u/N_Scale_Animations

what can I do?

the locomotive, when at the yearly show, (I run it at the Hershey History Center on each Sunday of December, I started this in 2025), operates on modern Lionel controllers. (it’s safe as the club runs other vintage models there too)

At home, on my personal small Postwar style layout, it operates on the original type 1033 controller.

issues I’ve had recently and things to clarify:

1. slow performance on track and stalls on curves suddenly but when on straight, manages to creep forward smoothly. When being held just enough above the track so its weight isn’t on its wheels but still on the track, it runs perfectly and quickly. Setting it down on ground it stops running and slowly creeps forward. no short circuits from what I can tell.

2. headlight works perfectly along with the E unit (never had issues)

3. whistle tender still whistles, but started to shoot blue sparks and sound like (the best I could describe it as): a dying kazoo mixed with a car alarm. But after a week of sitting, whistle sounds completely normal.

4. haven’t tested the smoke unit yet, debris inside the smoke unit from what I can tell

5. bent corner of the rear of the cab (only cosmetic damage from California-PA move)

6. I have some postwar cars for it that came with: streamlined whistle tender (which is being used), unstreamlined normal Lionel Lines tender (no whistle), PRR baby Ruth Curtiss Candy no. X6004, Sunoco two dome tank car, no. 6465, NYC Gondola with original barrels, no. 6002, PRR porthole caboose with light (working) no. 536417, standard Lionel Lines red caboose, 6007.

7. locomotive rolls perfectly and never derails unless on bad track or knocked over

8. Front screws under the pilot wheel set are completely stripped and have ever so slightly rust, I can’t take off the boiler without accidentally snapping or breaking something (which is why I haven’t worked on the internal stuff, only done quick cosmetic cleaning since I mainly do N scale, it’s usually on a shelf)

9. Stains on top of the boiler around the E unit, ONLY cosmetic issues with that

10. Chuffing/smoke mechanisms work freely without issues.

11. 1952 Lionel “Hudson” (4-6-4), no. 2056

recently did this during a teardown and inspection of a model

during a teardown and inspection I took these photos

I swear, robotics are too advanced.

what’s your favorite model? all models besides the 4-4-0 and three coaches are Kato, N scale. 4-4-0 is the 1980’s Bachmann American series set

let’s say the steam team goes to America, and meets 4014 who is on it’s coast to coast trip

if someone would combine this into a whole story it would be the most chaotic thing ever

had too do this…

middletown PA line

did this a few months back while working with my N scale club at the railroad museum of PA

enjoy these nightmares

why did I do this.

swapped cabs on my two Kato N scale EMD SD70Ms

so what about CSX Western Pacific, NS CSX heritage unit, and CSX NS heritage unit?

how I made them:

swapped the cabs on my Kato N scale CSX and NS SD70Ms

swapped the cab on each SD70M, making a CSX style NS heritage unit, and a NS (CSX style) CSX heritage unit.

enjoy. also… what else should I do with these nightmares?

I would have to go with either UP 3985 (as i own Kato’s 4014), or a Shay/climax. I would also be interested in them trying the 4-4-0 American design, as my old Bachmann 1980’s model is undergoing its second maintenance work this year and I doubt I’ll have it running smoothly when I run stuff at the yearly N scale Altoona event

most are Kato N scale besides the 4-4-0, Percy, and 0-6-0. Those are Bachmann. All is N scale. What else should I try to get? I’m gonna need another case though

while on my break from volunteer work, me and the FEBT/EBT members relaxed and watched 16 run by. any idea what the squeak is? I assume it’s something not lubricated?

I’m sorry for the poor framing, I was driving.

video taken during the morning while I was volunteering there