I want a pennsylvania railroad around 1950. Now any advice on locomotives, passanger and freight cars. I want lots of coal and mining freight.
Since I’m new to this I would like some links to good online retailers that carry those things that you sugest if you know any one.
Magnus
Magnus,
Since you are wanting to model 1950, you can use both steam and diesel on your layout. And, since Pennsy was a large RR and there is quite a bit of Pennsy products available on the market, your choices for locomotives and rolling stock are pretty much limitless.
If you want good, inexpensive coaling hoppers, may I suggest Accurail. The detailing is quite nice, about $8-10 per kit, and you can easily put one together in under an hour.
Magnus, I like to check BLT dates on my rolling stock so I buy rolling stock from my local hobby store (LHS). I would encourage you to find a good LHS in your area and support it as much as you can. Online stores are great but the benefits of a good and knowledgeable LHS are invaluable.
Good discount online businesses for locomotives:
http://www.trainworld.com
http://www.http://www.modeltrainstuff.com
Tom
I would love to suport my LHS but I live in Sweden and they don’t have very much in either knowledge or stock of american models. That is why I have to ask here and on the Swedish forums.
Magnus
Magnus,
Understand completely. We’ll try and help you out as much as we can. BTW: [#welcome] to the forum! Good to have you aboard! [:)]
Tom
Magnus, if you would like a kick-butt locomotive that the PRR used for coal trains, you can’t do much better than a Broadway Limited Imports 2-10-4 J1. I have one, and I can’t keep my eyes off it, it looks so good. I think it is already my favourite locomotive.
Beware, though, that it needs 24" curves to operate efficiently on your layout. I don’t know if that eliminates the J1 for you, but if you can fit those curves in, you have a winner.
-Crandell
I should ad that I want to have it with either a DCC socket or DCC complete
Magnus
Magnus,
The J1 that Crandell mentioned has QSI sound so the decoder is already installed for you. It will run on either DC or DCC.
Tom
I have looke that 2-10-4 J1 up and it seems to be out of stock in most places, but I have found it for 309 dollars, is this a standard price? It do look great!
Magnus
Magnus, trainworld, below, has them for less, and you should keep an eye on Broadway Limited Imports “Outlet Direct”, on their website. These locos are seconds or are returned for some reason, and must be sold as “used”. I have had good results with both locos that I purchased that way, and for much less than retail…usually over US $100 less than their MSRP. Additionally, they are fully guaranteed…no hassle about it.
Go to BLI’s site, and on the left menu, scroll down to “Oultet Direct”… As of Friday, they had four or five J1’s, but unfortunately none of them were with decoders. If you can be patient, you will be rewarded. Keep checking once every five or six days, and you will get one a bit cheaper than trainworld.
As far as the 50’s engines I love the F-7’s and E-6’s. Erie Bulit are good as well, only thing I don’t like is the single horn in the center stick forward of the wind screen.
This is a Santa Fe War Bonnet E-6 by Proto, its a 2000. Good detail and pulls low amps. Pulls like heck as well, when doubled headed I have yet to run out of pulling power. Mine is DC but can be up graded to DCC. Local hobby shop sells them for around $65.00 and been the best bang for the buck (mean best all round for the money)
Cuda Ken
Magnus, the next thing you need to do is decide on a scale. If you have already decided, then it is a good idea in an All Scales forum like this one to always identify the scale you’re talking about.
For N scale, Wig Wag Trains is a good source, plus you may want to look at some of the shops over in the UK.
I’m sorry I meant H0, do anyone know of a good book about Pensylvania and any for the PRR? On the 2-10 you got wich is not DCC, how are the options for upgrading it? Does it have a 8 pin socket?
Magnus
I was able to get some cheap locos today from a guy in Sweden wich were DCC equipped and brand new. I also got 17 freight cars to go with that. Now none of them are PRR but as I understand it a lot of freight cars would end up on other lines from time to time. What I wonder is, what percentage of none PRR cars would you normally find on a railyard or in a trainset? Would there be possible to see other companys engines on the PRR from time to time?
If theses things were not comon I will simply repaint them, I might be new to MRR but I have painted quite a lot in my days. But, do you know any sites were on can look at PRR roling stock and engines to get paintschemes?
Magnus
Check on this site for a book on Modeling the 1950’s.
Best source is the PRR historic society PRRT&HS is their lookup. They have models and all types of information.
Take Care
Magnus,
Try this link - http://arhs.railfan.net/ It will give you information on other railroads in the region that ran during your chosen era. You will find information on books and other items of interest that will help you develop a plan. I’m modeling the PRR and Reading Railroads in the 1945-1950 era - there is a wealth of information available online and in books that you can purchase via the links in these websites.
Welcome and best of luck in your search.
Jim