My in-laws went on a cruise up to Alaska in mid-June. Among other things, they took the White Pass and Yukon RR excursion. Later, they had an opportunity to go into the RR’s museum, and they very kindly bought an IHC Mike for l’il ol’ me! [:D] I’ve already run it on DC on my layout, and am pleased to say that, other than an intermittent tendency to stall at turnouts (huh!?), it is a quiet and pleasing little puller.
My question is to those who have experience with IHC steamers in general, and the 2-8-2 specifically; what should I know about it, and what, if anything, have you done to improve its appearance or function?
I don’t have any help to offer regarding the IHC steamers, but my parents went up there around mid June also (took a cruise) and they brought me back a White Pass and Yukon RR hat, several postcards, a video on the history of the WP&Y, and a bottle of “White Pass and Yukon RR” brand water (complete with steam locomotive stamped into the side of the bottle). They also video’d almost the entire train ride, so it was like I got to ride along with them. Definitely on my list of “Need to see” places before I die, along with Horseshoe Curve, Steamtown, PA, Tehachapi Loop, and Marias Pass… to name a few. lol
Did your IHC come with any more documentation than a parts diagram, selector? I haven’t gotten around to adding the detail parts to my 4-6-4 Hudson yet, but will do so next week. Lubrication is my biggest concern right now.
Last year my In-laws went on an Alaska cruise as well and rode the WP&Y. I had asked them to take a few pictures of the engines and rolling stock for me. When they came home they not only took the pictures but presented me with the video, bottle of water, and a very informative book on the lines history. I still have the bottle of water, un-opened.
They told me about the Mike in the gift shop but decided the book was a better gift.
This too is one line I want to visit.
Hey JohnT- Hows that Hudson run? I think that’ll be my next purchase. I hope they make some more of the Canadian Pacific one. They said their next two runs are already sold out.[:(]
I saw a video of that line some time back.That would be a cool trip to take!
Just a Warranty Registration card, John, and the exploded view diagram. No history, whatever.
When you say “the detail parts”, are you talking about a little plastic bag with some grab-irons, etc? Mine has no such thing.
It appears that the rods and valve-gear are not pre-lubed, so I will run it for a while and then lube it lightly. BTW, are you aware that automatic transmission fluid is okay for plastics, and does not dry out to a gummy mess over time? I read this on another thread some time back. Might be worth investing in a couple of bucks for that tip.
Although I have no facts to back this up - my gut opinion is to stay away from automatic transmission fluid. It just seems a little risky. I would think its better to stay with lube’s designed for models - LaBelle or Aerocar(?) come to mind.
Good words to go by! I have 3 IHC Mikes in CN Livery and one of these days I plan on modifying them with Elesco Feed Water Heaters, bells, whistles and so on. Will it be CN? Nope, M.E.S.S. [:D].
Their reasonable runners and need lube to keep them purring. If you keep the wheels clean they should run smoothly.
If you can get your hands on a Precision Craft Fittings Catalogue you can super detail your engine to what ever spec you want. Right now I’m converting a Bachmann Pennsy K-4 4-6-2 to a M.E.S.S. M-6a c/w elesco feedwater heater.
Loathar - The IHC Hudson runs really smooth and it looks so-o-o-o-o sharp. Got a lot of comments during the local County Fair when it was pulling the “Sponsor Train”. It can only pull five passenger cars up our 2.1% grade, but that’s ok. A friend of mine has given me some hints on making it pull as well as can be expected.
Selector…yup, the little bag of “special detail parts”. It’s so special I haven’t opened it yet, knowing that as soon as I put those parts on I will probably break them off getting the engine out of the foam one night. Have you opened up the engine / tender to see if a decoder will fit ok? From the size of the tender, I would think so, but I just don’t know if I put the decoder in the tender how do I get the wires into the main part of the engine without having four additional wires showing between the engine and the tender? Gads, what it takes to run a train in a circle…