Here are stores listed for Japan, from the Walthers web site. That's a start

https://www.walthers.com/exec/shops/Japan

Nice photo! Isn't that a great museum? I really need to take a trip back there some day

I love tourist railroads, the more unusual the better I am reminded of (the now in peril) Stewartstown RR near York PA. We rode an NRHS excursion there with a tiny Plymouth on one end of the train and a GE 44 tonner on the other. Further on in the ride Plymouth was exchanged for a real EMC SC loco.

http://www.stewartstownrailroad.com/  http://www.stewartstownrailroad.com/locomotives.htm

Here's a very nice tourist road using some AHM MinitrainS. The N scale Pine Creek Railroad in Allaire State Park in New Jersey.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2407679&op=4&o=all&view=all&subj=466072435264&aid=-1&oid=466072435264&id=1095502473

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2407672&op=4&o=all&view=all&subj=466072435264&aid=-1&oid=466072435264&id=1095502473

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2451546&op=3&o=all&view=all&subj=466072435264&aid=-1&oid=466072435264&id=1095502473

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2407680&op=4&o=all&view=all&subj=466072435264&aid=-1&oid=466072435264&id=1095502473

Jack, I have about two dozen Bachmann 4 axle DCC diesels that I run on regular DC layout. They run smooth and quiet, and have good low speed control and low power consumption. The DCC circuits are hard wired into the locos however they are designed to run just fine on DC which they do. You should be able to run your loco without any problems.

I have run two DCC locos together on my DC layout without any problems. Run them first together but uncoupled to see if they run at about the same speed. If one runs a lot faster than the other then they will not run well coupled together. A matching FT-B unit for your loco should be an exact match in its running characteristics.

If you already have a DC controller, go ahead and use it. If you don't, get the Bachmann E-Z Command system. You can move up from which ever option you have.

Robert

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1471

I have one that I bought from Peach Creek Shops. I bought the unlettered version because I rode excursions behind the prototype when it was Valley Railroad's #1647, before it was sold to the Susquehanna as their #142. I will be lettering it for the Valley Railroad.

Yes it is a beautiful model and a smooth, quiet runner. My layout is analog DC and the engine runs just fine without any mods to its DCC circuit. Good low speed running and low power consumption.

The Valley Railroad, with its Essex Steam Train and "Commodious River Boat" is one of my favorite lines - I used to visit that area frequently for my job. Their Mike #40 and Connie #97 are both magnificent engines and their shop has really come into its own. Now they have bought NYS&W #142's sister, SY #58 from the defunct Knox & Kane RR in Pennsylvania. It will be interesting to see what they do with the loco.

Robert

Quote from: Johnson Bar Jeff on May 05, 2010, 02:43:28 PMWhat is the story on the "Leviathan"? ...

I looked it up after watching the vids. It's a modern replica.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leviathan_63_Train_Festival_2009.jpg

http://www.leviathan63.com/

Quote from: J3a-614 on May 05, 2010, 08:20:27 AM
Came across this, and thought it mighty provide a bit of seasonal inspiration; enjoy:

Nice videos and that's a handsome Mike! Nothing like steam in the snow Thanks!

Robert

PS what happened to that reefer full of cheese?

Quote from: bachor on May 05, 2010, 11:53:27 AM
... i assume it just a matter of soldering the right configuration of wires to the right terminals ...

Let me look in my parts box. I think I have one of those old Bachmann F-9 chassis. I switched the body shell to an Athearn chassis. If I do I will post a photo of the wiring.

I'm like you in wanting to make things work. I like to get an old loco running as much as buying a new one

Robert

Great videos That was quite an assembly of steam. From the funnel stack Leviathan, through the Flagg Coal 0-4-0T, the magnificent Little River 110 4-6-2 and "big steam" Nickle Plate 765. Couple of interesting box cars there. I note the 0-4-0T is kind of "frisky" and can accelerate in a burst, almost like a hop.

Robert

Wow that's looking great. It's fun to see the progress

Robert

Jim, here's some things to check... Is your loco shaped like this?


Or like this?


The first (red/silver) one is an "F" and the second (blue/yellow) one is a "GP" series. Yours probably won't look exactly like these. I'm 99% sure that as yours is from a train set it has 4 axles (like the ones in the pictures) - is this true?

Finally does one the two "trucks" (with the front pair of axles or rear pair) have plastic/rubber bands or "tires" around the wheel treads (flat surface that rolls on the rail). Some locos have these for added traction. Or are all 8 wheels on the loco all metal?

Finally, can you tell if all 4 axles are powered? If so they would be connected to gears and you would not be able to turn them with your fingers. This is the way the newer locos are made.

The older locos (with the plastic wheel "tires") have 2 axles powered. They have a flat motor integrated into one of the two trucks. The wheels on that truck are geared to the motor and can't be spun with your fingers. The other truck is the one that picks up power from the track and has wires but no motor. You can spin the wheels with your finger.

It would be very helpful to know if your loco has all four axles powered or two axles powered. Please let us know. I hope this is helpful. If not ask more questions

Cheers,

Robert

That's a great job - Well done! I'd like to build a Western Maryland chop nose GP-9. One was recently restored at the WMSR shops in Ridgeley, West Virgina. Look at this former Chessie rust bucket now turned into a beauty.

http://www.merlavageimages.com/Trains/Along-the-tracks/2909958_VVe7Y/1/317872101_bNdQE#348372922_xj24X

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?railroad=Georges%20Creek%20Railway

There's a lot of free card stock models available on the web. Try googling "cabin card stock model" or something like that. You can try them out and if you don't like the model, just throw it away. You print them out and then glue the print onto cereal box or similar card stock. Then you cut and assemble. An Elmer's glue stick works well for this. I did a quick search and found this OO sized building:

http://www.scalescenes.com/products/R002

http://www.scalescenes.com/railscenes

Convert OO to HO scale: http://www.scalescenes.com/hoinfo/hoinfo.html

I like making these things when I'm watching TV. During the Olympics I made this

http://www.smallfilms.co.uk/ivor/makeivor.htm

I'm afraid I got carried away and what started as a "quick and dirty" got more and more refined as I went along. Unfortunately it got wet and the printer ink ran, so into the recycling bin it went.

I bet your little engineer would enjoy working on these buildings with you.

Robert

That's MSRP... Your price may vary

http://www.trainworldonline.com/catalog/category/detail.php?id=4757&back_url=%2Fsearch.php%3Fbyitem%3D44597%26x%3D42%26y%3D8&find_section=176

Jonathan, thanks for the excellent photo instructions post!

Robert