Download - O Scale Trains Magazine Online

are generally only compatiblewith other locomotives fromthe same manufacturer.PerformanceThe locomotive was operatedin both DC and DCSmodes. In DC mode thestarting voltage was 9 voltsdrawing 400mA. With noload the engine drew 400mAmoving forward and 700mAmoving in reverse. Pulling atrain of 8 standard O Scalefreight cars the engine drew 800mA forward and 1100mA inreverse. The difference in forward and reverse current drawmay even out with operating time on the chassis. The slowestsmooth speed was 3.25 smph. As this is a mainline passengerlocomotive, this is an excellent slow speed. In DCSmode the slowest scale speed was clocked at 2.5 smph.ConclusionsThe Chapelon 231 is a unique O Scale model. If Europeansteam engines are your thing, then this might be a modelyou want to own. MTH also makes a 5 car Orient Expressset to go behind this locomotive. We would like to thankMTH for providing a dimensioned drawing for this review.Referenceshttp://www.citedutrain.com/en/train/ (website for FrenchNational Ry Museum)http://www.martynbane.co.uk/2003Trips/AlsaceLorraine/museum.htmhttp://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/steam/231_E/pix.htmlReview: On3 #6 Code 100 switches; MSRP: $24.95San Juan Car Co., P.O. Box 1028 Durango, CO 81302970-385-5256 • www.sanjuancarco.comReviewed by Michael HobbsThe new San Juan Car Co. On3 code 100 #6 turnouts arebilled as ready-to-run by San Juan and I believe they havealmost fulfilled that claim. I have four of them for a smalllayout that I’m building and the first thing that I did wascheck them with my NMRA Standards gage. All four hadthe correct track gauge and the flangeways were spot on. Asto appearance, they checked out fine against the numerousphotos that I looked at online and in my reference books.As the turnouts are code 100 rail, they are appropriate fora latter day narrow gauge railroad that had upgraded theirtrack, such as OR&L, EBT, and D&RGW. If modeling an earliertimeframe or a railroad that had not upgraded its trackthen these probably are not appropriate.One of the things that I really liked about them was thatthe ties are flash free and do not have to be cleaned up. Anice feature of the turnouts is that the end ties are cut backso that the rail joiner slides on easily. (I wish that my HOn3turnouts had this feature when I was modeling in HOn3.)There are rail joiners included with the turnouts but there areonly three in each package, a very minor issue.I haven’t moved overto DCC yet so the followingcomments relate to DCcontrol only. My convertedBachmann Climax and RichYoder GE 25 Tonner sailedright through without somuch as a hiccup. My MountainModel Imports K-272-8-2 wobbled as the pointrail stuck out and was not flush against the stock rail. A jeweler’sfile will fix this issue later. One turnout had a problemat the hinge between the moveable portion of the points andthe stationary portion. It had some slop and would move upand down. A small screwdriver and needle nosed pliers wasall that were needed to fix it.There have been some issues with these turnouts postedon the Yahoo groups for On3 modelers that use DCC. FredFolk posted a fix and gave his permission to include it here:“I noticed a quick short when throwing the turnout. It shortedthen came back on. I took a closer look and found thatthe brass extensions on the outside of each point (used forbetter contact) touched both sides for a split second while itwas being thrown. I put it on the bench and carefully, withthe Dremel, took just a slight cut off one of the brass tabsonly on one side. Then reinstalled it and tried it again withno shorting.” This fix was sent to John Parker at San Juanwho said he will make the change to the tabs on the nextrun of turnouts.For $24.95 you get a well-engineered turnout. There aresome minor issues with them but nothing that a modelershouldn’t be able to handle. This is a very nice addition toSan Juan’s product line and is an item that On3 modelershave been asking someone to produce for a long time.July/Aug ’09 - O Scale Trains • 49