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 Posted - October 08 2013 : 03:59:32 AM
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I am a long time armchair model railroader. Long ago I was given a box of old Tyco stuff, unfortunately most of it was beyond repair but I did manage to salvage several freight cars. My username comes from the song by Lonnie Donegan btw, although I like the Rock Island paint schemes Tyco had especially the sharknose although the Rock Island never owned one in real life, however the rivet counters will never appreciate it. Unfortunately mine is essentially so damaged as to be beyond repair.
I do own Bachmann's beginner DCC set but I actually prefer DC, I'm planning on selling it. I really like the toy train look in HO scale and retro style layouts. I'm planning on trading in my new era Bachmann and buying a Life Like starter set and adding my Tyco railcars to it. Plasticville structures etc. I want to recapture the fun of toy trains I had as a kid. I had classic Bachmann then (early-mid 90s, I am in my 20s) before it got expensive and back when they appealed to a more "toy train" look. Unfortunately I feel like a lot of model railroading has gotten too expensive and too extreme. I read MR today and compare them to some back issues from the 70s and 80s a former coworker of my father gave me and stuff is more realistic but a lot of the fun is taken out. It has gotten too serious. Unfortunately our brand of modeler doesn't have a magazine since MR is all prototypical and Classic Toy Trains is almost all S and O.
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Posted - October 08 2013 : 07:29:51 AM
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Welcome, RIL, your enjoyment of "toy" trains will go a long way here, as we have many who enjoy them for what they were originally, as well as those who modify them to upgrade their operations, and those who try to make them as realistically prototypical as possible. Many on here just enjoy them for what they are, toy trains in HO scale. I still have my childhood Tyco, Bachmamm, AHM, etc cars and engines, yet I do enjoy the newer stuff, and JUST bought a BLI engine, the J series N&W steamer, with sound. While expensive, it was a great deal at half price $200, and I will enjoy it along with my Tyco Shark, my Mantua switcher, and other low-end trains that still provide enjoyment regardless of cost.  Sounds like you have an interesting project in making a layout period typical with playfulness in mind, rather than realistic operations and scenery. Hopefully we'll get to see some pictures as this "develops" into an operating layout.  Chime in when you want to, we're here to enjoy this hobby together!
Jerry in Virginia
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - October 08 2013 : 07:57:18 AM
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RIL,
Welcome Aboard!!!! As spoken, by AMC, your in a group here that has a vast way of enjoyin' our hobby. No matter if its the old way of whimsical-ness, to the full scale modelers and even some being extreme tinker'ers
And as my Grandfather used to say "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 - October 08 2013 : 09:11:10 AM
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I wholeheartedly agree with you RIL. The latest trend in our hobby seems to be people with more money than talent and they all seem to be people who enjoy looking at prototype pictures; then comparing and berating the newest models from whatever manufacturer. I am sure you have all read about the guy who just bought the newest Genesis diesel for $400 and is complaining about the trucks on it having the wrong brake cylinders on it. I have never really cared if my stuff is prototypical; I like it; good enough.
Regarding your CRI&P shark; is the shell what is damaged beyond repair? If that's the problem, I believe I have a nice shell that you can have.
Randy
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Posted - October 08 2013 : 11:04:56 AM
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Plus, guys everyone wants DCC stuff & not DC! 
Most of us can't afford a $400++ for ONE loco!
I is one! I'd rather have old OLD DC stuffs
SAVE DC!!!
oh yeah! Welcome aboard
I too am a Rock Iss-land fan
I has several Rock Island locos & cars Plus ones with The Rock Which "crumbled" in 1980
Edited by - microbusss on October 08 2013 11:07:10 AM
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Posted - October 08 2013 : 9:18:34 PM
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The motor is more or less destroyed, the shell is fairly good condition. I think whoever had it before me tried to fix it but ending up breaking it worse. I actually got it broken.
As for the layout I will be moving to a new city in January most likely so I would not get started until then.
Edited by - RockIslandLine on October 08 2013 9:20:54 PM
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Posted - October 08 2013 : 10:30:47 PM
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| Welcome, RIL ! I decided two weeks ago that I must have a yellow Rock Island culvert flat by Mantua !
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Posted - October 09 2013 : 9:16:44 PM
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RIL, Mantua trains nay be toys, but that 4-6-2 Pacific is in my eyes one of the nicest looking engines in any scale. The"super details" that the intelligentsia thinks is so important just makes a locomotive that doesn' run because the owner is afraid it might break. In my opinion, their opinions on model railroading and railroading in general is about as reliable as their persnickety opinons about what the rest of us should do.
Keep it up - I wish I still had the Mantua General 1860 passenger train and the handful of 1860 freight cars that I had in 1960. For what it's worth, I did pick up three 1860 passenger cars on Ebay recently.
"S"tring boB
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Posted - October 10 2013 : 12:04:32 AM
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RIL, Mantua trains nay be toys, but that 4-6-2 Pacific is in my eyes one of the nicest looking engines in any scale. The"super details" that the intelligentsia thinks is so important just makes a locomotive that doesn' run because the owner is afraid it might break. In my opinion, their opinions on model railroading and railroading in general is about as reliable as their persnickety opinons about what the rest of us should do.
Keep it up - I wish I still had the Mantua General 1860 passenger train and the handful of 1860 freight cars that I had in 1960. For what it's worth, I did pick up three 1860 passenger cars on Ebay recently.
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"S"tring boB
Country: USA ~ Posts: 0 ~ Member Since: October 09 2013 ~ Last Visit: October 09 2013
OK hows THAT possible? This guy posted, and it shows "0" posts? WTH?
~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 - October 16 2013 : 2:42:57 PM
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Don't blame me! Keeping my mouth shut is not my stock in trade!
"S"tring boB
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UP1259
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Posted - October 16 2013 : 2:58:13 PM
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I just joined too! It amazes me other people feel the same way I do and yes it really does seem that the prototypical nonsense has ruined the fun of a hobby. And again with respect to those that enjoy making accurate models, I'm not so much knocking that as I am saying that its not for everyone and I have a hard time feeling proud of spending 400 dollars on a geep with sound! Maybe an articulated steamer, but man these train shows have geeps with sound for 100s of dollars.
Mike
Huron Locomotive Works
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Posted - October 16 2013 : 3:33:17 PM
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Welcome aboard Mike! And I agree I can't justify $500 in a diesel much less a articulated with sound and DCC in it when really, I don't run DCC at all. I have 2 DCC loco's, one is down and may stay down and the other is dual model and its my favorite steam loco. EVEN BEFORE Spectrum brought it out.....The EM-1, yep my name sake in the HO scale, and that's cool BUT I can't see where they get $500 is reasonable...I got mine for a BUNCH less then that but still I had to swallow hard and get the household "OK" to get it......
~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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