Just to continue:

When the Engine came out of sty.. packing I noticed right away the detail on the locomotive. Having been a model airplane builder for a number of years I was impressed right away with seeing realistic looking "recessed panel lines". I also thought WBB

captured the "yellow" color of U.P. very nicely. The railings were all attached, with grip handles throughout the "body" of the locomotive all attached. The railing were all painted with crisp demarcation lines between gray and white. The railings were all straight and true.

Proceeding to the dorsal (top) of the locomotive. The rectangular and circular vents all had vents open and not solid plastic!! Very realistic!!! There was no "flash" pieces of plastic that get outside the moulding process. Very impressive.

Looking at the bottom wheel housing very nicely detailed. When you look at the steps even the edges of each step are painted white as on the real thing.

When you observe the forward and aft portion of the locomotive as I said before the grip handles are all there protruding out from the body of the engine. very realistic.

The various lights for and aft are there as well as a very visible crisp looking ID number board !!

On the track this engine has a very commanding presence-it looks impressive- the size is just right-it is a focal point and you can't help but look at it a lot!!!!

So far I was very impressed with the attention to detail, size(scale?) and paint job!!

WBB however they did it have to be complimented for the outstanding way this was painted and decaled. The smaller details like the linked chain fore and aft are welcome and wonderful to see!!!!

The couplers are easy to operate spring open easily and close with ease and stay closed.

On the underside(ventral) portion of the engine there are all kinds of nice detail-the knowledgeable RR fellas on this forum can elaborate on these elements-as for me I appreciate it and it looks realistic and cool!!!

The gears are metal!!! Yes!! Easy to get to for lubrication purposes. The "trucks" look
heavy duty and of high quality. There is a switch on the ventral side(bottom)-"lock position or run" I assume you can side track this engine and make it inoperable-very nice !!

Forgot to mention-the windows look very realistic very clear and crisp like real glass and even a set of wind shield wipers NOT the kind built into the window but a separate unit--it looks great!!

Got to sign out for now next time I give my impression of how it runs etc.

So far overall this is really an outstanding looking working model. The packaging, the construction, coloring at least for the U.P. example I have, the fine details like railings. linked chain, grip handles, painted safety stripes on the stairs, the windshield with wiper blades, lights, open fan and exhaust units and the decaling,etc make this a locomotive you want to have and display on your lay-out or shelf.

For someone like me who likes steamers and F-3's or F-7's and the GG-1 I was first very curious when I first saw this locomotive introduced by Bachmann at a "Train Show"and was really initially impressed by what they had produced.

As I said above this engine has a commanding presence on the lay out, it looks impressive is well built and looks like its ready to do some serious pulling or pushing!!

Next time I get the chance I'll talk about what it does once you give it the "juice"!!

Hope you find this helpful and post questions if you like !!!

A very busy week for us had to take a couple of relatives to their Dr's appointments as well as a work too.

I will be able to give a short review of the GP-30 I have.

As a preview. WBB really got serious with this release. What I mean is that "The Box" is a nice thick quality construction. WBB has seemed to have found itself with the colors on the box and yes it's distinct and classy looking. Be careful opening the box as not to tear the ends. I put a Popsicle stick or "chop stick" under the flap and gently lift so it doesn't tear. The Styrofoam housing is easily removed from the box. The Styrofoam pieces protecting the rail lings are carefully placed and easy to remove. On the back of the satyr foam packaging are "push holes" which will help you to carefully release the locomotive from the Styrofoam housing. Once the wrapping is all removed I had Joey place it on the track and I'll continue later!!!

wmwalker:

Please post when you pick up that ACL GP-30 !!!!!

That's my second choice and I hope to eventually pick one up.

Tell more about the Santa Fe's!!!!

wmwalker

Did you get those Erie F-3's???

I opened the GP-30 (finally) and videoed it and will post it once I have my daughter show me how its done.

In the meantime I'll post a written review.

WBB did a superb job!! I like the softness of the railsounds. It's a great engine.

I went with the UP. The color is impressive and the lighting is sharp and crisp.

For me it's a home run. I'll talk more about it on the other thread probably over the weekend  when I have a little more time.

Cobra

if you get the Erie F-3's before the rest of us can you post it with pictures??

Sorry for long delay. I did video part of it and have it on hold till I know how to post it

BUT

I will go ahead and give a review probably over the weekend

Thanks for being patient.

I will say WBB hit a home run with this GP-30 I am glad I took the plunge

Last week took 2 of the youngest kids and rode AMTRAK.

We grabbed a bunch of train schedules and one of them the Pennsylvanian goes

through "horseshoe curve". We were very impressed with the AMTRAK. It was packed

lots of young people. We had 4 German Exchange students talking with us. They were on their way to ride the "Empire Builder" then ride South down the coast of California
and then fly home from LAX. I was impressed at how much they knew about the Rail Routes in the USA.

I will get that review of the GP-30 done eventually. Some family business came up

and we have to go into Chicago for my daughter's volleyball matches. This is the daughter that said she would help me post video or pictures for you folks!!

We havent open the box yet to the GP-30!!!

Just saw an old movie on TCM called, "Strangers On A Train" pretty good film

they were using Madison Passenger cars

Balrog

That was a great video. I remember when the History channel had the series  but I didn't see the episode you put up

Thanks!!!

I am going to film it.

As I related in another thread my daughter is supposed to show me how to post pictures and videos. She keeps saying its not hard

BUT

As I learned from my Surgical Instructor while a Med Student  he used to say:

See One

Do one

Teach One

I just have to corner her long enough to show me .

Cobra

Is that Pennsy Steamer you have posted above is that still available from WBB?

I agree about WBB being tough. Around Christmas time I found some Illinois Central

Aluminum Streamliners(to go with The F-3 Illinois Centrals I picked up last year) in the old Williams packaging. They had that "mildew smell and original wrapping" when i got them home the vista dome car had corrosion all over the bottom chassis and the "pickups" corroded stiff. I went to work with some new gun cleaning solutions I picked up and also used brass brushes on my dremel. Finally it cleaned up got the contacts rolling. Even though they are pitted they still work and light up the vista dome. With the black "chassis" or bottom plate( you can tell I don't know all my nomenclature yet) I used this gun blue product that restores the bluing and it looks really acceptable!!. My daughter promised to help me post pictures and as soon as i can hold her feet to the fire and get her to do it for me I'll start posting pictures for this forum.

I am really liking WBB

One of my favorite movies!!!

It's actually taken from a true story but of course Hollywood took a lot of artistic license

I am amazed when i read that back in the World War 2 days trains were traveling at 100 mph!!!

I read an article about the 1930'-1940's a business man could board a train in Chicago at 5pm ish and be back in Detroit by 11pm.!!!!!

That was then!!!

When I go to Germany and Italy I get  all hopfull and excited because i think "Why can't we do this with our trains???" Those German and Italian Speed trains are really comfortable, clean, great seats, even Espresso or Adult Beverages. And those speeds are awesome.

While checking out the AMTRAC routes Why no direct Chicago to Florida?? I would think that would be a hot ticket!! How about a car train for that run. Or make it Indianapolis to Florida as a Chicago to Indy already exists.

Just dreamin.

If it ever happened I would ditch flying to Florida and wouldn't mind the extra time as I have grown weary of TSA and all the delays and hassles. I loved the free parking and boarding a train about 50 feet from where i parked my car!!!!

I stand corrected and agree with what you write. Sociopathic is a better definition.

Of course we are not limited to just the "Rail-Lords". That could be a whole different topic on a different web page.

There is a great book on the topic "Sharks in Suits" written by 2 PHD's who studied the behavior for over 20 years. Forgot the names of the authors. It's a great read. It helps us appreciate "checks and balances' and why we need to be ever vigilant

Hope I didn't stray too far off topic

Balrog

You have the beginnings of an anthology with all this filming keep it up.

i used to stop over in macomb when i was part of a travel Medical Team.

Some nice restaurants also one of the best Sweet and Sour soups I ever had at one of

the Chinese Restaurants!!