You think elections are ugly now...

From a model train magazine in 1960...

One mold, three companies, 25+ years...

When you been in the hobby long enough, you might notice that some things look an awful lot alike. This caboose is a classic example. The first is a reworked Mantua from the 1960s, part of a box lot of trains found in a dilapidated barn scheduled for demolition.



The second is a Tyco issue from the late 1970s. It is true that Mantua/Tyco were one in the same for awhile but, when it became fully Tyco, the quality dropped noticeably---no metal frame,plastic axles and wheelsets, lower grade plastic casting, etc.



The final one is an IHC offering from the mid 1980s, Corkey's Carnival Caravan, part of a complete train and carnival setup they offered. I used to work the midway of a amusement park in the summers of '77, '78 and '79---the "Shoot out the Star" BB machine guns---so this one holds a special place on my mantle.

More fun with my Mamod TE1a steam tractor...

HO scale logging caboose is now finished...

As john the Baptist once said, "He (Jesus) must increase, I must decrease." Such is the way of my hobby in my life. As the responsibilities of holding home Bible studies grow and the need for more in depth and intense research and prayer grows with it, my hobby will have to take its rightful place in the grand scheme of eternal things. While it will always be my hobby, I will not have---nor do I desire to have---the time to invest in it like I used to.

Marklin HO scale SBB Ce 6/8III "Krokodil" circa 1950s...

I hope I got the nomenclature right...it's not mine but I did "own" it for about 20 hours. Once I told the original owner how much it was worth, he understandably wanted it back. Worth about $700-1000 last I checked...hope to see another one as I've always wanted one.

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

High Speed "N scale" Southern Pacific GP 38 dummy...

Too many of these show up on Ebay to ignore so I figure I'll put a post in pointing them out in the hopes that it will save some newcomers some grief.

---THESE ARE NOT "DUMMY" OR "NON-POWERED" MODELS--- These are, at best, caricatures of locomotives and equipment given out by Reader's Digest as a premium for subscriptions. They have poor rolling and tracking ability, the trucks do not swivel well and the couplers do not and cannot ever operate. I know of one that was repowered and that with extensive reworking beyond the abilities of most newcomers.

I picked up all six cars and this engine for $.50 at a yard sale in their original boxes and with the pens that came with them for the express purpose of showing them to newcomers and to let them decide for themselves without getting burned on their own.





These HO scale trolleys are another Reader's Digest promotional item. The good news about these is that they are based on Bachmann models and can be fairly easily modified to run on Bachmann mechanisms from the same type trolley. They make great scale push around toys to give you an idea about your child's model handling ability and maturity. I always kept mine with my other model trains so that they could "play with Daddy's trains" without harming one of my other models. In time the green one will make it to my model bench to be turned into a model of a produce stand that stood near my house as a child.

There's something to be said for models that run on boiling water...

Philcraft Models double action walking beam steam engine...

Fleischman HO scale 5327 and 5355 four wheel goods vans...

A son make you a father but a daughter makes you a daddy...

One Father's Day some time back, Momma came to me to tell me that our daughter really, really wanted to buy some kind of train for her Daddy. Knowing that I didn't care for much that is offered nowadays, she was looking for any suggestions I could offer. I told her that I had seen a local flea market vendor had two cars sitting on his table for sale and that he wasn't asking much for them. I think my girl did rather well for an eight-year-old...


Kronen refrigerated van...


DBR goods van with brakeman's cabin...

Fired up the beast today...

John 11

(1) Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

(2) (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

(3) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

(4) When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

(5) Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

(6) When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

(7) Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

(8) His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

(9) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

(10) But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

(11) These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

(12) Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

(13) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

(14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

(15) And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

(16) Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

(17) Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

(18) Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

(19) And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

(20) Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

(21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

(22) But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

(23) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

(24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

(25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

(27) She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

(28) And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

(29) As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

(30) Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

(31) The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

(32) Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

(33) When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

(34) And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

(35) Jesus wept.

(36) Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

(37) And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

(38) Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

(39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

(40) Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

(41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

(42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

(43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

(44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

(45) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

(46) But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

(47) Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

(48) If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

(49) And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

(50) Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

(51) And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

(52) And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

(53) Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

(54) Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

(55) And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

(56) Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

(57) Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Mamod TE1a Steam Tractor

Because my children are homeschooled, science classes tend to be a bit more hands on. Well...that was the excuse that worked well enough for me at the time. I'm getting the itch to fire it up and I'm looking to the guys at The Mamod and Other Steam Engines forum to walk me though it...







I just love this show...

Going shopping on a low budget...

RULES FOR SWAP MEETS AND TRAIN SHOW PURCHASES

1. Don't be afraid to haggle.

2. Don't buy anything until you've seen all the tables.

3. Look under the tables as well as on top.

4. Bring a specific amount to spend.

5. Bring your best poker face then refer back to Rule #1.

6. No jumping for joy until you're out of the dealer's line of sight.

When I walked away from the dealer's table with this for $.50, it was everything I could do to keep from dancing down the aisle. Selling for $28 normally, it's a nicely detailed truck made by Herpa that now hauls my exotic sports car collection...and waits patiently for me to apply its remaining details...sigh...

Live steam in #1 or 1:32 scale...Oh yeah, big stuff...

...check out how long that double headed freight is in the foreground...I counted 76...not bad when you figure that they weigh roughly 3-4 pounds apiece.

Fantastic western scenery in N scale...

AHM/Rivarossi HO scale B&O 0-4-0 "Docksider" circa 1968...

An Ebay purchase...a bargain for its rather interesting turquoise and white paint job on the cab. I generally don't cover over another modeler's work but, that had to go. After rebuilding the pilot and adding other details, I touched it up just enough yet still retain the original weathering from its former road.



Original 1975 ad

Bachmann N scale Union Pacific 4-4-0 American circa 1980...

...shown here sitting next to her HO sister, an AHM/Rivarossi Virginia & Truckee 4-4-0 American. With over 25,000 built, these were by far the most popular locomotive ever manufactured with a few lasting into the 1950s after upgrades and rebuilds.

Hello, my name is Shaygetz...

...and I'm an HO car-aholic...

I simply refuse to fork over $14 for a passenger car and $25 bucks for a truck. I do some modifying of diecast vehicles but a hobby within a hobby has kind of blossomed. I pick up $1 cast off Wiking (pronounced Viking), Pralene and Bucsh cars and trucks at swap meets and add to that some great diecast available at Wal-Mart. Yard sales and flea markets are also good haunts. I can cover pretty much any era from the late 1940s on up to the present day.

Models and history...

My model of the Union Pacific "Big Boy" #4005 was the second articulated engine I purchased. There is tragedy associated with the real one, a reminder that we are indeed but a vapor. It still exists today and is housed in the Forney Museum of Transportation.

Here is another view of my model of #4005...

How about some flying model work?

A model B-29 that re-enacts Chuck Yeager's record breaking flight...

Athearn HO scale Southern Pacific dual motor DD40 circa 1966...

I have its original white and orange Athearn box as well. I own two with the desire to add weight to them, tune their mechanisms as best I can and couple them together with a drawbar. I would like to see just how many cars four motors and sixteen powered axles can pull around on the club layout.