I have several shelves of old model RR magazines that are hidden behind a ton of other model RR stuff...which is why I'm having a new garage/workshop built. As soon as they see the light of day I'll have to post some, and then decide what I'm going to do with them since I don't think they will be making the move to the new shop. I almost never use them now and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Anyone who wants them can come by and get some...after they help move some of the other stuff into the new shop...
I think the only publication I threw away that I regret was the Conrail Preliminary System Plan (of 1975). It had a detailed analysis if every segment of line that was to be within CR's sphere. It was an esoteric volume for certain, but the detail was interesting to me. I've since found a free download electronic copy on the Internet. I made a number of long distance interstate moves during my career and each one caused me to think about what I was keeping and why.
I downloaded it and kept it. I think I found it here, along with the Final System Plan. https://archives.thecrhs.org/object/2018011284-usra-prelim-system-plan-feb-26-1975
From September, 1968 MR. Kadee advertisement adapting their new N gauge couplers to various N scale rolling stock/locomotives. Keep in mind, this was before they introduced the locomotive conversion kits. I had to convert my MRC Berkshire this way as the conversion kit for that wasn't available yet: MRC began selling the N scale versions of their power packs at this time or actually, a little earlier because I know I got my 500N earlier in the summer but there was typically a three month lag because it took that long to prepare magazines for publication: Despite their name, H.O. Specialists began to offer N gauge too and they eventually had a quite extensive line: Atlas' ad announcing the USRA Pacific, GP40, Gantry Crane, and Saw Mill coming soon and these actually DID happen!
Ah yes, the treasured 500N, the perfect power pack of the era, pulse power and all. I can't remember when I got mine, but I'm guessing about 1970 or 1971. This is my layout about 1973 or so with 500N to left.
Wonderful! I wish I had taken photos of each layout I had, not that there were that many but it's great to be able to look back. I see (with the aid of a magnifying glass) the Bachmann Signal Bridge, Atlas Factory, Life-Like? Farm House, Atlas Gravel Tower, and the neat little Rapido switch controllers. I didn't see them, at first. I thought there were just gaps in the track diagram as if you were still working on it. Oh yes, and the fantastic Rapido Turntable Controller! Must be all Rapido track, I bet. After I had had my 500N for a while, it bugged me that it didn't have a pilot light so I drilled a hole to the right of the overload indicator and mounted a bulb and socket. We didn't have a drill press so I had to just use a hand drill and it kind of slipped and scratched the surface a bit. But, I DID have my pilot light! I also added a slide switch on the front to turn the AC on and off to the layout lights. What is that smaller, what appears to be, layout to the lower right? And, what does that "not allowed" sign over on the left ban? Doug
To the right was a branchline, the last addition to the layout and pictured below. It was kind of fun, with two industries on the branch, phony catenary, a mess of track and a runaround track. Even an airstrip! Yes, all track was Rapido. I got started with it, so stuck with it, even on the small apartment-sized layout that followed this one in 1980. You're like me, I like looking at old N Scale layout photos to pick out vintage items! The "not allowed" sign was a bit of a joke, asking that people not stand there and block the operator's view of the layout to the left. For some reason, visitors were drawn to that spot. Some time back, you made me laugh when you recalled the second-nature quick twist of the 500N's knob when transitioning between [Full] and [Pulse]. After a while, perfect transitions were made and without any thought.
I so wish I had a photo or movies of the family Lionel from the early to mid-1960s but there are none. My Dad built a nice 4x8 table for my oldest brother and I remember the layout well. There're pictures of the newly-finished table, but none with any track on it. The table was hinged in back, with the notion being that in summertime, the layout would be tipped up out of service and the trains stored on the shelving. This is from 1962.
From October, 1968, my 16th birthday month. Aurora Postage Stamp Trains (Minitrix) boasting the ruggedness of their F7 loco. And, they were/are relatively rugged. My favorite ad of theirs: Charles Merzbach introducing Rapido's Geeps, two of them actually GP7s but they put dynamic braking blisters on the supposed GP9s. To me, they look a lot better in real life than in the drawings/photographs: Another Jamco Pacific ad, this time using a photo of the actual N scale loco instead of the prototype: Doug
Agreed, dating from 1968, not bad at all. (Photo from Trovestar) That's an honest ad from Postage Stamp -- their locomotives were indeed excellent performers. I still have mine.
I have a couple, a Pennsy which was not painted, just maroon-colored plastic and I ruined the fragile yellow lettering and stripes on it, trying to get it to look better. So, now, it's just plain maroon. It runs perfectly, though. The other is a PC and I got it off eBay. I think it was stored under water because it was all corroded and jammed. I got it apart and eventually was able to remove all the whatever it was all over the place and it runs OK but louder than the Pennsy one. I have an identical Rapido EL GP7 sitting on my little Rapido layout downstairs. Doug
Toys, toys, toys. Nothing but toys. But what a way to get N Scale off and running. For the most part these products left much to be desired. Still I had a few of them. The Mini-trix Santa Fe F7 pulled a Santa Fe passenger train. It was okay and that's just about all it was.
I'm guessing that Merzbach held the distribution reigns on Arnold Rapido throughout its U.S. lifespan, with Revell simultaneously selling Revell Rapido, thus giving Arnold two outlets? Minitrix had the same sort of agreement with Aurora and American Tortoise I suppose.
I haven't quite figured out the story of Postage Stamp Trains, but appears from a report in an issue of Model Railroader that I will circle back to at some point that Aurora dropped out of N Scale pretty abruptly, which is perhaps why there was so much of it for sale at Two Guys. (As in, more after Christmas than I remember there being before Christmas one year!) I will need to wander over to David K Smith's website to see what he has... I'll report back...
Continuing from previous post... This link: http://davidksmith.com/postage-stamp-trains/index.htm has multiple pages on Aurora's Postage Stamp Trains line, including plenty of graphics that fit the topic of this thread (how about that?). Also noted there is that the Trix line was distributed by Aurora starting in 1966-- supported by a clipping from Model Railroader. It also notes that the ill-fated "Rail Masters" line (don't ask!) was an attempt to re-enter the model railroad market which was conceived in 1975, "Having terminated Postage Stamp Trains five years earlier" which would be 1970. That means that practically all of the Postage Stamp Train stuff I bought, or was bought for me, was on closeout because it wouldn't have been until at least 1970. I will need to find and validate the small blurb that appeared in either MR or RMC in 1970 that mentions Aurora exiting the business, and IF I recall correctly, selling out the inventory to Polk's (they of the store in Manhattan). Please note the "IF" in the previous sentence...
