What did Santa bring you?

[modelbob]

Thought I'd create a thread to tell what neat stuff you got for Christmas.

I'll start it off by saying my son caught me by surprise and bought me an HO scale GG1 by Broadway Limited. I'm very impressed with it. It's very nice looking and the sound system is really neat. They've even figured out a way for you to control the horn with a non-DCC system (while it's moving you flip the direction switch on the transformer, instead of changing dircection the horn sounds. To actually change directions, you stop first, then change the direction switch). It seems to be well built, and it's really heavy. I'm really happy with it.

So, what did the rest of you get?

[RCH]

My family knows me well enough just to get me gift certificates! But it sounds like you've got a real winner there. Of all the BLI stuff I've seen, the GG1 is the one I want. I'm not a Pennsy modeler, but from the real thing to any scale, those babies are a work of art. Now, maybe in a week or so I'll have a couple new acquisitions to report on. As for right now, I'm totally content just being Santa. My girls have had a great morning!

[modelbob]

Yes, the GG1's are really nice. I've got about 3 or 4 of them now, a couple of the AHM plastic ones, one in a "Pennsylvania" supermarket train set, not even sure who made that one, and the BLI one, which is by far the best and most impressive.

Unfortunately, the G is a long wheelbase engine, and my layout has some temporary trackwork to allow continuous running. The transitions in the vertical curves are, well, pretty much non-existent. That will need to change before my new loco is able to complete a full circuit of the track. Nothing wrong with the loco, just some shortfalls in the track itself.

[leghome]

Three DCC decoders for for some of my locos to go with the Digitrax BigBoy System I just bought. A great T-shirt that reads "I know I am not the greatest but I am so close it scares me". A sign that reads I still ply with trains and a really nice Citizens watch

[sushob]

I got a Dimage Z3...I just about jumped through the roof...my first real camera... :D :D :D :D

[SDP45]

Nothing here. Thought I was a good boy. That coal will come in handy on the future layout for the planned mine scene. :)

[JeffShultz]

So far I've got a couple of Athearn BB covered hoppers, 3 envelopes of Kadee #58's, 'The Tool,' and a right angle clamp for working on structures.
...hopefully more tomorrow.

[CBCNSfan]

That coal will come in handy on the future layout for the planned mine scene.

Sheesh!! I didn't even get that! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/nibbs/babywaah.gif must be an expensive commodity now :D Maybe I tee'd santa off by cutting up the ones I got in the years before.
Had a great day though and maybe my GP35 and GP7 will arrive before the New Year.
Cheers Willis

[Lady_Railfan]

Santa (played this year by my son-in-law) arranged for this to appear beneath my Christmas Tree, all assembled and ready to use! What's especially endearing is that it celebrates my husband, who does most of our cooking. Our house is truly "Frank's Restaurant." :)

[CBCNSfan]

Claudia I like it, it's neat. Now if you can get the chef to put the pots and pans away for awhile and help you with your railroad, it just might be a great summer for you :D
Cheers Willis

[Lady_Railfan]

:D From your mouth to God's ears!!!! :D In fact, our son is visiting for the holidays, and he's offered to help me get the loco powered while he's here. All I have to do is pull a few bushels of weeds and repair a bit of roadway, and we should be ready to run.

[modelbob]

LR,

That's a very nice structure, I'll grant you that. I also like the personalization.

However... Said as kindly as possible, and not meaning to nitpick, but...

Uh, err, well, are you sure it's the same scale as your train?

[CBCNSfan]

All I have to do is pull a few bushels of weeds
Ah! Well, there goes the scenery http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/nibbs/Sosad-2.gif

[Lady_Railfan]

Well, modelbob, it's the same scale as at least ONE of my trains! :D I guess you're right. That 1:22.5 (large scale) building would look at bit more appropriate if it wasn't displayed with the HO set that I set up under the Christmas tree to torment the cats with! (See below)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willis, I'm gonna replace those with miniature weeds! :D

[abcraghead]

No model stuff under the tree this year.

However... I bought myself some Bachmann EZ Track on eBay, plus I recently acquired an Atlas RS1 in SP&S as delivered, which I am going to outfit for DCC this week....

[modelbob]

> (See below)

Gee, I'm familiar with On30, but that's the first time I've ever seen Gn7.5. :)

[JeffShultz]

Well, of Model Railroad stuff, I ended up with 5 envelopes of Kadee #58's, two Athearn PS CD covered hoppers, a Pikestuff building, and the new Kalmbach book on trackside industries. I also ended up with funds with which to buy a new, "professional" toolbox, which will hopefully replace the plastic bin and a lot of random containers that held all my tools and other stuff.

The common complaint was that none of the stuff on my list was available locally.