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 Posted - January 10 2016 : 09:56:00 AM
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Getting some traction first, I picked this up at a train show on the 9th, last purchase before they kicked everyone out. $20. I believe it's a Walthers trolly, needs a new belt, clean-up, and servicing. I just bought two others like this, Walthers trolleys, off Ebay over the last couple months. Didn't know they made them until recently. Anyway, will be fun to get this one running again.
Jerry
 
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - January 10 2016 : 11:44:01 AM
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My loco of the week is an MDC Box Cab on a Bachmann GE 44 Ton drive mechanism that I just completed following, for the most part, instructions from Geared Steam's web site. My Bachmann was the two motor version so some adaptations had to be made to his instructions. The bell and stove pipe were missing from the Box Cab body. I made a stove pipe from some parts sprue and a trip to the hobby shop will get me a bell.
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Posted - January 10 2016 : 12:17:13 PM
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My LOTW is a Rivarossi/AHM 0-4-0 in Union Pacific livery. This guy is going to be turning 50 on March, according to a sheet that comes with the box (it's dated 3/66, and the prices and, locomotives, etc seem to match what was sold in that year).
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - January 10 2016 : 12:28:40 PM
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| That trolley looks pretty fine Jerry. Be interesting to see some photos and videos of your Walthers trolleys when you get 'em tuned up.
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Posted - January 10 2016 : 1:51:22 PM
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I want that trolley!
I wanna make it look like the one on the Fort Collins (CO) Trolley line
Course I want the one that was used in The Changeling movie
that one was a rubber tire one hehe 
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Posted - January 10 2016 : 4:28:47 PM
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My LOTW is an F7 that struck a cattle truck on the crossing. Luckily the train was moving slow and no animals on the truck. No injuries were reported. No light poles were damaged in this incident! 
Edited by - walt on January 10 2016 4:46:57 PM
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Posted - January 11 2016 : 09:52:04 AM
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My LOTW:
A reproduction by Colonial Custam Casting... A Varney GG1 (R-1) Streamliner:
They were once part of Lew English's personal collection.
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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Posted - January 11 2016 : 12:43:57 PM
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So the GG1 has siderods. A shame they seem to be almost completely hidden by the axleboxes, watching siderods go 'round is one of the best parts of seeing a loco in action.
Feedback-hungry attention w****
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Posted - January 11 2016 : 3:03:38 PM
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quote:My LOTW:
A reproduction by Colonial Custam Casting... A Varney GG1 (R-1) Streamliner:
They were once part of Lew English's personal collection.
Originally posted by Mustangs_n_Trains - January 11 2016 : 09:52:04 AM
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That's cool, I've never seen a built-up version of the R-1. Do you have one built-up or only these parts?
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Posted - January 11 2016 : 5:37:39 PM
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A Penn Line GG1 that I just recently stripped and sanded. Im strongly considering plating it in either nickel silver, brass or possibly even gold.....thought?
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waw47
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Posted - January 11 2016 : 6:55:54 PM
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Built-up version of the Varney R1
http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/uploaded/vintageho/Varney%20R1.jpg
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Posted - January 12 2016 : 12:02:36 AM
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quote:
This one pictured is my friend Jim Heckard's:
http://hoseeker.net/gallery/index.php?album=varney-and-penn-line%2Fvarney-diesels&image=Varney-4-8-4-Electric.jpg
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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Posted - January 12 2016 : 12:10:57 AM
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After just reading the instruction assembly sheet, now I do not know if these are reproductions. I was given the Colonial Custom Casting sheet long before acquiring the shells. I figured the originals had to be made of the typical softer metal Varney was known to use, but after reading the assembly direction narrative, it states the shell body is aluminum!
Now the part that leaves me sceptical is that Lew English was notorious for molding and recasting on his own for his own use.. Problem is, everthing I have that he has recast was done so in pewter, not aluminum!
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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Posted - January 12 2016 : 9:24:56 PM
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This Athearn U-boat growls like heck. It appears the fly wheel is rubbing the
inside shell just a tad, and it makes a racket. Which I like. I call them "Tyco
Sound Effects." I mean, I could drop $350 for a high end proto sound unit,
but this came with the deal. Loving it.
Great posts, one and all. Never seen a GG1 with side rods.
That is a most interesting adaptation and a fascinating piece.
Walt, this might not have happened if you had better lighting
(lampposts, e.g.).
Edited by - Chops124 on January 12 2016 9:29:45 PM
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Posted - January 13 2016 : 09:38:20 AM
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quote: quote:My LOTW:
A reproduction by Colonial Custam Casting... A Varney GG1 (R-1) Streamliner:
They were once part of Lew English's personal collection.
Originally posted by Mustangs_n_Trains - January 11 2016 : 09:52:04 AM
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That's cool, I've never seen a built-up version of the R-1. Do you have one built-up or only these parts?
Originally posted by Redwoods - January 11 2016 : 3:03:38 PM
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The engine was sold as a shell only. It was to be used with the Varney 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive. The reason for the side rods was to connect all 8 drive wheels. Otherwise only one would spin. The rods would sit behind the shell molded on side-frames, so they would barely be seen anyway. I wish i had one that was built up. In fact, I bid on an engine that was complete, but incorrectly listed last year. I threw a $350 bid at it and was not the winner. Never before and never since have I seen one up for bid. I know of one other person who has it.
I discovered this morning though, these shells are Bowser...!! LOL I was looking one over this morning and looked inside... I saw some raised letters molded into the sides. I then looked at each one to see if they all had them and realized one of them was pretty clear. I had to take my glasses off so I could hold it closer to my bad eyes to read. Sure enough, they say "BOWSER - # # # #" and had a part number next to the dash line. I found that very interesting....
They apparently are not Colonial Custom Casting pieces either then... I wonder when Lew made them? I wish there was someone I could ask...
But what is really cool for me... being marked Bowser... I can bet these are the only three "Bowser" R-1 Streamliners in existence.
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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Posted - January 13 2016 : 11:34:44 AM
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Would you build and paint one of these yourself, or would you leave them all "pure"?
Feedback-hungry attention w****
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Posted - January 13 2016 : 11:41:44 AM
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quote:Would you build and paint one of these yourself, or would you leave them all "pure"?
Originally posted by ZeldaTheSwordsman - January 13 2016 : 11:34:44 AM
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I think it was created to be built. I have the spare Varney chassis so it should be built. I just have no time right now. Chances are, I will sell at least one to get an idea of what it is worth to someone else first though...
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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waw47
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Posted - January 13 2016 : 3:14:40 PM
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| The Colonial Custom Casting Company's R1 shells have "from the original pattern marked BOWSER" The quotation source is the July 1992 Colonial Custom Casting Company Varney HO Train Parts List. The shell retailed for $69.00, dealer cost was $59.00 in July of 1992.
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Posted - January 13 2016 : 3:28:59 PM
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quote:The Colonial Custom Casting Company's R1 shells have "from the original pattern marked BOWSER" The quotation source is the July 1992 Colonial Custom Casting Company Varney HO Train Parts List. The shell retailed for $69.00, dealer cost was $59.00 in July of 1992.
Originally posted by waw47Â -Â January 13 2016Â :Â 3:14:40 PM
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Yes Bill, I saw your VintageHO (or was it Yardbirdtrains) email from 2012 you sent in reply to Jim Heckard's post. I agree now... these are Colonial Custom Castings, obviously cast by Bowser and using old Varney molds.
Unfortunately, it was only recently all the molds were destroyed/recycled.
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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waw47
Hudson
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Posted - January 13 2016 : 4:56:42 PM
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Allegedly, Lew English loaned or lease the R1 tooling to Colonial Custom Castings, and CCC produced the shell. That was the story in 1992. The 1992 CCC Parts Price List shows parts for American Flyer HO, AF O Gauge, AF S Gauge, as well as Varney. It appears that CCC did do casting. As to who casted the Varney R1s is an open question.
I also heard that Lew English made one or two R1 shells in brass for himself.
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Posted - January 15 2016 : 6:31:22 PM
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My 'new' loco--Varney with brass pilot and Aristcraft tender. Still need to do cosmetics
Edited by - Adams on January 15 2016 6:32:16 PM
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Posted - January 15 2016 : 8:19:24 PM
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| That's a stout looking machine there Adams.
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Posted - January 16 2016 : 02:25:38 AM
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quote:My 'new' loco--Varney with brass pilot and Aristcraft tender. Still need to do cosmetics
Originally posted by Adams - January 15 2016 : 6:31:22 PM
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I got to find one of these I used to own one but I had to sell it I hope to find a new one someday 
devin "give me the ugly steam none of that streamlined stuff"
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Posted - January 16 2016 : 1:36:42 PM
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| It's my hybrid loco. The Varney 10-wheeler had no tender and the front pilot was broken. So I did some bashing with an old brass pilot, and used the tender from an Aristocraft Mikado (whose loco won't go through my turnouts). Next step is repaint.
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Posted - January 16 2016 : 5:18:19 PM
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| Will enjoy seeing a photo of the painted model. That's some healthy valve gear on there.
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