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Post by Adam on Mar 18, 2023 13:01:14 GMT
Today, I briefly ran a small box car consist headed by a Lionel Santa Fe FA (#218) to test some recently wired accessories. I included a PRR N5C lighted porthole caboose (536417) that I recently repaired with front and rear deck assemblies. These were reproductions including railing, ladder and grab bar. I had this caboose as a Kid and was pretty rough with it (although, the shell is in great shape ). Except for the soft plastic, and lack of detail on the deck part itself, the new pieces fit very well. I’ve got a Lionel 45 Gateman working on the Northeast part of the West Loop, a horn sounding when the train traverses the midway point on the Northside track, and I have a Whistle Shack sounding simultaneously activating a Lionel 145 Gateman when the train is in the Northeast part of the East Loop. (I have the whistle wired so it can be turned off when running diesel – I have yet to put a switch on the horn to disable it when running steam. All of the items are post war. I am in the process of re—locating a Highway Crossing Gate, and trouble-shooting a O22 switch problem to the spur. (I also have to install an apron which is missing on the 218) Alfred Sounds like a lot of fun going on Alfred!
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Post by Adam on Mar 18, 2023 13:02:10 GMT
MTH Santa Fe F3 put into passenger service on the upper loop.
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Post by edlloyd on Mar 18, 2023 16:37:57 GMT
The tracks are running my Easter set right now. I posted the video on another thread. Be sure to check it out.
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Post by atsda on Mar 20, 2023 3:20:10 GMT
edlloyd, I'll check that out. Alfred
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Post by atsda on Mar 20, 2023 3:21:48 GMT
Adam, I guess that is the new F3 - I can't tell from the image how many cars it is pulling. Alfred
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Post by atsda on Mar 20, 2023 3:22:44 GMT
I am still running the box car consist headed by Lionel #218 SF FA unit. The Highway Crossing Gate was moved from adjacent to Northside track 2 to the central part of the layout between two tracks that merge and pass under the elevated track. I left the actuator on the Northside Track; and I will wire the crossing gate into the Ringing Bell Signal – this way, the crossing gate will activate alone for the Northside Track, and both it and the bell signal will activate from the other location. Also, I installed 4 straight track sections (terminated by bumpers) parallel to the Southside mainline track. It is to the right side of the Control Area - in this way, I can have a place to store and swap rolling stock. It runs by the Milk Car Stand, whose UCS can be used to unload other operating cars to the adjacent track. Right now. There is a Lionel Lines #6656 Cattle Car (1950-53) waiting to be put into the consist. (The extra track is also positioned to be linked into the mainline, thus making it part of a spur or siding. Alfred
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Post by Adam on Mar 20, 2023 6:25:42 GMT
Adam, I guess that is the new F3 - I can't tell from the image how many cars it is pulling. Alfred Yes, this is the new SF F3 in yellow and blue pulling 4 silver passenger cars. I am really enjoying this new engine.
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Post by atsda on Mar 22, 2023 3:41:53 GMT
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Post by atsda on Mar 22, 2023 3:42:55 GMT
A first. Lionel 220 (O27, 1959) and 218(O, 1959) Santa Fe Alco FA AA powered tandem heading a small freight consist. I ran this combo for the first time; I have never run two engines in tandem. The 218 alone did not have enough power to pull without struggling at times (it was getting overheated). I hope the photo came out; I will try a video another time. Hopefully, this tandem can handle longer freight up the elevated track grade – I will try this shortly. I will then try this tandem with an aluminum passenger consist (which is more appropriate for this livery). If more power is needed, then I will swap the 220 for another 218. I was absolutely thrilled with the result.) Alfred
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Post by dennym57 on Mar 27, 2023 17:11:17 GMT
My PRR Tuscan K4 and PRR Madison passenger cars.
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Post by atsda on Mar 27, 2023 17:39:13 GMT
Denny, Very nice combination. Alfred
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Post by atsda on Mar 27, 2023 17:40:44 GMT
Edited Post by atsda on Mar 25, 2023 at 9:57pm My son took me to a train warehouse today and I did not leave empty handed. I purchased the following. All of the items are in very good to excellent condition. All were in original boxes ()one box car box was missing all of the flaps at one end; and the other box was missing only the short tuck portion of one end flap. Here are details of the equipment. The Lionel 2046 locomotive with tender was from 1951-52. The orange Great Northern 6464-25 was from 1953-54. The silver and yellow Denver & Rio Grand Western 6464-650 is from 1951-52, 53. The 2046 ran incredibly well. Its E-Unit was quiet and smooth. The loco had no problem pulling a 5 car consist (the one that I had been running with two powered 218bdiesels in tandem - I am going to add the 2 new box cars on the video run. The cost was reasonable, and I am very pleased with the purchases. I was looking for some new road names and I wanted some bright colors for layout visitors - so I had my son on the lookout. I will have photo/ video soon. Alfred (See What Have You Purchased Recently.)
I had the 2046 (it has Magnetraction) on the tracks for a while with a freight consist – I’m impressed with how well it runs.. I have not run the box cars with it yet. I did find one issue – the cowcatcher rides very low and it started to ground on entry into switch 12. The spring on the pilot truck is good; however, when fully compressed, the front of the unit bottoms out. I removed the truck and put a plastic disk on the front underside of the pilot, to keep it off the underside – I have not tested it yet. I found a screw port on the frame further up under the pilot (I think this might be for another pilot if the chassis were used for another type of engine. I am going to used it to screw in some plastic , so the spring assembly is lower when fully compressed. I don’t like making crude adjustments like this; however, I don’t know how to resolve the issue otherwise – I don’t think that a more robust spring will help, and I don’t want to make any bend. Alfred (PS, the previous owner may have used the loco on a Christmas layout – when it runs, there is a distinctive bayberry smell – probably from scented smoke.)
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Post by atsda on Mar 29, 2023 4:39:54 GMT
I ran my newly acquired Lionel 2046 Hudson-type 4-6-4 locomotive/ tender (1951-52, 53) with a freight consist ended by lighted N5C PRR porthole caboose (1953) – I had replace the deck/ladder assemblies on both ends. The five box cars included two newly acquired ones - Great Northern (6464-25, 1953-54), Denver & Rio Grand Western (6464-650, 1957-58), Lionel 9 1/4” Cattle Car (6646, 1957), New Haven (6464-425, 1956-57), B&O Auto Carrier (6468, 1953-55). I fixed the 2046 cowcatcher grounding problem on O22 switch by adding two plastic self-adhesive disks on the top front part of the pilot truck. This raised and prevented the chassis from bottoming out. (I have a more permanent fix in mind.) I used a KW which provided slow-moderate speed at full throttle. I am going to change to the A terminal on a V transformer to get higher voltage (20 -24V, for higher speeds, and more cars (with attention to wheel lubrication and cleaning). The attached photos are of the train on the 72 radius Eastside track. I will get a video soon. Alfred
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Post by atsda on Mar 29, 2023 5:03:41 GMT
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Post by Adam on Mar 29, 2023 10:30:04 GMT
Photos looks great Alfred. Thanks for sharing!
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