Hi Kevin,

I don't know about that one, I think if you ask nicely they might return your old non repairable one with a new one so you can swap shells yourself. I know a few years ago they did that for 2 of my clubs 2-8-0's I don'tknow if it was a special request or not.

Stephen

hi Jake,

In most of my cases, They have just replaced the locomotive with a new one in a sealed box. I once asked them to return my box I sent a return in and service didn't obey my wishes even with it in writing.

Stephen

  The IHC ones are the ones I mentioned in my first post on this thread. I have them on my old timer work trains and a few other 40 foot cars. They also work well on older Bachmann spec passenger cars when the coupler boxes try to droop. just use Magic Mate-Kadee combos.

Stephen

  Heres a couple of older Big Hooks I repainted the black one is a tyco model the orange one a older Bachmann one.



Alex when that GP30 derails in all that snow just give me a call I have 4 big hooks and 1 10 ton crane on the roaster.

Stephen

  Did someone call out the big hooks?


the black one is Tyco and the orange one is a old Bachmann


red Santa Fe is anew old Tyco notyet converted to metal wheels and kadees the black one is a 1960 AHM model which needs new trucks and some way to raise and lower the boom. Since it didnt have a control rod in the box when it was given to me. Also in the yard blocked by big hooks are 4 Proto 2000GP38s for the IC and GM&O



Athearn RTR crane just to pretty to repaint.

Stephen

Looks wonderful, I have two from Atlas for the ICG great little crummies they run and look great.

Stephen

  Thats really the best way to do older rolling stock and don't forget to add metal wheel sets they will roll 100% better and keep your track cleaner.

Stephen

I still have my basic Badger air brush with compressed air cans it does what I need it to do. One day  I will move up to something better.

Stephen

You start to clean out your closet and find two complete TYCO train sets and you wonder how did you ever survive the hobby long enough to discover the true scale models, always keep to hobby knives handy because someone will always want to borrow the good one to open the tough tape on packages.

Stephen

Hi guys,

thanks for the suggestions LDI have to agree I have a new RTR Athearn big hook and two older TYCO and Bachmann big hooks already painted for IC and once you add some good paint they don't stand out and to be honest that old TYCO that I have body mounted Kadees on tracks better than the new Athearn one.

I am bidding on 3 more Bachmanns for a friend who is into heavy construction and not trains so I am going pick out the best of the lot to keep and let him have the other two for static display in his office.

The one that I think is Hopeless is the old AHM one I got unless I can find new trucks for it.

Stephen

  Hi guys,

I got a quicky question for ya'll experts here on the board  I have a older Bachmann Big Hook aka wrecking crane and 3 TYCO big hooks. OK once ya'll quit laughing about the $4.99 TYCO specials on ebay. I need help on removing the plastic wheel sets from the 3 axle trucks the two outer ones pop out fine but I can't for the world get the center one to pop out and the ones on the Bachmann crane are way out of guage. All wheelsets on the 3 TYCO are in perfect guage for 1977 quality not to shabby considering how much dirt poor TYCO receives at times.

the fun part will be repainting them for ICRR and ICG and body mounting Kadees.

Thanks

Stephen

I just got 4 TYCO crane sets for $20.00 bucks plus 5.00 shipping for all 4 which I think is a pretty good deal now to dig out the spray gun. I already have 3 ICRR big hooks on the roaster one is a old old AHM set that I need to replace the orginal poorly modeled trucks on but I got it for free and not complaining.

I have seen some items go for 1.99 and the shipping charge for standard mail be over 20.00. I avoid any auction that has an outrageous shipping charge tacked on to it. Look first then decide to buy and don't get carried away.

Stephen

Hi Ray,

Thanks so much on the crane shots and that sure  is a beauty leaving LaSalle yard.

here is one of the few I have besides the ones I been collecting off the net.



here is the link to my little collection of old photos
http://steve.bill--porter.com/glory_days.htm

Stephen

Hi Ray,

Now I got a question do you have any photos of IC's Steam derricks or other big hooks you could share?

I wish I still had access to my friend's photo collection but since he passed away in 1998 it has most likely been destroyed by his family since none of his sons cared anything about trains.

I tried to get a wonderful painting of the Pelican car ferry off of him right before he died but he didn't want to get rid of it.


Stephen

maybe I should stick with motorized boxcars on wheels 

I always ask a ton of questions when it comes to motive power on evil Bay. And so far I have never been suprised. Right now I am working on some old tyco crane sets to repaint off of ebay.

Stephen