What do you think?
Oops! read the question as MDC Shay. I have the Climax, rebuilt it to look much better from an article in an older magazine. Sits a lot lower, has much more detail and looks a lot better. Still sounds like something going a lot faster, as it is geared down so much.
It has the same power chassis as the MDC Ingersoll Rand (or whatever diesel), hence the overly large power chassis.
Bob Boudreau
I’ve got three of them. First the good points, I find they’re fairly easy to maintain and built strong. They pull quite well considering their size. Also they’re pretty cheap to buy. On the down side they are extremely noisy. Everyone in your house will know you’re running your’s. (sounds like a coffee grinder running on the rails) They are also somewhat boxy due to the chassis and mechanism under the body. I’ve modified one of mine to lower the boiler and improve it’s looks a little.
here’s my stock one with a little weathering added
I thinks that’s the Dec 1982 Issue of MR, Bob. I used the same article with mine.
has anyone heard what a real climax locomotive sounds like? i have heard all sorts of steam locomotives on video including the shays of Cass Scenic Railroad, but i have never heard what a climax sounds like.
I would guess they would sound a bit like a two-cylinder Shay, two pistons going mile-a-minute speed while the loco only creeps along.
Interesting I have an old issue of Railroad Modeler that introduces the Climax - the article actually is about kitbashing the boxcab diesel into a couple of different electric motor cars plus the Climax - boiler came from a tank car kit, etc.
I’ve had two of the boxcabs, and yes they are VERY noisy. I have plans for a project for my runnign one, I saw a few years ago someone sold one custom modified and painted to match the ones that the Reading had, so I saved the pictures as a guide to modify mine. I will also work on the mechanism to get it to run quieter, it’s quite annoying. Can’t beat the slow speed operation though, and it pulls like mad.
–Randy
If you all would like to know what a Climax sounds like, Golden Rail Video has
an excellent video called “The Rock Trains”. It was filmed in the late 1990s
on the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad during a period when the railroad was
the contractor to transport loads of rock to help repair a bridge washout on it’s
line. Real work!-on a tourist line! The video features the MRSR #5, a Porter
2-8-2, and Hillcrest Lumber Co. #10-a class C 3 truck Climax. Each loco
is featured about equally. The soundtrack is first-rate, high fidelity stereo
sound. It features runbys, interviews with crewpersons, cab rides, a good
story and some UNIQUE activities with some air dump cars. MRSR sells this
video through their concessions and you could probably find it elsewhere on the
internet. I can’t recommend this video enough-its great.[:D]
This thread takes me back to the days when kitbashing and modeling license was the way to have fun. MDC encouraged 'bashing and sold (sells) their 3-n-1 kits for that purpose. The people running these Climaxes and boxcabs seem to be able to ignore the rivet counting tendancy of so many in this hobby, and get on with just enjoying the models in themselves.
Yeah, my boxcab is noisy too, but like everyone above sez, it can sure creep along with the load. My 44 tonners are rather that way too, for that matter, but I accept that as a condition to running a model of any of these great locomotives with tons of character.
I don’t remember where now, but I once saw a picture of a real Climax used in an urban area, it had all it’s “machinery” covered up because it scared the horses still prevalent on the streets. It looked a lot like a cross between a steamer and some boxcabs. Dan
The New York Central on the west side of Manhattan(!) early in the 20th century.
CNJ831
They were Shays and not Climaxes.
Bob Boudreau