A very nice video and layout. I have plans to expand my own HO scale layout, though I'll primarily be using Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives, and I don't think mine will be quite as large as yours.
Wow. Your layout, locomotives, and rolling stock are basically the stuff of my model RR dreams come true. Even after giving up on spending mega $$$$ on Coast Daylights and multiple Cab-Forwards pulling refer blocks over the Sierras and such - switching to mostly scratch-built modelling northwest mining and timber lines in the late 1800's, I'll always be an SP steam fan. I'm particularly impressed with your Balboa 4-6-2. I don't know how much you've changed on it - but it sure looks and runs good for a what? - 50+ year old model? I bought a third run Intermountain AC-12 a while back just to have and look at, but never even got around to unboxing it yet. I heard stories good and bad about the running gear and motors in the earlier versions. Which run is yours? One thing I rarely see comments on is the pull of modern plastic boiler models compared to old metal boiler steam locos. How do you rate the modern plastic steam pull compared to brass and die cast? I mean, even if they look great - I'd be mighty disappointed if that cab forward can't pull 25 average 40' freight cars up 2% grades. Even my old Bowser 4-6-2 can do that.
Hey Scott, thank you for your comment. It's taken many years to build up the coast daylight due to finding the cars and finding the deals. I also have resorted to kits for Intermountain PFEs because they are easy to build and a lot cheaper. I usually find the kits at train shows for ~$10-15. I now have a total of about 50 PFE cars all different road numbers. Don't give up your dream of modeling SP! I love late 1800's too, but its nothing like seeing a Cab Forward haha. My Balboa 4-6-2 definitely got some upgrades. Boo-Rim gearbox, Mashima can motor, and of course the Tsunami 2 sound. She is an amazing model for being 50+ years old. I have no shorting issues and runs like a dream. I have the 4th run of the Intermountain Cab Forwards. I have heard the same issues you've mentioned about the previous runs. The only issue I've actually seen from a friend's 2nd run is the decoder over heated. When it comes to plastic vs brass pulling power, majority of the time the plastic will win. This is due to plastic/die cast manufactures are importing their models with traction tires (a rubber band on a driver). This greatly increases the pulling power and without the traction tire on, the engine doesn't pull as well. For example, my MTH GS-4 with the traction tire can pull the whole daylight train on a 2% (kind of struggles, but does the job. Also the BLI daylight is a very heavy train), but without the traction tire, she can only pull about half the train. Similar story to brass. Early brass from roughly the 70s - 90s have either a lot of space in the boiler to add weight or come with a big amount of weight. Their pulling power is exceptional. Newer brass has high detail, but usually lacks some pulling power, however looks like a diamond on the track. With the GS-1 in the video, we actually add bull frog snog and increased the pulling power dramatically. I do not recommend it however, I personally don't like the idea of wearing out the rods faster on a $2,000+ model.
The GS-1 is exquisite. The entire consist is championship quality. Thank you!
Wow!! The weathering on the gs-1 is so well done! Thanks for posting!!
Nice upload today.Thank's for sharing.
Impressive layout.
Wow! Spectacular video
The GS-1 is my favorite!
We planned this out so well and it turned out perfectly! :D
Fantastic layout thanks for sharing new sub to your channel amazing work 👍🏻🇨🇦🚂🥓
A very nice video and layout. I have plans to expand my own HO scale layout, though I'll primarily be using Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives, and I don't think mine will be quite as large as yours.
Very nice!
I wanna come play trains
#4405 is a Gs-1
Wow. Your layout, locomotives, and rolling stock are basically the stuff of my model RR dreams come true. Even after giving up on spending mega $$$$ on Coast Daylights and multiple Cab-Forwards pulling refer blocks over the Sierras and such - switching to mostly scratch-built modelling northwest mining and timber lines in the late 1800's, I'll always be an SP steam fan. I'm particularly impressed with your Balboa 4-6-2. I don't know how much you've changed on it - but it sure looks and runs good for a what? - 50+ year old model? I bought a third run Intermountain AC-12 a while back just to have and look at, but never even got around to unboxing it yet. I heard stories good and bad about the running gear and motors in the earlier versions. Which run is yours?
One thing I rarely see comments on is the pull of modern plastic boiler models compared to old metal boiler steam locos. How do you rate the modern plastic steam pull compared to brass and die cast? I mean, even if they look great - I'd be mighty disappointed if that cab forward can't pull 25 average 40' freight cars up 2% grades. Even my old Bowser 4-6-2 can do that.
Hey Scott, thank you for your comment. It's taken many years to build up the coast daylight due to finding the cars and finding the deals. I also have resorted to kits for Intermountain PFEs because they are easy to build and a lot cheaper. I usually find the kits at train shows for ~$10-15. I now have a total of about 50 PFE cars all different road numbers. Don't give up your dream of modeling SP! I love late 1800's too, but its nothing like seeing a Cab Forward haha. My Balboa 4-6-2 definitely got some upgrades. Boo-Rim gearbox, Mashima can motor, and of course the Tsunami 2 sound. She is an amazing model for being 50+ years old. I have no shorting issues and runs like a dream. I have the 4th run of the Intermountain Cab Forwards. I have heard the same issues you've mentioned about the previous runs. The only issue I've actually seen from a friend's 2nd run is the decoder over heated.
When it comes to plastic vs brass pulling power, majority of the time the plastic will win. This is due to plastic/die cast manufactures are importing their models with traction tires (a rubber band on a driver). This greatly increases the pulling power and without the traction tire on, the engine doesn't pull as well. For example, my MTH GS-4 with the traction tire can pull the whole daylight train on a 2% (kind of struggles, but does the job. Also the BLI daylight is a very heavy train), but without the traction tire, she can only pull about half the train. Similar story to brass. Early brass from roughly the 70s - 90s have either a lot of space in the boiler to add weight or come with a big amount of weight. Their pulling power is exceptional. Newer brass has high detail, but usually lacks some pulling power, however looks like a diamond on the track. With the GS-1 in the video, we actually add bull frog snog and increased the pulling power dramatically. I do not recommend it however, I personally don't like the idea of wearing out the rods faster on a $2,000+ model.
I wonder what a gs-1 would look like with MT class style skyline casing.
What kind of decoder does the GS1 use?
TSU-2200 P.N. 884-007 (Tsunami 2 Steam-2)
😍😍😍😍😍😍
I want a GS-1 and an MTH 4449 in the worst way.
Really nice, but GS-1’s had SP 6 chimes