Jon Kling drove up today for a quick run on the Jackson & Burke.
The C-21 was fun to “drive”, but did struggle a bit with my steep grades. The RCS really helped. The locomotive did find some places where I need to work on my trackwork! 
It was just a gorgeous day to run, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees.
Jon also brought his 2 cylinder Shay. I don’t have anything with link and pin couplers, so it ran solo.
It was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Thanks, Jon!
Great pix, Bruce. You certainly had a beautiful day to play!
I have to agree, great pictures! That second one is really a beautiful shot.
That should get included in the random pics that come up on the web page! or even as wallpaper on my 'puter!
Great pics, and such beautiful little trains! I especially like that rustic little Shay.
Ray Dunakin said:Jon had that two cylinder Shay at the ECLSTS, last Spring. Up close, it looks as good as it does in these photos. Really a fine example of a backwoods engine.
Great pics, and such beautiful little trains! I especially like that rustic little Shay.
Jon has done a great job weathering that Shay; that, a new cab and all sorts of nice details make for a really neat model.
I’m afraid something like that might look too tiny next to my 1:20 boxcars, though. So, I may be looking at one of the 3 cylinder Shays, instead.
Well, after LOTS of recommendations for it, I finally purchased the Accucraft 2 cylinder Shay. I was going to get the 3 cylinder, but it just didn’t sound like a good beginner locomotive. I did get a chance to run it yesterday at Royce’s when I picked it up. It ran great, right out of the box. Both directions. I bought the distilled water and other stuff, but now it sits forlorly inside.
Why? Well, right now, the weather doesn’t lend itself to being outside. [:p]
So, I’m probably committing sacrilege here, but I’d like to put on Accucraft couplers. Has anyone done this? Any tips?
Geez, the flamers are gonna out-number the sparkies up at Fred’s this year…I can see it now, You, Doug and Ric triple-heading those Shays around the layout…
I want to be ready to run once the snow melts, so I decided to attack the coupler problem. First I removed the link and pin mounts. Hmm. No real hope there as it’s just a flat beam with 4 now empty holes in it. I’d have to cut an opening. So, I started marking where I could cut the beam to allow for the Accucraft couplers. The more I thought about it, the more I dreaded cutting up this fine machine. I saw where some folks had used Kadee 779 couplers. I went to the Kadee site and saw what they looked like. Inspiration struck.[:p] I wonder if I could make Accucraft do that? So, back to the workroom. I opened up an Accucraft coupler to see what it was like. No problem. I put it back together, minus the insides, then took a razor saw and cut the back end off. I cut about 1/4 of the spring off; these would just rest against the beam. So, I drill and tap some 2-56 holes as I just happen to have some 1/8" hex head screws that are 2-56. I put everything back together and voila! I have nicely mounted Accucraft couplers. A bit hard to see in this picture. I still have to paint the bolts.
And it lines up nicely in the back.
At least now I’ll be able see how many cars it can pull![:D]
Hey Bruce, CONGRATULATIONS !!!
The 2 cyclinder was my choice, also. And that was after many years of indecision. I feel certain you will like it, because it seems to not have the “tweaking” needs of some of the other tea pots. I used Kadees in the link and pin coupler pocket to keep all options open.
Its fun to run with different members of the burnt finger club, because they all have opinions of how it must be done. From that, you’ll establish your own procedures. Its kind of like opinions of anti-fouling paint at a marina. You’ll have usually more opinions of what is the correct paint than you have boats in the marina, from that you have to form your own opinion.
I’m sure you will enjoy it.