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NF210
Switcher
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 Posted - August 01 2013 : 01:03:48 AM
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Hi folks. Just signing in here. Been lurking for about a year. Lots of great memories coming back looking at all the photos.
I got my first train set back in the mid70's. A Bachmann circle layout, CN rail F unit, a few pieces of rolling stock. I had a lot of fun even with that simple set, but like most kids toys, it ended up wrecked and forgotten after a couple of years.
Fast forward a few years later, early 80's. A friend of mine whose dad worked at Robin Hood had a bunch of promotional COX train sets in a closet. I bought one off my buddy for $10. Not much of a set, the loco was abysmal, and the rolling stock all had food products (Bundt cake caboose?) on them but it got me back into the hobby. Pretty soon, I began building up my set with cast offs and left behinds from others friend's childhoods. One sold me an early 70's Bachmann F unit 8 wheel drive, another a Model Power Sharknose and RS11 ( my favorite loco of them all). Of course with each came a few more pieces of rolling stock, most always CN or CP in those days. It seemed dad and I did a weekly pilgrimage to the local Woolco to pick up a new car or loco every week; a growly old GP38 8 wheel drive one week, all black and sooty looking with the noodle logo on the side, a pancake motored CP U36b the next (fast, but cheap sounding and no low speed action to speak of). Almost all were Bachmann. I thought they looked and ran pretty good at the time, but I had low standards I guess, or maybe I was having too much fun to notice. Only when I came across a few discarded Tyco sets did I really begin to see other roads names on the rolling stock. I bought a Canadiana set off a friend of a friend and acquired my first Alco loco, a PowerTorque C430 Canadiana, which quickly went the way of all Powertorques when asked to pull the kind of trains we assembled. It was a shame, because that old Alco had presence! Same thing happend to the Silver Streak 430, except it stripped a couple of gears which the Canadiana donated, before burning up the motor (sigh....) I also inherited quite a few pieces of rolling stock from a discarded and broken set from the neighbour across the way. I managed to piece together quite a few good cars from the broken ones, and even the broken ones donated wheelsets that made neat cargo loads for the empty flats that had once held piggyback containers. Amongst the jumble was a neat unloading boxcar and log dump, which were really kind of kitschy now that I think about it, but impressed a spotty youth to no end. At my peak, I think I had about 15-20 locos and about 40 pieces of rolling stock. On a 4X8 sheet, with all cars hooked up, the front of the loco and the back of the last car would be on the same side of the layout. This was aided and abetted by three Bachmann Triple Dome tank cars (junk). A GP38 and U36B would be double heading the whole affair, which, given the 8 wheel drive can motored Geep and the pancake motored U-Boat, was probably not the wisest idea.
I got ambitious and did counter circulating layouts, one inside another for awhile, which was fun to watch. Nothing earth shattering. I'm sure the pros in the hobby would have turned up their noses at my cheap and cheerful layout, what with the mulicolored tacks holding the EZ track to the plywood, and not a piece of motive power or rolling stock bought for more than $20. Well, except for the Bachmann CN 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive and tender, which had pride of place in our motive power fleet. Dad was an actual railroader, starting in 1951, as the steam era was ending. He always said steam locomotives were the only true locomotives, the others were just mailboxes on rails. We had a lot of fun with that set. Time passed, I played it with less and less as I grew up. Eventually, it all ended up in a box and was traded away.
My dad passed away just before Christmas 1998, and when I went home to my family, I managed to get back that old set from my uncle. It was worse for wear, as the passage of a dozen years had taken its toll. I remember buying a soldering iron at Radio Shack to fix up that old RS11 and ran it back and forth in the basement of dad and mom's retirement home, trying to conjure up memories of the time we spent together with that set. It still hummed and loaded up before breaking loose, just as I remember it. Part of its charm, to me at least. When I left, I donated it to a man setting up a small museum.
In the past few years, around Christmas, I found myself looking at old railroad photos and thinking it might be a bit of fun to buy some trains again. Unfortunately, the local classifieds have turned up only stuff made of gold. It seems everyone around here thinks an old HO set is worth at least $100. I finally found one tonight for $50, a small Bachmann "CN Hustler" set. It was advertised as "original, still in the boxes 1970's era set" which got me thinking it might be one of the old 8-wheel drives with the heavy zinc chassis, or at least an F unit with the odd vertical can motor driving the rear wheels through a worm gear like my very first set back then. Sadly, it's just a run of the mill F9 "9162" with a pancake motor and an incomplete set of track. So, my return has been a bit unfulfilling so far. I'll be a monkey's uncle though if there wasn't a Life-Like RS11 (Model Power, IHC, Mehano?) and a Model Power Sharknose exactly like the ones I used to own way back in the 80's for sale in the classifieds this week. I'll take that as a sign.
Anyhow, that's my story. Despite the low opinion of Bachmann products, I'd still rate the locos (even the pancake motors) higher than the Powertorques (blasphemy!). That's a shame since the 430 was probably the second nicest looking loco I had after the RS11. The Tyco rolling stock was as good as any other stuff I had, except for the Planter's Peanuts center flow hopper which absolutely loved to derail, and I appreciated the different road names for some variety.
I like this site since there seems to be little snobbery at work here. Too many times in my hobbies I see all the discussion monopolized by the people for whom money is no object, and there is a simmering disrespect for anyone who can't drop all the right brand names. I like the can-do attitude I see here, and bringing the old stuff back to life has always appealed to me. Having 90% of the fun for 10% of the cost has always been my way.
Edited by - NF210 on August 01 2013 02:41:58 AM
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Member Since: August 01 2013 ~
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 Posted - August 01 2013 : 08:09:48 AM
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Hi NF210,
Welcome to the forum! This really is a fun place and we have lots of great people here.
I love your story. I started the same way. Yea, most of the cheap stuff didn't run well, but it was fun. I like the cheap stuff from back then even today.
As far as your layouts go, don't worry about what anyone else thinks, If you are happy, thats all that matters.
Trying to find used trains at good prices can be hard. I like to go to Flea Markets and garage sales. I found two train sets dumped in one box for $2 at a garage sale, So the deals are out there.
Please share some pictures if you get a chance.
Again welcome aboard!
Mytyco
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Posted - August 01 2013 : 12:56:34 PM
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Hey NF210,
Welcome aboard, we're glad to have you here and we look forward to your posts.
Cheers,
Thomas
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Posted - August 01 2013 : 1:05:17 PM
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Welcome to the forum!
I too enjoyed reading your story. It sounds like you had some cool pieces. Have you checked out any hobby shops in your area or looked in to any local train shows? Certain hobby shops and most model train shows can be goldmines for vintage HO. 
Eric
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Posted - August 01 2013 : 5:23:26 PM
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NF210,
Welcome Aboard, to the forums, AND back into the hobby! As you will see and should have lurking a year, you can see, we try to have fun, and go on an on, on the trains themselves....Age, manufacturer, shape, etc......
Then some of us, have even more taking something made, and turn it into something else then another "one" of the same!! ME!
Good have another.....The more, the merrier!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - August 01 2013 : 6:56:14 PM
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Glad you've found this place to your liking! I too absolutely can not stand people who only buy all the new high tech DCC Sound engines at ridiculous prices from people like MTH or BLI. Those people really don't seem to have a clue of where things really got their start and how the hobby has evolved. Not like they started out making those sound equipped $400 engines....To me those people don't respect the hobby for what it really is, their just in it for publicity such as Model Railroader or they just want to waste money on very limited amounts of products to suit their needs.
And that's really why I've loved this forum, hundreds of folks who are not only nice, helpful, friendly, and funny, but also who have the passion and desire for the more classic and older style locomotives an rolling stock i.e. Tyco/Mantua, MDC-Roundhouse, Rivarossi, Bowser etc. Everyone on here has the desire to take something and truly make it better but without really harming it's original design or integrity.
This is definitely my kind of place, people who love old HO engines, rebuild, repair, and operate them and make sure they have a purpose. So I hope this is your kind of place to! Lots to do, lots to see, and definitely lots of things to learn!
I buy, repair, and collect
http://scvr.weebly.com/
http://seyboldlocomotiveworks.weebly.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeputation?feature=watch
Hyde.
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Posted - August 01 2013 : 8:15:25 PM
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I agree with you, SCVR66 & thats THE #1 reason I get used & DC trains
I'd rather spend $500 on a mess of used locos, cars track & accesories at train shows 
Welcome to the club, NF210
btw? What does your name mean?
Also try Craigslist for used trains & garage sales
Or advertize there for DC-only trains
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NF210
Switcher
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Posted - August 01 2013 : 9:26:22 PM
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Hi guys. Thanks for the greets. NF210 is the 1200hp road switcher used on the Newfoundland Railway from the early 50's until the late 80's when the railway was closed. Many were sold off to the railway in Chile, and are still running to this day, albeit in much more colorful livery.
Original paint from the 50's:
And today in Chile:
There were also a limited number of 875hp G8's to service the light gauge rail branch lines:
And two G12's:
And oddly enough, one MLW/Alco (RSC14? which was a derated RS18), which did switching duties in the yard in Port Aux Basques where they changed over the rolling stock from the mainland to the narrow gauge trucks used on the island. It was the most powerful locomotive on the island, which is kind of ironic when you think about it. It was a dual gauge switching yard.
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Posted - August 01 2013 : 9:41:47 PM
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Welcome to the forum NF210!!! I also like collecting and repairing the older trains I can better afford...
Mike
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NF210
Switcher
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Posted - August 02 2013 : 10:10:32 PM
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Well, hit up a local hobby shop for some inexpensive (cough...cheap...cough) rollling stock. I wasn't expecting much, since the last time I went in there was a solitary Canadiana caboose sitting there, but lo and behold...
...a veritable cornucpoia of cheapness.
Some usual suspects....
Then all this other stuff....
Now here is something I need some expert advice on. While there was a lot of stuff to choose from, I picked up one piece and looked at it. At first, I thought the trucks were broken, so I put it back. Then I picked up another and found the same thing. Upon further inspection, I found that the trucks had actual working spring suspension on them. As proof, I provide this rather poor photo:
Not sure what make they are, but they all had steel plate bottoms, and separate pockets for the couplers. Now, they do seem a bit older than most of the other stuff, but they have a somewhat realistic aged look to them, which suits me fine. I just wonder if I stumbled onto something here. A lot of the other stuff was typical Tyco, Life-Like, and IHC/Mehano (Made in Slovenia?) stuff, and I had to draw the line somewhere, but these particular cars seemed to be better built than the others. I never saw HO stuff with actual working suspension before.
There was some Con-Cor passenger car kits there, and two Athearn locomotives, a BL2 with a horrible flat tan paintjob, and an Athearn Auto-Train U36B, likewise poorly detailed but salvageable.
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Posted - August 02 2013 : 11:15:29 PM
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quote:Now here is something I need some expert advice on. While there was a lot of stuff to choose from, I picked up one piece and looked at it. At first, I thought the trucks were broken, so I put it back. Then I picked up another and found the same thing. Upon further inspection, I found that the trucks had actual working spring suspension on them. As proof, I provide this rather poor photo:
Not sure what make they are, but they all had steel plate bottoms, and separate pockets for the couplers. Now, they do seem a bit older than most of the other stuff, but they have a somewhat realistic aged look to them, which suits me fine. I just wonder if I stumbled onto something here. A lot of the other stuff was typical Tyco, Life-Like, and IHC/Mehano (Made in Slovenia?) stuff, and I had to draw the line somewhere, but these particular cars seemed to be better built than the others. I never saw HO stuff with actual working suspension before.
There was some Con-Cor passenger car kits there, and two Athearn locomotives, a BL2 with a horrible flat tan paintjob, and an Athearn Auto-Train U36B, likewise poorly detailed but salvageable.
Originally posted by NF210Â -Â August 02 2013Â :Â 10:10:32 PM
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NF210,
Sprung trucks, VERY common years ago, from Central Valley, Kadee still makes them, and a BUNCH of others....Good looking but some I would NEVER bother with, BUT the Central Valley, and the Kadee and I can't seem to recall the other company that made them, but those are about the only 3 that actually worked well.....The others were a bit of work to make them track well.....
Price wise, worth a little more then the factory trucks, BUT to be sure of one thing, they do require some work to make the couplers the right height for kadee couplers, or any "knuckle" coupler.......As they are good to lower "high" cars, with high coupler boxes, but if the car is to low already, it makes then even lower!
Word of advice, try to steer clear of the "plastic" made versions, they do not work the greatest, where as the metal ones pretty much work GREAT! PLUS, the metal ones add weight to the car, right at the wheels!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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NF210
Switcher
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Posted - August 02 2013 : 11:34:52 PM
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My haul for today.
Everything except the cabooses, the CP hopper, and the Tyco Chiquita boxcar has the sprung trucks. The cabooses are Lionel (top one) and Rivarossi. The green CP hopper is Life-Like. I'd really like to know who made the others.
EDIT: Some Googling seems to indicate I picked a bunch of Athearn rolling stock.
Edited by - NF210 on August 02 2013 11:43:21 PM
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Posted - August 02 2013 : 11:46:35 PM
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Yep, most of the lower ones in the picture are Athearn. The Athearn pulpwood flat car caught my interest! Nice catch tho!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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