I am so impressed with your vids & am learning a lot from you by watching them. What a great young man you are for helping us oldsters learn that not everything we think is non-functional isn't ready for the scrap heap!
I really appreciate your comment. I'm not as experienced or knowledgeable as many out there but I try to share what I know to help people keep their locomotives running.
@@SMTMainline - I happen to think you are wise beyond your years with your knowledge of loco's, their foibles & how to bring them back to life. As I said, I keep learning from you & I look forward to seeing more vids on your channel!
I feel like the reason Big Boys are on the high end of the market, especially even older Rivarossi Models is due to UP 4014, lots of people got Big Boy Fever right now.
I love the Big Boy, I have an Athearn Big Boyvand still runs perfect. It even has the DCC and horn. Never go wrong with an Athearn. I saw them going for over $600 nowadays. I paid about $100 for it, but it came from an old train shop when they were selling everything dirt cheap in a closing sale.
I have the exact same model down to the road number, and it’s a beast. The detail parts are really finnicky, I had to make my own grab irons out of wire, but it runs like a champ. Makes strange noises occasionally but that’s to be expected with so many moving parts
Greetings from the UK. What a fantastic layout this is. Apart from that you have loads of engines and rolling stock standing idle. I am green with envy.
I acquired my own 1993 Rivarossi Big Boy about 4 years ago for around $150 USD and ran as smooth as butter, also having a detailed backhead with gauges. Unfortunately, about 3 years ago while displaying the model for my relatives, I accidentally put it in full reverse causing it to fall off of the table. Thankfully, I was able to fix it all, including the front engine pin; I fixed that with some JB Weld epoxy. However, I had to remove the light and it's wire because it was somehow keeping my engine from running. It still runs very smoothly, though maybe not quite as before. An enjoyable model over all. -From a Direct Current HO scale modeler in Iowa, modeling the fictional Cateye Southwestern RR in the Colorado Rockies.
@Shaphire_North, I was just lucky, I suppose. When I found it on Ebay all those years ago, it had originally started the auction at about $30 USD IIRC, and I just kept an eye on it until it was almost ended. Only then did I place my bid. At the time, I remember there being 1 or 2 more that started at about the same price, but they both went out of my price range. To be honest, $150 was more than I would have preferred to spend, but I was already committed to it.
@@jonathangreenlees4772 That's honestly insane. The sheer fact that it was for sale that low was one thing, but the luck needed to be able to get one for that cheap is another.
@Shaphire_North, I suppose it is pretty crazy. I was a bit surprised myself, considering that, at the time, new releases of the Big Boy from Rivarossi were ~$400 USD, and the Athearn Genesis models were $500 - $600!
Just needs some TLC. The N- scale ones ran like that out of the box. I ended up running some wires to the tinder to generate more power to the motor because the pickups were minimal. After increasing the contact area it ran flawlessly. Glad to see it actually runs. I miss having a lay out. Had to sell mine years ago because of children.
An excellent video. The loop and hook coupler you have is just one of eight different styles of couplers in use on my railroad. Makes for some interesting operation, especially when the crew is looking for the X2f to Marklin (Maerklin) or the Kadee to Mantua loop coupler transition cars. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. ♡ T.E.N.
That's one hell of a score. Especially given the fact that it runs. I bet with a teeny bit of lube and some more running-in it will be running even better
I’m sure others have said this, but the coupler is easily replaceable with a horn hook or knuckle coupler. Usually they came with a horn hook on in box with the loco new and McHenry makes a replacement knuckle that will fit.
One thing I've learned from experience, quality and Rarity over quantity. The majority of the engines in my collection are great runners, easy to maintain and lubricate. For about the same price (excluding the price for the add on coaches), I'm planning on obtaining one of my dream trains: Renfe S101 Euromed original livery. I'd wait till I obtain the majority of my prioritized trains before I obtain any big steam engines.
When my son gets in trouble, his consequence is no SMT 😂 he’s obsessed with your channel, and takes tons of his toy trains apart to try to make himself a new engine. He’s even got himself a “locomotive junk bin”. You’re a pretty big deal here in our house lol
I enjoyed reading your comment.It's good to hear youngsters are getting into working on this stuff. I started when I was fairly young and can say without a doubt it's a great thing to be part of. You learn small mechanical things, trial and error, and plenty of other skills. Thanks for your comment! ~Harrison
@@SMTMainline your welcome brother and thank u for having this memories come back to me,my granny and me used to get train sets and play with them.she passed 4 years ago and when I came across your channel,it reminded me of her and I remembered that I still have the train sets that me and her played with.i couldn't believe it but they still run like they was brand new out of the box!
That's Big Boy #4005. It was involved in a catastrophic wreck that took 3 lives on April 27, 1953. It's currently on display at the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, Colorado.
I'd bought years ago the same model, the UP 4005. It was built in the historical Como RR factory in 1968. The red plastic box with clear lid it's classic for the production between the end of 60's and early 70's, mainly for the italian - european market. RR Big Boys were among the top quality production of that time. My one runs perfectly without any kind of specific manteinance, except the standars cleaning. For those who love RR models, I would raccomand the site "Rivarossi Memory" an exstensive and very complete guide about the RR world from the very early models until the end of the production. For every model you can also find the year of production, many interesting informations etc. There are also many tips about maintenance, accessories and whatever you need for your RR models...
I am not sure what year that Union Pacific Big Boy is, but I did owned 4 of them from the 1996 time when they produced it with painted hand rails. Those Big Boys just came out from Rivarossi and were the latest of up graded production. Like I said, first one, I bought in 1996 and second one in 1997 or 1998 and two more in 2000 or 2001. The ones I had, did have front head lights and rear tender lights. They came in a red rectangle/ square box with the tender laid below the engine. It was a styrofoam packaging that the engine and tender laid in on their sides. I later traded mine off for Athearn Genesis and Precision Craft Models version.
so cool, I love anything that has to do with the big boy. I hope you do a video on fixing what is wrong with it instead of doing off the video as I love watching you work on these old model trains and more often than not you getting them all running again almost if not all the way to brand new running level
Congrats on buying a model that turns out to be a runner. I have an Athearn Big Boy that is also 4005 and I just did a SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 install on it with the actual big boy sound effects. Pretty awesome addition to the big steam fleet!
Nice. I have a rivarossi big boy in ho scale too. Mine is a newer model with a can motor mounted inside with flywheels. I love it. It was new old stock still in wrapped box. The grease was all hard. I had to take it apart and what a pain removing the old grease.. Afterwards it runs excellent. Love my rivarossi big boy. Its also the 4005.
Was watching your video for the first time. Good presentation and narration. I have a Rivarossi Big Boy (Virginian).It is not a original Made in Italy model but Made in China (surprisingly it is a very highly detailed model) and I purchased it in 2018 through Amazon. I am using the locomotive for static display only
All my Rivarossi locos are AHM from the 1980s. Haven't run them in over 30 years. I do have a Big Boy and several Challengers. Love them especially the grey version
I have a Rivarossi Big Boy, numbered as 4001. The second set of driver wheels are mounted solid to the frame. The first set of driver wheels are mounted on a swivel frame that will move left or right out from under the front of the locomotive depending on the track curve.
I like using loctite on those bolts That won't stay in, Get the low heat variety That way if you want to remove it, Put a soldering iron on it for a few seconds and it will release! Nice Score on That big boy, little Lubricant You'll be good as new! Thanks for sharing that with us...
I have exactly the same one, I bought it pretty much when I was your age about 25 ish years ago and it's one of my treasured possessions. I only found out a few months ago that 4005, was the locomotive in the fetal Red Desert railroad accident in Wyoming April 1953.
Wow thats beautiful and awesome. I think that had what you said the engine just needed to be coaxed to run. I love that locomotive the fact it runs. Sweet!
Almost all Rivarossi, roco, and fleischmann american freight cars and locos from back then had european couplers, of either that loop type or the hook type the TRIX big boy that is currently being made can be bought with those loop style couplers which can be changed out with Kadee NEM socket couplers. Back then you could also often find european 4 wheel freight cars labled with american railroad names. I have a Piko "Western" set that is all european a bavarian 0-8-0 that is labled for union pacific along with two 4 wheel union pacific compartment, coaches, a lumber car, A 4 wheel Missouri pacific boxcar and a Illinois steam packet company boxcar with a veranda at the end, it even has the original documentation and the lumber load and stakes for the flatcar were unopened, the loco needs a press downward to run but after that it will run for hours an pull a lot of wagons.
@@SMTMainline Now that you are becoming youtube famous and your channel is getting crazy popular it would be so cool if you started doing more brass trains. Restoring old brass trains is incredibly satisfying :) Whats really fun is making a track with a large radius that you can run the bigger brass models on. like 30 inch plus radius
You know, if the E-bay seller says it's a non-runner and it actually does run, they get maybe slightly less money and positive feedback. If they say it runs and the buyer is not happy, the sale gets disputed and the seller likely loses the train and has to refund the money. In other words, they get robbed by the E-bay customer service model (Always take the buyer's side). That seller is just trying to not get screwed over by E-bay.
Just discovered this, and it’s incredible. I have only one question: have you ever considered purchasing a British locomotive? They provide quite a stark contrast with the locomotives where you are. A few things to note if you ever purchase an engine from ‘across the pond’: • British locomotives and their models use a very different coupling system, so have a couple of spares available to fit. • Engines over here don’t have large illuminating headlamps - instead, they fit smaller handheld lamps (not as bright) in different arrangements to classify what type of train it is, eg. heavy goods, express, maintenance. • UK locomotives tend to be fairly small compared to their US counterparts. Absolutely great video, can’t wait to see more! - The Caledonian
I have a few British locomotives. Most don't run, they belonged to my grandmother who was born there and run on three rail AC track. I intend to purchase more in the future.
@@SMTMainline That’s very interesting, I believe that falls under the Hornby Dublo banner. Hornby is one of the main model manufacturers over here. Bachmann are also incredibly significant in the U.K. with a massive British range under the ‘Bachmann Branchline’ branding.
Hi hardison from TH-cam look at the train number there is a real version of union Pacific big boy number 4005 and it was involved of a crash with a switch
No I bought it for that price the other day it should out been one of 2 on ebay one with the hand rail one without mine was with whats you email I'll send some pics I ended up with 3 big boys for less than a $100 us
The coupler is because the unit is from the European release which used that style of Rivarossi boxes. AHM was the only boxes Rivarossi came in the US until the Red Box era. I'd say you should keep the euro coupler due to how rare the European release versions have become, maybe make a transfer car from euro couplers to kadees
That is correct. The buckle coupler is standard on all HO trains made for the Euro market. This is the proof, along with the vintage red box that this Big Boy was purchased in Europe and brought across the Atlantic. 😁 Sometimes there are old price tags in the former currencies before the Euro.
"its got a working light" never underestimate old quality. i have the bigboy and now also the old challenger Greyhound from Rivarossi in n scale and they are just perfect. I also had the aethern challenger Greyhound but actually like the old rivarossi way better. they are incredibly good models for their age
OMG that's the same engine I was watching on Ebay with the European style coupler. I was going to buy that engine, but when I saw the coupler I ignored it. I'm glad she has a good home and her sister has someone to run with....sniff sniff
@@bennoakes2477 My experience with replacing European style couplers to Kadee knuckle style is not that easy. First the frame would need to be modified and a new coupler box added. I use the trip pin for uncoupling my cars over a magnet so they need to work. Thanks.
This happened to me with my first model. It didn’t work for 7 nearly to 8 years and was never serviced or oiled. But I tested it one day. I do that every now and again to make shore that they work because you never know. And I put it on one day and it worked so it does happen.
Older Rivarossi steamers have a weird pickup system : they use one side of the engine and the opposite side of the tender for the current pickup. I bought a Rivarossi Big Boy last year and although it was already a digital model it used that current pickup system, so I bought some spare parts and now the engine takes current from both rails and also does the tender. I also improved the electronics, placing a socket and an ESU's Loksound decoder, replaced motor, replaced bulbs by led lights, installed cabin lights,kadee couplers, etc. It is a very smooth and good runner and I am totally satisfied with the performance of that engine...and also with my Rivarossi's Allegheny. You have purchased a good model.
@@SMTMainline Yes. I did. According to the seller that Big Boy had been on the shelves of the shop for years, unused. The wheels showed no sign of use indeed but anyway I replaced all of them for new ones, rewired all lights (I replaced bulbs by leds, and installed cabin lights, changed the motor...you know). I shouldn't say that but it is a delight to watch the Big Boy working at low speed.
They were on sale at department stores. My 4005 has a wire clip to the tender. I didn't have much money back when I bought it but 2-8-8-4 cab forwards were also sold. Missed it. Mine is missing that part as well. Either it wasn't included or dropped off and I never knew it.
I got the same one a couple years ago. And has problems running it. If the front drive weels runs badly you can fix it by removing the front driving gear. It runs a lot smoother after removing it.
When I have hardware that won't stay together on my RC vehicles, I've found that nail polish works as a great "hillbilly loc-tite". Strong enough to keep nuts and bolts together but won't tear things up if you need to take them apart.
Its a Marklin standard Relex coupler. They are able to uncouple and push your train to the place you want it, go the other way and the train or decoupled car would stay there. This way you only need decouple tracks at the beginning of the yard. It is outdated by Marklin's Telex electromagnetic decouple system on chunters which could decouple everywhere you want. But Marklin still make Relex couplers to be backwards compatible with older non- NEM socket models. However Marklin's short coupler system is fully compatible with the old system.
Yep.. Lima had them as well. I like them, it's a pity that all the manufacturers didn't opt use just one type of coupler. It would have made collecting and running mixed trains of other brands a lot easier.
Lima used the European couplings when they entered the UK market in the 1970s; they were incompatible with the tension lock couplings used by Hornby etc.
Clean and lube , I’ll buy it from you double your money my grandson loves that model but I don’t have money for a new one ! Just a thought ! We love your videos! Thanks for sharing !
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 89 | คู่เอก "ยอดไอคิว vs คิริลล์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3vYkHJ_5Ig/mqdefault.jpg)
I am so impressed with your vids & am learning a lot from you by watching them. What a great young man you are for helping us oldsters learn that not everything we think is non-functional isn't ready for the scrap heap!
I really appreciate your comment. I'm not as experienced or knowledgeable as many out there but I try to share what I know to help people keep their locomotives running.
@@SMTMainline - I happen to think you are wise beyond your years with your knowledge of loco's, their foibles & how to bring them back to life. As I said, I keep learning from you & I look forward to seeing more vids on your channel!
hi from Saltash south east Cornwall thanks for sharing the video , i used to collect Rivarossi engines 50 years ago . glad i found your channel.
I feel like the reason Big Boys are on the high end of the market, especially even older Rivarossi Models is due to UP 4014, lots of people got Big Boy Fever right now.
I can remember these things going for around half the price in 2013. 4014's restoration has certainly had an effect.
@@SMTMainline Hell, _I_ want a Big Boy now, and I'm in Sweden...
(I actually wanted one even before the craze started, but I didn't have the money...)
@@ziiofswe Ya know...there's a very dirty joke I could insert here, but for now...I'm going to behave myself. For now.
@@antonbruce1241 Hmmmmm.
when I checked on one around 1974 they were expensive even then
I love the Big Boy, I have an Athearn Big Boyvand still runs perfect. It even has the DCC and horn. Never go wrong with an Athearn. I saw them going for over $600 nowadays. I paid about $100 for it, but it came from an old train shop when they were selling everything dirt cheap in a closing sale.
I have the exact same model down to the road number, and it’s a beast. The detail parts are really finnicky, I had to make my own grab irons out of wire, but it runs like a champ. Makes strange noises occasionally but that’s to be expected with so many moving parts
Nice!
Greetings from the UK. What a fantastic layout this is. Apart from that you have loads of engines and rolling stock standing idle. I am green with envy.
I acquired my own 1993 Rivarossi Big Boy about 4 years ago for around $150 USD and ran as smooth as butter, also having a detailed backhead with gauges. Unfortunately, about 3 years ago while displaying the model for my relatives, I accidentally put it in full reverse causing it to fall off of the table. Thankfully, I was able to fix it all, including the front engine pin; I fixed that with some JB Weld epoxy. However, I had to remove the light and it's wire because it was somehow keeping my engine from running. It still runs very smoothly, though maybe not quite as before. An enjoyable model over all. -From a Direct Current HO scale modeler in Iowa, modeling the fictional Cateye Southwestern RR in the Colorado Rockies.
I know the comment is 2 years old now, but I have to ask; How the heck did you get that for so cheap?! $150 is like- HOW?!
@Shaphire_North,
I was just lucky, I suppose.
When I found it on Ebay all those years ago, it had originally started the auction at about $30 USD IIRC, and I just kept an eye on it until it was almost ended. Only then did I place my bid.
At the time, I remember there being 1 or 2 more that started at about the same price, but they both went out of my price range.
To be honest, $150 was more than I would have preferred to spend, but I was already committed to it.
@@jonathangreenlees4772 That's honestly insane. The sheer fact that it was for sale that low was one thing, but the luck needed to be able to get one for that cheap is another.
@Shaphire_North,
I suppose it is pretty crazy.
I was a bit surprised myself, considering that, at the time, new releases of the Big Boy from Rivarossi were ~$400 USD, and the Athearn Genesis models were $500 - $600!
Just needs some TLC. The N- scale ones ran like that out of the box. I ended up running some wires to the tinder to generate more power to the motor because the pickups were minimal. After increasing the contact area it ran flawlessly. Glad to see it actually runs. I miss having a lay out. Had to sell mine years ago because of children.
An excellent video. The loop and hook coupler you have is just one of eight different styles of couplers in use on my railroad. Makes for some interesting operation, especially when the crew is looking for the X2f to Marklin (Maerklin) or the Kadee to Mantua loop coupler transition cars. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. ♡ T.E.N.
My two Big Boys the rear set of drivers were fixed to the engine, they both were new in the 1960's , still working my layout to this day.
Awesome!
good to see you have protection along the edges of your layout, to keep train from falling to the floor.....smart man!
That's one hell of a score.
Especially given the fact that it runs. I bet with a teeny bit of lube and some more running-in it will be running even better
I’m sure others have said this, but the coupler is easily replaceable with a horn hook or knuckle coupler. Usually they came with a horn hook on in box with the loco new and McHenry makes a replacement knuckle that will fit.
One thing I've learned from experience, quality and Rarity over quantity. The majority of the engines in my collection are great runners, easy to maintain and lubricate. For about the same price (excluding the price for the add on coaches), I'm planning on obtaining one of my dream trains: Renfe S101 Euromed original livery. I'd wait till I obtain the majority of my prioritized trains before I obtain any big steam engines.
When my son gets in trouble, his consequence is no SMT 😂 he’s obsessed with your channel, and takes tons of his toy trains apart to try to make himself a new engine. He’s even got himself a “locomotive junk bin”. You’re a pretty big deal here in our house lol
I enjoyed reading your comment.It's good to hear youngsters are getting into working on this stuff. I started when I was fairly young and can say without a doubt it's a great thing to be part of. You learn small mechanical things, trial and error, and plenty of other skills. Thanks for your comment! ~Harrison
@@SMTMainline was good smt mainline
i do the same thing with thomas toys
no smt is such a cruel punishment
Encourage that hobby, anything that doesn't consist of a screen now and days is a dying art. 😭
Very nice find! Looking forward to seeing run sometime soon! Cheers!
Harrison you scare them into running. Great job.
Haha, maybe so.
I like your videos and this made me bring out some of my train sets and it brought back memories
That's awesome, it means a lot to hear about people being inspired to bring out their train sets from watching these videos. Thanks for sharing!
@@SMTMainline your welcome brother and thank u for having this memories come back to me,my granny and me used to get train sets and play with them.she passed 4 years ago and when I came across your channel,it reminded me of her and I remembered that I still have the train sets that me and her played with.i couldn't believe it but they still run like they was brand new out of the box!
An old retired buddy of mine is just getting into model trains. I've sent him links to a couple of your videos. You have a pretty decent layout.
Love you vids man! Keep it up man!
Thank you!
That's Big Boy #4005. It was involved in a catastrophic wreck that took 3 lives on April 27, 1953. It's currently on display at the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, Colorado.
The hero we needed most
I'd bought years ago the same model, the UP 4005.
It was built in the historical Como RR factory in 1968.
The red plastic box with clear lid it's classic for the production between the end of 60's and early 70's, mainly for the italian - european market.
RR Big Boys were among the top quality production of that time.
My one runs perfectly without any kind of specific manteinance, except the standars cleaning.
For those who love RR models, I would raccomand the site "Rivarossi Memory" an exstensive and very complete guide about the RR world from the very early models until the end of the production.
For every model you can also find the year of production, many interesting informations etc.
There are also many tips about maintenance, accessories and whatever you need for your RR models...
That is cool. Good for you. It still looks awesome.
Thanks!
I am not sure what year that Union Pacific Big Boy is, but I did owned 4 of them from the 1996 time when they produced it with painted hand rails. Those Big Boys just came out from Rivarossi and were the latest of up graded production. Like I said, first one, I bought in 1996 and second one in 1997 or 1998 and two more in 2000 or 2001. The ones I had, did have front head lights and rear tender lights. They came in a red rectangle/ square box with the tender laid below the engine. It was a styrofoam packaging that the engine and tender laid in on their sides.
I later traded mine off for Athearn Genesis and Precision Craft Models version.
so cool, I love anything that has to do with the big boy. I hope you do a video on fixing what is wrong with it instead of doing off the video as I love watching you work on these old model trains and more often than not you getting them all running again almost if not all the way to brand new running level
Congratulations!!! Great model!! Greetings from Chile.
"I wasn't Expecting This"
Me waiting to see how shipping destroyed the engine: :|
Not this time, haha
Yes it does, lol
@@SMTMainline Wow. You're still up this late too?
Plot twist: Shipping shook something back into place and now it works _because_ of the shipping.
@@SMTMainline looks like UPS or something came in clutch
Congrats on buying a model that turns out to be a runner. I have an Athearn Big Boy that is also 4005 and I just did a SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 install on it with the actual big boy sound effects. Pretty awesome addition to the big steam fleet!
Your latest was my first back in 2007 😄Still got her and she's still going strong!...loudly. The old 3-pole open-frame motor is SO NOISY 😂
I love your videos, btw you seem like a very nice guy keep up the good work!
Thank you very much, I appreciate that.
Np
I really like the bigboy and that is a fantastic model. It is amazing how good it runs after sitting so many years.
Nice. I have a rivarossi big boy in ho scale too. Mine is a newer model with a can motor mounted inside with flywheels. I love it. It was new old stock still in wrapped box. The grease was all hard. I had to take it apart and what a pain removing the old grease.. Afterwards it runs excellent. Love my rivarossi big boy. Its also the 4005.
Was watching your video for the first time. Good presentation and narration. I have a Rivarossi Big Boy (Virginian).It is not a original Made in Italy model but Made in China (surprisingly it is a very highly detailed model) and I purchased it in 2018 through Amazon. I am using the locomotive for static display only
Thank you so much for your kind words. Didn't know they were still making these as static models.
All my Rivarossi locos are AHM from the 1980s. Haven't run them in over 30 years. I do have a Big Boy and several Challengers. Love them especially the grey version
Very happy to see it running! Scored a 3 pointer from downtown! With this purchase!
It was certainly a pleasant surprise.
I have a Rivarossi Big Boy, numbered as 4001. The second set of driver wheels are mounted solid to the frame. The first set of driver wheels are mounted on a swivel frame that will move left or right out from under the front of the locomotive depending on the track curve.
I like using loctite on those bolts That won't stay in, Get the low heat variety That way if you want to remove it, Put a soldering iron on it for a few seconds and it will release! Nice Score on That big boy, little Lubricant You'll be good as new! Thanks for sharing that with us...
I have exactly the same one, I bought it pretty much when I was your age about 25 ish years ago and it's one of my treasured possessions. I only found out a few months ago that 4005, was the locomotive in the fetal Red Desert railroad accident in Wyoming April 1953.
Use Thread Locker.
The people who disliked just wanted the train
Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.
Wow thats beautiful and awesome. I think that had what you said the engine just needed to be coaxed to run. I love that locomotive the fact it runs. Sweet!
You try using threadlocker on the crank pins?
Very nice find! I bet cleaning those wheels and electrical pickups will have her running like a champ! Great video, as always!
Petition for double header
Go, Big Boy! Go, Big Boy, go! I think I can, I think I can I think I can.....
I have 25 of them running. I am numbering them 4000 thru 4024 just like Union Pacific had.
As soon as I saw the European coupler, the plastic box and cosmetic condition of the loco I knew it was going to run.
Almost all Rivarossi, roco, and fleischmann american freight cars and locos from back then had european couplers, of either that loop type or the hook type the TRIX big boy that is currently being made can be bought with those loop style couplers which can be changed out with Kadee NEM socket couplers. Back then you could also often find european 4 wheel freight cars labled with american railroad names. I have a Piko "Western" set that is all european a bavarian 0-8-0 that is labled for union pacific along with two 4 wheel union pacific compartment, coaches, a lumber car, A 4 wheel Missouri pacific boxcar and a Illinois steam packet company boxcar with a veranda at the end, it even has the original documentation and the lumber load and stakes for the flatcar were unopened, the loco needs a press downward to run but after that it will run for hours an pull a lot of wagons.
Dude start buying BRASS TRAINS! :)
That's the plan, they usually aren't going cheap though.
@@SMTMainline Now that you are becoming youtube famous and your channel is getting crazy popular it would be so cool if you started doing more brass trains. Restoring old brass trains is incredibly satisfying :) Whats really fun is making a track with a large radius that you can run the bigger brass models on. like 30 inch plus radius
Bummer you are missing a part. Did you manage to find it in the meantime?
Paint smokebox grey and a whistle gold and firebox grey to it look like it's not realistic to a real thing.
My grandpa has all was loved trains and he past 5 years ago and this channel reminds me of him dude please keep growing
Great deal and a Really nice locomotive!
Yes indeed!
You know, if the E-bay seller says it's a non-runner and it actually does run, they get maybe slightly less money and positive feedback. If they say it runs and the buyer is not happy, the sale gets disputed and the seller likely loses the train and has to refund the money. In other words, they get robbed by the E-bay customer service model (Always take the buyer's side). That seller is just trying to not get screwed over by E-bay.
It very well could be the cause although I've had the opposite happen where they've over promised the condition of something.
use kadee coupler to replace the European coupler
Try the screws with some bolt lock tight
Great job again my friend. Keep up the great work and finds.
woo!!!
nice buy harrison! for me its a good idea to have 2 big boys but what i would do is having one with dcc on it and one just regular dc
Not a bad idea.
Now you gotta double head them! Great find!
That's the plan!
First it looks like contact need to be cleaned and a good lube job
Just discovered this, and it’s incredible. I have only one question: have you ever considered purchasing a British locomotive? They provide quite a stark contrast with the locomotives where you are. A few things to note if you ever purchase an engine from ‘across the pond’:
• British locomotives and their models use a very different coupling system, so have a couple of spares available to fit.
• Engines over here don’t have large illuminating headlamps - instead, they fit smaller handheld lamps (not as bright) in different arrangements to classify what type of train it is, eg. heavy goods, express, maintenance.
• UK locomotives tend to be fairly small compared to their US counterparts.
Absolutely great video, can’t wait to see more!
- The Caledonian
I have a few British locomotives. Most don't run, they belonged to my grandmother who was born there and run on three rail AC track. I intend to purchase more in the future.
@@SMTMainline That’s very interesting, I believe that falls under the Hornby Dublo banner. Hornby is one of the main model manufacturers over here. Bachmann are also incredibly significant in the U.K. with a massive British range under the ‘Bachmann Branchline’ branding.
Have fun with it.
Hi hardison from TH-cam look at the train number there is a real version of union Pacific big boy number 4005 and it was involved of a crash with a switch
Some day I’m buying one of those.
For as much as those cost you shouldn’t have any problems with it.
Your very good at getting junk locomotives working again so you shouldn’t have to many problems but will see.
Thanks 👍
And where not gonna talk about how it was wrecked in real life :/
Have you seen my Humpty Dumpty Bigboy project?
I did see that, it looks interesting.
LMFAO The $51.00+$5.00 shipping and handling was me lol
The shipping was under $20, if you were selling a big boy, I don't think this is it. lol
No I bought it for that price the other day it should out been one of 2 on ebay one with the hand rail one without mine was with whats you email I'll send some pics I ended up with 3 big boys for less than a $100 us
I'm talking abt the boiler cap you where talking about
Im building a 7 1/4 steam locomotive
Smt, if I hadn’t found your channel I’d be stuck with plastic target trains. Thank you so much for inspiring me to build a model railroad!
That's excellent. It makes me happy to hear this channel is inspiration to get into the hobby.
@@SMTMainline thank you!
The coupler is because the unit is from the European release which used that style of Rivarossi boxes. AHM was the only boxes Rivarossi came in the US until the Red Box era.
I'd say you should keep the euro coupler due to how rare the European release versions have become, maybe make a transfer car from euro couplers to kadees
That is correct. The buckle coupler is standard on all HO trains made for the Euro market. This is the proof, along with the vintage red box that this Big Boy was purchased in Europe and brought across the Atlantic. 😁 Sometimes there are old price tags in the former currencies before the Euro.
"its got a working light"
never underestimate old quality. i have the bigboy and now also the old challenger Greyhound from Rivarossi in n scale and they are just perfect. I also had the aethern challenger Greyhound but actually like the old rivarossi way better. they are incredibly good models for their age
He's alive! HE'S A LIVE!
i saw the notification and im like... IM WATCHING THIS NOW!!!
Two Big Boys, and two Centennials.
Now all you need are two Challengers and two 844s
Along with two of each U.P. heritage unit.
Double heading is a must.
Absolutely!
Ye
How nice you have a perfectly good spare UP 4005
Well I have a Rvarossi big boy
The coupler on the Tender looks like an old style Märklin Relex-Coupler.
The wheels may be dirty but otherwise it is amazing nice clean open design
It alive happy See it moves
Great find. The more popular something is, unfortunately the prices go up
They'll calm back down in a couple years, I think the popularity is up because 4014 is back running on live steam.
Now you should find a 4-6-6-4 challenger.
OMG that's the same engine I was watching on Ebay with the European style coupler. I was going to buy that engine, but when I saw the coupler I ignored it. I'm glad she has a good home and her sister has someone to run with....sniff sniff
a coupler swap turned you off a model? So you're a train set guy, not a modeller of the most basic level. That's fine.
@@bennoakes2477 My experience with replacing European style couplers to Kadee knuckle style is not that easy. First the frame would need to be modified and a new coupler box added. I use the trip pin for uncoupling my cars over a magnet so they need to work. Thanks.
@@crsrdash-840b5 sounds right, so....?
This happened to me with my first model. It didn’t work for 7 nearly to 8 years and was never serviced or oiled. But I tested it one day. I do that every now and again to make shore that they work because you never know. And I put it on one day and it worked so it does happen.
The coupling is Märklin , a german model train brand in HO Scale. Looks exactly like I remember it from the 60ies and early seventies.
Older Rivarossi steamers have a weird pickup system : they use one side of the engine and the opposite side of the tender for the current pickup. I bought a Rivarossi Big Boy last year and although it was already a digital model it used that current pickup system, so I bought some spare parts and now the engine takes current from both rails and also does the tender. I also improved the electronics, placing a socket and an ESU's Loksound decoder, replaced motor, replaced bulbs by led lights, installed cabin lights,kadee couplers, etc. It is a very smooth and good runner and I am totally satisfied with the performance of that engine...and also with my Rivarossi's Allegheny. You have purchased a good model.
Did you replace it with a 5 pole can motor? It must be able to do incredible low speed.
@@SMTMainline Yes. I did. According to the seller that Big Boy had been on the shelves of the shop for years, unused. The wheels showed no sign of use indeed but anyway I replaced all of them for new ones, rewired all lights (I replaced bulbs by leds, and installed cabin lights, changed the motor...you know). I shouldn't say that but it is a delight to watch the Big Boy working at low speed.
They were on sale at department stores. My 4005 has a wire clip to the tender. I didn't have much money back when I bought it but 2-8-8-4 cab forwards were also sold. Missed it. Mine is missing that part as well. Either it wasn't included or dropped off and I never knew it.
I got the same one a couple years ago.
And has problems running it.
If the front drive weels runs badly you can fix it by removing the front driving gear. It runs a lot smoother after removing it.
When I have hardware that won't stay together on my RC vehicles, I've found that nail polish works as a great "hillbilly loc-tite". Strong enough to keep nuts and bolts together but won't tear things up if you need to take them apart.
Its a Marklin standard Relex coupler. They are able to uncouple and push your train to the place you want it, go the other way and the train or decoupled car would stay there. This way you only need decouple tracks at the beginning of the yard. It is outdated by Marklin's Telex electromagnetic decouple system on chunters which could decouple everywhere you want. But Marklin still make Relex couplers to be backwards compatible with older non- NEM socket models. However Marklin's short coupler system is fully compatible with the old system.
I've seen those Euro-style couplers on other old Rivarossi stuff as well. I'm guessing it was their standard Italian coupler at the time.
Yep.. Lima had them as well. I like them, it's a pity that all the manufacturers didn't opt use just one type of coupler. It would have made collecting and running mixed trains of other brands a lot easier.
This type of coupler is standard in Europe. Most of my newer trains have this type mounted on.
Lima used the European couplings when they entered the UK market in the 1970s; they were incompatible with the tension lock couplings used by Hornby etc.
Wow two of my favorite model train channels just uploaded just a few minutes apart
@@averagecomrade5072 yes I was
I have had the same problem with Rivorassi steam one of the little screws for the side rods or valve gear shoot off never to be seen again.
It's now happened on three of my Rivarossi locos. Must be a fairly common problem.
@@SMTMainline Have you tried loctite?
I love Rivarrosi big boys I always wanted one since I was 5
Clean and lube , I’ll buy it from you double your money my grandson loves that model but I don’t have money for a new one ! Just a thought ! We love your videos! Thanks for sharing !