What's your "inspection train"?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm working on packing for the upcoming Altoona N Scale weekend and it's gotten me thinking about what I should bring.

I'm not planning on JFRTM all day, but I like having a fun option to show off for the gang.

I've generally got two schools of thought, and I'll likely be indulging both of them: be entertaining & show off.

Be entertaining - this is where my CRHS inspection caboose and Uranus boxcar fit.
Show off - run some stuff you're particularly proud of making or says what you're about.

What do you all think of for these situations? What's your go-to?

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[dem34]

Going to spend the next two nights trying get a good corridor freight together. But if I can't get things to play nice it'll be some Transit stuff. As the show off

The entertaining is a Bandai N Shorty that I'm going to stick DCC in.

[MK]

I usually bring my Tomytec Thomas which I DCC'ed years ago with a M1.  It was pretty unique at shows until Bachmann started to release their Thomas collection.  Now great modelers like Kenny has DCC'ed Thomas and Percy.

Great with the kids and kids at heart!

I have a feeling my Nikon will have a good work out!

[Dave V]

When I'm hosting folks at the home layout, I generally keep all the equipment on the HOn3 Rio Grande Southern true to the 1938-1947 era. The engine that by far gets the most run-time is RGS post-wreck K-27 #455.



But when I take my trains to shows with our modular club, I bring out the fun stuff, like my San Juan Central train:



Or my circa 1905 Silverton shortline stuff:

[randgust]

I'm bringing my 1967 ATSF PA-powered Fast Mail.   The collection of 12' wheelbase 6-axle trucks may prove interesting, but that's turned to be the most challenging power consist I own on the layout - fussier than my Hallmark brass 4-8-4.  But it also doubles as the track-cleaner, there's enough weight there to break through anything.

[wm3798]

Dave has my modules part of the DC loop this year, so I'll be bringing plenty of retro goodness to turn loose.  I'm thinking my ConCor PAs with a full complement of Rivarossi Streamliners (PRR of course!)  I also have my Trix K4 that's been given the @Lemosteam treatment.  Sadly, my I-2 had to go back in for surgery, and won't be available, although I do have a stock Trix 2-10-0 that could make an appearance.

I don't want to hog too much of the DC goodness, but I'm also pondering bringing along some of my B&O varnish to polish the rails as well.  Maybe the RDCs, or the fluted Shenandoah behind my good old Atlas E7 (repowered with the enormously reliable Lifelike 5 pole motor...  Damn thing might as well be a Mopar slant 6!)

I still have some DCC control power, including three Laurel Valley GP20s, so there could be an appearance of a coal or stone train...

Since Cumberland will be on both a DC and a DCC circuit, I'll have to see what else I can run to provide suitable traffic for the backdrop.

We shall see!
Lee

[TiogaTracks]

I've generally got two schools of thought, and I'll likely be indulging both of them: be entertaining & show off.

Be entertaining - this is where my CRHS inspection caboose and Uranus boxcar fit.
Show off - run some stuff you're particularly proud of making or says what you're about.

Good thread idea, Ed!  My go-to entertaining model has been racking up literal miles these past couple weeks.  I love the idea that the people who walk past my house may just see the Neighborhood Trolley casually roll by.



I turned on showoff mode when some other local model railroaders and railfans came to visit, meaning I coupled everything and the kitchen sink to the U-Boat and highballed it.  Someday that will be the SD45’s job, I bet it could haul every car I own.




-Steven

[propmeup1]

I have no inspection train but I have a PRR and  Reading wreck trains but the Reading always called theirs the "Relief Train."  I can post upon asking since this was for an "inspection Train".    I'm going to Altoona Sat morning.  I'll be riding the bike out but probably be walking around in either my USS Inchon or NKP-765 hats.   I'll be the good looking bald guy except the hat covers the handsome head of skin I sport. 

[MK]

I don't want to hog too much of the DC goodness, ...

Lee, plenty of DC track to go around.  The DC loop will take up three 8ft tables long.

[randgust]

It would look like my modules are on the DC loop too, so bring any PRR goodness, they will look at home.

When we were set up at Jaffa, I had a DC Alco LA&L/WNYP power lashup of Atlas running on the DC loop, and darned if the 630 didn't come up lame with a split universal and just sit there and spin for quite a while.

That's repaired, but old Alcos failing on the road was one level of authenticity we didn't need to demonstrate!

So, Lee, if you get asked when a vintage Rivarossi 4-6-2 was equipped with a smoke unit.....uh....uh....

[btrain]

I’m packing up for Altoona as well today, and I’ll be bringing a PRR loco/caboose to make the hometown crowd happy on my NYC layout.

For my NKP Bellevue layout, I really like showing off my kitbashed NKP Hudson, war emergency caboose, and H-10-44. I do have a NKP and C&O office cars for when the executives at Terminal Tower in Cleveland get itching to escape the office.

[wm3798]

All of my vintage Rivarossi steam has been upgraded with a Mighty Max Motor Magnet from @mmagliaro .  (If you include the two I'm putting in the mail this week).

So no smokers, I hope.

[EL3632]

Now great modelers like Kenny has DCC'ed Thomas and Percy.

Thanks @MK but there is nothing all that special about it, just replaced the factory PC board with the ESU 59820 Lokpilot Micro, which is exactly the same size.
As for my inspection train, I use a Kato ALCO PA for track testing, as it finds any issues fairly easily. For a "demonstration train" I use my three (soon to be four hopefully!) PRSL RDC-1's with Loksound which I installed in them. I will be bringing these to Altoona and running them on the Free-moN layout.
Which reminds me it's time to get out of bed and load up! See some of you there.

[Lemosteam]

If I were going to showcase a complete train, it would be near Christmastime, and so I would run my Polar Express train:

[u18b]