Used Locomotives

[bob turner]

My friend Jim Seacrest's collection is at auction. Some of his locomotives haven't turned a wheel in two decades.

If you are lucky enough to capture an older model that has been on display, you need to disconnect the motor and gearbox, and make sure the mechanism rolls smoothly when pushed on a piece of track. If you simply apply power, you may wind up chewing a difficult-to-replace gear.

This is a lesson I learn over and over. I have had display mechanims so bound up that drivers have been removed so axles can be pressed out of bearings. Be careful with older models that have not been run. Some have gears that will never again be available at any price.

I learned that again this evening - a mechanism that, ten years ago was as smooth as glass, was simply locked. No damage; I always try a little finger pressure - but so stiff no gearbox would turn it - well, no model train gearbox.

[texas&pacific]

So true Bob, and a great reminder. I experienced this phenom at all scales but working with "brand new in the box" Marklin Z locomotives...the tiniest of the tiny with chick pea sized 8V motors which had been stored for 20 years or so illustrated your point. The original manufacturer oil had congealed to brittle wax and had bound up wheels, axles, gears and drive. Everything had to be taken apart, cleaned, dried and re-lubed. Makes you wonder how many engines never run, and may change ownership many time over, never coming out of the box except at the show or for auction pictures while their mechanisms slowly freeze up and mumify.

Working with these tiny engines makes it a dream to work with O scale machines. Good for aged eyeballs too.

[bob turner]

Just picked up one of my beautiful repro Lobaugh Mikes. Last run about five years ago; now locked solid. And I use the best lubricants I can get.

This is just one of the many downsides of 130 locomotives.

[Jay Criswell]

Bob,

Well, better a model locomotive than a full sized airplane! This would be especially true mid flight.

What was it my pilot buddy said? Flying, for him, was hours and hours of boredom interrupted by seconds of sheer terror. He probably wasn't the originator but I always appreciated it anyway.

Jay

[up148]

Bob,

Well, better a model locomotive than a full sized airplane! This would be especially true mid flight.

What was it my pilot buddy said? Flying, for him, was hours and hours of boredom interrupted by seconds of sheer terror. He probably wasn't the originator but I always appreciated it anyway.

Jay

I assume we're talking commercial pilot which still makes that statement pretty disconcerting. Hate to see any pilot flying and bored. If it's a general aviation pilot I wouldn't get in the aircraft with him for love or money. A bored pilot IMHO is an accident looking for a place to happen. I'm not a pilot, but have many hours flying co-pilot as a passenger and there is a lot to keep you busy while flying.

Opinion.

BH

[Jay Criswell]

Butch,

Lighten up dude. It's more of a joke than anything else.

He was a very accomplished pilot in the Air Force. Actually, when I met him he was an instructor pilot for the KC-135 with SAC. Later he moved on to KC-10s (DC-10s for us civilians). Upon retirement he went into commercial piloting. From all the people I knew in the field he was considered to be one of the best.

I would trust him more than any other pilot I know.

Consider this, when flying with SAC he would literally traverse the world which means hours & hours of seat time. Done properly it had to get boring. It doesn't mean he was unsafe.

Jay

[bob turner]

Indeed it can get boring. Picture this: 3 AM over Nebraska at 35,000 feet. Passengers asleep. Flight attendants asleep. Air traffic control so quiet that you have to ask "are you still there" on the radio. Not a bump. Autopilot, engines, air conditioning all flawless.

Alert? That is why Boeing and Airbus put a giant bell in there, hooked up to the master caution light. Things so seldom go wrong in a modern airliner that you have to go to a simulator every six months to see things go wrong.

And yes - park an aircraft for a year and its airworthiness is highly suspect. Fluids congeal, camshafts and cylinder bores rust - fly very carefully, after a very careful inspection.

I got the Mike going with some careful coaxing without disassembly.

[bob turner]

So my F-M Erie-built doorstop project is starting to move. Jay, the nose is a piece of relatively thin plastic roughly 3 5/8" long and 2 5/8" high. No pilot. Should I consider lost-plastic? I can always fabricate it from .032 sheet brass.

I think I have found a sand foundry for the sides. Yippee! Roof and trucks are ready.

[Jay Criswell]

Bob,

Any idea how thick?

Jay

[bob turner]

.080 under the cab window. Will have to wait until I cut the body to get a roof thickness, and I have to build up the windshield to get the desired B-17 look.

[Jay Criswell]

Bob,

.080" is a piece of cake. Where we can get into trouble is .020" over a large area. I'll make sure we get it sprued so as to mitigate any issues......we hope!

Jay

[up148]

Butch,

Lighten up dude. It's more of a joke than anything else.

He was a very accomplished pilot in the Air Force. Actually, when I met him he was an instructor pilot for the KC-135 with SAC. Later he moved on to KC-10s (DC-10s for us civilians). Upon retirement he went into commercial piloting. From all the people I knew in the field he was considered to be one of the best.

I would trust him more than any other pilot I know.

Consider this, when flying with SAC he would literally traverse the world which means hours & hours of seat time. Done properly it had to get boring. It doesn't mean he was unsafe.

Jay

Sorry Jay, jumped to conclusions. But, after 42 years (and still counting) in the aircraft salvage business, I follow "cause and effect" of accidents closer than many. Your friend is obviously a cracker jack pilot who can handle just about any situation.

BH

[bob turner]

Isn't it an Ernest K. Gann joke? It is a "chestnut".

So Jay - should I just prepare it and send to you? I understand the risks - the bodies are relatively inexpensive.

[Jay Criswell]

Bob,

That would probably be the best way to go.

Jay