The DIS Campers Train Thread: From Model Trains Up To The Real Thing
- Thread starter bama_ed
- Start date
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
I'll bring the ice!
Personally, I am partial to the apple-flavored Jack sippin' w*****y.
It's because I was raised an Ohio boy on the legend of Johnny Appleseed.
I refer to it as Apple Jack(s)!
We'd love to have you visit our campsite (or I can come to you if you are ever nearby).
Bama Ed
Last edited:
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
Another thing I've focused on with my railroad is not sexy but necessary: spare parts.
I remember @Stratman50th talking about a Lionel locomotive part he needed but could not find. Well, my preferred (original) manufacture Aristo-Craft went out of business (figuratively) a decade ago but that's what I have/know.
So I've been snapping up AC parts on the open market if/when I see them. Boring things like:
- knuckle couplers
- electrical pickups
- springs for trucks
- brake wheels for freight cars
- metal axle wheels (to replace stock cheap plastic wheels)
I see a lot of used merch on ebay and other websites but they are missing parts or have broken parts. Such as locomotives that are missing bells. Freight cars that are missing steps, grab rails, or more. What if I could replace those missing/broken parts on my RR?
I got some brake wheels from a guy who does 3D printing (@Teamubr, a revenue opportunity for DS?). He might/can provide replacement parts for cars that haven't been actively produce in 10/30 years. As long as I send him some original pieces to scan, he can duplicate them relatively affordably. I get my original and duplicate parts back and he has a template of parts to sell to other collectors like me. Win/Win.
So I can get replacements and also buy a few extra of those parts.
Looking forward to a weekend of cleaning track, running loco's, and taking inventory of parts I need and projects that need repair.
Happy as a clam! ED
PS - nobody can predict which individual part might need replaced. Locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, cabooses, and tenders all have many individual, unique parts. I want to snap up available stock/common parts and then go to the 3D market for unique "one of's".
I remember @Stratman50th talking about a Lionel locomotive part he needed but could not find. Well, my preferred (original) manufacture Aristo-Craft went out of business (figuratively) a decade ago but that's what I have/know.
So I've been snapping up AC parts on the open market if/when I see them. Boring things like:
- knuckle couplers
- electrical pickups
- springs for trucks
- brake wheels for freight cars
- metal axle wheels (to replace stock cheap plastic wheels)
I see a lot of used merch on ebay and other websites but they are missing parts or have broken parts. Such as locomotives that are missing bells. Freight cars that are missing steps, grab rails, or more. What if I could replace those missing/broken parts on my RR?
I got some brake wheels from a guy who does 3D printing (@Teamubr, a revenue opportunity for DS?). He might/can provide replacement parts for cars that haven't been actively produce in 10/30 years. As long as I send him some original pieces to scan, he can duplicate them relatively affordably. I get my original and duplicate parts back and he has a template of parts to sell to other collectors like me. Win/Win.
So I can get replacements and also buy a few extra of those parts.
Looking forward to a weekend of cleaning track, running loco's, and taking inventory of parts I need and projects that need repair.
Happy as a clam! EDPS - nobody can predict which individual part might need replaced. Locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, cabooses, and tenders all have many individual, unique parts. I want to snap up available stock/common parts and then go to the 3D market for unique "one of's".
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
Well, Spencer, I started buying used/cheap/broken rolling stock for parts but only needed one (at max two) parts off of it. So overall cheaper to buy 3D when I supply the part (and buy a +1 for what I need).
Junkers are cheap, yes, but I usually only need 1 specific part. So better for me financially to buy the one part 1 need (at this point that's been my experience). But you're a Lionel guy and I'm not so our experiences will vary.
I don't want to invest in a large supply of possible junker parts if I don't have an immediate need. The back yard of the railroad is already pretty full
and I don't want DW to ask questions about "what are all those boxes". Shhh! Don't alert DW to what's happening!
She's usually at her mom's house when the UPS truck rumbles down my street.
ED
Teamubr
From somewhere outside StL
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2010
- Messages
- 7,206
There is certainly an opportunity with 3D printing. I've considered picking up a hand held 3D scanner. For Ed's proposition, you wave the scanner around the piece you are trying to replicate and it creates the file. Tweak it as needed and hit print.
j
j
Last edited:
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
A little more about what's happened this fall and winter on the railroad.
I added an Aristo-Craft covered bridge along the main line. It helps me know the max height clearance I need to have (more later).
This week I started adding some overhead storage shelves (above and behind the main line but not over the main line). Hung them from the roof beams and made sure I have clearance for tall rolling stock (knowing the height from the covered bridge helps).
You might be familiar with the old expression that you shouldn't complain about something unless you've got skin in the game. Well I do. On my western (Denver&RGW) and eastern (SouthernRR) I now own shares. Can't wait for the annual meetings!
For detail, the Southern Railway was a network early on of other incorporated railroads like the Alabama Great Southern (which was the first actual railroad into Tuscaloosa which happened about 10 years after the end of the Civil War).
Some of this may be a repeat but I have several signs up in the attic.
I have a sign on the way for the Denver&RGW. Will share that later.
Also some awesome locomotive pics.
The Southern RR 4501 Mikado 2-8-2 which resides at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga (although now it sports a black paint job - it's a LONG story why).
A gift pic from someone (European loco).
I bought this poster along the Seine River in Paris in 1992 where the outdoor book stalls are along the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) of a switcher steam loco that got loose and crashed out the front wall of Gare Montparnasse. I remember awkardly carrying it in a tube back through US Customs (those were the days
before the internet). Montparnasse is one of seven (I think) train stations that radiate out from Paris like the lines from a compass.
Finally, because the train in the attic is also partly the "Man Cave" I have a full poster of Chief Wahoo up there too.
Pitchers and catchers report in about 45 days. After my trip to Phoenix/Goodyear AZ this past February for Spring Training, I'm on the email list for spring training in 2025 which I sadly cannot attend (that was a one-and-done trip). But my heart will be following along with the Cleveland Indians when they start playing spring games the end of February.
That's today's update.
Bama Ed
I added an Aristo-Craft covered bridge along the main line. It helps me know the max height clearance I need to have (more later).
This week I started adding some overhead storage shelves (above and behind the main line but not over the main line). Hung them from the roof beams and made sure I have clearance for tall rolling stock (knowing the height from the covered bridge helps).
You might be familiar with the old expression that you shouldn't complain about something unless you've got skin in the game. Well I do. On my western (Denver&RGW) and eastern (SouthernRR) I now own shares. Can't wait for the annual meetings!
For detail, the Southern Railway was a network early on of other incorporated railroads like the Alabama Great Southern (which was the first actual railroad into Tuscaloosa which happened about 10 years after the end of the Civil War).
Some of this may be a repeat but I have several signs up in the attic.
I have a sign on the way for the Denver&RGW. Will share that later.
Also some awesome locomotive pics.
The Southern RR 4501 Mikado 2-8-2 which resides at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga (although now it sports a black paint job - it's a LONG story why).
A gift pic from someone (European loco).
I bought this poster along the Seine River in Paris in 1992 where the outdoor book stalls are along the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) of a switcher steam loco that got loose and crashed out the front wall of Gare Montparnasse. I remember awkardly carrying it in a tube back through US Customs (those were the days
before the internet). Montparnasse is one of seven (I think) train stations that radiate out from Paris like the lines from a compass.Finally, because the train in the attic is also partly the "Man Cave" I have a full poster of Chief Wahoo up there too.
Pitchers and catchers report in about 45 days. After my trip to Phoenix/Goodyear AZ this past February for Spring Training, I'm on the email list for spring training in 2025 which I sadly cannot attend (that was a one-and-done trip). But my heart will be following along with the Cleveland Indians when they start playing spring games the end of February.
That's today's update.
Bama Ed
Last edited:
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
Our brother and partner in this thread, @Stratman50th , whose name was Don Frye, died unexpectedly on 12/26/24. His passing leaves a hole in my heart not just because of his participation in this thread (he was a Lionel train guy) but because he was a good guy who had finished a career in law enforcement in Maryland and moved on to a second career while he had transitioned down to live there in Central Florida for the past several years.
He was a few months away from his planned retirement from his second career in 2025 when he passed.
I feel like it would be appropriate to pause this thread for a few days and remember our friend Don. With regards to this thread topic, some of us may be old in body (or getting older) but we are still young at heart. Hey, it keeps us out of trouble these days.
Our thread about Don's passing can be followed here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/rest-in-peace-stratman50th.3959715/.
Don, we'll miss you but we are glad we knew you as we did. You were a good man.
ED
PS - and we welcome DIS members' participation in this thread about big (real) trains, small (model) trains, and any related topics. Just jump in the pool with the rest of us.
He was a few months away from his planned retirement from his second career in 2025 when he passed.
I feel like it would be appropriate to pause this thread for a few days and remember our friend Don. With regards to this thread topic, some of us may be old in body (or getting older) but we are still young at heart. Hey, it keeps us out of trouble these days.
Our thread about Don's passing can be followed here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/rest-in-peace-stratman50th.3959715/.
Don, we'll miss you but we are glad we knew you as we did. You were a good man.
ED
PS - and we welcome DIS members' participation in this thread about big (real) trains, small (model) trains, and any related topics. Just jump in the pool with the rest of us.
Last edited:
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
I feel like it would be appropriate to pause this thread for a few days and remember our friend Don. With regards to this thread topic, some of us may be old in body (or getting older) but we are still young at heart. Hey, it keeps us out of trouble these days.
Amen
!
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
Continuing on .....
I mentioned I got the Southern Railway metal round sign at Christmas so I hit the market and got a sign (wooden) for the Denver & Rio Grande Western which are mounted on an old incinerator brick chimney stack that goes up through the attic railroad area.
Here are all my signs at the top of the attic stairs.
On the prior page in post #169, I showed I was putting up a higher "storage" shelf over the main line (2nd photo in that post) and that pic showed a 12-inch shelf which I put a single row of track on (suspended from the roof overhead whereas the lower (mainline) shelf is supported from underneath). Well behind that single 12-inch wide shelf (12-feet long, btw) I hung two 16-inch shelves (each 12-feet long also).
From the far corner looking back towards the front.
I have stacked one line of rolling stock along that 24-feet of new shelf. This weekend I plan to put a second line of track and mount rolling stock on it. (again, the idea is taking rolling pieces in and out of styrofoam packing and tight shipping boxes leads to snaps, breaks, and other mishaps. The repeated handling is not good - so if they sit on a track under a dust rag I only have to lift them down on the track and lift them up again - gently - to return them to storage. At least that's the idea.)
The last thing for this update is one thing was lacking. I had the signs for my eastern and western railroads. I even "owned" shares in them with stock certificates framed for each. The one thing I wanted was a MAP of each with its rail lines. I did find service maps on ebay of various sizes for the time frames I am within: 1925 for the D&RGW (remember all steam no diesel) and 1940 for the SRR (into early diesel). I wanted them (in the final version) to be equal sized in their frames so I scanned them and had them both enlarged to 16x12 inch posters to go in cheap frames from Hobby Lobby.
Here is the D&RGW prints both the smaller original ebay purchase and the 16x12 poster underneath it.
Here is the SRR prints both the smaller original ebay purchase (which was larger than the D&RGW) and the 16x12 poster underneath it.
Here are the 16x12 posters in their frames (the originals are in the frames behind the posters). CVS Photo does posters cheap, I found.
So next steps are to stock the second line of the new storage shelf then get to some repairs and maintenance while testing new arrivals.
Bama Ed
I mentioned I got the Southern Railway metal round sign at Christmas so I hit the market and got a sign (wooden) for the Denver & Rio Grande Western which are mounted on an old incinerator brick chimney stack that goes up through the attic railroad area.
Here are all my signs at the top of the attic stairs.
On the prior page in post #169, I showed I was putting up a higher "storage" shelf over the main line (2nd photo in that post) and that pic showed a 12-inch shelf which I put a single row of track on (suspended from the roof overhead whereas the lower (mainline) shelf is supported from underneath). Well behind that single 12-inch wide shelf (12-feet long, btw) I hung two 16-inch shelves (each 12-feet long also).
From the far corner looking back towards the front.
I have stacked one line of rolling stock along that 24-feet of new shelf. This weekend I plan to put a second line of track and mount rolling stock on it. (again, the idea is taking rolling pieces in and out of styrofoam packing and tight shipping boxes leads to snaps, breaks, and other mishaps. The repeated handling is not good - so if they sit on a track under a dust rag I only have to lift them down on the track and lift them up again - gently - to return them to storage. At least that's the idea.)
The last thing for this update is one thing was lacking. I had the signs for my eastern and western railroads. I even "owned" shares in them with stock certificates framed for each. The one thing I wanted was a MAP of each with its rail lines. I did find service maps on ebay of various sizes for the time frames I am within: 1925 for the D&RGW (remember all steam no diesel) and 1940 for the SRR (into early diesel). I wanted them (in the final version) to be equal sized in their frames so I scanned them and had them both enlarged to 16x12 inch posters to go in cheap frames from Hobby Lobby.
Here is the D&RGW prints both the smaller original ebay purchase and the 16x12 poster underneath it.
Here is the SRR prints both the smaller original ebay purchase (which was larger than the D&RGW) and the 16x12 poster underneath it.
Here are the 16x12 posters in their frames (the originals are in the frames behind the posters). CVS Photo does posters cheap, I found.
So next steps are to stock the second line of the new storage shelf then get to some repairs and maintenance while testing new arrivals.
Bama Ed
Last edited:
4077
I'll fly for this Mickey Mouse outfit!
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2013
- Messages
- 1,869
So, being that your attic is home to the engineer and his steeds, where is all the other "stuff" that one accumulates stored.... ? That looks a huge attic with only train items. Perhaps you are better at keeping the "stuff" that collects out, lol.
I like your shelf method for both your main line and storage.. creative!
I like your shelf method for both your main line and storage.. creative!
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
Well if you look closely, the "stuff" is in boxes on the floor under all the trains in various prior pics. This year will be the 8th year in this house (which will be 93yo or so this year). We downsized from a 4br/2400ft^2 house to a 3br/2000ft^2 house when we moved and although we (I) tried to get rid of stuff, one of us
was reluctant to go through all the "stuff" that ended up in the boxes. 
And it sits there to this day.
So the train line occupies the higher space on the back (larger) end of the house and I have some tables with empty rolling stock boxes under them on the front (smaller) high roof end of the house.
Ed
Last edited:
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
Sorry I've been away from this thread for a while. Life gets in the way some times but I did finish a project I started about six weeks ago.
When I lived in Birmingham in the early 2000's, I would visit a Hobby/Train store that sold my brand of G-Scale trains, the Aristo-Craft brand (AC). We still had kids/babies in our house but I was thinking about getting into model trains in the future. The store I would visit to nose around had a lightbox in its front display window with the AC name/logo. And I liked the AC products because in the G-Scale space they made high quality, affordable American railroad products (other bigger/older brands started in Germany with European trains or American but lesser quality - AC soon became the 2nd biggest G-Scale vendor in the world).
I saw a used, old AC lightbox come up for sale. It didn't work but it was relatively cheap so I got it with the intention of fixing it up. That project was finished today. Here are some of the pictures with the listing. The size is 19"Wx24"Hx5"D.
I opened it up and it had some REALLY old fluorescent light hardware (1980s? 1990s?). Two of everything: 20" fluoro bulbs, magnetic (not the newer electronic) ballasts, and fuses (nowadays electronic ballast includes the fuse functionality). I tried new bulbs (the hopeful easy way out) but no go. The thought of finding (hard) and replacing the fuses and magnetic ballasts was unappealing.
Here is the inside.
So I literally ripped all this stuff out other than the two ballasts (not in the way) and bought two LED 24" light sticks to put in place of the fluoro bulbs.
All lit up now. Looks pretty good in the dark (for effect).
The Polk family owned and ran AC but also had multiple companies that included electronics, remote control airplanes, cars, boats and such - hence the Polk name there as well.
It looks great - glad it's done.
Ed
PS - I'm bad about acquiring "projects" and then it takes me forever to finish them but this one didn't take long.
When I lived in Birmingham in the early 2000's, I would visit a Hobby/Train store that sold my brand of G-Scale trains, the Aristo-Craft brand (AC). We still had kids/babies in our house but I was thinking about getting into model trains in the future. The store I would visit to nose around had a lightbox in its front display window with the AC name/logo. And I liked the AC products because in the G-Scale space they made high quality, affordable American railroad products (other bigger/older brands started in Germany with European trains or American but lesser quality - AC soon became the 2nd biggest G-Scale vendor in the world).
I saw a used, old AC lightbox come up for sale. It didn't work but it was relatively cheap so I got it with the intention of fixing it up. That project was finished today. Here are some of the pictures with the listing. The size is 19"Wx24"Hx5"D.
I opened it up and it had some REALLY old fluorescent light hardware (1980s? 1990s?). Two of everything: 20" fluoro bulbs, magnetic (not the newer electronic) ballasts, and fuses (nowadays electronic ballast includes the fuse functionality). I tried new bulbs (the hopeful easy way out) but no go. The thought of finding (hard) and replacing the fuses and magnetic ballasts was unappealing.
Here is the inside.
So I literally ripped all this stuff out other than the two ballasts (not in the way) and bought two LED 24" light sticks to put in place of the fluoro bulbs.
All lit up now. Looks pretty good in the dark (for effect).
The Polk family owned and ran AC but also had multiple companies that included electronics, remote control airplanes, cars, boats and such - hence the Polk name there as well.
It looks great - glad it's done.
Ed
PS - I'm bad about acquiring "projects" and then it takes me forever to finish them but this one didn't take long.
Last edited:
Sjm9911
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2019
- Messages
- 3,227
Not much , but put the pre war 1666 on the tracks after I hobbled to the basement. This one ran well. The whistle needs oil, I'll get to it eventually. I tried a few others, but they have been sitting too long and need to be taken apart , cleaned and greased. Eventually I will get to it. 
Sjm9911
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2019
- Messages
- 3,227
Nice sign Ed, sometimes the easy way is the best way.
-
Former Disney Cast Member Sentenced With Jail Time & Steep Fine
-
We're Over the Moon for PIZZA MOON at Epic Universe
-
Laid-Back Rides, Great Food, and Nostalgia at Paradise Gardens in DCA
-
Epic Universe Previews EXTENDED for Universal Passholders
-
K. Rammelle Sweet Shop in Epic Universe Ministry of Magic
-
Will I Fit? The Ultimate Plus-Size Guide to Disneyland Park
-
NEW Cocktails & Mocktails Coming to Disneyland Next Week
Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!
Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE
