Hobo Jungle

[2railjon]

Tramp, You're into 3rd Rail Santa Fe. Take a look at this "buy it Now". What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

Clouser, just kidding about the fish, it's pretty sharp looking. Salt water?

[Tramp]

Jon, this is the 2-10-4, which I don't think is even close to the 4-8-4 3751. There are lots of these and no one seems eager on them. I wouldn't go near one for over 550.00. Even at that price I'd desist.

[amalie]

Tramp, does it take long to get the O gauge brass engines broken-in so they run smoothly? I know when I did HO scale, you needed a good 3-4 hours of running time on steam engines before the running gear and mechanics smoothed out and was loose enough to keep them from derailing over switches, etc.

A friend of mine just bought the Red Arrow Lines (ex-Electroliner) interurban streamliner in brass. Pretty cool stuff...

Which NYC engine are you looking at, Jon?

[2railjon]

I'm pretty certain it lacks TMCC which is something I'm used to in engines, now. It appears to be an enormous engine, and that tender isn't lacking any either! Is its size why it's not popular?

Amalie, I've been eye-ballin' the NYC Niagra or Mowhawk. On the Pennsy side it would be the Postwar K-4.

[Tramp]

Amalie, if everything is aligned correctly, they run smooth right out of the box. You break them in unoiled, then hit 'em with the lube. After that they run very slow and smooth. But again, you must look everything over. The sprung drivers make a huge difference, as does the lack of unsightly gaps and oversized details. They just look right. My experience is only with 3rd Rail brass engines.

Nice to have you with us misfits, by the way.

[amalie]

I like Midwestern stuff - I grew up in Indiana. The CB&Q engines 3rd Rail announced are pretty serious, but its still a big nickel, and since my layout is down, I'd be worried about running it on the uneven surface of the basement floor.

Of course, if I quit spending every penny I make on eBay on more small "stuff," I could probably justify dropping the money on it. I would really like to get one of the Lionel L2 Mohawks that I missed a couple of years ago.

[P&R Pete]

Amalie, just finished your book. Nicely done! The writing is clear and concise, it's a great selection of photos, and I really like how you divided them up by railroad category, as well as describing the differences in the style of postcard. It's obvious that a lot of thought and work went into this. I also appreciate the inscription. This was money well spent!

That said, I was rolling along, no problem, until I turned over the last page. I spilled my beer, the wife fainted, the kids started crying, even the cat coughed up a hairball.

Fair warning to others!

[amalie]

Yeah, pal, well, now you know why I don't post that with my signature; how can I compete with Jackie for eye candy, anyhow...

Seriously, very glad you enjoyed it. I turned down 150.00 on the camelback card on page 11 last year. As an aside, do you ever get up to Maurer's railroadiana auctions in Pheonixville; he's got a big one coming up on March 5.

[Tramp]

Pete, if you okay the book, I'm in.

[amalie]

Tramp, you can get it direct through my website using a CC on my secure server - www.quartermilestones.com. I'll sign and personalize it to you if you want me to (seein' that your a fellow 'bo) without extra charge. Thanks

[P&R Pete]

Amalie, truth be told, I'm jealous of that mop of hair. All that can be said for mine is it's ease of maintenance. (Don't even need a comb... out of the shower, it's one swipe of the hand down one side and then the other, and I'm good to go)

That picture of the camelback caught MY eye too, and damn, it's my P&R railroad! It's now added to my collection of scene/vignettes that would look awesome on a layout.
But there's so many great pictures. I also like the shots of the steamer sidling through downtown Syracuse, the Reading going under the semaphore signal bridge on 23, and that gorgeous Sunshine Special on 22. That trestle on 54 in the narrow-gauge section just doesn't seem architecturally possible, but that other train crossing beneath really makes the picture. That beautiful stone Starucca viaduct on 61 is in my backyard, and will be a day-trip for me and the boys come Spring. Hope I can be allowed to walk across it, can't believe I haven't been up there yet.
But, great pictures too numerous to mention. I also love the one on 81, with the Ford Tri-Motor flying over the trains, cranes, and ships on the loading docks.
And that Blue Comet!

Tell me about Maurer's. My collecting is more aimed toward those items that the railroad men/women actually used: signal and inspection lanterns, switch and semaphore lamps, oil and kerosene cans, caboose lamps and cups, stuff like that, that actually rode the rails, that still have steam whistles and compressor thumping, cylinder hissing and railjoint clacking and coupler-banging echoing through them. I get a lot from a retired railroad guy that likes to prowl antique shops and flea markets. Plus, I get a history lesson every time I visit him. Never been to a 'railroadiana' show, but it seems like it couldn't have the 'intimacy' of sitting with my local guy while he's "working-up" some new piece of crud until it shines, and pulling out all his latest 'finds' for me to ogle.
But hey, it can't hurt to check one out sometime!

[Tramp]

Thanks, Amalie. I'll order tomorrow.

[Jackie Blue]

God got to love this forum! Artists of every form and medium. Makes me happy to know you all - seriously. Chirp (my guess is a canary), Percy, Tippy, Sebastian, Ringo, Bubba, Pluto, and Nitro (baby...!) you all RAWK!

Kisses good night!

[2railjon]

Pluto would'nt mind kissing your puppies goodnight, either!!

[Tramp]

Amalie, am I understanding correctly that each color picture below the Comet is a chapter heading? How many pictures are in the book? Are they in color? Where did you have the book printed? If these answers are available on your website, please direct me. How will you know it's me ordering? I'd like it signed to Tramp if that's possible. Shipping costs?