I am new to this forum (any type of forum for that matter) and have just stumbled onto this thread. I know that it is old and a lot has been said about the quality of the model and the lack of rolling stock, but I feel compelled to add my 2 cents. I bought a Casey Jr about a year ago on eBAY. I was, and am still, delighted with the appearance. My layout sports a custom CK Holiday, EP Ripley, Ernest S. Marsh and an Accucraft Lilly Belle, but it is always Casey Jr. that gets comments from visitors. Usually. "He's so cute!" That being said, It is one of my favorie engines.
I run it on a separate line from the other larger engines and so its scale is just perfect. The operational quality of the product however was wholly unacceptable. The "growling" of the gears could be heard over all the other engines and the music system and the waterfalls. It was also woefully underpowered. With the weak motor and light weight, it could not pull more than one car on dry track and not even itself on wet track (close to waterfalls). My solution was to remove the motor completely so that it is a free rolling "toy". I concealed a Hartland motor block in the calliope and a second motor in the "Wild Animals" car. I have not shot any closeup pictures of the calliope yet as the pipes and smokestack have not been made yet. I need to find a friend with a lathe or break down and buy one myself. The filagree and sculpture on the rolling stock were molded in polymer clay and then silicone molds were made of them for reproduction. Attached are a few photos.
The latest edition of Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! is now available to pre-order, with a special price for Burnslanders! You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from http://www.burnsland.com/store/dlrrbook.shtml
The latest edition of Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! is now available to pre-order, with a special price for Burnslanders! You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from http://www.burnsland.com/store/dlrrbook.shtml
