Quote from: SteamGene on July 16, 2009, 06:44:32 PM
.  The C&O never shopped the H-5 to make it look more C&O like they did the J-2.   (Now why they like the J-2, I don't know.) 
IGene

The J-1  4-8-2's was the original locomotive of this type. The J-2 although a USRA design I suspect had more of a family feel than the H-5.

The "Flying Pumps" originated on the H-7 2-8-8-2 due to clearance requirements of the various tunnels. This was soon continued on Mikes and Pacifics as well as the J-2 rebuild.

I agree that a F-16 or 17 with or without sound would be a nice addition.

Joe, Jim and any other resident electronics/electrical wizard,

What the heck is a wall-wart transformer ?

I also have a question related to ac input voltage. A some of you may recall we have had on going electrical problems that have a master electrician and two journeymen scratching their heads. To shorten a very long story, the LPC has come up with a theory that our house may randomly received too much voltage and have decided to reduce the voltage supplied to the house.

What will this do to my E-Z Command or to my analog power pack?

Tom

Gene,

As the water is already poured, I don't think you have any choice but to cut the legs.

Where you cut the legs depends on whether the fishermen are wearing hip boots - shallow water - or chest waders - deeper water.

Hope they picked a day close to stocking.

Tom

Quote from: OkieRick on July 07, 2009, 10:33:08 PM


I reckon each of us is wealthy beyond measure in our own particular way.  I pity the poor fool who thinks he isn't.  Lord knows I'm not talking trains here either.

Rick

Well said my brother, well said.As Tiny Tim said,'God bless us everyone"

Tom

Quote from: CNE Runner on July 03, 2009, 09:54:05 AM
As a part-time train show vendor, I read your comments with interest. About the only thing a vendor can control is what is on his/her assigned table(s). If you are looking to enter a good show (one that has a record of attendance and sales) you have to reserve a table well in advance. Many vendors have an inordinate amount of stock - so leaving boxes open is impossible. I have seen one vendor who opens all his boxes and then wraps the whole box in heat-shink clear plastic...not a good idea as it bend the boxes and sometimes the kit parts.

Virtually all small vendors will make a deal with you. Please don't make a fool of yourself and offer a ridiculous price ($0.50 for a $5 item). Let me dispose of another myth: "Shop near the end of the show as the prices are better because the vendor doesn't want to carry the item back home." Sorry guys, but that is a fairytale - as most of us have no problem transporting items home...they will be offered for sale at the next show.

Bring CASH as most of us small vendors do not have the capability of accepting credit cards (and most will not accept checks...although we do). By cash I should mention bring an assortment of bills - not all 20s and 50s. As I mentioned in a like thread, the vendor should bring a reasonable amount of change...but he isn't the corner bank! More than once a customer had to leave without an item because all he had to pay for a $5 piece was a $100 bill...save the C-notes to impress your friends.

I am glad you enjoyed the show and keep in mind: you didn't pay sales tax and you didn't pay exorbitant shipping charges.

Ray

Ray,
I read your comments with great interest from the other side of a train show - the presenter. From comments we receive from our vendors, we must be somewhat unusual in that we have a great turn out of our members to help the vendors with the load ins and load outs.

This is to our benefit as we avoid paying to have tables set up and taken down. I feel like we do everything we can to make things go smoothly for the vendors, Personally I will circulate during the show and check with the vendors to see if there is anything they need. Without them we would have no show.

For those who don't realize it, as presenters our income comes from the table rentals and addmission fees. Sales proceeds belong to the vendors, we want to see them do well so they will come back.

Tom

Rick,

Glad you enjoyed the train show. I agree it is easy to go overboard.

Our own show will be coming up in September. ( Tidewater Division, Mideast Region, NMRA). The Tidewater Modular Railroad Club is planning a large layout and usually there are Lionel, American Flyer, N-Trak, Gsacle. I usually work the "White Elephant Table"Too bad Virginia Beach is so far from Oklahoma.

I am curious, did you have any accessibility problems? As an amputee myself i can appreciate the problems these shows can present. Any way glad you enjoyed yourself.

Tom

Prototype: Clinchfield RR and C&O RY

Location: Elkhorn  City, KY to Pikeville,KY

Major industry : Coal

Minor industries: mine supplies, farm supplies, feed. misc.LCL shipments

ERA 1972 to 1982

Tom

My space is much like Rusty's 8x12 although I eye the other wall of the  garage with envy. Too many obs ticales to over come - water heater, breaker box, freezer would require benchwork around the 66" level.

Layout premise is based loosely on the coal fields of Virginia and Kentucky and the C&O Big Sandy Subdivision and Clinchfield.

I am definitely a strictly  point to pint operation - pretty much the terminus of a mine branch back to the main line with some local industry at the junction point.

Track Code 83 flex track
min radius 22"
Control E-Z Command DCC

Tom

I am content with the time frame of my life and the place.  I was born July 1, 1945 in Covington, Virginia on the mainline of the C&O. Just west of Covington the westbound assault of the Allegheny Subdivision began in earnest.

Steam was still common on the Allegheny in the early 50s and I saw the H-8 the mighty 2-6-6-6 in action as well as the cream of passenger power the J-2 (like the Bachmann model) and the J-3. But the diesel was rapidly over taking steam power and I was thrilled by the streamliners.

Later the GP-9s replaced not only steam but much of the F7s.

I was also only 60 miles from Roanoke and traveled there frequently for various doctors appointments. Js.As,Ys' ex C&O 0-8-0s on both the N&W and Virginian. The VGNs' big Trainmasters. and near the end of the 50s Southerns green,white and gold E-8s exercising trackage rights between Roanoke and Bristol, TN with crack passenger service.

Additionally, as my mother had relatives in the Bluefield, WV area that we would visit I saw the N&W and VGN power in action in coal country.

Trains have been an important part of all of my 64 years and I have "played with trains" for most of those beginning with a clockwork steamer, progressing to Lionel, changing to HO, switching to N when apartment living restricted space and now back to HO,

What would I change? Absolutely nothing.

Tom

I own an E-Z Command. It is a good basic system that allows multiple train operation without complicated wiring; it provides sound functions and lighting functions.

I also operate both Digitrax ( not a Zephyr) and MRC, both of which provide walk around capabilities.

To respond to the original question, in my opinion save the money and get started with DCC with the E-Z Command. As your interests grow, you can always move up at a later time.

Remember Bob's rule number 2 and have fun.

Tom

Bob,
C&O 493 is a L-1 Hudson rebuilt by th C&O Huntington shops from the F-19 Pacifics in May 1946.

The color scheme was similar to the M-4 Steam Turbine.

Tom

Thank you for the information it is helpful.

Tom

It is stated in frequently asked questions on E-Z Command '

Can I operate my existing non DCC locomotives on my E-Z Command System?
Absolutely.  Bachmann E-Z Command®  supports the operation of one non decoder locomotive at a time.  When button 10 is pressed the speed control and direction buttons control the non decoder equipped locomotive. 

Alternatively you can plug the AC power pack into a Bachmann analog throttle and plug the throttle into the E-Z command using the supplied cable into the E-Z Command.  When this is done the analog throttle controls the non decoder equipped locomotive and Button 10 controls a digital locomotive with the address of 10

If you do this, are you running a risk of damaging the non-decoder equipped locomotive in order to save a few dollars?

Also would the risk of damage be greater running DCC equipped and non equipped at the same time?

Tom

Absolutely correct Woody. New York Central is a "trademark" of CSX.

NorfolkSouthern did get the old PRR which is ironic as PRR once owned a controlling interest in the Norfolk and  Western.

Tom

Gene,
I remember those also. For many years there was a painting of the George Washington headed by such a locomotive in the Greenbrier Hotelin White Sulphur Springs.

As far as that goes the C&O Greenbrier is no slouch.

Tom