Large Scale Central

Every now and then, RTR is nice

Model Photography
#1

I recently acquired a barely used Bachman Lil’Hauler ‘Short Line Railroad’ (green boiler w/ tender) and an Aristo Heavyweight and two Hartland shortie cars.

I personally think that the Hartlands just might make better cars for this engine than the ones Bman designed. Shame they didn’t get the molds, they’d make a good compliment to their existing J&S coaches.

Anyways: since my kids all have sets to run, I thought I’d give my new toys a test run… which ended up lasting all evening:

The train rolls around the curve, passing Freedom Point Lighthouse.

After passing the lighthouse, the train rolls downgrade, approaching Main Street Crossing.


After blowing the requisite whistle signal, the daily express crosses Main Street.


After making the stop at Fernwood Station, (SS MP 5.14) the train accelerates out of the station’s platform, heading west.

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#2

That looks great. Got to love these nice spring days.

#3

Nice shots J.D.

#4

JD were you as surprised as me by how smooth and quiet that lil bugger is? It just needs a tad more weight …oh and pushrods .

#5

Vic: Push rods??? you mean the “main” rod from the main driver to the cylinder crosshead?

I was actually thinking, I have a couple extra stainz steamchests and crosshead guides and a bunch of other stuff to tinker with, along with about 30 Delton steamchests.

With all this stuff I was thinking of just boring out the end of the cylinder and pressing in a manufactured crosshead guide & rear cylinderhead assembly.

This of course competes with the other idea I had to put the boiler, cab & tender shells onto a flat car, put the motor block up front and add a truck under the tender and build a little forney.

As for the the operation, I was really impressed. I have a grade coming into and out of the crossing pictured above… probably about 2inch vertical movement in about five feet or less. Despite the heavy coaches in tow, the engine had no problem chuggin up out of the crossing, nor displayed any surging issues holding teh train back as it came down into the crossing. My only complaint was the need to immediately put steel wheels under the tender.

#6

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/LBH%20Loco%20Bee%20Bash%20pic%2005.JPG)

I just swapped out the cylinders with the pistons and main driving rods from a standard Big Hauler.