Our trains are unique in that they are all welded steel construction, thus no rivets for the rivet-counters. Just kidding, they’re mostly plastic. We don’t strive for historical accuracy, we’re not concerned if the dimensions don’t scale exactly right and some of our trains are just plain whimsical. Absolute heresy. Have fun running trains.
Bachmann Ten Wheeler
The Bachmann 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler was the “starter” engine for many people, as it was for us. It has been manufactured in many different paint schemes and has evolved through six different versions. While we have several (Hotrod 2.0 on our home page is one) and we really really want to like them, they have just never been good runners and they do not care for uneven track.
LGB ICE Train
Our second G Scale train and the first of many LGB’s. The train is from the LGB Toy Train line, it’s not super detailed and it’s pretty basic. But it runs great and looks super neat running at high speed around a large loop of track.
LGB Porter
“Dinky”
Another of our first engines. A fun little tank engine that looks wonderful on a track with small radius curves. A great runner and this is about as far as we go in customizing our engines. At least for the ones we want to still look like a locomotive anyway. This train is special to us in that it was the first one to bear the Dismal Creek Railroad name.
Bachmann Climax
We have two of the Climaxes, a first generation and a second gen. The first version had problems with the electrical connection between the drive units and the body of the locomotive. We had it repaired one time and then parts weren’t available when it broke again. It is now part of a diorama, being overhauled. The second gen has sound and is a good runner and strong puller.
Bachmann Shay
55 ton, three truck
Our second gear drive, logging locomotive. It has sound and runs well. It has a lot of detailed pieces on it, which makes it look great, but also helps in making it “fiddly”. The third truck/tender needs to stay connected before putting it on the track so this train lives in a carrier when it is not being run.
Bachmann Heisler
36 ton, circa 1920
The Heisler was the third of the major gear drive engines. Bachmann only made a single, short run of these so they are pretty uncommon. It runs well and has sound.
HLW Big John
Dunkirk
Hartland Locomotive Works sorta vaguely modeled after the Dunkirk gear drive locomotive. Ours has been customized quite a bit. Runs like a tank and like all of HLW products is very reliable.
Piko TEE Train
The UAT
One of the oddest trains we have, but based on an actual one. We call it the Ugly A## Train. It runs great on our larger outer loop at high speeds and we currently have five units for it. The first and last are the engines, the cars in between are for passengers along with a dining car. Really needs sound, but it is a gas turbine engined train and no one makes a sound card for that. We’re still looking for an acceptable substitute.
LGB Olomana
An adorable little engine that is second only to the Ten Wheelers in having issues. The engine itself is a model of the sugar cane plantation trains in Hawaii. The cars are custom made and a stagecoach passenger car like these can be seen in the B & O Railway museum in Baltimore.
LGB Porter “Trolly”
Hint: This one is NOT based on a prototype. Just a fun little whimsical engine we put together for train shows.
LGB Zillertalbahn
The Potatohoffen engine
LGB is a German company and many of their locomotives are based on European engines. This is one of those and we can never remember the actual name, hence potatohoffen. Don’t ask. We actually have two of these that we got in order to make up two identical trains for one of our club’s holiday shows.
LGB Stainz
Pretty much everyone I know who runs garden trains has one or two of these. They are a staple in LGB starter sets. They won’t pull a lot but they are reliable and aren’t finicky about perfect track condition.
Aristocraft Mikado
2-8-2
When combined with its tender this is our largest engine. Really big trains are heavy and harder to drag around and get on the track, hence they get run less. A gorgeous engine though and when we do run it it’s a blast. We can run some really long train consists with this one. As Aristocraft is out of business there is limited spare parts availability which makes us a bit nervous about running it, but we do.
Aristocraft Pacific
4-6-2
The 4-6-2 wheel set-up was one of the most successful steam locomotive engine designs. A Pacific hold the speed record for steam traction engines at 126 mph. We have two of these plus a pile of parts that may or may not get re-assembled into a third engine. Nice looking and good running engines that are somewhat massive to get set up on the track.
HLW Mack
Cute
Comes in lots of fun colors, we have three: orange, yellow and purple. We use them on our small, windy track to haul local loads. Or odd things like a train full of dragons. Or dinosaurs.
HLW Mack “Herbie”
Herbie the Hamster actually runs and spins the wheel. He usually pulls/pushes “Bubble Boy”, a bubble blowing whale. Really. Yet another creation for shows to amuse the kids. They are the future of our hobby.
LGB Trolley
Something to put on the track real quick so we can say “We ran trains”.
LGB Schoema Switcher
We picked this up for not much $$$ at the white elephant table during a train show. It runs. It’s not very interesting as we do not have a “switching” layout. It is waiting to find out what it’s purpose in life is.
LGB Switcher
Hello Kitty
Another underachieving switcher. But this one does have a mission – it pulls the “Hello Kitty” train. ‘Nuf said.
LGB 2080 Harzquerlok
“Ballerina” Tender Locomotive
LGB has made more of these than there were of the original. It was a prototype that they only made one of. “Ballerina” is a reference to its graceful appearance. Not really. This one was a mess when we got it, but some fixing and a bit of paint and now it runs great. This one really needs some decals along with sound.
Bachmann Streetcar
A closed streetcar that’s handy to have around just to get something on the track and running.
Bachmann Gandy Dancer
Commonly called a Gandy Dancer, in real life the name was slang for the section workers who maintained the tracks, not the hand car itself.
We use ours for running on small, tight tracks. It is so small it gets lost in the scenery otherwise.
LGB Handcar
Another Gandy Dancer
This is Gustav. LGB made a lot of little draisines over the years which are small, auxiliary rail vehicles used to move people, tools and materials over short distances.
LGB Flyer
Fortuna
LGB made a few different versions of this little critter. It rides on ball-bearing wheels and is actually driven by a fan under that back cowling. The various Flyers are incredibly fast and will easily fly off the corner if you are not careful. We have two, one will eventually be a Snoopy Flyer.
Lionel GP9
Our only Lionel engine and one of the few diesels in our roster. We picked it up second-hand with the plan to repaint it in the colors of the Chesapeake & Albemarle Railroad, a local short line.
Aristocraft C-16
2-8-0 Consolidation
First brought out in the 1860’s and running into the 20th century, the Consolidations were considered to be the ultimate heavy-freight locomotive. The 2-8-0’s forte was starting and moving “impressive loads at unimpressive speeds” and its versatility gave the type its longevity.
Ours is not being used prototypically. Imagine that. It is still waiting on a paint job, but it pulls our Albemarle Express passenger train.
LGB 2095 ÖBB Diesel
Bo-Bo
This was a project engine, a really major project. The previous owner had done a lot of modifications to it, that I am still not sure of the purpose for, and it was in pieces when we got it. A lot of bodywork later, much sanding, a paint job and new decals from Germany and here ’tis. Bo-Bo refers to the drive wheel arrangement, not a term of endearment.
LGB Rack Engine
Rack engines are designed to be used in places where the grade of the track is too steep for normal locomotives. They have a cog wheel that engages a rack built in to the track. They run very slowly but pull hard. This model will supposedly climb a 25% grade but we haven’t tested that yet.
HLW Galloping Goose
There actually was a prototype for this rail truck and a version of it has been made by several different manufacturers. When Hartland announce they were shutting down production we picked it up cuz we think it’s cute and always wanted one. It needs sound but we have not done anything with it yet.
LGB Switcher
Yet another LGB starter set engine. This one is waiting on inspiration to discover what it wants to be when it grows up.
Piko Camelback
A Christmas decorated engine that runs great, has fantastic sound and pulls like an ox. And only gets run a few times a year. We really ought to get another of these that is not holiday specific.
LGB Cargo Sprinter
A fairly rare engine that I’ve never seen another one of. A part of the LGB Toy Train line it uses the better quality regular LGB parts.
The real-life Cargo Sprinter is an innovative concept in trains. Individual powered units can be joined to form longer trains. At intermediate stations, they are separated again to reach their individual destinations. So freight reaches its destination without delay.
Dismal Creek Railroad 