Usually I am not in favour of off-topic posts being started, but if one strays off-topic for a while, especially if it is humourous, no problem. As long as it eventually gets back on topic
I have an off topic question about an N scale engine Jan got for me. It is an 0-6-0 steam tank engine that looks to be European and has no markings except for the overall black paint, with red trim and drivers. It has a tiny motor mounted vertically in the cab that drives the rear pair of drivers. The front and middle pair are driven by intermediate spur gears on the fireman's side. There are no connecting rods, only the drive rods from the pistons to the rear wheels. It has the same flanges as the EMD GP40 I asked about (That does run I find out). I can email a photo, but I can't post one. Is it safe to assume it is DC? If AC, is it going to harm the motor to try it with about 6v DC to see if the motor runs or not? There is an AC terminal set on a toy transformer, should I try that for a "touch test"? Advice?
Sounds like an old, probably German outline engine. Should be ok to do a quick test on low voltage DC to see if it runs. The AC stuff usually picks up from studs or rail between the running rails, I think, unless that is changed now. Have you checked to see if the wheels are insulated? I assume there is no makers name shown anywhere underneath.
Pete, please keep your SMs here! I love reading them. They are entirely ON-TOPIC as far as I'm concerned. As for straying... well I'm somewhat ADD so I'm always straying! Only, I call it brainstorming, it sounds better. Free flowing exchange of ideas is what I'm looking for. If you're responding to somebody's post and it made you think of something else, great! And if it's funny, all the better. At one point last year, a couple Atlas threads took on a Monty Python air, much to my enjoyment. But some people got mad at all the 'Rule 6' references. Whatever... have fun, keep it largely train related, don't push people's buttons, then it's all good!
If you like Football come join the fun in the Cattle Car (Password: TRAINBOARD) as it is now Arena Football Season!!!!!!! Go CRUSH!!!!!!! WEEK #2 TV Coverage Thursday, February 3 Orlando @ Arizona - 9:00 PM AFL NET Friday, February 4 New Orleans @ Nashville - 8:30 PM Cox Sports TV Georgia @ Los Angeles - 10:30 PM FSN South, FSN West, INHD Saturday, February 5 Grand Rapids @ Colorado - 2:00 PM Comcast (Colorado), Comcast (Grand Rapids) Las Vegas @ San Jose - 9:00 PM FSN West Sunday, February 6 Austin @ Tampa Bay - 12:00 PM None Philadelphia @ Chicago - 1:00 PM NBC Dallas @ New York - 1:00 PM NBC Bye: Columbus
Alan, There are no wipers to contact studs between rails, and the wheels are insulated, so it must be DC. I got an email suggesting it may be an Aurora "Postage Stamp" engine from a set back around 1967 or so. He thinks it is a #4720 "Little Donkey" switcher possibly made in Austria. I did try DC up to 8v in both directions, and although it tried to run, it acted as if the wheels were dirty, or needed motor brushes. The wheels were clean and in good shape. It could be I was pressing too hard with my feed feelers. The couplers worked great, and I do like the cushioning spring built into them.
The Stupid Mistakes threads are funny, and universal to all scales (said the guy who ran a number 17 X-Acto blade through his right thumb while removing detail work off a diesel shell- and I mean THROUGH the thumb ). I get a kick out of each one, as I've committed one or two (or three or four or five.....). If they were to be posted anywhere else but N scale, I'd reccomend the Inspection Pit- that's pretty well a universal modeling spot. We HO guys screw things up, too... Oh, and BTW- politics is a no-no in the Cattle Car. Keeps the blood pressure down that way...
Well, sometimes we dip a just a small bit into "politics" and such but we always keep it civil as we are all friends in the Cattle Car and just sit back and enjoy lifes differences rather than attack them. Now where did I loose that puzzle piece we were working on this week.
Iraqi rail system sounds cool. We can discuss the rail system, but the minute you stray into something outside of the rail system it may get pretty subjective to either side of the spectrum and we're bound to see the fur fly, from either direction. Someday I'll have to go ride Iraq rail. I've already ridden Egypts rails from Cairo to luxor. It was a very interesting ride. 1st class in the third world is more like third class here, and third class there is chickens and tea sets brewing on open fires. I rode 1st class. Good places to talk about politics: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/browse http://www.democraticunderground.com/
I have administered an on line real time strategy gaming site for the last three years. We are all adults there, unlike here. Our three golden rules are no politics, no race, no religion. I suggest the same here with the addition of sex to the taboos
Given that I went to a collage that exposed me to so much diversify within my classmates and teammates that we learned to talk about what most can't in a wonderful peaceful environment. I learned a great deal from them and they from me that made us all grow up to be what I think are better people. The conversations were never in the form of a “debate” but to “listen” and “learn” about someone else and “Respect” their views. It’s the same here at TrainBoard where I “listen” and “learn” about everyone’s views on this hobby and others do the same with me on mine. The #1 word in all this is “Respect” and if you touch on something that a person finds offensive / uncomfortable then “Respect” that and move on to something else. I would love to hear about Railways from all over the world; which is what the International Railways forum is all about. There we have topics that are "Worldly" Railroad related; including those of the Iraqi Republic Railway from a member that was there awhile back and yes, No Politics!
Foth dude, what game do you play? El geeko grande is an old wargamer type from back in the SPI plastic box and AH bookcase games days. Hate to admit it but I've got Dungeons and Dragons stuff still hidden away.
