The GIRR Mountain Division Roster consists mainly of Bachmann manufactured equipment. I prefer this stuff because it looks good, runs fine, was real cheap, and looses no value when modified or weathered. All of these locos (except the RC Big Hauler and the trolley car) have DCC installed and all but the Lionel Handcar and Bachmann Trolly have sound of some sort.
The Bachmann Heisler is the
latest addition to the GIRR Mountain Division. This one was
purchased long after production of this model ceased. The loco
required some work to get it to run properly, but it does indeed
run very well now. As soon as I find my white lettering materials,
it will get a road number.
I
actually have two Shays, one at the GIRR and one at the GIRR,
Mountain Division. The other
one has had the most work with a digital sound system and DCC
installed. The one here at the Mountain Division has only been
shortened to meet the tight vertical clearance requirements of the
Mountain Division, has had Hillside Railway contacts installed and
it has had an old Bachmann analog sound system installed. This one
has also been relettered.
This is one of my oldest Big Haulers, a 2nd
generation version. It has had many modifications to make
it a serviceable engine. It runs pretty well now, but the front
truck (which is already weighted) still needs it's mount modified
as the truck still has a tendency to derail at particular spots on
the railroad.
The Chattanooga Choo Choo Big Hauler is a
nearly box stock 5th generation locomotive. It has had contacts
added to the tender wheels and the 4-chuff modification
to it's sound system.
The Emmett Kelly Jr. Circus Big
Hauler is a 3rd generation locomotive that also been extensively
modified. It has the revised pilot truck mount, a 4-chuff sound
system, new power pickups, shimmed drivers and various other
modifications.
The Radio Control Big Hauler is a 1st generation
unit, besides getting metal drivers, it hasn't been extensively
modified. It also doesn't see service very often because it's radio
control system is just so flakey.
The Bachmann Columbia had received a new
bottom end from Bachmann as the original one was just so poor. It
has the 4-chuff sound system and power pickups in the tender as
well.
The Bachmann Railtruck had a
couple of fixable problems, but overall it is a fine model with
good detail. It runs quite smoothly and quietly.
The Bachmann Open Side Trolly
was not such a good runner, the original mechanism was terrible,
but Bachmann updated it so now it at least runs. This trolly runs
on a dedicated loop to loop trolly line through the town. Smooth
stops and starts are automatically timed with an automatic reversing
controller. The trolly line is 2 foot DIAMETER track which the
trolly handles well enough.
This is the first version of Aristo's C-16. There is a newer
version that I don't know much about. This one has had a Soundtraxx Sierra installed in
the tender. It's been lowered. The smoke unit has been
changed to an LGB type unit and the loco has an LED headlight
installed.
The
Aristo Rogers has been
modified to handle tight curves better and has power pickups added
to the tender.
The Aristo Classic Railbus is pretty
much stock except that it has a Soundtraxx Sierra sound system
installed.
This LGB 0-4-0 and matching powered tender are pretty
much stock except that the tender has been modified to accept a sound system. This
pair may be small, but they are pretty respectable pullers. Both of
them have been packed with lead weights to help improve the pulling
power even more.
Daisy is mostly stock except that it has had its
couplers changed out an the saddle tank is packed with lead.
The
Lionel handcar is the only nearly stock "loco" that I have. This
thing is a very poor puller. It came with couplers that were fully
useless because it couldn't pull anything. It's brass wheels also
get dirty really fast.
James has had power
pickups added to the center drivers and a sound system added to the
tender.