I found an old roundhouse die cast caboose that one of my boys want but its missing some of the small roof walk side pieces and a smoke stack. would anyone here have any in their junk box?
Jim

While searching for a daily post I found this clipping I had saved.
     

It reminds me of the days when a penny mattered.

Does anyone remember buying Athearn Blue Box locomotives for $9.95 each from Hobbies for Men, Standard Hobby Supply, or Trainworld?  My model layout in my last home was started in 1984 and Atlas NS flex track was less than a buck a section. I needed 300 sections. Nickle Silver witches were hrd to come by so I temporarily installed brass turnouts (which are still in place today, my second oldest son and a modeler bought the house and I included the layout.) Blue box car kits were (and still are) a fun part of modeling and could be  bought for less than 5 bucks and you coule detail them as much as you wanted. The plastic wheels were great runners and I still have many cars that have not had a wheel change. I actually like them because they attract the dirt from the track.  

Dcc has made it easier to run multiple trains at the same time but this adds to the price of equipment and systems.
Being able to use an old android phone for a throttle has made walkaround easy.  

I  do miss the low prices for model paints and there is no way I have founfd to get around them with a few exceptions (one being a Conrail blue match in a rattle can) 

It would be great to hear some old memories here. 

I do remember going to the store for mom ad getting a quart of milk and a loaf of bread for a quarter, and I got candy with the change. 


Charlie

I have been playing with Photoshop to see if I can create some decent backdrops. I have some shower curtains that are on the way. I posted photos of them on my layout thread. They come with waterproof ink so I should be able to use wallpaper paste to apply them. While I am waiting I added a backdrop in Photoshop so I would have a rough Idea what it should look like if I got the print scale right. If not I have 4 real weird shower curtains.     
Charlie

Hi everyone, I've been working on another FSM's kit that I had for years, and finally got around to building it.
Kit # 145 the coal tower, that is based on a real Canadian National coaling tower that was found in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
This kit represents a smaller version in overall size than the tower it was based on.
However I think it still captures the look of the prototype that it was based on.
This kit also included a sand storage & machinery shed.
I added some LED lighting to my build of this tower, so here is how it came out looking.

   

   

   

   

Greg

Welcome back to Jack on Tracks! In this episode of the Back Shop, we begin work on the Santa Fe Chief passenger train project by completely upgrading an Athearn Blue Box F7 locomotive with DCC sound, LED lighting, and performance improvements.

This locomotive appeared nearly brand new, but like many older Athearn Blue Box locomotives, it still suffered from the notorious split axle gear problem. Follow along as we completely disassemble the locomotive, replace the damaged gears, service the trucks, lubricate the drivetrain, and prepare the chassis for modern DCC operation.Well we met a cuckhold couple last night at the bar and we t back to there hotel room it was fun talking about caks wife with your wife.

Hope you all enjoy this build please ask any questions or leave a comment on how you think it's coming or how you've done it.

WPMA-40's conductor checking out the activities at the Blue Pig.

Bruce

   

Got a new project for another modeller:

   

A rather interesting crane and idler car  from the Northern Alberta Railway.

B&O E7A (Proto 2000) moving through Lieperville Union Station

Over the past few days I have been trying to run my Broadway Limited B&O EA locomotive. I tested the locomotive when I first got it, but I did not have the time to do a break-in session. A couple of nights ago I pulled the locomotive out to give it a proper break-in session.

At first things were going well. When I do break-in sessions I switch back and forth with sound on and off. Personally, I am not a fan of sound. After a time for me it just becomes noise. Also, I want to hear the locomotive and its motor.

I was running with the sound turned off and suddenly; the sound comes on. It took me several tries to get it turned off. Everything is good until a few moments later when the horn starts blowing continuously. Again, it took several attempts to turn the horn off. Then the bell comes on. I do a factory reset and things return to normal and I have no more issues and I call it a night.

Tonight I go to the layout to finish the break-in.  The random sound turning on issues starts after a few minutes. Now if that is not enough the locomotive starts stalling at random spots. I do another reset and first it helps but then we are back to the sound and stalling issues. Another reset. I now try DC. The locomotive does not run.

At this point I pull out another locomotive. The locomotive is my LNE Bachmann DCC onboard 2-8-0 Consolidation. The Bachmann runs without any issues.

I am beginning to think I have a bad decoder. Am I right or could there be something else?

Good morning folks,

I'm sure you noticed when you tried to log in earlier Sunday morning, you got a security warning. The issue has been resolved and all should be good now.

apology for the scare.