Local parts stores stopped doing that since 2020…
Afternoon,
I purchased an MTH PCC San Francisco streetcar from Trainz.com today!
it should be at my place in a day or two (I don’t live that far from where Trainz.com is based)
I’ve seen pictures of those… they definitely ride pretty high, but look like fun!
Side note: I’ve thought about getting an O gauge PCC at some point, but the only road I’d want is one of the various operators of the Boston street railway system. And with one exception, all of the Boston PCCs had a set of doors on the lefthand side for use in the subway tunnels. Many cars also had a ‘monitor’ that ran the full length of the roof, I think for forced air ventilation. I don’t plan to acquire any O gauge PCCs until I have a game plan worked out to modify one into a Boston prototype. Ideally a ‘Picture Window’ type car.
Latest and greatest from me is that I did finish getting my ‘new’ 253 running. The E-Unit fingers needed replacing, as did some of the wiring- I kept as much original wiring as I could, but some of it really needed to go. The drum for the E-unit was in pretty good shape, only needing a good cleaning. I would be surprised if the drum is anywhere near the age of the engine, I’ve had other prewar engines with E-Units who’s plastic drums went all shrunken and wonky.
But I digress… Now she runs fantastic, and reverses as good as pretty much anything else I own. An absolute treat to run, though with the way the paint is flaking off, and there’s rust all over it, a restoration may be inevitable. If I do need to repaint, I will be keeping it in the original colors it wore.
Currently thinking over what is next on the repair list. At this point, I’m very close to having to start digging into projects that are “restoration neccesary”, not entirely sure how I feel about that, but those transitional era passenger cars keep calling to me…
-Ellie
Understandable, you want one that looks like “home.” I’ve been looking for an MTH PCC in Public Service of New Jersey markings, I know they were made but I never see them anywhere. I suspect most disappeared quickly into New Jersey O Gauger’s basements, never to see the light of day again for years. That’s OK, I’m patient, I can wait.
I did luck into an NJ Transit PCC a few years back at a Greenberg show here in Virginia. The seller looked at me funny and asked “You’re not from around here, are you?” [(-D]
Ellie - Those passenger cars are far from the basket cases featured on The Fabrik, Chip Channel, or Rescue and Restore (YouTube). I enjoy seeing how they take old rusty toys and returning them to shelf quality pieces. I will look forward to your progress.
[Y][8D]
Fife, I’ve seen a few of The Fabrik’s restoration jobs… very impressive, but with a lot of tools and resources I don’t have. Don’t think I’m loosing hope yet, for sure! First step is take them apart, and get rid of the gunk all over them. Next, get the rust removed. Then figure out how many containers of filler I’m gonna need, and how much sandpaper [swg]
I’m hoping somebody makes rub-on transfers of the lettering I need for these cars. I should make sure I know the positioning before I come close to taking off what’s left of the paint.
Wayne, you’re absolutely right, but there’s an added twist. The museum I volunteer at actually has two ex-Boston PCCs. I’d like my model to represent the same type/generation as the ones at the museum.
In today’s latest news, I made the rookie mistake of looking on eBay “just to look- not to buy anything”. We’ve all been there, right? You know how this story goes…
Somebody had a really nice looking 0636 for sale. No tender, but it was complete, and the description said it runs well and the headlight works. I made them an offer, not expecting much… and wouldn’t you know it, they accepted. Not the cheapest I’ve gotten an HO locomotive, but I’ve been wanting one of the later generation versions. The 0635 I have is great and all, but it has a pretty noisy drive, only 4 wheel pickup, and tends to suffer from wheelslip.
Later models like the 0636 should have a shorter drive train (a worm shaft going directly to a worm wheel on one of the driver axles), plus it has added pickups on one side and a traction tire. I expect it to be a much more reliable performer. Plus unlike my 0635, this one shouldn’t need to be repowered with a can motor because someone gutted it!
Understandable. However I doubt MTH pursued the “nuances” of the various PCC’s around the country. Most likely they kept the basic PCC and just changed paint jobs. I’m sure if I really looked at an MTH PSE&G PCC I’d spot differences from the genuine article but quite honestly I wouldn’t care.
That’s a nice find on the 0636! I’m sure you’ll find an orphan tender out there somewhere to go with it!
A trip into a sandblast cabniet, and some good filler primer will get you there on those passenger cars Elie.
Slow on The North Bluff. We had our first fire in the fireplace last night. By order of the cat. [(-D] We also had a handfull of the white stuff yesterday. Getting closer to train weather here day by day.
Wayne- There’s a zillion different variations in PCCs- I doubt MTH or Lionel would have an easy time making money producing them all. The options are limited to buying an expensive limited run shell from a small manufacturer, or kitbashing. Or if your pockets are really deep, buy a museum quality unpowered model from St. Petersburg Tram Collection for something like 650 bucks a pop.
I’ve seen a picture of a pretty good looking boston PCC kitbash that used a Corgi Pittsburgh PCC as a starting point.
As far as the 0636, I would eventually like to find an appropriate tender for it, but it can share my 0635’s tender in the meantime. The only significant difference there is between (non-whistle) tenders for HO pacifics, is the trucks. 1959 trucks and 1960-1962 trucks both use metal sprung trucks with steel wheels, but work with slightly different couplers. 1963-1966 trucks are one-piece ‘solid frame’ castings, with plastic wheels and axles, that are designed to accept the wacky 1963-1966 couplers.
Also I double checked the listing pictures… looks like my 0636 does not have the later design with the shorter worm drive. Looking at pictures on the web, of various models, frankly it looks to me like the only models to have this later direct worm drive were the uncataloged 0637 and the cataloged 0647.
KRM- sand blasting will be a last resort. I would like to avoid damging what I have left- sandblasting might blow through some of the more compromised metal. I’d have to work very very carefully, and even then, who knows.
My thinking is to use either vinegar or evaporust on the parts first, and then see where I’m at.
-Ellie
Ellie: try soda blasting. I hear it’s less likely to eat through the metal.
Wayne: try Williams by Bachmann. They ran a fair amount of paint schemes on PCC’s a few years back. I’ve been wanting one of the Cleveland Transit cars with the Raymond Leowy paint scheme.
Another paint removal method that is not as aggressive as sand blasting is dry ice blasting.
Really? I didn’t know Williams (by Bachmann) did PCC’s. I know they did Peter Witt streetcars for a while, nine variants actually, and the Cleveland Transit version was one of them. I’m looking at my 2012 Williams catalog I’ve kept for reference as we speak. That Cleveland car was nice! But no Public Service cars although the gray and white Philadelphia car’s pretty close.
Mornin’ guys and gals. Breezy and chilly along the Potomac Highlands. In other words, snugglin’ weather has arrived.
Safe travels to all the YORKies this weekend. Wish I could be there to see some friends. Trainworld had a podcast with Rich and Andy from MTH, whom will have a small display in the Orange hall.
Amen to that, and best of luck on the hunt!
I’ll make it up there sometime, I’m not in a rush. Not really looking for anything either. Usually the stuff finds ME anyway!
It’s a little chilly here in Georgia, so I’m just staying inside for now. (Mid 40’s with cold wind blowing)
Nothing new to report here train wise, just staying warm.
Sandblasting is only as dangerous as the opperator. [(-D]
Your thought of using evaporust is a great choice to try. I have used it on the inside of a fuel tank on a 1964 moped and it worked wonders.
Fall weather, bright sun, cool and leaves falling like rain.
I was at Menards and I sure like the Cripple Creek water tower and I have just the spot for it on the layout. I need to show it to wifey and tell her to tell Santa. [swg]
Evening,
Not much to report here, just watching videos on YouTube of Eric’s Trains as well as videos of the Illinois Central Gulf…
Mornin’ guys and gals. Crisp and clear along the Allegheny front range. Some shopping, some gathering, some traveling today. Still a bit ginger with the feet, but driving is fine.
Spent last night working on the milk car, and just couldn’t get it to fire. Gonna have to find someone with the “know how” for this one. Also worked on my American Flyer handcar, cleaning about 50 years of carbon. Made me wonder how Sturgeon Phish is doing these days. Still amassing my orange and black consists for this week.
Had a consultation today for some medical stuff… it went well. On the way back, decided to stop by a hobby shop- the owner always rubs me the wrong way, but it’s hard to find anywhere else in the area to go. I ended up finding a couple new cars for the collection- a battle worn Marx ‘36000’ gondola in discolored blue, and a partially repainted Lionel 0860-200 Pennsylvania derrick car. The latter was a bit pricey for a repaint, but I decided it was worth it since the derrick looks to be complete and intact. It still has the diecast brakewheel too!
The outdated Greenburg Guide considers it rare, but the book is full of errors (I’m still looking for the more recent edition books, but haven’t found one in my price range yet). Regardless, if you look past the poorly obscurred lettering, the car is in fantastic condition. Perhaps if I find another car with good paint, but a missing or broken derrick, I can swap the best parts over to make a “good” car.
Fife, I have to start planning my Black & Orange consists too… the time fast approaches. My prewar Orange & Terracotta consist may well steal the show from anything else I own, though!
-Ellie
Yeah, there was a place I used to go where the owner was a bit “eccentric,” but not in an irritating way, just a little annoying, and I did get some good deals from time to time.