Loco - motion

rsv1cox Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:35 pm

I restrain myself, but this is neat.

Like I did with the Cox Mercedes, I have gone a little nutz with these vintage Varney locomotives. Somehow the early open frame DC motors and the geared power drives intrigue me. No mass produced encased "can" motors here or plastic/nylon gears either. Brass only with wick lubrication, gears and motor. Quality construction and built to last.

Most of these were sold as kits that the customer put together and painted to their likes. Rare to find these with the add on kits that Varney provided that featured crystals for the head and running lights and a brass flywheel for smoother starts and stops. Die cast body too. All wheels are driven.

Out of my thirty or so, I have only three of these. Last week I found another on ebay. I always search "newly listed" and found this one. "Coal Mountain Route" custom done by some old timer of long ago. Talking 1940's/50's here.

This one has something I have never seen before, an additional weight with a cast in Varney name and part number. It makes the whole engine the heaviest in my collection. Were it a plane it would never get off the ground. This one arrived filthy, dirt, dust everywhere. I removed the body and dumped the hole thing in hot soapy water, yup, motor and all. These can take a punch. Blew out with compressed air, dried carefully with heat gun, put on on the layout and took right off running like it just came out of the factory.

A short time ago the same seller posted another one. Also $16.50 BIN. Snatched it up.

Pardon the interruption. I now return you to your regular programming........

Crossing

Kim Wed Sep 30, 2020 7:13 pm

COOL Stuff!!!!!!!!

dckrsn Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:31 pm

Never was a train guy, but your enthusiasm is infectious, Bob.
That's a "heck" of a flywheel too. Good find on the new engine.
Thread title made me think of Little Eva. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNNW0SPkChI
Bob

sosam117 Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:16 pm

My moto of the things I like (as a boy --- to a man) is the title of a funny movie.

Trains, Planes, and automobiles. (and ships)

I have old Lionel trains and other train sets. Many Planes from wind up rubber, free flight, U-control and R/C.
One other thing I also have is Boats (sailing - yachts)/ Ships ( PT-109) and cigarette (racers) boats.

Have a R/C model of "Big Foot", and Porsche 911 race car and a R/C electric motorcycle.

Cheaper to have the models than the real thing? Well almost?

rsv1cox Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:44 am

Thanks Guys.

Ah, the nineteen sixty's Bob. I remember that song, maybe subconsciously where I got the title. My wife loved it. We would get in the car and she would drive me crazy. On the radio, one song would end and she would immediately change stations to get the next song. No commercials for her.

How about Grand Funk Railroad.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=grand+funk+railroad+youtube&docid=607991919972779282&mid=F12474F3D954D406A1C5F12474F3D954D406A1C5&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

and sosam, Yeah, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. I would add firearms, anything electrical or mechanical and it it went BANG that was a big plus.

getback Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:22 am

I see why you like these vintage Varney locomotives, The way there built is just amazing to put so much work and thought into a model . That is a Big hunk of brass / flywheel theere Very Happy

And the crystal headlamps. Cool stuff !! Crossing

sosam117 Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:10 am

rsv1cox wrote:Thanks Guys.

Ah, the nineteen sixty's Bob. I remember that song, maybe subconsciously where I got the title. My wife loved it. We would get in the car and she would drive me crazy. On the radio, one song would end and she would immediately change stations to get the next song. No commercials for her.

How about Grand Funk Railroad.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=grand+funk+railroad+youtube&docid=607991919972779282&mid=F12474F3D954D406A1C5F12474F3D954D406A1C5&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

and sosam, Yeah, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. I would add firearms, anything electrical or mechanical and it it went BANG that was a big plus.

As a kid (back in 1969) I always was fascinated with trains (like all boys?). I lived in a neighborhood with train tracks that ran next to my home. The train I remember was one that had domed cars being pulled. It was nice and shiny (polished aluminum) train.
It went through my town of Kankakee.
Placing pennies on the tracks, then trying to find those pennies after the train went by.

The City of New Orleans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF1lqEQFVUo

Every time I here this song, it makes my eyes tear up. Good memories and sad.
High school friend killed at the RR crossing in the neighborhood.
At the time no crossing arms that come down, just the flashing lights.
After the accident new RR crossing signal installed.

It's a good train song (for me).

KariFS Thu Oct 01, 2020 3:05 pm

Oh man.

”All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields”

Just thinking about that song gives me goose bumps. About 20 years ago I had a job where I was based in Atlanta GA and had a few board and paper mills as clients. I drove a lot, about 60k miles a year, long stretches at a time. One of my most played CDs was Willie Nelson’s greatest hits, and this was my favourite song on that CD. Still have it of course Smile

Playing it (and occasionally singing along Affraid or WOW!

) brings back the memories of the Alabama and Mississippi countryside. Thinking of the ”Watch for ice on the bridge” signs by every single bridge, no matter how small a creek it crossed, still makes me chuckle. Never rode a train in the USA. I had a Thunderbird I called ”Magic Carpet” because that’s how its ride was like. Just like sitting in a recliner placed on a magic carpet. Good times.

Sorry for the rambling... Nice trains Bob! That extra weight, both stationary and the flywheel, should give some extra traction and smoothness to the operation. Looks like it could pull quite a train.

rsv1cox Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:19 pm

Woody and Arlo sang two of Americas most iconic songs.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=john+williams+this+land+is+your+land&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3djohn%2bwilliams%2bthis%2bland%2bis%2byour%2bland%26filters%3dufn%253a%2522john%2bwilliams%2bthis%2bland%2bis%2byour%2bland%2522%2bsid%253a%252259f38f9d-d039-adbd-0542-3f44e838c5f3%2522%2bcatguid%253a%2522304e2bd1-731b-794b-6e73-b5090bbc2c09_498707c2%2522%2bsegment%253a%2522generic.carousel%2522%2bpsid%253a%2522304e2bd1-731b-794b-6e73-b5090bbc2c09%2522%2bsegtype%253a%2522U29uZw%253d%253d%2522%26FORM%3dENTGOB&view=detail&mid=49333CA2BDF0C9F574C549333CA2BDF0C9F574C5&&FORM=VDRVRV

Illinois Central. Popular in model railroads.

Music, I have no favorites, I love the whole spectrum. I can go from Honky Tonk (Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Hank Locklin) thru Kenny G to Bach/Andre Rieu and the 1812 Overture.

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