Updated 11/3/2024
A big shout out to Skyler Shippy for the great 42nd Annual Cleveland O Scale Meet! We had a great time and look forward to next year!
Skyler Shippy, Organizer of the 42nd Annual Cleveland O Scale meet.
We brought many items to the show and came back with a few gems, too! We think the attendees and the vendors had a great time talking about all sorts of thing such as: Transmissions, Blomberg, AAR Type A & B, ASF Trucks, motors, the weaver drive updates & detail parts. There were Ready-to-Run Engines and kits including Doodles, Heavyweights (Oscar, Piker, Sierras), Traction Trolleys (LSE, Steeple, C&L Boxcar & Windsplitters), Tank Cars, Waffle Car, NP LLC, our full line of cabooses and the 100Ton Ortner. …and of course there were some interesting conversations regarding our new Whopper Hopper and the Flex Track! Here are some fun pictures from the show: |
Having fun taking some pictures of our tables for the Strasburg meet October 12th, 2024.
Our Whopper Hopper and Southern Pacific look mighty nice on the Flex Track! 🙂 The artwork in the background is an original painting (copyright 2024) by Rosmary Wubbel.
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Railfanning in Pocono Summit – DL ALCO Engines Ok…so we know this section is about fun photos; however, when you get a fun “railfan video” it needs to be shared. Wouldn’t this sound be a great alarm to wake you up in the morning! We got lucky to be the first car at the tracks just as the crossing lights started. Turn up the sound and enjoy! 🙂
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EMD SD 40-2 Chicago & North Western Weighing in at over 5 pounds, this behemoth SD 40-2 engine easily holds down the track on our layout! Our grandfather Leslie built this SD 40-2 from a brass kit, and it is another favorite in our collection. The SD 40-2 kit was put out by Bob Smith, who owned Central Locomotive Works and was a supplier of brass engine kits. Even after 40+ years, we never get tired of admiring this model. We hope you enjoy some of the photos, too!
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All-Nation EMD 600 Horsepower, Diesel Switcher, General Models Corporation: Original reference model The original All Nation Line EMD, Diesel Switcher, 600 H.P. was and still is one of the favorites on our layout. These pictures say it all. What is really fun to see is the fluid drive which is not too often seen. We hope you enjoy these photos. (Click HERE to read the original instructions) They are a treat to read and see all the parts that go into making this hefty diesel switcher. |
Open Motor Trolley Featured in the September / October 2023 O Scale Trains Magazine was the open motor trolley my Grandfather Leslie Gaskill built from scratch in 1947. Grandpa was a motorman for Chicago Surface Lines and he operated a Madison street car. From our previous posts, you know that he was inspired to scratch build several trolley cars during his modeling days. The car shown in the photos is a fully motorized replica of the open motor trolley used in Chicago between 1890 and 1910. This trolley is about 8.5 inches long and stands approximately 2.75 inches high. It was interesting because this trolley marked the transition from horse drawn cars to those with motors and trolley lines. We performed a restoration keeping in mind the original work & show you these photos below. We hope you enjoy this vintage piece that has been in our family for 75 years.
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Public Service Company #45
Public Service Company #45 traction model scratch built by my Grandfather Leslie Gaskill was another fine model operating on his O Scale layout. Running off overhead wire and powered by Wagner Car Company trucks, the car itself was modeled using wood parts throughout including the scribed wooden sides.
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Historic San Francisco Cable Car! Another gem from our Grandfather’s collection is this unfinished cable car. It is so much fun to view. This historic San Francisco Cable Car was made by the Hawk Model Company in 1959 (Kit#517). It is 1/4 scale, came in 85 parts & was “a collector’s master kit”. Of interest was the specifications of the single end cars: Weight:12,180Lbs. Seating Capacity:29 Length over bumpers:27ft. Length over closed section:12ft. Length over open:15ft. Width over steps:7ft.10″ Truck centers:11ft.8″ Size of Wheels:22″ Type of wheel:Cast Iron Brakes:Wheel brakes Track gauge:3ft.6″ We hope you enjoy looking at these photos! Cheers and have a great November!
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Strasburg 2 Rail O Scale Train Show and Swap Meet August 2023
We had a great time talking with everyone that stopped by our table at the Strasburg Meet! Our focus on Ready to Run Engines, 3 to 2 Rail Conversions and Drop in Ready Transmissions were a great hit! The kits and some of the favorite items were also appreciated! A special thanks goes out to Rich Yoder for his continued efforts to coordinate this meet. Thank you to everyone who continues to support All Nation Line, and we look forward to seeing you next time. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need something. We thought you might enjoy a few photos from the meet!
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Chicago & North Western Caboose Bobber
Now here is a fun little 4-Wheel Caboose Bobber. These little trains were real and they just sort of bobbed down the tracks! It’s a little bit rough around the edges but we just love it. What a hoot! Enjoy the pictures of this little brass train that we have in our collection.
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Here is a unique little train and a fun story to go with it. Under the guidance of my grandfather when my mom was 12 years old, she built a model of the 1831 DeWitt Clinton Locomotive which was the original unit of the New York Central unit. The fun part of this story is that both my grandfather and mother were in a featured article in the Chicago Tribute. 🙂 The attached photo was from that article published in 1941.
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Another good looking Trolley that is in running condition. It was scratch built in the 1940-50s and found in our grandfather’s collection.
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What a gem! Grandpa created this Chicago PCC Street Car; scratch built from top to bottom in the 1940s. A fun rendition with full inside details including the fare register modernized “Pay As You Enter” at the rear of the car.
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In the 1940’s this dandy little scratch built trolley was built by my grandfather and he called it the Sleepy Hollow Traction Line.
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This next trolley is a beauty! 769 North Chicago Street R.R. Co. Car
Scratch built, this 769 North Chicago Street R.R. Co. car was modeled after the original double truck “combination” grip car, which ran on Clybourn in 1886-1889. Great job Grandpa Les for his unique techniques to make it look real! |