AHM - Rivarossi HO Locomotives from the 1960's and 70's

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Күн бұрын

In the 1960's and 70's AHM - Rivarossi offered some of the best looking HO locomotives in plastic at very affordable prices. Before AHM these models were sold as Lionel and later, Athern.
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We take a look at several, the Virginia and Truckee early locomotives, the interesting Bolker as well as the 4-4-0 Baldwin locomotives. AND a quick look at the indiana harbor belt railroad 0-8-0 switcher, a beautiful little locomotive.
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History: (from the web)
Rivarossi was founded in 1945 by Alessandro Rossi with Antonio Riva.
Sold in America:
In 1957 Rivarossi developed several great American prototype trains in both HO and O scales HO models were licensed and sold by Lionel as Lionel HO. The cooperation with Lionel broke down over financial issues after only a year. In 1958 Rivarossi products were sold through Athearn. (Athern steam) After Athearn, just about all Rivarossi products, and its sister company Pocher, were distributed through AHM (Associated Hobby Manufactures).
For a brief but interesting time in the 1970's many of these products were offered by Tyco Trains!
In these early days before global trade agreements the only way a company like Rivarossi could sell in America was through a US based importer, who rebranded as their own. After trade deals were put in place Rivarossi could sell directly to wholesalers and retailers under their own name.
In the 1990s Rivarossi acquired Lima (1992), Jouef and Arnold (1997). In 2003 Rivarossi went into receivership.
In 2004 Hornby Railways acquired most of the assets from Rivarossi, in particular the brands Pocher, Arnold, Jouef, Rivarossi and Lima. Since 2006 products are sold again under these brand names. While Hornby is a Spanish company the production has been moved to China keeping prices low and the company is now doing well, even offering new products.

Пікірлер: 124

@WWIIREBEL 8 ай бұрын

The past November was generous to me. I actually managed to find a Rivarossi 2-8-8-2 mallet for 25 bucks. The seller (Local train show)said it had issues with one of the drive shafts and he also believed that the axle gear had a crack. I bought it, took it home and cleaned/polished all electrical contacts, cleaned all gears/drive shafts and re-greased/oiled everything i needed to. It ran and still runs like a Swiss watch after all that cleaning,lol. As of a week ago, i re-motored it with a 5 pole motor , now it runs like a beast and is really quiet too!.

@ToyManTelevision 7 ай бұрын

It’s almost always the electrical contacts on those. Everything else is pretty bulletproof.

@upsd402 6 жыл бұрын

Wow, Rivarossi was one of the best steam locomotives when I was a kid, thanks for bring back the memories.

@paulmenkens4671 4 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi didn't start AHM, AHM was an American company based in Philadelphia, owned by Bernie Paul who died a couple years ago, the reason they sold under the name of AHM instead of Rivarossi is because the H.I.A.A. (The Hobby Industry Association of America) was trying to discourage the importation of models by charging $100 dollars for each different brand exhibited at their annual show, usually held at the Hotel Bresslin (Now The Ace Hotel) in NYC. Therefore Bernie packaged all the brands he imported as AHM so he only had to pay one fee ($100 was a lot of money at that time) The Rivarossi locomotives and passenger cars had excellent detail for the time and still stand up well except for the deep flanges on the wheels, sometimes called "pizza cutter" flanges. They ran alright except that the 3 pole motors were so fast you could win a slot car race with them, giving very poor slow speed control needed to realistically operate model trains (there was a company, maybe NWSL, that marketed a regear kit to try to fix this, I don't know if it worked well or not). About 25 years ago Rivarossi upgraded to 5 pole motors and more realistic flanges but there still were probs with them, they ran great when new but as they got older they had probs with current collection, I was told that this is because the springs that pushed against the drivers tended to lose tension, I have quite a few of these older (and some newer) locomotives and find that if I want to run them after sitting for any length of time I have to lube them and break them in all over again, the new ones do run great though. Although the list price was high, they were usually sold very reasonably at Woolworths stores, this ticked off hobby store owners to have to compete with a department store that sold them for less then the hobby shops had to pay for them. One train shop owner I knew (now deceased) told me that when buying used trains he never paid much for Rivarossi because "I know they were bought from Woolworth's for next to nothing". AHM became IHC quite a few years ago and Rivarossi was imported for a while by Model Expo and others, it's amazing how much AHM product is still out there at train shows, much still in the new packaging 50 years later (many with the Woolworth's price tags on them!). My local model train club has about a dozen locos in their used equipment shop, all for reasonable prices. Sorry if this got too long, much of the info here came from an interview done several years by Irv Polk, who was the owner of Polk's Hobby Craft, the largest hobby shop in the country at one time, located across the street from the Empire State Building in NYC.

@varrunningtrains4112 4 жыл бұрын

@@paulmenkens4671 Wow. Thanks for all the information!

@markmccummins8049 6 жыл бұрын

Oh, Toy Man - AHM! Here in W. Pa a popular (in the ‘60s) downtown department store had the best toy store in their basement. And they had literally stacks of AHM HO freight cars and the tiny diesel switchers. The big Rivarossi steamers were under their glass display counter. I was a tiny boy - my Mum would condemn all of these HO cars & engines as “junk.” “You have Lionel, that’s the good one.” And the store put out what little Lionel offered at the time. But the AHM shelves were packed. I always looked. Woolworth’s has them, too. Thanks Toy Man! Memories!

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

I loved HO because I thought the track looked butted. Way better. Looked real. And loved the AHM locomotives. And Athern but I liked steam more so that meant AHM. Rivarossi. But dang I couldn’t keep it running!!!!

@markmccummins8049 6 жыл бұрын

Toy Man Television You are right!! The HO track did look far more realistic than the tubular Lionel track. Mum hated the HO stuff - but I secretly liked it!

@seyerener 5 жыл бұрын

I have that 0-8-0 and still runs! Thanks for the video.

@ToyManTelevision 5 жыл бұрын

I love. Them not great but I still just love em. New ones are really nice!!

@johncurry4538 4 жыл бұрын

There was once a local department store that set up two or three tables of nothing but HO scale train locomotives and cars at Christmas time. I'm 62yo and still have the "remains" of my AHM Rivarossi 4-6-2 Pacific. I just bought another at Goodwill, used but with the box. Where I paid $10.95 for the original off of that clearance table, I paid $50 for this one which included shipping. I told my wife my mid-life crisis isn't a sports car, but the trains I had as a 12-year-old.

@ToyManTelevision 4 жыл бұрын

Love to get back out old toys. Mostly the trains! Well and the cars. But really great to return to the days of yesteryear

@greguzar8233 6 жыл бұрын

Land sakes, you are spot on. In the late 1980's was when my best bud and I took on a spare bedroom layout. I learned a great deal. Here comes the Rivarossi part. I was needing some cars to finish out a 13 car consist for my Daylight. Rivarossi filled the bill with four amazing cars that competed with the already Atheran cars I had. I bought used, still do and these were the best HO cars, bar none, I had ever seen at that time. Even at that time the price was high on the locomotives. They made waves when they introduced the cab forward. You are correct about the motors. My buddy bought one but used his Key Imports Cab forward. The dust is still settling in my mind from the memories you brought-up with Rivarossi. Well done, as always. Greg and Jeanne.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Hello!! We are just back from depot days in Cheyenne. Got inside the big boy!! The new cab is going together nicely. But nothing to see inside that. So we got to go inside the Firebox!!!!! Wow!!!!! What a weird boiler!!! Had no idea it was soooooo very weird. Figured it to be like a northern but longer tube section. Ha!! No, the tubes are shorter. I make them to be about 20 feet!!!!! But the firebox is over 30 feet!!! About 11 feet high inside!! To the fire brick. Add about 3 more feet to the ash pan. A combustion area about 20 feet long, then an area where the firebox tapers like a velocity stack on a hot rod!! Down to the tube sheet which is way past the mid point on the locomotive. A family could live in this firebox. If they had a bathroom. But I make it to be about 500 square feet! Yup. Show coming on this stuff.

@jabru41 6 жыл бұрын

Great video as usual!! Thanks for sharing! I remember when the J M Fields Store in Lakeland would get in a big shipment of AHM trains, and the crowds would come.

@kerridillon3120 6 жыл бұрын

Happy Tuesday Mr. & Mrs. Toyman! I love the matching shirts!

@DruSteel69 6 жыл бұрын

Wow. Cool. Interesting history. Thanks for sharing- Drew

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

DruSteel69 more coming on these cool models. Then on to pocher

@coolrides 6 жыл бұрын

Never saw a locomotive fire engine before! Very interesting! :) Jack

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Jack R just can’t figure how that would work. Oh there’s a fire 10 miles down the line! Start putting up steam on the Bolker ! 12 hours later the thing is ready to head out on the line and another hour or two later it arrives at the fire. Which has now consumed 10,000 acres and 60 buildings and a bridge. Now where to start. We have 5000 gallons of water so wast not.

@dougkowalchuk5235 5 жыл бұрын

I just realized i have that one

@johncurry4538 4 жыл бұрын

I have two of these that I bought in the mid-80s and took apart to kit bash, but never finished. the parts are scattered between a box and a parts bin. Now I wish I'd kept them intact.

@devilscoachman79 6 жыл бұрын

Great video guys, Now lets see a video of them running (along with your H0 turbine models)!!! 👍

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Kev Bygrave need some track I guess. More than the 2 foot test track we have. Perhaps we should join a club

@NicksCollectableCreations 6 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi really made a big stride in the 90's to make their models run good and removed that ugly motor in cab thing they had going on. I think they are a good value for the money when you can find the newer 90's and later stuff, and their current Big Boy release is really quite nice for the price.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

UP Trains 4014 yes the new ones run as good as they look. No need to tear apart your new loco any more

@anj4de 3 жыл бұрын

@@ToyManTelevision I have a late 90ties J3-A Hudson with the new motor...it has ESU Sound and runs good...and looks even better :-)

@davidtoran9788 6 жыл бұрын

Greetings Folks, I worked for AHM in the mid/late 60's, in Philadelphia. AHM was owned by Bernie Paul. This company was the sole importer for Rivarossi in the US. I worked as a model builder, wrote assembly instructions for plastic model kits, did box design, and product display. Among so many others, I had to build a Pocher Fiat for a Chicago trade show. AHM also imported Protar motorcycle kits which were very high quality. I built the layout that is featured on the bottom tray of the Christmas sets. At a company meeting, Bernie Paul flatly stated that I could not produce 40,000 Christmas sets by Thanksgiving. We completed 40,500 sets. I would set up an oval and start running a Rivarossi locomotive at 5:00pm before leaving at night. Few of these engines were running the next morning. The best locomotive Rivarossi built was the GG1.Scale and detail was excellent. Except for the pantographs. AHM also imported Kader HO freight cars and Pola plastic kits.. At that time, only AHM had V&T old timey equipment. Very popular. AHM ran into trouble when they over-extended themselves with a newer facility just as Rivarossi was understood as poor running with good detail. Athern, Bachmann, and others started upping their game. Nice to see you today. David

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Wow that’s absolutely amazing! Sorry to take so long to get back to you, Karyn and I went off to depot days, did spend a quality afternoon inside the boiler of the big boy! I have always loved AHM products, always wondered why AHM was a different company from Rivearossi. Way mor showsin this series. Next up Union Pacific 844.

@tonydee2069 5 жыл бұрын

Gosh David! you are my new superhero! I hope you took tons of parts home went they closed... so a move killed AHM just like so many restaurants die after a change of location- and landlords! Just reading the sides of the boxes told people what a collection of models AHM dealt in, tanks, jeeps, - did they sell ROCO back then too? Talk about over extended huh? what a shame. People criticize them now, but at the time- Rivarossi was the coolest- and for some 'gen out there!

@CoalChrome 6 жыл бұрын

The IHB 0-8-0s weren’t switchers, they were used as transfer locomotives. They were found hauling massive drags between yards. They were also 3 cylinder. The IHB 0-8-0s I have are actually from the Rivarossi “red box” era.

@lhsboyproductions3446 6 жыл бұрын

That's a beautiful model. Thumbs up. Greetings from Poland :)

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Here’s just a thought. Every morning go out and face east and raise a different finger in the direction of Russia. Just a thought. Then back to screwing around!! Having fun.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

I love the new freedom in most of Eastern Europe. Poland really led the way to a better world. Looked like Russia would also get past some of there ideas on ruling the world. But it seems they are slipping backwards. In the meantime it seems to me that Poland stands as a monument to what can be done if everyone pulls together.

@lhsboyproductions3446 6 жыл бұрын

Toy Man Television yah! :D

@stikibunn 6 жыл бұрын

I do love the Virginia and Truckee. It might become my favorite American railroad.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

So wealthy they almost never scrapped anything. So so much has survived. And all but one, the Reno, is in great shape and restored even the bolker is now refurbished we hear!! Good news!! But the Reno is languishing in Arizona. Sad.

@scottb8175 4 жыл бұрын

I have a mid 70's Cab Forward (first production run of Rivarossi's 3-pole "can" motor) that runs so well, brass only guys at my model railroad club in the 80's thought I had re-motored and re-geared it. I bought it used in like new condition from a local train only model shop in 1980 for $125. It could pull a long train smoothly and quietly down to such a slow creeping speed that the drivers were turning once every 4 seconds. They even asked if I could bring it on regular operating nights so the public could see an articulated steam locomotive pulling a 30-40 car G.M. freight train on the 1950's era 1500 sq. ft. layout. They liked it as the Canadian railroads we modeled never had big articulated locos, and the club's smaller brass steam stuff couldn't pull a long train over the layout's 1.5% grades. It drew a big crowd of spectators compared to the regular 1st generation multiple unit diesels most of the club members ran on operation nights. One night, my Cab Forward and an Athearn F-7 A&B 'helper' pulled an 85 car train of mainly Athearn 40' box and refer cars the entire uphill length of the mainline. The only problem was the pie cutter flanges. The club used hand-laid code 83 on the main and mainline sidings, and that was alright. But the rest of the track was hand-laid code 70 and smaller, and that had the flanges bouncing on the spikes. They wanted me to file the flanges down, but I didn't want to alter my locomotive in any way. I have collected 4 Rivarossi Cab Forwards, and they all run as good or better than my best brass and modern plastic steam, although my original Cab Forward needed it's commutator brushes replaced a few years ago. On the other hand, I have owned and still own some other Rivarossi and AHM steam and some of those ran more in tune with the bad reputation. Those were the 2-8-4's, 2-10-2's, and 4-6-2's. It seems the articulated ones ran the best, as I know others who had good runners in the Big Boys and Challengers, too.

@ToyManTelevision 4 жыл бұрын

I must say I have a passion for “Italian brass“. The early versions really suck in terms of operation, but I’ve got a model of 844 runs like a Swiss watch! It’s from the 1980s, so by then they really had it figured out. Today people are setting these things up with DCC and all kinds of things oh and they got rid of a pizza cutter wheels! Which is the smartest thing they ever did. Well let’s just say one of the smartest things.

@kenvandevoort7820 11 ай бұрын

I bought a HO AHM Cab Forward at Woolworth's in 1968 for $20 because I didn't have $30 for a Big Boy. Years later, I was in the hobby business and was an AHM Parts Depot.

@ToyManTelevision 11 ай бұрын

The cab forward is a great model!! Those early models all have issues. Fixable. But the more modern ones…. Wow. Expensive but wow.

@FutureRailProductions 6 жыл бұрын

I would love to get a classic rivarossi Casey Jones locomotive. That thing is beautiful. I would probably convert it to three rail so I could run it on my O gauge layout.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

FutureRail Productions show coming on one of those

@FutureRailProductions 6 жыл бұрын

Toy Man Television Now I'm excited!

@tonydee2069 5 жыл бұрын

If you are planning to 'convert' one, put up an ebay search, try your ideas on a used one- they are out there. Good luck!

@shnorth888 5 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi used to make the streamlined and heavyweight passenger cars for International Hobby Corp until the late 90's, then IHC came out with their own cars. IHC used Mehano of Slovenia to make their steam & diesel locos. I have a Rivarossi Italian made model of Casey Jones ICRR steam loco. It's a beaut. I also have a Hornby-Rivarossi Weyerhaeuser three truck Heisler logging loco which has an amazing amount of detail.

@ToyManTelevision 5 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi made so much for others. IHC. Athern. Lionel. AHM. Not sure on Aristo 1:29 scale. The pattern models are the same ones made for their own steam locomotives. But I think the tooling went to China. Which is what killed Rivarossi. Or rather caused it to become part of Hornby.

@shnorth888 5 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi stated to move production of some models to China before they were bought by Hornby and when Hornby took over the rest of production also moved to china. I have a run of logging flats from the early 2000's which were made in China but are part of the old hornby.

@nicholmansgarage3501 5 жыл бұрын

I have a painting of that Bowker locomotive. It's not red in the painting, but it still has the fire fighting equipment.

@ToyManTelevision 5 жыл бұрын

Not sure when it was painted red but I don’t think it was like that for too long

@justindampier5108 6 жыл бұрын

Interesting history, Rivarossi was the first to offer an American model, the IHB 0-8-0 in 1968.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Classic model of a classic locomotive. These were all models of locomotives that were well known in their day. Most in museums. So they had a real locomotive to study while making the 1:29 scale pattern models.

@TheShadeTreeFixitMan 6 жыл бұрын

Interesting history.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

The Shade Tree Fix-it Man amazing history. Bankrupt and now back as a Spanish company

@kentonyoung8811 5 жыл бұрын

I have this model. It works very well .. got it second hand. I am guessing the guy I got it from reworked it

@ToyManTelevision 5 жыл бұрын

I’ve seen a few that have been made to run great!!! Even with small flanges. Even the factory ones work well if you oil and maintain them.

@justindampier9017 5 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi made some nice stuff for the time. My only complaints with the older stuff was the excessive high gearing and being light weight. The 0-8-0 in N scale was the first US prototype steam engine. The N scale Y6b was a old MRC/Bemo 2-8-8-2. I can't remember the exact name.

@ToyManTelevision 5 жыл бұрын

Justin Dampier the HO wheel flanges were about .09 inches I think in inches. Most rail at the era was .1 inches. So it worked but looked a bit weird. But the new rage was code 70 rail. .07 inches. And the flanges hit the tied. Waltzers came out with code 83. Looks better than 100 but still cleared AHM flanges. But just barely. And screwed up a lot. Steve turned the flanges down. Others replaced the wheels. Later Rivarossi fixed the problem

@rrswitch48 6 жыл бұрын

I should have watched this first! BTW the Mantua General was a great runner!

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

That it was. And still is. (We have 2 or 3). Kit built. My brother built the first in like 1970. Painted it green. Looks great. Runs well. Then I built one. Painted it like the prototype. W and A. And friend Don built a nice one lettered for the B and S. Tiny can motor runs like a watch All three there in the attic. Somewhere.

@trainnut1958 6 жыл бұрын

Mamma Mia!! Thatsa gooda video you made, signore! LOL😂😂😂😂 Trainnut1958

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

@karterk2050 6 жыл бұрын

Hello! Will you be doing a video on Depot Days in Cheyenne this year? Best wishes, Karter Kirkland

@jamessnyder3896 6 жыл бұрын

Nice video I have a riverassi 4-4-0 it runs ok👍👏👏👍👍👍👏👏👏

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

The post 1990 ones do run better. Even the older ones can be good with some help. Or good luck. They all ran great when new. But the motor was junk. Yet now and then a good one would sneak by!!

@jamessnyder3896 6 жыл бұрын

Toy Man Television yes you are right about that

@nickelplatenerd6989 5 жыл бұрын

I’ve got an AHM Santa Fe Blue Goose with four passenger cars. I also have five Rivarossi Santa Fe passenger cars and I’m trying to find another Santa Fe locomotive, all I’ve found was a Rivarossi ATSF Y6b (even though the Y6b’s were only on the N&W railroad.

@ToyManTelevision 5 жыл бұрын

Love to collect them. The new ones are better but a love collecting the older ones.

@nickelplatenerd6989 5 жыл бұрын

All I've got s the old ones. I like the new ones but the old ones are what I'm sticking to. The Blue Goose is my favorite, not just because it is my favorite color, because it was the only one of its kind.

@CoalChrome 6 жыл бұрын

I’ll try to find a modern can motor about the same size as the open frame

@michaelmohrmann 6 жыл бұрын

Very nice video, but I noticed you guys failed to mention whatever became of AHM. Also, it would be nice if you did a show on model railroad manufacturers of the past like Life-Like(Before Walthers took it over)and Tyco.

@HenrikSweden1 6 жыл бұрын

I love your show ! Rivarossi Also made lots of n scale equipment for Atlas during the 60 and 70s. The were quite well made. You can still find them in fleamarkets here in sweden.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

They made for so many companies. Even tyco and athern! And plastic kits. Often under other names.

@johnd8892 4 жыл бұрын

Some info on Rivarossi US prototypes made starting in the late 40s and this Milwaukee Hiawatha recorded as 1951. This recently released video of a grandson restoring his grandmothers 1951 train to give her as a Christmas present two days ago is very heartwarming insight that may encourage you to find out more about the 40s and 50s US outline Rivarossi. I believe Polks were the major player in this. Well before the AHM more recent involvement.

@ToyManTelevision 4 жыл бұрын

Wow. Didn’t know. I have some Polk trains, aristo craft.from that era. I love them but they are sort of junk. Really cool but don’t run well, never did, stickers for decals. Were these named Rivarossi? Or Polk? Or Aristo?

@washingtontrains2593 6 жыл бұрын

In the early eighties I had an AHM Heisler. Loved it. Cost me 45 bucks. About the time it was becoming difficult my daughter and her friend got hold of it. I have forgiven her.

@robertlucido3686 6 жыл бұрын

About how I mentioned that Disney made a movie about The Great Locomotive Chase (and in my opinion Disney's a whole lot more accurate than Buster Keaton's), one of the Virginia & Truckee engines at the Nevada State Railroad Musum, the Inyo was used for the role of the Texas in Disney's movie

@tonydee2069 5 жыл бұрын

Well, got to remember Buster Keaton was making a comedy, but as a railfan- a technically cool comedy! Disney's version was about as accurate as he could get it. Although filmed miles away, some of the extras were locals who's grandparents were witnesses along the route at the time. Too bad the real General wasn't allowed to 'role play' herself. Guess her inspected rebuild was done after the filming... that's a shame. But maybe, without the movie, there would have been no interest TO rebuild her?

@paulbislin8471 6 жыл бұрын

Oh, Rivarossi‘s European models had the same problems, very nice models, but not so good running quality. I once had a German class 10, very nice, but........., so I removed the complete tender underframe/motor and replaced it with Roco parts.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

They were a good start at a good model. But most could be great models with a bunch of rework. I loved the early V and T models so set about making them run. Couldn’t fit a motor in the locomotive so I was stuck with the drive line from a motor in the tender. Junked the whole setup and found a very small can style that fit nicely. Replaced the drive shaft with a silicone tube which was small and clear and didn’t show to much. Better wheel trucks with real electric pickups and they ran as good as they looked

@paulbislin8471 6 жыл бұрын

Toy Man Television Ok, that‘s a nice idea!

@Thatguybob5 3 жыл бұрын

I have a HO Rivarossi 4-6-2 B&O 5316

@CoalChrome 6 жыл бұрын

I own two off the IHB 0-8-0s, they don’t run. I think that it’s related to the connection with the tender. Any ideas?

@4501driver 6 жыл бұрын

The4014Gamer ForTheWin check the wire from the left side of the motor connected to the frame. Or the small little sturdy wire on the tender connection. On my rivarossi. I bypass that completely with a wire soldered into the tender.

@CoalChrome 6 жыл бұрын

Mike The Gmod Foamer I’ll look into it. The models don’t appear to have ever been greased, mostly because there is a lack of dust blobs. On one of them, the pin fell out and I replaced it with a screw. That engine is spare parts now. The bright side is that I have two identical tenders. I owned a really early one like the one he showed off, and it ran amazingly well, but one side of the valve gear was loose and the loco ended up completely falling apart. I also have its tender

@johnd8892 4 жыл бұрын

Oops forgot the video link : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n5-dqNaI09XbnZc.html 1951 Rivarossi Milwaukee Hiawatha.

@erikhobby6542 4 жыл бұрын

do you have any old ahm 0-4-0 baltimore and ohio switchers?

@ToyManTelevision 4 жыл бұрын

Hi. Nope. I think I had one in 68. Pretty sure. But as of now, nope.

@paulsmith6616 6 жыл бұрын

Ok I know.... concur, concur, concur.

@eottoe2001 6 жыл бұрын

They offered of HOn30 before anyone else did.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Loved it!! Will be an upcoming show. On micro trains. Then on to joe works! Including a great running HOn 30 shay!

@davidurban6813 6 жыл бұрын

I've got a H.O I.C.R.R Cast Jones engine Mint condition hardly ever been out of the box.. How much do you think it's worth? Just asking. Have a great day.

@trainzguy2472 6 жыл бұрын

I have a very old AHM Alco RS-11. I picked it up at a model train show for 5 bucks, and it runs terrible. The previous owner gave it a very neat custom paint job for a fictional railroad called the Detroit and Northern. Very well detailed, but doesn't run well. The wheels are a little prone to jumping the track and the motor starts to make this funny smell after about 5 minutes.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Trainzguy 2472 yup. It’s what they do. Sadly. But they look great and most can be made to run well. With work. Not sure how modern ones work. No reason they shouldn’t run well.

@michaelnaisbitt1639 6 жыл бұрын

Check the wheels for roundness. Rivorossi are known for great detail but poor mechanics and customer service. I have a Cab forward and found that four of the wheels were not true. had to replace them to stop. constant derailing

@nickelplatenerd6989 5 жыл бұрын

I’ve wanted to make a steam locomotive like how they made it into a fire engine.!

@ToyManTelevision 5 жыл бұрын

The V and T Bolker in Sacramento doubled as a fire “truck”

@nickelplatenerd6989 5 жыл бұрын

Well I meant fire locomotive, if that clarifies what I meant.

@tonydee2069 5 жыл бұрын

Of course... the distance and curtain of the internet... These 'owners' who responded here...wow. I have a Genoa, my parents got me for Christmas 1968... it is on my layout as we speak. That is my 'presentation' train when I get new visitors. Repainted, to close to prototype- Alexander link and pin, and yeah still can only put 3 full size cars, just like the prototype? The 3 Tyco 'Santa Fe & Disneyland' passenger cars we found months after the Genoa came home. I also have the B&O 0-4-0 #96 ... that they gave me in 1965... OK, its on its second set of gears... but that was my fault... give that to a ten year old who ran it years and years non stop, no lube- something's gotta give??? Tyco, Mantua, MDC, Athearns all the same era.... couldn't run, stay on the rails, even take a 20 inch curve, not carport queens- roundhouse queens?? I now have- I think nearly- one of everything Rivarossi made, including 'Bourbonais' 0-6-0's- one busted up one 'restored' to prototype trim paint and details, wow does that one stand out as something more than outta the box... some do need tweaking yeah, but all these were sold at bargain basement prices in bargain basement outlets, and to be in use 60 plus year later, you guys want to rag on that, go on. Just match or exceed it. As far as the IHB 0-8-0, yep, the same lousy design of tender drive as the USATC/Erie and Italian FS 2-8-0, a motor in the cab model was far better. But d**n, an 'adult' modeler with the least amount of modeling mechanics, can MAKE these all run good. Just need to dedicate a night or 2... and get 20,000 nights back?

@markfrench8892 6 жыл бұрын

Please!!! It's pronounced "Bow- kerr". And it was built as a 2-4-0 by Baldwin. The V&T never had to modify it. It has always been a 2-4-0.

@briankistner4331 5 жыл бұрын

My collection of AHM-Rivarossi was hit and miss.... The Big Boy was not all that good. Motor burnt out about a month after buying it. This was in 1970. The Casey Jones was a great little engine. Best steamer I ever owned. The UP Challenger worked well but it was a later model which my Dad bought in 1977. The Plymouth switchers were garbage. I bought a UP Northern in 1990 and it worked very well. I found a old early 60's SP Cab Forward at a swap meet for just $5. Never could get it to run. Re motoring didn't work either.

@yamahaguy1732 6 жыл бұрын

In 2019 the bigboy and 844 will reenact the trans continental railroad thing

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

That is the plan! This comment was a little delayed because we’re just back from Cheyenne where we spent a glorious afternoon inside the boiler of the big boy!

@CoalChrome 6 жыл бұрын

I want to save the money and have someone but Bachmann drivelines in them.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

The4014Gamer ForTheWin indeed! Back when these locomotives were being made Bachman was really junk. Not worth even trying to remoter or anything because it looked crappy to. But these days oh my gosh best plastic locomotive made. Best locomotive at all for that matter.

@CoalChrome 6 жыл бұрын

Toy Man Television yeah, I have a gold UP GP40 from the “white box” era and it is just as bad as the Rivarossi locos. However, I own a spectrum J from the late end of the “spectrum Black Box” era. Best darn loco I’ve ever owned. It runs on 18” just fine, it runs slowly, the motor is tiny, yet I’ve been able to pull a MTH RTR 2-8-0 with it. I hooked them together with a few rubber bands and it pulled it. Tiny motor, large weight, and a huge pick up. Every wheel from the bogie to the last render wheel picks up. Something in it shorted out though, I don’t know when, but it did. Such a shame.

@johnlong5899 2 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi Did not create AHM. AHM was an importer of Rivarossi but an entirely separate entity. No different than Lionel being a separate entity. BTW, the OO gauge Lionel Hudson you show was produced entirely by Lionel in the USA before WWII. Long before Rivarossi was even formed. AHM imported Mehano, Roco, Pola and Kader as well as Rivarossi. Rivarossi was first imported by Polks before AHM.

@azmike1 6 жыл бұрын

In contrast, IHC locomotives run magnificently and look great too. IHC engines are far and above "good runners" for the money. I use them today on my indoor HO layout. Like G gauge? My trains here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r92gZMp7lcqUnaM.html

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

Interesting company IHC. Mostly imports from Eastern Europe. But good models!!! I’ll check your link.

@pbyfr 6 жыл бұрын

Well, Rivarossi is dead. It is now a sub brand of Hornby, which itself is now mainly owned by an American company (Phoenix Asset Management). It seems that a lot of companies in the hobby, big and small, have a lot of difficulties in recent times.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

The hobby is loosing ground as the older guys die off and few kids have an interest. One can hope there is a resurgence of interest some day. But for now, slow ride downhill

@paulsmith6616 6 жыл бұрын

Hi guys!, um I had many Rivarossi locos, mainly articulated, and they ran extremely well, That said, the similar AHM offerings were viewed with doubt as many were awful performers. I have listened to your comments and concure, but...., any model here in a Rivarossi box was ultra reliable. Go figure. There is an inference that can be drawn, but I am not going there. I can only relate my experiences here in Oz.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

I’m reminded of the famous line from Monty Python and the holy grail, she turned me into a newt! Well I got better.... Riverossi got better. Way better. Tuesday show is on a newer model of up 844. What a model!!

@brucevelzor8010 Жыл бұрын

what the hell are you talking about mine all ran well i bought most of mine at woolco and woolworth they were not expensive there

@brucevelzor8010 Жыл бұрын

i didnt have to remotor iany of them i had a lot of them dont like your presentation

@ToyManTelevision Жыл бұрын

Most had problems before 1965.

@azmike1 6 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi locomotives do NOT run well at all. That is a lead-pipe fact. Kinda like Bachmann of modern times, the locos look great! But alas, they run poorly. And over time, they will eventually quit altogether. I have an HO "Big Boy" that is dead. R.I.P.

@Kevin_40 6 жыл бұрын

Rivarossi stuff is pretty junky... Falls apart like other cheap stuff such as Bachmann life like etc.

@robertmitchum2972 6 жыл бұрын

AHM was real junk, looked like junk and ran like junk. AHM was literally one step above Life Like which you used to be able to buy in Woolworth’s. As kids we used to call them “Cheesey Trains”. The old Mantua Tyco’s and Athern products is all we used to run as kids. Even in our early teens we knew AHM was garbage.

@ToyManTelevision 6 жыл бұрын

But the odd thing is much of the other stuff was also riverarossi. They made some of the Tyco, all of the Athern steam, all of the atlas n scale steam and all of the Lionel ho. If you set a ahm, an atlas n scale and an oscale ahm side by side you can see they are the same master model!! Later they made the aristo 1:29 scale from the same patterns. They didn’t run for crap either.