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Post by boxcarwilly on Jan 22, 2018 12:48:46 GMT -5
It is totally believable to see CN and CP equipment on US rail lines back then and more so today. A major part of that is the investing of Canadian rail lines in US companies. For example, Canadian Pacific owns SOO line and just recently purchased a controlling interest in Union Pacific. It has become quite common place to see Union Pacific locos up here in the great white north. In fact, the CP rail facility just a few blocks from my home is a major repair hub for CP, SOO and Union Pacific locos. It has only been in the last 4 years the UP locos have been seen here on a regular basis. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but they can be seen hauling heavy freight through the Rockies to the coast and back sometimes alone and other times in consist with CP locos. Canadian National owned Grand Trunk in the States. They also own Central Vermont, and Illinois Central. Central Vermont locos can be see in Eastern Canada while Illinois Central locos can be seen on the prairies. So yes, CN and CP both have whole or part ownership of some US lines. Why it isn't the other way around I don't know. As for BCR, they used to be the Pacific Great Eastern. I can't say if the BCR runs into the States or not under that banner. They used to under PGE.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jan 8, 2018 11:50:48 GMT -5
If you are looking for traction tires for engines that need them, I believe you will find some at Z Scale Monster under the AZL section. As for cleaning the wheels, one method I use is an emery cloth as the wheel turns. You have to turn the loco upside down and cradle it somehow or have someone hold it for you. Then connect leads from your power pack via alligator clips to the wheels on one truck. Turn on the juice at low volt, and very carefully, touch a small piece of the emery cloth to a wheel as it rotates. Do this for all 4 wheels on a truck, and then move leads to that truck, and do the other end. I find it works very well. There are other methods to. FYI, you can tell if a loco uses traction tires just be looking at the wheels. If you can see what looks to be like an indentation with a flange thing on the outside of a wheel, then that's the groove that the traction tire fits into.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jan 4, 2018 12:53:30 GMT -5
As a follow-up to my previous message to Dave, here is what I know about the train shops in my city.
Trains and Such: No longer carries Z scale. Does sell used Z scale on consignment mostly on Ebay. Staff very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Do repairs but not to Z scale stuff. Huge inventory of all other scales except G. Prices are higher then any other shop in the city for everything. Easy to find.
Chinook and Hobby West: 2 stores, one very small. Did have Z scale at north store only but no more. Staff friendly but not all that knowledgeable. Carry everything for scales N and up but concentrate on O and G. Heavily into action figures and Matchbox toys. Prices are cheapest in city.
PM Hobbies and Crafts: Had very limited inventory of Z scale 5 years ago, but got rid of it. Deal mostly in N and HO scale. Big box type store, have everything from remote control plains and cars to plastic kits, to crafts of all kinds. Staff not all that friendly. Prefer you help yourself rather then answer questions. Difficult to get into as they are in a strip mall and share parking with 20 other stores and businesses. Not my favourite place to go for common to scale items.
Eastridge Hobbies: Had a good selection of Z scale when they first opened 8 years ago. Bought my first Z scale train set there. Constant turnover of staff, not knowledgeable on anything or friendly. Concentrate on everything to do with gaming and trading cards. Eventually eliminated anything to do with trains. I see they have closed their doors. Not surprising.
Hobby Tech: Another store who used to carry Z scale but only European. Still carry European but no longer stock Z scale. Will order for you but takes upwards of a month to get. One man operation. Small shop in industrial park. Hard to find as it's on a dead end street among businesses in strip mall.
All of these places I have frequented when they had Z scale items. Now only go to Trains and Such or Chinook and Hobby West for common to scale stuff such as risers, electrical, paint, and so on.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jan 3, 2018 11:59:27 GMT -5
Can you give us the Names and or addresses of those "hobby shops who may have stocked z scale products are getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest" Maybe some of us can start buying from them so they dont stop selling Z scale, Or at the Very least maybe we can get some good deals from them if they are in fact "getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest" as you claim. David David. In answer to your question, I can give you the names of those shops, but you'll have to look up the addresses yourself using Google. I think all but one have their own websites but I'm not sure. Trains & Such Chinook & Hobby West PM Hobbies and Crafts Eastridge Hobbies and Gaming Ltd. Hobby Tech Ltd. All of the above used to stock Z scale stuff, but no more. Trains & Such has in the past sold used Z scale items from the guys who have gotten out of the hobby, As for the others, they don't deal in used stuff in any scale. Hobby Tech will order Z scale items for anyone who is interested, but it takes up to a month to get. There is a train shop in Edmonton that used to stock Z scale items but I can't remember who they are, and they, like the others, have probably dropped it as well. Now I get all my stuff either from Ebay, or Z Scale Monster, I've never heard of the other dealers.[/quote]
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jan 3, 2018 11:58:54 GMT -5
Can you give us the Names and or addresses of those "hobby shops who may have stocked z scale products are getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest" Maybe some of us can start buying from them so they dont stop selling Z scale, Or at the Very least maybe we can get some good deals from them if they are in fact "getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest" as you claim.
David [/quote]
David.
In answer to your question, I can give you the names of those shops, but you'll have to look up the addresses yourself using Google. I think all but one have their own websites but I'm not sure.
Trains & Such Chinook & Hobby West PM Hobbies and Crafts Eastridge Hobbies and Gaming Ltd. Hobby Tech Ltd.
All of the above used to stock Z scale stuff, but no more. Trains & Such has in the past sold used Z scale items from the guys who have gotten out of the hobby, As for the others, they don't deal in used stuff in any scale. Hobby Tech will order Z scale items for anyone who is interested, but it takes up to a month to get. There is a train shop in Edmonton that used to stock Z scale items but I can't remember who they are, and they, like the others, have probably dropped it as well.
Now I get all my stuff either from Ebay, or Z Scale Monster, I've never heard of the other dealers.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jan 2, 2018 12:55:02 GMT -5
As I have stated in my initial post, there isn't enough interest in Z scale railroading here. Out of 5 original z scale modellers in this area, there are only 2 of us left and the other guy is the person who got me into this in the first place. I've tried for years to get a club going, but unlike in Trump land where z scale clubs abound and new ones are springing up all over the place, here in Trudeau land or Canuckastan, z scale is looked upon as a joke or passing fad. Interestingly, I've done a coast to coast search and except for ours and 1 on the east coast, there are no z scale enthusiasts or clubs anywhere in this country. To make matters worse, hobby shops who may have stocked z scale products are getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest. So if no one is interested then certainly they won't buy even a small portion. Besides, my layout is built as one continuous run. Any single module can't be used to start a new layout because each ties into the one before and after. Sadly, lack or interest, availability of equipment, and size scare any potential modellers away. I guess in 10 or 15 years, my layout will end up in a landfill. Excuse me while I wipe away the tears.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Dec 18, 2017 11:48:38 GMT -5
Excellent job. Too bad you don't have a set of passenger cars to go with it.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Dec 6, 2017 12:13:43 GMT -5
Here is someone else you might try for any and all Z scale repairs. He is the person I use. His name is Don Fedjur and his email is donfedjur@aol.com I would offer this piece of advice: Do not attempt to repair any Z scale engines yourself IF you don't have the knowledge or expertise. Better to let someone who does, do the work for you and do it right the first time. I got myself in a pickle a few years ago by trying to repair a loco myself using information gleaned from the web, and it was a disaster. I had to resort to outside help, hence Don Fedjur. He's a straight shooter too and I trust him completely. I think he's a member of this group too, but I'm not sure.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 23, 2017 12:28:21 GMT -5
Mortality reality? Well I guess that's true. I've said often when I first began this project, that I just want to live long enough to see it to completion. My wife, however, is the practical one of our family and as we get older, we look at how much longer we can keep up the work that always needs to be done when you own your own home. She wants to know what to do with my layout if I die before her. This is why I've been thrown into the "What if" scenario. The bottom line here is, like a cherished pet, I want my layout to go to a good home, whether it be private or an organization. As I said above, the thought of destroying all my work over the years brings me a great deal of sadness. I'm sure that holds true for most of us. It kind of makes you wonder, why we ever got into this hobby in the first place.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 22, 2017 16:06:35 GMT -5
Funny this topic should come up because I too have been the recipient of some nasty chastising from an IM rep at our local train show. I agree that their marketing strategy is seriously flawed, but unless and until there are some definitive changes made at IM, nothing will change, and they will never go back to producing Z products.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 22, 2017 16:00:04 GMT -5
Dave: I've been building my layout for several years now. To suddenly stop where I am. would mean my trains would fall of the ends of my layout, or as I have been doing, use temporary loops on bare un-finished modules to have continuous runs. This is fine, but from a logic or continuity standpoint, it would make no sense. I understand what you're saying in changing over, but even a small N scale layout, would have to eventually be disposed of in some manner when it comes time to downsize as it were. So I would be no further ahead. I do however, appreciate your thoughts on the subject. I know a fellow who has a huge HO layout that covers his entire basement. I asked him one day, what he would do with it if he ever had to sell his house. He told me quite frankly, remove and sell whatever he could and the rest would be destroyed. To see all the work he has put into his layout, and have him say that, gave me a rather sickly feeling in my stomach and I don't want to have to go through that. To destroy all the work I have done, I think would kill me. I cringe just thinking about it.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 21, 2017 14:27:27 GMT -5
Thanks for your comments Neverland and Dave:
Unfortunately, our local children's hospital isn't in the position of accepting donations other than cash. Besides, they can't spare staff to supervise kids in running it, and it's hard enough to get volunteers to work with the kids let alone take care of a train layout. Good idea though. As for the rail museum, the closest one is 5 hours away in another province and it's very small. There is nothing local. If we do move to a seniors building or an assisted living facility, they don't allow things of this nature even as small as 2 ft. x 4 ft. I've made the enquiries. If I do not complete my layout, then I will not have realized my dream and I will never feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do all those years ago. My ideal choice would be to donate it to an existing train club, unfortunately, Z scale is looked upon as a joke or passing fad around here and no z scale clubs exist anywhere in the west. Sadly, no one is interested in starting one either. I know, I've tried for years. Yes my layout is big, built in modules, and easy to move, but it can be modified to fit a smaller space if someone is handy enough to do so. It will be awhile before I get to this point, but for now, I'm just trying to get prepared.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 20, 2017 14:56:17 GMT -5
I find myself in a rather unusual situation. This past week, my wife and I were revising our wills, and she asked me what she would do with my train layout should I die. Over the past few years, I've changed beneficiary for my trains several times from family to organizations and sadly, none are reliable or responsible enough. I though I had someone who was an up and coming Z Scaler but he left town over a year ago and I've not heard from him since, So now I am seriously looking for someone, somewhere who I can either sell or leave my entire layout too, in the hopes that it will be looked after and that person will continue on with my dream as I originally envisioned it. Conservatively speaking, I think I have invested very close to 25,000 including, lumber, hardware, track, wiring, engines, cars, scenery, parts and on and on and on. The size of my layout as it stands right now, is approximately 34 ft. by 15 ft. in two main sections separated by a lift bridge over a walkway between the two them. Much of my layout is finished, however, I have a new section that I'm still working on, and another section that is yet to be developed. I'm estimating I have another 5 years of work before it's where I can finally call it complete. I did, for a time, consider breaking it up and selling the engines, cars, track and parts on Ebay, but it's not practical since Ebay scams sellers with ridiculous and unnecessary fees and all kinds of restrictions. I've thought about public auctions, but as I've learned from various sources, individual train layouts, at least in this city, are more liabilities as no one really wants them regardless of scale. Add to that, being a Z scale layout, no one is interested in working with anything that small. N scale seems to be about the limit of what people in the model railroading community will comfortably work on. When I first got into Z scale, there were 5 of us doing it, one of whom was into British and European Z. Now it appears there are only 2 with one being the guy who got me into it in the first place, and he doesn't have the room for a layout this big. I am in a bit of a quandary. So public auction is out, and there appears to be no one who is interested in buying my layout outright, or even wanting to be named as the person I leave it to when I'm gone. Please understand, I am not planning on checking out anytime soon, however, there is the fact that we are in our golden years and have been kicking around the idea of moving into a seniors complex or assisted living facility and there is no room in those places for even a desktop layout, so if we decide to do just that, my layout will have to go. It would be a total shame if it were to end up in the garbage. So I'm throwing this open to any and all members here who may have even a remote interest in stepping up to the plate. If we have to move, my first option is to sell it, as any money I get from it will have to be redirected toward living expenses. Is anyone interested at all?
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 8, 2017 12:39:17 GMT -5
After much testing and so on, I finally have my lighting project complete and it works believe it or not. I waited and waited for John to come out with his lights, but I decided that I couldn't wait any longer. After much consultation on what would work and what wouldn't, I decided to throw caution to the wind and try using my Chinese lights. I bought some Woodland Scenics light hubs and expansion hub and started hooking my lights into these devices and low and behold, they worked. The beauty of it is, NO RESISTORS anywhere. I did, however, have to solder some thicker wires on those of the Chinese lights because their wires are not much thicker then a human hair and could not be secured in the link connectors. Oh BTW, I had to buy a bunch of linker connectors and some cable plugs off a fellow on Ebay to fit in the Woodland Scenics light hubs and after a lot of fiddling around, I got all the lights up and running. So I'm happy about this. It means I can go on using the cheaper lights from China, and don't have to worry about resistors. Don't ask me why they work without the resistor on each light, they just do and I'll take it. I was going to post a picture or two of the completed project including the station, but I can't so it for some reason. Oh well.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Oct 25, 2017 17:15:58 GMT -5
As everyone above has said, your layout can be as big or as small as you want it to be depending on what you want to do. My layout takes up my whole rec. room and it is built modular style so it can be easily disassembled and moved. While I am unable to provide pictures of it, and there were some on here at one time, my layout spans 35 ft. in length and mostly 2 ft. wide with certain modules jutting out from left to right of the main by 4 feet. I am currently building an addition which will house my switching yard and passenger terminal and that is 16 x 2 ft. and runs the length of one wall. A lift bridge connects both sides of my layout and allows for a walkway between them. The main part of my layout is built in such a way that it can be operated from behind, and viewed from the front. I used to take it to train shows, but I don't any more. In retrospect, I wish I had done things differently in this regard, because I can't see most of my layout from the control panel without the use of mirrors. It seemed like a good idea at the time. As for maintenance, yes it's a chore to be sure with that much track and turnouts and such, but I've learned from experience, and the advice of others, to do things as carefully as possible the first time and not to RUSH to get a job done. To test, troubleshoot, and retest at every installation and so on to be sure it works. I will admit, my under table wiring is a nightmare, but it works. It all comes down to what you want to do and how you want to do it. I will say this though, don't overextend yourself, and be sure that every foot you build can be comfortably controlled from a central location. specially if you work alone. Dazed mentioned that if you have friends, or even family members who are interested enough to assist you in cleaning track or any aspect of this hobby, that's fantastic. The more the merrier. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury. So if your layout is big, the thought of cleaning all that track yourself can be daunting at best and extremely time consuming. But it has to be done. For myself, I expect to have my layout complete to where I want it in about 6 years. Then I'll have the time to spend at play shall we say. I hope you enjoy yours when it's done. Good Luck
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