both are plastic. The saddle tank is more of an industrial switch... got 9 cars pulled once... but i don't go passed 5 half the time. For its size, its a good runner. it has lighting, and figures in the cab, good amount of detail.

The 0-6-0 with slope tender is a engine i like for long road trains, got 15 cars once, but try to keep it at 10. This engine is less detailed then the saddle tank, but for the price, they even out. smoke is included but i don't recommend using it. My track has been getting dirty lately, and it still runs fine. A good engine for someone who is starting in the hobby or is looking for a smaller tender engine to do some yard work.

Sound... i cant help ya on that one. But when it comes down to which one to buy, its basically what your looking for.

Good to hear there coming, hoping to get a ATSF S4 before the Christmas open house at the CV&WS on December 4th.

In reality, i don't see a world war 2 story happening in today's Thomas world. Maybe in Britt's days, but not today's Thomas, it just doesn't seem possible with the kiddish theme.

yea, im trying to get some myself, eBay has lots, but keep an eye out for bargains, I've seen quite a few good deals on E-bay, like $15 (that included shipping) for a Pullman by walthers.. just gotta keep an eye out.

The spectrum pullman coaches are currently not being made, they can be found on eBay pretty often, road names range too, so you might get lucky if your looking for a specific road. B&O, ATSF & N&W seem to be the most common last I checked.

Waltheers Is another choice, those have quite a few roads too, so keep an eye out on eBay and online stores.

GOOD LUCK!

But hit makes the decisions of what is to be made. if its sold to mattel, then they choose:P

I saw the Pennsylvania one on model railroader, along with the NYC FA-2

the link: http://mrr.trains.com/~/link.aspx?_id=891A822A4EAF422093FF614EF240A592&_z=z

Can't wait to see the ATSF one  

Any reason they were blocked off? I've heard the 9/11 story 1,001 times but im wondering if it had anything to do with injuries...?

As of right now, my chessie system GP7, ATSF 2-8-0, ATSF 4-8-4, and green GE-70 ton, all bachmann, are on "loan" to the CV&WS with my B&O 4-4-0 bachmann spectrum with sound in the thompson repair yard cause 2 conrail SD40-2s plowed into her when I was out of town... (showed him a piece of my mind... but no fist surprisingly). Other than that, all the other engines are currently in storage due to track work on the L&W

I've been trying to find out some history about ATSF 3784, a 4-8-4 northern steam engine from the 3776 class. I was wondering if anyone knew about what she mainly did (passenger, freight....both?) and where she was around when she was retired then scrapped. I'm guessing from what i have found out that she was retired around 1957 and scrapped in 1959.

ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT!

i have a similar question but its for being a motorman for a public transportation system (Cleveland RTA rapid trains) and was wondering if volunteering for a local scenic railroad would count as experience?

dude, your out of line. This all started as a bloody day of the diesels review, and after seeing this kind of debate, i think it would be wise just to make a NEW topic to "Debate" in.

At the CV&WS, we have people running opposing, and to make it worse, not all of them pay attention. I'm not gonna mention any names but...

driver 1: Knows the layout and how his engine runs, runs opposing but has the decency to throw the switch to give you a red light, cause he looked ahead. If worse comes to worse he'll let you know before you run into him.

Driver 2: knows the layout but really doesn't know his engine as well... runs opposing and if you aren't out of his way, your screwed. I've ran into this person when going into a blind spot, which is before the helix. the signals were not on so i rammed into his engine, and the snow plough fell off. My fault? In a way, yes, but driver 1 makes sure the signals are on before running opposing.  That signal could've prevented the accident on my part, but driver 2 should've been more responsible, sense he wasn't in a blind spot and could see his engine and mine coming.

Of course me and driver 2 got in an argument but not going into detail. The point is, head on collisions can be prevented pretty easily, Rear ends are a bit more tricky but the point is, you gotta stay ahead by 30-40 car lengths. If you don't see anyone, you take note of their current position. This may take a couple of seconds, but it'll save you the stress.

a 2 truck shay would be cool, or climax... I'd like to see a good 4-6-6T or a 2-8-2T....bigger tank engines that aren't really made anymore... DCC would be excellent with them!

I'm having a little freelance fun! I model the Lakewood & Winterton Railroad, basically a person buys the Ex. NKP line that runs through Bellevue to Cleveland Ohio. The line does interchange with Norfolk Southern and CV&WS (another fictional railroad that is a club i go to). Power is pretty funny... some how the person gets stuck with older power, and a couple of steam engines... can a railroad work with those locomotives? Well, I've been running it for about 4 years now, so i guess it can!