One lucky trip to the LHS

[CNWman]

How much would you pay for one of the early proto 2K's? Well, I hit paydirt when I visited DCC Train, my LHS, today to pickup my decals I ordered. They haven't been open for even half a year, and they were always growing in stock. Well, aparently they had a bunch of odd stuff in the back, and I was looking through it when I found not one, but two authentic early runs of a P2K PA2 and BL2. That's right, one of the FIRST runs of the P2K BL2, the first P2K mold! Aparently some guy had liquidated his collection and Rob, the manager of DCC Train, said that the store had gotten some of the colection, and because DCCTrain didn't need to pay any money for their share, the stuff for sale was dirt cheap, literaly. I dunno what the early P2K's went for, but Rob said I could have both P2K's for $10 each! He let me test run them, and the BL2, amusingly enough, had the EXACT same problem that my hustler had at first: a disconected ground wire! Rob said he'd fix it up for me, and I don't care if I have to pay for it, 'cause I'm afarid that I'd screw it up trying to fix it (plus I don't have a sodering gun) The PA2, dispite its old age and bad start, ran well, so I was able to take it home. I got some pics of proof, which I'll post later.

 

[bigsteel]

wow CNWman sound slike you made outta there with one hell of a deal.and i didnt buy trains too long ago but ill tell ya they werent 10.00 bucks a peice! i just might have to make a special trip out there! cant wait to see pics.--josh

 

[CNWman]

wow CNWman sound slike you made outta there with one hell of a deal.and i didnt buy trains too long ago but ill tell ya they werent 10.00 bucks a peice! i just might have to make a special trip out there! cant wait to see pics.--josh

Well, their website is www.dcctrain.com , and they still have a ton of stuff from this guy's collection, most of the HO stuff old kits in great condition, although I think there's still a Delaware and Hudson P1K switcher there. If you can give them some patronige, that would be great. They've only been open for about 5 months now.

As for my once-in-a-forever deal, My mom said that the only reason I got them UBER-cheap was because they don't run for beans (like I said, Rob said he'd repair it for me). Uh-huh, right, and the CN PA2 running around my layout in fine condition is what now? The new loco make my roster by mfg. : 1 EMD, 1 GE, 2 ALCO's, and one engine of unkown mfg.

 

[CNWman]

Here's a pic of the ten-buck-treasure I got:

 

[bigsteel]

so how do you like the details on it? are they crappy molded on 2 scale in ones or are they atleast close to scale? either way its still a great buy!--josh

 

[CNWman]

so how do you like the details on it? are they crappy molded on 2 scale in ones or are they atleast close to scale? either way its still a great buy!--josh

Molded on? Oh no! Nope, the details are actualy seperatley atached to the shell, or so that's how it looks to me. The fan radiator in the back actualy is designed to be removed 'cause it has a rotating fan in there and you can tell if the model is running well from the fan. I have bought P2K rolling stock before (in fact, ALL of my starting stuff was Proto 1K or 2K). The BL2 model is to me the current Holy Grail of models, mainly because it indirectly gave me my first HO scale train, my F3.

 

[bigsteel]

Molded on? Oh no! Nope, the details are actualy seperatley atached to the shell, or so that's how it looks to me. The fan radiator in the back actualy is designed to be removed 'cause it has a rotating fan in there and you can tell if the model is running well from the fan. I have bought P2K rolling stock before (in fact, ALL of my starting stuff was Proto 1K or 2K). The BL2 model is to me the current Holy Grail of models, mainly because it indirectly gave me my first HO scale train, my F3.

really? hmmm,im going to HAVE to head out there now! thank.and great buy CNWman :thumb:--josh

 

[CNWman]

Today my BL2 has come back, not only repaired but DCC operable too! (it still can run on DC) I just assembled it, although the pilots were the hardest part to put on. Here's a pic of the upgraded engine (BTW bigsteel, you might like the roadname ) :

 

[CCT70]

Congrats! Those are two great looking models and for a heck of a deal price wise. You'll certainly be happy with those.

 

[CNWman]

Congrats! Those are two great looking models and for a heck of a deal price wise. You'll certainly be happy with those.

Thanks! I have no clue how old these two are, other than their boxes (a b/w drawing of the prototype) and their outdated horn hook couplers. As for performance, I was afraid that they were truly some of the first, for they might have the dreaded cracking gears that plauged the early models. However, the FA2 ran excelently, and I wasn't afraid anymore. The BL2 I've taken quite a liking too. Even though it still needed breaking in (the herky jerky movements probably outdid the Hustler!), it runs smoother now, and looks plain awesome running with my F3. I've even started thinking about nicknaming it 'Simon' after the charicter from "Lord of the Flies" because like in the book, the BL2 is different from the other engines in both looks and behavior, yet wants to help them all and is selfless. The nose makes it look shy, too. Is this a bad sign if you start naming your engines?

 

[CCT70]

*IF* the axle gears do crack, you can always substitute them with plain old Athearn gears. I have done that with a P2K GP-18 that I have that was *I believe* the second model in the P2K line. Same thing.

 

[bigsteel]

Today my BL2 has come back, not only repaired but DCC operable too! (it still can run on DC) I just assembled it, although the pilots were the hardest part to put on. Here's a pic of the upgraded engine (BTW bigsteel, you might like the roadname ) :

AWWW,so not fair wall1 ! looks like you beat me to it! oh well,theres still a chance theres more C&O stuff there :twisted: .in all reality though,its a very nice looking loco :thumb: .--josh

 

[CNWman]

AWWW,so not fair wall1 ! looks like you beat me to it! oh well,theres still a chance theres more C&O stuff there :twisted: .in all reality though,its a very nice looking loco :thumb: .--josh

Thanks!:mrgreen: Sorry about it being a C&O BL2 bigsteel, when I made the first post I'd frogotten that it was a C&Oops: However, there is a very good chance they still have more C&O stuff (they had parts of the guy's collection still in boxes I think), and their store is THREE times the size it is on their website's picture (there's a giant door where the yellow packets are in that pic), so you should find something you like there. They are always getting more stuff in, and you can order things from mfg.'s too (that's how I got the decals for my Hustler).

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

The rubber band drive for the rad fan doesn't work all that well. I removed it on the unit that I got for my club and the engine ran alot better without it.
Excellent deal on the two engines. I managed to pick up a P2K sw unit at a swap meet for 10$ a couple years ago but it was a basket case in pieces, not new in the box like yours!

 

[CNWman]

The rubber band drive for the rad fan doesn't work all that well. I removed it on the unit that I got for my club and the engine ran alot better without it.

The PA2's fan is driven by a rubberband? Didn't see that in the diagram... anyways, either it is or isn't, but the unit runs almost exactly like my F3, so I'm fine.

Excellent deal on the two engines. I managed to pick up a P2K sw unit at a swap meet for 10$ a couple years ago but it was a basket case in pieces, not new in the box like yours!

I got EXTREMLEY lucky that day, just to find them. The fact that they were both engines that I'd had a liking to (I just get a kick out of the BL's unique shape!) was a godsend for me. I nearly died when my friend Rob, the sales clerk, said I could have them both for $10 a peice, I was so suprised.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

People either love the looks of the BL2, or they hate them. I happen to love them, and have one of the P2K's in Monon paint. If yours ever does develop cracked gears, it is only about a ten minutes job to replace them when you have the parts in hand. When Life-like was still an independant company, they would even send you new gears for free. I don't know if Walther's still does it or not. Enjoy your "ugly duckling."

HD

 

[CNWman]

People either love the looks of the BL2, or they hate them. I happen to love them, and have one of the P2K's in Monon paint. If yours ever does develop cracked gears, it is only about a ten minutes job to replace them when you have the parts in hand. When Life-like was still an independant company, they would even send you new gears for free. I don't know if Walther's still does it or not. Enjoy your "ugly duckling."

HD

Thanks! If my BL2 ever does need new gears, I found out that Walthers does indeed still honor Life-Like's lifetime waranty, so I don't have to worry about finding a reapir job.