What are you buying this month (June 2023)

[Maurice]

20230609_165355.jpg74451_136961876353480_7935176_n.jpg
A BLI NW2 from Train World. I had heard bad things about BLI and had told myself not to get one, even though they seem to be the only ones who make this version of the NW2, which is correct for my prototype. On the other hand, Spookshow had good things to say about it, so when I saw it for a steal at Train World, I jumped. I ran it back an forth a few times and then set it doing laps on a loop. The sound is a little louder than I like but that can be adjusted, otherwise it runs good. Now I have two DCC with sound locomotives and all the others seem less worthy. Next I need to take the body apart and strip the paint, then a coat of Conrail blue. As you can see from the prototype photo, I have my work cut out for me. Besides the weathering, I need to add an extended window to the engineer's side only, a drop down step over the couplers and a rolled up tarp over the radiator.
Cheers all and stay safe. Maurice

[Army-Gandydancer]

The main issue with any switcher such as the NW and SW series is unpowered frogs. They will stall and stutter on an unpowered frog at low speeds. One word of caution about the BLI NW/SW switchers, be careful when removing the shell so that you don't rip the small wires that connect the trucks to the loco off. It is pretty easy to do if you aren't careful. Like I said, it just ins't the BLI switchers that have this issue. My Micro-Trians SW1500 that I converted to DCC does the same thing. I had a BLI SW7 before returning it for another BLI 2-8-4 loco. The BLI SW7 and MT SW1500 run nice and smooth at slow speeds until they got to a switch with an unpowered frog.

[donzi]

Tee shirt delivered today, and 10th anniversary decals last week.

[Maurice]

Two minor purchases (I actually resisted temptation to buy a boxcar appropriate for my layout at the LHS). I went to the book store at Steamtown National Park in Scranton PA. today and got this nice metal Delaware & Hudson Sign for the train room. Sorry as there is no manufacturer's name on it. I already had one from there for Lackawanna Railroad. I stopped at my LHS for some wire for use in conjunction with the decoder I recently got. Those of you DCC savy should realize the colors I bought mean I am working with front and rear headlights. This is tough work. I will always buy factory equipped when possible from now on. Unfortunately, most of the locomotives I need are not currently available. Cheers all and stay safe Maurice
20230618_224209.jpg20230618_224501.jpg

[astrotrain64]

Bought a couple of Lunde Studios kits from Midwest Model Railroad in Independence, MO. Also, bought a Brothers Block kit from Model Train Stuff on the same day. That one hasn't arrived yet...

File size is too big. I'll pay the Moose tax later.

[Moose2013]

I'll pay the Moose tax later.

Indeed you will... ===============

[bc6]

This week I purchased a lot of stuff all 3 sets of the E353 Series so 3+4+5 = 12 cars.

4949727674476_282d6d4580f14a2ed7488b2d6b1e3f91__90595 (1).jpg

10947816a.jpg

4949727689401_d0c583c3b7873db5209516a45b43545d__32065.jpg

[kingmeow]

From Plaza Japan?

[jhn_plsn]

I scored four Atlas and 6 ScaleTrains 42" coil cars. More plywood to.
20230624_150707.jpg

[railohio]

More books:

"Piggyback and Containers" David J. DeBoer | Golden West
"Mexican Narrow Gauge" Gerald M. Best | Howell-North
"The Corn Belt Route" H Roger Grant | Northern Illinois
"Chicago & Illinois Midland" Wallin, Stringham, and Szwajkart | Golden West

[Silent1961]

And the wallet drain for this month continues.

I picked up a Digitrax DB210 booster before inflation hits this item. This is for districts 3 and 4 on the upper deck when I get to it. Probably the distant future at my current rate of progress but who knows how high the price will be when I need it otherwise.

DSCN2630.jpg

I purchased a number of ESU components which arrived last week. 5 ESU 50321 speakers 11mm x 15mm which I ordered before reading the post that these are to wide for narrow hood locomotives. I can confirm they are 1mm to wide. I now have 10 different 9mm x 16mm from 3 sources on order, which should arrive early next month for the July thread.

With the speakers, I received 2 ESU Loksound 58741 decoders for Kato and 5 ESU Loksound 58751 Atlas Legacy decoders.

DSCN2631.jpgDSCN2632.jpgDSCN2633.jpg

Finally, 2 Digitrax DN126M2 decoders to try out on 2 of the 14 Life Like SW9/1200's.

DSCN2634.jpg

What really hurts is I have more items on the way for this week before the end of the month.

[DanB80]

I'm not into steam, so I picked these two up at a train show, because, well they're pretty.
Concor 4-6-4 S-4 Hudson
Concor 4-8-4 S-2 Northern

Steamers.jpg

[SteamPower4ever]

I'm not into steam, so I picked these two up at a train show, because, well they're pretty.

You know it's a good day when folks not into steam start picking up steamers at train shows
A tip of the hat to you, Sir. Well done!

[donzi]

I picked these two up at a train show, because, well they're pretty.

Happens to me all the time.

[Army-Gandydancer]

Well Model Train Stuff twisted my arm into buying a N&W 2-8-8-2 which arrived today. For those looking at getting one, Model Train Stuff has them on sale right now for $360 (regular $479).

Man is this locomotive a puller. I am currently running it with 48 cars hooked up. I have 23 box cars (20 - 40' and 3 36'), 5 flat cars with loads, 7 2 bay coal hoppers, 5 2 bay covered hoppers, 2 gondolas, 4 tank cars and 2 cabooses. The hoppers, flat cars with loads, and tank cars are on the heavy side. The loco is not having any issues at all pulling that load, even with a 1.3% incline at some curves.

So far the only negative I have is when running the loco without any cars hooked up. It sometimes wants to stall on a couple of my Atlas #4 switches. Otherwise it is definitely a good runner. One of the first things I did was to turn the sound down. It was way too loud out of the box.

Well I figured out why it was occasionally stalling at or 2 turnouts. I had one set of wheels on the front set of drivers that was too narrow. I missed it when I first checked them with my gauge. All is good now with no hesitations or stalls.

N&W Y6B 2200.jpg

[jhn_plsn]

Yikes. The DCC mission was clearly defined for you.

[Army-Gandydancer]

Well I couldn't resist Model Train Stuff's sale and bought a second N&W Y6B 2-8-8-2. This time I got the maroon fantasy paint scheme. It arrived today. I am definitely done buying locomotives for a while, especially since I have a couple on pre-order.

N&W Y6B 2171.jpg

[el Gato Gordo]

That's a handsome pair!

[bc6]

This is larger purchase from Hobby Search this week.

Hobby Search order.png