Quote from: RLS on April 11, 2010, 02:27:53 PM
some of my ideas include:
a larger roundhouse that is big enough to hold a bigboy...

Look at these Walthers kits. The description includes "Engines up to 125' fit easily inside, and parts to build a single 145' long stall are included - big enough to hold a Big Boy."

https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2900

https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2901

https://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=H&manu=933&item=&keywords=Engine+Servicing+Facility&words=restrict&instock=Y&split=30&Submit=Search

Quote from: jonathan on April 08, 2010, 10:22:53 AM
... Anyone ever run the mallet?  If it's got big flanges, my code 83 track won't like it ...

I have the Rivarossi 2-8-8-0 Mallet that I bought new from Walthers years ago. It runs quite well, smooth and relatively quiet. It is a good looking engine. Got to get some of that stuff to blacken the rods. All my track is code 100 because I have a lot of old stuff and the Mally even negotiates 18" radius with ease because both sets of drivers pivot. They are linked together so they pivot at the same angle. Doesn't mean the loco looks good on 18" but just to let you know how nimble it is. Here's two photos of it when I had it on a shelf at work. If you look at the links you can see the pictures full size.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4503431726_95986574ed_b.jpg (full size)




http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4502801489_b430249e7d_b.jpg (full size)

Wally,

I have a couple of dozen Bachmann DCC-Equipped diesels (GP's and FT's) and also the Spectrum DCC Equipped Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation and DCC-Equipped SY 2-8-2 Mikado. They all run fine, smooth and quiet, on my DC-only layout without any modifications. They are designed to run on either DC or DCC. I'm like you, hoping to convert to DCC someday, but I also have a lot of loco's from the 60's through the 80's so am running DC only for now.

Robert

Call or email these sellers:

http://www.peachcreekshops.com/genprods.php3?UID=2010040416491271.191.175.124&val=Bachmann_45

http://www.trainworldonline.com/catalog/index.php?sub_subsection_id=654

Also look at this recent thread here. Buy 'em while you can.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,13005.0.html

Robert

I remember seeing those in the early/mid 60's as others here have described. The boxcar ends were painted white where they extended above the height of conventional cars of the time. We also saw new, extra long boxcars (in handsome blue with yellow B&O lettering). We watched trains in the vicinity of the Forest Glen Rd grade crossing of the B&O in Silver Spring MD which was in the center of a tight "S" curve. It was really awesome to see these huge cars swing around those tight turns with lots of overhang. We counted freight cars and frequently there were 100 or more, and sometimes there would be about 150

Quote from: OldTimer on April 02, 2010, 02:41:24 PM
If free is inexpensive enough for you, you can make a "switch machine" out of a paper clip ...

That's got to be one of the greatest little tips I seen on this board Thanks!

Robert

Hey good job! Has he ever seen a live steam locomotive? I went to Strasburg RR last year with my cousins and their little ones were so fascinated with the magnificent steam engines there. Yours truly also loves the locos and trains at the Valley Railroad in Essex CT.

Robert

Great layout. Thanks for the pictures and inspiration mattyg

Robert

Does anybody remember the legendary Alps printers that could print white and gold and other colors. I heard of them back in the early 90's but even then, apparently they were out of production

Robert

Quote from: J3a-614 on March 25, 2010, 09:53:45 AM
When you come, you will also have to check out, if possible, the action on the local shortline, Winchester & Western ...

Thanks J3,

Robert

Quote from: J3a-614 on March 21, 2010, 11:35:20 AM
I certainly remember it, even photographed it.  Another train on the route at the time still used Budd RDCs, still lettered for Baltimore & Ohio.  And Amtrak's Capitol Limited still stops here, too ...

From Railpictures: ...

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=294238&nseq=22

That is a perfect train for me An F and coaches full of people. I am especially fond of F-7's because they were born in 1949 like me and they were the locos I saw frequently while growing up, along with their siblings too, E units, GP-7's and 9's, and RDC's. When I first spent time with railfans around MARC trains, the F's had been repainted into the current (silver with blue and orange stripes) to match their four geeps. The coaches and RDC's were still in MDOT silver with black, white and orange stripes. The coaches in this photo with the three bands below the windows are rebuilt Pennsy cars that have two and two across nice comfortable seats unlike the then newly arrived square Kawasaki cars with two and three across with hard fiberglass seats.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=290102&nseq=23

Another great photo of the former B&O F's running on their home territory.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=221183&nseq=57

This is the loco paint scheme I first saw on MARC locos (except for 7100 which remained MDOT)

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=212672&nseq=90

I love these great trains. It was always a surprise to see the RDC at Union Station which is still lettered in the original B&O, waiting for commuters in the early 90's. I used to catch MARC from DC to Gaithersburg every Friday night and made sure to get the RDC cars. They had been CAT remotered by that time and it was odd to hear that flap stack, bulldozer sound However, except for the riders' clothes it could have been 1960 on the train. There was a regular group of folks in business attire at the end of the car, enjoying canned beverages from brown paper bags.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=210962&nseq=92

This is typical of the MARC trains I first encountered

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=183967&nseq=134

Didn't they originally call these the "Executive" geeps? Back when they only had the four of them and the F's and RDC's. In this photo they are heading west about to cross Summit Ave in Gaithersburg. It is called Summit because it is the high point on the line for B&O trains heading west out of Washington. Helpers were sometimes used and near here is where they were cut off.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=182710&nseq=141

What a beauty!

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=138841&nseq=185

I have an Atlas AEM-7 #4901

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=136794&nseq=193

At the Brunswick Roundhouse. I saw a forlorn looking 7100 (in its MDOT paint) sitting alone in a stall with its prime mover removed, having been rebuilt into a cab car

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=93208&nseq=255

Wow and here it is rebuilt and repowered! I understand in 1999. Looking good.

Thanks so much J3 for your efforts in gathering these and great photos and links. I have collected them all with a text file with the photo information. It is a great inspiration, now that the weather has warmed up to take the airbrush on the back porch and get back to work on my railroad.

Very Best Regards,

Robert

Here's my buddy Patrick. He's an alum of Washington Animal Rescue League and will be 19 years old this July

He's frequently at the workbench when I'm working on trains but he always steals my seat whenever I get up (even though he has his own chair)



He also has to get in on all my eBay sales



Washington Animal Rescue League http://www.warl.org/

Quote from: J3a-614 on March 21, 2010, 11:35:20 AM... Come on out and check out the roundhouse (tours are available with some advance notice), the station (oldest station in the US in service, a former hotel because Stonewall Jackson burned the original and the earlier roundhouse in 1861), the crossing of the ex N&W and B&O at Shenandoah Junction, and action at Harpers Ferry, and more. . .

Railpictures MARC link ...

From Railpictures ...

This Bachmann thread sort of ties in ... Until then, enjoy.

Thanks So Much J3 for the collection of great MARC trains. You put in a lot of time. And thanks for the gracious invitation to Martinsburg. I look forward to a visit.

Robert

Quote from: Woody Elmore on March 22, 2010, 08:57:55 PMto pipefitter - if you change the motor on your Tyco Pacific you'll get a nice running engine. Those Mantua PM 1 motors just aren't up to the task.

Quote from: jonathan on March 23, 2010, 06:57:31 AM
My original Mantua Motor is in great shape--it's just too weak to pull a large engine and a consist.  I'm saving the motor to use in a smaller, switcher loco.  It would be perfect in some sort of tank engine ...

Thanks Guys,

I look forward to getting some new life in this loco and painting some Athearn 72' clerestory roof coaches to match. Should make a handsome train

Robert

Thanks Jon for your great photos, and information. I have an eBay find Mantua Pacific in Chessie Steam Specials paint. Runs OK but the motor is a bit unpleasantly buzzy and does not do that well at slow speeds. I will look to Yardbird for a new can motor replacement. I have done business with them before, indeed they are fine folks.

BTW, did you use an airbrush on the B&O project? I remember you said you were not using one during the 0-4-0 Dockside project. I note the detail on the loco and tender look too fine to have been painted with a spray can (?). When I changed from the can to the airbrush it was like the difference between night and day

Robert