Weekend Photos -- April 2026

[webenda]

Today is April fools day.

Relive nothing and trust no one. Just like any other day.

I saw an ETSY advertisement.

I bit and ordered the photo.
Here is what I got:

456 locomotive and train images.
Here is what one image looks like on my screen when I open it:

Here is the photo scaled down to fit the screen:

ETSY charged me $1.66, including tax, for all those photos.

Believe it or not!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Have to wonder what their source was for the photos....

[webenda]

Have to wonder what their source was for the photos....

I suspect the Library of Congress.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Have to wonder what their source was for the photos....

I suspect the Library of Congress.

Or those pesky gray aliens....

[webenda]

[webenda]

Who holds the record for the most stuff on a model railroad? Maybe it is Stef.
https://modelrailwaylayoutsplans.com/li ... uts-stefs/

[healey36]

Yeah, that's a lot of stuff...gives me something to aim for, lol.

Got the 226E back on the track this week:



Replaced the smokebox front with a reproduction part made by Trainworx (the original had a broken marker lamp). Thorough clean and lubrication, replaced the firebox light and one of the eccentrics...East Main serviced the whistle for me which is now roaring properly. Until something better comes along, this loco is definitely the capstone on the collection here. Doubt I'll ever find a 700E in as nice of condition.

A Happy Easter to all here!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Yeah, that's a lot of stuff...gives me something to aim for, lol.

What's the point? When did this become a contest?

Got the 226E back on the track this week:

Looking good!

[webenda]

Got the 226E back on the track this week:

That is a nice engine.

I wonder if it would negotiate O-27 27" curves?

[healey36]

Interesting question...I have a loop of O-27 on the layout, I’ll have to give it a try. I use the loop mostly as a buss for a number of accessories...it should work for testing, though. I’ll let you know when I get a minute.

[webenda]

Oh,oh!

Mama, just killed a man
Working on Southern GP-7, accidentally hit his head, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooh, didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters
Just hot glue him upright, and everything will be alright.

Reference: https://youtu.be/osN-16spwvc?si=1zGLcoNsArqtSWCH

[Rufus T. Firefly]

And here I thought he has just passed out after seeing that ghostly woman,

[healey36]

And here I thought he has just passed out after seeing that ghostly woman,

LOL.

When I first looked at the image, I thought Wayne had Photoshopped/cut her out of the photo for privacy reasons.

[webenda]

Out on the mainline it was doing laps like a banshee:

Meaning? Is it doing laps at full throttle?

Throttle fidelity on prewar Lionel is pretty lacking...best described as fast and faster. I've tried using a #88 rheostat between the transformer and the track, but that doesn't offer much improvement. These motors are pretty primitive, so overcoming initial load is likely the problem, or at least part of it. In the case of this 248, it's well-lubricated, new brushes/springs, a clean commutator face, new pick-up rollers, axle bearings look good (no evidence of binding). You just need to apply half throttle to get it going, and then it takes off. Dial it back slightly and it stops. I have a Lionel 204 steamer that runs similarly. One solution - throw a bunch of cars behind it to slow it down.

Does anyone know why these universal series-connected motors "take off" like that?

[webenda]

With the hood off of the GP-7, I can see that it has a universal, series-connected motor.


The motor growls at 6.2 VAC on the rails, drawing 1.2 Amps as it pushes the train.
The four-car Baby Ruth train travels 1 foot in 4 minutes and 38 seconds.
Notice the bumper. It was placed there to stop the train while photographs were taken.
The motor in the engine kept right on turning over, slipping the engine's wheels
The slow-speed torque of a universal series-connected motor shines when under load.
This universal series-connected motor does not take off like a banshee when the cars are removed. Why not?