Morning all! TGIF! Not because of work, but tomorrow I get to see the grandkids! It's 33 up here is SE Wisconsin. Looks to be a mild winter with no snow before Christmas. I road tested the Hamburger Grill and the heavyweight diner last night at the club. It mostly went well except for a little excitement at first. Anyone who has ever assembled Athearn's shorty passenger cars knows you get wheels with one side live so you can light the car if you want. Well, that doesn't change even when you get to the expensive brass cars. It's pretty typical to have the brass trucks mounted to the bolster using a plastic bushing. The kingpin goes through this bushing and an insulating washer inside the body. Virtually every car in my fleet (except the Wally cars, we all know about them) is set up this way. Until now. The heavyweight diner had all metal kingpin & hardware sets, and I did the habitual thing and had insulated wheels on opposite sides of the car. So, when I put her on the track at the club, she lit up like the car had a light kit in it! Or an HO arc welder. 
Luckily I was able to spin one truck around and solve the issue. After that all went well, including backing through crossovers, etc. Interesting, the little curve balls a manufacturer will throw you now & then!
Luckily I was able to spin one truck around and solve the issue. After that all went well, including backing through crossovers, etc. Interesting, the little curve balls a manufacturer will throw you now & then!
