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Still more trains
Dec. 26th, 2011 08:00 pmTired of it yet?
Gary wanted to try another hobby shop, this time in Janesville, Wisconsin. That's a bit of a drive, but since he was willing to do the driving, we went. The reason for picking this one? Their name was stamped on a 2002 copy of the Walther HO catalog that he had. He called them, they were open today, and had a different address. They did have the 2012 Walther catalog (which is actually a comprehensive illustrated guide to available train model parts, cars, locomotives, and accessories) for N and Z scale, too.
As it turned out, they didn't have any Kato track, as he had hoped. We need a couple of wiring parts, and Kato uses a custom connector plug. But they had piles of used rolling stock and locomotives at attractively cheap prices. Gary was drawn to a little Diesel switch engine for just $5, and when placed on a test track it did work, but fitfully. He also found an 0-6-0 tank engine switcher for $3, but that one was dead, or apparently. Fortunately I spotted another just like it that "sort of" ran. So we bought them, the catalog, and a couple of cattle cars I picked out. I also got a bottle of orange paint that will do for the GP7 to approximate the right color for DT&I livery.
After we got back home, fed horses and sheep, and then fed ourselves, I put together a 30 inch straight piece of test track with a bumper at each end and started cleaning and oiling the locomotives. Both came back to life, and even their headlamps are working. They run credibly going forward, and somewhat better going backward. I suspect wear on the motor brushes and probably the contact brushes that pick up power from the wheels. The 0-6-0 also suffered from some previous bad repair, as someone had put the rear axle together backward. Once that was corrected, and the side rods synchronized, it runs fairly well.
Here are photos of each:
The steam locomotive has no tender, but it is supposed to be that way. There is a small coal bin visible on the back of the cab, and a large "saddle-like" tank that sits over the top of the boiler to hold extra water and keep it warmed ready for use. Such engines were more agile for switchyard work, but generally not suited to long hauls on the road because they didn't carry enough fuel and water.
I also picked up a book on locomotive and rolling stock maintenance and repair that may come in handy if we keep buying cheap used stuff.
Gary wanted to try another hobby shop, this time in Janesville, Wisconsin. That's a bit of a drive, but since he was willing to do the driving, we went. The reason for picking this one? Their name was stamped on a 2002 copy of the Walther HO catalog that he had. He called them, they were open today, and had a different address. They did have the 2012 Walther catalog (which is actually a comprehensive illustrated guide to available train model parts, cars, locomotives, and accessories) for N and Z scale, too.
As it turned out, they didn't have any Kato track, as he had hoped. We need a couple of wiring parts, and Kato uses a custom connector plug. But they had piles of used rolling stock and locomotives at attractively cheap prices. Gary was drawn to a little Diesel switch engine for just $5, and when placed on a test track it did work, but fitfully. He also found an 0-6-0 tank engine switcher for $3, but that one was dead, or apparently. Fortunately I spotted another just like it that "sort of" ran. So we bought them, the catalog, and a couple of cattle cars I picked out. I also got a bottle of orange paint that will do for the GP7 to approximate the right color for DT&I livery.
After we got back home, fed horses and sheep, and then fed ourselves, I put together a 30 inch straight piece of test track with a bumper at each end and started cleaning and oiling the locomotives. Both came back to life, and even their headlamps are working. They run credibly going forward, and somewhat better going backward. I suspect wear on the motor brushes and probably the contact brushes that pick up power from the wheels. The 0-6-0 also suffered from some previous bad repair, as someone had put the rear axle together backward. Once that was corrected, and the side rods synchronized, it runs fairly well.
Here are photos of each:
The steam locomotive has no tender, but it is supposed to be that way. There is a small coal bin visible on the back of the cab, and a large "saddle-like" tank that sits over the top of the boiler to hold extra water and keep it warmed ready for use. Such engines were more agile for switchyard work, but generally not suited to long hauls on the road because they didn't carry enough fuel and water.
I also picked up a book on locomotive and rolling stock maintenance and repair that may come in handy if we keep buying cheap used stuff.
