HHHEEELLLPPP!!!

I took in some L&N power to work on for a customer -- one railroad I know absolutely nothing about.

First, he gave me an FA2/FB2 to work on because the sound in the FB2 wasn't working.  Turned out to be a loose speaker wire on the decoder board.  So I asked him if he wanted them numbered (they are unnumbered Bachmann units).  I ordered a set of Microscale 87-639 decals to get the "cream" numbers, but realized I could not find a photo of an early-1950's L&N FB2 for love money or marbles!!!  I was only able to find two of the FA2 in that paint scheme.  I think the Bachmann FB2 may be lettered wrong (it's not the same as the P2K FB2), but don't know if either is right since I can find nada photo of a real one.

Any help?

Also, does anyone know if the FA2/FB2 had diaphragms on them as delivered?

Last issue.  He gave me a Genesis Light Pacific in L&N and wanted to know what sound decoder he should get.  I recommended a Soundtraxx, but think he is probably going to buy an MRC heavy steam sound decoder.  The big problem is that when I tested the loco out, it had a hitch in the valve gear.  When I finally figured that out (some heavy-handed $#@^&$$ squashed one of the rods), I noticed that there was also a problem with the gear on the center drivers slipping, or failing to engage the gears on the motor assembly.  Very un-Genesis like, the gears are not very well made.  I found two problems, first the gear appears to be slipping on the axle.  Worst yet, it is slipping when rotating, and second, there is a lot of side to side play on the wheels (even though the center axle has blind drivers) so it is completely slipping off the drive gear laterally.

I think a drop of thin superglue will solve problem 1 (worked for an Overland  brass diesel of mine) and am thinking of putting a piece of plastic tube around the axle to limit its side to side play.  I will split the tube and fit it around the axle then glue it back together (do NOT want to mess with the valve gear, pulling the wheels or quartering the drivers -- I don't have the tools do do either of the latter two).

What sayest the experts here???

-- John

Thanks Bill, photos of these cars are always welcome.

I think the car is an R-30-12; the number is an original -12 number and it has a typical Bettendorf body bolster.

The car retains the original 6 grab irons on the right but has had a second grab

iron added  on the left.

It looks like the grab irons may be the same color as the car side on this car, something I've noticed looking at other photos of these cars. Tony?

I wonder how late were in service with the original 6 grabs on the right. Any idea Tony?

Ed Mines

For anyone modeling around 1941 here are two photos of a PFE reefer I own for your use. Feel free to download. Be aware they are large files. Enjoy!

PFE 21919 copy

			PFE 21919 copy Shared with Dropbox
			View on www.dropbox.com	Preview by Yahoo

Bill Welch

The B&O M-26 might be in original paint and lettering. Note there is only one grab on the left side and there is no B&O emblem. 

And to the right, just above the gondola, is a Wheeling & Lake Erie steel sheathed box car in dark brown paint. I was thinking about this image earlier with the Pittsburgh Brown conversation.

Eric Hansmann

El Paso, TX

Hey all,

Does anyone know where I can purchase several prototypical 40' S/S and D/S resin boxcar kits for the Southern Pacific (at a reasonable price)? I always thought that Westerfield was a good source, but they've reduce their offerings...and F&C only offers their 50' S/S kits. I've been checking all the different manufacturers resin kit sites that I know of, but it seems that SP resin kits are a non-existent commodity. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks much!
John Miller
Folsom, CA.