Mike Boucher

Hi Jazz, One more question about your compensation method. What diameter wire do you use? I've gone back through the thread and can't find any mention as to the size. I have some .015" diameter piano wire, but that seems way too flimsy. Thanx! Mike

I thought that Walthers2000 was basically the same as the Life Like Proto2000, considering that Walthers acquired Life Like. (at least the body shell). I just got a "New Old Stock" P2K E8 for my 13 year old for $70, I'll pass on spending $330...

Thanks for the information. Anyone have information as to which of those #s were delivered without top feed?

Love it. IMHO, The rivets on the tanks add character to a loco which is already oozing with character. I'm looking forward to getting mine in the mail.

And another from Railpictures.net... The Alaska RR jordan spreader is prominent, but those mountains in the background... http://www.railpictures.net/photo/642450/

Found this update out on the web today. Be sure to watch the 3 minute youtube video (uploaded yesterday) embedded in the middle of the article https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/inside_track/steam-update-01-03-2018.htm

Hi Jazz, I'm thinking of compensating the Connoisseur Jinty I'm building, and your technique is one I'm considering using. But there's one thing that confuses me. If the bearing is free to float a mm or so up and down, what holds it in place horizontally in the frame? Is it just the hole that the spring wire sits in is close enough the the frame that the wire acts as a thrust bearing which holds the bearing tight against the frame, or is there something else that holds it?

This forum really needs a "WOW" button for work like that. "Like" or "Craftsmanship" just don't seem sufficient.

Potentially dumb question, but what color is this loco? In the "distance" shots, it looks blue, but the close up of the nameplate, it looks grey.

Getting way off topic, but that reminds me of the classic "Smoke Theory" of Lucas electrical systems. As soon as you let the smoke out, the electronics stop working. Which led to this:

Sorry for taking this way off the rails, but there's still one airworthy... https://frontlinevideos.com/blogs/videos/last-electric-lightning-t5-restored-to-flying-condition

Yeah, Edaville is a shell of a shadow of its former self. I haven't been there in about 10 years, and I think its gotten worse from then. Its now pretty much an amusement park with a short train ride

Yup. Its pretty rare to find non-staggered joints. There's a speeder club in New Hampshire which runs on the former Boston and Maine Wolfeboro branch. Part of their track is staggered, but about 3-4 miles has "inline joints". Let me tell you, riding down that track, the section that's not staggered is MUCH harder riding. You really feel every joint. I don't know how people with back problems would be able to ride, my back hurt afterwards. Are staggered joints uncommon in the UK? I always just assumed that staggered joints were common practice.

Hi folks, During the fall, the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum, in Portland, Maine, runs weekend excursions along the 1+ mile of 2' gauge track along the Portland waterfront. I spent a day up there last weekend, as some of my friends were on the loco crew. Here's a short video from that day.

If you're not happy with your louvers, you might consider getting some 3D louver decals. http://www.archertransfers.com/AR88055.html I've used Archer rivet decals on a project, and they look pretty good once on. I'm planning on using these for my GP backdate project.

Absolutely. McGinnis introduced the intertwined B&M logo.

The B&M Historical Society's magazine has had a series of articles over the past few years where they take a conductor's log book from the archives and break down a particular train on a particular day. They go into incredible detail, such as "train arrived at X station 4 minutes late", and they have the entire consist listed, including photos of each car in the train (or at least representative of the class, like if coach 632 was in the train, they might have a photo of 630). Fascinating stuff. Anyhow, I was reading one of these articles last night about a train from White River Jct, VT to Springfield, MA. Somewhere along the line (Brattleboro?), they added a new coach to the train, which took additional time for the pickup and brake test, making them 12 minutes late leaving that station. But rather than tack it on the end, they pulled the loco off the train, picked up the coach on the siding, and then the coach became the 1st car in the train. Now I'm looking at this photo again today (since this thread was just updated) and I'm wondering if something similar is happening here. The train left Boston with the baggage at the head end, but they're adding a new coach from Woodsville to Montreal (or some intermediate station) And it was easier for the 44 tonner to add it to the front of the consist for whatever reason. (One idea is it might be a "deadhead" move, they need to get that coach somewhere for a different train, but not have it carry passengers or they would need additional conductors, so might as well put it where no one can get in and sit down)

Dumb question. If two lights weren't mandatory, why would they put the 2nd one in on the opposite side just to blank it out? Lovely weathering on that 05...

Seems to me that the brass screw in the center is at risk to short everything out. How is it insulated? Is it just the countersink is deep enough that the head doesn't hit the copper?

FYI - if you need parts for the Red Caboose drive (or even a completely new drive) you can get them from P&D hobbies. Hold on to your wallet, as they ain't cheap. https://pdhobbyshop.com/show_products.php?category=Trains&sub_category=%26quot%3BO%26quot%3B%20Scale%202%20Rail&sub_sub_category=Drive%20Components&manufacturer=P%26amp%3BD%20Weaver I have two of the "complete power kits" with brass trucks. The trucks are gorgeous, and waiting for the two body shell kits I have to make their way to the top of the pile. (one will be backdated to a GP-7, Boston & Maine maroon and gold. the other will be B&M as-delivered "McGinnis Bluebird" paint scheme.)

Any train nut who goes to Disney should consider taking the "Magic behind our steam trains" tour. You have to get up early, but IMHO its worth it. I did it about 15 years ago, and would again... https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/magic-behind-steam-trains-tour/ Also on Disney property, the Wilderness Lodge had some of Walt's 7.25" gauge cars on display. (but don't know if they're still there) Wilderness Lodge is a nice boat ride from the main entrance of the Magic Kingdom...

. Deerfield River Laser has kits to covert Bachmann On30 coaches into ET&WNC coaches. http://www.deerfieldriverlaser.com/TweetsieCarsSides.html You might try contacting him to see where he would suggest. (and might want to get a few of the kits in the process) I have a few of his kits (for the EBT) and they're very nice.

While not Narrow gauge, Ian Wilson's books on the Canadian National include track plans and time tables for the towns he's writing about. If you're at all interested in the Canadian National, his books NEED to be on your shelf. I have many (but not all) of them, and they rate 5 stars IMHO. http://ianwilsonauthor.com/canadianbranchline

Interesting. I would think that the center of the fire would burn through faster than the corners. (at least, that's my experience with live steamers, running 3.5" up to 7.25" gauge)