Large Scale Central

Holy Grails in Model Railroading

General Discussion
#1

I think we all have them, for some its an elusive locomotive, for others its pieces of rolling stock or buildings or anything model railroading related, Well for me, I have a few that I am seeking after, and today when I got home from putting in a 12 hour day at work, the Mrs informs that I had a package show up today… I knew what it was and immediately got the box and opened it up and there it was a car that I have been seeking for almost 15 years… an Aristo Virginian Rwy 40’ Gondola made in 1993, I am tickled to death to finally have this car after looking for it for so long, I bought it from a dealer that had it stored away as NOS, I immediately pulled the old wheels off and put a nice set of metal wheels on it and I have a set of Kadees ordered for it. I think it is going to look great behind Frankenmallet, with a mix of N&W hoppers or mixed in the local in the yard for interchange back to the Virginian… here are a few quick shots of my latest treasure…

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I can cross this car off of my list, now I can focus on that elusive N&W flat car that Aristo made years ago… :smiley:

#2

Also as a side note…

on this day in history 12.1.1959 @ 12:00 AM, The N&W acquired the Virginian…So I guess history really does repeat itself no matter if its 1:1 railroading or 1:29th :stuck_out_tongue:

I can imagine that 52 years ago N&W and Virginian officials where busy getting ready to hand over the throttle so to speak…

Again I am so pleased to finally have this car, that when I got up this morning and saw this car behind an Aristo 100 ton N&W hopper behind Frankenmallet (N&W 2017) on my display shelf here in my train room where my PC is I just smiled… :smiley:

as another side note this car is on display on rails no less than 20 yards from the actual Virginian mainline (now NS) where this actual car may have rolled by on some 50+ years ago…

#3

Congrats on your acquisition. I know what it feels like to look for a particular item and finally find it. It is like finding buried treasure. One of my quests is to find a USAT Cape Cod Potato Chip car that was produced for a LGB convention back in the early 1990’s. I’m sure one will surface one day and at the right price and until those stars align I will continue to scour hobby shops, train shows and the internet. I think searching is more fun then actually finding. The let down comes when one of the hard to find treasures is actually found and it goes up on the shelf like a trophy and then you find yourself asking “what comes next”??
Happy RRing and Happy searching.
Todd

#4

Congratulations, Shawn.

Now, beat it up and weather it. A car that old deserves its stripes. :smiley:

#5

Mine is a USA Trains Nickel Plate Road caboose, at a reasonable price.

#6

Mine is a couple RS-1’s in Spokane International RR road name, but of course no one makes RS-1’s so I’m going to build a couple from S-4’s after I finish my RS-11 project.

#7

Shawn; Congratulations on finding one of your “Holy Grails.” Mine is a bit more elusive, as it was never put into production. Still, I continue to hope. At least the train graces my mouse pad at home.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/Crusader1.jpg)

To my mind, it would be a stunning train. Best, David Meashey

#8

Todd,
The Cape Cod Potato Chip car was not made for the LGBMRRC show on the Cape. It came out that year or late the year before. If you purchased it at the LGBMRRC show you were given an extra set of doors that had the show information on it. Also though it was made by USA it was actually a product of another company (New England G Scale Trains in Quincy, MA). A couple of years ago I had a chance to buy one at a small train show in Brockton, MA for $100. SHould have purchased it as a spare for the one I got down the Cape.

LAO

#9

My Holy Grail in LS once was a Roberts “Pioneer Zephyr” which I have no room for or $$$ to buy. My current object of droolification in the line of brass engines MoLoCo produced , the Falk, the Gypsy, and the Old Betsy logging engines. All of which are still too rich for my budget.

#10

Great catch Shawn.

#11

thanks guys, I really love this car

#12

My “Holy Grail” would be a Mason Boggie from Accucraft…Problem is when I get enough “Hobby Bucks” to pick one up another passion “steals it”. Like an R/C miniature turbine, the “holy Grail” of R/C!

#13

For me it would have to be the Accucraft live steam shay. After seeing Jons run I was in love (shut up rooster)

#14

Hmmmmmm…I really don’t have a “must have”.
I’m trying to decide if that’s good or bad, since I don’t really have anything spectacular :wink:
Ralph

#15

I’m at the point that I don’t need or want anything, except, the ongoing opportunity to continue having fun, operating “Our” railroad with a great bunch of friends.

#16
Fred Mills said:
I'm at the point that I don't need or want anything, except, the ongoing opportunity to continue having fun, operating "Our" railroad with a great bunch of friends.
Very well said, Fr. Fred :D
#17

I’m at the same point as Fred, got all I need and want really, and then some, and enjoying the operation and fellowship aspects of the hobby, but I seem always to have have some new project that I’m itching to get to building! A beginner for life…

Holy grails: I just acquired an LGB Olomano, which I had lusted after and searched for for about 5 years… and I wouldn’t say no if an old but good LMB Birdie dropped into my lab - she was brass, an outside-frame 0-4-0, prototype was a Kiso Forest Ry engine. Built to approx 1:42 scale & ran on 16.5mm track . I found one last year but the price was outta my league. Since then I’ve begun to think I’d rather have her in a larger size anyway…

So I’ve drawn Birdie up to 7/8 scale, so maybe as soon as 2013 I can have a large version on the garden Ry. Those plans are on the workbench, I’ve got some of the parts started: bell, domes, cylinders, wheels. The frames are next… and when she’s finished of course I’ll want a train for her to pull, won’t I?

For me the holy grail is usually some project that I want to build, and it’s the building, far more than the final ownership, that brings me the most pleasure… But it sure is a nice feeling to find that one thing that you’ve been looking for a long time!

#18

Holy Grail for me was a Life-Like HO scale McDonald’s. Ultra rare, always overpriced, but a very nice model of a vintage style McDonald’s. Perfect for our late 1950s Southern California layout. Finally found one and it’s now on our HO layout. I’m still working on the scenery and surrounding area:

(http://i.imgur.com/DzzFt.jpg)

#19

The fact that Fred, myself and others have everything that we want shows that the train manufactures are failing to tempt us with new offerings.

Norman

#20

I would love an LGB Olomana but they are SO PRICEY!