few newbie questions

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi everyone,

I have a few questions,

  1. Did the PRR have RDCs at any time and if so, when were they used
  2. Kato makes an RDC demonstrator, was it an actual train, and if so were they used on the PRR
    3.Atlas’ RS1 (1/03) PRR model says it will not have DCC ready frames, could I still try to squeeze a decoder in there, or is it not dcc compatible at all

Thank you
Andrew

2

Welcome to the hobby, looking forward to your contributions as you gain expertise in your areas of interest taking you into expertise.

  1. I recall from an earlier post here that the Pennsy did indeed run RDCs in at least the '60s if not both earlier and later.
  2. Someone else will have to help with the Demonstrator question or you can check with the Pennsy modeling group (PRRMO.PENNSYRR.COM I believe).
  3. The most challenging and important part of decoder installation is to isolate the motor from the frame to prevent a decoder destroying short . Tony’sTrainExchange web site may have exact details for the Atlas RS1 or another response to this question will give you more details on this specific engine/decoder install.

Good luck, and good modeling
Will

3

Just last night the president of our railroad club had a Pennsy Hoodlebug. (Everywhere esle I think it’s pronounced Doodlebug.)

4

Did a little digging between Web time scheduling with the "better half’. The Pennsy did in fact run the first demonstrators out of Budd on the Deleware branch. The units that they bought were on the joint operation with the Reading on their seashore branch. Here is a link for more information. http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/Budd.html
Good modeling,
Will

5

Thank you for all of your replys

Does this mean the RS1 is dcc compatible?
I also have one more question.
Are there any GG1s in N scale?

Andrew

6

Arnold made an N scale version of the GG1. Not sure if they are still being made. I see one for sale every so often on Ebay.

Jeff

7

Hopefully someone who is familiar with the Atlas RS-1 can give you a definitive answer on the decoder. Did you try Tony’s web site?
Will

8

Had a chance to grab an Arnold GG1 at a local train show for a decent price, for some reason I didn’t. Think I got a bad case of “Let’s be cheap” at that moment…stupid, stupid, stupid…

9

Andrew, the Pennsy did have Budd RDC’s, but ran them in conjunction with the Reading Railroad. They were lettered Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. They were run to shore points along the New Jersey coast and some of the service survived into the Conrail era. Here is a link to pictures of PRSL Budd cars. Just scroll down to PRSL.

http://www.trainweb.org/passengercars/Indices/RDC3.htm

10

few more questions
are gg1s compatible with dcc (atlas)
what is its msrp
does arnold have good quaility
and does arnold have a website

thanks a lot

11

This guy has an extensive N scale locomotive “encyclopedia” website:
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/trainstuff.html

Here is the entry specifically about the Arnold/Rivarossi GG1:
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/gg1.html

Don’t know if this helps or not, but his entire site makes for very interesting reading.

Jeff

12

MSRP - “manufacturers suggested retail price”, always frightening, but if you are clever and shop well, rarely paid!
Will

13

He wasn’t asking what msrp MEANS. He was asking what the msrp of the Arnold GG1 is/was. Pay attention![:p][:D]

I don’t know what the original msrp was, but the last 2 that sold on ebay (both used) went for $136.31 for a Tuscan red 5-stripe, and $104.50 for a Penn Central.

Jeff