Stuff

 I've been acquiring it.

Several modern diesels, I think I may have a problem. My diesel roster is up to 66 diesels, 24 of them modern ones that can be found on rails today. Since my target era is transition (40's-60's) that's a whole lot of modern motive power that doesn't fit my era. I suppose they are really collection locomotives since I can't run them at home.

It all started (as you may recall) because I saw a SD70Ace leading J class 611 on it's way to Strasburg and thought that it would be an interesting thing to model. The main problem is they won't run the same speed on the Digitrax system as they do at home on the NCE (more on that below). After that I found some NS heritage units (three so far; Erie, PRR and Southern), then I decided I needed other road names, then I decided I needed more CSX units to pull a Tropicana juice train, then I got a good deal on a lot of UP C44-9W locos, then I found some KCS units at Altoona...

Like I said, I may have a problem.

I've got them programmed for use in shows, but due to the fact that I run NCE at home and the club runs Digitrax, I really need to take the time to speed match them all on a Digitrax system. The problem with that is my Digitrax system is a starter and doesn't display the speed steps when rotating the throttle, so getting everything just so is going to be difficult if not impossible. I suppose I could invest in a serious Digitrax system, but I don't really want to spend the bones to do it.

I have gotten some steam, too. One Bachmann Alco 2-6-0 with broken valve gear, I got a real good deal on it in Altoona. It runs great, it's just missing the eccentric crank and rod. The main drive rods are in place and functioning fine. I'm torn, I could send it in for repairs (I have been told it would be replaced for a nominal fee because repair parts are not available) or I could run it as-is. It's not a critical part of any infrastructure, so I'll sit on it for a while.

I have also gotten one Con-Cor J3A Hudson in sort-of non running condition; the motor runs great but the gears aren't engaging. Of course, repair parts are not available, but I might be able to get something Kato, but non-Hudson, to work (Kato made the mechanism). Along with the Hudson came a Rivarrosi 2-8-2 in Southern Pacific paint, it has an unusual shell (air pumps on the smokebox face) and a long haul tender. It's a great runner, but I really have no use for it.

And just yesterday a brand-new Rokuhan 0-6-0 switcher in Z scale, decorated for the B&O, arrived in my mailbox. This is Rokuhan's first venture into North American style locomotives, and it's a winner in every department. It's smooth, quiet and strong. The detailing is very nice and it pulls like a mule. I had it circulating a Micro Trains track setup with six cars behind (and in front) of it and it ran with nary a hiccup. I'm sure I could have loaded it up further, but that's all I had on hand at the moment.

Other than locomotives, I've been working on T-TRAK modules. I have three of them in various stages of construction, the track is laid on all of them and now it's time to decorate. I need some paint and I'm waiting on some building kits. I'll be posting a review on three different T-TRAK module kits (Osborne, Klawndike and RS Laser Kits) sometime in the future.

I hope your rail days have been going as well as mine have.