Model Train Journal

After some repairs for damage incurred in shipment, Flyer Motor #3015 entered service this week. Replaced the lightbulb and gave it a light oiling, then off we went:



It does not like the prewar Lionel turnouts I'm using, but no worries, the outer loop has none. The problem on the outside loop is the side-mounted "automatic" reversing lever catches on the Lionel 270 single-span bridge, so I'll have to take that out. Again, not a problem...I can move it to the inside loop.

The #3015 was made for one year, 1927, so she's got some age on her. This stuff never ceases to impress me.

Looks like you did a really good job of straightening the frame. How did you go about doing it ? Do you have any pictures of it before and after ?

Thanks, Hondo, but I still have a slight bend in the frame on the left side. I'm not sure how they managed to muck it up, but the frame was bent over nearly to a point where it would rub against the wheels (unfortunately, I didn't take a pic of the damage before I started working on it). I took the cab off (which thankfully was undamaged), took the motor out of the frame, removed the journals, than used a couple pair of pliers and a small block of hardwood to judiciously bend the sheet-metal back into its approximate shape. There's still a slight bend in the frame and it has a bit of unevenness, but I didn't want to go bending on it too much. For my purposes, I think it's okay:



The only thing I can figure is they dropped it before they packed it, possibly before they wrapped it up in multiple layers of bubble-wrap. It was well packed and the box didn't have a mark on it. As is usual with Trainz, they offered to take it back and give me a refund, but that really wouldn't have been a good outcome for me as I really wanted this thing. So I kept it figuring I could get the frame back into something close to good shape.

It runs super. I'll have to replace the bulb wiring as the insulation is all cracked up...bit surprised that it lights and doesn't just short out. I'll get to that eventually.

I think you have a 3020, a step up from the 3015. Would love to see a few pics of that!

healey36 wrote:There's still a slight bend in the frame and it has a bit of unevenness, but I didn't want to go bending on it too much. For my purposes, I think it's okay.

It looks great to me. A friend in the sign business used to tell new employees, "Stop adjusting it! It looks right from down here. If it looks right it is right." Your 3015 looks gorgeous. I particularly like that gigantic headlight being in a sort of reflector. It looks so good. Bulbs sticking way out in front of a locomotive look silly. [opinion]

The photo itself is wonderful. So clear and well-composed. A good photo does wonders for making the object look fabulous.

Thanks, Wayne. Made my best effort.

I seem to recall a "principle" from high school physics that said once a piece of metal is bent, it is extremely difficult to straighten on the bend. Something about "change" to the molecular structure or such that causes the metal to physically alter/strengthen at the point of the bend. I don't recall that being in a textbook, but it coming up in a lecture given by the instructor, or possibly when we were putting lab apparatus together. I can't say I understand it, but I certainly have fallen victim to the phenomenon over the years, especially when working with strap-steel or such...easily bent, but almost impossible to straighten on the bend.

Most of the early Flyer electric-profile locomotives that were equipped with a headlight had the lamp mounted in the body. Being so oversized, it looks a bit goofy to me, but likely no more strange than the alternative. My grandfather's 1096 is similarly equipped, although it doesn't have the reflective shroud behind it:



I had a Flyer 3110 that also had the centrally mounted headlight, but I passed that on to a collector friend of mine who coveted it for some reason I don't recall. That was a neat steeple-cab profile, but it had virtually nil pulling power.

Unfortunately I don't have a 3rd party photo hosting site so I can't post photos

I do like those center cab lights The 3020 that I bought from Trainz at the same time you bought the 3015 has the center cab light. I think the body on the 3015 and the 3020 are the same the difference is that the 3020 has a die-cast frame.

Here is an interesting video of the 3110 pulling several cars that has the center cab light
Prewar American Flyer 3110 Steeple Cab with New/Old Cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HZyg4UxBh0

I wonder if there are any small ac led bulbs (14 to 18 volts) that would work in the early flyer engines

I have a few 14v LED bulbs...I should try one. They are rather small, however, so probably won’t look so great.

Email me a pic of the 3020 if you want and I’ll put it up for you. The 3020 is way cooler than the 3015.

Hondo flipped me a pic of his Flyer 3020 (1922-1925), a precursor to the Flyer 3015 (1927):



A sort of O-gauge version of the standard-gauge Mayflower, Greenburg refers to the 3020 as a model of the NYC's T-type motor:



All of the ones I've ever seen are black with red-painted window frames; Hondo's is green with red-painted window frames. Not sure if that's any measure of rarity, but Greenburg reports green as the most common color and maroon the rarest (if one cares). Some I've seen have a handrail on the pilot trucks, which I think was probably the earliest production. The cab is the same as the 3015, although the 3015 has brass plates instead of the yellow rubber-stamping.

Anyway, a very cool toy train.

Dang this place is quiet.

A few finds from October York:



Virtually nothing on the search list, hence this is what I came home with. Found two items I needed...a Lionel 6462-125 to complete a postwar 707 set (wrong car, so back on the list for April), and a couple brake-wheels for prewar Flyer freight cars. The NOS C&NW wood reefer is a Christmas gift for my seven year-old train buddy Owen. The others were impulse buys

York seemed quite a bit more crowded than the last few post-pandemic iterations, although a few notable vacancies in the member halls. Maybe my imagination. The parts dealers were plentiful, which is where I usually hang out the most. I was able to restock the part bins somewhat with stuff not pictured here.

Here are a couple of videos I ran across that were taken at York. I didn't know they allowed that.

This is one massive show. Looking at some of those displays I can't imagine how much it cost and how much work went in to doing it.

I was a member of TCA for 40 years and was never able to attend York.

Day 1, York TCA train show Fall 2024
Big Boy Trains
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WhnkVxzBN8

Day 2, York TCA train show Fall 2024
Big Boy Trains
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzpS8UH0C2g

As far as I know, photography is still banned in the member halls. Not sure how these guys managed this, unless the ED hall captain just looked the other way (or they’ve changed the rules).

The striping style shown on the NYC T-Type (Build dates: 1913-1926) resembles the stripes on some of the PRR GG1s (Build dates: 1934 – 1943.)
I wonder if there is a story behind that.

healey36 wrote:As far as I know, photography is still banned in the member halls. Not sure how these guys managed this, unless the ED hall captain just looked the other way (or they’ve changed the rules).

Thank you for the links, Hondo. They were enjoyable.

AI Overview
…
Photography is allowed at the TCA York Train Show, but there are some restrictions:
o Non-dealer halls: Photography is not allowed in the non-dealer halls (Silver/Blue/Red/White) at any time.
o Dealer halls: Still and video photography is permitted in the dealer halls.
o Modular exhibit area: Still and video photography is permitted in the modular exhibit area during meet hours.
o Courtesy: Be courteous and ask for permission before taking pictures.

Day 1 was Dealer Hall(s).
Day 2 was members or non-dealers.

Big Boy Trains explains:

Since time didn't allow for the 360 camera this year, I went for an aerial overview of the member halls.

I also chose to go this route because many members are still under the impression that video is not allowed, even though it started being allowed in the Spring. So I am slowly getting them used to cameras being in the halls. The majority of vendors are still uncomfortable with close up filming of their items, prices, and faces.

For close up filming, Sean from ‪@Dakman‬ does a great job! I would send you his way for the quality close-ups

Interesting...I guess the Eastern Division values the promotional value of the Youtubers over the concerns of the members. Makes no difference to me.

It'll be interesting to hear what the attendance figures were...it felt crowded, although not overwhelming.

Well, it is three rail! Maybe someday I will get that darned upper level running.