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421

General Discussion / Re: 2660 crane

« on: May 08, 2021, 08:48:05 PM »

The 2660 crane only came with box couplers. The box coupler will connect perfectly with a latch coupler. There are different versions, but they all look basically the same.

If you are repainting, you could buy any 2660/2560 crane, repaint it, and then drill out a hole on the center of the frame from any 650 series car with latch couplers and make yourself one. You need the 650 frame for theodd shaped latch coupler hole and the bar that holds the coupler up. A 654 tank car for a frame might set you back $5.

422

General Discussion / Re: Did you run your trains today?

« on: May 08, 2021, 01:38:49 PM »

I had some guys from the parking lot swap meet over today and ran the trains.

Some ran well, some didn't. I did manage to run a train on every loop.

Now I need to figure out what cause each problem. Most trains just need to be taken apart and cleaned and then put back together with attention to the tolerances.

423

General Discussion / Re: Triple headed Lionel postwar O Gauge

« on: May 07, 2021, 12:23:50 PM »

The trains are wonderful. It's our minds that are a little dated. I tend to concentrate on the problems rather than the 99.999% that is working correctly.

Maybe that's part of being a collector and learning to value condition? Maybe it's that the 0.001% problems cause everything else to stop?

I ran the double header on the O gauge this morning for a guest with a long string of cars and it worked well. Last night it wouldn't stay coupled.

I am watching people as they look at the trains.

424

Layouts / Re: Terry's Standard Gauge Layout

« on: May 05, 2021, 08:38:45 PM »

I bought 3/16" tempered glass shelving at a store display warehouse. I bought all the peices I could find in the area. All glass seems to be going to construction.

The white trim board is mounted to a 5/16" plywood spacer. The carpet wraps down leaving a gap slightly smaller than the glass. The carpet compresses. The glass pulls out if I need to get up on the layout.

I also made fencing with dowels which will go between the middle level and tyhe lower mainlines once I get most of the middle houses and such wired. I think I posted pictures earlier of the dowels.

425

Layouts / Re: Terry's Standard Gauge Layout

« on: May 05, 2021, 12:01:40 PM »

I had to vacuum out the crumbs and then I washed the dog's saddle blankets. The stuff smelled up the garage and basement good, but now I've either gotten used to it, or it's stopped outgassing.

426

Layouts / Re: Terry's Standard Gauge Layout

« on: May 03, 2021, 12:41:36 AM »

Now I'm in the phase where every day shows big results. I finished the bridge and the track around the west side industrial area. I'll add some sidings off the line that goes back to the roundhouse in the future.

Here's the westside running:

That's my youngest standard gauge train set. I was surprise it ran right out of the box. The lead and trailing wheels on the loco have swelled a bit, but I was able to pull them off the axles and switch them around so they work.

I also unboxed a bunch of items and put them out and cleaned the shelves under the layout in the walk in aisle so I can put the standard gauge operating trains out.

I started to do the track around the 840 powerstation, but the roadbed was filthy. I have a few boxes of original Lionel rubber roadbed from the 1930s. A lot of it is just trashed. I picked out enough to do the circle and switch and popped them into the washer:

The laundry room is on the other side of the wall my desk is at. The washer has been banging, clanking and whirring for a while now. We'll see how it comes out.

427

General Discussion / Re: Interesting Auction Items

« on: May 02, 2021, 01:17:15 PM »

I realized last night one of my freinds has a loco that matches that gondola. I'll get him to send me a picture or bring it over and put it on the layout so I can do a video.

428

Layouts / Re: Terry's Standard Gauge Layout

« on: May 01, 2021, 06:29:53 PM »

Here's the first train running on the middle level.

That will live on that loop. It fits perfect on the siding behind the 922 scenic plot:

Here's end views showing clearance to the switches:

The little red wires are jumpers until I get the blocks wired. Tommorrow I'll do the industrial area.

429

General Discussion / Re: Interesting Auction Items

« on: May 01, 2021, 11:10:31 AM »

Paul says the black 2816 was repainted.

Here's something you don't see but twice a year:

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/lionel-electric-rapid-transit-gondola-train-car-126-c-8a14715bbb

430

General Discussion / Re: What to do?

« on: April 30, 2021, 12:24:57 PM »

I have almost all my trains from before 1925 on my phone. I did it years ago to have a list of what I have when I was at train meets. New trains are photographed and added before they go downstairs. All the cars have the inventory numbers written on the bottom with a grease pencil. (China Marker) the locos have string tags. When I upgrade, I move the tag to the new loco and change the picture.

The trains made after 1925 are just on lists in a text document, and I have pictures of them on the shelves.

My homeowner's insurance covers collectibles up to 75 percent of the house value total with the need to only schedule items worth more than $5k. Only the state set clears that, but it's actually 5 peices for insurance purposes. A loco and 4 cars. Farmers. My agent said so many people had collectibles that they started covering them.

431

Layouts / Re: Terry's Standard Gauge Layout

« on: April 30, 2021, 12:10:24 PM »

It's a 226E and a 225E in a lash up. The 225E has the coupler on the pilot.

432

General Discussion / Re: Recent Additions

« on: April 30, 2021, 12:09:19 PM »

Jim - I think the dark olive paint changed in about 1913/14. The later paint is less grainy and more glossy. I don't have enough knowledge about paint, but it could also be the difference between spraying and dipping. The primer cars are sprayed. Later cars could be dipped? Looking at the wooden tanks, maybe later cars were sprayed too?

433

Layouts / Re: Terry's Standard Gauge Layout

« on: April 30, 2021, 02:11:38 AM »

I am ready to start cutting standard gauge track this weekend. The bridge is built and needs to be fastened down otherwise it's just track laying.

Here's some pictures:

view from the stairs.

I made this small almost 4 foot by 10.5 foot layout for Marklin HO on top and Lionel O gauge from 1924-34 on the bottom. I closed in one end with shelves to make the O guage a lkittle hidden, and give me a place to put the smaller sets.