Large Scale Central

The perils of singles

General Discussion
#1

No, this isn’t your agony aunt column.

Took Thomas’s Branch to Long Sault this weekend. Emily was making her usual squeals about R2 curves, audible across the arena; finally, this morning a friend applied some Rail-Zip cleaner/lube to the rails in several spots – and lo, the flange squeals vanished. Unfortunately, Emily is a single (yes, I know Bachmann made her a 2-4-2 rather than a 4-2-2) and after a couple of circuits to distribute the Rail Zip her traction vanished along with the squeals. Quite a sight, those big drivers spinning helplessly – a vivid reminder of Bulleid Pacifics at Exeter Central trying to get under way.

Anyway, I had to use several paper towels to wipe most of the Rail-Zip off the rails and Emily’s driving wheels; she regained traction and her flanges stayed quiet, though the six-wheel coaches did take up the chorus, not quite so noisily.

Anyway, here’s the lady in question, looking quite satisfied with herself.

#2

Thomas, whose Lionel pickups have been giving grief for years (they don’t always maintain contact with the wheels), got the same Rail-Zip treatment as Emily, and suffered no ill effects at all; indeed, his performance improved markedly and his stumbles over dead frogs almost disappeared. Still have to do something about those pickups, though.

It must be said that Percy simply wondered what all the fuss was about. Very useful engine, Percy. No nonsense with singing flanges or balky pickups.

#3

Chris Vernell said: Still have to do something about those pickups, though.

Replace them with LGB sliders :wink:

#4

Sean McGillicuddy said:

Chris Vernell said: Still have to do something about those pickups, though.

Replace them with LGB sliders :wink:

:smiley: Actually, I’m probably going to install LGB ball-bearing wheels with power pickups on Annie and plug them into Thomas by way of a DPDT switch in Thomas’s cab. That way, if I feel like it, I can later install battery/RC equipment in Annie for outdoor use, and use the switch to disconnect the track pickups from the motor. Ditto for James’s tender

#5

Chris , you obviously enjoy your Thomas fleet , they can be fun and definitely get kids interested .

The big Stirling’s looks forced me into buying one , I have always liked them , but alas , to your undoubted horror I have made it more to scale ; I won’t go into detail but will admit to enjoying doing it . Shock/horror for the Thomas purists who I admire greatly for turning up at shows and running their “toys” (no they aren’t) to the obvious disgust of the “scale purists” .

I often am at a loss with fellow railway junkies . Why can they not just do their navel gazing in private and leave others to their enjoyment ? . I have seen fathers get very near to thumping someone for calling TTE “rubbish toys” and upsetting their kids .

Let’s have more Thomas , I say .

Mike

#6

Mike Morgan said:

Chris , you obviously enjoy your Thomas fleet , they can be fun and definitely get kids interested .

Mike: We started our Thomas layouts (first Hornby 00 back in the '80s, then G when Lionel brought out Thomas and James in the early '90s) precisely because all the other train layouts were not aimed at small fry, nor were they encouraged to get within touching distance (for perfectly understandable reasons, but it is possible not to be as rude as some owners are about it). We have, over the years, gathered a steady following: some people we first saw as children are now bringing their own offspring.

Many children with health challenges: for example, we met one boy this weekend who a year ago was not expected to see 2014 in. We hope to see him again in 2015.

Meanwhile, I am slowly getting my “real” trains into action.

#7

Keep the faith my friend , keep the faith .

Mike

#8

I read the topic title and I thought this was going to be on the perils of BEING single…

#9

Vic Smith said:

I read the topic title and I thought this was going to be on the perils of BEING single…

Well, I did have that sort of pun in my evil mind

#10

…and I thought it some sort of dating encounter!

#11

There is no peril in being single…!!

#12

Yea. Being single means my time is (mostly) mine, as is my disposable income. Mom sometimes intrudes on my time a bit.