Finally - a locomotive runs on the RGS

I have been wiring the track already laid to date. Basically a double loop and a small switch yard. The loops go over the swing gate so that is a complication. Anyway, today I unpacked a steam locomotive - #455 of the RGS. This is how she looked in the late 40's - like 1949 or 1950. It had a new cab installed - actually a standard gauge cab (versus a smaller narrow gauge one) so that is why it has sort of a unique look. I like it. It is another beautiful model made in Korea out of brass for PBL (http://www.p-b-l.com/). They offer a specific type of locomotive - like K-27's, and will weather them to match your desired era. Old and dirty, new and fresh, or in between. Truly a work of art. Every pipe and tube is correct. And to scale. Engineer and fireman figures are included.

The test run on the first section of wired track went well with full sound - chuffing of the steam exhaust, the generator hum, wheel clacking, head light and marker lights on, and the bell and whistle. All are digital sounds that come through the track to the locomotive and come out of a small speaker in the coal / water tender. Since the sounds were recorded from an actual K-27 (this locomotives type) it sounds like the real thing. Very fun. Hope the neighbors on the other side of our party wall like train whistles. At least our dog Dickens seems to like them - he wails with each blast if I turn it up loud enough. The system also drives a set of sub-woofers so the low frequency sounds come out of floor speakers - but since it is sort of uni-directional you don't really sense they come from the floor.

Next step is to complete the loop wiring and then I can run the locomotive all the way around, through turnouts, etc. A big step.

On the next blip I plan on showing some of the wiring I am doing. Many new tools have made this way easier on me and reduced the solder burns and I want to pass them on.