[AFGP9]

Mopac, nice hoppers. I have 31 hoppers but not a 9207 NYC and a 48601 UP. I like those. What I really want is a mailbox like yours that produces railroad cars. Mine just produces bills to be paid.
In your discussion about easy rolling cars, that El Capitan reefer is the freest rolling car right out of the box I've ever seen. Tom warned me that an MTH car would do that and I would want more. He was right. Honestly though, I don't have much of a problem with my Flyer cars once the gaging is correct and the axle ends in the side frames are lubricated and kept lubricated as they are used after so many hours. I keep a log on running time for all my engines and cars and service them based on hours run. No that's not an exact science but pretty close, especially engines. Of course not all the cars are ran. Most set in the yard. That way I don't need to lube everything. I've looked at those Ed Goldin's bearing kits. I have converted several wheel sets with the metal SHS ones. Together with gaging and lubrication, they work great for sure.

Kenny

 

[AFGP9]

I thought I would post these pictures since I have them in the file. The 24550 on the left is compatible with the unloader and has the one piece long trailer bracket. The 956 has the 2 trailer brackets and is not compatible with the unloader.
Well for what ever reason I can't get 3 other pictures to post properly. Tired of fooling with this.

Kenny


Kenny

 

[mopac]

Great pic of your layout and the flat cars with the trailers. I have a few covered hoppers but no where near 31. I might have around 10 to 12. Half being Lionel and half being Gilbert Jersey Centrals. Covered hoppers look good on the rails. Got lucky on an Ebay win about a year ago. I had got a Jersey Central in a lot of cars. The top was missing. Then I ran across a car I liked and the seller was including a top for a covered hopper. Perfect.
So all my covered hoppers have their tops.

 

[mopac]

Kenny, I am giving my mailbox a rest. Nothing coming and nothing on order. I will have to show old pics.

 

[alaft61ri]

Really nice flat cars layout

Al

 

[AmFlyer]

Mopac, amazingly I had never seen those two TOFC's side by side. It is apparent why the separate sale car does not work with the unloader.
Kenny, you make a good but subtle point about the Lionel and Gilbert cars. The first thing required is to set the wheel gauge accurately. I find about 50% of the Gilbert cars are wrong and 100% of the Lionel cars made prior to 2019 are a 1/10th of an inch too narrow. For lowest rolling resistance the gauge must be corrected. Unfortunately at their best the Lionel cars are nowhere near the low rolling resistance of AM or SHS/MTH cars.

 

[mopac]

I have found that removing wheelsets, cleaning axle ends and journals, and a small drop of oil greatly improves the rolling resistance of cars. The better they roll the more you can pull. I got some cars that rolled poorly and did all that to them and could not believe the difference. They kept trying to roll away. With the Lionel cars with the plastic trucks dry graphite might work better than oil.

 

[AmFlyer]

Here are two original 755 Talking Station replacement records. These are NOS with the OE's. These records are two sided, the same recording on both sides, the standard for the 755 Talking station. Later records had two different recordings on each side. I bought these from Andy Jugle when he was thinning out his collection. Every time I look at these records I am reminded how stupid I was to not buy at least one of every variation of these records. Andy had at least a dozen of each version he was selling that day.

 

[AFGP9]

Kenny, I am giving my mailbox a rest. Nothing coming and nothing on order. I will have to show old pics.

I just thought you had some sort of magical mail box that was running amuck and you couldn't stop it. I just wanted in on that sort of mail box. Thanks for your comments on my layout. It still needs some fine tuning. Call it a work in progress. I have a thing for hoppers, tank cars, and reefers, especially wood sided reefers like the El Capitan. Now I am looing for more for more wood sided reefers. It looks like MTH and SHS has a few even though I have tried to stay strictly to AF cars.
Speaking of covered hoppers, I have 2 9207 Lionel Flyer NYC covered cement hoppers. I didn't intend on buying 2 of the same number but I was at a train show and saw that they were 2 different shades of gray so I bought them. That variation isn't mentioned in the Greenberg price guide. After I bought them, I found them at other train shows. Not at the same seller's tables though.

Kenny

 

[AFGP9]

Really nice flat cars layout

Al

Thanks Al.

 

[AFGP9]

Tom, I have to be honest, I never knew there were different records for the 755. I really never paid any attention sense the one I got with my 755 was just fine and is an A.C. Gilbert original. Is there a difference whether the 755 is a blue or green roof? I've never gotten around to buying a blue roofed 755 simply because the 755 I have now is no longer on my layout.
Mopac and Tom, the first thing I do when I get a car whether new or used, is check the gaging and pull the axles and lubricate. I've never found any car to be properly gaged. I have a gaging tool I bought years ago. Nothing but a block of aluminum. Just sits in between the wheels. Well not at first. A little adjusting of the wheels then it fits. Then I might change the wheels sets out for the Showcase steel ones. That is a work in progress since I started that after I had already acquired a number of AF cars.

Kenny

 

[AmFlyer]

Kenny, I recall there are a total of 5 different records, one of which is molded in red plastic. I think all the 755 and 755A's had the same record. My Blue roof 755A has the same record as my Green roof 755. The records changed when the 799 was introduced and again with the 23786. Most of these records have different recordings on the two sides. one has a new West bound announcement with an East bound on the other side. Some have random train noises on one side and a conductor dialog on the other side. I have found four of the recordings online for copy or playback.

 

[AFGP9]

Thanks Tom for the useful information regarding the records. After I mentioned the Blue roof 755, I saw a nice one last night on eBay. Still won't buy it but I thought it a bit ironic that I asked about that variation and it's record and one turns up.

Kenny

 

[AmFlyer]

Perhaps that is the latest advancement in targeted advertising?

 

[mopac]

ALMOST funny how that targeted advertising works. Its out there.

LOL, well, my mail box did not stay shut down long. Just bought and paid for a lot of
5 NKP AF/Lionel cars, new in box. I already had one or two of a couple of the cars.
I prescribe to if one is good two is better. The lot was on ebay for 125.00 plus 20.40
shipping. 145.40 total. Seller sent me an offer for 99.50 plus 20.40 shipping. 119.90 total.
He said he got these from a train shop that was closing. And he wanted to move them.
So it works out to 24.00 including
shipping each. I thought a good price. All with diecast trucks.
I will post pics when they get here.

6-48713 Lighted caboose, need it for my AF NKP 342 switcher
6-48610 Covered hopper, I have 1 but 2 will work
6-48807 Yellow refrigerator car, makes 2 I have
6-48320 Brown and white beautiful box car. Must have.
6-48360 ( I think correct number ) gondola with cannisters

Before I bought these cars I looked in completed auctions and these cars were
selling for 10.00 or more than 24.00 including shipping.

 

[AmFlyer]

As always, you get items cheaper than others. I am concerned with your latest NKP acquisitions the you now need a brawny road engine to pull them all rather than that 342 yard switcher. Better hurry and buy one of the new Lionel NKP Berkshires before they are all gone. I think Charles Ro still has some at a discount.

 

[mopac]

I would like a Berk for sure. I would like #1225. May have to look into that. Charles Ro is the place that went through and serviced my ZW transformer. They added a modern circuit breaker also.

 

[mopac]

I went to the Charles Ro site and they do have some Berkshires. They do have the 1225 but that is a Pere Marquette engine. They do have NKP #765. That would work. I like models of real locomotives that were preserved. 765 is still around. Now I have to build up to 289.99. Going to casino tonight for dinner and some slots. If I win (big if) I will order one
when I get home. I have already been thinking about one.

 

[mopac]

I checked TrainWorld and they are 10.00 higher than Charles Ro. I was surprised.

I see a problem - Min curves is 36. I have K-Line curves but they are only 27 Uh-Oh.
Maybe not a problem, my 27 might be 54. It just said S36

 

[AmFlyer]

I have 765 and 3361 on order. I hope to have them "soon."
I would not wager my Berk on winning big at the slots. Maybe you do better that I ever did.