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)
New gantry crane coming today! Lionel always did have the best operating accessories in O-Scale. Still wanting a TMCC Intermodal Crane that could work with scale-sized O-Scale containers or trailers.
My Little N track layout, with a traverse. I use drawer runners that works in both directions. Bought them for a few euros. Constructed everything upside Down so everything is nicely lined out.
