I was wondering, "How often do you run your “shelf queens?” That is if your shelf queens can run.
I know we all have our most favorite engines but how about those not in favor with you, do they get to run from time to time?
Do you have engines that you put back in the box intending to run them at a later date and have not run?
Interesting question. I have several engines that do not get run regularly. The main reason at this point in my life is that I don’t have a layout, but run on a club layout using DCC. Very few of my engines are equipped with DCC (and yes, to keep in line with your question, I picked the ones I liked the most to equip!)
When I did have a layout, all got ran at some point, but I tended to favor the newer purchases to run the most.
RedGrey
I’ve got a few that I don’t run very often. I have a GO Transit commuter train that I run at shows and 2 SD45 Huron Central loco’s and two GP60 EMD demo’s that just never get run.
I have a couple of favorites that are the main runners that are always at work. Just bought a consignment Kato GP50 CNW today and need to add a MT conversion kit, but when I placed it on the layout to test it was smoother then my best loco doing the local work.
I have 2 LL engines, one is a SD9 and the other is the SW switcher that are usually not ran very often. They choke on the frogs (need to wire them up I guess)
I was also curious about what maintenance these “queens” get before and after a “once in a while” run.
My P2K Operating Instructions state that, “motor and chassis need only occasional, careful lubrication.”
Another statement within the instruction says, “Models used infrequently or not at all should not be lubricated more often than once a year. Models which are run often and pull long consists on grades should be inspected and lubricated every two or three months.”
I’ve got an Athearn Blue Box ATSF FP45 that I hardly ever run. I can’t seem to get KD’s on it, it doesn’t MU well with any of my other diesels, and it just looks so darn good on my shelf…[:D]
with about 30 steamers and 12 diesels I dont get a chance to run them all very often.I do try to run them at least once a year and at that time I usually adjust and lube them.Some I will leave on the layout for a few months,replaceing motive power that is already on the tracks.My “newest” engine(s) usually gets the most layout time.
I don’t have any ‘shelf queens’, I bought my locos to RUN not display. Unfortunately TO MANY are on the layout, every time I clean it off to continue construction, I end up putting some back on and running a train instead of building. Maybe I should disconnect my wiring and lock up the DCC system so I CAN’T run trains until I finish more.
–Randy
I have a small collection of “relics” (steamers) that were not worth the time and effort to wire for DCC. Some of them haven’t been run in over 20 years. Well… actually some I have never run because they didn’t run when I was given them 25 years ago and I never got around to finding out why. I won’t mention the manufacturers for fear of changing this to one of those “such and such is nothin’ but JUNK” threads. A couple used to run fairly well (20 years ago) but I just got them out to take to a presentation for the some Webelo Scouts up in the Adirondack Mountains next weekend, and they no longer want to run. Why keep them at all? Well they were given to me by my now almost 92 year old Father-in-law who was the one who got me into trains as an adult. I will still have them and they will be diplayed as long as I can say “trains”! One model is a recent aquisition, a brass “Connie” that is about 30 years old. She is a sweet runner and I almost passed out when she would move either and was obviously producing a short. After 20 min. of panic, taking the tender apart testing the motor, cleaning the drivers and pick-ups, I realised she wouldn’t run because one of the Tender Trucks had got itself reversed and was shorting everything out. She will go with me to the camp next weekend and be used for switching some cars. I did lube and clean her up good.
Shelf queens? Don’t have any and don’t want any.I buy my engines to run therefore they all get used…Any clunkers I scrap out for parts or I sell or trade.
Like I mention before I sold all of my P2Ks because of the gear problem.
Having a small layout ( 9 X 12 ) & over 50 locomotives, I don’t get a chance to run all my locomotives all the time.
But there is one that has been shelf queen for over 30 years.
My AHM Virginia & Truckee 4-4-0. My dad gave it to me & he rarely ran it.
I don’t know why as it’s still a decent runner!
Gordon
Right now I’ve got two “shelf queens.” My Trix Big Boy and my recently overhauled and rebuilt Rivarossi Challenger. I run them often, but they do spend lots of time on display.
If my layout were larger and I had some sidings available to park more locomotives, I doubt that I would have any “shelf queens.”
I have one it is a CSX GP38 that I painted several years ago. It was my first try at painting and very good quit by accident ( I have never been as successfull at painting since although I have painted many). It is setting on a shelf in my study, all other CSX stuff is gone as I turned back the hands of time to only C&O stuff. But it is my pride & joy.
I have one that I run all the time, and I have 3 others that only get to go every now and then. I also have 2 steam locomotives that go in a display box that are never run.
The Southern Serves the South!
Anything of mine that is capable of running, no matter how poorly, runs on my loop on the carpet.[:D]
That would be the SD40 that’s awaiting a decoder. When funds allow, I’ll get that in, then 100% DCC, and 100% there to be run. [^]
I’ve got several that i don’t run very often. ( actually at the moment very few run as the layouts in the building stage and I’m not a club member curently) Any “shelf queens” I have are usually modern locos (schemes after 1965) I have them because I like them and or they have speacial meaning to me. So once the layouts up and running they will get at least a once a month run to keep them going. Rob
I run 'em all.
I have a ton (about 50-60) of locos that have ran once on the old layout, then found their way to the shelf. A few have never been ran, just never got around to it. My ALCo’s from Atlas were my workhorses, but now I think they are headed for the shelf since I got the Kato SD38-2s.
I really don’t feel right having an engine that hasn’t made its’s way around the track at least once, but I sure like seeing them all sitting on the shelf.
My favorite display loco is an Athearn SD40T-2 in Cotton Belt colors, have 2 of 'em, one a dummy, just for the good looks. Neither have been ran yet.
Good question, Jim.
I would like to run my challenger more but i cant i don’t have time.