Model Forum / General / Railroads / May 2006

I can't remember how long ago......8 - 10 - 12 years ago when the
Spectrum dash-8's came out, several members of the club bought them and
they were painted up in club colors and decaled for our road.

At the time they were a pretty hot item but over the years they have
all basically crapped out and as Kato, Atlas and Proto;'s came along
the dash 8's became static displays in the engine shop.  Between
sounding like cement mixers and other wonderful problems, no one at the
club has ever looked back at them as they gather dust in the backshops.

While digging through stuff behind the counter at one of the local
shops, I found at least 30 of the old dash 8's still in cases not even
out on the shelf.  With the vast amount of more recent stuff, they also
have been long forgotten under the counter.

When I inquired as to how much he wanted for them, the shop owner said
" oh,  I guess $35 each" to which I replied " Well they are not moving
sitting here so if I bought  say 6 or 8 of them would you knock it down
to $25 a piece?".

So here I sit thinking that I could pick them up and swap out the
shells and get another 8 or 10 engines back in
service..........................BUT

The members who actually did engine repairs etc have either passed away
or have been relocated to other states becuse of Katrina.

I remember that when we fist got the dash 8's there was work that had
to be done on them right out of the box to make them decent running. I
just don't remember what or how much work had to be done. So before I
go pick up a bunch of these I come to the motive power experts here and
ask:

What has to be done to them and is it simple enough for a scenery guy
to do ?

Thanking you in advance...........................