Weaver 0 Gauge Masonic Train

Thanks Dave for giving us a look at this special train. Those of us who have a Masonic affiliation really appreciate this. Most of us outside of the State of Pennsylvania never knew it existed.

Dave thank you for posting. I have a very good friend down south who is very active state wide in the Masons and I am going to send this to him. I bet he never was aware of it either. Thanks again!!!!

Those masonic sets were blown out after 200 and some 0-8-0's were repainted PRR. weaver at the time had extra number boards to correct the 0-8-0 if anyone wanted them.

prrhorseshoecurve,

   Any chance I might be able to get my hands on another set, have some buddies who would love to have one, seems most of our Masonic people never knew the train was produced. I purchased mine in 1998, as a preproduction model, so the 2000 release date was some where in the ball park anyway.  Please blow me out a couple more will ya.  I would also like to have a big long Masonic Train of my own, using double the rolling stock. 

 

Bob,

  The 414 number has no meaning that I know of, ofcourse I am not a 33 Degree Master Mason.  The 414 may mean something to men like my Father, Ben Franklin and

others, who held such positions in the Masonic order, unfortunately something I will never be privily too.

 

PCRR/Dave

Sorry to say, but I don't think the detail, or the decoration, is very incredible.  Looks pretty average to me, but for those who are interested... go for it. 

One of the Lodges that meets in the Temple my Lodge (Jerusalem #506) meets in (in Northeast Philadelphia) has a copy of that set they run on their annual Christmas layout. It looks very nice, and thanks for the pictures.

Bob,

   Purchasing trains off E-bay is like playing Russian Roulette,

I do not purchase trains in this manner, I deal with LHS or direct from the

dealers or parent company. 

PCRR/Dave

 

That would be a great set to have running during our Lodge's Christmas open house day held every year.

Merry Christmas to you Brother Charlie. I agree, it would be nice to have one of these sets.

PennsyK4,
    That is exactly what the Grand Lodge did, and from what I understand the engine was purposely ordered without the Whistle & Bell to run during part of the open meeting, guess someone thought the guys would mess around with the sounds during the meeting, and you know, some of our guys would probably have done just that.
If anyone happens to see a set on sale, some place other than the internet, please let me know, we do have members who would love to own this Masonic train set.

RadioRon,
    The pictures do not due the trains justice, that is for sure.

PCRR/Dave

 

Dave,

I did happen to see the loco at Nicholas Smith trains in the used section this past Saturday. I don't know if it included the set, but from what I remember the price as $295.

 

-Alex

Alex,

  Thanks much for the info, do you have a contact number for Smith by any chance?

I will call and check this out.

PCRR/Dave

Not recent but the train shop on U.S. 30 in Gettysburg, PA  had a Masonic set when

I visited there.

 

Al W.

Alex,

   I just got off the phone with Nicholas Smith Trains, they do not have the full Train and you were correct they want $295.00 for the Weaver engine and tender, $300.00

Plus after tax plus shipping for only the Weaver Engine and tender.  We keep looking for the complete.

 

Al,

  I believe one of our guys bought the Masonic Train that was in the Greensburg store,

I will find out however, and thanks for the info!

 

Al,

Yep just got off the phone with Dick's Train House in Greensburg, one of our guys already purchased the Masonic train he had a while back.

 

 

PCRR/Dave

I am saying Gettysburg not Greensburg-- they are about 200 miles apart.

 

Al

Al,

   Been a busy week and I misread your post. What is the name of that particular train store, I do not have their number.

PCRR/Dave

Passenger Train Collector,

   Brian check your e-mail ASAP

PCRR/Dave

Though I'm in California, I heard about the set and was able to buy one about ten years ago - at a very good price - from a Mason in PA.  It has been run in the appropriate places for the appropriate audiences.  

rthomps,

    I know what you mean, I thought this might be another one of those appropriate places, many Masons around the country that love O guage trains, have no idea

a Masonic Train was ever produced.   It seems the word was only released in the Pa & north eastern notices.  I thought talking about the Masonic Train and showing some pictures on the OGR forum might give some of our Masonic members around the country and the world, a chance to see and even own one of the trains.  I thought we might have more Masons on the OGR than anyone really knew, and that they might be very interested in the train.

PCRR/Dave

Great, more deals for me.  The vast majority of my trains are from eBay.  

Pine Creek: at 14 years after the production of this set, which from what was said above, was apparently a failure when released, you are HIGHLY unlikely to find it either in a local hobby shop or from Weaver. 

RadioRon,

   I just found one NIB, never opened, and have dropped some private e-mail with the businesses phone number, to one of our OGR members, they are definitely a lot harder to find after about 14 years.  Computers actually do some decent things at times.

The Supreme Architect has always done the most Highly Unlikely things for me.

PCRR/Dave

 

 

Many thanks Dave. We just got out power back after 24 hours without it. The big weekend storm hit Maine hard and there are still 100,000 without power. I will make contact this afternoon.

 

Again, many thanks for your efforts.

Pine Creek Railroad

 

I have the Masonic Set minus the engine.

I have the set box and all the cars....

Contact me off line if interested and I will get it out of storage......

My e-mail is in my profile.....

CC JCT,

   Check your e-mail

PCRR/Dave

Passenger Train Collector,

   You and your beautiful wife be real careful up there right now, I am being told it is really bad and my be getting even worse.  Do not ake any chances right now, my Buddy told me emergency crews are streached way thin.

PCRR/Dave

 

Thanks Dave, power back and we are doing well. looking forward to Christmas Day.

Dave: As a brother I would be interested in this train also. It also seems that we have quite a few brothers on this forum that have an interest also. I am often at Weaver, my jobs takes me by the factory several times a month and I would be willing to stop and approach them about doing another Masonic Set if we could get enough interested folks that would buy one. If we need a lodge to sponsor my home lodge is in Mississippi and not sure they would have an interest but maybe a PA or MD or other lodge member could step up and have their lodge sponsor.

 

Pine Creek:

There are two train stores in Gettysburg, I can't remember the name of either.

One is long established and is mostly HO. The other is newer and on Rt. 30.

Mostly O gauge.

 

Al

There's 1 on Ebay now from TRAINZ  ending Sunday

Al,

   Thanks much for the initial in put, I contacted the correct business, they did have

one Masonic Train left, have advised Brian of where he can now purchase his NIB Masonic train.

 

RJT,

   I will look for a Masonic train for you if you would like one of the originals,

I doubt however you will get another sponsorship.  I would like MTH to build a Tin Plate DCS Masonic train, I believe the brothers would love something along that line.

Let me know if you want me to look for an original for you, maybe I will get lucky again, and find another one NIB.

 

PCRR/Dave

 

              To all my Brothers

 

Charlie,

    Now that is a nice Christmas ornament!

PCRR/Dave

Merry Christmas to my brothers! I bought mine about 6-7 years ago from the Brother in charge of selling them. According to him the sets didn't sell as well as expected. He was trying to get rid of them. I forget how many he had.

I know its a long shot but I'll try to get mine out of storage and see if I have his name and number. If I do I'll call him to see if he still has any. (Stranger things have happened)

If he does still have some, I'll post it and then you can email me privately for his name and number.

Pine Creek: I am very glad you found one... its always so rewarding to locate something thats not all that easy to find anymore.   Enjoy!  Happy New Year!   :<

GREAT thread...and I'm glad that the set is being brought to the attention of Masons on this forum.

 

Another set would be nice in tinplate, but I just don't see it happening.  But, nothing is ever certain.

Gentlemen,

   I doubt it will ever happen myself, but hay it is nice to dream.

One of the big problems with the sales of the original train was nobody connected with the publicity of the original Masonic train, was connected with the OGR forum, so the word about the availability of the original, was only publicized via the north east Masonic bulletin.    The Brothers out west and down south and for that matter, the rest of the world, had no idea an O Gauge Masonic train, had been produced for the craft.

I do believe the interest would have been much much greater, had the the availability been known to the full Masonic organization, and especially the affiliates, like OES,

Shriners, Demolay, Knights Templers, Scottish Right, Ameranth, which are all represented on the original Masonic train.   Just the little bit we talked about the train here has spurred decent interest, and the Masonic train was produced back just before the year 2000.  With a forum like this that reaches thru out the country and the world, sales of the Masonic train would have been much different.

 

PCRR/Dave

 

Ya got to love the looks of the Weaver 0-8-0 Engine and Coal Tender with the idents

Since 1986,

 

GREAT thread...and I'm glad that the set is being brought to the attention of Masons on this forum. ( posted by rthomps)

 

I'm also glad you found one.

Larry Sr.

    Thank you sir, maybe we will find a couple more NIB Masonic Trains for 2 of the other men that have shown interest in owning one.  I will take a look around this next coming  week.

PCRR/Dave

 Cool 

 

Antique Dudley Masonic Watch

19 Jewels Model 2 , Holy Bible Masonic movement , guilded pallet bridge matching plates , 12 size , Stunning shape , case and movement are excellent , metal dial has blemishing , the watch was obviously well kept and always professionally Serviced over the years , only 2800 of these were produced in between 1925 and 1935 , case is 14kt gold Filled Keystone Jboss , dubbed as the Masons Model , open diamond hands a lovely watch . rare and exquisite sn: 3056 ..lot nb D152

About Dudley :

William Wallace Dudley was born in 1851 in St. John, New Brunswick Canada. He began his career as a horologist at the age of 13, when he became an apprentice to a maker of ship chronometers in Canada. Some years later after completing his apprenticeship, he moved to the United States and joined the Waltham Watch factory in Waltham, Mass., where he was employed as a model maker.

Dudley moved around from one watch factory to another gaining knowledge and experience. He went to Springfield, Ill., where he was connected with the Illinois Watch Company, and later moved to South Bend, Indiana, where he joined the South Bend Watch Company as superintendent. His next move was back east to Chambersburg, N.J., to work for the Trenton Watch Company. From 1906 to 1920, he was designer and superintendent of manufacture at the Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster, Pa., but left at the age of 69 to fulfill his dream of establishing a watch factory. It is believed Mr. Dudley had seen the the M. Tobias & Co. watch made in England with the two Masonic emblems in the balance cock.

Deeply interested in Freemasonry, he was a member of both York and Scottish Rites, the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon.

 

 

Aliquippa & Southern,

    I am very interested in the Phone number of the man who might have more of the

Masonic Trains, if you would dig it out I would appreciate it.

Also if any of the OGR members have knowledge of where I can acquire more of the Masonic Train rolling stock, please let me know.

PCRR/Dave

Hello Brothers

The year 2000 was indeed the year of issue. The then RWGM of 2000-2001 is an O-Guager and has ties to the Weaver folks. The train was his idea. It was offered for sale in The Pennsylvania Freemason in his first year in office.

I have often thought of creating my own Masonic train or at least a private obs car to tack on the back of a crack passenger train for the Grand Lodge officers to travel across the state.

Regards and Happy New Yea.r

 

S & F

Conductor Earl

Grand Chaplain, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania  

The set was at J&D Whistle Stop in Quakertown, PA 215-538-0501. I haven't been at the shop in some time. I would call to see what the status is.

Some information please.  My husband's uncle gave him a Pennsylvannia Masonic Train set. It is in the original box.  We opened it to make sure it was all there.  We would like to sell it to some one who would appreciate it, but have no idea of what to ask for it.  We would rather it go to a Mason in Pa. as his uncle was a very active Mason there. Thanks for any help you can give us.

DT

You might want to e-mail PCRR/Dave. He may possibly have a lead for you. I respect the fact that you want to sell it to a Mason in Pennsylvania, but there are members of the craft form all over the country that would love to have this set.

Thank you so much.  Love these trains. Fascinating.

Passenger Train Collector,

    Did you pick up your Masonic Train yet?

PCRR/Dave

DT,

   Check your e-mail!

PCRR/Dave

Yes Dave, have it in hand.

PTC,

    I figure you are going to display your Masonic Train, because you are really a Passenger Train runner, it should look real nice on display in your home.

Congrats on getting your Masonic train home, once you have her up on display post some pictures of her will ya!

PCRR/Dave

Dave:

 

First stop for it is to a Lodge meeting for show and tell. I am doing me best to get some of the guys interested in out hobby. Some of them REALLY need a hobby.

PTC,

    Great idea and yes I agree, there are many in the craft now who need a hobby, and something to participate in on a daily basis.  Most of us are not 25 years old any more either.

PCRR/Dave 

From what I understand my initial Lodge was formed in Camden NJ by a group of READING RR employees meeting in a boxcar.

Henry S. Haines Lodge.

Charlie,

   Now that is just fantastic, my understanding is that there were more than a few lodges that started in this manner, both in NJ & Pa.  The men who worked on the Railroads started them before the lodge buildings & temples were constructed.  A real nice piece of history.

PCRR/Dave 

Hello Brothers,

It is great to be in on these conversations. To add to comment on the sharing of the hobby with our brethren, have any of you been to Elizabethtown and visited the O guage and other layouts at the Masonic Home?  The Fall days are a good time to visit. This year we will be dedicating an eternal flame to honor our veterans.

On another note, maybe we should try to meet one another at York sometime. It could be fun.

 

As for prototype railroading, I've been told that in the old days on the Pennsy one had to be a "ring knocker" in order to get promoted.  This probably came from those who were passed by and considering the times, may have been somewhat true. It was not that unusual in some professions.

 

Simply by happenstance, at times at Steamtown I had an all masonic crew. We had a lot of fun working together and from time to time used some unusual hand signals had some clever radio conversations. It's fun to ask the Engineer if he will "be off or from".

 

Conductor Earl         

Earl:

 

That's a great idea, a breakfast/lunch/or dinner at York. I believe that there are many brothers out there in Forum land who would like this idea.

Earl,

   That is a fantasitc idea, I have not been to York in 30 years, doubt I will ever go again, York falls right in Grouse season, when I am training gun dogs every day.  Hope all you gentelmen meet and have a great time talking trains and seeing each other, that breakfast and the DCS dinner I would really like to attend, would love meeting you guys in person.

PCRR/Dave 

 

Ladies & Gentlemen,

    It seems we may still have a few craft members who are interested in aquiring a Masonic Train, if you happen to see or hear about one, especially the ones that are like new in the Masonic box, please let us know so we can pass this information along to the craft members who are interested.

Thanks much

PCRR/Dave

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WEAVER...?hash=item566274c232

 

$250.00 Buy it now on Ebay!!!!  WITH BOX

Good Luck, I hope you get it

I have the boxed set with the original shipping box. If you are interested contact me off line

 

Thanks

 

Al

lot 426 at Stouts auction has a set up for auction tomorrow.  It is c-8 and the current bid is $140.00.  LOCOMOTION

Just to revive an old topic, there is currently one of these available on Ebay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weaver...;hash=item2c9147c74c

 

Not much time left, though, less than a day.

 

If any of you folks still want one of these sets, now may be the time to act.