O gauge fail

I fired this up the O gauge train my Uncle got me again and was ready with additional track and two eager kids. Sadly, the track connections were not 100% on the outdoor brinks and the train ran for a few inches and stopped dead over and over.
The girls grew bored and I grew more and more upset, so we stopped the experiment before things turned sour and packed it up. We're going to try again towards the end of the month when things calm down for us. Drag.

We were using Lionel FasTrack and Lionel standard three rail with an MTH power pack. Really not sure what was going on. I think it's the track shorting something.

Triplex on the move

Well, I finally get the Triplex 2-8-8-8-2 rolling! A friend from work had an MTH power supply and controller tucked under his layout and passed it over to me when he found out I was dragging my feet on getting this baby rolling. He said that I'd really love seeing this big guy rolling and he was right - it's a really fantastic machine.

Funny - I wasn't familiar with the system, so I spent a while banging my head against the wall trying to get this guy to just...move. hehehe  I wasn't aware of the "NEUTRAL"  mode and having to switch out of it to get it going. But, once we got it down a bit, it was a lot of fun.

The big thing right now is just getting the track and curves. The radius curve for this is HUGE and I'm not 100% sure where I'll be able to set up for running. For now, I have 18 feet of track I can play with this one and I have to say...it's still a load of fun.

My 5 year old had a fantastic time running it as well. Once I get more track and I can let her loose a bit more (I won't have to worry about the thing flying headlong into the wall!) I'll feel a bit better about letting her go on the controls. :)

What I need to find is some estate sale where they are trying to unload a bunch of Lionel track! hehe

2-8-8-8-2 Triplex in O scale from Malcolm Johnson on Vimeo.


I found this info on http://www.trainz.com/t-fastrack_guide.aspx

O72--16 sections to a circle (#12041).  One section makes a 22.5 degree turn.  Each half section (#12055) make a 11.25 degree turn.

Note that O36, O60, O72 and O84 track sections are made where multiples of 8 make a full circle, which makes it easy to make these circles symmetrical and work together on a layout.  This is because the curved sections are all made to where they are either 1/8 of a circle (45 degrees), 1/16 of a circle (22.5 degrees), or 1/32 of a circle (11.25 degrees).  However, O48 is made where it takes 12 sections to make a circle (30 degrees). This makes it a bit of a challenge to make O48 work in a layout using multiple curve diameters, because the angle of the curves does not match the other curve sections when making partial turns.

Another awesome Engine House Hobbies trip

I had to get something rail related into the vacation mix, so I made plans to meet my Uncle at Engine House Hobbies here in Maryland. It's a fantastic shop and the folks who run it are friendly and helpful. It's always a pleasant experience.

Ken and my Uncle go way back. I guess my Uncle shopped the store when it was in their old location.

Lots 'o' O Scale

I even picked up this little guy while I was there. :)

A gift from my Uncle

I got this amazing gift from my Uncle recently. An O scale Triplex Steam Engine. My Uncle knew that I liked it and he packaged it up and sent it over to me from Maryland. A truly amazing gift!  Not only did he sent the engine, but he sent some cars to go with it plus some track to display it on.

I love it!!!! I'm not sure where I'm going to run this - maybe the garden? It's HUGE! As an N scale guy, seeing something like this is mind blowing. I still need to get a power source - evidently, the sounds on this are remarkable.

It's really a beautiful engine. My Uncle is a collector and doesn't have the space for an O scale layout right now, so when he saw how much I loved this engine, he thought he'd pass this along to me to love. :)

I mad up a little video, too.


NRAIL the Gift from Malcolm Johnson on Vimeo.

O scale? Oh yes...

Soon....this will be mine.....

:)

My Uncle was SUPER KIND to send this to me. It's UPS'ing it's way to me as we speak. I'm actually rather excited!!!!!  :)

More details:

Name

MTH 20-3118-1 Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback W/Proto2.0 Steam

Taxonomy

O Modern / Steam Loco / 0-8-8-0 / Erie / MTH

Dash ID

MT-0609714

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Avg: None
0 ratings

Boxed Value

More Features

Unboxed Value

More Features

Manufacturer

MTH

Manufacturer #

20-3118-1

UPC

658081069227

First Year

2005

Last Year

2005

Shipping Info

Dimensions

32 x 12 x 12"

- See more at: http://www.collector-modeltrains.com/dash/universe/catalog_item/MT-0609714/#sthash.4BRl3iC8.dpuf

Name

MTH 20-3118-1 Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback W/Proto2.0 Steam

Taxonomy

O Modern / Steam Loco / 0-8-8-0 / Erie / MTH

Dash ID

MT-0609714

 

"Here is the beautiful MTH 20-3118-1 Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback Steam Locomotive and Tender with ProtoSound 2.0. This ones got a lot of character, with attention to detail. It features Die-Cast Metal Chassis, Metal wheels and axles, Decorative metal whistle, Operating marker Lights, Lighted cab Interior, Puffing Proto smoke, Operating Tender Back-Up Light and Proto Sound 2.0. Please see my photos for a full list of all the features of this steam locomotive and tender."

Here is the beautiful MTH 20-3118-1 Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback Steam Locomotive and Tender with ProtoSound 2.0. This ones got a lot of character, with attention to detail. It features Die-Cast Metal Chassis, Metal wheels and axles, Decorative metal whistle, Operating marker Lights, Lighted cab Interior, Puffing Proto smoke, Operating Tender Back-Up Light and Proto Sound 2.0. Please see my photos for a full list of all the features of this steam locomotive and tender. - See more at: http://www.collector-modeltrains.com/dash/universe/catalog_item/MT-0609714/#sthash.4BRl3iC8.dpufHere is the beautiful MTH 20-3118-1 Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback Steam Locomotive and Tender with ProtoSound 2.0. This ones got a lot of character, with attention to detail. It features Die-Cast Metal Chassis, Metal wheels and axles, Decorative metal whistle, Operating marker Lights, Lighted cab Interior, Puffing Proto smoke, Operating Tender Back-Up Light and Proto Sound 2.0. Please see my photos for a full list of all the features of this steam locomotive and tender.

Name

MTH 20-3118-1 Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback W/Proto2.0 Steam

Taxonomy

O Modern / Steam Loco / 0-8-8-0 / Erie / MTH

Dash ID

MT-0609714

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Avg: None
0 ratings

Boxed Value

More Features

Unboxed Value

More Features

Manufacturer

MTH

Manufacturer #

20-3118-1

UPC

658081069227

First Year

2005

Last Year

2005

Shipping Info

Dimensions

32 x 12 x 12"

- See more at: http://www.collector-modeltrains.com/dash/universe/catalog_item/MT-0609714/#sthash.4BRl3iC8.dpuf

Name

MTH 20-3118-1 Erie 0-8-8-0 Camelback W/Proto2.0 Steam

Taxonomy

O Modern / Steam Loco / 0-8-8-0 / Erie / MTH

Dash ID

MT-0609714

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Avg: None
0 ratings

Boxed Value

More Features

Unboxed Value

More Features

Manufacturer

MTH

Manufacturer #

20-3118-1

UPC

658081069227

First Year

2005

Last Year

2005

Shipping Info

Dimensions

32 x 12 x 12"

- See more at: http://www.collector-modeltrains.com/dash/universe/catalog_item/MT-0609714/#sthash.4BRl3iC8.dpuf

Engine House Hobbies - Gaithersburg, MD

Well, we're out here visiting the in-laws for the Holiday out here in Gaithersburg, MD and I had remembered visiting a cool little shop in the area a few years back. I made the 10 minute trek over with my daughter, but the store was closed Mondays. I posted something up to MODEL RAIL RADIO because I thought people could relate. "I'm going to the train shop! Gonna see trains! Whoot! Ah....shoot...it's closed today..." 


Like I said, I had been there before and loved the place. It had a charm and the owner/operator was friendly and fun to chat with. The place is right by the tracks, so when the CSX rolled through, the five or so gents in the shop walked over to the window and all watched like kids. Friendly folk and a great trainspotting location. 

I was taken aback when the Yelp page was added as a comment on my post. The Yelp review was one star and filled with horrid service comments and stories about the owner hating children. I thought that maybe the ownership had changed hands - this wasn't the same shop I had been in. My uncle lives in Bowie, MD and he used to drive over to frequent the shop as well. I cruised over today - sans daughter just in case - and the experience was fantastic. 

Ken wasn't the horror that he was made out to be at all. Even though he was trying to get something done before the UPS guy came in, he took the time to ask me if I needed help. When I informed him I was just browsing, he completed his task, then circled back around to chat. 

We talked trains, I explained that I was running an N scale Japanese style layout and he was very interested. He asked about Christmas and we talked trains around the tree and the potential I had for a train in the yard. No hard sale talk, just train chat. When I mentioned that my Uncle used to come in, he remembered him and asked how he was doing - a bit worried because he hadn't been in in a while. 

This was no ogre. This was a really cool guy. I mentioned the Yelp review thing and he was really sad about it. He explained a few of the interactions that were on the site and that he tried to make things right with the reviewer, but he was too upset to talk things through with. 

In short, ENGINE HOUSE HOBBIES was a great shop for O and HO modelers. He has a lot of O items and I think the place would be well worth stopping in on if that's your gauge. And, the store is located right by the tracks, so when the train rolls by, you can view it passing from a lovely, warm location. It just goes to show that Yelp reviews may or may not be helpful - it really depends on who's leaving the reviews and why they are choosing to leave it when they do. Sometimes, it may be posted out of spite. 

Check 'em out!

ENGINE HOUSE HOBBIES 

http://www.enginehousehobbies.net/

1A East Diamond Ave
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-590-0816 

Sun 12:00 -5:00,  Mon - closed,  Tues - Fri 10:00-6:00,  Sat 10:00-5:00
https://plus.google.com/u/0/115391504113915818521/about 

My personal favorite - I'd love to own one of these Penn electrics

HO and toy items along with paint supplies and a large supply of scenic materials.

A very large O scale selection!

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Engine House Hobbies - Maryland

 

Engine House Hobbies
1-A East Diamond Ave
Gaithersburg, MD 20877  
Phone: 301-590-0816
http://enginehousehobbies.net

While back visiting here in Maryland, I made the rounds doing some light trainspotting and hobby shop exploring. Today's stop took me to ENGINE HOUSE HOBBIES and I was glad it did.



When I planned the trip, I didn't see that the shop was primarily O scale. I walked in hoping to pick up a little something in N scale and was a little disappointed to see 90% O scale and a lot of it. But, after the initial disappointment, I took the inventory in and had a lot of fun.

The shop is small, but packed with merch to sell. A huge selection of O scale buildings, engines and accessories to choose from. I was on my way out when (sorry, never asked his name) the guy behind the counter asked if there was anything he could help me with.

I told him that I was an N scaler was just enjoying the browse. Next thing you know, he was asking me about my setup and how I liked it in San Francisco. We talked SF hobby shops, my N scale Japan module and then talked about the shop. He was great to talk to - super friendly and positive. A fellow shopper suggested that he hook me up with an O scale starter set to take home with me. We had a good laugh about it.

The store is right next to the tracks, so every time the CSX trail rolled by, the whole shop stopped to stare out the window. I asked about the trains that went by and the guy behind the counter new all about them, their time frames and where they were headed off to. Super helpful.





The shop also has a large, O scale layout in the center of it which was a lot of fun to explore. While the layout takes up potential floor merchandise space, it also fuels ideas and desire to buy.

Super friendly staff - this guy was great to talk to!

The wall behind the counter is filled with mounted track packed with engines and rolling stock. If you're looking to buy some O scale in this area, this is the place to visit. It was a friendly shop PACKED with O scale goodness! I would love to get some O scale going later in life.

Check out ENGINE HOUSE HOBBIES. It has a fantastic feel and a friendly staff with a GREAT view of the tracks! :)