This is my first post in this form. A little about myself, I have been collecting HO scale trains since 1994. My first set was a Life Like Santa Fe freight set, a few of the cars are all that is left of that.
I collect most scales. I have a large collection of O-27 trains, one G scale set, a bunch of S, some N, and a healthy sized HO scale collection.
I have some Rivarossi locos that need parts.
I have a Penn Central Rivarossi GG1 that needs new traction tires. It runs fine, just a bit weak, as only one truck is powered. I need those tires to get the loco to pull more than one car.
The other loco I have that needs parts is a Rivarossi 4-6-2 Southern Crescent locomotive.
I bought the loco at a train show a couple of weeks ago at a train show at Old Greenwich, CT. When I pulled the loco out of the bag it was put into, I found that the boiler front had fallen off sometime between purchase and home. I have searched my house and car several times over.
She is a really good looking and smooth running loco, but to see it run with the boiler front missing is a bit disconcerting.
YOU NEEDA LHS that repairs things - or can get them.
Traction tires come in different sizes - always a poroblem - RIVAROSSI went out of biz. Try Caboose Hobbies’ Service Dpt. in Denver or Mizell Trains in Westminster CO.
Your ‘collection’ may not be ‘fixable’ unless replacement parts are in stock…
Thanks for the links. I am pretty sure that I can try to convert either other makes of of traction tires to fit the GG1, or at least make some out of small valve packing o-rings.
The Southern 4-6-2 is another story. I am still pretty upset about having lost the boiler front. She runs fine, just that part. I am still hoping that perhaps if I tear apart my ferret’s hiding place, it may have found it’s way there.
So far, I am pleased with the Rivarossi locos that I have. I have a Southern F unit A-A that works like a top and a 4005 Big Boy model. Slow, a tad noisy, but for $140, I am not going to complain.
Off topic…I’ve always been a big fan of the U.S Navy and raised an eyebrow when I saw your name title. Did you serve aboard a naval “boomer” or “attack” submarine?
Excellent, that’s great! You’re working in a tough, challenging, and rewarding environment. I had strongly considered joining the Navy after leaving high school but didn’t as I needed to stay close to my father, whose health was failing. I was very fascinated with the propulsion and drive systems of nuclear powered subs. Vaguely remembering, I think that the Trident or L.A class submarine was introduced just after I left high school in 1981, and there was a bit of fanfare about it to attract recruits.
Railroader_Sailor, check with this guy on eBay: apee629
His name is Joe, and he and his friend Ray are former IHC employees who have what is probably the largest stock of AHM/Rivarossi/IHC parts anywhere, in fact Golf Manor buys from them. They are a fixture at my local Greenberg show, and always have a box of boiler fronts, though I have yet to find one for the Heavy Pacific. Some parts are harder to come by, but they have so much stuff that they often don’t know what’s there until they look.
I would use the small or medium steam for the GG1. I always go smaller with those vinyl tires and stretch them to get a lower profile. You don’t want original tires for that engine; not only would they be hard as rocks, they were always uneven.
For those who don’t already know, Golf Manor Hobbies in Cincinnati has been closed for about 2 months now and their entire stock auctioned. Living in Cincinnati was great when it came to Rivarossi parts. Now I’m lost. The old Stewart clear plastic tires are useless.
Another possibility is a brass smokebox front. I note that Precision Scale has a couple that they say are 78" diameter. Maybe one of them would fit. Maybe not. The part numbers are HO-3072 (brass) and same thing in plastic: HO-31641. The other one is HO-31437–it’s got working hinges, but they look too big to me. Definitely affordable at $3.75 for brass and $2.25 for plastic. 3072 is in stock at Walthers and 31437 is due in June. The plastic one looks hard to get from Walthers. Good luck on this! Ed
Hornby bought them, but I think they’ve only returned the Big Boy, Allegheny, and Hudson to production. There was some talk of them doing an updated version of the old U25C, since it was the only plastic version available, but Hornby doesn’t seem to have a lot of interest in the RR line.
Sad news about Golf Manor. My only experience with them was a bad one, since they overcharged me for a geared set of FEF-3 drivers that they damaged. Their mechanic was a nice older gent, and he said he would install a NWSL axle gear and quarter them for me for about $24, but he mashed the gear in the process and put the wheel back on way out of quarter, then I was charged $10 for $2 shipping. They did send me a free NWSL gear set after I complained, but I had to the labor myself. That was the first and last time I used them as a parts source.
You are right. Hornby bought Rivarossi. You are wrong about “lock, stock & barrel” They got the lock and the barrel but no stock. An e-mail reply from Hornby told me they had no replacement parts for any Rivarossi locomotives.
Well, I have some good news, Kira found the part, and I caught her trying to sneak it under the stove. Aside from some ferret drool, the part is very good, and is now back on the 4-6-2 where it belongs.
Kira is a baby ferret that we got to replace one that died not that long ago and likes to play trains, even riding on them.
as far as traction tires what about the bullfrog snot or frog snot mrr has been advertising in the last few issues. It is supposed to be really good and should fix your traction tire program.
Boiler fronts show up on ebay all the time you may try there as well.
Golf mannor hobbies in cincinnatti ohio I thought went out of business or sold out but you will have to find out for yourself.
I’ve been away from the hobby for about 24/25 years and miss it very much. Prior to life taking over my spare time, I did have a layout that included logging. One of my son’s dropped my Riverossi two truck Heisler and damaged the front truck. I would like to fix this engine if I can get a wheel set or a complete truck. If necessary and the price is right, I’m willing to purchase a three truck Heisler and kit-bash it into a two truck to get the wheel set. I’m also considering a non-running beater if I can find one to take parts off. I live on Vancouver Island and model railroad stores are in short supply in my immediate area.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can be contacted via this forum or at irbuk@msn.com.