Aurora Postage Stamp Closet Find -- Union Pacific 510

milbournosphere Apr 29, 2013

  1. milbournosphere

    milbournosphere New Member

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    Hi, first time poster. I was cleaning some things out of my closet when I found an old cigar box with a Z scale train set in it. I believe they were my dad's that he gave to me at some point. They look to be in good shape; there are no missing parts or signs of wear, only some dust. They've been sitting safe in their boxes for I don't know how long...I haven't played with them so I'm pretty sure the last person to use them was my Dad. I'm not really a train guy, but I think this is a pretty cool find; I used to avidly fly RC and build up balsa and injection molded models, so I would love to get the set running again.

    Unfortunately I can't ask my Dad for specifics, as he's passed on, but any information on the age and or locomotive would be greatly appreciated. I've heard that the locomotives need to be serviced periodically, but I'm not sure what that entails. I can't really find any dates on any of the boxes or cars; the only markings on the engine are 'Trix' and 'West Germany'. Could anybody link me to a service manual? Photos are below.

    Dad%u00252527s%2520Trains-6078.jpg

    Dad%u00252527s%2520Trains-6091.jpg

    Dad%u00252527s%2520Trains-6088.jpg

    Dad%u00252527s%2520Trains-6086.jpg

    Dad%u00252527s%2520Trains-6090.jpg

    Dad%u00252527s%2520Trains-6087.jpg
     
  2. traius

    traius TrainBoard Member

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    Hi!

    I believe that your fathers trains might be either N-scale or H0 scale. Trix is mainly H0 scale in my world while Minitrix is N scale.

    Petter
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Aurora Postage Stamp? Seems to look more like N scale than Z.
     
  4. milbournosphere

    milbournosphere New Member

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    Thanks for the clarification on the scale, sorry for my 'non-washed masses' rookie mistake. I only played with HO as a kid. The inside distance between the wheel sets on the locomotive is 8mm. Does that make it N-scale, and if so, is there a kind moderator out there willing to move this thread to the proper sub-forum?
     
  5. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    that is N scale
     
  6. milbournosphere

    milbournosphere New Member

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    Okay, thanks for the help everybody. Is there a Mod willing to move this thread over to the N-scale forum?
     
  7. pmpexpress

    pmpexpress TrainBoard Member

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    Imported from Germany from 1967 - 1973, the Aurora Plastics Corporation marketed Mini-Trix (Trix products are 1:87 HO-Scale, while Mini-Trix products are 1:160 N-Scale) trains (American prototype railway cars and locomotives, along with sectional track), along with other manufactures N-Scale products (e.g., Faller's electrically powered bus system and Pola's plastic structure kits, which were all marketed under individual item numbers) under the moniker, "Postage Stamp Trains".

    Early Postage Stamp train sets were packaged in hinged, cardboard bookshelf boxes (so named for their book-like appearance), while later imports were packaged in traditional set packaging (i.e., in cardboard box bottoms, with lids that bore clear plastic windows, which allowed buyers to view the contents of the sets).

    Depending upon how and where your trains were stored, the locomotive's mechanism will likely need a thorough cleaning and some light lubrication.

    From time-to-time, copies of the original Aurora servicing manuals and catalogs can be found in eBay's N-Scale category http://www.ebay.com/sch/N-Scale-/19119/i.html .

    Some useful information about Aurora's Postage Stamp line of trains can be garnered from the following links:

    http://www.guidetozscale.com/html/1969_postage_stamp_trains.html

    http://www.guidetozscale.com/html/postage_stamp_bus.html

    An odd (i.e., because the Baltimore and Ohio locomotive and passenger cars that are portrayed in the ad were actually Arnold Rapido 1:160 N Scale products that were once imported by the formerly, Venice, California based, American plastic model manufacturer, Revell*) black and white television commercial that was used to market Aurora Postage Stamp Trains to the general public.

    http://wn.com/aurora_postage_stamp_model_trains

    *Revell's Arnold Rapido Line of N-Scale trains.

    http://www.guidetozscale.com/html/revell_rapido.html

    Njoy
     
  8. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    And by the way, all of the locomotives are numbered '510' regardless of roadname...
     
  9. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hello milbournosphere, I'm a Postage Stamp trains collector. If you need a service manual, contact me by PM and I can get you one. Or most anything else you may need.
     
  10. mr.dean

    mr.dean TrainBoard Member

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    By the way Mel, you are already in the N scale forum! :) Good luck with the trains!
     
  11. milbournosphere

    milbournosphere New Member

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    Thanks for the info everybody, it's real helpful. David, I'll PM you about a manual.
     
  12. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

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    My first N scale train set was a Postage Stamp Santa Fe passenger set. Somewhere, I bet my mom stills has photos of it that Christmas morning!
    Also, has that Peabody hopper been in constant production since the 60s? I see them every where!
     
  13. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    I think I was pretty close to a full set of Postage Stamp / Aurora / Minitrix / Trix N Scale, but I decided to focus on Atlas First Generation instead. You can't do everything...
     
  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Now that you mention it...

    BTW- It would be a lot of fun to see those old Christmas photos.
     
  15. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Funny how that works. It started out in the Z scale forum but some mysterious staff member must have moved it.

    The Rapido couplers are the give away for N scale. If the wheel flanges are 8mm apart, it could need regauging to run properly on N scale "9mm" track. But then again some of the early wheel sets were gauged a little tight.
     
  16. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    A number of us N scale dinosaurs have a soft spot for the old Trix/minitrix/Aurora N scale trains. Made in West Germany the quality was far better than pretty much everything else out there. The frames on the diesels are all metal with eight wheel drive and eight wheel electrical pickup. Here is a little review by Mark at spookshow. You will see the engine in your photo. http://www.spookshow.net/trixf9a.html
     
  17. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    Yup, I got a used one of those sets - pretty much the way you show it - with the B&O unit - used from a friend of mine in 1972. Paid $20.

    The Peabody hopper was repainted ATSF and is still on the layout today with MT trucks under it. The caboose is one of the dozen or so I updated to Ce-1's.

    The frame and trucks of the F-unit are still running today, with a repainted shell into ATSF freight and a replacement 5-pole Sagami motor stuffed in it.

    If it hadn't been for the quality of that used Trix set, I would have bailed N entirely. I went through a batch of Roco crap as 'new' that taught me immediately that all N scale was not created equal.
     
  18. PGE-N°2

    PGE-N°2 TrainBoard Member

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    Ha ha... It's the same number as the four Canadian Pacific #510's that I used to have.
     

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