American Flyer

Follow along as the American Flyer Conrail GP7 drops off the #977 caboose in the shop for restoration. Then the Baldwin switcher sets up a consist for the Pennsy K5 #316. The K5 couples up to the train and takes it to the service station to unload fuel. Then it moves over to the #583 Electromatic Crane to have steel loaded onto a flat car and to unload steel coils from a gondola.The K5 then moves on.
Many pieces of rolling stock have been recently acquired. New acquisitions seen in this video include:
#925 Gulf tank car
#956 Monon flat car
#937 Katy boxcar
#947 NP refrigerated boxcar
#942 Silver Meteor boxcar
#922 GAEX boxcar
#930 Lighted caboose
#977 Action caboose
The action caboose did not work, was missing a coupler, had melted clear windows and yellowed blinds. A bridge rectifier had been previously installed but was either too small or was involved in a short circuit as it was burned out. The endrails were lightly rusted. Restorarion of the caboose involved disassembling, cleaning and polishing. The bridge rectifier and coupler were replaced. Next, the melted clear windows were replaced and new paper was installed for the window blinds. The smoke stack was removed, polished and reinstalled. The endrails (removed from the car) were cleaned and recoated with brass. This was accomplished by heating the tip of the brakewheel with a soldering iron and pulling it out of the end railing. Then the endrail was heated with a propane torch, and while hot, a brass wire wheel was run over the hot endrail, transferring the brass from the wheel to the part. After cooling, the endrails were coated with CRC 2-26.Then the brakewheel was reinstalled with a soldering iron. Meanwhile, my wife hand painted the brakeman figure. She has a good eye and a steady hand for such things.
The Baldwin switcher has been fitted with directional lighting.
The Pennsy K5 returns to the high iron after undergoing recent motor work. It also got a good cleaning and polishing of the linkages and small detail parts.
Other new acquistions seen include the #767 Branford Roadside Diner and the #758 Sam the Semaphore Man.
Enjoy!