I finally got impatient and phoned Canadian Model Trains for my BLI PRR K-4. He said he’d phone back after finding out what BLI had to say. When he called, he stated that BLI was shippiing them this week, and that it should be sent to me from Model Trains within a few days after they get it…maybe two weeks from now! Woohoo!!
I have been demuring about intercepting UP #3985 east of Portland, but the trip would have cost nearly $500 Cdn, and I had no idea where to get a decent photo…seemed like an iffy proposition. So, I phoned Trainworld to see about the Lionel Challengers they are “blowing out” and their price is $350…a really good deal if you get a good unit. So, while I had Steve from Model Trains on the line, I told him about the Trainworld special, knowing that Steve’s site has the two-tone gray @ Cdn $550. He said it was currently on ebay, and that I could have it at the opening price if there was still not bid. There was no bid. I asked him if he could do a little better on the price, and he came down to $485. After shipping and echange, the Model Trains one is about $50 more, and he agreed to have his tech look at it prior to shipment to assure both of us that it runs well. Also, he’ll ship both locos together for the same price.
AN E-Bay winner!!! Plus dealing with someone you know and can go back to if there is a problem. Almost as good as standing across the counter at the LHS.
Whooohoooo!
Will
I watched a video last night on the UP Big Boy, put out by UP back in the fifties. They went into a basic explanation of how a steam enfgine works and how the BB developed from the Mallet. Just terrific action footage…and educational, too! Absolutely priceless footage of operations, roundhouse, service track, turntable, maintenance, inspection, “re-wheeling” with the “ring of fire”, etc… [:)] It’s part of a 6 vol. series, of which I can’t remember the name of right off hand.
On another video about the NYC, they spent a half hour just talking about classification yards. 10 minutes of that was footage of how a hump yard operates. The footage was shot back in the late 30’s and early 40’s. It covered the tower dispatcher and workers operating the interlocking levers and intricate footage of how it all worked. It also described how trains and cars are properly classified and the inspectors that are located in the pit at the top of the hump. If anyone’s interested, I can get you the name of the set. I believe it’s like $30 for the entire 6-vol. set. I was able to borrow mine from a friend.
No need at all, Tom. We steam guys should NEVER have to excuse ourselves for sharing good duff. [:D]
The latest Classic Trains mag has a four or five vol. set on how to run steam engines, and the specifics of certain types. I think it was near $45 US if you got a three-pack, and they’d eat the shipping. I can give you more info if you’d like. The missus is feeling very generous, as my opening post suggests, and she also agreed to let me get the three-pack.
I CAN’T SLEEP NIGHTS!!! [|)][:P][|)][:P] (I don’t she’s getting much, either…[;)])
I’ve been waiting for 3 Ontario Northland GP38’s from Canadian Model Trains. It seems Life Like is a little slow, probably from the take over. On a good note though i had 6 ONR gondolas on order from them and they came in last Friday. They were suppose to be released sometime in October.