Sunset 3rd Rail CNW H-1

Not yet. Still waiting for my H-1 up here in Seattle.
Thought I last read in the 3rd Rail email news letter the shipping container was set to arrive on the 5th of this month, and the locomotives were to start getting sent out on the 10th.
We will continue to wait and see what happens this week.

I think they arrived at 3rd Rail/Sunset Monday the 6th. They're probably processing and shipping them. I expected mine by Friday, but didn't show yet. Hopefully Monday. Will post photos when it shows.

Just received a UPS Tracking number via E-mail. Since I haven't bought anything recently, I think it's on its way. I'm figuring they had to inspect the units last week.

Rob, Press, Matt:

What road number(s) did you guys order and out of curiosity, why?

My request was 3015 (I have not seen any UPS tracking yet, so maybe I’ll get what is left over) as that was the number of the best passenger photo I could find and my primary interest is passenger trains. I suspect it will be a very long time before my version of the "Challenger" is complete.

Charlie

I didn't specify. I'm pretty sure that notification I got is the locomotive given the weight and my lack of pending orders. Is that CNW H1 passenger photo out on the web somewhere?

Mine is 3016. Originally 3020 as I have big picture of C&NW H-1 show 3020 at my living room but they dont have that number so picked 3016.

It will be mainly use on freight train on my layout.

All,

I just received the UPS tracking notification this afternoon, too. Not sure what road number I ordered - not sure I specified.  Weren't the original pre-orders done something like 4 or 5 years ago for this locomotive? Either way, as long as it comes complete, unbroken and in good working/sounding condition, I know I'll be a happy camper.  Thanks Scott/Sunset!

Yep, got my UPS notification this afternoon, as well.
Reportedly due in on Wednesday.

I didn't specify a road number. I didn't see a prompt for it when I placed the order, but nor did I really think of it at the time. This is my first 3rd Rail locomotive I've ordered directly from 3rd Rail.
Granted, info on the H-1's is also rather spartan online. Choosing a road number might have been  helped if there was more documentation to be found on them.

But honestly, the road number doesn't entirely matter THAT much to me. I picked this one up primarily for its connection back to the hometown and, secondly because I'm generally a fan of big Northern-type locomotives. I couldn't pass up the opportunity for the two to be combined.

Mine is scheduled to be delivered Wednesday. Hopefully this will be the case so I can get it onto the club layout Wednesday evening.

Now for the big issue -- appropriate passenger cars. Some nice Pullman green heavyweights would compliment it nicely. For now I have a freight consist I can pull with it.

Rob, it looks like you will get yours before me, you will have to post some pictures or at least give it a run and let us know how it works.

Matt, the picture I found was from a C&NW "Northwesten Lines" quarterly. I'll see if I can make a scan and send it out. There really are not that many H-1 photos pulling passenger trains...at least that I could find. It seems like the H's were photographed more.

Charlie

Charlie,

I'm afraid I won't be posting pics anytime soon.  I'll be sure to inspect it, but I don't even have a transformer much less a layout up and running right now.  Been focusing on my other hobby, so the trains will likely take a back seat (but not IN the back seat) until closer to Trainfest.

Got the chevelle close enough to complete so that I could take it out and stretch its legs a little and see what it could do:

Racing at the Heidt's Performance Car Challenge last Saturday (below).   Had fun, but most drivers were WAY out of my league.  In pic below it only LOOKS like I'm in the lead...

And my wife thought TRAINS were an expensive hobby!

Rob

Mine just arrived. #3018. It was definitely worth the wait. Will test it at the club tonight and it will make its public debut at this weekend's Open House. As much as I was tempted, I didn't buy the 2-rail version (even though I photographed it on 2-rail track). Interestingly enough, the flanges are small enough so that there's no issue with code 148 rail.

Gorgeous, Matt!

Looks nice! Mine is scheduled for delivery on Tuesday.

Thanks for posting the pics, Matt.  I know that like me, you've been waiting a LONG time for this one.  I'd love to see a few photos of your on the club layout.  

Wow...that is a VERY nice locomotive. I'm sure all will enjoy it's maiden voyage. I do not have any 3rd Rail locomotives...those pictures will have me doing a little research into them. Enjoy. 

Really nice Matt!  Like CNWRob, I'll be looking forward to the video!

Here are a couple more down at the club. The test run video is uploading, but it's going to take a couple of hours due to its size, so I'll post it in the morning before I leave for the club.

Quick review:

The good:

• Fantastic detailing right down to the sand lines.
• Excellent Sound. Deep bass in the chuff.
• Good lighting, including red light in the Mars light housing when the engine is running in reverse. Mars light is a bit disappointing as it's a single LED that blinks on an off.
• Runs smoothly
• Very nicely packaged.
• Pickup rollers in tender
• Deck plate hides tether well. Tether is straight and slides back into tender.

The Bad:

• I couldn't afford to buy a 2-rail unit to go with the 3-rail unit.
• I want a set of scale heavyweights for it now and the 18" MTH cars aren't going to cut it.

The Ugly:

• Get serious. There's no ugly here.

I reserved it when they were first announced over two years ago and was very disappointed when the project was cancelled. It was well worth the wait.

We've put the plastic shields up to protect trains from curious hands so this one isn't that clear.

That is absolutely one beautiful, Malibu,  what yr

'71- 72,

also, Matt's pics are great,  you actually waited , " How Long ?"

thanks

Rob's Chevelle SS looks like a 1970. I was into El Caminos and my dream car would be a 1970 El Camino SS.

The video's up now at http://youtu.be/5gQUlVb3Jbg.

Matt - Thanks for posting the video.  Nice!

It sounds like 3rd Rail has a new sound set.  I've never heard that whistle before.  Nice whistle.

Matt sez:

• I couldn't afford to buy a 2-rail unit to go with the 3-rail unit.
• I want a set of scale heavyweights for it now and the 18" MTH cars aren't going to cut it.

On the first, I understand banks will rent you money on easy terms

On the second, GGD has made what you need. A little paint, new decals. Easy

Matt,

Thanks for posting the video showing your new Sunset C&NW H-1.  What a loud and robust sound coming form that model! Did you have the sound turned all the way up? The chuffs are crisp and deep.  How does it compare to other models with regard to the sounds of steam?  I know that the video showing your MTH Santa Fe Blue Goose Hudson sounded real good.

Steve

A beautiful locomotive, but what's with the rainbow wiring?  Looks like some black paint is called for.

Sound was all the way up. Chuffs set at four per revolution, so at higher speeds it occasionally skips as the sensor doesn't get enough time to fully reset. The sound set is Electric RR and given the size of the tender, I suspect they spent the extra money for a good speaker.

John:

The tender wiring was exposed because I hadn't pulled the cover out. There is a spot under the firebox where the wires are visible. I'll take a look at it as I suspect it wasn't hooked on a hangar or slipped loose in shipping.

Unfortunately, things were so busy at the open house that I didn't get any more video. I think the Apprentice shot some footage -- his YouTube handle is disneylandfreak98. Hopefully he's put up some more footage.

Matt,

I usually give my 3rd Rail wiring a little dusting of black.

Beautiful engine!

Dave

I get mine tonight, cant wait

Mine was delivered yesterday afternoon.  Only had a few minutes to unbox it and check it for damage.  No time to run it for a few days (gotta set up some track!).

Overall it looks really cool - lots of details. 

I need to find someone in the Chicagoland area that can do a good weathering job on it, though.  It's too nice of a locomotive for me to try my skills on - I'm good with $45 rolling stock, but I want a pro to do the $1000+ locos!  I think with a mild weathering job this loco could look outstanding.

Rob

Rob,

Try and contact gnnpnut through his profile.

The Apprentice and I have been discussing if and how to weather mine also. We're thinking that since the locomotive was in freight and passenger service that it should be light since the locomotive would have been washed more frequently than one that only did freight drags. If we weather it, it's probably going to just get a light dusting of "dust" colored Floquil.

Many might not agree with me, but very few folks really know how to CORRECTLY weather a steam locomotive model FOR THAT SPECIFIC RAILROAD! Most modelers don't really understand what actually gets "greasy/oily", or "sooty", or "mineral deposits" from varying grades of water (dependent on what part of the country the locomotive operates in), occasional "rust areas". 

Prototype photos of the specific class and railroad you are trying to duplicate are a must. Granted, I am not able to air brush (asthma) but my long time custom painter & detailer, buddy, as well as gnnpnut, know how to relate to photographs, plus my added instructions from more than 50 years of working on steam locomotives. I thus know what gets "dirty" where, and why!

I thus know what gets "dirty" where, and why!

I envy your knowledge.  I can only go by photos, mostly B&W, which requires a lot of guesswork.  One of the issues with photos is the lack of dating and whether or not an engine was recently shopped.  Many photographers only went after the best examples and passed on the rest.  Rust is very hard to see in B&W photos, and it is only on recent color pictures of steam excursions that one gets an idea of where the potential areas are and most of those pictures are of engines extremely well kept.

Thanks for the info, HW - I'll probably reach out to gnnpnut soon, as I might try and plan ahead for a change and get things repaired/checked/fixed and/or painted long BEFORE I want to run them (which this year looks like Trainfest in Nov!).  I have a few photos of the the H-1s from various books, including a 11" X 40" black and white fold out from a book that I actually had framed and hung in the train room.  Unfortunately I don't think the large black and white photo really shows off the "in service" condition as I recall - photo is somewhat washed out.

Rob

Rust is actually very rare on working steam locomotives, back in the day. There are so many different lubricants that get slung all over everything, except on top of the boiler jacket, that not many components "rust". An exception would be the "Y" Class compound locomotives on the N&W Rwy. As clean as the N&W kept their motive power, there was something about those un-lagged bare castings/steam pipes, on the front of the front engine, which where exposed to pretty high temperatures, and thus rusted. 

Generally the most visual component of weathering, is always the mineral deposits resulting from pretty bad water. Prime examples would be UP, AT&SF, and some SP locomotives which where subjected to mineral laden water supplies.

Spectacular locomotive, Matt!  Congratulations and thanks for sharing the video of the run on the handsome Angels Gate layout!

EnviousBear

The C&NW H-1s are in stock and waiting for you.

Come see the new videos of the H-1 at the Mt. Marlborough Scenic Railway:

http://www.3rdrail.com/instock.html#H1

Here is a picture to wet your whistle.

Scott Mann

Mine sounds OK, nothing too impressive. The whistle is pretty quiet compared to all my other locos. Dollar for dollar I am more impressed with MTH and Lionel than i am with this one. its a $1000 loco in my opinion not worth $1400

The Lionel S-3 was a wonderful locomotive at a great price point.  Given the fact that there is a running example, there was / is a lot of interest in that engine. 

There isn't a surviving example of a C&NW H-1.  There are not a lot of people that will purchase this locomotive in the quantities that Lionel built the S-3 in.  So that rules out die cast.  That means that if the locomotive was going to be built, it needed to be built in lower quantities in brass.  And for brass, it is worth a MSRP of $1,400.00.

If it wasn't for the offerings from 3rd Rail over the last 10 years, I would not have even considered modeling in three rail. 

Regards,

GNNPNUT