for shipping than for the item.

Well speaking of Marx, Lee Drennen, I thought I would start off today with a Marx switcher engine from the Missouri Pacific system (MP).  This #800 MP switcher was made by Mr. Marx in 1975-76 and was part of a freight set called "The Eagle".    Here is the switcher and his MoPac caboose

Here is the "Eagle" freight complete, with one exception.  The Erie flat should have two red tractors facing each other but when the set came to me the tractors had long gone off to plow other fields (LOL)!  So I replaced them with a Marx truck.  Sort of in keeping with the set but not really.  Some day I may find those tractors.   The rest of the set is accurate, including the #9553 orange gulf 4 wheel tanker with the black colored truck facade over the wheels, which is sort of hard to find.

Well everyone, I hope you have a great week.  Best wishes.

Don

Thanks for kicking us off Don and I have a special place in my heart for MoPac

A few more from IC

American Flyer

Bing

Fandor

Ives

Lionel

How about some AC&Y?

In the early days of Amtrak on a Monday near Toledo as day comes to an end.

Good Morning all. Happy Monday here’s one I took in DeSoto Mo. first time I ever seen on it real life. Enjoy your week