Early Nn3.

[wcfn100]

Going through my dad's stuff, I found a kit I don't remember ever seeing before.



I assume it's early Nelson Grey.  I can't get over the Marklin style couplers.  Also in the bag are some non-operating proto size knuckle couplers.



I have a bunch of original Nelson Grey stuff to go through.  I know much of it is just random parts but I wonder if there are any other old gems like this in there.

Jason

[wcfn100]

Not sure if these are Z or Nn3, but since they are Nelson Gray, I assume Nn3.  I wonder if they were ever part of the stuff MTL picked up.



Jason

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Very cool. Never seen these before. I take it Nelson's work was what MTL bought when they started their own rolling stock production? Was he the one who designed the original Z scale F7?

[nkalanaga]

All of MT's early Z/Nn3 rolling stock came from Nelson Gray, and yes, I THINK the F7 did, but wouldn't swear to it.  If I remember right, he did the body, to be used with a Marklin mechanism, and MT created their own drive.

[DKS]

All of MT's early Z/Nn3 rolling stock came from Nelson Gray, and yes, I THINK the F7 did, but wouldn't swear to it.  If I remember right, he did the body, to be used with a Marklin mechanism, and MT created their own drive.

Yes, the F7 did. MTL only recently retooled the shell; IIRC, the original tooling finally broke, and just as well--they'd tooled up a very fine B unit that looked odd next to the old Nelson Gray A unit. All of the Z Scale stuff started out as Nelson Gray, too... MTL tried passing off Nn3 boxcars as Z Scale wooden boxcars for a while. And they did release the Z Scale flatcars--they cut off the side-mount brake wheel for the bulkhead version. Also, for several years MTL offered a choice of Marklin or MTL coupler (the Marklins weren't the same ones in the first photo).

You can easily tell the Nelson Gray trucks from MTL's makeovers, although neither one is correctly proportioned. Nelson Gray:



MTL:



 

[wcfn100]

And they did release the Z Scale flatcars--they cut off the side-mount brake wheel for the bulkhead version.

Thanks David, I only knew about the Nn3 stuff but the flat is clearly Z scale.  I don't know if you can tell, but the one's in my photo are cast metal.  I did find one plastic one which I assume is what the MTL cars are.

There's one more car to share.  I have a couple of hoppers that appear to be tests or rejects.



Anyone know if these were ever produced?

Jason

[Chris333]

I have fairly recent Z 40' flats that are metal.

[DKS]

All of the MTL flats were cast metal. I don't ever recall seeing any plastic ones.

I'm 98% certain the hoppers never went into production--at least not those hoppers. MTL tooled a totally new one later on.

Some of the stuff you've got there is quite rare indeed.

[wcfn100]

All of the MTL flats were cast metal. I don't ever recall seeing any plastic ones.

Yeah, I may have lied about that one.  I think I was up too late and confused one of the stake side flat for a fish belly one. So unless I find it, just ignore that one.   

Jason

[DKS]

IIRC, MTL may have tooled their own stake-side Nn3 flat that may have been plastic, but that's a fuzzy memory.

[robert3985]

Coincidently, my friend Gregg Cudworth called me Saturday and invited me to come down to Salt Lake City to see the progress on his basement filling, double-decked Nn3 RGS.  Gregg is retired now, and spending many long hours working on his model of the entire railroad in his large basement.

Here are some of the spec's:
(1) Code 30 "ribbon" rail, hand laid with PCB ties every 7th tie
(2) Maximum grade percentage is .6% to make sure his Marklin chassis engines will pull prototypical length trains
(3) Subroadbed is splined Masonite, with 3/8" and 1/2" plywood in towns and large industrial areas
(4) Flowing double-Masonite Fascia
(5) 5,000K LED lights (100W equivalents)
(6) Scratchbuilt structures, including at least 85% of all the bridges on the RGS
(7) Powered by hand held infrared Rail Lynx throttles (I'm still attempting to convince him to go with Digitrax DCC)
(8 ) Turnout switches thrown manually using large Precision Scale brass "Banjo" switch stands mounted on the fascia

Photo (1) - Rico...showing the three three-way stub turnouts at the throat of Rico Yard:


Photo (2) - Rico...showing some of the scratch-built structures still under construction:


Photo (3) - Large scale "banjo" type switch stand being installed at Rico for aligning turnout switch:


Photo (4) - Roadbed's in, fascia is in and painted, Styrofoam scenery base is carved and the cracks are filled, Lighting valences are in, 5,000K LED 100W equivalent bulbs:


Photo (5) - Gregg running one of his engines using Rail Lynx IR throttle:


Photo (6) - Some new eBay purchases:


Photo (7) - Benchwork, with one layer of the fascia in, the central Masonite roadbed spline positioned and lots of work left to do!


Photo (8 ) - Looking towards Durango (bottom deck):


Photo (9) - Some almost finished scenery near Muldoon Siding:


Thought y'all might find these both highly interesting and inspiring.  Gregg is an awesome modeler and his layout will be able to be seen at the NMRA National Convention in Salt Lake City next year.  I'll be helping with crowd control.

I'll post more photos as Gregg makes continuing progress probably in a separate thread.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[wcfn100]

(1) Code 30 "ribbon" rail, hand laid with PCB ties every 7th tie

Bob, what tie length does Gregg use? 

Jason

[wazzou]

I wish I could see all of Bob's photos, but only the 1st and last appear. 

The rest are all white minus signs in a gray circle.

[peteski]

I wish I could see all of Bob's photos, but only the 1st and last appear. 

The rest are all white minus signs in a gray circle.

Same for me.  Google strikes again 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

We should have a forum for this type of thing: "N Scale Anthropology"