I've been getting into Z scale lately (for space reasons, I prefer N or HO but just don't have the room to run them). This car looks pretty similar to the VTG gas cars recently released, but is a different company apparently. They are both gray with the orange stripe - is the orange stripe a brand mark, or safety mark, or coincidence?
A company like Rails definitely won't entertain engaging in customs fraud just to save you a few dollars / euros / other currency
Nice! SEPTA stopped selling the hand-made models of the various EMUs unfortunately. I held off too long on buying a pair. Another interesting Rapido release is SEPTA CLRV https://rapidotrains.com/ho-clrv-dc-dcc-sound-philadelphia.html. Probably going to pick that up even though I am not doing anything with HO these days. I do have some HO tram/streetcar/LRV type vehicles.
Every now and then I think about grabbing one of the Con-Cor SEPTA MP54's that pop up on eBay, but they're always listed for stupid prices. I almost grabbed a SEPTA AEM/ALP when I was at Red Caboose in Manhattan the other day, but even he wanted $300/+ for it. I ended up just pre-ordering one of the Athearn F-Units to run the set. It's not proto, but it'll look cool. If I'm gonna spend that kind of money, I'd rather have it be on a brand new unit and not something that's been sitting in a case underneath 45th Street for lord knows how long lol. I've actually got one of the TTC CLRV's on pre-order that I'm pretty excited for. I picked up some HO Bachmann auto-reverse track and a couple MBTA and Transit PCC's a while back that I'm planning to incorporate into my future layout, the CLRV will make a cool addition.
I recently discovered that there are wooden trains geared towards adult collectors and picked some up for a small future display once I find a house These would've completely blown my mind as a kid, I only had the basic BRIO ones (there were ones based on famous prototypes, ICE, Eurostar, Mallard, etc., but I never had any much to my great disappointment), which while having their own charm, wouldn't have compared to having trains I knew from my local railroads and museums.
New train items coming soon. Exciting! I just ordered one new thing this afternoon (Mon. 9/7) from Trainworld (Labor Day Sale discount too!). What is it? A locomotive? Rolling stock? Nope. I ordered a Lionel Gantry Crane! The best thing: it has Lionel TMCC on board so I can run it off my control system! I've been wanting a Lionel gantry crane for a while. Stay tuned. Updates coming. I do have a couple more items on order that should be coming before the holiday season. 1: Atlas O UP SD70M #1616 Abraham Lincoln Locomotive 2: Lionel Trinity Leasing 30K Gallon Ethanol Tank Car (with sounds!) It's going to be a fun rest of the year. Next year should be even more awesome because I have two more cool items on order: 1: BNSF America 250 ES44ACH #1776 from MTH; love that patriotic paint scheme 2: Golden Gate Depot BNSF Boeing Fuselage Train Set and Skybox Flatcar; can't wait for this one; so awesome (we need this train in game on BNSF routes in the Seattle, WA or Wichita, KS areas)
