My latest favorite, from Dapol:



MIghty tiny for an N scale lcomotive that runs well.

Real Locomotive Cyclopedias were published by Simmons-Boardman every few years from about 1890-1950. Kalmbach reprinted the 1941 version around 1970. Which one you want would depend on the era you model. I acquired an original 1941 version on eBay that was originally used by a GN mechanical officer.

You will learn more than you thought was possible about steam, Diesel, and electric power from these.

I have had excellent results electrically with the "Contact cleaner and lubricant", FKA :"TV Tuner cleaner and lubricant" sold by Radio Shack.  I don't care what its ohmage is, it works! 

OTOH, "Neolube" is graphite suspended in alcohol, and it most definitely conducts electricity.

The best diners in the pre-Amtrak era were on the Illinois Central's Panama Limited with it's "King's Dinner" and Southern Railway's "Southerner". Southern had a plantation retreat in South Carolina where it raised its own game, so pheasant, partridge, and grouse were served with wild rice. Santa Fe's breakfasts were scrumptious, especially the scrambled eggs with chives. The prime rib on the PRR's "Broadway Limited" was plain but excellent. The Union News ham sandwiches sold by a news butchers walking though the cars of the PRR's "Clockers" were not fit to eat. You could read though the one slice of ham.

Utter silence...cat got your tongue??

The Espee 4-8-8-2 Cab Forwards are due from InterMountain next month. 

Works for me. Just put the URL of your photo's web address between img and /img, both enclosed in [].

Your photograph is already in the web, isn't it?

What's happened with the photo gallery - nothing has been added since July of last year. There were entries in April (3 months earlier), then December (7 months earler), and October (9 months earlier). It's now been 7 months since any new photos and both the Nuremburg and New York Toy Fairs are past history. So...WHASSUP??

Of all the thousands of different steam locomotives needed in N scale, we certainly do not need a repeat of one that has already been made twice as a plastic and metal RTR model. As a Pennsy modeler I could use a K4s Pacific, an H10s Consolidation, an H6sb Consolidation, an I1sa Decapod, and a C1 0-8-0.

As long as Bachmann has made the 3751 class 4-8-4 of the ATSF in N, I am surprised it has never made a 5011 class 2-10-4. After all, these made it East in the Summer of 1956 and 1957 to move coal to Lake Erie on the PRR!

But, the wheel arrangement most wanted in N and not available is the Ten-Wheeler. It was also among the most common built. Give us a CNJ or RDG Camelback or a PRR or LIRR G5s!

Quote from: 1218classa on March 09, 2009, 09:05:00 PM
Also the N&W bought five PRR K3s. I don't exactly know what the differences were between these and the K4s but it probably isn't much. That would give another legitimate road name to use on these engines if they ever produce them.

There is a considerable difference between K3's and K4's. Aside from the details, cab, trailing truck, valve gear, etc., there was a BIG difference in weight and horsepower. While both had 80" drivers, the K4s was a far more powerful engine. The difference in size of the firebox and its Belpaire portion is quite noticeable.

I'll bet Bachmann could find a motor that'd fit in this Ten-Wheeler:



How 'bout it, Mr. Lee Riley?? 

If you want to build railroad models, choose HO or the larger scales. If you want to build a model railroad, then choose N or Z. Only in the two smallest scales can you build realistic scenery, unless you have a blimp hangar for your layout! 

Quote from: dtpowell on February 05, 2009, 01:48:28 PM
There is another bonus for creating tooling for the K-4.
The PRR L1 Mikado used the same boiler. That's almost two for one with exception of the mechanism and probably some othe manufacturing problems I can't even begin to think of. I believe it's time for both! Hmmm......while I'm at it, how's about an PRR M1a/b from the mountain? 

Not quite the same. On all but about ten K4's, the position of the sand dome and bell on  the top of the boiler were reversed companred to the locations on the L1s Mikado. You can sacrifice a sand dome off another model and move the two, though. I did it with a MiniTrix shell on a Rivarossi Mikado chassis.

The PRR K4s in HO was the first Spectrum model madeby Bachmann. Those of us in N scale have been asking for it ever since and still don't have it. So, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

If they ever do, I'll take several in the prewar version, thank you.

LIRR G53sd:


PRR I1s:


PRR H9s: