MTH Camelback running

This weekend I succeeded in making some good shots from the new MTH Camelback. Moreover, I also managed to blow the whistle button this time. In order to prevent the fire alarm from kicking in, the total time smoking was kept minimal, nevertheless it did smoke!

MTH Camelback

Today, a beautiful present arrived: a MTH Camelback engine with Protosound 1, #30-1142-1 from Reading railroad. Just look at it. Soon you will be able to hear its puffing and chuffing as well. The battery was a bit low, so the engine is now powered in neutral to charge itself and meanwhile it blows off steam. The green classification lights are lit as well.
Camelbacks are truely American hazardous steam engines, a unique design in many ways.
I choose this engine, since it very close to scale, has the protosound options that also function with European (230 V, 50 Hz) current, is a Reading engine and negociates the curves of 027 layout without issues.
The engine was purchased at Grzyboski trains. Just want to thank them for their service, charging realistic shipping costs and friendly assistance.

new additions

A few days ago some new Weaver Union Pacific cars joined my little layout. A crisp lettered boxcar with "bolster snubber springs" and a 40 foot tank car. The box car runs good on the 027 curves, the tank car required two spacer rings to elevate it a few millimeters and get it correctly through the 027 curves.

Weaver alco on 027 tracks

One of the last issues with the Weaver Alco engine running on 027 tracks was that it derailed the first car it pulls in a curve. To resolve this, I had to make a more flexible connection between the engine and the first car. As you can see, it works fine and the UP Alco has commenced its duties.

Lionel 1677

Today, a beautiful pre-war gondola arrived. It is the green Lionel 1677 that was produced from 1933-1935. A long lithographed car that was part of entry level start sets of that time. Some other cars of the same serie, like the 1679 Baby ruth box cars, the 1680 Sunoco and Shell tank cars and 1682 Caboose were much more common. The only exception is the truely rare 1678 Stock car of the same serie. Personally this green gondola is a outstanding beauty.

Alco running

Although the new FA-2 diesel engine doesnot have QSI, Protosound, Trainsound or whatever fancy hightech sound system, it does have an unique motor sound. Probably caused by the chain drive. Listen to the video and perhaps watch as well.

Weaver UP Alco #6540

About a month ago, I received a beautiful Weaver FA-2 Alco diesel engine in Union Pacific livery from Northern Saskatchewan. Although produced in 1990, the windows and horns were still not glued on yet. After it stood on the tracks and received some AC-current the lights lit up and the motor made a snorring sound, but the engine did not move.
After dissembling the hood, a missing gear wheel was directly appearent. After inspecting the box a small fragment of a plastic gear wheel was found.
Based on this fragment a new 8-teeth gear wheel from brass was made by drilling a center 4 mm hole. Then a circle was drawn on 3 mm distance of the hole with a ring and with high-school triangle 4 lines through the center and 45 degrees apart where drawn. On the eight positions where the circle crossed the line small 1.5 mm holes were drilled and afterwards the rough gear wheel was cut out of the brass plate. After sanding and soldering and sanding, the new gear wheel was mounted on the main drive rod, but unfortunately the motor did not run good. The chain tension was too high and consequently the torsion was too high.
In order to reduce the chain tension 1 mm was sanded from the plastic positioning plate for both main drive rods. The mounting holes for this plate were enlarged and after re-assembly the chain could move much more easily. The a special spacer was made from a K&S brass pipe of 4 mm internal diameter and 3 mm width. This helped to position the upper gear wheel precisly over the bottom gear wheel.
Now it finely runs! I must acknowledge my local Lionel train friend for giving me the repair suggestions that proved to be the right ones. The engine runs on my 027 layout, but does not like the Lionel 027 switches, because it touches the switch-house with the lower middle hood when it runs over the curved track of the switch. Furthermore, the couplers can not remain centered on 027 track, meaning that they will derail the first car connected in a 027 curve. This can be circumvented with a elastic rubber band over the open couplers, but it is not nice. What is nice of this engine is complete skirt: and not two single parts where the light shine through.

P&LE Boxcar

A beautiful Weaver PS-1 boxcar has joined us. It is a jade green NYC system Pittsburgh and Lake Erie boxcar made in a special run for P&D hobby. The doors can slide open, but sufficient force needs to applied to get them moving. A well-detailled little treasure train car that emerged locally. What a small fortune indeed. This boxcar was already suited for 3-rail operation and hence does not need to be converted to the right amount of rails.

Planting trees

One of the key difficulties of a layout on a folding table is how to deal with adding scenery, especially houses, mountains and trees. Today some detachable trees were planted on the layout, which can be easily unrooted and replanted when necessary. Small threads will keep the trees connected to their trunks while the table is in a upright folded position.

Long trains run by

This weekend we played with the trains and made some large consists and saw how the MTH switcher pulled it easily.
The house / crossing bell cover is progressing slowly as well, made some windows and doors. At last I got a new toy to play with: a sandblaster. So, I had to try it on an old pre-war passenger car. The first blast was not bad. Only thing left to do is to clean the garden, because everwhere lies fine white sand... Next time better and perhaps also smarter.

Reynolds Railroad Products

This weekend I found two old US 0 scale cars of a brand that is unknown to me "Reynolds railroad products - Athearn 0 scale kits" at a local second-hand trainshop named Wentink Occasions. One is a #0105 40' Refrigerator car of the Pacific Fruit Express and Union Pacific- South Pacific railroads. This reefer probably originates from 1946, because it states blt. 9-46 on the side. This car is full metal on the outside. The interior of the car is from wood and the exterior is metal plate. The tin plate strips start to rust a bit but the large metal plates shine like mirrors. It is a true beauty!
The other is #0302 40' UP box car. This box car has a plastic side panel, metal roof and front and back end. This box car probably was made in 1956, since it blt 3-56 is marked on the side of the car.
These cars are really nice. Obviously they are intended for 2-rail, but that is easily fixed with some Weaver replacement trucks and couplers. Another issue is that are from the wrong Western railroads, but I can not be to picky on what I find locally. They are rather heavy and the shiny metal really gives the cars a nice appearance. Some of the tin-plate strips are starting to rust, but that can be considered as natural weathering.

Modelspoorbeurs Houten

Today, was a large toy train convention in Houten. About 90% of the toy trains offered were in half zero and N, but a few nice O scale toy trains were spotted. Most of the toy trains in zero were Märklin, Horby and JEP, but also Lionel was present. The small wagons of 0 scale models were really well done. The trouble is they do not really fit with American toy trains with cow catchers and claw couplers.

Anything in scale zero is getting an extra zero in the price at such a convention, so it is nice to look around. I would recommend Ebay for those interested in buying and not being ripped off. For example, a simple 657 caboose is price tagged at 40 Euro (about 50 USD), well you buy about ten of those for this price in the US. It was nice to see Lionel being displayed as exotic, though. One of the highlights was a small wind-up Hafner engine, with a battery lid front light and a bell underneath. With a red boiler front and a red tender.

Well, it was cold day, so well-suited for a toy train fair. I took some pictures of offerings in scale zero I spotted.

Lionel versus MTH

Today was a fine day to run trains and to compare my MTH SW 1500 switcher with my Lionel SD 28 diesel engine. First of all, some pulling tests. The MTH won with pulling heavy loads by far, the SD 28 just spun its wheels when the consist became long and heavy.
Then I placed both on a separate circle with some nice cars and fed with exact the same amount of electricity. The SD-28 starts running a very low voltage, when the SW 1500 is still full idle and when the SW 1500 finally gets the hang of it, the SD 28 almost derails because of speeding. Clearly very different engines with very different voltage-speed responses.

By the way, if you look carefully you will see the new TCA-MG 40' flat cars riding by. Especially these need some extra force to pull them through bends. The switcher has no problem what so ever with them, the SD 28 almost stops on them.

Well it is clear the MTH switcher won.

Hopper time

A colourful PS-2 Hopper joined us and it came in beautiful old cardboard box. It is just nice to enjoy this 'out-dated' design. I am not sure but it looks seventish to me.

TCA-MG Club car #2

This week the 2008 TCA-MG club cars arrived and they are handsome indeed. The designers chose for the new 40' flat cars of Weaver with wooden crates on top. The details of the wooden crates, the dull grey colour of the weathered planks and the details on the flat itself (stake holders, steps, texts) are well done. The crates apparently contain Electrical components from the Electrical Generator Company in Windfall WV. According to the text they are heavy and should not be lifted with hooks. Surprising content.

The flats run smoothly on straight rails but were obviously not designed for my 027 curves. The wheels do then touch the central beam under the flat and this results in friction. The flats do not derail as my 50' flat does in 027 curves, but they are merely slowed down.

Progress on the layout

The MTH Z controller is in. It requires an input current of 20 Volt AC, 100 Watt with a maximum current of 6 Ampère. So, first I tried using a conventional Märklin transformer as power source, but it only generates 18 Volt AC, 32 Watt and in consequence my engine only drove very slowly.

So, I started looking for 20 Volt pre-transformer and I soon noticed that 18 V and 24 V are standards, but 20V ain't. But fortunately, Thanks to Techno Center Schmitt in Lünen (D), I have found myself a nice second-hand transformer that is fit for the job. It convert regular European 230 VAC into 20.7 Volt AC, 130 Watt and my MTH engine runs again fast at the end of the throttle.

Here is a small video to show how smooth the SW1500 switcher runs with the new power source. As can be seen, a house is under construction. This house is intended as crossing bell cover. The bell is not fully optimised, yet, but you can here it ring when the train crosses. I used a second-hand CKD 24 VAC disco-ball electromotor from Hobbieplaza which rotates with 30 rpm a mill with bolts to touch an old bike-bell found along the road. For C2C junks: "A road-side litter thingie upcycled to a trashure toy".

Changing trucks

A few months ago I was lucky to purchase some Weaver cars here in Europe. However, they we fitted with 2 rail trucks and Kadee couplers. Well nice cars but of little use on the tubular Hi-rail layout. First, I inquired directly at Weaver to get some replacement trucks and couplers, but the shipping cost exceeded the object costs. Then it took me some time to find a fine Train shop in Minot ND with just the couplers and trucks I needed and willing to serve me with real shipping costs. The items arrived here in no time and I had quiet some fun removing those Scale trucks and couplers. It is clear that my renovated 3-rail version cars stand higher on their wheels. Time to let them run.

Protosound 2

And there was sound.

A strong nearly deafening diesel roar can now be heared from the attic.

The first MTH engine has made a strong and impressive appearance here on the layout. It is a SW 1500 Reading switcher, # 30-2189-1 from 2000 with protosound 2. And it is really heavy!

If you want to add sound to your 0-layout here in Europe you can follow two routes: make a small factory to generate your own 110 Volt, 60 Hz current and run Lionel train sound engines, or take a simple and abundant Märklin transformer and run a MTH engine with Protosound. Now, I still need a Z-750 or Z-1000 controller in-line with the Märklin transformer to get all the sound options and remote couplers operating, but I am working on that. For some unclear reasons I can not convince Ebay sellers sofar to sell only the controller and not the power unit, but one day I will be lucky.

The driving characteristics of the MTH engine are quiet different from the Lionel engines I have run so far. The MTH switcher only starts to run near the end of the throttle (at full electrical power) and runs slowly and steady over the tracks. It will be a good switcher, because it behaves very good on the switches, so I am pleased with it.

For those of you who like to hear the squeeky brakes, diesel sound, crew talk and horn: here is a video to listen to.

Historail

In the middle of France, in a small town named St. Leonard de Noblat is a small railway museum: Historail. The entrance is a bit authentic peculiar and they have several train layouts operating in half-zero, zero and G. Furthermore, they show how French trains are operated and you can try in their cockpit.

There are plenty of train related objects and it is fun to walk through it all.

Personally I like the basement room best: it has a large scale zero layout with mostly hand-made trains, carriages, buildings, etc. Really nicely done. For instance the silver sleeping wagon is hand made from balsa wood. This gets most clear when you see the hand written texts. Most of the trains are ment for 2 rail operation, but nails in tracks ensure that also 3-rail operation is possible with large sliders under the engine as third rail current pick-ups.

Another special layout worth mentioning is a G scale wooden tram made by hand. A true smooth runner and really beautifully made!

Your host will be a look-a-like of Jack Black, but than a timid, kind slow French speaking version. Do not be scared you will not be interrogated on obscure French side lines and engines. In stead you will get a warm explanation of how to run French trains, both the electrical ones and the diesel-electrics. For train enthusiasts a must to stop by and have look when they pass by.