Recent content by Greg Elems

The older Lionel cars weren't quite full O scale cars. Some were even close to S scale (1/64th). Over the years, I ran Lionel GP9's and Williams engines pulling the Lionel 6464 series box cars and they looked fine to me. The William's SD90 isn't a full sized O scale engine but it looks good...

The problem with 2-rail wheel sets on 3-rail track is the size of the gaps betweent the rails and frog point. Scale wheels have a different flange to flange distance than the 3-rail flanges. There wheel sets Walther's used to offer for their 2-rail trucks were in-between the current scale and...

Are you interested in plows for late model GE's and EMD or the F units? Greg

Mr. Grumpy, Excellent job. In answer to your question about the holes on the side. Those were windows and they had glass in them. Often they were plated over with metal and painted, which would make for a dark place to walk but it was cheaper than replacing the glass.

Hi Ray, Very nice series of pictures. We have the #8 up here in Sparks Nevada. Sure nice to see SP narrow gauge getting some exposure. Greg

I asked a friend of mine who has one. He's in 2-rail but can answer the detail question. He told me the screen area on the long hood just above the walk way is see through. The handrail stanchions aren't the best and could be up graded. The radiator area on the top isn't see through but then...

Well it is in the Trainman line. I'm wondering how much detail is enough. Are you looking at a 2-rail scale version? The last time I saw one I seem to recall it having the detailed trucks and seperate grab irons on the nose. The paint was well done, as most Atlas units are. It has the same...

As a 2 railer, I add weight to my lighter cars. I don't follow the NMRA recommended practices to a T but one or two ounce below. Real cars are different weights due to loads and empties and construction methods. When I ran 3 rail, I probably went with half the NMRA RP's for weight on my...

I model in O scale, 2 rail. I have a small collection of Lionel and other 3 rail equipment from my high school days and beyond. Greg

Warren would be proud.

Very nice modeling, love the weathered brick buildings. As an aside the usual crew for a yard job was a foreman and two switchmen while the local crews on the road had a conductor and two brakemen. Even the FEC didn't break that union contract till the mid 70's IIRC. Greg

Chuck, The new ASG track looks great. Sounds like you are glad you went that route for the track. Greg

Buy the new Atlas flex track for 2 rail. It matches up with the old Atlas just fine and is UV resistant for outdoors. MTH has offered several 2 rail steam engines over the yrs. Just Trains has them listed www.justrains.com just look for the -2 in the number for 2 rail. Also check out 3rd...

Josh, If you wanted to keep the original hand railing a method I used was to drill a small hole in the hand railing to insert a brass wire, about half the thickness of the handrail, and a hole in the frame. Leave the broken piece in the frame and then slide the wire into the hole, holding the...

Other than the gaping hole in the pilot, it matches the prototype pretty good. As an FYI the pilot was separate from the frame, much like Lionel’s solution to sharp curves. 54 were sold total. Greg