Gene,

You are correct which would make the version of the 4-8-2 accurate for a C&O J-1. It would depend on the era being modeled as to the acceptability of this.

The "Flying Pumps" face says C&O on the Mountains as well as on the Later F Class Pacific's.

A little superdetailing won't hurt anyone I guess.

Tom

My daughter and son-in-law took me to Busch Gardens Williamsburg today. Yes all those roller coasters.

The park includes a fantastic steam railroad encircling the park -open style steam locomotives, open air coaches. We rode in the first seat of the first coach.

;Listening to the chuff of the exhaust and whistle was a blast. 

I might have to check out Bachmann England or Germany and add my own Heidelberg Express.

Boomertom

From following various threads about adding sound and the need to madjust cvs, is it practical to even think of adding sound with a limited system like the E-Z Command?

If I want sound am I better off trying to find  factory equipped locos that I can afford even if I have to search E-Bay?

Boomertom

Quote from: 3rail on March 24, 2009, 05:30:46 PM
Dear All,

The name calling posts have been deleted.  Keep on topic please.  We have used and are using these posts to make improvements to our Customer Service Department.  The months following the Holidays are always the busiest so a backlog usually grows. 

We will continue to make improvements when possible.   Your constructive comments are welcome.

Regards,

3rail

I wasw a disgruntled consumer frequently during the saga of my E-Z Command and at the end of four weeks was very discouraged, more so by the fact no one could find the Controller. I then was given a suggestion that I ask for Bridgit and left her a voice mail ;then tried the 800 number and was transferred to supervisor when I expressed being upset that after four weeks no one could even find the E-Z Command.

Things moved very quickly at that point and I received a new E-Z Command the next day.

#rd rail, I am delighted to hear that our experiences are being g used to bring improvements to CSR.

Tom Blair

Quote from: pdlethbridge on April 03, 2009, 11:02:00 AM
How about a nice mogul for us?

and some 1930's cars to go with it.

Boomertom

Dear Bachmann,

Just out of curiosity, as the locomotive is out of production, why is the C&O long Vanderbilt tender still cataloged?


Tom Blair

I know a lot of published track plans tend to lean towards flex track but then show 18" curves.

If you are going to use 18" radius curves, isn'i it simpler to use sectional
track in the first place? this is something that has puzzled me for quite some time and maybe one reason I have never had much luck with such plans.

Tom

Gene,

Diging into the memory banks of a 1945 vintage "old timer" the follolw is what I remember about my hometown.

The block I grew up on in Covington, Virginia had a total of nine houses on it. Three were brick;three were wood frame painted white with dark trim;one was gray with greenj trim, one was yellow with brown trim and the ninth was stucco.

We were located three blocks from the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company -WESTVACO- mill and the same distance from the mainline so there was a lot of soot in the air to settle on houses so the choice of white may have looked more like a dingy white.

Most of the farm houses in Alleghany County were white, althoug barns tended to be red

After about 1957, newer houses sprang up as farms egan to be subdivided and a rainbow of colors began, although brick veneer was an extremly popular choice..

Thanks for the question, it is fun to think back to that simpler time.

Tom

I  am in complete agreement with Gene. We have very limited access to any railroad oriented hobby shops even though Norfolk Southern is headquarted here.

Most of us are forced into mail order by circumstances rather than choice.
As I am on the opposite side of the tunnel ftom Gene I can get to a hobby shop a little closer, but HO is very limited at this shop.

Tom

I was not aware of that fact. I need to think about how the 44 would fit in with my operating plan.

Tom

Tim,

I had forgotten ab out Locsound. I will check it out.

Tom

Bob,

SW1500 uses an EMD 645. Not good for the sound of a Goose.

Maybe I need to explore sound decoders intended for N scale such as MRC's generic diesel or look into a Proto2000 SW900 which can be acquired with factory sound.

Tom

The Soundtraxx web site suggest using 227110 T1000 Galloping Gosse for small diesel switchers.

Has anyone else contemplated such an application or is there a better alternative?

Tom Blair

Gene,

I grew up in Covington, Virginia on the C&O's Alleghany Division. I was all of 7 years old when the big diesel push began in 1952 . Dad and I went to the depot every evening for the arrival of the Eastbound Sportsman and west bound George Washington.

As these trains were the same consists that had required doubleheading Greenbriers of Mountains, on the Alleghany sub three E-8s were the norm - two A's back to back and a third trailing nose to the train.

Freight was initially A-B-A F7's but very quickly in this division were four and five unit lash-ups of GP9's.

Up until I was about 10 - 1955 - steam power was still common even on some passenger runs. Many of those trips to D.C Ireferenced in Dinner in the Dinner were behind steam.

I have to admit that to a young kid, the "streamliners" were more exciting than just another steam engine.

Neither of the other railroads I grew up with - Norfolk & Western and Virginian had covered wagons.

I hope you and others find these reflections from the early 1950's of interest.

Tom

Gene, According to C&O Power, in September 16 A-B-A F7 sets were ordered,an additional order for 27 more A-B-A sets was placed in September 1951.

C&O never had E- * B units and the usual consist was A-A-A.

Tom